As always, there was confusion over the topic. It was “Female Led” – not necessarily solo stars, just as long as the main focus of the record was a woman. But again, Jimmy and Bryn got it arse about face and thought it meant solo females only. If it had been, I’d have brought Tapestry by Carole King and the evening would’ve been mine.
Coxy, of course, covered all bases by bringing at least a dozen records to choose from, like some sort of Vinyl Club buffet.
Bryn – Real by Lydia Loveless (2016)
Always a risk going first – especially with an artist no one else in the room had heard of. Alt-country with elements of pop and punk, Real felt familiar without ever feeling derivative. I mean that in a good way. The production is lean, the lyrics tell stories, and the band keeps things tight.
Full track listing
Side One: Same to You · Longer · More Than Ever · Heaven · Out on Love
Side Two: Midwestern Guys · Bilbao · European · Clumps · Real
Verso’s View: A brave opener. I will listen to this again.
Jimmy – Heaven Knows by Mica Millar (2022)
I’m not sure about jazz. It’s just jamming with trumpets, isn’t it? Most of it is noise – and not often good noise.
Another artist no one else had heard of… or had we? As the songs played, we kept throwing out comparisons: Style Council, Dusty (more of her later), maybe even a bit of Ella Fitzgerald. Trouble is, nothing really stood out.
Full track listing
Side One: Girl · Preacher Man · More Than You Give Me · Heaven Knows · Flashlights · Trouble · Fool’s Fate
Side Two: Will I See You Again · No Money, nor Faith (Freedom) · Stay · Down River · My Lover · Nothing’s for Keeps · Give View My Prayer
Verso’s View: I really need to get past my phobia of listening to anything post-1999. I may like it. Or I may not. The best part? The album cover. Sorry Jimmy — this one dragged in places.
Coxy – Star by Belly (1993)
Coxy told us lead singer Tanya Donelly had been in Throwing Muses and The Breeders before forming Belly. Star was their debut, and it had a bit of everything: indie-pop, alt-rock, dreamy vocals, and fuzzy guitars.
Full track listing
Side One: Someone to Die For · Angel · Dusted · Every Word · Gepetto · Witch · Slow Dog
Side Two: Low Red Moon · Feed the Tree · Full Moon, Empty Heart · White Belly · Untogether · Star · Sad Dress · Stay
Verso’s View: A band possibly lost in a sea of similarity. When they broke through, there were a lot of others doing the same thing (we all agreed Sleeper was the closest UK match). Still, I’ll give this another spin.
Verso – Velveteen by Transvision Vamp (1989)
What can I say about Wendy James?
Loud, brash, full of swagger, very sexy, and absolutely knew how to sell a pop-punk snarl in a leather jacket. Some thought it was a “safe” pick – maybe – but it still hits. You can’t not sing along.
Full track listing
Side One: Baby I Don’t Care · The Only One · Landslide of Love · Falling for a Goldmine · Down on You · Song to the Stars
Side Two: Kiss Their Sons · Born to Be Sold · Pay the Ghosts · Bad Valentine · Velveteen
Verso’s View: Yes, I chose it. Yes, it’s brash. Yes, it’s “safe.” But it’s still a mighty fine LP.
Bonus LP (Coxy) – Dusty in Memphis by Dusty Springfield (1969)
Turns out the best LP of the night was an unofficial pick. Dusty in Memphis is the kind of record that knows it’s iconic. It doesn’t shout – it just oozes class.
Recorded with the best session musicians money could buy and soaked in Southern soul, it’s a masterclass in restraint and heartbreak. “Son of a Preacher Man” is the headline track, but it’s the quieter cuts – “Breakfast in Bed”, “I Don’t Want to Hear It Anymore” – that really seal it.
Full track listing
Side One: Just a Little Lovin’ · So Much Love · Son of a Preacher Man · I Don’t Want to Hear It Anymore · Don’t Forget About Me · Breakfast in Bed
Side Two: Just One Smile · The Windmills of Your Mind · In the Land of Make Believe · No Easy Way Down · I Can’t Make It Alone
Verso’s View: Dusty walked in and stole the show. This isn’t a vinyl – it’s a benchmark for all female solo artists.
Closing Verdict
Another cracking night. Four (well, five) vastly different LPs – with Dusty’s Memphis the clear winner. Next time it’s “Male Solo LP by Someone Who Used to Be in a Band”, chosen by Bryn. I dread to think what Jimmy makes of that brief.
Maybe my pick won’t get attacked next time. Then again… it probably will.