Toby Jones Talks Music

The Faith Tour is currently showing at cinemas, showcasing George Michael's first solo tour, a restored concert film featuring George Michael's 1988 Faith Tour performances at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, captured on 35mm over two nights during the European leg of the tour. In this video, I give my thoughts on George Michael: The Faith Tour. An unbelievable concert film experience. 00...

The Other Side Of Life, the Moody Blues' third album of the 1980s, sees Tony Visconti jump in the producers seat, replacing Pip Williams from the previous two albums. An album featuring predominantly Hayward/Lodge cuts, Ray Thomas plays a very minor role. In this video, I do a deep dive on the Moody Blues' 1986 album, The Other Side Of Life. 00:00 Introduction 00:34 Context behind the albu...

I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight follows Neil Diamond's highest moment, Beautiful Noise. Neil begins a new chapter of his career with the first of a four album run with producer Bob Gaudio. This appears to be an album that doesn't receive much attention, is that fair? In this video, I do a deep dive on Neil Diamond's 1977 studio album I'm Glad You're Here With Me To...

Human Touch is widely considered one of Bruce Springsteen's weakest albums. This album sits within the top 5 of my Bruce Springsteen ranking, so I'm clearly a contrarian when it comes to this album. In this video, I present my defence of Human Touch and enthuse on why it's one of my favourite Springsteen albums. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Critical response to Human Touch 04:04 Is Human T...

Phil Lynott's first solo album Solo In Soho, was released in 1980, while Thin Lizzy were still delivering commercial success. The album sees Phil experimenting with a larger group of musicians, while still retaining Lizzy alumni on some tracks; outside musicians include Mark Knopfler and Huey Lewis. In this video, prior to the fast approaching release of the 8CD The Story Of My Life box set, I...

Whatever Happened To Benny Santini, Chris Rea's debut album from 1978 marks a strong start to Rea's career, with a sound that highlights a band enjoying themselves on this record. In this video, I'll dive deep into this album and review how it compares to Chris Rea's other early material. 00:00 Introduction 00:21 Context behind the album 07:08 Song-by-song review 17:33 Summary

Serenade marks Neil Diamond's first studio album with Columbia, following his Jonathan Livingston Seagull soundtrack album a year prior. Serenade continues where Jonathan Livingston Seagull left off, with songs containing emotional depth and introspective ideas. Yet the album is still somewhat isolated, not part of either his previous Uni era or the change that Robbie Robertson's productio...

Night Flight is Justin Hayward's second solo album, and it sees Justin working with someone other than Tony Clarke on production for the first time; it's Jeff Wayne, who Justin worked with on the War Of The Worlds album. In this video, I'll be taking a look at Justin Hayward's 1980 solo album, Night Flight. 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Context behind the album 06:41 Song-by-song review...

Sting turns 75 today. To celebrate, I pick out 7 songs that I've decided to play today to mark the occasion, all the way from Synchronicity to Brand New Day. 00:00 Introduction 00:45 If I Ever Lose My Faith In You 01:41 Shadows In The Rain 03:04 Wrapped Around Your Finger 04:55 Brand New Day 06:38 All For Love 07:33 Mad About You 08:55 They Dance Alone 10:21 Summary

Justin Hayward's first solo album Songwriter, released in 1977, is the album I've been looking at this week. After his first non-Moodies effort, collaborating with John Lodge and long term Moodies producer Tony Clarke; Hayward turns to Clarke once again to produce this album. Does this deliver an album as strong as those classic Moodies efforts? 1977 TV DOCUMENTARY https://youtu.be/Jr3TiXt...

I'm joined by Jay from The Drum Den to talk all things music. In this episode, we discuss the lost art of intentionally listening, digesting an album, and how music, literature, and film can provide an escape from daily life. The Drum Den - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRigLreObVzwrzWCoE8oWmQ 00:00 Introduction 01:37 Jay's Channel - The Drum Den 06:18 Jay's Green Day listening jour...

Moods was Neil Diamond's final studio album for the Uni Records label, released in 1972, the first of two releases of the year, the second of those being Hot August Night. In this video, I discuss how perhaps I've undervalued Neil Diamond's Moods and my current relationship with the album and its songs. 00:00 Introduction 00:15 Context behind the album 06:46 The vinyl & CD packagin...

Justin Hayward & John Lodge's first project outside of the Moody Blues saw them collaborate with producer Tony Clarke on a 1975 release, Blue Jays. I had high hopes for this album; did the album live up to those very high expectations? In this video, I talk all about my first listen of Justin Hayward and John Lodge's Blue Jays. 00:00 Introduction 00:26 My story with the album 02:16 Con...

After listening to the 80s catalogue, here are 7 songs from this period from Neil Diamond that in particular I've been relistening to most, since my initial deep dives on each album. 00:00 Introduction 02:10 The Story Of My Life 04:59 I'm Guilty 08:16 In Ensenada 09:45 Sleep With Me Tonight 11:15 Turn Around 12:59 Front Page Story 14:38 A Fool For You 16:52 Close

Wired To The Moon sees Chris Rea at his most consistent so far in his career. This is an album that I didn't get much out of in my first listen, but upon revisiting this, I was stunned just how I had misjudged this on my first listen. 00:00 My history with the album 02:12 The personnel 04:40 Song-by-song review 17:46 Bonus: Non album b-sides reviewed 19:17 Summary

Join me as I rank Neil Diamond's 1980s albums, from On The Way To The Sky and Heartlight to Primitive, Headed For The Future and The Best Years Of Our Lives. 00:00 Introduction 03:56 Number 5 - My least favourite 08:32 Number 4 11:28 Number 3 14:06 Number 2 16:00 Number 1 - My favourite 20:48 Summary

The Best Of Me, a 1999 compilation from Bryan Adams, was the first album from Bryan that I listened to. In this video, I tell my story of where I came in with Bryan Adams. 00:00 Rediscovery 01:26 Why I love the music 03:13 Why The Best of Me Works For Me 09:24 I need to hear the later albums! 10:43 Where should you go next? 11:28 Conclusion

The Present is the Moody Blues' second album of the '80s, released in 1983. In this video, I look at The Present and ask whether it's a worthy follow-up to its predecessor, Long Distance Voyager. 00:00 My history with this album 04:25 The album packaging - cover and gatefold 06:10 Song-by-song review 24:01 Summary

The Jazz Singer was Neil Diamond's first film appearance, in 1980. The film and Diamond's acting weren't received well. I disagree with that. In today's video, I discuss the film, how it relates to Neil Diamond's own story, and of course, my thoughts on the soundtrack album. 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Thoughts on the film 05:23 The story of my Vinyl album 06:55 The players on the...

After the record company pulled the plug on Chris Rea's 1983 album, Water Sign was released with songs that had only been intended as demos. However, one chance circumstance led to this album being an unlikely turning point for Rea's career. In this video, I discuss my thoughts on the album. 00:00 My story 02:18 Context behind the album 05:51 Song-by-song review 19:42 Non-album tracks revi...

The Best Years Of Our Lives, Neil Diamond's final 1980s studio effort, moves in a different direction from the last album, Headed For The Future, a direction which resembles the classic Neil Diamond sound - arguably - more than any of the previous albums from the decade. In this video, I'll be giving my take on this album. 00:00 My story 03:24 Context behind the album 10:03 Song-by-song re...

Long Distance Voyager, the first 1980s outing from The Moody Blues, features a new keyboard player, Patrick Moraz, for the outgoing Mike Pinder, as well as a break from long-time producer Tony Clarke, with Pip Williams, having previously worked with Status Quo, on production. In this video, I reflect on my thoughts on this post-classic era album from the Moodies, and whether it can provide an enjo...

Despite hearing Carly Simon's music in such varied areas as a James Bond theme, a greatest hits set, and even from Piglet's Big Movie... until now, I haven't listened to a Carly Simon album in full. In this video, I talk about my first impressions of Simon's 1972 album, No Secrets. 00:00 Introduction 02:14 My story - how did I discover this album? 09:12 First impressions 09:46 Song...

Chris Rea's fourth album, a self-titled release from 1982, was released after a potential fourth album titled One Fine Day was shelved. Three of those songs survive in re-recorded form alongside eight other tracks. In this video, I'll be discussing where this album fits within the Chris Rea catalogue, particularly in relation to previous albums, Tennis and Deltics. 00:00 Introduction 01:00...

Headed For The Future, Neil Diamond's fourth studio effort of the 1980s, was released in 1986. Featuring 'The Story of My Life', a record was planned to be released under this name until Neil's record label rejected it. This was an album inspired by the sad passing of Neil's father in 1985, with the songs very personal and dark. This album brings in several contemporary songwri...