Playlists and Chapel Harts

I am in a battle with myself. One of me loves a playlist on my streaming service. The other me feels it’s killing off everything I once loved about listening to records.

I know why it happens. It’s just too easy not to make a decision about which record to play. It’s also far too easy to skip. I can skip on my dog walk, I can dodge an unwanted track as I cook dinner and there’s a handy function on the steering wheel of my car which directs the playlist to miss a song and move to the next one. Oh, the conveniences of modern life.

So with all this in mind I decided I had to favour one side of the argument. Ignoring the reams of playlists joyfully curated I have returned to the album. It can be vinyl – the most pleasing option or CD. (I’m not doing this for some spurious hifi reasons. It’s just I rather like the length of a side of vinyl). This too has led me to a conclusion about making records: too many are too long. The album was a creature of the sixties and early seventies. It adorned living rooms and acted as code for taste in thousands of student bedrooms where curiously sniffy friends would leaf through your precious collection pointedly guffawing at any long players that they deemed were superfluous to their ideal collection. Occasionally a pal might discharge and a grunt of quiet approval. This usually indicated he too owned the record.

However, despite all of the dancing around the record player there was always a point where a selection was made, the needle came down and for the next 20 minutes or so you kinda knew where you were. As we returned from a trip to enjoy the play offs last week (we were interested outsiders at the Partick Thistle end) my son took control of the bluetooth and assembled a more than passable stream of Beatles and assorted fab four solo tracks. However as each slection clicked in I found myself wishing to hear all of Hard Days Night, Ram or All Things Must Pass. There was far too much jumping around.

So, on what has my own needle come down upon? Just there, while preparing a fine Caesar Salad (yes I did  my own dressing, thanks for asking) I took in the whole of the current album by Adeem The Artist. Last night, while writing some letters I enjoyed both sides of Blue Rose Code’s new offering on vinyl. And over a few days I’ve been making my through the early records of the great jazz pianist Bill Evans. It’s all been a joy and I have found gems to which I want to return.

On this week’s show I shall bring you some beautiful offerings from a diversity of country stars including Randy Travis, Secret Sisters, Matt and even Buck Owens.

We shall also play out a conversation with the act who stole my heart at this year’s C2C: Chapel Hart gathered in their dressing room to tell us their story and why it was their own answer to Dolly Parton’s most famous song which has brought the attention of the country community. It’s as entertaining a conversation as we have ever had and the above shot from the encounter sums it all up.

Do join us for a packed show. The needle comes down at five past eight this Tuesday on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Scotland.