2 CD collections hunted and captured over Christmas:
The Stranglers: For many years I wanted to have all their albums with Hugh in it. However, most of my purchases have been synth related. Eventually I got down to it. Their studio albums were easily obtainable except for one US release and a couple of live albums. I discovered how punky were their three first albums. They don't do much for me except those tracks which have Dave Greenfield's swirling arpeggios ie
Grip, Sometimes, Hanging Around, No More Heroes, Tank etc. Their musical proficiency comes through on
The Raven and through
The Gospel According To The Meninblack, La Folie, Feline, Aural Sculpture and
Dreamtime. I'm not too sure about
10. Despite their antics inside and outside the studio they are one of the greatest new wave bands and like
The Banshees they deservedly played The Royal Albert Hall.
Blondie: I went for this and The Stranglers collections when Clem (Burke) recently toured the US with Hugh. Another band I had forgotten about but were one of the bands I most fondly remember from the radio friendly/pop/disco side of the late seventies and early eighties. Their first six albums, from their eponymous titled debut to
The Hunter, are incredible pieces of avant garde pop. Even though they came from a punk background, the music comes out as a fusion of different styles, all commercially friendly. I remember all of these when they went to number 1:
Heart Of Glass, Sunday Girl, Atomic, Call Me and
The Tide Is High. All in all, a well gelled band with very talented musicians and songwriters and a beautiful lead singer.
Chris
or even having to bother buying music 
