Short, sharp and frank reviews from a confessed vinyl junkie. I’ll post my most loved records and recent purchases here for your perusal weekly.
The sudden and extremely sad passing of Paul Ryder had me digging out my Monday’s records this weekend and listening to the amazing legacy that he’s left behind. Whilst the second album ‘Bummed’ remains my favourite, the third album ‘Pills’ N’ Thrills & Bellyaches’ also has many fond memories and was my ‘go-to’ Summer album for many years.
It’s easy to hear why; it bounces, shuffles and swaggers like nothing before it, perfectly mixing Indie and Balearic House along the way. As soon as the album opener’ Kinky Afro’ kicks in with the immortal line “Son, I’m 30; I only went with your mother cos she’s dirty”, I’m taken back to being 16 again. I can almost smell the Dewberry oil and feel the white jeans I wore at the time of its release back in November ’90.
The Mondays were at the top of their game, and The Stone Roses were about to disappear for four years, but these lads were having the time of their lives. They’d definitely stepped up a gear in terms of commercial success and, with Paul Oakenfold at the helm, created a party AND come down album, all-in-one, a whole year before Primal Scream released ‘Screamadelica’.
At the backbone of this was Paul Ryder and his superb bass playing throughout. Whether it’s the low-down Funk heard on ‘Loose Fit’, the sleaze on ‘Bob’s Yer Uncle’ or the flow on global hit ‘Step On’, it was always Paul who added some of the most important elements to the Mondays sound, the groove and sass. Thanks for helping to create a superb soundtrack to my youth Paul, lots of love to the Ryder family and friends at this sad time. X
Listen to Happy Mondays – Pills ‘N’ Thrills & Bellyaches – BELOW:
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