Indeed, both great songs. The Blue Nile edged it for me, but it was close.
As a trivia aside, when I was fifteen Ged Grimes from Danny Wilson came to my high school to do a music workshop with my class. Nice guy.
'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
- Insouciant Western People
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
Jeff K wrote:Nick's still the man! No one has been as consistent as he has been over such a long period of time.
- Jimbly
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
Blue Nile by a fucking mile. Danny Wilson, a couple of good songs at best. Blue Nile too many to mention
So Long Kid, Take A Bow.
- Insouciant Western People
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
Jeemo wrote:Blue Nile too many to mention
Hats is one of only three or four albums I know that I would call absolutely perfect.
Jeff K wrote:Nick's still the man! No one has been as consistent as he has been over such a long period of time.
- Jimbly
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
Two Bowls of Marbles wrote:Mary's Prayer is easily the better of the two.
Daft Bugger
So Long Kid, Take A Bow.
- Jimbly
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
Two Bowls of Marbles wrote:Jeemo wrote:Two Bowls of Marbles wrote:Mary's Prayer is easily the better of the two.
Daft Bugger
I really do like Tinseltown but Mary's Prayer is a pop classic.
I like Mary's Prayer fine but cant hear "pop classic" at all
So Long Kid, Take A Bow.
- Beno
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
I could happily live without either. Blue Nile are the most overrated band ever though so 'Mary's Prayer' got my vote.
- Jimbly
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
Radiohead
Beno wrote: are the most overrated band ever
So Long Kid, Take A Bow.
Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
I did like that Blue Nile song, it had a certain moody splendour. Later I realised that all their songs were variants on that same song: bass, synth washes and lyrics revolving around trains..neon..rain and so on.
Never liked the Danny Wilson one, it's the kind of thing people call perfect pop but it just sounds bland to me.
Never liked the Danny Wilson one, it's the kind of thing people call perfect pop but it just sounds bland to me.
- RcL
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
I like both. These songs came out when I was about 18 or 19. And I'm Scottish of course.
But while the DW track makes me smile, tap my foot and feel nostalgic for student unions and a complicated love life, the Blue Nile track has a tear in my eye by the middle of the second verse. And it's that lyric that's worthy of Fagen, though point taken about the sameiness of much of Buchanan's lyrics - though that works for me - the recurring, simple motifs of the parade, the night lights, the passing trains and cars, the man watching from a window and the 'ordinary girl' who might redeem him.
Both Buchanan and Gary Clark of Danny Wilson ended up in LA - Buchanan dated a starlet or two and retired hurt to Glasgow; Clark is there still, I believe, pumping out hits and living the good life.
Both were / are fine singers but Buchanan has one of those natural, emotive voices that, though it doesn't work for us all, really tugs at the emotional fundaments. Lots of tricks with the Blue Nile though - plaintive brass, layers of strings, yearning and filmic imagery, processional backings, percussion with echo, sound effects. Not their best song, but the best to see all these tricks at work is O Lolita, best of their non album tracks.
But while the DW track makes me smile, tap my foot and feel nostalgic for student unions and a complicated love life, the Blue Nile track has a tear in my eye by the middle of the second verse. And it's that lyric that's worthy of Fagen, though point taken about the sameiness of much of Buchanan's lyrics - though that works for me - the recurring, simple motifs of the parade, the night lights, the passing trains and cars, the man watching from a window and the 'ordinary girl' who might redeem him.
Both Buchanan and Gary Clark of Danny Wilson ended up in LA - Buchanan dated a starlet or two and retired hurt to Glasgow; Clark is there still, I believe, pumping out hits and living the good life.
Both were / are fine singers but Buchanan has one of those natural, emotive voices that, though it doesn't work for us all, really tugs at the emotional fundaments. Lots of tricks with the Blue Nile though - plaintive brass, layers of strings, yearning and filmic imagery, processional backings, percussion with echo, sound effects. Not their best song, but the best to see all these tricks at work is O Lolita, best of their non album tracks.
- Neil Jung
- Watcher Of The Skies
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
I adore The Blue Nile so you can guess how I voted.
“Erratic associate member”
- funky_nomad
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
Jeemo wrote:Blue Nile by a fucking mile. Danny Wilson, a couple of good songs at best. Blue Nile too many to mention
Is the correct answer.
Just a penitent man
Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
RcL wrote:I like both. These songs came out when I was about 18 or 19. And I'm Scottish of course.
But while the DW track makes me smile, tap my foot and feel nostalgic for student unions and a complicated love life, the Blue Nile track has a tear in my eye by the middle of the second verse. And it's that lyric that's worthy of Fagen, though point taken about the sameiness of much of Buchanan's lyrics - though that works for me - the recurring, simple motifs of the parade, the night lights, the passing trains and cars, the man watching from a window and the 'ordinary girl' who might redeem him.
So true. Roddy, you introduced me to The Blue Nile when you put Dowtown Lights on a compilation tape you made me and I've loved them ever since. The atmospherics and motifs resonate deeply with me.
- The Prof
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Re: 'Mary's Prayer' vs 'Tinseltown in the Rain'
Aye - both shite.