Something else to read
Something I occasionally get asked is “what about No.1 albums?”. And I think, yes, what about them? The album charts present a different version of pop’s story in this country - some might say a more accurate version. Wouldn’t it be good, then, if someone were to tackle writing about them? Why yes, it would be! And if that someone had a remarkably thorough knowledge of pop, plus the proven blogging stamina to write exhaustively and insightfully about albums of pretty much any genre…. ?
Well, as it happens Marcello’s started a new blog project doing just that. I’ll be reading it, I’m sure you will too. Best of luck to him!
As for Popular, apologies for the slight gap: I’ve been very busy interviewing for and accepting a new job, celebrating that, and tying up loose ends from the old one. In the middle of all that I’m off to France on holiday from Tuesday - it is a wireless enabled holiday but I would say things will be slow moving here until a week or so into September, though I’m hopeful of another entry before I leave. I’m still determined to get well into the 80s by the year’s end, so I will pick up the pace again then. In the meantime, there are 430 old entries to bang on about, the rest of Freaky Trigger to read, and of course Mr Carlin’s new project. See you soon!
Site powered by
FT's Tom on August 24th, 2008
Having just seen that The Script by The Script is the current No.1 album my respect for Marcello’s fortitude has massively increased. It’s like starting a marathon run knowing full well that the finish line is in fact a big trough of horseshit.
Waldo on August 24th, 2008
I too would like to offer MC my good wishes with this. The boy must be insane. I must add that although Waldo is “resigning” from Popular as soon we reach the 80s, he will be only too happy to contribute to this new project, if only on a pick and choose basis.
This is happy news.
rosie on August 24th, 2008
Maybe, as with a real marathon, you’re allowed to walk for short stretches, or dive into the crowd for a pee…
That’s quite a task Marcello has set himself and I wish him well with it. I’ll be keeping an eye on it and commenting now and then. But there really is some dross on the way, and an awful lot more of it to endure to make fair comments.
I know when I’ve decided my resignation from Popular will come. By a coicidence of life events, my exit coincides with the biggest of them all, and my removal to Notting Hill.
o sobek! on August 25th, 2008
i would decidedly take issue w/ the ‘more accurate’ argument
Brian on August 25th, 2008
Good luck Marcello. Hopefully I might be able to add a bit more to the LP watch, I’ve been a bit in the woods with alot of the # 1’s recently appearing but it hasn;t stopped me from dropping nby regularily……. Should be very interesting. Looking forward to it !
henry s on August 25th, 2008
I’m looking forward to this as well…seems like a real-time version of that book by that guy who read the entire Oxford-English Dictionary in one year…
FT's Martin Skidmore on August 25th, 2008
Someone should do this with the top-grossing movie of every week, and the #1 bestselling book, and so on. No, I am not volunteering. I don’t know how volatile those charts are, so how many #1s a year there would be. I don’t know how available historical charts are, either.
Frankly that seems a big ask, but I wonder if (if we could get the charts and find the films and so on) it might be possible as a team task. I don’t see why it would be any less interesting or valuable as a project.
FT's pˆnk s lord sükråt cunctør on August 25th, 2008
(this is the books best-of i would actually genuinely love FT to tackle, possibly on a team basis)
mike on August 26th, 2008
I am also enjoying Lena’s UK Number Twos project, still in its infancy and promising much.
FT's Conrad on August 26th, 2008
Congratulations on the new job Tom.
- Looking forward immensely to reading, and contributing to, MC’s new project…
Elsa on August 26th, 2008
Regarding Martin’s #7, I have a little paperback that lists the ten highest grossing films in the US for each year going back to 1942. Some years ago I committed myself to seeing as many of them as were available. It was fascinating fun & induced much reflection on cultural values, the concept of zeitgeist, etc. It was particularly interesting to note what kind of dubious entertainment people were once willing to stomach - especially during the ’50s & ’60s, a panicky period in Hollywood. Conversely, these older lists contained some respectable stuff that may not have clicked at today’s box office. Also it was a little sad to discover how many blockbusters of yesteryear are now forgotten & virtually unobtainable.
Erithian on August 26th, 2008
There was another Channel 4 list programme which counted down, not the biggest grossing films (the latest blockbuster will always set records because of inflation) but the ones that drew the biggest UK cinema attendances ever. Among the usual suspects in the top ten were a number of virtually forgotten titles from the late 1940s which people went to see in their droves in austerity Britain - the same period when Football League attendances were at their highest ever.
But wow, the Popular franchise is spreading, isn’t it? God speed to both projects!
FT's Pete Baran on August 26th, 2008
I have toyed with a film project like this, but not sure what way to go (I enjoyed the variety in the FT Top 100 Films). Best movie Oscar winner would be both interesting and in some cases annoyingly tedious. Its also a bit obvious.
I think what we need is an all new Top 100 films with a different methodology.
FT's Lena on August 26th, 2008
Thanks for the kind words Mike and Erithian - it’s an education to look at what almost made it to the top, the songs are at least as varied as they are here, if not more so!
Congratulations, Tom!
intothefireuk on August 27th, 2008
I’d like to add my best wishes to Marcello for taking on a project of biblical proportions. I’m struggling already to stay up with popular and I only have to read it ! God knows how he’s gonna find the time to do it and how the hell am I going to keep up with two bloggs ?