National Album Day 2019: Songs To Remember by Scritti Politti

I met Green Gartside once…at Green Man Festival in Wales…he posed for some pictures I took…I was gobsmacked and could not think of two words to say to him. For me it was a totally overwhelming experience just being face to face with him. I had just listened to him talk about his experiences with Scritti Politti and songwriting and lack of self confidence in his own later work and why he virtually stopped recording his songs after 2006.

So here in a field on the side of a mountain were two people confronted with lack of self believe and a camera in between us. In moments like that though, I go back to music in my head and maybe several albums from that era come to mind, Prefab Spout, The Waterboys might be contenders but for this National Album Day 2019 I have chosen Songs To Remember by Scritti Politti.

The album was a big change in direction for Gartside and the “group” who even at this stage were ever-changing. Gone was the “punk-esque skankings” of early recordings and in its place the most sublime set of songs with beautiful melodies and well thought out lyrics. When I first heard the double A side single of Asylums in Jerusalem & Jacques Derrida I thought it was Paul Simon gone in a new direction, the structure of the songs alone worthy of the comparison.

Songs To Remember is full of musical influences from around the planet from the New York Disco stomp of Sex to the ballad dream reggae pop of Sweetest Girl. I love all the tracks on the album but if I have to go for my favourite it would be Rock-A-Boy Blue and Green Gartside’s early take on himself and the music industry.

I learnt to live with the beats in the bar
Made me sick with repetition
I learnt to love that one note samba
No surprise or definition
I guess I can learn to love what I used to
If you can get used to just getting used by…

Green if I met you now I still would not know what to say to you.. but you have been a big influence on my life. But that is too cheesecake..isn’t it?

Songs To Remember by Scritti Politti, 1982, chosen by Simon Jay Price

Hot Milk Bring Fire, Fury & Pure Catharsis To London’s Roundhouse

On a bitterly cold Wednesday night in Camden, Manchester hard rockers Hot Milk turned London’s Roundhouse into a...

Callum Beattie Shares New Single ‘Always Rains In Glasgow’ Ahead of Huge OVO Hydro Headline Show

Scottish singer-songwriter Callum Beattie has released his new single Always Rains In Glasgow, arriving just days before he takes to the stage for his biggest headline show to date at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on 22nd November. The performance, which sees Beattie step up in front of 14,500 fans, is close to selling out—an extraordinary leap from the early days when he struggled to move 30 advance tickets.

Culture Wars Drop New Single ‘In The Morning’ Ahead of Sold-Out London Headline Debut

Rising alt-rock five-piece Culture Wars continue their momentum with the release of their new single In The Morning, a groove-laden, ’90s-tinged track that marks a key creative moment for the band. The song lands just days before the group make their UK headline debut at O2 Academy Islington on 27th November, a show that has already sold out.

Converge Announce Eleventh Album ‘Love Is Not Enough’ & Share Ferocious Title Track

Hardcore trailblazers Converge have announced their eleventh studio album, Love Is Not Enough, set for release on 13th February 2026. Now marking 35 years as a band, the Massachusetts quartet—Jacob Bannon, Kurt Ballou, Nate Newton and Ben Koller—are gearing up to unveil what may be one of the most potent statements of their career.

Sophie Grey @ Hammersmith Apollo (Kalpesh Patel)

Sophie Grey Lights Up Hammersmith Apollo With Retro-Electro Dazzle

If Sophie Grey’s intention was to bring a dose of retro-futurist electro-pop to the second of Sting’s three-night...

The Royston Club @ Latitude Festival 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

The Royston Club Announce Biggest Headline Shows Yet With 2026 Songs For The Spine Tour

Fresh from a breakthrough year that’s seen their album Songs For The Spine hit Number 4 on the UK charts, a completely sold-out autumn tour, and a nomination at the Rolling Stone UK Awards, The Royston Club are wasting no time in keeping momentum high. The Welsh indie quartet have announced a major Songs For The Spine headline tour for May 2026 — their biggest run of shows to date.

Crooked Fingers Return With First Album in 15 Years, Swet Deth, and Share New Single ‘Cold Waves’

After a decade and a half away, Crooked Fingers — the long-running project of singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Eric Bachmann — is officially back. The band will release Swet Deth on 27th February 2026, their first album since 2011’s Breaks in the Armor. Alongside the announcement comes the video for lead single “Cold Waves,” featuring harmonies from Mac McCaughan.

Man/Woman/Chainsaw Sign To Fiction Records And Share Joyous New Single ‘Only Girl’

Explosive London six-piece Man/Woman/Chainsaw have signed to Fiction Records, marking a major milestone for a band whose rise has been propelled by frenetic live shows and a genre-warping approach to art-punk. To celebrate, the group have released their exuberant new single “Only Girl”, a soaring, violin-led burst of energy that has quickly become a highlight of their recent sets.