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

Cusk Unveil Haunting Debut Single ‘Blu Tac Piano’

Emerging London outfit Cusk have introduced themselves with the release of their debut single Blu Tac Piano, offering a striking first glimpse into the band’s atmospheric and emotionally raw sound.

Greg Mendez Shares New Single ‘No Evil’ Ahead of ‘Beauty Land’ Album Release

Greg Mendez has unveiled his new single No Evil, the latest preview of his forthcoming album Beauty Land, set for release on 29th May.

Citizen Return With New Album ‘Halcyon Blues’ and Expansive Single ‘Highs and Lows’

Citizen have announced their long-awaited new album Halcyon Blues, set for release on 7th August, alongside the arrival of its lead single Highs And Lows.

Death Cab For Cutie Return With New Single ‘Punching The Flowers’ Ahead Of UK & Ireland Tour

Death Cab For Cutie have unveiled their latest single, Punching The Flowers, taken from their forthcoming album I Built You A Tower, due for release on 5th June.

The Prodigy @ Wembley Arena (Neil Lupin)

Fire In The Concrete: The Prodigy Turn Wembley Into A Rave Warzone

There’s no easing into a Prodigy show in 2026—no atmospheric intro, no gentle escalation. The lights drop at London’s iconic Wembley Arena and, without ceremony, Omen detonates. The effect is immediate and physical. Bass surges through the floor, the crowd lurches forward, and within seconds the arena stops behaving like a seated venue and starts acting like a pressure cooker.

Katy Hurt @ Country on the Coast Festival 2026 (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Where Country Finds Its Future: Inside Country On The Coast 2026

Set against the backdrop of the south coast, Country On The Coast 2026 delivered exactly what the UK country scene...

The Cab Return With Long-Awaited Third Album ‘Chasing Crowns’

After more than a decade away from full-length releases, Las Vegas pop-rock outfit The Cab have officially returned with their third studio album, Chasing Crowns, out now. The 18-track record marks the band’s first album in 15 years and signals a powerful new chapter for a group whose absence has only heightened anticipation for their comeback.

Luvcat Unveils ‘Vampire At The Beach’ And Announces Dark New EP ‘Lovebites’

Liverpool’s rising cult star Luvcat returns with her latest single Vampire At The Beach, a brooding and cinematic offering that sets the tone for her forthcoming EP Lovebites, due for release on 22nd May.