1. I Don't Wanna Die In An Air Disaster
While I was listening to all his songs (I skipped the Spanish albums) it occured to me that many of his songs are too folksy to be great pop, but at the same time too poppy to be great folk music. There's no "Sound Of Silence" here.
And it's not like every song has to be significant or metaphorically refer to social-cultural issues or being super-clever in any other way or perfectly capture some mood or whatever, but when it comes to language there's a lot to play with - and I don't always get that from his songs. Sometimes I found it too literal and straightforward, almost as if it was written by a non-native English person.
It's possible that I'm being particularly harsh this time because the music itself sounds great.
Anyway, IDWDIAAD, also released as "Air Disaster" (and I had expected the Dutch single to use brackets: "(I Don't Wanna Die In An) Air Disaster", but no, not this time) sounds fabulously weird and original, including special sound effects and lovely aah-aaah backing vocals, powered with "Oh Lord" lyrics.
2. Follow The Bouncing Ball
This duet with Steve Rowland appears to be Hammond's first single, before he had released any albums.
This is what I call a perfect pop song, I'm not sure exactly what it's all about but it sounds like it doesn't matter. Just follow the bouncing ball.
3. It Never Rains In Southern California
A popular tune for the 1970s compilation CDs that tackles the subject of the golden dreams/shattered dreams of the American entertainment industry, the same way it was done/will be done in hundreds of other wicked California songs. Movie Star, Send The Man Over (Cher), Hollywood Seven (Jon English) etc.
But this song does the remarkable job of delivering exactly what it says in the title, because - no matter where you are - you can almost feel the sunshine on your skin.
4. The Air That I Breathe
Not surprisingly, there's a little disagreement between Hammond and Hollies fans regarding the who-did-it-best. And now *I* have to play the judge and make it official.
Luckily I'm in an Albert Hammond Top Ten because I'm going to say that Hammond's original is vastly superior to the Hollies cover. That said, I do like the semi-psychedelic sound of the cover version and it's just great that both versions exist.
Hammond's original version goes from timid balladry to hand-clap chorus, followed by haunting guitars, and that also makes it a more diverse experience.
5. I'm A Camera
A pretty generic song (unless you hear a photographer-stalker-rapist story in it) but it's oh-so-very catchy. It also reminds me of another very eighties song, maybe Ultravox or a band like that.
6. Names, Tags, Numbers & Labels
My third pick from his first album. No single release outside the US but I think it could have done well in Europe.
...and the rest of the nice songs
7. When I Need You
8. Tangled Up In Tears
9. Mary Hot Lips Arizona
10. Shoot 'Em Up, Shoot 'Em Down
He did his first three albums with co-songwriter Michael Hazlewood, and many songwriters have tried the odd song for themselves. He was also a member of Family Dogg, together with Albert Hammond and Steve Rowland, but this is his only solo recording (I think).