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Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 3:03am
by daveddd111
....and what were your initial thoughts when you were 3-4 tracks in the first time you heard it?

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 6:06am
by Heston
Side 3

"I need some weed"

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 6:48am
by Low Down Low
4, 1, 3, 2, 5, 6

"Fuck me, this is going to leave London Calling in the shade!"

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 8:49am
by Heston
3,4,1,2,5,6

If they'd squeezed sides 5 and 6 into one side it would have been perfect.
That side would have contained...

Charlie
Kingston
Street Parade
Version City
Living In Fame
Shepherds Delight

I love Lose This Skin but I think it would have been better off somewhere else.

That last side was just a stretch too far.

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 11:22am
by Silent Majority
Disc 1.

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 11:25am
by Low Down Low
That's very true about Sides Five and Six but in another way I never really understood the harsher criticisms of S! among the music press because whatever way you spin it, there's still two albums worth of serious material there. They could have released a great double or killer single album and being likely fawned over, instead they throw in the odd duff track and get widely slaughtered for it. As I think Joe himself said or words thereof, no need to sweat it. Just skip to the tracks you like and where's the problem?

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 11:52am
by msza2
4, 3, 2, 1, 5, 6.

That was hard. I really like Side 5. The others just don't have anything as bad as Mensforth Hill.

As for initial thoughts . . . I got S! for Christmas when I was 20 or so. We put it in the (multi disc) CD player and when Hitsville came on I literally thought the CD player had shuffled to some Christmas album :lol:

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 12:06pm
by aza
easy. every side is the best.

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 1:47pm
by Toppers Boppers
daveddd111 wrote:
05 Nov 2017, 3:03am
....and what were your initial thoughts when you were 3-4 tracks in the first time you heard it?
Side 2

"VFM" + "Weird" + "Dumbstruck" + "WTF!!"

Bought it on release day, at the Woolies discounted price of £3.99.

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 2:17pm
by coffeepotman
Bought it on release day, I can't say what my favorite is because they are all great, I do remember being mesmerized by 5 and 6 though.

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 2:30pm
by WestwayKid
How about this? If you had to cut S! down to a double LP - what would your track listing be? You have 4 sides to work with - roughly 23-24 minutes per side.

Personally, I would us sides 1, 2, 3 and 4 as a starting point and set aside all of 5 and 6.

I'd probably drop all of side 6 and leave the dub versions for b-sides.

I'd rescue Charlie Don't Surf from side 5 - just not sure what I'd bump to make room for it. I'd probably excise One More Dub from side 2.

What else would you "save" from side 5? Street Parade?

There is definitely a GREAT double in their - going for 3 sides was a step too far and if my memory serves me right - was an attempt to deliver one more LP to CBS per their botched contract with the band.

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 05 Nov 2017, 9:14pm
by 101Walterton
Low Down Low wrote:
05 Nov 2017, 11:25am
That's very true about Sides Five and Six but in another way I never really understood the harsher criticisms of S! among the music press because whatever way you spin it, there's still two albums worth of serious material there. They could have released a great double or killer single album and being likely fawned over, instead they throw in the odd duff track and get widely slaughtered for it. As I think Joe himself said or words thereof, no need to sweat it. Just skip to the tracks you like and where's the problem?
But remember it was pre shuffle / skip track back then 😀

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 06 Nov 2017, 12:43am
by gkbill
101Walterton wrote:
05 Nov 2017, 9:14pm
Low Down Low wrote:
05 Nov 2017, 11:25am
That's very true about Sides Five and Six but in another way I never really understood the harsher criticisms of S! among the music press because whatever way you spin it, there's still two albums worth of serious material there. They could have released a great double or killer single album and being likely fawned over, instead they throw in the odd duff track and get widely slaughtered for it. As I think Joe himself said or words thereof, no need to sweat it. Just skip to the tracks you like and where's the problem?
But remember it was pre shuffle / skip track back then 😀
Hello,

As an older person on the board, I remember once you dropped the needle, you were listening to that side.

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 06 Nov 2017, 12:52am
by 101Walterton
gkbill wrote:
06 Nov 2017, 12:43am
101Walterton wrote:
05 Nov 2017, 9:14pm
Low Down Low wrote:
05 Nov 2017, 11:25am
That's very true about Sides Five and Six but in another way I never really understood the harsher criticisms of S! among the music press because whatever way you spin it, there's still two albums worth of serious material there. They could have released a great double or killer single album and being likely fawned over, instead they throw in the odd duff track and get widely slaughtered for it. As I think Joe himself said or words thereof, no need to sweat it. Just skip to the tracks you like and where's the problem?
But remember it was pre shuffle / skip track back then 😀
Hello,

As an older person on the board, I remember once you dropped the needle, you were listening to that side.
Yep and in the order intended, no shuffle or program!!

Re: Best side of Sandinista!....

Posted: 06 Nov 2017, 1:11am
by Wolter
3

I didn't know what to think 4 songs in. I know I didn't care for it much at the end of the first full listen (which was on a used cassette). It took getting it on vinyl for me to truly appreciate it.

I think my order of favorites is the same as Heston (3,4,1,2,5,6). I'd say my disc preference is solidly 3,2,1, BUT 3&4 and 1&2 are of such similar quality to each other that I could probably have said 4,3,2,1,5,6 on another day. If that makes sense.