A twelve song selection of music produced (or co-produced) by Gil Norton, spanning 1982 to 2007.
The inspiration for the mixtape came via the sad news of Glen Hansard's death, and a fine tribute to Glen posted by Martin over at New Amusements.
In the comments, I recalled something I read circa 1991-92 in the NME or Melody Maker or Sounds, that Glen was a huge fan of Gil's work with Pixies and wanted him to produce Glen's band The Frames' debut album.
As I recall, Glen put a big Pixies sticker on his motorbike, found out where Gil was working, drove there and left his bike prominently displayed to get Gil's attention.
I finished with "Apparently it worked!"...except that it didn't, as I've subsequently read that Glen and Gil clashed over the direction and shape of the album. It isn't recalled as a positive experience in the accounts I've found online.
My awkwardness and ignorance notwithstanding, there are some mighty tunes here. The Frames come in a quarter of the way through, following The Blue Aeroplanes, The Fatima Mansions and a hidden gem of a China Crisis B-side.
There's one 21st century entry from Maximo Park. Gil also worked with them in the 1990s, along with Echobelly and Foo Fighters. Other 1980s production credits include The Triffids, The Bodines, Echo & The Bunnymen (with Ian Broudie), Del Amitri (with Julian Mendelsohn) and, closing out this collection, one of my favourite songs by Pixies.
Quite the career. I'm just scanning through the list of artists and records that I've missed this time around and there's plenty more for another selection.
For now, forget it's Sunday and turn the volume up!
1) ...And Stones (Album Version): The Blue Aeroplanes (1990)
2) Brain Blister (Album Version): The Fatima Mansions (1994)
3) No Ordinary Lover (Single Version): China Crisis (1982)
4) Masquerade (Album Version): The Frames (1992)
5) The Seabirds (Album Version): The Triffids (1986)
6) Nosebleed (Album Version): Maximo Park (2007)
7) Here Comes The Big Rush (Album Version): Echobelly (1997)
8) Therese (Single Version): The Bodines (1986)
9) The Killing Moon (Album Version): Echo & The Bunnymen (1984)
10) Move Away Jimmy Blue (Album Version): Del Amitri (1989)
11) Monkey Wrench (Album Version): Foo Fighters (1997)
12) No. 13 Baby (Album Version): Pixies (1989)
1982: No More Blue Horizons (Fool, Fool, Fool) EP: 3
1984: Ocean Rain: 9
1986: Born Sandy Devotional: 5
1986: Therese EP: 8
1989: Doolittle: 12
1989: Waking Hours: 10
1990: Swagger: 1
1992: Another Love Song: 4
1994: Lost In The Former West: 2
1997: Lustra: 7
1997: The Colour And The Shape: 11
2007: Our Earthly Pleasures: 6
