Feature: John McClure's Top 5 Albums
Top 5 albums with Jon McClure
The Reverend and The Makers frontman talks Matthew Cooper through his favourite albums of all time
1. Sly and the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On
I love records that sum up the time and place that they are made. You can tell there’s a slight disillusionment with the Civil Rights Movement but it just sounds f*****g great and the syncopation of his playing and the rhythm is so sexy. And there would be no Prince without that record.
2. The Wailers – Catch a Fire
Still the original lineup, but produced to a high standard with half an ear on the rest of the world, which is done in those three part harmonies. It has great songs and was at a great moment when Jamaican music just exploded onto the world scene.
3. The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
The first time I heard it I was madly in love with it. It influenced the way I am now. You get a lot of bands that try and give cool answers to things like that. Like they’ll say, “Yeah I love The Byrds man.” Yeah I love The Byrds too, but without The Stone Roses I wouldn’t have known about The Byrds. It’s a massive record.
4. The Beatles – Revolver
There isn’t a bad song on it. It’s a high water mark of producing. ‘Spliff Beatles’ were the best. They still had pop sensibilities about them. Everyone goes on about ‘acid Beatles’ or ‘pop Beatles’ but ‘spliff Beatles’ were definitely the best.
5. Dr Dre – 2001
Reminds me of smoking loads of ganja and when your mates first past their test and start driving. What a f*****g great album. ‘The Watcher’. I could just put the album at No.5 for that song. It’s so good.