A tall order?

[chebby]

A tall order but..

I require some ideas for purely acoustic music. (Vocals optional.)
On Vinyl LP.
Preferably British (at least not 'world music')
Upbeat (no lyrics that make one suicidal after 3 tracks.)
Pacey. (At least a good proportion of it that one would want to get up and dance to or join in.)
NOT FOLK!
Very well recorded.
Anytime from the last 50 years (even this week).
NO PAN PIPES!

I am sorted for Reggae, Ska, Two-tone, Jazz, Classical, Pop, Rock, Swing/Big-Band, nostalgia and a few other genres. but noticed I don't have anything much at all that is purely acoustic and my mind has gone blank. I can only think of folk and depressing 1970s/80s American singer/songwriter stuff and 'world music' (shudders).

Please help me with some ideas.

Thanks

 

[PJPro]

Well, I don't rate him...but how about Roy Harper?

 

[PJPro]

Dougie MacClean?

 

[Anonymous]

Some John Mayer might apply. I think you'd be quite pleased with Rocky Votolato too, although his lyrics aren't always up beat.

Nick Drake is quite awesome too, Bryter Later is a phenomenal album.

I'll post more when I think of them.

 

[John Duncan]

Jeez. Acoustic and not suicidal? A tall order indeed.

Define acoustic though, and define folk...

 

[Anonymous]

You say Pan Pipes my friend AND folk? Well add a little prog-rock and you have "Focus' House of the King!"

..."oh it's the Mustang BOSS 359 version..."

 

[the record spot]

Steve Hackett's solo guitar work. Sketches of Satie was put out on 180gram LP a few years back; you might still land a copy if you go over to camino.co.uk - there's also his Bay of Kings album which is worth picking up.

EDIT: And go for this one if you want a live show. For added desirability, I went along to this gig too! http://www.camino.co.uk/product/live_archive_83.html

 

[plastic penguin]

The Tea Party, 'Splender Solace' album. I know there not British but they mix blues, Asian, acoustic and instrumental, and the vocalist sounds strikingly like Jim Morrison. Brilliant stuff.

 

[Anonymous]

I just got a copy of James Taylor, One Man Band. It's all vocal (bar one short piano piece), with acoustic guitar and grand piano. Excellent recording and comes with a rather well produced DVD of the same live performance. Not quite what you're looking for but very good nonetheless.

 

[chebby]

Thanks everyone. I will try all this out tomorrow (youtube/iTunes samples etc)

 

[Anonymous]

Listen to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wJ-VPqFzy0
and tell me it's not one of the best songs you've ever heard. I dare you.

 

[chebby]

JohnDuncan:Jeez. Acoustic and not suicidal? A tall order indeed.

Define acoustic though, and define folk...

Acoustic:- An instrument that needs a microphone to record it and can be played live during a power cut.

Folk:- Modern day interpretations of Victorian bastardisations of stuff that intellectuals fancy the 'common folk' used to sing. Watch the bits in 'Nuts in may' where Keith and Candice Marie get musical and that is what is indelibly printed in my mind about folk singers. Right or wrong I cannot shift that image. It summons up beards and real ale and sandals and big jumpers made from goats*.

* I don't mean cashmere. I mean a real folk singer's jumper where bits of actual goat (udders, hooves etc.) are woven in and the original goat's colouring is still apparent under the pipe tobacco burns and beer stains.

 

[fatboyslimfast]

Kate Rusby - Great acoustic, and whilst maybe a little nostaligic in lyrics, generally mood-lifting rather than depressing.

Oh, and exceptionally well recorded...

 

[John Duncan]

Jan Hibma:Listen to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wJ-VPqFzy0
and tell me it's not one of the best songs you've ever heard. I dare you.

It was better when Tom Petty did it.

 

[John Duncan]

chebby:JohnDuncan:Jeez. Acoustic and not suicidal? A tall order indeed.

Define acoustic though, and define folk...

Acoustic:- An instrument that needs a microphone to record it and can be played live during a power cut.

Folk:- Modern day interpretations of Victorian bastardisations of stuff that intellectuals fancy the 'common folk' used to sing. Watch the bits in 'Nuts in may' where Keith and Candice Marie get musical and that is what is indelibly printed in my mind about folk singers. Right or wrong I cannot shift that image. It summons up beards and real ale and sandals and big jumpers made from goats*.

* I don't mean cashmere. I mean a real folk singer's jumper where bits of actual goat (udders, hooves etc.) are woven in and the original goat's colouring is still apparent under the pipe tobacco burns and beer stains.

Right. So no electric bass or drum samples and no goats?

That rules out Jim Moray then.

Joni Mitchell 1970-1976 might be interesting for you though.

 

[floyd droid]

Ah,so you are not a huge fan of mike hardings goat show on R2 then chebby. Nah nor me,utter drivel imo.