Lindisfarne: Four Albums 1971-1978

Nicely Out Of Tune - 1971


Newcastle band Lindisfarne tend to have been somewhat forgotten about as the years have gone by, but in the early seventies they were quite big among the album-buying fraternity, attracting folk, rock and prog fans alike. They were more the rock side of folk, though, a bit like Jethro Tull. Their debut album was a big hit in the folk-rock circuit, and its lead-off single, the mysterious and captivating Lady Eleanor, remains one of my favourite lesser-known seventies hits. The harmonica-driven easy folk rock of Road To Kingdom Come, the blues of Knackers Yard Blues and the dreamy, hippy-trippy Alan In The River With Flowers typifies the album. 


Fog On The Tyne - 1971


The follow-up contained another such track in the wonderfully atmospheric, catchy and highly nostalgic Meet Me On The Corner, as well as the iconic title track. City Song is a good one too, merging gentle rock with folk perfectly. The same applies to Alright On The Night and Scotch Mist is a lively folky instrumental. To be honest, though, despite my nostalgic love for Meet Me On the Corner, I find a lot of the album a tad underwhelming and samey.


Dingly Dell - 1972


The band then drifted along for several years, releasing another underwhelming album (that they were disappointed in too) in this one before experiencing a brief and unexpected comeback at the height of punk/new wave. It's a shame to express these sentiments about Lindisfarne, because they also produced several really good songs, but neither of these two albums have particularly grabbed my attention.

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Back And Fourth - 1978


Released at the height of punk, this was more of an AOR-type offering, which included the big hit Run For Home (used as the backing for a much-shown (at the time) football clip showing Argentinian player Osvaldo Ardiles, I remember), as well as good tracks in Kings Cross Blues, Woman, Angels At Eleven and You And Me. It was incredibly popular at the time, giving the lie to the popular misconception that everyone in 1978 loved either punk or disco.

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