Every
January I take a front row seat at the Transatlantic Sessions at Celtic Connections Glasgow. This is a very unique concert and is about the
band firstly and live bands don't come
much better than this one! The musical
directors are Shetland fiddler Aly Bain and dobro player Jerry Douglas.
Transatlantic Band. Ruth Moody, Declan O’Rourke, Tim O’Brien, Aly Bain, Jerry Douglas, Russ
Barenberg, Danny Thompson, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, Darrell Scott, Bruce
Molsky
There is a real earthy sound here. Folk tunes, as Dylan found out, touch a deep place and yes
you can play the tunes over and over. The top class singers are centre stage surrounded by the warm tones of the traditional instruments - banjo, fiddle, cello, mandolin, accordion, dubro.
TS Singers include
some of the most iconic Scots, Irish and American celtic folk voices - such as Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, Cara Dillon, Darrell Scott, Tim O'Brien,
Paul Brady, Julie Fowlis.
Folk music has stood the test of time and much like good
wine gets better with age.
Today the Industry would put Bob Dylan, Sandy Denny, Rab Noakes, Paul Simon – all the great legends and outstanding talents of the 60s and have them in ‘backrooms’ studios to write for singers such as – Frankie this, or Johnny that, or Elvis shake your hips – so they can sing ( as Dick Gaughan put it) about what it is like at summer camp – I despair!
Fortunately in the 60s there was more creative freedom, and artists were able to stand up for what they believed in. There were several reasons for this –
There was a lot more money in the music industry; bands played at club nights and social venues; solo artists played residencies at bars and clubs.
I know there still are wonderful venues in places like London (the Troubadour, Bedford, RegalRoom, ) and Glasgow (Oran Mor, King Tuts, Nice n Sleazys ) and there are still many promoters who care about independent music.
My son’s band played recently at a ‘Grease the movie’ party and had so much fun covering those classic songs of the 70s. They also played some Motown and such great bass lines for him to play. They played an 8 song set and everyone was dancing and having a great time. After the DJ set came back on and it was so dull by comparison to the ‘live’ band. They could easily have played for longer. I told my son that’s what it was like at the clubs back when. There would be a DJ in one room and a live band in another room. The live band was so much better ( well usually) than the DJ.
It’s all about a fast profit today though and DJs are so much cheaper - and all the cheap club nights now.
The sad thing is now bands feel its’ a performance with the audience standing to listen. When I saw Aloe Blacc here last year – he attempted to make a path in the audience for those who wished to dance. Folk singers used to simply play in bars while ‘audiences or rather customers simply sat and chatted. It was all less rigid and formal – it’s all so formal now. I’m talking here about learning the craft of live music. Once a band or artist is established and people pay to hear them, that’s a different ball game. It seems that developing artists now spend much less of their time playing live.
It is just as well there were guys like John Hammond who was willing to take a risk with Dylan - after all he didn't look or sound quite right but he had charisma.Now the music industry simply can't afford to take any risks, its too expensive. That's why it is important that we support independent music.
I listen to young artists today and many lack any substance behind their songs.
John Hammond was an American record producer, Civil Rights activist, non-musician and music critic from the 1930s to the early 1980s. In his service as a Talent scout, Hammond became one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music. Hammond was instrumental in sparking or furthering numerous musical careers, including those ofBenny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Count Bassie, Pete Seeger, Aretha Franklin,George Benson, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Bruce Springsteen, He was largely responsible for the revival of delta blues artist Robert Johnson's music (who was a big influence on Dylan) .He also strived for racial integration, not only in the musical frontier but in the United States in general.
There are
‘alternative’ festivals to the mainstream festivals - which are aimed at the more 'serious' music lovers rather than those simply seeking a party weekend.
Cambridge Folk.http://www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk/ Doune the Rabbit Hole.http://dounetherabbithole.co.uk/ Celtic Connections. http://www.celticconnections.com/ Hop Farm with headliners Dylan and Peter Gabrielle is the festival I would head to. but I've not applied to any far away festivals for photo passes this year. I’m not prepared to deal with a tent for two nights, although I know many provide up-market camping with Yurts and more.
In Scotland T In the Park - http://www.tinthepark.com/ is the second biggest UK festival with many well known headliners, offering a wide range of artists but this festival can also be over commercialised. While Rockness http://www.rockness.co.uk/ is a better bet for outstanding scenery and a more alternative, eclectic and indie music line up.
With the recession and debt crisis attendance at festivals was down in 2011. There are also more festivals to choose from as well as there being loads of top festivals abroad with excellent line ups (such as Benicassim http://www.benicassim.org.uk/ ) which offer the hope of better weather and avoiding mud and rain! New Scottish festival Doune the Rabbit Hole is a good bet for seeing up and coming Scottish bands.
The biggest
and best UK festival
continues to be Glastonburyas it pursues its charity approach to avoid being over commercialised. Every
fourth year they have to allow the fields to go fallow to recover. There is no
Glastonbury 2012 however due to a lack of Portaloos and police officers caused
by the London Olympics!. There you go : )
With the Jubilee and Olympics just as well we can think of the debt crisis
after?
Writing
this I realise I've been fortunate to have met and seen live most of these very talented Scottish
Troubadours at their gigs in the past years and I have also taken photos of
them - with the exception of Annie
Lennox and Gerry Rafferty. These talented artists include - Annie Lennox, King Creoste, Dick
Gaughan, Rab Noakes, Karine Polwart, Emeli Sande, Dougie McLean and
Michael Marra. Some have managed to cross over to the mainstream for commercial successes, but for the likes of Gaughan does this matter if he can still tour his music? All these artists follow the music in the first instance, have great strength of character as well as being talented musicians.
*Dick Gaughan - Leads the field. He mixes his
Scottish and Irish roots to great effect and draws on deep traditions of song
craft. Best songs Westlin Winds, Both Sides the Tweed
He's been
touring his songs for over 40 years, while he also does song researching, and
more. He is a true character in every sense with no pretensions whatsoever. His songs have much to say about character,
social inequalities, beauty, truth and more. For Gaughan it is about the song
and its message - while also about his guitar and edgy voice. Worth seeing live
for his chat between songs too. http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk
*Gerry Rafferty - I remember
clearly listening toHumblebums and Stealerswheel small cassettes, before his solo career and
to his many wonderful songs. He was the rare folk singer who managed to cross over to commercial successes - or maybe it was simply easier for talent back then? In the 70s he gave us his biggest hits - the
soaring sax of Baker Street
and the dancing rhythms of Stuck in
the Middle With You, as well as Get It Right Next Time, Right Down The Line and
The Ark. His songs cover the full
spectrum of emotions, they express full-on-energy, questioning cynicism and
mystic spiritualism. He was from Paisley Scotland and his music gave the folk
song a new voice. He cared about the craft of the song and not celebrity or
it’s trimmings. He was an artist in the true sense of the word and had a rare
clarity of artistic vision. Folk pop singer songwriter Rafferty was one of Scotland’s greatest singer
songwriters.http://www.gerryrafferty.com/
*Rab
Noakes played
with Rafferty in Stealers Wheel before going solo. He draws on 50s American rock n roll such as
Buddy Holly and his hero Dylan. Noakes always sings some lesser known classic
songs by respected musicians and clearly respects music back catalogue. Songs - Branch,
Together Forever, Clear Day. Noakes is a straight talking and sincere
man. http://www.go2neon.com/
*Karine Polwart - Of the younger artists she has
the most to say on social injustices and a lovely voice too. She writes about
sensitive political issues, such as alcoholism and genocide. Songs Daisy, Rivers Run. I've met Karine and she is a lovely down to
earth person too. http://www.karinepolwart.com/
*Michael Marra paints colourful images of American legends from
his Scottish perspective. His songs are effective through his slanted
humour. His songs include - 'If Dundee was Africa', 'Bob Dylan's Visit to Embra', 'Grace Kelly's
Visit to Dundee,' 'Muggie Shaw', 'Freda Kohl's Visit to the Tay Bridge Bar',
'Lonesome Death of Francis Clarke',
'Schenectady Calling', 'Letter from Perth',http://www.musical1.com/Michael_Marra/
*Annie
Lennox started out in the Eurythmics with Dave
Stewart (Sweet Dreams) and has gone
on to solo successes worldwide both as a song writer and performer. Annie also
does a lot of work for charities - Amnesty
International and Greenpeace. She and Dave Stewart donated all of the profits
from Eurythmics' 1999 Peacetour to both charities. Lennox is
one of the worlds best selling music artists. http://www.annielennox.com
*Dougie MacLean is one of Scotland’s
premier songwriters and producers. His most famous music is ‘The Gael’ which
was used as the main theme for The Last of the Mohicans. And Caledonia which
has been covered by many other artists and called Scotland's "unofficial
national anthem". He played with the bands Tannahill Weaver and Silly
Wizard. http://www.dougiemaclean.com
I'm not sure where the young
Troubadours are. Yes I know there is KT Tunstall and Paolo Nutini who have had
successes on the festival circuit, yet I am not sure
what these artists are saying to me. A mention here for talented singer songwriters Kim Edgar, Boo Hewerdine, King Keoste and Kris Drever, who tour and play at Celtic.
Exciting New Scottish Artists 2012
*Emeli Sande. I've followed Emeli (previously
known as Adele) since 2006 at her ep launch and it has been very exciting to see
her reap the rewards from all her songwriting work with the successes of her
debut album Our Version of Events,due to be released in America in June. She has a powerhouse soul voice and
distinctive song writing. I met Emeli
at her King Tuts gig and she has such a natural warm smile and was very earnest
about her music. She plays clarinet and piano. http://www.emelisande.com/
*King Creoste - His album collaboration album Bats in the Attic with Jon Hopkins won
him a Mercury Prize Nomination 2011. Creoste draws from folk roots and world
music influences.http://www.kingcreosote.com/
New Scottish Bands - Admiral Fallow,
Dirty Beggars, Rura, Manran... There appears to be more creative activity in
the folk/bluegrass/Celtic rock traditions than in the rock music field. Perhaps
following after the success of English artist such a Mumford and Laura Marling.
Scotland boasts three world scale Arts festivals - T in the Park (second largest
music festival in the UK),
Celtic Connections and Edinburgh
International Festival and Fringe festival. Glasgow
has the most attendances at Arts events of any UK city ( this includes galleries).
As well as the SubClub world famous dance club venue.
Scottish music: Rock of the north - Talk of
independence is giving Scottish culture a boost – especially in the thriving
music scene. The new bands are inspired by the country's traditional music, and
they sing in their own accents too! I found this article below
on the resurgence of Scottish 'pride' in our very unique Scottish heritage - and
it's effect on younger musicians. Many say they now feel proud to include
Scottish roots elements in their music. Plus some Scottish bands no longer feel
they 'have' to be based in London
an can access the wider world via a Scottish base - the Errors, Frightened
Rabbit, Twilight Sad, Admiral Fallow. London is a very over
crowded city metropolis and why should Scottish bands/artists feel they have to
move there to have successes. If you check the artistic breath of Scottish
music its' a huge plus to be free of the 'what's the cool trend' in London. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/
I was
wondering about this - why I have eclectic taste in music and why it is that many
people like to focus on only one or two genres of music. I believe I perhaps I have broad
tastes in music because of my own personal journey in music.
I started
piano lessons when I was seven and the focus then was on simple tunes and then
musical and national tunes. I sang in school and church choirs - sometimes Burns songs. Eventually I moved on
to classical pieces - such as Bach, Beethoven and Mozart. In my teens I got
very into pop music - from Motown, The Beatles, The Stones, Cream and more. I
played Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Elton John on the piano. In my twenties
I got involved with the 'folk scene' in Edinburgh
and enjoyed traditional reels and unaccompanied and harmony singing.
I enjoy all the genres and I
wouldn't want to have to choose between them!
However for some 'music' is about
their image of themselves - how cool or otherwise they see themselves. For
me it's' about music or voices that move me and what makes a good song or melody.
There are
great folk tunes and fairly boring folk tunes; there are also great pop songs
and boring pop songs; there are great classical pieces and dull classical
pieces of music; there are energizing rock gigs and dull rock gigs too. I get
annoyed on Wikipedia or elsewhere when I read the music snobs who think pop music is only for young people and only for commercial reasons... and that
by contrast all classical or jazz
music is wonderful.
Sometimes
it is the simple song that we remember, the endearing folk song that moves us
or the classical piano sonata that touches our heart.
I visited
the recently refurbished Scottish
Portrait Gallery a month
back and left somewhat disappointed. It is housed in an imposing sandstone
building that sits on the corner of Queen
street and down from George Street.The gallery
owns 3,000 paintings and sculptures, 25,000 prints and drawings and 38,000
historic and modern photographs.
I can’t
help but wonder that it’s location amidst the Hanoverian Edinburgh
new town has affected the choice over whose portrait is considered
important enough to be displayed in the new collection – rather than be stashed
in it’s rather full basement. I wasn’t sure what I had expected after reading
the hype but certainly a gallery proud of Scottish heritage and reflecting
both Scottish traditions and Scottish contemporary artists with the main focus
on portraiture. However many of the inclusions appear obscure.
I went with
my two older children and they were not impressed either. They thought the
boring dark images of past kings and queen, who all look the same strangely,
held no interest for them. My son was puzzled by the inclusion of a whole
section of shiny and not very good photos of Asian families which he said seemed rather
incongruous.
The
photographic images that stood out were - Mark
Neville - Port Glasgow Town Hall Christmas Party 2004; Oscar Marzoroli - The
Castlemilk Lads 1963, an iconic image by an Italian photographer; A Photo of Bob
Dylan in Princes Street; the portrait of Robert Burns and of Mary Queen of
Scots on the third floor.
The gallery
celebrates many respected photographers, which is fine, but there lacks an
emphasis on portraiture. Many of the most significant Scottish writers, poets,
artists, and musicians appeared to be missing and the displays seemed ill
thought out. I was puzzled by some of the inclusions as to why they were
considered portraits at all.
Scottish Writers, Poets, Artists and
Politicians Not on Display - Liz Lochead
(Scottish Makar), Carol Ann Duffy, Hamish Henderson, Norman McCaig, Sorely
MacLean, Iain Crichton Smith, Jim Kelman, Alex Salmond, Gordon Brown...
Today I
read an article in the Scotsman (below ) and agreed with so much of it.
(Extract below) Lesley Riddoch points out that the Portrait gallery
appears to focus on the Upper Classes and in this sense does not represent the
inclusive forward thinking Scotland of today.
THE National Portrait Gallery lacks
images of Scots the general public would recognise or could name, writes Lesley
Riddoch, May 2012
Is the Scottish Portrait Gallery capturing the zeitgeist of modern Scotland?
Is it meant to? Reaction to the gallery’s renovation has been overwhelmingly
positive since it reopened at Christmas. There’s no question the building’s
interior looks splendid – but what about the contents? I found myself mightily
disappointed by the relative absence of modern Scots on display and slightly
bored by the much larger areas given over to “imperial history.” Hey ho, I
thought. That’s just me. But then last week, the genial giant and subversive sculptor
George Wyllie died and I found myself thinking about his curious absence from
our National Portrait Gallery. George was universally popular. With the Straw
Locomotive, 80-foot Paper Boat, giant nappy pin outside the Glasgow Maternity
Hospital and Walking Clock outside the bus station, George fused everyday life,
industrial heritage and Glasgow humour together like a master welder.
For a while
‘disco’ went out of fashion and so did the Bee Gees songs. They drew a lot of
attention for their songs for the cult movie Saturday Night Fever in 1977 (Night Fever, More Than A Woman, Jive Talking, You Should be Dancing) and also for the movie Staying
Alive in 1983.
But the
caricature of Travolta in his white suit, while successful did little for the
Bee Gees image, as Disco fever became passé with the advent of punk.
And so the
Bee Gees began writing songs for other artists – the incredible ‘Islands in the Stream’ was covered by
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rodgers. Yet check the BeeGees own version which I much
prefer.
I first
heard the Bee Gees songs when Massachusetts, How Deep is Your Love, Gotta Get a Message
To You were played at the end of Disco dance nights and I thought the close
harmonies and powerful emotions of the songs really stood out.
If you
check their back catalogue they have written so many unforgettable songs.
Recently on YouTube I discovered some amazing clips from a concert the Bee Gees
did in Las Vegas in 1997.
Just two
weeks back I found this song they wrote for Celine Dion ‘Immortality’, yet again I thought wow.
They always
knew the heart of the song, and they never over sang or over played their
songs. Robin Gibb sang Massachusetts and he had an awesome falsetto voice.
He was such a great and unassuming talent.
(Robin's
twin Maurice died in 2003. Robin is survived by older brother Barry Gibb.)
For such a
small country Scotland has had an amazing number of very creative artists and scientists.
People in countries like Japan
think a lot of our indie music. Here are some
great Scottish bands in no particular order. These bands are still out there touring the world.
I took photos of this up and coming Scottish
band Admiral Fallow at King Tuts Glasgow - and I noticed how much fun they
were having on stage. Oddly. I was
checking through my images of new Scottish musicians and posted this blog last
night - and low and behold they are releasing their second album "Tree Bursts
In Snow" Monday 21st and getting
good reviews. I'm getting psychic now!? Admiral Fallow formed in
2007 and is led by singer song-writer Louis Abbott and based in Glasgow. They write and
perform folk/ pop. Their first album “Boots Met My Face” was released in
the UK
and worldwide in 2011. Their song "Squealing Pigs" was used on
NBC's Chuck, featured in a commercial and was performed live on BBC
television's Hogmanay Live 2011.In July 2009 the band headlined the Sunday
night T Break stage at T in the Park. They have also played at the Wee Chill,
Rockness, Loopallu Festival and Insider festivals. The band has supported many
artists - including Guillemots, King Creosote, the Futureheads, Paolo
Nutini, Frightened Rabbit, Belle and Sebastian, The Low Anthem. In 2011 the
band played a UK headline
tour and also attended Austin,
Texas for SxSW 2011. Shows
followed in New York.
UK summer 2011 festivals
included Glastonbury,
Latitude, Cambridge Folk Festival, Green Man, End of The Road. They co-headlined
the HMV Next Big Thing Festival 2012 and are touring for their next album
release 21 May 2012 of Tree Bursts In Snow. The band members are -.
Louis Abbott, Kevin Brolly, Philip Hauge, Sarah Hayes, Joe Rattray. www.admiralfallow.com.
Singer songwriter legend John Martyn, famous for 'May You Never'
'The highlight of my
career? That's easy, Elvis recording one of my songs.' Bob Dylan.
Our most loved singer
song writers become like our best friends.
In ages past there
were Troubadours who toured their songs. It used to
be (not so long ago too) that young artists would get out and perform on the circuit of live folk
clubs, uni refectories and local bars in the UK
and Europe and elsewhere. It used to be not so
long ago that creativity was alive and well in the world of music. Back then it
was all more organic rather than a production line. Musicians then
played 'residencies' where they might hone their song craftsmanship through the varied experience of playing to a live audience. In the 50s singers toured with the Big
bands and money was made through the Publishers Sheet music.
Since the advent of recorded music the
Studio (and therefore Radio too) has taken precedence in music. Recorded music has led to a break down of boundaries of place and time and has also brought about vast changes to
our tastes. The drums of Africa have mixed with the European folk tunes, the
sitar with pop, the jazz clarinet with the violin solo, the rock of The Who
with modern electronica.The advent of
the iPod broadened our taste yet again with thousands of instant tracks. Of
course 'quantity is the opposite of 'quality.'
There are problems
now over who should define or select the great from the average. Who are the
'experts' in music anymore? There are the taste
makers the Labels, the music reviewers and music websites. It used to be that
the Royal Court
would decide which artists to commission - who decides today?
I
read about writers and producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
They
wrote - HoundDog, Stand By Me and many other great rock and roll hits. Yet how
many have heard of these incredibly gifted artists? I don't understand the
system at all and I am not an Elvis fan for a start - give me the singer
songwriter any time. Apparently Elvis added the line to HoundDog 'Aint' nothing
but a rabbit and he ain't no friend of mine.'
For
me the voice of the writer of the song simply has more to say to me.
Quote from Mike
Stoller, 'Beyond the brilliance of his mind and the mastery of his story telling, Jerry had in abundance two beautiful
qualities that guaranteed his immortality. Jerry had spirit and Jerry had soul.
'
'He could sing - and
man, he sang as midnight. By the way he interpreted lyrics, we were sure he'd
grown up in the same ghetto as us,' Quote vocalist Carl Gardener.
It
is only through knowing the 'knowledge' of the 'old' that the young can build
something great. There are still some great Troubadours here in Scotland, who have great individual strength of character and something that matters to say in their voice, music and songs - Dick Gaughan, Michael Marra, Rab Noakes.... I'm just not sure where the young Troubadours are though?
Folk songs
may not grab you first time- but they get under your skin in a more subtle way
and you never tire of them - unlike the simple pop tune.
I'm
always rather puzzled by the loosely defined definitions regarding songs or
tunes between the genres. A song sung by a folk balladeer is a 'folk song'
wheras a song sung by a pop star is a 'pop ballad.'
Folk
singers
and Dylan wrote and sang highly memorable 'folk ballads'. Some pop
singers sing formulaic and forgettable 'ballads'. What is
the difference though, after all I hear some dull
folk songs as well as dull pop songs?
The dictionary
defines the Ballad as - a narrative song
with a recurrent refrain; a slow sentimental song, especially a pop song.
The folk song as - a
song that has been handed down the generations; a modern song that reflects the
folk idiom.
I
was sitting at Prestwick airport and heard
this truly awful whiny song. I asked my
son who it was, he said that ridiculous Justin
Beiber. I said that he reminded me of 'Donny
Osmond' in the 70s and his soppy ballad 'They
Call this Puppy Love'!
Well
that's the difference to me between the folk ballad and the 'soppy pop ballad'? That
song by Beiber is a soppy shallow empty pop Ballad. By comparison Someone Like You by Adele is heart
wrenching with it's honesty of emotion.
Awful
ballads? An example might be James
Blunt's cheesy ballad song 'You Are
Beautiful.' It is so hackneyed and
has those over-used tired old clichés and song formulas. My ears would feel ill on hearing this song
and need to listen to some Dylan to
feel better!
Westlife ballads use those
predictable key changes when the boys manage to rise up off their tall
stools..... oh dear...
The
soppy pop ballad is written to a formula
and lacks emotional realness or any credibility. To
me the difference is 'substance' and having something to say. Those unforgettable folk ballads offer new
insights with imaginative and creative melodies and words. It
is also in the music production.
And
sometimes 'cheesy' can be good too!
The Best Songs
Occasionally a song
comes along that transcend the personal as it has a universal emotion we can
all recognise an share in.
Good Examples - Let
It Be, Imagine, Stand By Me, Here Comes The Sun, Case of You, Something,
Islands in the Stream, Reason to Believe, Sound of Silence,
"National Anthem" written by Del Rey and The Nexus has been confirmed in May 2012 as Lana Del Rey's fourth single from her number one selling album "Born To Die" and will be released on July 9, 2012. Del Rey filmed the official music video for the song in May 2012. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/ I noticed when Born To Die was released in January that the song National Anthem picked up good comments as being a favourite on blogs, youtube and elsewhere. DIY Blog likened the song ‘National Anthem’ to the band All Saints and sees the song as a potential chart hit. Quote:” As a pop song, capable of breaking into the charts - and this is the context we should be putting Del Rey in… it’s a potential no.1 hit.” Quote Kicksnare blog – ‘Leak after demo after leak has hit the net. The latest ‘National Anthem’ is the first track to really catch me since ‘Video Games’….. Her beautiful and unique voice sometimes doesn’t seem to fit the tempo of her music, but ‘National Anthem’ is brilliant… Miss Del Rey, you have finally done it, I am under your spell.’ http://kickkicksnare.com/lana-del-rey-national-anthem/ National Anthem VIDEO - http://www.musicfootnotes.com/lana-del-rey-national-anthem-video The music video for the song premiered on June 27, 2012 and depicts Del Rey as Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Onassis and A$AP Rocky as John F. Kennedy. Del Rey cited the video as "definitely the most beautiful thing" she's ever done. As of June 29, 2012, it has received over one and a half million views.
"Born To Die" is the major-label debut by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey and was released on January 30, 2012 through Interscope Records and Stranger Records. Del Rey's first single from the album, “Video Games” received huge interest on Youtube, now with over 40m hits, and brought about the singer's popularity. Born to Die reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart and became one the fastest-selling albums of the year selling 116,745 copies, the biggest first-week sales of 2012.
