Neil Tennant
(Pet Shop Boy)
Colin Blunstone - One Year (1971)
I got this album because I saw him on the Old Grey Whistle Test performing with a string quartet. I've always liked string quartets, as you can probably tell from Pet Shop Boys records. The big hit was Say You Don't Mind. It's a very energetic song but it's driven by the strings and that's unusual in pop. He has a very delicate voice: I think he's the missing link between Dusty Springfield and Nick Drake. It's an incredibly romantic album, which is why it's been with me such a long time. Nick Drake, who was his contemporary, has had his reputation rehabilitated and I'm surprised that hasn't happened with this album. It is a genuine underrated classic. It's got a lot of the great songwriters of the time, like Rod Argent, Mike d'Abo, Denny Laine and Tim Hardin. I met Hardin once when I worked at Marvel Comics. He wanted to write a comic book. Then he borrowed £5 off me and left. He died owing me £5.
