A Tower Of Songs: Martha Wainwright's Favourite Albums | Page 9 of 14 | The Quietus

Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

8. Fleetwood MacRumours

My mother introduced me to that record and I remember when she played it for me – it just blew my mind. I think I was about 15. We had moved into an apartment, she and I, and so much of what she had played for me, so much of what was in her record collection was very traditional music. It was very gritty, very intense and plain against the contrast of this incredibly produced album of perfection. You could see how much it excited her too and how it really speaks to so many artists. Even the weirder, quirkier ones really do sometimes secretly wish they could write great pop songs and make an album that sounds like Rumours – it’s the dream. It’s the really expensive record that took two years to make and everyone’s doing shit loads of coke. You’re like… that’s not really supposed to work but for some reason it absolutely did! It just really worked and you’re like ‘oh my god – this is amazing!’

Selected in other Baker’s Dozens: Suzi Quatro, UNKLE, Brix Smith-Start, Trans Am, Alan Mcgee, Sam Fox
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