P. F. Yardley's profile

OMD at their most diverse (and best), 17 Nov 2008

This album was a commercial disappointment following the huge success of the bands previous (third) LP 'Architecture & Morality'. I bought it when it was first released back in the early/mid eighties and found it quite difficult to get into. With its re-release this year with the added tracks (following the re-release with bonus tracks of the first three albums) it's brought the album to my attention again. Having re-listened to it a number of times I believe this is possibly the bands best work. It could almost be considered a concept album where the tracks each seem part of the 'complete' album. McClusky's vocals are pushed to the limit on my favorite track 'International' amongst others… Read more

A must have for Minder fans, 17 Nov 2008

Another nicely packaged box set containing all five Xmas specials from this classic series spread over three disks. The first 'special' form 1983 is not an episode in the sense its Arthur, Terry and Dave in the Winchester Club looking back, with the aid of flash backs, at the scrapes they've got into during the early series of the show. The second and third specials from '84 and '88 are 'proper' stories (they run a little longer than those in the normal series) and include the final appearance of Patrick Malhide's excellent Albert 'Charlie' Chisholm. With Gary Webster's Minder appearing in the 1991 xmas episode this completes the first two disks. The gem of this collection though is the… Read more

Past its prime but still excellent!, 11 Nov 2008

First aired in September 1985 the sixth series is the penultimate 'Terry McCann' release. With only six episodes (compared with eight in series five and up to thirteen in the first four) value for money compared to earlier releases is not so good. The individual episodes are consistently enjoyable with the droll DS Chisholm arguably stealing the show in a number of them. Dennis Waterman's Terry is maybe getting a little long in tooth as a hard man whilst George Cole's Arthur is as good as ever. At the time of filming this was possibly going to be the final series finishing with the brilliant Xmas special 'Minder on the Orient Express' (available on the 'Specials' collection).
In… Read more