ThinkOTB Agency

National Album Day

October 12, 2018

The inaugural National Album Day takes place on Saturday 13th October to celebrate the much-loved 70th birthday of the format. The week-long event hopes to reignite admiration and interest for the art-form, proving that it isn’t just ‘old’ people or hipster-wielding-music-lovers that are still consumed with purchasing, collecting and enjoying albums and records.

We trawled the office this week at OTB and asked some of our staff to get nostalgic about their favourite music memories. Here’s what they came up with:

Luke Brown, Technical Director, Fleetwood Mac – ‘Rumours’

“Fleetwood Mac at their very best. Classic tracks cleverly put together in a very eclectic way by multiple vocalists and a BIG powerful range of instruments to be one of the best rock albums ever made. (It has nothing to do with rumours about me or the F1 theme tune on the album!)”

Mark Davies, Managing Director, Rod Stewart – ‘Atlantic Crossing’

“Firstly, the album contained one of Stewart’s most acclaimed songs. “Sailing” which was used in ‘Sailor’ a major BBC television documentary series about life on board the fourth HMS Ark Royal, a British aircraft carrier. It followed the ship on a five-and-a-half-month deployment to North America. Secondly, as a youngster it captured my imagination and probably played some part in my own aspiration to become a sailor – later becoming a Yachtmaster and skippering a team in the ARC (race) across the Atlantic in 2016.”

Dave Easton, Creative Director, A Tribe Called Quest – ‘People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm’

“First album I bought (on tape) and like all first loves – unforgettable.”

Matt Sperling, Motion Design Intern, The XX – ‘I See You’

“After a hiatus, Jamie Smith returned to get the band together following a widely acclaimed solo album.  The XX came back with this incredible album with personal notes deriving from Oliver Sim’s internal struggles with depression and alcohol. With Oliver’s and Romy’s voices being so distinctive as well as their unique guitar accompaniment, the album carries a balanced form enhanced by Jamie’s mind-blowing synths and beats.”

Sarah Shuck, Account Manager, The Stone Roses – ‘The Stone Roses’

“Growing up near Manchester, the Stone Roses were a huge influence. This album summed up that era for me. The band even moved to my home village of Lymm at one point! I loved every single track and still belt out the words in my car when no one is listening. It takes me back to my school days and a great time in my life. The album sounds just as good today as it always has. Saw them live at the Manchester – one of my favourite gigs ever!”

Niall Ballinger, Copywriter, Kendrick Lamar – ‘Good Kid, m.A.A.d City’

“In a rap world that is dominated by impersonators sporting face tattoos and hooked on prescription drugs, Kendrick Lamar remains true to the essence of rap music with lyrics of substance and clever wordplay. The album itself unfolds like a play: beginning with a 17-year-old Kendrick obsessed with chasing skirt, then taking the listener through the gang violence that plagues his native Compton, to present day where he has managed to make it out and into stardom. It’s a masterpiece.”

Jo Waddington, Managing Director, De La Soul – ‘Three Feet High & Rising’

“It remains an ‘old’ mum favourite.”

Sam Walsh, Art Director, The Gaslight Anthem – ‘The 59 Sound’

“Can’t fault it. Absolutely perfect from start to finish. It was the album that introduced me to The Gaslight Anthem. I can still remember being blown away by everything about it. The band are currently on hiatus, but they toured earlier this year to celebrate The ’59 Sound’s 10-year anniversary. They played the album in its entirety. That was a good night.”

Sam Holden, Senior Account Manager, Fleetwood Mac – ‘Rumours’

A fab album, a great backstory and it reminds me of my childhood.” (so good it’s been picked twice!)

Jennie Stubbs, Account Manager, Ed Sheeran – ‘Divide’

“As a fellow redhead, I enjoy belting out and harmonising to Sheeran’s dulcet tones.”

With the British Phonographic Industry estimating that 5 billion albums have been sold in the UK since the format’s birth in 1948, perhaps we would all do well to remember why it has a rightful place in our culture and hearts. What will you be listening to on National Album Day?