I think it is a great album, but it just dosn't fit with the rest of the albums. I can remember thinking "what the feck is this" when it was released! Over time I have grown to like and enjoy it for what it is, great celtic/folk rock album. There are so many layers to the sound, it is amazing.

I saw Russell Webb perform "Iona" and "Fields" on 27/02/10, just him and an acoustic guitar, the raw emotion he generated with those two songs was amazing. Sadly I wasn't able to make the gigs last weekend, but having watched "Fields" on youtube it really "worked" with a full band as well. I listened to the studio recording afterwards and thought that Bruce got it just right, his arrangement stayed really faithful to the original recording.

It would be interesting to hear the rest of the album in a live setting. Russell was planning to do "The Men Of The Fall" with his bass line transposed to acoustic guitar, but it didn't happen on the night. He did play it when he ran through his set at my place and it sounded really good.

Now EMI please can we have a cd release of Joy, which in retrospect is a better sounding album  than we thought it was back then..

I'm totally with you Grey Parade on having a CD release of Joy. Interesting that you mentioned "The Men of the Fall" as this is possibly my favourite track on the album. I also happen to think this is possibly RJ's best recorded vocal performance.

And to hear the whole album performed live ..well that would be excellent. An idea for the future maybe.

Uuurghg, cannae stand Joy.

But loved the renditions of Fields live.

Converted? Maybe in time ....

Suz xx

Well Cob, you can confirm this to the body o' the Kirk - I have been full of praise for the JOY album since joining this wee site. With the exception of 2 songs (Yes, Waltzing is one of them) I think JOY was a much under-rated release. I was aware that 'Fields' was going to be played live on Saturday night and as I have said in a previous post, they nailed it. Richard put everything he had into the vocals and it is the one song that, for me, was the stand out track of the night.

Its good to hear others praising JOY, as opposed to it being put down all the time, and having read the previous post with interest, I too would LOVE to hear JOY 'live'.

You reading this Richard ??

Oh, Oh, Carry On !!!

braveman

LOL Gav .... I have tried sooo hard ... umpteen times I have put that album on ........ skipped through tracks ..... got to the end and had to grab Sweet Suburbia or similar upbeat tracks just to make me feel better ....... but to be honest Scared To Dance just doesnt do it for me either (sorry) ummm and a few others .... Hurry On Boys for example ... I can listen to it ...dont hate it but ..... would rather not listen to it .... :)

In fact .... last time EVER I will play JOY after dinner and probably come to the same conclusion , hearing a song live can be totally different from listening to an album though

I must also add though ..... THE ARMOURY SHOW !!!! lots of great songs ......

/me runs away and hides behind a chicken curry

ARMOURY SHOW - Now your talking my language. I read an article on the Armoury Show fan site, that they are trying to get Waiting for the Floods re-released. What an absolute GEM of a cd and its a crime that it did not do better than it did.

To all those who have not heard it - make the effort, you will not be disappointed !!

braveman.

Joy Joy Joy

is a brilliant album.I remember the first time I heard it, when it came out, it blew me away. Not just because it was so different but of the quality of the songs. I love matilda! It is so different from the other albums. Bands get slated when they change direction. i would rather listen to something different than say a band like quo churning out the same crap for years.I remember the press went to town on it . The 3(real?) skids albums are all different and I feel they were a band far ahead of their time. I can understand why people dont like Joy as it is so different, but its not as bad as say the clash last album. I too would love to hear it live. i agree with cob about hurry on boys. I used to always skip it, but after hearing it live at the weekend it has given it a new lease of life. anyway, will ye no come back again!

quickest album in the world for me to get through : Blood And Soil and also Fields are ok , but dunno what it is about the other songs, too Scottishy, too folky, one sounds a bit like medieval England, expect Robin Hood to jump out the monitor or something.

There are a lot of great noises and production techniques though, some really good screechy noises that sound like a Scary Monster!!! raaaaah!!! .. sorry I mean very David Bowie-esque , which I like a lot! but as songs to enjoy go a jist cannae dae it .... :(

I love the joy album. Granted there are a couple of dodgy tracks but Brothers, Iona & Matilda I Love.

And as for Hurry on Boys as some have mentioned. It's one of my favourites..a bit of "Scottish Country Dancing"!!

 Another standout track for me is 'BROTHERS". Russell's bass riff is enormous and the whole drive and force of the drum beat is great. 

A strange thing I realised some years ago is that I don't bother much with lyrics when I listen to music and I rarely sing a long to songs I listen to with the EXCEPTION of Skids music. Joy is an album that when I play it I have to sing along with it for the whole album. I love the lyrics and used to be able to sing them almost without looking at the lyric sheet.

For me its just that kind of album that grips you on an emotional level just like all the other Skids albums!  For me it is a well named album as it is simply a Joy and I can't think of another album by an artiste that sounds anything like it.