The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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How much did you spend on recorded music in 2018?

by 60 Comments

A bit related to the HMV news I wonder how much a site of music obsessives spends on music these days. I see people counting down their top 30 physical re-releases and top 50 new ones of the year and wonder of they bought them all or have been listening on Spotify or Apple Music or whatever. I am feeling a little guilty about the amount I spend and a New Year’s Resolution to spend (much) less in 2018 did not last long.

I need to stop going to certain music sites and jumping on perceived “bargains” of stuff I don’t really want or need. Exhibit A: Roxy Music Special Deluxe Edition. I have also started sorting through my vinyl in order to sell a large part of it.

So my New Year’s resolution, buy nothing that I have already, a shiny vinyl re-release, a box set of demos and average live stuff I will listen to once.

My 2018 tally in comments.

Not sure I like listening to music any more

by 68 Comments

I still like going to concerts, I am still buying lots of stuff (mostly reissues) but I probably listen to most of it once or twice and then file it away. I look at people listing 40 or 50 favourite albums of the year and wonder how they do it.

I seem to work up to 11 hours a day, and then when I get home I am more likely to make some food and slump in front of the TV than put a record on. Weekends I concentrate on spending time with my daughter and watch a fair amount of sport.

In the car I am more likely to listen to podcasts or talk radio than music where as people like @Tiggerlion seem to be reviewing multi disc box sets on a weekly basis while also hearing lots of new stuff. Where do they find the time?

This has been going on for years off and on so unlikely to be a temporary thing. Can anybody help me with this problem? Am I a lost cause?

An Evening with Fleetwood Mac

by 15 Comments

Venue:

Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON

Date: 03/11/2018

A chilly evening in the Ottawa suburb of Kanata, which is also where I currently reside. My first time seeing any version of Fleetwood Mac, not just this rather controversial one.

Expectations were not extremely high, I was persuaded to go by a friend of mine who is no fan of the post mid seventies line-up. He is, however, the biggest fan there probably is of the sadly recently departed Danny Kirwan (a member from 1968-72 who later slid into a desperate world of alcoholism and homelessness). Just one of a number of grim tales regarding this band’s ex guitarists. Word on the street was that a Kirwan song would be played.

A decent turn out in the hockey stadium, we settled into our lofty seats in the 300 section and first up was The Chain. Instantly it seemed the harmonies were present and correct and the switch to the instrumental passage at the end ( “Grand Prix” theme music as I will always know it) was genuinely thrilling. Mike Campbell’s guitar work being superb.

A good start, next up stepped Christine McVie somewhat nervously, but beautifully took the lead on » Continue Reading.

Band that you were surprised by

by 45 Comments

Growing up in the UK I only knew Chicago by their soppy ballads that were huge in the charts, the definition of MOR, not something that interested me. On moving to North America I started hearing them on the radio, it was not the stuff that I had heard previously, much more horn based, interesting lyrics and fantastic productions. I still don’t own anything by them (yet), but always a breath of fresh air whenever I hear some of that early stuff.

Which other bands have you misunderstood?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uy0ldI_1HA

White Album 50th Anniversary Set

by 210 Comments

Various formats:

6 CDs + 1 Blu-ray 3 CDs 2 LPs 4 LPs

CD 1 1. Back In The U.S.S.R. 2. Dear Prudence 3. Glass Onion 4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da 5. Wild Honey Pie 6. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill 7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 8. Happiness Is A Warm Gun 9. Martha My Dear 10. I’m So Tired 11. Blackbird 12. Piggies 13. Rocky Racoon 14. Don’t Pass Me By 15. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? 16. I Will 17. Julia

CD 2 1. Birthday 2. Yer Blues 3. Mother Nature’s Son 4. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey 5. Sexy Sadie 6. Helter Skelter 7. Long, Long, Long 8. Revolution 1 9. Honey Pie 10. Savoy Truffle 11. Cry Baby Cry 12. Revolution 9 13. Good Night

CD 3 1. Back In The U.S.S.R. (Esher Demo) 2. Dear Prudence (Esher Demo) 3. Glass Onion (Esher Demo) 4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Esher Demo) 5. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (Esher Demo) 6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Esher Demo) 7. Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Esher Demo) 8. I’m So Tired (Esher Demo) 9. Blackbird (Esher Demo) 10. Piggies (Esher Demo) » Continue Reading.

The Byrds co-founders Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman with Country Music Legend Marty Stuart and his Legendary Superlatives Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sweetheart of the Rodeo

by 22 Comments

Venue:

Egg Center for the Performing Arts, Albany NY

Date: 17/09/2018

Two days earlier I had thoroughly enjoyed a tribute to Gene Clark featuring his son Kai’s band and a host of guest musicians and singers. A special concert, featuring a superb guitarist who was able to somewhat mimic Roger McGuinn’s style on the 3 Byrds songs where that was necessary (Mr Tambourine Man, Feel a Whole Lot Better, Turn! turn! turn!) . I wondered how the Sweetheart of the Rodeo show would live up to that. The rather unwieldly title of this tour reflects, I think, the need to keep David Crosby happy and the aim was to mainly concentrate on the post Crosby era in The Byrds.

Opening with My Back Pages the first set consisted of mainly countryish songs that preceded Sweetheart. As the opening chords rang out, I turned to my concert going companion and said that it sounded just like the Byrds. McGuinn’s voice, never the most expressive of instruments, has weakened but it was recognisably him. Standout highlights of the first set for me were also Time Between and Mr Spaceman,

Following a couple of strong Marty Stuart songs, we got the whole » Continue Reading.

Paul McCartney

by 16 Comments

Venue:

Bell Centre Arena, Montreal, QC

Date: 20/09/2018

Second stop on the “Freshen Up” tour and the second one in Quebec. An almost 3hr miraculous spectacular in Montreal. My first time since 2011, and I surprisingly counted 10 songs that I had never heard live before in 13 previous shows.

Beforehand I had some reservations about how his voice would hold up, but the opening barrage of songs soon made me forget any of the weak doubts that I had. I went with my 12 year old daughter and seeing the delight on her face and hearing her sing along with gusto made it probably my most rewarding concert going experience ever. 39 songs and she said she knew all but 3 of them!

OK, there were some weak moments vocally, but compensated equally by his committed emotional singing on many others, an outstanding band and the sheer amount of love in the room. No one else, I believe, can get such a reaction. Was especially wonderful that he had added a horn section (who just showed up in the middle of the arena) for the first time since 1979, made a huge difference. Sound quality was outstanding even » Continue Reading.

Spotify Recommendations

by 26 Comments

So I am spending a fair amount of time on the road in the US in the next few days. Have taken a free month’s Premium Spotify subscription and now need recommendations to download about 10 albums for the trip.

Macca’s new one is already present and correct, and after perusing here today, his namesake Weller is next. What other newish releases do I need? Prizes will be given for stuff I really like ….

The Predictability of Test Cricket

by 22 Comments

There has been some good test cricket this test summer, but most (not all) innings seem to follow a certain pattern.

1) Flurry of wickets with new ball so that there are around 3 or 4 down fairly quickly. 2) Mid order recovery, balls gets old, batting side gets up to about 250. 3) New ball taken, followed by another clatter of wickets falling. 4) Then tail wags as ball gets a bit older, and bowlers get tired.

This seems to happen at the moment around 90% of the time, advantage ultimately with home side who have wickets prepared to suit them, and the games rarely last past 4 days.

The Afterword Survey

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Given the current “naval gazing” I thought it would be informative to find out who we are. Please answer a few brief questions if you like. I am genuinely interested.

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