As many here might guess, Wilco are my favourite band. They have just postponed their West coast North American tour (I optimistically have a ticket for a show in August). The Tweedy family are housebound and have been broadcasting “The Tweedy Show” almost every night this week (technical problems one night). Challenging time for UK people being at 9.30pm Central Time (currently 2.30 am UK time), but you don’t have to get up for work, right? It is broadcast on Instagram from Jeff Tweedy’s wife’s account – Susan Tweedy “stuffinourhouse”.

Has featured Jeff in the bath, plenty of ribbing in his direction, some scary coughing from Susan and some sublime songs sung by Jeff and the boys, Sammy and Spencer. Also lots of fan interaction, requests etc reported by Susan.

View post on imgur.com

Only my 3rd day working from home, situation in Ontario, Canada is changing rapidly. Schools have been closed since Mon (would be March break anyway), but most doubt there will be a return before summer vacation end of June. All restaurants and bars are closed (except for delivery/take out), think most non essential businesses are closing down in malls etc. I am only going out to get food and tryng to avoid it as much has possible. Borders are basically closed now except for Canadians and permanent residents. Only about 10 cases in Ottawa so far, but 3 are people who work closely with a colleague’s daughter (all caught in Austria I think), so it is already getting close. And I am reasonably high risk because of Crohn’s and medication I am on for that suppressing immune system.

To be honest I am struggling a bit. Have been close to tears on occasion. My daughter is with me for an extended period of time and I am trying to put a brave face on the situation. I am, anyway. somewhat prone to getting a bit down about things and lots of stuff I would use to combat this, seeing friends » Continue Reading.

Monmouthshire Merlin 15th Sept 1866

EBBW VALE.

OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA.—It is with deep regret we have to announce a serious outbreak of cholera in this place, and the adjoining village of Victoria. The first fatal case occurred on Friday, in, we believe, Limestone Row, Newtown, in a house inhabited by an Irish family, and very much overcrowded. One report says there were 27 persons in the house; but we believe the correct number is 15. The epidemic continues to spread. Up to Tuesday night 12 deaths were reported in Newtown, seven of which took place on Sunday. Three deaths have occurred in the Forge, and several fatal cases in the town. Nearly 20 deaths have occurred in Ebbw Vale and Victoria up to Tuesday night. We hear that only one death occurred on Tuesday. the greatest alarm has prevailed among the people since the outbreak. On the fact becoming known to Mrs. Darby, she at once despatched a telegram for a large supply of disinfectants, and entrusted them to Mr. Henry, town agent, for gratuitous distribution amongst the inhabitants. On Sunday Mr. Henry’s house was visited by hundreds of persons with bottles for supplies. We are under lasting obligation » Continue Reading.

Is it just me but is the coverage from The Guardian completely hysterical? Every day there brings masses of new doom and gloom news. Is it just click bait or is their coverage reasonable?

Today we have an article stating 250,000 people in Scotland might need to be hospitalised with 80% of the population catching the virus (currently 1 person has it). Also a warning of stockpiling and “food riots”. This is typical of their coverage with each day producing yet more desperate news, with minute by minute updates seemingly designed to scare us half to death and cause panic amongst their readers.

For me the Canadian coverage seems more balanced, reporting new cases, but realising there are other things in the news too, and it doesn’t need to be the main story at all times.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/02/scotland-says-250000-could-be-hospitalised-if-coronavirus-spreads

Slade guitarist fired for “planning to marry Rosemary West”

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/SLADE+GUITARIST%27S+JOB+HAS+GONE+WEST%3B+Sacked+for+love+of+Cromwell…-a096940862

Scarcely believable but they keep going, US tour plus 1 Canadian date, unfortunately nowhere near me. Buffalo is probably the closest about a 5 hr drive.

And just for @Tiggerlion Mick mentioned they are working on a deluxe Goat’s Head Soup as well as a new album.

https://rollingstones.com/tour

If you want to know who the hottest musical property in the world is right now, look no further …

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/14/james-bond-billie-eilish-to-provide-no-time-to-die-themehttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/14/james-bond-billie-eilish-to-provide-no-time-to-die-theme

Found this site today. Best ever albums list aggregated from over 40,000 separate charts that have been submitted to the site.

Plenty of the usual suspects, Radiohead surprise me, not that they feature, but so many of their albums. Few other surprises, Neutral Milk Hotel at 14? Wtf? Never heard it, maybe it is a masterpiece. Personally happy to see Yankee Hotel Foxtrot at 45.

If you don’t like it, add your own list and change it!

https://www.besteveralbums.com/overall.php

For me, can only be this one.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kszLwBaC4Sw

Enough of Northern Irish politics, solving Labour party issues and worrying about who “Croz” is, here are my top 15 gigs of the decade if anybody cares. Feel free to add yours …

1. Paul McCartney – Sept 20 2018, Bell Centre Montreal

Not actually the best concert of his I have seen or even the best live music I heard in the last decade, but I took my then 12 yr old daughter and hearing her singing along, seeing her dance and the wonderment on her face made this the best concert going experience I have had. Real horns helped too.

2. Kate Bush – Sept 24 2014, Eventim Apollo, London

I never thought this would happen, who did? I avoided spoilers before flying over and showed up knowing (almost) nothing about what she was going to do. Not without some minor issues (son Bertie), but a stunning theatrical experience that I doubt we will ever see the like of again, She sang magnificently and the closing Cloudbusting had me in tears (not for the first time, that night)

3. The Zombies – Apr 1st 2017, Le National, Montreal

Odessey and Oracle in full from the front row, doesn’t » Continue Reading.

Greetings from “Winterlude” in Chicago. A fairly astonishing evening last night, looking forward to another show tonight!

https://youtu.be/SlucrrJ5exo

It’s only Dec 6th but the charts are once more taking on a familiar look:

[see first comment]

Am guessing this is a result of streaming (mainly), want a good pension plan? Write a Christmas hit! Wonder if what is played in stores now count for the charts as this kind of breakdown seems to be especially early this year.

This was sold at 9am UK time today only by badlands.co.uk.

Rather a surprise after the bootleg series version was only released a couple of weeks ago. I decided not to get up at 4am to try and score a copy. Apparently it sold out in less than a minute, possibly less than 1000 copies available. Anybody get one?

Always one of my favourites in my youth. Long run up, idiosyncratic action, very fast. RIP.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/04/bob-willis-former-england-cricket-captain-dies-aged-70

Who could the artist be (no googling!) ?

(first comment)

Yikes!

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/nov/28/wilco-jeff-tweedy-home-shot-chicago

Usual rules, first 5 songs that come up on random and you have to be perfectly honest!

1. Daniel and the Sacred Harp – The Band 2. There’s Always Me – Elvis Presley 3. Help Me Rhonda (live) – Beach Boys 4. Love or Money (extended version) – Prince 5. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow – Dusty Springfield

I was very very drunk, I fell down some stairs in a Paris nightclub (mid 80s) and chipped both my front two teeth. They were patched up for a decade or so. Finally mid 90s I got crowns for both of them. These have fallen off and been replaced periodically. One of them has now finally given up the ghost and I need an implant or a bridge. The implant is recommended because the bridge (while cheaper) would also infringe on healthy teeth around my deceased front one.

So apparently I need to see two specialists, one who will extract the remains of the tooth and put in the metal rod part of the implant and the second will make the new tooth and put it in. Will take several months allowing for healing. The cost $8000!! (=5000 pounds), about 50% to each specialist. This is about double what I was hoping for. Naturally it is (mainly) not covered by my dental insurance through work. Is this cost normal? Anybody else had similar work done?

If this is really the case then I think I have bought my last box set …

In an idea stolen from the excellent SDE website. Let’s match up albums from similar eras against each other. It helps if they have an equal number of tracks, but each contributor may make judicious changes to the track orders to balance them if they want.

First all star match up in the comments.

https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/feature/the-hits-album-versus-now-4/#more-154227

I was lying back in the dentist’s chair a few minutes ago, being given the news that I needed an implant costing $5-6,000 🙁 Naturally there was some music playing at low volume in the background to hopefully soften the blow. The track was “Come On Eileen”. I do own this track (I bought Too Rye Aye on release). but even if I had never played it I think this song would be the one I have heard more than any others. Maybe a Beatles song would be second, Hey Jude probably.

What do you think are yours? Doesn’t have to be a track you own, naturally.

So this week we have 3 of my top 7 or 8 favourite artists all having new entries in the top 20 (without me buying any of them).

11 – Western Stars Songs From the Film – Bruce Springsteen 13 – Three Chords and The Truth – Van Morrison 17 – Colorado – Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Additionally Bay City Rollers are straight in at 20, Queen are as 12, The Beatles are at 21 and Elton John is at 27.

What does this all mean? Not much really, but it’s nice to see more names I recognise in the charts.

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/

How many do you own? A prize for anyone in 3 figures.

I managed a creditable 6:

Lana Bowie Cohen PJ Radiohead Kate

https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-2010s/

Inspired by @Tiggerlion ‘s dissection of Transfomer, let’s reduce classic (or almost classic)( albums to the 4 really necessary tracks. Why say it in 40-45 minutes when 12-15 minutes is enough.

Lou Reed – Transformer

1. Walk on the Wild Side 2. Satellite of Love 3. Perfect Day 4. Vicious

All you need. I am sure we can all think of more …

According to fb.

” Announcement. Ginger is critically ill in hospital. Please keep him in your prayers. Thank you everyone “

Shockingly I think I have read only 2 of them, Bob Dylan’s Chronicles Vol 1 and Martin Amis’ Experience.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/21/best-books-of-the-21st-century