Musings on the byways of popular culture
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Sunsheeeeeine!! Gather round the picnic table, everyone, help yourself to something from the hamper and a cold drink from the cooler, then please tell us all – what have you been listening to, watching, reading, or otherwise entertaining yourself with over the last month ?
How are you doing?
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NEARLY OVER!! Here in Glasgow, we are tiptoeing out of lockdown, after 270 days of pretty tight restrictions. How are we all doing ? What has been keeping you going ? What have you been enjoying this last month?
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As we roll gently out of lockdown, please gather round the firepit and tell us what you have been reading, watching, listening to, and – if you feel like it – what has kept you going through lockdown ?
How are we all doing ?
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Jim Dickinson, great producer, performer and all-round mensch, shares some of his wisdom here.
Whole set of them here – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCny7DB-ectfcyNmfJCx58cg/search?query=dickinson packed with great anecdotes and hilarity
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…. as we puzzle over how to change the time on the clock in the car, and settle for remembering it is out for the summer, please gather round and share whatever you have been enjoying listening to, watching, reading, playing or in any other way drawing sustenance from.
Here’s hoping lockdown eases off safely for everyone!
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Whoosh! (or was it?)
Please gather round and tell us all – what have you been watching / reading / listening to / playing / using to stave off the screaming ab-dabs ?
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First Friday in February – Felicitations!
As Paxman says “you all know the rules so we might as well get on with it”.
How was January ? What’s helping you to keep going ?
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A friend of mine is researching for a book on the public’s 10 favourite albums and WANTS YOUR LIST.
I know we will all have opinions on this – if you can put your thinking caps on and send him your 10, that would be lovely. Do let him know that you are from the afterword, too, please.
Here’s his spiel : I am currently doing research for a coffee table book and require your assistance. The book is the 100 best albums of all time as voted by the public. If you could send me your 10 (not 100) favourite albums of all time, you know, the ones you keep going back to or mean something to you, then that would be greatly appreciated. No two albums may be of the same artists. I have deliberated whether ` the best of ` should be included, but yeah ok even though they`re not real albums. Obviously the more results the more accurate, so therefore I am asking if you can forward this to all your contacts. Your top 10 can be sent to email address derektop10@outlook.com
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It’s HERE! IT’S A BRAND NEW YEAR!! Apologies for the delay, but as you can imagine, there were wild festivities to say farewell to 2020 and welcome the new year in.
Anyway, we’re all here now, so please gather round and share – what have you been listening to, reading, watching – and are there any other pastimes you’d like to tell us about ?
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Come gather round, adjust your headset, make sure you are not on mute, and share with us – what have you been listening to, watching, reading, or otherwise enjoying ? What has helped you get through November ?
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It is the first Friday of a new month, so come gather round the virtual firepit, help yourself to a glass of good cheer, and tell us all – what have you been listening to, reading, watching or otherwise occupying your time with?
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STILL HERE! as lockdown continues, please gather round this roaring candle, help yourself to a slice of banana bread, and please tell us all what you have been watching, reading and listening to … and how are you doing anyway ?
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whoosh! It’s that time again, the first Friday of a new month.
So, please gather round this virtual firepit, help yourself to a refreshment, and tell us – what have you been listening to, watching, and reading this past month ?
And how’s the world treating you ?
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WHOOSH! and just like that, we hit the first Friday of another month. Meet the new month, same as the old month.
I hope you are all doing ok – any survival tips are welcome.
The main topic, as ever, is – what have you been listening to, watching, reading over the last month. Anything worth recommending ? Anything new coming up that we should know about ?
Stay safe, stay sane
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You all know the drill. Line up in front of your most carefully curated bookshelf / LP shelf / CD shelf, make sure you are not on mute, and please share with us all – what have you been listening to , watching, reading over the last month ?
And how are you all doing anyway ? Please share any little pieces of joy or any tips for coping with it all
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it’s the first Friday of a new month, as far as these things matter any more, so please check your headsets, unmute yourselves and re-join the zoom call to share with us all what you have been watching / listening to / reading / generally getting up to to get through the current circumstances.
any positives from the experience ?
any suggestions for the rest of the Massive ?
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I’ve been keeping myself entertained by making another collection of instrumentals – I find the whole process soothing, settling in at Tom’s House Of Twang with a guitar and a vibrato pedal, trying to find a beat to play along with …. Anyway, I hope you enjoy them, this is now Volume 4 and all of Quarantunes are on Bandcamp on a “Pay What You Like” basis.
Thanks to those who have chipped in and supported – stay safe, stay sane!
https://tomrafferty1.bandcamp.com/album/quarantunes-volume-4
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This absolute belter popped up today – Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs singing What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace Love & Understanding
Please join and share another uplifting tune, as we walk through these troubled times
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Bandcamp are waiving their fees on all sales today (and on the first Friday of the next 2 months, as well). So if you’d like to help artists, please get on over there – they will get a little bit more from your purchases today
https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/bandcamp-covid-19-fundraiser
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Still here! Still not going out! Please log in to the video conference, pour yourself a cup of something refreshing, make sure you are un-muted, and then share with us all – what have you been listening to, watching , reading or playing this month ?
And – how are you coping ? Any suggestions or tips to share ?
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Hey kids, do you like the rock & roll? Here’s Volume 3 of Quarantunes – some surf, some garage, some Morricone – FREE on Bandcamp. Stay safe, be kind.
https://tomrafferty1.bandcamp.com/album/quarantunes-volume-3
https://tomrafferty1.bandcamp.com/album/quarantunes-volume-3
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If you have some time to spare, here are 55 music docs , on a range of topics, on a range of platforms , covering Amy Winehouse, Charles Bradley, David Bowie, Fela Kuti, Wilco – all kinds
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Hi everyone – hope you are all bearing up under lockdown. I’ve been doing some more home recording – a couple of people had suggested they would like to hear the more reflective pieces gathered together, so that’s what has been keeping me away from the drinks cupboard over the last couple of weeks.
Free, on bandcamp – hope you enjoy it.
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Strange Days Indeed!
It’s the first Friday of a new month (on some parts of the globe, anyway), so, please, come and join in the Zoom session, make yourselves comfortable with a refreshment of your choice, and share with us – what have you been reading / watching / listening to or otherwise consuming in the last month.
Have you been listening to more music than usual ? Comfort-binging on old episodes of Porridge? Baking ?
All best wishes to everyone – stay safe, stay sane
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As part of “stay at home” I’ve recorded a bunch of new tunes in the last couple of weeks. Quarantunes Volume 1 is now available, for FREE, on Bandcamp. Take care of yourselves.
https://tomrafferty1.bandcamp.com/album/quarantunes-volume-1
