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1,000 records to hear before you die … streamed!

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From the lovely people at Open Culture, a playlist from the book “1,000 records to hear before you die”.

In the past, it would have taken you a lifetime just to track down all of these recordings, much less find time to listen to all of them. Now, you can hear 793 tracks from Moon’s 1,000 picks in the Spotify playlist above. (Brought to us by Ulysses Classical; download Spotify here if you need it). Spend the rest of your life not only mulling them over, but discovering 1,000s more. Despite the title’s reference to mortality, and my somewhat facetious introduction, Moon really means his “Listener’s Life List,” as he calls it, to be a guide for living—and for becoming immersed in music in a profoundly expansive way. (For this same purpose, I also thoroughly endorse The Guardian‘s series “1,000 Albums to Hear Before You Die,” and its reader-sourced addenda. If anyone cares to turn the Guardian list into a Spotify playlist, we’ll feature it here too.)

http://www.openculture.com/2016/02/1000-recordings-to-hear-before-you-die-playlist.html

Best Thing I’ve Heard All Month (January 16)

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! (as an American colleague said to me, last week). All the best to everyone for a rocking 2016.

What is the best thing you heard this month ?

I have stolen mine from the estimable @Drakeygirl – Aretha Franklin, honouring Carole King. She’s the Queen of them all, y’all. What’s your pick ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHsnZT7Z2yQ

Blogger Takeover XI

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It is the first Friday of a new month. I’d like to wish everyone all the very best for 2016 – may it be filled with joy, adventures, music, friendship and prosperity.

As tradition requires me to ask – what have you been listening to / reading / watching , and is there anything else you would like to share?

David Ruffin – Lost Soul

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Interesting article from the good people at Trunkworthy on the great lost soul voice of David Ruffin, who sang on some of the Temptations’ finest – including My Girl and Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – before he was kicked out the band.

He recorded an album for Motown that wasn’t released at the time – but I will be hunting down the collection.

More videos and full story in the linked article – http://www.trunkworthy.com/soul-set-free-the-lost-legacy-of-david-ruffin/

http://www.trunkworthy.com/soul-set-free-the-lost-legacy-of-david-ruffin/

Jerry Lee Lewis 80th Birthday Farewell Tour, Clyde Auditorium, 10th September 2015

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Jerry Lee Lewis is the last king of rock and roll still standing, and tonight’s show was a celebration of his life and career.

The show opened with a young Swiss pianist, Ladyva, who played some sparkling boogie woogie piano to a warm response. Next, Peter Asher and Albert Lee paid tribute to the Everly Brothers.

Then guitarist JamesBurton (who led Elvis Presley’s band from 69 to the end), joined Albert Lee to play a selection of rock and roll standards including Hello Mary Lou and Suzie Q.

Jerry Lee’s sister Linda Gail Lewis and niece Annie Marie Lewis are carrying on the family tradition, rocking and rolling through a set including a great Let’s Talk About Us and a barn-storming Old Black Joe. .

The Killer himself was introduced by a short video where many of his friends paid tribute to him, amongst them Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins.

It is nearly 60 years since he recorded Crazy Arms at Sun Studios in Memphis, and he is still blurring the line between rock and roll and country music. He looks frail now, and he sang more than he played. The Memphis Beats, led by the great guitarist » Continue Reading.

Blogger Takeover VII

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It is (in Australasia at least) the first Friday of the new month, so the time-honoured question rolls round again – what have you been listening to / reading / watching – and otherwise enjoying ? And is there anything else you would like to share?

(This is an open invitation to one and all, it is lovely to see the regular contributors pop in to this virtual pub, and it is always interesting to hear from new visitors)

The Best Thing I’ve Heard All Month

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I liked this when it was released earlier this year. I haven’t been enraptured by what I have heard of Michael Buble’s other work, but this is just soulful joy. It was on the radio again last night and I really enjoyed hearing it – Van Morrison with Michael Buble, Real Real Gone.

What’s the best thing you’ve heard all month?

Blogger Takeover V

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it is a new month! the sun is shining (at the moment). please share – what have you been listening to / reading / watching / and otherwise enjoying ?

(Photo – if attached – is Chris Bailey playing my guitar, which I failed to load to last month’s update)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/364/18329164210_5888a3007d_z.jpg