Musings on the byways of popular culture
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After nine years of routine bloods, my liver has finally given up tolerating 6-Mercaptopurine.
I have a GP appointment in two weeks, and gawd knows how long before I see my NHS consultant.
So that I can bone up prior to seeing the GP, what are my options?
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For a change, more than one I’m interested in.
Talking Heads – live at the Agora (2 x 45rpm cut of this heavily-bootlegged Warners radio show) Sunhouse – Crazy on the Weekend The Colourfield – Virgins & Philistines expanded
In my ‘maybe’ pile:
Dreadzone – Second Light Jackie DeShannon – demos Suede – Sci-fi Lullabies 2
https://www.recordstoreday.co.uk/rsd-list?syclid=cuihekoguric73dhljl0
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My mastering engineer chum who works at BBC Archive pulled an all-nighter to recover the tapes to bring us this on Friday night, instead of a repeat of an ABBA compilation.
“1960s It Girl-turned-arthouse singer Marianne Faithfull exudes charm in a performance in front of an intimate audience of friends and fans at LSO St Luke’s in East London.
A great band accompany her for an eclectic mix of songs from her critically-acclaimed covers album Easy Come Easy Go, including The Decemberists’ The Crane Wife 3, Morrissey’s Dear God, Please Help Me, Dolly Parton’s Down From Dover and Randy Newman’s chilling In Germany Before the War.
There are also dips into the past, with her first ever live performance of the original 1960s arrangement of As Tears Go By, and the early Jagger-Richards song Sister Morphine.”
Overseas AWers, PM me for ‘help’.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jzk8b/bbc-four-sessions-marianne-faithfull
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Obituary
Singer Marianne Faithfull dies at 78
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One for the younger AWers, perhaps.
FWIW, I’ve heard two of them.
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No, but *you’re* blubbing
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Obituary
It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, “Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.” It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.
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80 tracks, but no Gerry Rafferty.
https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/now-thats-what-i-call-an-era/
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The next vinly afternoon in the cafe has the theme of mid-80s movement ‘The Big Music’, because I had audience requests for both Simple Minds and The U2. And, tbh, because I had to write something for the parish mag with an hour to print deadline, and my mind was totally blank.
Scotland: ver Minds, the Waterboys, etc. Wales: The Alarm Ireland: U2 England: errm?
I ask the AW Hive Mind, which English act grew mullets, waved flags, frequented castles, and generally acted like knobs?
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“The Last Dance – Scottish rock band R*nr*g’s 2018 poignant farewell concert.”
Not sure what all the fuss is about? I suspect after 183 minutes you will have formed an opinion.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000ty27/runrig-the-last-dance
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UK vinyl sales rise again (by 13.5%) to 6.7 Million, and CD sales level off (down by just 2.9%) to 10.5 Million.
Ladies dominate the album charts.
No home-grown talent in the UK Top 10 singles. Whatever a single is, nowadays.
I’m suprised vinyl sales continue to grow that much, given how prices have risen. I’ve certainly bought fewer new full-price releases. Thirty five quid for a single album? Are you ‘aving a giraffe?
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“A 2019 performance by the band in the ruins of the cathedral, including Ghost Town, Too Much Too Young, Rat Race, Gangsters, Do Nothing and A Message to You Rudy”
According to Sir Horace Gentleman on a recent podcast, there will be more than one live album from the gigs at Coventry Cathedral coming in the new year.
https://www.mytelly.co.uk/tv-guide/listings/channel/602/sky-arts.html?dt=2024-12-20
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This might be worth a watch. Overseas AWers PM me for ‘help’.
“The inspirational story of how a group of working class kids growing up in post-industrial Glasgow dared to dream. Those kids became Simple Minds, the most iconic and influential Scottish band in history.
Hidden hand events – including the punk explosion, the emergence of MTV and the impact of Live Aid – appeared out of nowhere to propel Simple Minds, not only into its existence and on to global success, but also to reboot the band.
At the very heart of Simple Minds dwells the ongoing friendship between Jim Kerr and his songwriting partner Charlie Burchill. The pair met in the shadow of a brand new Glasgow council tower block in 1967 and subsequently forged a relationship that changed both their lives in a way that neither of them could ever have imagined.
Everything Is Possible is a music-inspired human interest story imbued with social history, politics and activism. It features previously unseen family and band archive along with iconic footage from Live Aid and the Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute, and is set to Simple Minds’ cinematic songbook of hits and rarities, including I Travel, » Continue Reading.
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Well, this is a surprise… ACR recycle the chords from their 1989 nearly hit The Big E as a festive tune dedicated to support workers.
“Dedicated to workers at the NHS, homeless charities, mental health crisis centres, care homes and all the people who give up their time to help the sick and homeless in our towns and cities.
Consider donating or helping in other ways: https://mhp.org.uk/how-to-help/ Direct link to donate: https://mustardtree.org.uk/donate/donate-money/
Film by Marta Ruly/NEOMR Media
Now and Laughter is taken from A Certain Ratio’s new EP Christmasville UK. The EP Includes remixes from the bands last album: It All Comes Down To This”
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Another tape from Timmy Mallett’s loft, digitised and heard for the first time in 40+ years.
https://audioboom.com/posts/8620090-paul-weller-piccadilly-radio-birthday-special-1984
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19/07/2025
My Christmas has come early with the announcement of a reunion show by Fareham’s finest septet.
Their two proper albums have made it to Spotify, final odds-and-sods round-up, Tremendous Magic: Lost Songs 2008-2012, is still on Bandcamp.
Tickets are only a tenner. See you down the front.
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Potential flat occupants: don’t want to hear noise in the evening? Then don’t buy a flat next door to a live music venue!
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23/11/2024
My monthly vinyl playback sessions in the village cafe were paused in early 2020 by the great unpleasantness. The cafe is pretty small and is a lot busier since then, and I’m immunosuppressed so not keen on enclosed spaces packed with people and their germs.
One of the old hospital buildings has been renovated as a not-for-profit community resource with office space, meeting rooms, a yoga/dance studio, a microbrewery, pizzeria, cafe/bar and stage.
It is “soft-opening” tomorrow and Saturday, with the full opening in January.
I’m going to be playing records on a Rega Planar 3 from about 3pm until a DJ takes over at 6pm. We were supposed to be having live music in the evening, but the drummer double-booked himself. Insert your own joke about drummers and time-keeping here.
Anyhow, Saturday’s theme will be… Compilation Albums.
I will buy a cuppa for any AWers who turn up and introduces themselves.
I’m a sucker for a BFI Blu-ray/DVD double-disc set.
Between HMV and the Dodgers, most of them are currently 8 quid or thereabouts.
Dance Craze (the Two Tone tour film), up there with Stop Making Sense if you ask me, is £9.95
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Obituary
The Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes hit maker, Bradley Hardacre in Brass, Geoffrey in Not Going Out, canal enthusiast, Mr Prunella Scales, and star of some other high-brow stuff.
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Fresh from Jake Shears’ last solo album hitting #197 in the Belgian charts, the Scissor Sisters are back with a 10-date tour of the UK, to celebrate 20 years of their debut album (available on 20p CD in any charity shop).
Featuring Jake and, um, the other two, but not Ana Matronic, nor the drummer, nor the Goodies-adjacent touring multi-instrumentalist fella.
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First album denied a release. Dropped by label. Second album wins Brit Award. Third album lost (in stolen car).
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The Smiths at the Derby Assembly Rooms, introduced by a familiar-looking fella in white jeans and a black leather jacket. Well, it was 1983.
Next week is AWB in Miami, 1975.
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This 2015 Sound On Sound magazine article popped up on my socials. What better way to spend a Sunday morning?
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-cowboy-junkies-sweet-jane
