is 40 years old today, and I’ve never seen it. Probably scared off by the limp reviews and “it ain’t all that” warnings … but No More Lonely Nights is a superb Macca toon. (and no, I’m not posting a video in the box!) Has anyone actually seen it, and is it worth seeking out for a watch? Worthwhile addition to the cannon or a combination of over-estimating one’s abilities and audience acceptance (and/or a (potential) tax dodge)?

Original Iron Maiden singer, 66. He may not have had the range of Bruce Dickinson, but in fairness Bruce hasn’t really got the voice for the early stuff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0l0nnnekdo

The Smiths Should Reunite Without Johnny Marr, Gene Simmons Says: ‘Get Rid of the Guitar Player, Nobody Cares’

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/the_smiths_should_reunite_without_johnny_marr_gene_simmons_says_get_rid_of_the_guitar_player_nobody_cares.html?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawFsaRxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXKIBoQ8Jn21TXb3Fcvi8z43QGLaZplYswx0pmdBRuE84sXSzzqdB0_hpw_aem_Dv9WzaznTuqCf5jYtQIDjA#Echobox=1727998821

My entries to Blogger Takeover have been dwindling over the past 3 or so months. Now OK, work has been busy, my mind often elsewhere, and for the last 6 weeks the house has been in pieces as some much welcomed re-decoration is taking place. As part of this clearance, the stereo was removed, so therefore was all “normal” listening. Spotify moments and YouTube selections (usually of “stuff” I already know) has become the new normal, and whilst 6Music is still perma-tuned station of choice in the car I find I’m no longer enjoying it as much as I once did (this could of course be down to a recent re-brand/re-shuffle/re-centring of the target market – which I am probably no longer part of)

Once decoration was finished, and as a birthday present to myself, I bought a new stereo and eagerly and gleefully set it up. And then stood for about 10 minutes staring at the CD shelves trying to find some inspiration – none came! And it’s still not coming … culturally, I’m at a low

Music – see above. Stacked CD shelves, Amazon Wish Lists, and 6Music not giving any magic (was in that London last week, » Continue Reading.

As the Euros pass into history, the arguments of Gareth’s record become yesterdays news, there is no time for a Summer Break as FPL has re-launched for another season. This means I’m spending too many free moments debating whether having Salah and Haaland in the same team is viable, if an Ipswich defender is a playable 4.0m investment, and longer term planning for International Breaks, fixture congestion around Christmas, and the inevitable knee-jerk transfer required as one of my picks suffers a season-long injury in the first 10 minutes of the opening game. Anybody else want to ruin their Sunday mornings rueing their team and captain selections?

The Afterword League has been auto-renewed – so if you were in last year, you should get entered again. If not, then the code is: izs9mz

If there is enough interest, I’ll also set-up a Head To Head League for added competition and bragging rights

I have been given many, many boxes of CDs (I do love it when friends and colleagues “go digital”, as I’m the beneficiary of their old physical product). One box contains a near full catalogue of Neil Young. Now, I already own some of these but now have a perfect opportunity to fill the gaps. But … when does Shakey become “completists only” rather than “must have”? I’m drawing the line at 1995s Mirror Ball, and 1997s (live) Year Of The Horse.

So what delights am I missing if I set this line in the sand?

Somehow my name and address has leaked out somewhere and a bunch of funking bar-stewards are setting up Car Insurance policies in my name, not paying for them, and then I spend many hours on the phone to Insurance Companies explaining the issue. Some companies refer to their Fraud Teams pretty quickly, others treat my calls with suspicion asking for more an more details (and then probably doing nothing hoping it goes away) I have now got a CIFAS flag on my Credit Report, which has stopped some of them, but not those coming through Third Party Insurance Brokers. And now today, I have been refused extension to my existing Car Insurance policy – no change in circumstances, but the Insurance Company tell me “we have reviewed the risks, and are unable to offer you Insurance”.

I’m bloody annoyed!

I can’t be the only one suffering this – any advice or similar suggestions greatly accepted (becuase I’m running out of ideas and patience)

Which means the prices aint coming down any time soon, but they might stabalise a bit as little Rishi and his mates try to find new ways to keep a lid on price rises (plus I believe they’re waiting for the next Hawkwind Box Set and don’t want to be priced out of the market)

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/11/vinyl-records-uk-inflation-basket-taylor-swift-1989

First release from upcoming album 66 due in May. Why 66? Cos that’s how old he’ll be the day after release. If it’s good enough for Adele …

What does it sound like? Well, it’s Weller-ish innit. First listen: a bit like Sonik Kicks era with a bit of a psychedelic makeover

Is it only me? Have I mucked up a setting somewhere? What are you on about you complete fool?

Well … browsing through these here pages, I’m getting all embedded videos auto-playing. Open a new page from the Updates, again all vids on the page start playing. Quite the cacophony, and quite the annoyance scrolling through and pausing them all.

Anyone else, or am I just “special”?

Green Day have released 11 albums (13 if you count ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, ¡Tré! as individual releases), and now album number 12 (or 14) has snuck out to little fanfare (or I just missed the fanfare, but it’s here now). All those albums were pretty good in their own way – some very good, others a bit “must try harder”. But only one of them was American Idiot – a piece of work that looms large in their history, and deservedly so. It’s 20 years old this year, and still sounds great. Their last album – Father of All Motherf**kers – was a strong effort (unfortunately, not very “sticky” and I can’t recall the last time I played it. Not heard the new one yet, but the first release single – The American Dream Is Killing Me – is not sounding too bad. (note: it does sound like Green Day, so don’t go searching for any new soundscapes or experimentation) Only a full listen to the album when it arrives will prove if it has more staying power than a re-listen when assembling the End Of Year lists.

Since mid-December reports have been coming out of a collaboration between Jon Squire and Liam Gallagher. And today the first fruits of the partnership have seen the light of day. As expected, it does almost sound like a meeting of Stone Rose and Oasis. The lyrics may not be the most insigthful (at one point Liam resorts to reciting the colours of the rainbow), but John Squire’s extended guitar histrionics make up for that. And there is believed to be a full album on the way (not sure when though – I think it might be March), and also a tour together (whether in support of the album or as a co-headliner/special guest thing when Liam tours Definitely Maybe later this year – further fuelling the “Oasis are getting back together – maybe Glastonbury” rumours (very much doubt that will happen – Noel and Liam need to speak to each other first. Unless they are using John Squire as a mediator perhaps?)

… or the sound of a barrel being scraped?

This SDE release is sub-titled “Underdubbed” and consists of the US version of the original album (the vinyl version is a half-speed master), paired with a second disc which is the initial tough mix prepared by Geoff Emerick before Tony Visconti added the orchestral overdubs.

At least they are honest in their advertising “These so-called ‘Underdubbed Mixes’ are not newly created in the studio in 2023, rather they were prepared by engineer Geoff Emerick on 14 October 1973, less than two months before the release of the album.”

The 50th Anniversary of this album I think deserves a bit more … especially if it’s going to cost £50+ (although it does read like a Giles Martin Dolby Atmos job might be coming later)

https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/unheard-early-mixes-of-paul-mccartney-wings-band-on-the-run-to-feature-on-new-reissue/

Despite the inevitable ageing process, The Beach Boys have lost nothing of their immaculate close harmony singing

Youtube would obviously like everyone to go down the premium route, but they will allow free viewing as long as you turn off your AdBlocker. Which I have done, but am still getting the “Service Violation – Allow Ads on Youtube” message. All seems to work OK in Edge, only when I restart Chrome does the issue come about. And strangely, embedded videos don’t seem to be an issue.

I even removed all AdBlock extension, cleared the browser history and cache, and restarted Chrome – still the same message. My limited experience in IT suggests turn it off and on again, so a full restart pending.

Anyone else experiencing this (or know how to solve it?)