Gone suddenly at 79. Annie Hall RIP

We haven’t heard anything of Beatles band and its members for oh, ages now, so the prospect of a four part reissue of Anthology, the book and a nine-part rebooted version of the TV series by Peter Jackson coming this autumn might be of interest to some of us here.

The Beatles – Anthology Collection (2025 Edition): 12LP Boxset

The Anthology Collection 12LP set includes the 3 groundbreaking Anthology albums from the mid-90s, remastered in 2025 by Giles Martin, plus a new compilation, Anthology 4. Containing 191 tracks, the collection’s studio outtakes, live performances, broadcasts and demos reveal the development of The Beatles from 1958 to 2023’s final single, “Now And Then.” Anthology 4 features 13 unreleased tracks and 17 songs selected from Super Deluxe versions of 5 classic albums. In addition to fascinating outtakes from 1963-1969, the album includes new 2025 mixes by Jeff Lynne of “Free As A Bird,” and “Real Love.” Furthermore, Anthology 4 presents 26 tracks previously unavailable on vinyl. Pressed on 180g vinyl, each 3LP set is housed in a triple-gatefold sleeve featuring original art, sleeve notes by Mark Lewisohn, and restored photos for Anthology 1-3. Anthology 4 has new sleeve notes by Kevin » Continue Reading.

In case there is any curiosity here about Tin Machine II, unsaintly follow up to 1989’s TM1, my latest episode of Albumtoalbum begins a new series of conversations with Bowie buff extraordinaire Leah Kardos on the joys and woes (both in abundance) of the final Tin Machine studio album.

Trigger warning: Includes a bit of me trying to emulate Ferry’s warble on “If There Is Something”

With all the doom and horror going on at the moment, it’s important to celebrate one of the biggest purveyors of happiness from the past 60-odd years

Is anyone else feeling like it’s all about to go nuclear in a MAD sort of way? What with your mullahs on this side, your Netanyahus and your Trumps on the other side, I am resigned to the fact that it might not matter now that I didn’t save enough for my tax return.

A clunky headline apologies, but reading Freddy Steady’s lovely journey towards his new Ruark, I remembered those happy occasions when a long-anticipated bit of kit enters the home, cables, polystyrene packing, multilingual instruction booklets navigated, anxious searches for tiny, yet essential components completed, the shock and pleasure of seeing shiny new thing sitting there, awaiting further instruction.

In that moment, what do you reach for? What’s that ceremonious first track with which you christen the new addition to the family?

For me, when I upgrade from an old, cheap deck to a Technics turntable, I wanted to put on this outtake, rich, serpentine and warm.

A new Leak amp joined the gang shortly afterwards. That much-vaunted warmth and smoothness invited me to whack the side with a bottle of cheap pomagne and declare this amp open with this:

Recently, and in no small part to the encouragement of » Continue Reading.

Got fooled again

Tap are back

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/arts/article/spinal-tap-ii-elton-john-and-paul-mccartney-turn-it-up-to-11-h2pxslqkp

Hello all. I’ve revived my David Bowie; Albumtoalbum podcast and for the first episode in ages, have author of The Complete David Bowie, Nicholas Pegg join me for a poke around the innards of 1984’s ‘Tonight’. Not an album I went into this conversation with any high regard for, but as ever Pegg is balanced, reasonable and of course, possessed of an almost frightening level of knowledge and insights. Hope you enjoy

The last of The Band leaves us.

Set fuzztones to max. What a legend.

He had written a note on his FB page for this very eventuality

“Hi to all, and many thanks to all of you who have been reading my rock stories for all this time, it has been greatly appreciated! Please note, that if you’re reading this now, this is my final vignette, as I am no longer residing on this plane of existence, and have “moved on”, to wherever that may be. I’d like to think there is something beyond where I was to where I am now, assuming that the millions of suppositions as to what is next, are accurate. I’d like to think that I’m thoroughly enjoying my new “residence”, and that the countless rumors that there is a big working “studio in the sky” are true, and that we are, dare I say, making heavenly music! I am also hoping that I am currently engaged in renewing relationships with a ton of friends and acquaintances, many of which go back for decades. I’ve had a good run, and I am delighted it lasted as long as it did. I’m also delighted that I am told I have a » Continue Reading.

I often have Radio 4 on in the background when I am working, and Michael Mosley’s cosy ‘Just One Thing’ series became a regular part of the morning routine. It was on just the other day, I think, I had it on in the background and he was excitedly extolling the virtues of flax seeds, in that artlessly enthusiastic manner, a bit reminiscent of Richard Briers.

The jolly music, cheery tone – all very soothing. And so was the reassurance that adding some flax seeds to your diet or popping a couple of cherries into your granola every now and then would do you a power of good.

It was only when his death was confirmed today I remembered how much his work actually really helped me in the past. Years back, when he was banging on about the 5:2 diet, I bought the book and shed a good amount of avoirdupois when nothing else had worked.

I soon slid out of intermittent fasting, and back into eating crap and not moving around much. Then, some years later, I got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I didn’t get far with the NHS supplied info, no real problem » Continue Reading.

I just can’t see the point of these brands. I’ve tried, in each case, but can’t get along with them.

Sanyo Gola shoes Crosse & Blackwell

What brands just make no sense to you?

New episode of albumtoalbum (finally) out now! With yer man on the uranium ukulele Reeves Gabrels

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/davidbowie-albumtoalbum/id1355073030

Saw this on Twitter courtesy of beatlepodstar @stevenc

Garth Hudson is in an assisted living and not doing too well. A friend of his is asking fans to send him a postcard to cheer him up. Details in the tweet

https://twitter.com/levonthehawk/status/1497728746886885378?s=21

If you want them, DM me cheers

Abba were the first band I can remember. When I was three or four, ‘Arrival’ had come out and my parents bought it for me and would sit with me patiently, listening to the whole LP over and over again. I can still remember identifying the songs by their tones and feels, not having a clue what they were on about. Which was definitely a blessing in the case of ‘Dum Dum Diddle’.

The cover was (and is) gorgeous and became synonymous with the music for me. Four goodlooking people in white boiler suits standing around a still helicopter, in a mysterious dusk. Sure! Why not? The beautiful title track, all yearning chorale and folkish melody entranced and soothed me, after the terrifying screaming finale to the preceding ‘I Am The Tiger’.

The following year I was gifted ‘Abba The Album’, by a friendly nurse who worked at my dad’s surgery. It had to be explained that this was Abba – I still remember that, weirdly clearly, I initially didn’t understand that this was the same group of people as those standing around the helicopter. But again, here was a mysterious cover with lots to look at, colourful » Continue Reading.

I have decided to buy a bass. Budget £400- 450ish, am drawn to Squier models, currently looking excitedly at a Squier CV Jag. Intrigued by Mustang but wondering if short scale might feel a bit fiddly (I am a substantial slab of bloke at around 6’3 and broad in the beam).

Wildcard is a 50s CV Precision, this bloke’s review of it is pretty tempting and it looks stunning

I am veering towards the Jag as it blends P and J pickups, and review videos balance out the joys of these configurations in one package vs fiddly ‘stack’ controls.

A bass playing friend has recommended I go for a “proper” bass [his words] and just get a Jazz bass.

Any Fender bassists here who could give me any tips? I know it is not possible to physically try one out at the moment, I just want something with a lovely fat, rich soft tone which is approachable for a guitarist (Fender Jazzmaster) to learn on.