News has just come through that Andy Kershaw has sadly passed away at the age of 66. I know many were critical of his marriage/post marriage issues but I always regarded this as a side issue that was really only for him to sort out. Only thing I would say is that his kids eventually chose to live with him which probably says more than either of the two protagonists said on the matter. I loved his autobiography No off switch which was hugely entertaining and illuminating. His love of World music knew no limits and he even put the Bound boys up at his house so that they could afford to tour in the UK. I saw him play a DJ set in Leamington a few years ago. I spoke with him about his love of Haiti and also asked him about an artist whose music he played. He emailed me with the artist name and label and where I could obtain it. Top bloke with an immense love for music.

I know @retropath2 is more than a little partial to covers. I share his enthusiasm but not to the same extent – to use golfing terms I would be on the amateur circuit. However I am really taken by this unusual cover of a Dylan classic:

Sometimes you wait with bated breath for a new release from a favourite artist. And then you, and wait and wait. Then you give up. Have they given up on music, are the ill or is there some other reason for their lack of new stuff:

Tom Waits -Is he going to write any new stuff? Last album Bad as me was in 2011. Guillemots/Fyfe Dangerfield – Hello Land their last album was in 2012 and was supposed to be the first of 4 albums that year.Have they fallen out? New solo album from Fyfe Dangerfield would be nice if they are never going to reform. Tom Russell – Really prolific. Nothing released since 2019 – October in the railroad Earth. This might be health related but total silence on his website and from his label.

And while we are at it I know we won’t be getting any new Green on Red but I would really like to see the long awaited boxset anthology that we have been promised.

Not sure whether this has any legs but am curious of examples of song lyrics that include other band names – obviously predominantly unwittingly but here are a couple of examples:

Simon and Garfunkel – The only living boy in New York contains the line ‘I get the news I need from the WEATHER REPORT’

Hollies – All I need is the AIR that I breathe.

You get the gist – over to you guys

This month’s Uncut has an exceptional free CD of The Doors rarities and demos. As they say worth the admission price alone.

Well done Uncut.

Very little this man has done that I don’t like. Came across this video for one of his later songs that I live:

I have given some thought to compiling this post because it is possible it could be considered heresy. Recently I have seen Richard Thompson and Richard Hawley in quick succession (one week apart). In 1974 aged 18 I had a brief relationship with a girl called Angela – I was smitten more than she was. During our fleeting relationship I was introduced by her brother to his record collection. In that collection was I want to see the bright lights tonight by Richard and Linda Thompson – my introduction to the solo work of Richard (I was vaguely aware of his work with Fairport). Withered and died acted as a strange balm when our relationship inevitably ended no more than 4 months after it started. Since that time I have been a big fan, have bought every officially released album, most unofficial albums and have perhaps seen him more than any other artist possibly save Elvis Costello although it would be a close run thing. I have always regarded him as one of our best current lyricists and his guitar playing has always been inventive and at times astonishing. Following an unusually long gap since his last album his recent » Continue Reading.

I heard this on 6Music last week. It was celebrating the Cure’s Disintegration which came out in 1989. 35 years ago – that makes me feel older than any recent birthdays have made me feel. They played this because it apparently came out in 1989 – except that it didn’t. It was released in 1986. Anyway I think it is rather good.

Anyone else heard anything recently that has surprised them with its age?

I keep being told by lots of people that Vinyl is outselling cd’s in significant numbers. Is it really?

The new Peter Gabriel album has gone to number one after its first week of release. Sales units were 11178 x cd’s and 2328 x lp’s. A difference of almost 5 to 1 in favour of CD’S suggests the propaganda machine is in overdrive to justify agendas set by record companies and manufacturers. I have read other reports that indicated CD’S were selling in much higher unit numbers but that news seems to be concealed to suit a different argument.

As some buffoon in the USA once said – Fake News.

I am sure we can get a list of many unanswered questions. I will start this off:

If God didn’t make little green apples who did?

I received the rather depressing news today that Grant Schapps is cousin of Clash guitarist Mick Jones.

Any other musicians got Tory tossers as relatives?

Tomorrow is 1st September – in the interest of getting our Antipodean friends involved let’s start the Golf championship round 2. If Baron wins this one I think we will have to initiate dope testing.

Have been waiting for this one for a long time. The Asylum years is coming on 6th October and I cant wait. Loads of extras and rarities to feast on from to my mind my favourite 3 Joni albums For the Roses, Court and Spark and Hissing of Summer Lawns. Okay I know most of you will place Hejira above these but we cant all be the same. Bring it on.

joni mitchell : archives vol. 3: the asylum years

We seem to have had a recent run of our revered artists dying on us – Sinead O’Connor and Jane Birkin dying in quick succession was a little unsettling for as I loved both dearly. I pondered that we post our respects and then,such is the way of the World, they are quickly forgotten. I thought it would be a good idea to post favourite songs by artists you miss. Only one song per artist, I wont put mine in any order as a matter of respect. I am sure if people make contributions to this there will be artists that escaped my thoughts. 10 only please:

John Martyn – `Hurt in your Heart. Sinead O’Connor – This is to Mother you Bobby Charles – Before I grow too old Kate McGarrigle – Talk to me of Mendicino Prince – Sometimes it Snows in April Tom Petty – Crawling back to you John Prine – In spite of ourselves Leonard Cohen – Famous Blue Raincoat John Lennon – Working Class hero Jane Birkin – Comment te dire Adieu

Loads missed off but am sure we can see some great suggestions

Anyone fancy starting a Wordle Golf Championship from tomorrow 1st August. 18 days results and we will determine top 3 on 19th August? Straight counting on a day by day basis – if @Baron-Harkonnen gets too many eagles we will initiate a stewards enquiry or mandatory drug testing.

Last weekend I was lucky enough to go to Black Deer – A lovely 3 day festival that for me is a far better proposition than the hype of Glastonbury. On the saturday night The Pretenders were headlining even though it should have been Bonnie Raitt. Have been a fan since Brass in Pocket and have most of their earlier albums. She came on stage and ripped through 3 new numbers. They lumpen and tuneless. She spoke after the third number ‘I was expecting a younger audience’. Apparently she said it again later in the set. I didnt hang around – I went to the Ridge tent to see Alison Russell – she was superb and the ‘younger’ audience lapped it up. Chrissie you are 71 and, I hate to break it to you love, but young people ain’t listening to you. Cant believe James Walbourne is happy to stick around. Her arrogance astounded me to be honest.

Came across this which is rather lovely. Seeing them tomorrow night -Can’t wait:

I was in the car the other day and the T-Rex song Ride a white swan came on. I wasn’t really a fan of theirs back in the day but have grown to appreciate them more as time wears on. I listened to the song once again and was really impressed with the short and to the point guitar solo. Normally a fan of extended guitar solos/wig outs I began to think of the concise ones that impress me.

Not a fan of Brian May but his solo on Killer Queen is excellent. Paul Kossoff on Alright now is iconic. Richard Thompson on Turning of the Tide is short and sweet. But Jeff Beck on Shapes of Things takes the top accolade for me.

Which short guitar solos float your boat?

I have just discovered this guy – his music is spiritual and mesmerising. It is sometimes difficult to find something new that grabs you in the way that music always used to grab you. Maybe there is just too much around or maybe it’s hard to be groundbreaking these days. Not even sure this is groundbreaking but it is bloody lovely.

This time of the year when presents are bought strikes me as the time when fads are at their most prominent. Previous years have seen Deely boppers, Space hoppers, Cabbage Patch dolls and Chopper bikes for example. I cant put me finger on why but I think the Chopper Bike was a fashion whilst the others were fads. Green Ketchup is a fad. Baked beans with Marmite most likely a fad. Everywhere you go now you see menus with various items with Salted Caramel or Halloumi (not together obviously) – these most likely are a fashion that may have started as a fad. The Berni Inn was a fashion that disappeared so to Wimpy and most likely (in this country anyway) Burger King although Five Guys are springing up everywhere despite their pricing. Shellsuits were thankfully short lived so too the poodle perm which surely must have been a fab. Years gone by we loved the smell of Brut, in more years i was temporarily taken with Millionaire and Joop aftershaves both of which I wouldn’t consider as an aftershave I would go anywhere near. Is the LGBT logo here to stay or is it fad for our times. Would » Continue Reading.