Obviously, Dr Wu should be Number 1
A list, a Steely Dan List!
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200 Shows!
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06/03/2025
Who’d have thunk it, eh?!?
This evening, live at five UK time, will see the 200th show of Songs From Under The Floorboards.
“I have to confess, I’m proud as hell of that fact”.
7 cover versions, 4 new tunes, 3 songs inspired by a new documentary, 2 rare extended mixes AND a specially-commissioned exclusive track.
There may also be a feem toon heard…
Here is what the previous programme sounded like:
Ravel
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The 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel’s birth is on Friday this week. I couldn’t let it pass without a gentle nudge (a Ravel klaxon seems rather inappropriate). Lots on BBC Radio 3 this week if you’re interested.
I’ve posted a jewel-like miniature in the first comment: I hope some of you might add your favourite pieces.
EDWYN COLLINS: ‘The Testimonial Tour – A Last Lap Around The U.K.’
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“After over 40 years at the rock ‘n’ roll coalface, Edwyn Collins has today shared the poignant news of his last ever U.K. tour.
‘The Testimonial Tour – A Last Lap Around The U.K.’ will see Edwyn & band play nine shows round the U.K. including performances at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal and The Royal Festival Hall in London.
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 7 MARCH 2025 AT 10:00″
20 years on from suffering a stroke and two haemorrhages, we’re all blessed he’s able to do these last few dates.
https://www.edwyncollins.com/news/edwyn-collins-the-testimonial-tour-a-last-lap-around-the-uk
Reading, Schools and adulthood – thoughts?
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This is not really about music though I will add some remarks along the way. Like many of you, my work is in education – thirty years and counting as an English teacher. In Australian schools we have a number of iterations of the subject and I teach Literature, General English and English Extension which includes a range of cultural and linguistic theory.
Of course, we are aware of the crisis of reading that has occupied educationalists and other fields for as along as I can remember. This brings me to my first question: was there ever a time when the perceived failure of students to read independently was not a preoccupation of the more well-read community including English teachers?
It is obvious that a key problem for young people is that solitary reading is for the most part not as exciting as the visceral thrill of skateboarding. It’s not as thrilling as the possibility of intimacy with that girl/boy down the road who is responding to your posts and messages and who is sharing tik-toks with you. It’s not as important as income from a part time job. etc. Most of us here had long periods where » Continue Reading.
Songs that never existed
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Me and my dad were on the same wavelength comedy wise. We used to laugh our socks off at made up song titles … I’m not sure where they came from maybe music hall days?
Such tunes as …
Get the coal in mother (coz there’s not enough slack in your drawers)
I was one of the ruins that Cromwell knocked about
Get the meat balls out grandma (coz we’re coming to a fork in the road)
Mother hold the candle (while I shave the chickens cheek)
Any others?
Rick Wakeman. Yessonata
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What does it sound like?:
This limited edition vinyl release is a follow up to Wakeman’s Final One Man Solo Tour of North and South America from earlier this year. It is a piece he wrote for solo piano after performing The Yes Suite for orchestra and choir at his London Palladium concert in 2023.
This work contains more than 30 musical fragments of YES music that Rick was a part of, including the much maligned, (by him, let’s be fair,) Tales From Topographic Oceans.
Picking out your favourite elements is great fun but the piece soon becomes a whole entity, as you give it time and space. I found that putting it on in the background while I was writing was a lovely thing to do as it would suddenly catch me as the beginning of South Side of the Sky or Long Distance Runaround would emerge.
The aforementioned elements of TFTO work perfectly alongside parts of Close to the Edge and nothing grates or diverts.
The second piece is a piano adaptation of the main themes and melodies from Rick’s ‘The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table’. Again, this is full » Continue Reading.
Yes – Close To The Edge SDE
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What does it sound like?:
It’s hard to believe it’s over 50 years since this album was originally released – how the years hurry past, and how these box sets have a way of making you feel like an old man! It’s been reissued a few times already of course in various iterations with a variety of extra material, but this edition is surely the last word, with 5 cds, a bluray and a vinyl album, all accompanied by a lavish booklet. The first two cds have a remastered version of the original album, plus a super new 2025 mix by the ubiquitous Steven Wilson, which also adds instrumental versions of all 3 pieces. The third cd comprises rarities, including early run troughs of the songs. Most of these have been available before apart from 3 new edits which are interesting but fairly inessential when compared to the majesty of the full length songs. The 4th and 5th cds have a preciously unreleased live show from The Rainbow from December 1972, one of the shows used for the Yessongs film that appeared to tie in with the album of that name. If you’re familiar with that album or any » Continue Reading.
On Track – Deep Purple (from 1984) / The Beatles 1962-1966 / Porcupine Tree (revised edition)
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Author:Phil Kafcaloudes, Alberto Bravin & Andrew Wild, Nick Holmes
2024 not only saw the release of Deep Purple’s 23rd studio album, it also marked the 40th anniversary of the 1984 reunion of the classic line up. Since that time there have been no less than 13 albums released, with, I think it’s fair to say, varying degrees of quality and success. The reformation album, Perfect Strangers, was certainly quite promising but inevitably it wasn’t too far in the future when Blackmore once more departed, leading to the beginning of the Steve Morse era, which produced the longest lasting line up in their history. This whole era is one that is often overlooked but it produced some great songs along the way, even if they were all too often tucked away on somewhat nondescript albums. This is a book I really enjoyed, with the author going through each record song by song, including the numerous live releases, and at the same time looking at what was going on in the ranks of the band behind the scenes. It’s very well worth looking out for this comprehensive and well researched effort if you’re a fan, as this era is often overshadowed when » Continue Reading.
New album from Jase (as nobody calls him)
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Shows you how in the know I am – didn’t realise he and Amanda are no more
Philosophical questions……
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Can a vegetarian Pink Floyd fan have dessert ?
Over to you….
Spare Standing Ticket: Hejira Play Joni Mitchell, London Jazz Café, Tuesday March 11th.
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Due to a brain fart back in early January, I managed to buy myself a £20 standing ticket for this gig, then forgot that I’d bought it and bought another one a week later. Didn’t discover my error until it was too late to request a refund for one of them. Anybody here interested in going? Message me if so.
The Beta Band reform!
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It appears that the Beta Band, one of my favourite bands ever, has reformed. There is a tour scheduled, which I suspect will sell out in seconds.
September 25 Glasgow Barrowland 27 Leeds O2 Academy 29 Bristol O2 Academy 30 Nottingham Rock City
October 2 London Roundhouse 4 Manchester Albert Hall
The Oscars
No, not the ceremony because I can’t be bothered with that, but the films themselves. For once I’ve actually seen a few and am quite tempted to see several others.
Must admit that Anora completely passed me by but I’m keen to see it now. Wasn’t at all interested in Conclave but now I’m tempted. Also can’t wait to see A Complete Unknown (only just out here in Spain) and I’m Still Here sounds good. Emilia Perez on the other hand I don’t think I’d see it if I was paid to.
The Brutalist I like less with every passing day since I saw it. Really liked the first half and at the interval I was well primed. By the end though I was yawning and fidgeting more than I ever have before in the cinema. It goes nowhere, slowly and pompously. And Adrien Brody’s was the kind of self-consciously actorly performance I can’t be doing with. Good soundtrack though.
Outright loved A Real Pain. Funny and moving and in a blessedly short 90 minutes a whole lot deeper than the Brutalist. Kieran Kulkin a well deserved supporting actor winner even if he was obviously the leading actor…
Very » Continue Reading.
So then, I appear to be in the path of a cyclone.
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A very rare event is happening at the moment in South-East Queensland: a cyclone has escaped from the tropics and is currently menacing just off the coast of Brisbane about 5-600km south of their normal range. It’s expected to move further south for a day or so then quickly jag right in a hairpin bend, intensify, and cross the coast right at Brisbane in a couple of days. The last cyclone to hit anywhere near here was in 1974 and that was considered a complete anomaly. Huge rainfall, destructive winds and severe coastal erosion are all being forecast.
I’ve been through a few cyclones when I lived in North Queensland years ago, but this is different. Infrastructure around here isn’t built for cyclones, and I now live in a house surrounded by trees.When I analyse why I feel so vulnerable this time, I guess it comes down to the fact that I now have a family and more assets. We are used to extreme rainfall events (as destructive as they are) but wind is something completely different.
The only good outcome is the now minuscule chance that it continues to the east away from the coast, otherwise it’s going » Continue Reading.
Dick Gaughan 1969-83 box set via crowdfunder two weeks away
19/03/2025
Dick Gaughan – R/evolution: 1969–83 Advance notice of Kickstarter campaign (due in mid-March)
Music biographer Colin Harper is launching a Kickstarter campaign in mid-March to crowdfund R/evolution: 1969–83 – a 7CD+DVD Dick Gaughan box set, with all proceeds going to the Scottish folk icon, who was forced to retire after a stroke in 2016.
For complex reasons, seven of Gaughan’s 12 albums from 1972–88 have never or only briefly been on CD and are not on digital platforms, nor available to third-party licensors. Of the other five, only one – the classic Handful of Earth (Topic, 1981) – has been remastered/re-presented in the past 28 years. The Harvard Tapes (Greentrax, 2019), a 1982 concert, was a welcome but isolated archive release in recent years. Where other artists of similar vintage see their names and music kept alive by reissues, anthologies, use of music in films etc., this hasn’t happened with Gaughan. To a new generation of people who might be interested, it’s almost as if he never was.
‘I found myself thinking about this late last year,’ says Colin Harper. ‘It felt alarming – upsetting, in fact – that such an incredible artist who had seemed to be » Continue Reading.
Nostalgia for the sake of it
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Of course some things were better in the past. But some things are much better now.
Recently I have come across YouTube videos with people repairing VHS machines and playing tapes. WTF! It was always a hideous format. Huge tapes, heavy expensive machines and poor video quality.
In a similar vein my Facebook feed has directed me to a group that celebrate buying (or getting for free) ancient CRT TVs. Same thing, huge heavy things with poor picture quality and essentially worthless
I am guilty of looking back wistfully at TV or music from decades a long time ago, I think it’s often about missing your childhood/parents and less complicated lives. Then as now, most of it was crap. In fact at least TV is much better these days.
I am going to try to live more in the present. Declutter crap from the past (keeping a few worthwhile things), and embracing some good things we have now.
Anybody else feel like this?
Joey Molland RIP
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Obituary
Last remaining original member of Badfinger has passed away. Possibly rock’s saddest story
ATM ( probably Fents) – turntable speed
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I have an early Project belt drive turntable. It sounds a bit slow. I have ordered a new belt but I am told the belt may not fix the issue – ie motor problem. I have used a print at home stroboscope and I am having trouble assessing. To the naked eye the bars are a blur. Through the phone camera a ring of bars seems close to stationary. So I cant tell whether it is at correct speed or , if off pitch whether tge stroboscope is saying fast or slow. Video via imgur in comments.
Gags only you laugh at
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I can never stand under a bare lightbulb without making it swing and saying ‘Callan’. I’ve been doing this for years and NOBODY has ever laughed yet I persist and as the sands of time slip from my fingers the chances of anyone ever laughing become less and less.
What makes you and only you laugh?
David Johansen
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Obituary
The last of the New York Dolls leaves us aged 75. New York Dolls – their influence is perhaps greater than their substance. “Mock Rock” – possibly, but the first album is definitely worth a listen (maybe ignore the second album and go straight to the 2006 comeback album – coming after the Morrissey curated 2004 Meltdown Festival).
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-johansen-new-york-dolls-singer-buster-poindexter-dead-obituary-1235284539/ In between Dolls duties, tried his hand at acting and earned a whole $1 when his legs appeared in the John Lennon & Yoko Ono film Up Your Legs Forever
Niche ATM: Rusholme Manchester.
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The majestic Curry Mile used to be one of my favourite parts of Manchester. A seemingly endless procession of curry house, each one touting something slightly different from the rest and many of them open to the pretty early hours. But times and tastes have changed and the strip now seems to mainly consist of Shisha joints and kebab cafes. The flagship restaurants are long gone it seems.to me.
So , am I wrong ? Is there still somewhere I could get a good curry? It’s a significant birthday in a few weeks and I’m planning an early start in some of my favourite pubs and would love to end up early evening with a curry.
Has anyone been recently?
Bernie Gunther bonkers Kindle bargain
All 14 of Philip Kerr’s wonderful Bernie Gunther novels going for 3.99 of your British pounds on Kindle. I make that about 29 pence each for one of the finest series of crime novels ever written. Snap it up before they realise they’ve cocked up. You’re welcome.
Sounding the Century: The Exhibition and a Bill Leader Celebration
Manchester Central Library is currently hosting the biggest collection of folkprint on public display in Britain. That’s Sounding The Century: The Exhibition, which has been selected from the Bill Leader Collection and contains People’s Songs from the forties and World Cup posters from the sixties (specifically, 1966) alongside original artwork for Paul Robeson, MacColl LPs etc. There is a tie-in event on Wednesday 19 March, a Bill Leader Celebration, with some starry names. The overlap with Manchester Folk Festival is pure serendipity.
https://theafterword.co.uk/sounding-the-century-the-exhibition-manchester-central-library/
So, Blue sky then – how has it been for you?
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A little while back there was a big flood of us, enabled by that joiner pack of people we’d be inclined to follow. Plenty of waving and recognition of former Massive. For me it has been pretty meh. Not much interesting debate, little news breaking or compelling stuff. Meanwhile over at the other joint the exodus continues its mojo well and truly lost. So 2 underwhelming platforms. . .
