According to Bap’s social media (and I am assuming from Brenda Kennedy), material from his new album of previously unheard songs will be previewed on Ralph McLean’s BBC Radio Ulster programme on Wednesday. The release is coming in 2026 to mark a decade since his passing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002ks28

Word in your ear with Justin Currie on his career and new book.

This seemed like a good place to post this, the first in a series of chats where a friend of my son comes over to ask me about my vinyl collecting habit, vid in comments.

A sort of bastard love child of @Hamlet’s post re great album tracks thread.

Obvious one for me is Stardust on the Kinks Village Green Preservation Society

While a brilliant song, the roughly contemperaneous Days would surely have fitted far better with the album’s theme and vibe

Dunno what to think. Have seen him and was pretty good. And as far as I can tell these triggering medical episodes are real. But geez he has done stuff like this a few times. Makes your ticket a real lottery.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1109966581350135&set=a.540924371587695&type=3

A year on from reforming the Rejects after his three comrades decided to call it quits, Jeff ‘Stinky’ Turner has announced he’ll be starting a podcast soon ‘Stinky Turner’s Rough & Ready’, interviewing punk rockers and boxers. The revived Rejects seem to be doing well – indeed, Jeff says in this interesting interview (in the comments) that they’re ‘more in demand than ever’.

Is it time for a reappraisal?

On his album show recently, Simon Mayo played Badhead by Blur; I’d forgotten what a lovely tune it is. It would never have been a hit single, but, in its own quiet way, it works brilliantly in the context of the album. Any other songs like this that you’re fond of?

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Gone suddenly at 79. Annie Hall RIP

No Jacket Required in Atmos

I doubt many will mourn.

https://news.sky.com/story/lostprophets-singer-ian-watkins-dies-after-attack-in-prison-13448665

Images in comments but hey you Brits it’s Imgur.

Long heavy limb pretty much last survivor of a v old mess mate eucalypt Clothes line under it. Very windy. Hanging washing and heard a crack but with wind noise I was unsure of the source. Shoulda run.I picked the basket up. Kerrrackkk !!! From 10 metres above the ling horizontal branch estimated by emergency rescue at 3-400 kg plunges onto the clothes line tangling me in it glances off my head and shoulder. I think it ko’d me. I think I tumbled forward resulting in 7 cm gash, nay de something or other where the flesh is peeled back… debriding??? under my chin. The branch has wedged me on the ground. My neighbour came out after hearing the crack to hear me pleading for help. Ingrid ( Mrs Wells) was out. The 75 year old scaled the fenceand helped me up.But I couldnt walk as my ankle was hurt in the process. He me a chair where I was propped when the State Emergency Service cut a path through the tree and mangled clothes line for a stretcher. The ambo took me to the local footy ground, for chopper » Continue Reading.

Good short interview.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/oct/11/harry-vanda-musician-interview-out-of-retirement-devil-loose?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

There’s a new kid in town for all the hipsters out there. From a Rhino email…..

INTRODUCING RHINO HIGH FIDELITY REEL-TO-REELS

Duplicated From A 1:1 Copy Of The Analog Master Tape 15 I.P.S. Half-Track Stereo 1/4″ Reel-To-Reel Tapes Produced To The IEC Standard On Premium RTM LPR90 Tape Stock Housed On A 10.5-Inch Metal Reel In A Custom Box Replicating The Original Album Artwork

Each Title Limited To 500 Exclusive To Rhino.com GET RHINO HIGH FIDELITY REEL-TO-REELS Rewind the tape! We’re thrilled to announce that the acclaimed Rhino High Fidelity series will now feature a line of Reel-to-Reel tapes. Reel audio offers the closest experience to owning a master tape from your favorite artists.

Originating in Germany in 1928, the reel-to-reel recording process produces pristine sound. It has been favored by audiophiles and musicians since its commercial debut in the late 1940s, with pioneers like Jack Mullin and Ampex introducing this format to singer Bing Crosby. The magnetic tape format gave musicians the ability to re-record, erase, and edit their recordings—features that had not been available before.

Our series begins with limited-edition releases of T.Rex’s’ ELECTRIC WARRIOR and Yes’ THE YES ALBUM, each limited to 500 copies and available exclusively » Continue Reading.

Another one gone. I love the Moodies and got to see them several times – once back in 1969 and then a couple of times in recent years and they are a bit of a go to on a Sunday afternoon. Only Justin Hayward left now.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/oct/10/moody-blues-singer-and-bassist-john-lodge-dies-aged-82?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I was listening to Supercollider by Fountains of Wayne a while back. As I was listening, I found myself thinking “Y’know this sounds a bit like Oasis”. A quick visit to Wikipedia, and yup, it turns out that’s deliberate – the band were fans and wanted to write a song in that style. This hasn’t affected my enjoyment of the song a bit – I like Oasis, plus the song is a very Midwestern take on the Gallagher brothers, if that makes sense. They add something.

That got me thinking about other examples of an artist recording something in the style of someone else, for whatever motive. Fans of the Coen brothers will remember the fictional group Autobahn in The Big Lebowski. On the soundtrack, their long time collaborator Carter Burwell provides one of their songs (“Techno Pop”), which is a pretty good pastiche of Dusseldorf’s finest.

Sometimes it can stretch to an entire album. The Cult’s “Electric” is obviously the result of producer Rick Rubin trying a thought experiment to see to what would have happened if Jim Morrison had replaced Bon Scott in AC/DC after the latter had died (I know there were some logistical issues in that » Continue Reading.

I have really enjoyed the first two series of this show.

I went to London for real world version for my 60th birthday as well.

Looking forward to this.

These are some of the albums that have made they way into my grubby hands in the last couple of weeks. I hit Northampton pretty hard the other week, I was only there a couple of days but still crammed in a boot, one auction and several charity shops. The best stuff turned up on my doorstep when I got home when a bloke answered my ad and rang saying he had a load of singles. I went round to his fancy static caravan and although the records were alright but nothing special and as I was saying my thanks but no thanks he asked if I liked The Beatles. Yeah sure, I said, so he pulls a record case out full of fab four and solo albums, “I want a fiver each for these, no offers” erm, OK so, I bought the lot, it’s what he wanted. Nice original UK 1st mono pressings, although there was a White Album with only one disc but it had the bits, lovely copies of Ram, Walls & Bridges etc, and…

Sorry, couldn’t get image link to work…

Rush are back….after a fashion.