Argent
Budgie
Crawler
The Drones
The Enid
Michael Franks
Gillan
Humble Pie
Imagination
Japan
Diana Krall
Landscape
Magazine
Nine Below Zero
A Band Called O
Players Association
Q-Tips
Smokey […]

The original with vocals is a jazz classic but this subsequent recording is better – a powerhouse 10 minutes of hard-hitting tough swinging music with enough skronk to hopefully fit the bill. Add in some sublime […]

Ernie Isley’s finest three minutes – from somewhere round the 2.30 mark.

Looks like a compilation of early 80s albums – Honesty and Love is the Place – both decent albums and I recall receiving decent reviews at the time. I haven’t heard them for years but even when Curtis was going […]

James Taylor’s new album is soothing balm – still in great voice playing with superb musicians on classic American songbook tunes – just avoid his version of “Ol’ Man River”…

And here, from a couple of weeks […]

Sedate jazz takes on old time religious tunes – Charlie Haden and Hank Jones. Now available as part of a tidy five album boxset for a mere six quid from the tax dodgers.

At least two bona fide jazz classics […]

Some fine falsetto singing – possibly a squidgy bass now and again – not sure how many are on Spotify.

Eddie Kendricks – Tell her love has felt the need
Rance Allen – Reasons
The Real Thing – Children of the […]

Another great year – and amidst all the excitement of the new music, a nod of appreciation to the older folks, particularly in jazz, who have been really prolific in turning out some great stuff.

The […]

Just before last Christmas our beloved ancient golden retriever passed away. Despite the dog-shaped hole in our lives, we’d decided that perhaps we’d wait a few years before getting another one. But then, via a […]

…and whatever you do, don’t send your CDs away for ripping and “storage.” Not that I can imagine anyone doing this – but apparently so.

It may have been mentioned but I can’t see it – very much enjoyed “Guilt”, a darkly comic Edinburgh-set sort of crime caper with some fine performances by familiar faces including a creepy Bill Patterson. There’s […]

Particularly moving. The 1992 “Stars in their eyes” Christmas special version of “Do they know it’s Christmas?” featuring John, Paul, Bryan, Tina, Elton, Mick, Englebert and some I can’t quite work out who they might be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C6zIm4IfGs

Over the last couple of months, I’ve spoken separately to a couple of shop owners who reckon RSD is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it pulls in the crowds – many of whom you never see until RSD […]

Is Rob’s Records still open? Haven’t been for years – hours of fun!

They are by and large ex-Revolutionary Communist Party members turned libertarian media monkeys.

They are all over the BBC – Clare Fox is a Brexit Party MEP and “Moral Maze” panellist while Brendan O’Niell has a […]

SEEN:

Big skies, sandy beaches and occasional sunshine in North Norfolk for a week’s holiday. Also, plenty of visits to regional art galleries including the splendid Higgins in Bedford for their “Dreams and […]

I used to go to Las Vegas a couple of times a year with work and often did road trips after faffing about at exhibitions/trade shows.

Here’s a few recommendations of circular routes:

– Utah national parks: Zion […]

More sublime Vaughan – Theme from the 49th Parallel – which popped up on Classic FM yesterday. Three minutes of bliss.

Done a lot of driving recently and often have Classic FM on to pass the time – and even though they play “Lark…” every hour or so it’s always fresh and wondrous. As others have said, it’s the Neville Mariner […]

Single: Steam – Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye from Brady’s in Preston – something of a terrace favourite at one time and still sung occasionally by PNE fans – decent B-side as well.

Album: “England: The World […]