“The store has a dedicated floor for vinyl records and CDs”
Whatever will they think of next?
Record shop opens
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The new Madness album…
Any love for Madness here? They don’t seem to get written about that much on The Afterword. Their new album “Theatre Of The Absurd Presents C’est La Vie,” released in the last week, is an absolute joy. As a 13 year old ska fan in 1980 I was just a bit obsessed with The Specials, Madness, The Beat and The Selecter. As a result Madness are one of those kind of bands who you grow up with. The “nutty sound” of the first couple of albums, the surprisingly sophisticated Kinks influenced pop tunes that increasingly followed, and then into the more middle aged and reflective post reformation years. The latter period, for me anyway, seems to be a bit more mixed-some great singles and occasional album tracks but a little more inconsistent. Still plenty to like though. Despite the loss of Cathal Smyth, dance man/trumpeter/singer a few years back they seem to have morphed into a having a kind of London version of Buena Vista Social Club, not in their music but in that they know each other inside out and still get a lot of pleasure out of making music together in their more mature years. This new album » Continue Reading.
A basement in Fulham, a band of mates, a song about a burning nation and the beginning of a brilliant production partnership.
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Today’s blog is about T.W Studio in Fulham.
https://willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com/2023/03/31/the-studios-of-london-t-w-studios/
The Boxing Day Sales
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If you have a Record Token burning a hole in your pocket, the HMV sale includes several of my Albums/Reissues of the Year, needless to say, at much lower prices than I paid for them.
Vintage gear, a modern-day anthem, a London album and a soul boy from Essex.
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Today’s studio-blog is about Toe Rag Studio.
https://willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com/2022/11/18/the-studios-of-london-toe-rag/
Best Music Podcasts
Have ventured into the world of podcasts with a little effort of my own. It’s on 80s music, so unlikely to be of much interest here, but I am looking for other recommended music podcasts – especially ones that do interviews, to compare and contrast.
What are the best ones out there? I already listen to The Hustle (and regularly chat with the host, Jon) and Rockenteurs. Any other goodies you would recommend?
For mine, so far i’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Langer/Winstanley, Hugh Padgham, Stephen Lipson, Chris Hughes and many others (did a whole season of interviews relating to Tears For Fears) and I am looking to check out the competition! (albeit from a much lower level…)
[Would also be grateful for any feedback on my little effort..cheers]
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/80sography-80s-music-one-artist-at-a-time/id1486104117
The Reunion – Madness
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Kirsty Wark in discussion with Mike Barson, Mark Bedford, Chris Foreman, producer Clive Langer and lead singer Suggs.
Having dropped on Mrs F and Offspring The Elder in town, I raced back to listen to this… and my mother appeared at the door. So I’m off to listen on catchup.
Greater than the sum of their parts?
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TLDR: bands – better knowing who the members are or not?
Browsing through the RSS feeds tonight I came across this article on the Beach Boys and the song in the clip. It’s beautiful – a ghostly shimmering sound that makes it as fresh as the first time I heard it. That’s a long time ago – Beach Boys songs were some of the earliest music I can remember listening to – my parents had a Greatest Hits cassette and Loop John B and others are ingrained in my memories like inner rings of a tree – weirdly sweet interweaving harmonies over happy, jolly music. I never wondered then who was singing what, and to this day, though I know a little more about prodigy Brian with his cracked psyche, tragic womanizing surfer Dennis, cynical and self-centred Mike, and even third bro Carl and Richie Cunningham lookalike Al, I couldn’t tell you who sang what in any of their songs. I wouldn’t know where to go to google it (a big thank to anyone who can break down the track for me).
Then I got to thinking about something that has entertained me every now and then – bands where » Continue Reading.
I suppose we all have to make a living… Jan Akkerman joins a Rolling Stones tribute act
What on earth…
Gilmour’s guitars
Anybody else watching the Christie’s Auction of David Gilmour’s guitars? The Les Paul Gold Top used on the solo for “Another Brick in the wall” has just gone for $360,000. His Martin D35 made $900,000 – surely a record for an acoustic, and the Serial 0001 Strat went for $1.5m.
Black strat will go highest, I’m sure, so I think the record $2m for Jimi’s strat will be broken. Maybe even the heavily signed charity strat that went for $2.7m….
Needless to say, it looks like my chances of getting “a cheap one” are greatly diminishing.
Let’s Talk About Cars!
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My car has been written off and I need another. It was a 2009 VW Scirocco with leather heated seats. The most important feature when I bought it was the fact the stereo would play my iPod. I loved that ‘cockpit’, comfort, everything immediately to hand and fabulous music. It was the perfect car for me.
The hire car is a BMW 220i. It has a fancy ‘M’ badge, which means it has a bit of umph under the bonnet. I’ve got to grips with the stereo, though it takes more clicks to find the album I want. Radio channels are still a bit hit and miss. The satnav seems to take an age to set. Lovely woman’s voice, though. Despite, or because of the ‘M’, I find the clutch biting point woolly in first gear. It tends to dawdle in getting going. Other than that, I love it. It suits me, at my age and driving style. I looked up the price – £45k. Made me sweat. However, without the ‘M’ it starts at £25! Same shape, same size engine judging by the 220i. How does that happen? Is the ‘M’ for people wanting to do 200mph round » Continue Reading.
Where Is My Mind?
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Inspired by recent posts, I’ve ordered Nina Simone’s Pastel Blues and Supergrass’s In It For The Money. Rummaging through my collection for Hats by The Blue Nile, I find I own them already.
It’s too late to turn the delivery back now. Anyone fancy a free album?
https://youtu.be/-gkibxWr0DY
