Friday 24 February 2017


When I first heard this track I thought the title was unusual for an instrumental. "I Think It's Going To Work Out Fine" is off Ry Cooder's 1979 album 'Bop Till You Drop', an album made up almost entirely of covers of earlier rhythm 'n' blues and rock 'n' roll classics.
This song was originally a single sung by Ike & Tina Turner and released in 1961.
Sing along if you know the words….  and ease into the weekend.


Here are the words, if you don't: click

Monday 20 February 2017

Romance of the Cup ?

Or devaluing it ?

Another F.A. Cup round of underdogs proving the romance of the competition is still intact. But the reduced importance of the oldest cup competition in Football is also plain to see.
Non-league Lincoln City are the first club in 103 years to get into the Quarter Finals. Congratulations but how has this happened ? Teams above them picking to many reserve players and seeing a Cup run as a distraction rather than an attraction.
Premiership Burnley and Leicester went out on Saturday, while Man City have a replay against Huddersfield. Something they won't have to endure in the next round because I've just discovered these ties will be decided on the day as there are no replays in this season's Quarter Finals!
This further reduces the great tradition of the F.A. Cup.
Even the TV coverage at the weekend saw the BBC's lower leagues presenter Manish Bhasin get a full game by introducing MOTD with the weekend's pundits also having a distinct reserve team appearance about them. Maybe the BBC's assigned F.A. Cup team, but still not their best players.

FA Cup quarter-final draw

  • Chelsea v Manchester United
  • Middlesbrough v Huddersfield or Man City
  • Tottenham v Millwall
  • Sutton or Arsenal v Lincoln City
With the ties to be played on Friday 10th, Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th and Monday 13th of March. This rather spreads the action out and who plays when will still be dictated by the European involvement of Man City, Man United and possibly Spurs, the week before and after.

    Friday 17 February 2017


    I've been swithering this week !
    Nothing to do with Saints and weather forecasts or even a dance move of stylish agility. No I've been unable to make up my mind on what track to pick this week.
    Then yesterday I was up in London and browsing away an hour to two in one of the few remaining record shops, namely Fopp in Shaftesbury Avenue. Between being amazed at the sheer selection and the prices of vinyl records now on offer, I was on the lookout for a bargain - which presented itself in the shape of Mumford & Sons 2015 CD 'Wilder Mind'. A more rocky release than their previous albums I might have picked any of the tracks but have gone for this one 'Believe', which seemed very appropriate when I found the official video.
    Go on a whirlwind, kaleidoscope trip through London town. [  ] Full Screen is a must.


    At only £3 (I thought it was a mistake) this CD was considerably cheaper than the two vinyl records purchased by the customer ahead of me in the queue, who didn't see any change from £42. Rock On !

    Friday 10 February 2017


    A few weeks back we had a bit of a numbers things going on… 3,000 guests became 25,000 listeners leading on to 9,000,000 views ! (reminder here)
    Those 9 million YouTube views got me asking, in this age of popularism, 'what are the most viewed videos on YouTube?' Amazingly the numbers get mind boggling: the most popular is Psy with 'Gangnam Style' > currently at (wait for it) 2,758,820,436 views > yes 2 billion and heading towards 3 billion - full list of the top 100 here.
    Many on the list you'd not be surprised to see and it took me to the No.18 spot before I found something I fancied putting on today's music spot.
    At nearly, but only, one and half billion views (1,486,847,323 and counting) this is Ed Sheeran singing 'Thinking Out Loud'. 

    Romance ahead of Valentine's Day > coincidentally.

    Friday 3 February 2017


    I had something else lined up for this week until I heard about the death of singer and bass guitarist John Wetton earlier this week. 
    Immediately my mind went to the song he wrote in 1982 with Geoff Downes and released by Asia on their debut album and as a single - 'Heat of the Moment'.
    I use to have this track on a playlist I called "This'll make ya smile". It still works for me.
    Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and especially John Wetton - thanks for this !