Friday 27 November 2020


Welcome back my friends, to the disc that never ends... 
There was another track on the 'PROG magazine' CD that introduced me to an artist called Dreaming David K (aka David Kovacevic) and Organic. 'Lost In Space' was described in the magazine as having hints of ELO and Jeff Wayne's 'War of the Worlds' - I would go on to discover there was plenty more besides that to be enjoyed. 
My take is it sounds like Camel, Genesis, ELP, Yes, Greenslade, Colosseum & ELO all rolled up on the same night to stage an 'everything but the kitchen sink' night to remember. On David Kovacevic's website: (link) he lists a few more influences to those bands I've mentioned. To put it simply there's a lot going on and the album release 'Mr. Passive Progressive' in a review here (link2) says "it needs to be heard. Throwing out more than a nod and a wink to most of the bands above." 
The album finale is 'One Last Chance' - so welcome to the world of Dreaming David K >
 

Naturally I have some more for you:
That 'Lost In Space' track (nice video) > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXCmG6amUMw&t=39s
And the excellent bonus track on the album CD called 'Rock 'n' Roll Heaven' that take us to a place we have all no doubt imagined at some time or another > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjb7pWpwZPo 

Tuesday 24 November 2020

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary. Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out ! Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

Last month's PROG magazine had a free CD entitled 'A Gentleman's Excuse Me'. I can't find an explanation for this unusual title but I can tell you the CD was full of great music, surprisingly much of it coming from, of all places, Norway! 
Of the 12 tracks on the CD, 5 are by Norwegian bands and released by Apollon Records* in Bergen, what is going on up there? 😉 
After much deliberation I've gone for a double entry of two of my favourite tracks. Norway's Professor Tip Top (great name) with something called 'Beneath The Silence' from their album 'Tomorrow is Delayed' (highly appropriate name for just now) - 2nd half of this track is wonderful - headphones on at the end I suggest >

And this one from Yorkshire, an English band called Apostle and a song titled 'Pale Blue Dot'. Video contains the lyrics:
"All the generals and leaders, Just momentary masters, Of the only home, We've ever known"


* In Bergen, Norway, the Apollon record label is affiliated with a record store/pub in the city centre. Sounds like my kind of place !

Friday 20 November 2020

Let me take you back to a time when Corona was just a beer and 'social distancing' was a phrase from the future. You may recall after posting a spot (in January) referring to Alan Freeman's Saturday Rock Show that I promised we would return to this topic in the coming weeks. 
That later date never happened for reasons we all know about, however better late than never I make good on that promise today.
Triggered mainly by my purchasing a copy of 'Prog' magazine last month and discovering a number of new bands via their giveaway CD. More on this soon*. First off I'm heading back to that 1978 recording of the
 'Saturday Rock Show' that I listened to, where I heard a band from the 70s I'd no memory of at all. Lone Star were a band from Wales, formed in 1975, released two albums and then split in 1978 - the track played by 'Fluff' on that Final programme was a Tony Wilson creation (live recording). The band sounding very Led Zep like on today's belated Star Track: 'A Million Stars' by Lone Star. Intro by Alan Freeman himself >

This is a sound only video. Here's a mind blowing itunes visualizer version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRrR_4X5mt0 
If you like this then check out 'Spaceships' and a rare live video from 1977 'Bells of Berlin'

Final link (if you're mad for it) is that Final Rock Show

* My Prog mood continues, midweek - with more on this giveaway CD. 

Friday 13 November 2020

How about an alternative header for today: Timothy Leary's famous 3-part slogan ? 


The thinking behind the header above is because today, 5 years ago, my very first Music Spot was published, with the following message "I'm hoping to make 'The Friday Music Spot' a regular feature. It's finally Friday and the weekend starts here, so turn up the volume."
It was also Friday 13th that day when the first Music Spot spun into action with Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain'. So I thought something in a similar vein would be appropriate to mark the occasion.
"My soul has been psychedelicized" is today's message from The Chambers Brothers.
"Time Has Come Today" by this American psychedelic soul group, was written by Willie & Joe Chambers. The song was recorded and released as a single in 1966. It then featured on the album 'The Time Has Come' in November 1967, and released again as a single in December 1967. This single spent five weeks at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the Autumn of 1968.
Once I'd heard the album track I felt short changed with the shorter single version. This is not a song - it's a TRIP ! So get the joss sticks burning and tune in for 11 minutes and be psychedelicized (can I suggest full screen and headphones for the full TRIP experience) 


The Chambers Brothers also released a 16 minute track 'Love, Peace & Happiness' in 1969, if you're not done, then drop out to this, it's very 60s, but WELL worth a listen. The message loud and clear:  link here  


Friday 6 November 2020

There's a few reasons behind today's choice of Star Track.
First off there's the song itself. Take two fine instrumentalists, singer/bassist Janice Marie Johnson and singer/guitarist Hazel P. Payne. A belting bass-line, gibberish lyrics of euphoric silliness and some fine guitar solos. Mixed together by keyboardist Perry Kibble and Janice Marie Johnson who wrote the song between them and you have a huge No.1 hit single.
Then there's the fact that until very recently I'd never seen this track performed. I knew it well enough, released in June 1978, it was a hit in the UK that August and then an American No.1 in September, but I missed seeing it on any TV. So until I saw this video, from 1978, I had no idea what I'd missed.
Finally I remember how popular the single was at the time when my mates were running their Mobile Disco called 'San Fran Disco'. A guaranteed floor filler and among one of the songs I immediately associate with those heady disco days.
So get your boogie boots on for A Taste of Honey with 'Boogie Oogie Oogie':


Here's the card I did for 'San Fran Disco' proprietors, Messrs Parker & Mackinlay (Ray and Don) for their promotional use.