The week before Christmas in 1986 this record was Top of the Pops in the UK singles chart. It was denied the cherished Christmas No.1 slot by a re-issue of 'Reet Petite' by Jackie Wilson* - which took top spot on the December 21st chart. 

So many years later this a cappella version of the Isley-Jasper-Isley original, a plea for people to take care of one another, still resonates today. From English indie band The Housemartins 'are you ready' for 'Caravan of Love' > 

* A number one almost three years after Jackie Wilson's death and 29 years after it's original UK chart success in 1957, when it reached No.6. 

 T H I S   D A Y   1 5 0   Y E A R S   A G O

-   A R O U N D   T H E   W O R L D   I N   8 0   D A Y S   -

"After reading in the Daily Telegraph that a new railroad in India had made it theoretically possible to travel around the world in 80 days, Phileas Fogg bet his fellow members at the Reform Club, London that he will make that journey in 80 days or less; the wager was for the princely sum of £20,000 (half his fortune). On the evening of 2nd October 1872, along with his valet Jean Passepartout he set out to win the wager."

The story began serialization in Le Temps, the Paris newspaper, on 6 November 1872. It was published in installments over the next 45 days, with its ending timed to synchronize Fogg's December 21st deadline with the real world. Chapter 35 appeared on 20th December; 21st December, the date upon which Fogg was due to appear back in London, did not include an installment of the story; on 22nd December, the final two chapters announced Fogg's success. As it was being published serially for the first time, some readers believed that the journey was actually taking place – bets were placed, and some railway companies and ship liner companies lobbied Jules Verne to appear in the book.

🎬 A 1956 movie staring David Niven, Cantinflas and Shirley MacLaine won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture. See music trailer below.

🌍 No idea when I saw this film but it must have certainly fired our young imaginations.  

The book was published in 1873. An 1874 stage version, written by Verne and French playwright Adolphe d’Ennery, was also wildly successful and ran for several decades.  

  

A month or so ago we watched the 2019 film about Harriet Tubman called simply 'Harriet'.

Based on the inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, 'Harriet' tells the extraordinary tale of her escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes. Her courage and tenacity in freeing hundreds of slaves changed the course of history.

Cynthia Erivo, an English actress, singer and songwriter from London, played Harriet Tubman and co-wrote 'Stand Up' a song that plays during the movie's end credits. The movie received Academy Award nominations for Best Address and Best Original Song. 

Cynthia Erivo sings 'Stand Up' on this: official lyric video including clips from the movie >  

  

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). 

Thanks go to Dave Lawrence for enthusing about this crazy Croatian cellist duo of Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser - artistically known as 2Cellos. 

Playing instrumental arrangements of well-known pop and rock songs, as well as classical and film music. Check this video out and the many more available on YouTube.

This'll get you started >

  

I completely missed the sad news of the death of Christine McVie last week (there must have other things going on 😏)

Did you see the BBC reran a special about her career, which was mostly with Fleetwood Mac. Her first band was Chicken Shack with Stan Webb, when she was still, somewhat accurately Christine Perfect. The band had a 1969 hit single with a version of Etta James' - 'I'd Rather Go Blind' - the same year Christine was voted best female vocalist by readers of the 'Melody Maker'. 

To quote Stan Webb "RIP Chris. A legend never dies" 

This song has already been a Star Track, way back in 2016, performed on that occasion by Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa. 

  

Can't quite recall how I came across this video, but the bass guitar solo certainly registered and when I discovered the player shared my birth date, I had to earmark it for today's track.  

Tal Wilkenfeld (born 2 December 1986) is an Australian bassist and guitarist, singer and songwriter and has performed with lots of well-known artists over the years.

In 2008, Tal was voted "The Year's Most Exciting New Player" by Bass Player magazine readers' choice poll [at age 22]. 

This video is of Jeff Beck live at Ronnie Scott's in 2007, performing the Stevie Wonder composition (as an instrumental): 'Cause We've Ended as Lovers'.

One minute 30 in, her solo starts and she looks pretty pleased with herself 70 seconds later -
many happy returns > 

In addition, and interesting listening - here is Rick Beato analysing this very song and informing us that Jeff Beck is 'Uncopyable' > click here. 

 

For the record over the last seven years   T H E  F R I D A Y  M U S I C  S P O T   has now starred 350 tracks, from the beginning in November 2015. 

The first 50 songs can be replayed via this link. For 51-100 click here: 101-150 click this one and then 151-200 (link) ; while 200-250 is here ; 250-300 right here. Today lists the last 50, below.

Click on the blue arrow ➤ to replay that track. Please note: Many of the 350 videos are showing unavailable now, but you can search for an alternative, if you wish.

301 ➤ All I Want Is You......…..............….............................. Roxy Music
302 ➤ Different Drum …................................................... Stone Poneys
303 ➤ Starman.........…........................................................ David Bowie
304 ➤ Fill to me the Parting Glass .......... Shaun Davey with Orchestra
305 ➤ Willin'...........…....…......................... Linda Ronstadt / Experience
306 ➤ To Her Door...............………......................................... Paul Kelly
307 ➤ Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) ..................... Jerry Garcia Band
308 ➤ Comin' Back to Me ……….............….…......... Jefferson Airplane
309 ➤ Cry Baby.…………..................................................... Janis Joplin
310 ➤ Motorcycle Emptiness.........….…......… Manic Street Preachers

311 ➤ Paris 1919….…............................................................. John Cale
312 ➤ Sweet Jane …............................................................... Lou Reed
313 ➤ War......…….............................................................… Edwin Starr
314 ➤ Everlasting Love ........................................................ Love Affair
315 ➤ Milky Way........……....…..............................................…… Kitaro
316 ➤ Splendor…….….……..........….............................................. M83
317 ➤ Guitar Jangle ...................................................... Jason Loughlin
318 ➤ Floodlit World ……….................…............................ Ultrasound
319 ➤ Jumpin Jack Flash……….............................… Ananda Shankar

320 ➤ Revolution.........……................................................… Tomorrow

321 ➤ Get Over You….….….……................................. The Undertones

322 ➤ Universal Soldier ......................................................... Donovan
323 ➤ Look Through Any Window .......……...................... The Hollies
324 ➤ Six Blocks Away .............................................. Lucinda Williams
325 ➤ I'll Find My Way Home........................…............. Jon & Vangelis

326 ➤ True Faith................................................................... New Order
327 ➤ End of Me ...............................................................… Billy Talent
328 ➤ Latin Quarter ………..............….................…….… Marc Antoine
329 ➤ Parallels.…………..............................................................… Yes
330 ➤ First Born Leaders..............…...........................… Jon Anderson

331 ➤ Horizontigo….….….……....................................................... Lau

332 ➤ Gimme Hope Jo'Anna …......................................... Eddie Grant
333 ➤ Telstar………......................................................… The Tornados
334 ➤ Yesterday .............................................................. Blues Beatles
335 ➤ Even If I Could........…....................…. The Mamas & The Papas

336 ➤ Stay With Me.…….….………............................................. Faces
337 ➤ The Bluest Blues .....................................................… Alvin Lee
338 ➤ The Heart of Saturday Night ….….........................… Tom Waits
339 ➤ Black Light Night.……..............................… The Hanging Stars
340 ➤ The Driving of the Year Nail.…................................. Leo Kottke

341 ➤ Zadok the Priest ............................................................. Handel

342 ➤ May You Never ….................................................... John Martyn
343 ➤ The King Will Come .…….................................... Wishbone Ash
344 ➤ 007 Theme Tune ....................................... John Barry Orchestra 
345 ➤ Waking Up ...................…............................................... Elastica
346 ➤ Shake Your Money Maker .…......... Paul Butterfield Blues Band
347 ➤ If I Had the World To Give ...............................… Grateful Dead
348 ➤ Diana ………..............….……...................................... Paul Anka
349 ➤ Walking In Memphis.………….................................. Marc Cohn
350 ➤ I Put a Spell on You .…………............................. Alan Price Set

  

Today is number 350 on the 'Star Track' playlist. Time then for a bumper posting.

But first, how I got to today's track... 

For the majority of this year we have become addicted to watching re-runs of the TV series 'Heartbeat' on ITV3. The result being it has reminded me of many songs from the 60s, some quite obscure, lost but not forgotten. The programmes, which were lovingly made between 1992 and 2010 hold up very well and in recreating those innocent times of my youth are a mark of its continued popularity. This is how I was reminded of 'I Put a Spell on You'. 

From here I found this website "Far Out" which added versions I was not familiar with: "The 5 best covers of 'I Put a Spell on You'". Originally written and released by 'Screamin' Jay Hawkins in 1956 I quote "Far Out":- Over the years, various artists have come up with different presentations of ‘I Put a Spell on You’ using the influence gathered from their own genre of music.

So buckle up and click here for those 5 versions - as listed below:- have a listen, take your time and take your pick

1. ➤ Creedence Clearwater Revival > from 1968, great guitar from John Fogerty

2. ➤ Nina Simone > a very jazzy version

3. ➤ Natacha Atlas > British-Egyptian singer well known for her diverse musical experimentations - this has WILD middle eastern beats 

4. ➤ Alan Price Set (see below)

5. ➤ Annie Lennox > another different take - simple piano builds to a bigger production

The version I heard on 'Heartbeat' was by the Alan Price Set from 1966 > which put me in mind of the Animals 'House of the Rising Sun' (due to the organ sound from Alan Price*)

Not surprisingly 'I Put a Spell on You' is another song from the Hall of Fame's 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. 

* Curiously Alan Price turned up in a Christmas episode of 'Heartbeat' in 2004, as a shifty musician. 

   

I didn't have any blue suede shoes and I didn't arrive by plane and it certainly wasn't pouring with rain.
But I was definitely in the land of the Delta Blues and I was unmistakably walking in Memphis, walking with my feet, ten feet off of Beale !

10 years ago, I was doing exactly that - on the road from New York via Nashville to New Orleans - destination Thanksgiving Day 2012. 

Cue Marc Cohn, composer and singer of "Walking In Memphis" with the official music video [in B/W] 

Some of you may prefer the version by Cher [click here then] 

  

November 14th, 1952 – the first UK Singles Chart is published in the New Music Express. It is published as a Top 12, although it comprises 15 singles - because of ties at No. 7; No. 8 and No. 11. The No. 1 is Al Martino's 'Here In My Heart' and the first No. 2 is Jo Stafford's 'You Belong To Me'. The NME chart is henceforth viewed as the start of the Official Singles Chart lineage. 

As that first chart of single record sales goes it's not very Pop and it certainly doesn't Rock or Roll, so I'm jumping forward five years to one I remember from my parent's collection. A 78rpm [DB 3980 on the Columbia label] - another UK No.1, occupying top spot for 9 weeks in 1957* - 'Diana' by Paul Anka.

I actually have my parent's original 78 shellac record, still plays too, complete with the very same outer sleeve seen here in this retro video. Let's play the record player... 

Fun Fact: DJ Bob Harris bought his first 78rpm disc in 1957. It was Paul Anka's 'Diana' (which apparently, he still has, too). 

* Replacing 'Diana' at No.1 at the beginning of November in 1957 was 'That'll Be The Day' by Buddy Holly & the Crickets.  

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). 

On the Mexican Day of the Dead here's some more Grateful Dead -

From the acclaimed 'Europe '72' live triple record release, this is "China Cat Sunflower / I Know You Rider" - and a fantastic psychedelic video to complete the 'let's get high' experience...

From the same record check out 'Jack Straw'; 'Ramble On Rose'; 'Sugar Magnolia' & 'Morning Dew' 

There was a special anniversary edition of 'Europe '72' released earlier this year [see here] 

  

This coming Tuesday is the Mexican Day of the Dead - "Dia de los muertos".

In some way this has been, for me, the 'Year of the DEAD' - as in the Grateful Dead. Back in January I discovered a lot of music from the Jerry Garcia Band [see January 21st blog], and since then more great music has come to light. 

Starting with 'If I Had the World to Give' from the band's tenth album 'Shakedown Street' released in 1978 - it's very Beatles-ish I think you'll agree. 

So now I consider myself a 'Deadhead' - which is what all fans (and there are many famous people who are - Matt Groening of Simpsons fame for one) call themselves >

Coming this Tuesday - please log on for more Grateful Dead from the 'Europe 72' album. There's a real psychedelic video from YouTube to also blow your mind.

   

Today's Star Track is prompted by two thoughts.  

Our, soon to be, new local watering hole (more on that coming soon) has a gallery of old black and white photos on display, one being of a very young Mike Bloomfield, then guitarist with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. 

While the title of this particular track off the band's 1965 debut album seemed a good one for the lucrative world of the property market.  

"Shake Your Money Maker" was written by Elmore James in 1961 and is included in the list of 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. Covered here by Paul Butterfield (harmonica and vocals), Mike Bloomfield (lead guitar), Elvin Bishop (rhythm), Jerome Arnold (bass), Sam Ley (drums) & Mark Naftalin (organ) - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band > 

Check out other tracks from this album - especially 'Last Night' written by Little Walter.

Plus a 'live' recording from Monterey in 1967 - 'Drifin'Blues' > 

With Mike Bloomfield talking to camera as an introduction - click here  

  

Perhaps one of the lesser-known 'Brit Pop' bands are Elastica.

Formed when Justine Frischmann (lead singer) and Justin Welsh (drums) left the band Suede in 1992. This is their most successful single, released in February 1995, called 'Waking Up' - 

"Make a cup of tea, put a record on... "

Having listened to this you may think the song's riff sounded like The Stranglers 'No More Heroes', well so did The Stranglers ! Whose publishers took out a lawsuit, which was settled out of court after Elastica agreed to co-credit the band. So along with Frischmann, the members of The Stranglers are listed as songwriters. 

Interestingly "JJ" Burnel of The Stranglers said "Yes, it sounds like us, but so what? It's the first thing our publishers have done for us in 20 years, but if it had been up to me, I wouldn't have bothered."

Follow this:- 

with a track in a similar vein, released just a few weeks later in 1995, more morning upbeat happiness - the Boo Radleys and 'Wake Up Boo!' - [click now] 

   

The first James Bond movie 'Dr. No' had its World premiere at the London Pavilion on 5th October 1962, expanding to the rest of the United Kingdom days later. Then over the following months it played around Europe. While the North American premiere wasn't until 8th May 1963.

All this means, 60 years ago this week, we heard the 'James Bond Theme' for the very first time !

"Now, pay attention 007"

Many typical Bond film images were established in this first film. It begins with an introduction to the character through the view of a gun barrel as the main title sequence begins. It introduced the now famous theme music composed by Monty Norman. John Barry, who would later go on to compose the music for eleven Bond films, arranged the theme but was uncredited - except for the credit of his orchestra playing the final piece. The famous guitar riff was played by Vic Flick, as a member of the John Barry Orchestra. 

Every year the 5th of October is observed as "Global James Bond Day".

Sadly, Monty Norman passed away in July this year.

More Bond Music > [click here] 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' music by John Barry. These opening titles feature a reminder of the Bond films prior to 1969. 

Interesting Double 'O' Facts:

1)  Chris Blackwell (Island Records) was a location scout and production assistant on Dr. No. 

2)  The brilliant 007 logo with the added gun barrel plus the trigger at the end of the '007' made its first appearance in the US poster for Dr. No. 

  

-   R   E   V   I   S   I   T   E   D   -

30th September 1972

[Click this link]

Sitting in a favourite pub in St. Leonards on Sea just the other month ('The Tower' or "proper boozer"), a track came on their well-stocked jukebox that immediately took me back a number of years. Hence the revisit invite above. 

Accompanying a pint of IPA ('Life & Death' from the Vocation Brewery), which was going down rather well, the unmistakable slow building intro to 'The King Will Come' by Wishbone Ash could be heard.

Therefore the 50th anniversary of their album 'Argus' is celebrated today. Side Two, track one > 

There are plenty of 'live' videos - but I've gone with the original album version recording. 

  

The Old Grey Whistle Test - part two - as promised... Is of a performance that went out in March 1973 and involves one of my favourite songs.

I've long been a fan of today's artist but I confess I was slow to get into John Martyn. I even had his 'Solid Air' album to review in 1973 yet somehow it didn't register. Three years later I rediscovered him, as it were, and I was hooked. 

My favourite memory was seeing him at the Half Moon pub in Putney performing 'May You Never'. The audience were almost unconsciously singing along, when sudden John stopped singing himself, and with a huge smile on his face he watched the crowd continue without him. Great moment.   

Early days of the OGWT conjure memories of a fluctuating start time, I think once it even missed midnight and so became the first Wednesday show. While the studio was only 32 by 22 feet, and due to the lack of technology that accommodated live performances, bands often mimed to a back track. No mining here, just John Martyn singing 'May You Never' >

Did you? John Martyn was born in New Malden, Surrey. Grew up in Glasgow and lived in 1975 in Hastings

  

Much like all the rescheduling by TV channels since the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - there is a change to the advertised programme for this week's Music Spot. (The OGWT - Part 2 - will return soon).

Seeing all the various tributes and newsreel footage of her reign I heard a piece of music I recognised and it seems that Handel's 'Zadok the Priest' written in 1727 for the Coronation of George III has been played at all coronations since, including the Queen's in 1953. 

Some of you will also recognise it as Tony Britten rearranged 'Zadok the Priest' in 1992 as the basis for the UEFA Champions League anthem. 

    

  

This coming Monday marks 50 years since Bob Harris first appeared on the 'Old Grey Whistle Test' on the Beeb.

He is probably the presenter most associated with the show. Launched on 21st September 1971 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' was the BBC's main outlet for non-chart music and went out late Tuesday nights. A brief history being Richard Williams presented that first season. Bob Harris was in the chair from 1972 to 1979 when Anne Nightingale took over. In 1983 it was renamed the 'Whistle Test' and various presenters were used during the 1980s until the show came off the air in 1988. 

Series Two with 'Whispering Bob' also came with a new theme, with the 'Star Kicker' visuals to Area Code 615 "Stone Fox Chase" music. [here].

Bob's first show on 12th Sept 1972 featured Frampton's Camel and John Prine. There's a fan website listing all the artists who appeared week by week, if you fancy a who's who of the show click here [link] 

We have featured some OGWT clips from YouTube on the Friday Music Spot over the years, here's another from October 1973, this is some virtuoso 12 string guitar playing from Leo Kottke with a track called 'The Driving of the Year Nail'.

We catch a brief glimpse of Whispering Bob (once called a broadcaster "laid-back to the point of narcolepsy") at the very start of this clip.

If you liked that Leo Kottke's full performance is recorded here as 'The Driving of the Year Nail' is followed by a piece called 'Stealing'. Click On ➤ 

As a result of this week's blog and the knowledge from all the research, the next few weeks may have a distinct 'Old Grey' 70s feel about them. He whispered 😏  

  

Time for some New music, that sounds like old music... 

I occasionally get email-outs from 'LOOSE Records', an independent company who I have bought CDs from in the past. They have a roster of up and coming artists and The Hanging Stars have caught my attention on a few occasions.   

They have been described as "Blending folk pastoralism with swampy 60s Americana, The Hanging Stars sound like the missing link between the California desert sun and the grey skies of London Town".

"Their new album 'Hollow Heart' cements their repute as masters of captivating blissful psychedelic folk and harmony-laden cosmic country" - says one review.

See what you make of this track 'Black Light Night', the playout sounds like Ultrasound on 'Floodlit World' while the black and white video features a VW camper (model not unlike my old van). Summer easing into September > 

Another track off the album. This is 'I Don't Want To Feel So Bad Anymore' >click The Hanging Stars   

Filmed in May 2022 at LePub, Newport, Wales. Jangle guitar, harmonies, great pedal steel, very west coast. 

 

An occasional music spot - remembering places around the World

Another place memory that features a bar on the Costa Brava in Spain. 

The story begins in 1972 when a crowd of us went to Lloret de mar for a two-week holiday at the end of August. In 1975 we were back again and discovered this bar midway between the two main beach areas. It was a hike along a sea cliff path but never busy mid-afternoon, so much so we often had the deck to ourselves and would refer to 'Cala Banys' as 'The Club'. A perfect spot to drink and listen to the music they played, often at our request, in such surroundings.  

This Moody Blues track will always remind me of those times. 'New Horizons' [out to sea] >

From the album 'Seventh Sojourn' which was actually released in 1972, a few months after our very first Lloret holiday.

Suntan and San Miguels (same again) at our club 'Cala Banys' - 1975
(left to right): D. Clack, G. Moorhouse, B. Pocock, J. Dodd (sitting), A. Robertson & J. Chick. 

Cheers  

   

Some artists have not featured previously on the FMS because I have found it difficult to pick one favourite track, as I have so many. Tom Waits is one of those artists.

Much like Lucinda Williams from back in May, his voice changed considerably over the years. Tom Waits is also an artist who defies categorisation. Not to mention the jazz, blues, folk, rock vaudeville & experimental music styles, he's been called a jazz troubadour, barfly, beat writer, 'old tomcat', nighthawk, possessing a boozy growl of a voice, like a lingering hangover and a true poet and storyteller of the rock and roll era. He's constantly changing hats and personalities.  

His second LP release in 1974 was called 'The Heart of Saturday Night'. The title song was written as a tribute to Jack Kerouac. The video is just the LP cover plus the song's lyrics:

You're looking for the heart of Saturday night

The album ends with 'The Ghosts of Saturday Night' -  As he dreams of a waitress with Maxwell House eyes and marmalade thighs with scrambled yellow hair 😏

  

Having talked last week of the band Ten Years After appearing at Reading, it reminded me of this track I found not so long ago.

Lead guitarist Alvin Lee with 'The Bluest Blues' from the "Nineteen Ninety Four" album released in the year 1994, with a certain George Harrison playing slide guitar.

The full line-up being: Alvin Lee - guitar & vocals; George Harrison - slide guitar; Steve Gould - bass; Tim Hinkley - hammond organ; Alan Young - drums; Steve Grant - keyboards.

Alvin channelling his very best Gary Moore - or should it be the other way round ? 

Amazing and comprehensive Ten Years After fan site: click here and select a year to view. FYI

   

Billed as the "11th National Jazz, Blues, Folk & Rock Festival" - Reading. Now simply known as the 'Reading Festival' this was my first such event in August 1972.

See this poster of the line-up and the £3.25 paid for the entire weekend*. 

"Arriving with 3 mates from London on Friday evening having been searched (for drugs) at Reading Station, a delay that caused me to miss the start of the Genesis set. Hurrying into the arena to the strains of 'The Musical Box', having nearly as hurriedly pitched the tent for the weekend, I did catch the end of their performance followed by that of Mungo Jerry and Curved Air. 

Having consulted various websites for further memory joggers I must confess a lot of the weekend and the music is a bit of a blur. Focus were good, as were The Faces. I recall John Peel as one of the compares but aside from Status Quo I remember little about Sunday beyond the Ten Years After set being quite late on and us leaving to catch a train back to London before if was to late."

PS: Diplomacy stops me revealing the names of my fellow festival goers, who would edge me out of the end of the tent on both nights, due to the limited space at our disposal. Here lies a possible reason for my memory loss, being down to a lack of sleep.

 

Some music then from The Faces setlist (link) - as the band played various tracks before ending with Rod Stewart's recent solos successes. Their third number of the night was the excellent 'Stay with Me' > such a good instrumental intro

While looking for this track I came across another version from the Foo Fighters with Chad Smith guesting on drums and Taylor Hawkins on vocals (click here for that). 

➤ NB: Billed as the 11th but actually the 12th (see more on that here)

* This years Reading Festival will cost you £259 for a weekend ticket.

  

Staying in the 60s and the California sun (see the previous two posts) for some 'Sunshine Pop' >

Often the 'B' side of a great single can be much more than just the backside of a hit 45 ! 

This The Mamas & the Papas track is a wonderful example of a hidden gem. So playing DJ let's flip the 1966 single 'I Saw Her Again' (follow up to 'Monday, Monday') and give 'Even If I Could' a spin. 

Nice video of the Mamas and Papas too. 

A new occasional music spot - remembering places around the World

This is something new. The idea is simple, I remember a place and then an associated piece of music to accompany it.

Starting today with a place in San Francisco in 1978. At the end of an East > West 'Road Trip' we met up with a group of Long Islanders living the Summer in the City. That first evening of friendship, the first of many down the years, we went to the cinema at 10pm, to see 'Foul Play' with Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn and Dudley Moore. The cinema entrance fee was $4. Brilliant movie and all filmed in San Francisco for added interest while afterwards we went to a bar on Van Ness street, for coffee and carrot cake, called 'Tommy's Joynt' (still there I understand). 

My journal entry records the following: "paraphernalia bar with the most colossal selection of beers from all over the world". 

Back to the movie for the rather cheesy title music, which plays over the opening drive along California Highway 1 - a road we had only travelled along the day before.

Barry Manilow sings 'Ready to Take a Chance Again' - enjoy the drive  

         

  

Always happy to receive suggestions from listeners. This came up recently and is well worth sharing with everyone. A band of musicians from Brazil playing Beatles songs in the style of the 'blues'. Certainly a novel idea !

They call themselves the Blues Beatles. You'll know the famous song title, but this version of 'Yesterday' is almost unrecognisable. 

Marcos Viana: vocals; Lancaster Ferreira: guitar; Flavio Naves: keyboards; Fred Barley: drums; Bruno Falcao: bass; & Denilson Martins on sax. 

There's a 2016 album called "Get Back to the Blues" and a more recent "Let It Blues". Good stuff 

   

In July 1962 the communications satellite 'Telstar' was launched. (If you have been following the latest 'James Webb Space Telescope' news story you will no doubt appreciate the degree of space exploration that has taken place in the 60 years since).

In 1962 'Telstar' was a big deal when on July 23rd the first transatlantic television pictures and satellite phone calls took place. Repairs were needed in early 1963 and then irreparable transistor failure occurred and it went out of service on 21st February. Telstar 2 was a replacement, launched from Cape Canaveral in May 1963 and remained active for two years.  

Such a big deal that record producer and songwriter Joe Meek composed and recorded a tune called 'Telstar' on 22nd July, performed by The Tornados and released on August 17. 

It was recorded in Meek's studio in a small flat above a shop in the Holloway Road, North London. (Years later a lawsuit resulted in no royalties being paid, due to plagiarism, successfully filed by French composer Jean Ledrut). 

The Tornados' single was a UK No.1 in October and then provided the first US No.1 by a British group on December 22nd 1962. 

Both original 'Telstar' satellites still orbit the Earth !

 

This coming Monday, 18th July is Mandela Day.   

Cue the concert to commemorate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday Live in London's Hyde Park, from 27th June, 2008. 

Eddie Grant deliveries a great version of 'Gimme Hope Jo'Anna' assisted by a full cast of colourful singers and musicians along with South African singer Kurt Darren.  

 

A song of hope from the late 1980s. Banned in South Africa when it was released, but widely played. Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990. 

  

As explained in the video introduction by accordionist Martin Green, Kris Drever wrote this after visiting the unique, but very flat, landscape of Norfolk. This came to mind as we drove there last week, so here's that piece of music. 

Guitarist Kris and fiddle player Aidan O'Rourke are both Scottish, while Martin grew up in Cambridgeshire, England, an area that would present a big contrast to their homeland.

Experience 'Horizontigo' by Lau - my favourite and one of the best folk groups of the last 16 years. 

   

So what has Jon Anderson been doing in recent years as Yes go about their way without him ? 

His most recent offering is a record called '1000 Hands'. As it implies a lot of hands came together over a number of years to bring this album to fruition. 500 artists might not be an exaggeration [click on: wikipedia>'1000 Hands' > see origins - for the full lowdown]. It's a huge assortment of musical styles and different artists.  

Jon Anderson has compiled a Zoom window style video for this track 'First Born Leaders' - with a definite calypso / gospel feel for a real joyful song. 

Still singing 'sweetly', still dreaming his dreams...

 

And to a NEW release, 2021 album called 'The Quest' and a track about lockdown 'The Living Island'  >  [this fantastic video appears almost 3D] 

 

This line-up has vocals from Jon Davison [another sound alike] with Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Alan White and it becomes the first Yes LP without any original band members after the death of Chris Squire [he's replaced by Billy Sherwood - also of previous Yes's and Asia]. 

From a 2008-11 line up [including Chris Squire, Alan White, Steve Howe, Oliver Wakeman and Canadian Benoit David - sounding remarkably like Jon Anderson] :-
'From a Page' was a mini-album, it contained four previously unreleased tracks originally recorded by that 2008–2011 line-up of the group and intended for release on an album at the time, but ultimately they weren't, until more recently. 

This track is called 'To the Moment' - nice video

Oliver Wakeman (son of Rick) - search for 'Divine Harmonies ~ Music For The Soul' - check it out > [another nice video] 

The 'Talk' album was predominately South African musician Trevor Rabin who did the writing and production before other members joined in and Jon Anderson came in on the vocals. It's noted for being amongst the first albums to be digitally recorded and edited in its entirety without using traditional audio tape. 

Track two is 'I Am Waiting' below:

The album fell short of commercial expectations upon it's release "It was probably one of the best albums they have ever done ... but of course it was totally at the wrong time." Said long time Yes associate Phil Carson. 

[This is another Jon Anderson production video] 

   

In the summer of 1972 Yes were in the studio composing and recording their soon to be released album 'Close To The Edge'. Over the years since this LP has topped many polls as the Best Prog-Rock album of all time. 

In June of 2015, before the dawn of my music blog, long time Yes bassist Chris Squire sadly died from leukemia, aged 67.  

All this signals the timing of 'My YES Week'. So welcome to 'Close to the Yes'. 

Beginning naturally with a Chris Squire composition from the 1977 'Going For The One' LP. An often-overlooked contributor to Yes’ lyrics, on “Parallels” it's clear that some of the best vocals the band recorded were when Jon Anderson and Chris Squire sang a song as a duet. 

Plus it's one of those classic Yes tracks that starts with the guitar solo (by Steve Howe). And ends with another solo. An all time favourite track of mine, there's even a great story about the recording:

In addition to recording in Switzerland at Mountain Studios, the organ on "Parallels" and "Awaken" were played on the church organ at St. Martin's church in the town of Vevey, some four miles away. The band thought of hiring a mobile recording studio to record on location, but they were advised to rent a telephone line for the day as the quality of the country's lines are of high fidelity and can be fed through directly to the studio in Montreux. With Rick Wakeman in the church and the rest of the band in the studio, Alan White counted the band in and they played the song through. Wakeman described the experience as "absolute magic". 

Some YouTuber has 'mashed' all this together in a video. Not the best pictures but the music is just fantastic. 'Parallels' by Yes 

With many band line-up changes down the years and the various versions of YES, it begs the question 'When is Yes not quite Yes ?

> Coming Soon .... [meaning next week]

 

  

As we relocate over the coming weeks I may need to take a break from the Music Spot for obvious reasons. Be back soon !

Leaving our flat in London got me thinking about the early days there and listening to Margaret's smooth jazz CDs, most of which were all new to me. Earl Klugh, Mindi Abair and Marc Antoine. 

I've picked this track for no other reason than the video: 'Live' from London at Pizza Express Jazz Club, October 2009 - this Marc Antoine track is called 'Latin Quarter'. 😀 

 

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). 

This is maybe a bit like Marmite !  

Some might say "I totally hate it when somebody takes a classic and desecrates it". While others feel it takes the essence of the original and creates something brand new. 

This is certainly 'Culture Clash' [1966 Counter Culture meets 1998 Hip Hop]. Public Enemy 'He Got Game' featuring Stephen Stills - music that is straight to the point with a message. It was released as the soundtrack to Spike Lee's 1998 film and basketball drama of the same name.

Said to be one of the most respected hip hop songs of all time. I really like it. You judge for yourself ...

> Sampling Buffalo Springfield's 'For What It's Worth'  © 1966