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Sixto Rodriguez (Sugar Man)

In 2012, the Oscar-winning documentary 'Searching for Sugar Man' saw two South African fans track Rodriguez down to see what had become of him.

Rodriguez launched his career in 1967 but initially struggled to find success in his native US and was ultimately dropped by his record label.
However, his music gradually developed a cult following overseas, and his records enjoyed significant sales and airplay in South Africa and Australia.
Little was known about Rodriguez in the country despite his music being so popular, and false rumours had circulated that the singer had killed himself on stage in the 1970s.

If you haven't seen the film, track it down, it's excellent. Rodriguez sadly did die earlier this week. 

I could have picked any number of his songs - here's 'Crucify Your Mind' - RIP 

Actually Video of the week - taken in our garden. Click on the white ▶ in the centre, then click again. 

Hummingbird hawk-moth

The hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is a species of hawk moth found across temperate regions of Eurasia. And last week on our buddleia. 

  

Having recently mentioned the local music scene in the Hastings area was lively, I thought today we'd have some music from one of those local bands. 

Friends from school days in Robertsbridge Tom Chaplin (born in Hastings) and Tim Rice-Oxley met other band members, including guitarist Dominic Scott at Tonbridge college. Scott left in 2001 and Keane became known as 'the band with no guitars', thanks to their heavily piano-based sound. 

This is actually a song, written by Tim, about Scott leaving the band and is a favourite track of mine. From their 'Hopes and Fears' 2004 debut album 'This is the Last Time' >

For more local nostalgia check out 'Sovereign Light Cafe' from the 2012 record 'Strangeland' - the song is about the seaside resort of Bexhill-on-Sea. The café itself is on the west end of the town's seafront, opposite the offshore Sovereign Lighthouse, where it gets its name. Link 2 

  

I'm at the northern tip of the UK mainland. I've just walked into 'The Last House' in John O'Groats, which since 2019 has been home to a new brewery, bar and visitor centre. 

Amidst various bottles of beer and related merchandise there's a screen showing a video of the local area with music playing that has my ear. This is how I got to hear John O'Groats local band Neon Waltz and learn via a promotional postcard that NME called them "Scotland's coolest new gang" in 2015 and their 2017 'Strange Hymns' record being nominated for Scottish Album of the Year.  

My first thought was they reminded me of Explosions in the Sky, but that was instrumentally. All the songs I've listened to are more vocal, but this track sounds more like what I first heard. 

'Perfect Frame' from 'Strange Hymns'. Bit of a psychedelic video happening too. 

* YouTube has more videos and a new LP is due in September. 

 

Same flower, different butterfly, TN35 4AT

Hydrangea plant, Red Admiral (left), Peacock (right) butterflies. Taken in our garden. July 2023

   

Ever since moving down to the Sussex coast I've seen more 'live' music than I've managed in ages. The local scene here is very active. 

But today I'm away back to London for the only performance in England on their 2023 World Tour for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Courtesy of my son who got the tickets for this evening's stadium event. So along with over 60,000 fans I expect the band will be heard more than seen and if the setlist info is anything to go by this track from 1999 will be part of the show. 

This video is a classic of it's time and is the band's most watched on YouTube. 'Californication' >

   

Last weekend the BST Hyde Park concerts in London concluded, penultimately with Billy Joel, who'd played a set full of crowd pleasing 'Greatest Hits'.

I checked the setlist and his encore began with this classic. You've probably seen the video before, but worth another spin, given the nature of history and it's ability to repeat itself. As one person comments: "As an US History student I understand this song and realize we have not changed at all in 70 years".

Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire' (lyrics and history) ... 'But we tried to fight it' 

NB: the visuals start with the vocals at 32 seconds in >

  F O O T N O T E  

Just a few hours after posting this track I came across a new version by Fall Out Boy who've created an update of 'We Didn't Start the Fire' - running from 1989 to 2023. With new lyrics and the chorus line reads: 'But we're trying to fight it' (click here to view) 

  

Amazingly after nearly 380 'Friday Music Spots' these guys have yet to feature. Though one of their best known songs did make an appearance in 2018 as FMS#135 (click link).  

Simon & Garfunkel are therefore long overdue. So without further ado from The Concert in Central Park in 1981 here is 'American Tune' > Art, you in the mood ?

FYI: 'The Concert in Central Park' has had a few recent outings on the Sky Arts channel. 

   

It’s a little over 40 years since the release of the film ‘Local Hero’, one of my favourites (along with ‘Gregory’s Girl’) which was also directed and written by Bill Forsyth.  

Well the coastal town of Pennan in Aberdeenshire was the location for the fictional village of Ferness in ‘Local Hero’ (including the prop telephone box used in the Northern Lights scene - "because the actual phone box was not in a good position for the cinematography"). We discovered this gem of a place recently while touring Scotland and not surprisingly this song came to mind. Take a look at this link to see a 'wee' bit more of Pennan - then enjoy the music and movie clips …

"Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero)" by Mark Knopfler. 

   

Occasionally you hear a track from a group you thought you knew but it sounds very different from what you expected. My impression of this band was formed by their big 1978 hit, which you may recall: "Reminiscing".

Little River Band 'It's a Long Way There' is actually the opening track off their 1975 debut album and their hallmark three-part harmonies sung by Glenn Shorrock, Graeham Goble and Beeb Birtles are clear to hear. Although the CS&N parallels are unmistakable the guitar solo by Ric Formosa takes the song somewhere unexpected...
The video is all Australian (and slightly bizarre) with concert clips and film footage of "Have a Go Australia", 8mm film of Sydney Harbour, "C'mon Aussie C'mon" and the 1975 Bathurst 1000 (touring car race), plus the guitar solo at around 5 minutes becomes a spot the cricketer quiz for you ?

➤ I've read that along with AC/DC and the Bee Gees, the Little River Band were one of the first Australian groups to hit it big in the US, selling over 25 million records and scoring 13 American Top 40 hits. "Reminiscing" was their biggest, reaching #3. They are less well known in Europe. 

Interesting that these groups are referred to as Australian - all about the origin of the group I guess. Because the main members of AC/DC emigrated from Scotland while the Bee Gee brothers were born on the Isle of Man and only actually lived in Australia for a little over 8 years.