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

'It's Electric' > www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clwt43Hu_Ps 

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 

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 !

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. 

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  

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.  

Hands up if you have heard of the 'Jerusalema Dance Challenge' ?
With the NEWS seemingly on rewind and full of nothing good these days, this song may provide an antidote. The full story of the 'Challenge' I will let you research if you want. The brief outline is South African DJ Master KG released this single last year - real name Kgaogelo Moagi, it features female vocalist Nocembo Zikode. Wikipedia calls it 'Gospel-house disco dance'.
I'm not sure about the music. Somedays I like it and others it's more "I can't get this tune out of my head" kind of feeling, in the way that a happy song can also be annoying. But the dancing is great ! And in these socially distanced times, ideal.
During the Covid pandemic and various lockdowns videos of people dancing to the song sparked a global trend and there are versions everywhere of groups taking up the challenge to join in - bringing hope from Africa to the World.
The South African film industry put this video together which I really like. Initially there was a long action intro but I found this edit, however it requires a time frame I think: 

Video timeline is: 

Action Intro to 1:20 - and it's a wrap !
Music starts 1:40
Dancing starts 1:55
Silent credits from 5:50 onwards, to the end 

- This then is 'Jerusalema' by Master KG >

Click here for more dancing (joyful, rubber limbed kids in this one):

I only heard this song a few weeks ago and while the 'riff' is going to remind you of a lot of other tracks, it was something else that triggered in my brain that said 'I recognise this' ?

Sure enough the artist Kurt Vile was on the very same 'Ragged Glory' CD I wrote about last week. I knew it !

His laidback hippy vibe is very Neil Young (though less obvious on this catchy track), while on other occasions he sounds more Lou Reed or even Tom Petty.

Anyway this is the best riff I've heard in ages and by far his most popular video viewed on YouTube. "Pretty Pimpin'" was released in 2015 as a single and made No.1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart >

A different 'live' take from WFUV > www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkSr8uR-jxg 

With any new discovery I would urge you to explore further:

A bit Neil Young: 'One Trick Ponies' > www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7OmWKy6_8E 

Vocally a bit Lou Reedy: 'Wakin' on a Pretty Day' > www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2qA4wkjOhM  - This is a 9 minute track 

Then there's 'Never Run Away' > www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq5sb6_W4LU  

And 'live' from Glastonbury in 2019 we have 'Loading Zones' (and the moment Kurt straps on his Les Paul guitar you know it's happening) > www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbCRzPiDsMY  

Hope all these links work 😇

About a year ago to celebrate 50 years of Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Mojo magazine ran a feature and gave away a free CD: "It's all one song" - tracks that go on and on ! 

This 'Ragged Glory' CD introduced artists dedicated to the power of electric guitars, who'd been inspired by the longform explorations of Crazy Horse.  

Someone who has channeled their inner Neil Young better than others, one Joseph Donald Mascis best known as singer, guitarist and main songwriter of the rock band Dinosaur Jr.  

This is their track 'Lost All Day' from 2016 (sorry no video) and those guitars are right there - it's wonderful.

 

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). 

The Neil Young and Crazy Horse extended electric 'live' jams, that I'm quite prepared to admit often sound the same, yet in the way that you really like something (a lot) you never really mind hearing it over and over again, I always loved these excursions that took up large parts of 'live' performances in the 1980s and 90s.

To quote Young's producer John Hanlon: "Crazy Horse musically paid attention to what Neil was doing and were not afraid to make mistakes. They were not perfection players. They were going for the vibe that supports Neil's vision for his music. It was like improvised jazz, but it was not jazz."

Here then are Neil Young and Crazy Horse 'live' at Farm Aid in 1994. 'Jamming' in their little cluster of playing off each other (really cookin'), Neil Young on lead guitar, Billy Talbot (bass) and Ralph Molina (drums) with Frank Sampedro (rhythm) > 8 minutes of 'Country Home'. 

NB: The rather shrill introduction only lasts a few moments.... then we're off and jammin'

 

As mentioned Neil Young and Crazy Horse are no strangers to long tracks. 'Driftin' Back' at over 27 minutes is probably their longest.

So if you have the time and inclination I recommend 'Ramada Inn' (16:39 min); 'Love And Only Love' (10:18); 'Change Your Mind' (14:39) and of course 'Like A Hurricane' (originally 7:50, but 14:00 minutes by 1991 and the 'Weld' album. 

It was back in 1970 that I fell in love with Neil Young. Since then we've been through some times together... It all began with 'After the Gold Rush' and basically continues to this day. 

Through all those different phases, I have LPs and CDs, tapes and downloads - Crazy Horse, the extended electric 'live' jams, 'Rust Never Sleeps', 'Sleeps with Angels', 'Harvest Moon', 'Chrome Dreams', 'Mirror Ball' with Pearl Jam, Living with War protest songs, 'Psychedelic Pills', even the 1983 electronic experiment that was 'Trans'. It's been quite a journey (through the past) - "Flying Mother Nature's silver seed to a new home in the sun".

The reason for my timing is that it is 50 years since 'After the Gold Rush' - it was released in the US mid September 1970, but came out a month later in the UK, meaning it was probably November before a mate played me this album and I was hooked.

Picking from such a long list of favourite tracks was always going to be impossible (no doubt you all have a different list to me) but in the spirit of the occasion I'm starting with the very first song I heard, namely side one, 'After the Gold Rush' LP - track one: 'Tell Me Why'.

 

I found a 'live' version from 1976 > www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH0T8QkGOgs 

but the harmonies on the original are just the best, so no video, just the album sleeve.

> This record is the only ever album I wore out playing. I actually replaced the original as it begun to sound a bit fuzzy. I still have both copies though !   

This is just the start of a special Neil Young related session. Log back in Midweek for more.