He was Davy Jones and Dave Bowie and then David Bowie but in 1972 he became Ziggy Stardust ! 

In 1969 his character Major Tom had a hit single with 'Space Oddity'. On the 'B' side of the original Philips release was a song called 'Wide Eyed Boy from Freecloud' - this version has sparse instrumentation: guitar (played by Bowie) and arco bass (by Paul Buckmaster). The album version, recorded in July/August 1969, features a full orchestral arrangement by Tony Visconti. Have a listen to the single 'B' side here > 

 

Last summer I saw the re-release (after restoration) of D. A. Pennebaker's documentary film of the final Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars performance on 3rd July 1973 at the Hammersmith Odeon, London. RCA records had recorded it with the intention of releasing a live album. However, the project was shelved for several reasons, rumoured to include Bowie's desire to leave Ziggy behind, and the poor quality of the recordings. Bowie and producer Tony Visconti mixed the recordings in 1981, a mix heavily criticised, although Visconti describes it as "more of a salvage job than an artistic endeavor" considering the state of the source material. 

That said, this sounds pretty good to me. 'Wide Eyed Boy from Freecloud' was played as part of a medley with "All the Young Dudes" and "Oh! You Pretty Things". 

> Finally, did any one of you ever see "Ziggy play guitar" live in concert ? 

  

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 track finds David Bowie at the other end of his catalogue, in the late 1990s.

I'd never heard this until last year and knowing he went through many musical changes during his life, some more popular than others, see what you make of this. It's different yet infectious !

Written by Bowie and Brian Eno it went through various revisions before emerging in 1997 on the 'Earthling' album and as a maxi-single release. A techno (or industrial) track, it presents a critique of America through the eyes of a stereotypical "Johnny" and is a mix of drum patterns, synthesizers, various loops and vocal distortions.

See what you make of "I'm Afraid of Americans" > 

   C e l e b r a t i n g  

-   D A V I D   B O W I E  -

A week devoted to David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016) - aka David Bowie (or maybe Davy Jones or then again Dave Bowie !

This is mostly material I've only discovered recently:

Back in the mid sixties via ads for the Witch Doctor* Club near Hastings I have found that he played with a backing band called The Lower Third and soon after the Buzz. All around the time of 1965/66 and a time when he change his name - was it Davy or Dave - as often as the backing band changed. See link 

Another website has various photos of The Lower Third: here 

And click here for the Buzz. 

Prior to all this, Bowie had made a TV appearance in 1964 representing 'The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-haired Men', on the BBC's flagship Tonight Programme, hosted by the legendary Cliff Michelmore. See video and story link here. 

While in early 1965 there was The Manish Boys: see this article and their rejection by the BBC. 

* The Witch Doctor was in Marine Court, St Leonards, and later became The Cobweb. A fire in December 1970 caused serious damage to The Cobweb Ballroom and The Dolphin Ballroom. 

According to DavidBowieWorld.nl - 

In December 1966, Bowie left the Buzz to become a solo act. The Buzz offered to stick with him for a while for no wages when Bowie told them he couldn’t afford them, at which point it came out that the real reason was that he wanted to be on his own. They did, however, back Bowie on early 1967 studio sessions for his first album. 

Far-Out magazine looking back recently on this debut album said

In truth, on the record, we find a 20-year-old Bowie clearly without focus and the album is a serious mess because of it. Upon the release of his self-titled debut album in 1967. The record was received with critical warmth, but thanks in part to label Deram’s lack of promotion, its release saw a cold reception from the public. As such, Bowie was cast aside as yet another folk-pop-adjacent singer who had listened to one too many Beatles albums, having dived headfirst into Vaudeville caricature. 

I was recently lent a 1973 compilation of this debut material called 'Images 1966-1967' > reissued on Decca's Deram label. It is a curious mixture with very little I'd heard previously. 

Here's some MUSIC 

Not on the debut LP but the final track on 'Images' was the Tony Visconti produced 

'In the Heat of the Morning' > an indication of the direction Bowie was heading in 

  

((left) Another one of the ads I found. September 1966. 

FOOTNOTE: 1966 - The other Davy Jones was in The Monkees !! 

   

As the curtain came down on 2023 to the sounds of Los Twangueros, at our local pub - 2024 began with a traditional freestyle rendition of 'Aude Lang Syne' and much dancing and merriment and then more dancing. Let's hope the Year ahead stays in tune in much the same way.

So who are Los Twangueros, I hear you holler ? Well they are a Hastings band. Cool, quirky and play an improvised mix of Latin-influenced music, that includes elements of African, Dub reggae and pop. We got Santana's 'Oye Como Va', a version of 'Get Lucky' that proceeded an encore of the Chemical Brothers 'Star Guitar' - as 2024 beckoned ! 

Guitarist Andy Neale is ever present in what appears to also be an improvised line-up. A 2016 CD release called 'The all day breakfast' has suitably titled tracks and this one is 'Theme from the Black Pudding' with a nice Caribbean feel to it. 

Check them out 'Live' at the Albion [a pub in Hastings] > click here 

   

Having anticipated reggae music at every port of call on our recent Caribbean cruise, and certainly there was a real Bob Marley presence throughout the trip, the big take-away was in fact the Wednesday onboard Silent-Disco Nights. 

Headphones on for two hours of dancing in your own world. Just select the Red channel or the Green channel and see all inhibitions fly out the window - without going overboard. 

One track that came up the first week and also in week two's 'Step into Christmas' Silent-Disco, which thankfully wasn't full of Christmas songs but more of the same from week one, was the 2014/15 internationally successful 'Shut Up and Dance (With Me)', by American pop-rock band Walk the Moon. 

As a 'pick-up' line this may well have met with questionable success. As a dance tune it's a belter. 

I have found two videos, so to give you the choice here on the Red channel is the Official Video of 'Shut Up + Dance'   ►  

while on the Green channel - a Movie Dance Compilation [captioned for you enjoyment]   ► 

More dancing - if you want to party on - these tracks also got played and follow the same principle of lots of repeat lyrics with a singalong chorus: 

Usher - 'DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love' [click] 

Taio Cruz 'Dynamite’ [click] 

  

2023 saw the release of 'Hackney Diamonds' the excellent LP by the Rolling Stones. 

> "previously on Bill Blogs" [see post below] - Keith Richards [birthday] >

From the album (and I really could have picked any number of tracks) here's 'Whole Wide World' - enjoy the song and the cycle ride

Bonus video - try 'Live' from NYC 'Sweet Sounds of Heaven' -
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt3ISLkIS38   

  H a p p y  B i r t h d a y  

- K E I T H    R I C H A R D S -

80 Years Old Today

How he ever got there is a mystery, but I'm glad he did !! - born 18th December 1943 

- so I thought I'd share this:

Keith Richards: Shows Off His Guitar Skills by Playing Some Rolling Stones Hits on The Tonight Show 

TV host Jimmy Fallon gets a bit carried away, but then why not  

> More Stones coming up Friday....

  

Finally arriving in the present day with new releases from 2023. Bit obvious this, but couldn't resist: 

Beatles or the Stones - (The Stones will be up in a few weeks time).

Whatever you think of the 'new' song the video by 'Lord of the Rings' Peter Jackson is something special and amazingly clever. Journey back in time with 'Now and Then' > 

Unlike years gone by records don't stay at No.1 for weeks at a time. This did top the chart in November but for one week only.  

"Kerching" - some of you may feel this marketing gone mad. With some justification. 

Various formats of this single are: CD at £4.99; Vinyl - 12” black at £20.99;  12” red - £22.99; 7” Blue / White - £17.99; 7" clear - £17.99; 7” black - £14.99; 7” red limited - £ 22.99; even a Cassette for £9.99.
All selling out !! 

'Now and Then' is b/w 'Love Me Do' (2023 - new mix). Originally Released in 1962 for 6s 6d (33p) 

  

For the record over the last eight years   T H E  F R I D A Y  M U S I C  S P O T   has now starred 400 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 201-250 is here ; 251-300 right here ; and 301-350 revisited here. Today lists the last 50, see below.

Click on the blue arrow ➤ to replay that track. Please note: Many of the 400 videos are showing unavailable now, but you can search for an alternative, if you wish. 

351 ➤ Cause We're Ended As Lovers ...... Jeff Beck & Tal Wilkenfeld
352 ➤ I'd Rather Go Blind.......…................................. Chicken Shack
353 ➤ Stand Up.........….................................................. Cynthia Erivo
354 ➤ Caravan of Love............................................The Housemartins
355 ➤ Celestial Voices ...........…....…................................. Pink Floyd
356 ➤ The Court of the Crimson King.......................... King Crimson
357 ➤ So Long Ago, So Clear .............................................. Vangelis
358 ➤ The World We Use to Know …............................ Transatlantic
359 ➤ Back To Zero …………........................................... Morganway
360 ➤ Please Please Me .........….…..............................…The Beatles

361 ➤ The Flying Scotsman ….….......................... Brandon McPhee
362 ➤ Big Picture …................................................ London Grammar
363 ➤ Get It Right Next Time......…….......................… Gerry Rafferty

364 ➤ Time….….................................................................. Pink Floyd
365 ➤ What's Your Country Song …........................... Thomas Rhett

366 ➤ Rock and Roll......……......................................… Led Zeppelin

367 ➤ Buddy Holly .…............................................................. Weezer
368 ➤ Catch Us If You Can …................................... Dave Clark Five
369 ➤ Sister Atlas......……..............................................… Merry Hell

370 ➤ Anywhere Is …................................................................. Enya

371 ➤ Waking Up…............................................................. King King
372 ➤ Girl On Fire ............................................................ Alicia Keys
373 ➤ Superstition......…….....................................… Stevie Wonder

374 ➤ Nutbush City Limits….…...................................... Tina Turner
375 ➤ Grey Ghost …............................................... Henry Paul Band

376 ➤ There Goes Another Love Song............................… Outlaws

377 ➤ It's a Long Way There .…..............................Little River Band
378 ➤ Going Home…................................................... Mark Knopfler
379 ➤ American Tune......……..........................… Simon & Garfunkel

380 ➤ We Didn't Start the Fire …........................................ Billy Joel

381 ➤ Californication ….…............................ Red Hot Chili Peppers
382 ➤ Perfect Frame….................................................... Neon Waltz
383 ➤ This is the Last Time......……...................................… Keane

384 ➤ Dreadlock Holiday........................................................... 10cc
385 ➤ Thing Called Love …........................................... Bonnie Raitt

386 ➤ Take On the World ......……...........................… You Me At Six

387 ➤ Moonshine Sonata .…................................ Black Oak Arkansas
388 ➤ Lothlorien…................................................................ Bo Hansson
389 ➤ Witchi-Tai-To ..……........................................... Brewer & Shipley

390 ➤ September ................................................. Earth, Wind & Fire

391 ➤ Journey to the Moon .…............................... Biddu Orchestra
392 ➤ I've Seen That Movie To ….................................... Elton John
393 ➤ The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack......…................ The Nice

394 ➤ Tubular Bells II [Part 3] ….…............................. Mike Oldfield
395 ➤ Silver Machine........................................................ Hawkwind

396 ➤ Homecoming ......……........................................… Josh Ritter

397 ➤ Every Breath You Take ......................................... The Police
398 ➤ (I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You........................ UB40
399 ➤ Where Is the Love......…….......................… Black Eyed Peas

400 ➤ Let Her Go ............................................................. Passenger

  

Jumping a further 10 years to arrive in 2013 with perhaps a less well known artist but none the less another million seller !

The song was actually released in 2012 and became a hit in Holland at the end of that year. In 2013 it went to No.2 in the UK on May 19th, and this 'sleeper' hit then achieved international success topping the charts in 18 countries around the world. As of July 2014, it had sold over one million digital copies in the UK and over four million in the US. 

We are talking about Passenger aka Mike Rosenberg and 'Let Her Go'.

A few weeks ago a new version of the song arrived, as part of a special 10th anniversary edition of Passenger's hit, with Ed Sheeran helping him reimagine the song. 

But this is the original version >

Today is 'Star Track' number 400. For the record a full run down coming soon.