At the end of January I discovered Timestorm Films, after seeing some incredible footage of timelapse sequences from around the world. Epic visual journeys they call them, amazing skies a speciality, including the Dark Skies reserve in New Zealand.
I ending up finding so many of these videos it was mind boggling. This one isn't actually from Timestorm, but they will get an airing in a few weeks from now...
I'm going to make this a STAR TRACK. Mainly because the sky near the end reflects my banner heading and the music is fantastic: Ambient symphony by Zero-Project track 'High Hopes'. (Link to) *
By my reckoning we should be in this area of New Zealand's South Island, Lake Tekapo around the time of this posting. Hoping to see something similar to this Mystic Sky. High Hopes indeed >

* Download tracks for free, if you want.

It's well known that New Zealand was the location for Peter Jackson's 'Lord of the Rings' films, followed by 'The Hobbit' movies. The country and it's landscape so perfectly capturing the world of Tolkien's Middle Earth that I feel I am about to enter this fantasy world that previously I'd only imagined.
I loved the books and the films were incredible and this video with a selection of the music by Howard Stone over movie footage 'gives me the shivers'.
The adventure is about to commence >>>

The MUSIC SPOT is about to take a break. But technology allows me to schedule a few postings to coincide with our trip and they will be appearing at various points roughly along route, spanning the next 5 weeks.
So come along for the ride... if you please.

After all this forward planning I've lost my way on what to play today. So I'm going to simply add to last week's memories.
Ritchie Valens' short music career comprised of some great singles. (There was no album released in his name until after his tragic death). 'Donna' & 'La Bamba' were huge hits in 1958 but this was his first 45 'Come On, Let's Go'. So let's get going with some old time dancing. 
Some video curios - the record spinning at the start actually isn't 'Come On, Let's Go' and looks like an old 78 disc. While one of the dancers looks like a cartoon Ronnie Corbett (British comedian: 1930-2016 for those watching in America) >

Sometimes a song isn't what you think it is. When I first heard this track I thought it was Freddie Mercury singing about himself, in the wake of his Aids diagnosis. Turns out it's a Brian May composition for the 1986 film 'The Highlander'. 
It also features in the new movie 'Bohemian Rhapsody', that supposedly covers the period up to the 1985 'Live Aid' performance. How this song released a year later is included I can't tell, as I've yet to see the film, but I have read about other timeline liberties taken by the movie.
Never mind all that, it's a great track and performance and as one person has posted on YouTube: 'He still lives forever' > be upstanding for Queen

Along similar lines - this Sunday marks the 60th anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of Ritchie Valens, J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and of course a 22 year old Buddy Holly.
Thankfully the music DIDN'T die on this day, but lived on, forever !

After last week, while digging out those HMV singles, I unearthed this gem from 1974.
Little known in the UK, the Raspberries were more successful in their native America, but not an overnight sensation.
Written by band leader Eric Carmen here's a review of this single:
In a word... epic! 'Overnight Sensation' is probably the Raspberries' most adventurous record. Taking a somewhat Phil Spector, kitchen sink approach, it's a mini-symphony packed into a five minute song. Overflowing with vocals, percussion, guitars, drums, saxophones, pianos, you name it, the song is an majestic slice of pop music.

'Overnight Sensation 'Hit Record' ⏩ hit play

Storyville: A True Detective Tale
A few weeks back I heard this instrumental track that sounded very familiar, but after identifying it, via my 'what's that music' phone app, as The Krew Kats playing 'Samovar' I was a bit lost.
The Krew Kats didn't ring any bells? Google revealed a mere handful of recordings from 1961, and a UK group featuring 'Big' Jim Sullivan - guitar, Tony Belcher - rhythm guitar, Brian 'Licorice' Locking - bass and Brian Bennett on drums. 'Big' Jim Sullivan I knew and Brian Locking and Brian Bennett both went on the play with The Shadows. 
Next I discovered the tune 'Samovar' was actually based on a 1933 Russian folk song called "Polyushko Polye".
And finally that this song had been recorded by various artists, notably the Swedish guitar-group The Spotnicks as 'The Rocket Man' in 1962. That was the tune I was familiar with. Mystery solved.

It definitely evokes that early 60s sound, so for lovers of The Ventures, The Safaris, Duane Eddy, The Tornadoes, Bert Weedon and naturally The Shads here's The Krew Kats >

And The Spotnicks  version > www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVvGKZklugE

The eagle eyed among you will have spotted the original 45 single released on the 'His Master's Voice' label. I have a few HMV singles (pictured left), by Bert Weedon, The Swinging Blue Jeans and Manfred Mann.

The record label having long gone and now the retail chain HMV has gone into administration for the second time in 7 years, following poor December sales at the 97-year-old company. > Latest News Update

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). 

Half way through the long cold month of January, that for me last year in Cape Town was warm and flew by - here's something to maybe warm you up.
Have you heard of 'Kwela' music ?
(Kwela: (Zulu: “get up” or “climb”) is an upbeat penny whistle based street music from South Africa, with jazzy underpinnings and a distinctive skiffle-like beat). So now you know.
Here's a track dedicated to penny whistle player - 'Spokes' Mashiyane (1933-1972) the king of Kwela music, called 'Special Star' performed by Mango Groove, who hail from Johannesburg. 

Prepare to tap your feet or stomp around to the beat (in rhythm or rhyme) - eases in nice and slow

I noticed in the run up to Christmas a veritable plethora of 50th anniversary record releases. The marketing Johnny's having a ball re-packaging the Beatles, Kinks and Led Zeppelin (to name just three) to tempt and test the resilience of fan's credit limits. 
Which brings me to, 50 years ago tomorrow, the debut album by Led Zeppelin hit the record stores of America. Recorded the previous October, a few gigs in Scandinavia and small venues in the UK (only 13 to be precise) followed. Concerts in the US were underway by the time of the LP release, having been signed by Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun who apparently hadn't even seen them play. This American record deal may explain why the album curiously wasn't released in the UK until March 28th. <link>
No doubt copies of the record were played on British radio during those 2 months, but it's likely the first notes heard (first song, Side One) of Led Zeppelin 1, were these: 
Jimmy Page's guitar riff with John Bonham's drums on 'Good Times, Bad Times' >

Wanna a video from 1969? Here's the track that followed this on the LP - recording from German TV Beat Club show: 'Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You' - still bloody excellent !

Hands up all those of you who bought a CD last year ?
One... two... thr... is that a hand up at the back ? No ! Seems we don't buy (or listen to) music this way anymore.
"Digital music revenue overtook sales of physical formats like CDs and records for the first time in 2012. Since then, online shopping and downloads and streaming provided by platforms such as Amazon, Spotify and Netflix, have continued to eat into sales of physical music" - added to this computers don't included a CD drive anymore!
I actually bought six CD's last year, but the majority of the music I listened to or discovered came courtesy of YouTube. 

Not that the above has anything to do with this (just making conversation here).....
After the fireworks of New Year there were more pyrotechnics on New Year's Day on Sky TV in a very colourful concert 'Coldplay: Live in Sao Paulo'.* A great example of today's live experience as the show fills the arena and the audience becomes part of the show.
This video of 'A Head Full of Dreams' begins with a voice-over of Charlie Chaplin's speech from the 1940 film 'The Great Dictator' - call it a New Year message of sorts.

Don't know why but the sound is a bit low on this track, so while you're switching to Full Screen [  ] you might want to up the volume too. Coldplay > STAR SHOW

* If you have the Sky Arts channel the programme repeats on January 5th at 9pm.

CALIFORNIAN REUNION – 2018
I just love this photo. Mostly because it's of wonderful friends and memories of a holiday last June. 
But also the harmony and warmth of the image. From Margaret and Gary providing that symmetric central balance, to the conformity of the line yet the individual character of each person shines through. The giant redwood forest backdrop couldn't be better.
PHOTO Credit: Donna Bianchi