Friday 29 June 2018


Obviously last weeks invitation to pick an all time favourite LP proved a bit to much for everyone. While the demonstration launch of the Long Playing record in 1948 also uncovered some confusing information surrounding some of the facts and who did what. The picture of a man standing beside two piles of records, not all it seems, it seems!

While I'm investigating this and my addled brain continues recovering its senses from Jet lag California, here's a song that's kinda been sitting in the FMS Waiting Room for a while.
Messrs Petty, Dylan, Lynne, Orbison and Harrison. The Traveling Wilburys: 'Handle With Care' >>>



Friday 22 June 2018


This week 70 years ago the world was introduced via a demonstration by Columbia Records to the Long Player disk. Edward Wallerstein, one of Columbia's bigwigs, presented to a stunned press gathered in a suite at the Waldorf Hotel on Park Avenue a 'Revolutionary Disk Marvel'. More on that story >
How about we celebrate that anniversary by attempting to pick a favourite LP of all time ? To indicate how difficult this might prove, I recall often naming my favourite album of a particular year: "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" (1968), "After the Goldrush" (1970), "Teaser and the Firecat" (1971), "Argus" (1972), "Wish You Were Here" (1975), "Breakfast in America" (1979), "Making Movies" (1980), "Automatic For The People" (1992) and so on.
Meaning my attempts to pick just one is possibly an impossible decision. So like the proverbial stick a pin in with with your eyes closed, today's STAR TRACK is off "Making Movies" by Dire StraitsSide One, track one 'Tunnel of Love'. 
Here's a version, live from Wembley in 1985 (I am in the audience somewhere). 'Tunnel of Love' is probably my favourite Dire Straits track and this solo still gives me goosebumps. NB: A two-part video, this is only the 2nd half of the song, ending the concert to loud applause.


Knowing how last September when I asked you all to name your favourite band for each decade I'm sure you will have some fun racking your brains picking your favourite LP of all time. Answers please by next week on an email to ME.

Friday 15 June 2018


This is pretty self explanatory and also acts as a bit of an introduction to what's coming next week. Tune in as usual music lovers.

This week I have mostly been eating "Breakfast in America" > Supertramp








Friday 8 June 2018


40 years ago this summer I went 'on the road' across the USA and met some fantastic people and made friends for life. A reunion of those friends take place today in San Francisco (8 hrs behind UK time).
In 2003 to commemorate 25 years of 'the trip' I put together a CD containing mostly music from that year. A track from that selection is today's choice. As the song's lyrics go 'The road is callin' Today's the day' -  it's 'Don't Look Back' from Boston, off their second album release. I even found a video with some open road footage, that says Highway 89 Tahoe National Forest, California. Spot On !




Friday 1 June 2018


How did I get to this week's "Pick of the Spots" ? If you will pardon the expression.
From watching the movie 'Captain Fantastic' is the quick answer. However if you're unfamiliar with this very interesting film and the assortment of music used in the soundtrack then I should add that this track caught my attention whilst watching and resulted in further investigation. I then proceeded to spend the next two hours listening to this band > Israel Nash.
The track from the film 'Rain Plans' is from the album of the same name released in 2013. 
Neil Young similarities for sure, but as the song builds the guitar solo kicks and then it flows away reminding me of 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond', so Pink Floyd like too.
Mojo magazine praised their 2015 album 'Silver Season' as "cosmic poetry, crunching guitars and swooning pedal steel" !
This is one the most amazing STAR TRACKS we've had in a while, I hope you like it as much as I do.



Obviously there's loads more to see:- 
"Rain Plans" album: Check out any of the other 8 tracks, for seconds 'Just Like Water' > www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E4SCHMyVwA
"Silver Season" album, more cosmic Americana: 'Strangers' >  www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzUiFssMWjU
'LA Lately' > if you go down to the woods:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN2Io9CfyW0