Friday 31 May 2019


This is outrageous > nearly 10 minutes worth of pure guitar wizardry...

All styles covered: Light and shade(s), the Shadows, tapping, mid section like The Who, rambling on, rhythm section interplay, it's all there.
This is Joe Satriani - 'Always with Me, Always with You' > fantastic !



Friday 24 May 2019


According to London's 'TimeOut' magazine in May 1719 the private Royal road from Whitehall to Hampton Court was opened for use by the public. The part known today as the King's Road, Chelsea is therefore 300 years old this month.

Just the flimsy excuse needed for this:
I've worked on three separate occasions in the King's Road. Strictly speaking in roads just off to the side but the King's Road was the way to and from. 1973-75, again in the mid 80s when freelancing and finally the late 80s. Plus I was married at the Town Hall. So I've seen a lot of changes in my life time.
This picture from the 70s of 'The Great Gear Trading Company' is now the site of Marks & Spencer, surrounded by mobile phone shops. Back then this market was one of many clothing outlets while in the centre was a record store. It was here in 1974 that I wandered one lunchtime and heard this very tasty guitar solo.
It's Mick Taylor playing on 'Time Waits For No One' off the Rolling Stones "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" album... and I like it !
Pity there's no actual footage of the band performing this track, just some nice stills of them, albeit some not of this time. 
This was Mike Taylor's last record with the Stones. Great way to play out and I love the ticking clock rhythm background and Nicky Hopkins tumbling piano at the end.


Friday 17 May 2019


Recent protests in London by 'Extinction Rebellion' demanding action on climate change has finally driven the issue up the news agenda.
One band (that recently got a mention here) from Australia, Midnight Oil were bringing these environment issues to our attention well over 30 years ago. Time for a track or two:
The band's 1987 album 'Diesel and Dust', in October 2010, was listed in the book "100 Best Australian Albums" at No. 1. This is from the follow up LP 'Blue Sky Mining', the title track called 'Blue Sky Mine'.


In 2003 lead singer Peter Garrett became a member of the Order of Australia - "For service to the community as a prominent advocate for environmental conservation and protection, and to the music industry."
Another track... this was one of the first songs by Midnight Oil I heard off their 1982 album '10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1': 'Short Memory' > www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgukduYJZ44

Friday 10 May 2019


I actually had this lined up for last week and then the Silent Adventure mob took over.
May 1989 saw the release of the debut LP by The Stone Roses. 30 years have past but the album still holds up as the start of 'Brit-pop' and as Rolling Stone mag put it "a blast of magnificent arrogance, a fusion of Sixties-pop sparkle and the blown-mind drive of U.K. rave culture".
My introduction was the song 'Waterfall' heard on GLR in the early 90s. Tomorrow on Film 4 (FV 15 and Sky channel 313) the Shane Meadows season continues by showing 'The Stone Roses: Made of Stone' film (at 1.15 am. if you want to record it). And then yesterday on came the track on the radio (as if to jog my memory).
This is that track 'Made of Stone' - wonderful fazed drums


If you like here's the brooding opening track off the album, which starts quietly: 'I Wanna Be Adored' > www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D2qcbu26gs


Friday 3 May 2019


It's a Flash Mob, it's a Silent Disco, It’s a roaming, rhythmic riot through the sound-soaked streets of London!

Last weekend we took part in this Silent Adventure. It was all Margaret's idea and she booked the tickets –
Disco dance moves rehearsed we were off to bop, hop, twirl, swim, spin, sway, wave and boogie our way through Trafalgar and Leicester Squares to headphones full of Brittany, Bruno Mars (to Margaret's delight), Whitney, Spice Girls, Bon Jovi, Guns 'n' Roses (air-guitar time) and ending with an Abba sing-a-long.
Now those of you thinking this is not really me (public displays of disco dad dancing) - you'd be right - and I was one of only two males in our mob. But once we got going I was caught in the moment and never looked back, oblivious to how it seemed to the outside world, my mind fixed on our leader Anthony, his instructions and cries of 'amazin'! 
Enormous fun and (gentlemen) this adventure would make a brilliant and unusual present for the love of your life.
My favourite moment was air-guitaring and singing at the top of my voice to this track. Arms in the air "I am the One and Only" >
Chesney Hawkes hit single from 1991, which spent 5 weeks at No.1 in the UK. and was featured in the film 'Buddy's Song' - then turned up in the film 'Doc Hollywood' and became a hit in the US, November of that same year. 
The song was written by Nik Kershaw.  
And if you're going to have just one big hit Chesney'The One and Only' will do !