Always happy to receive suggestions from listeners. This came up recently and is well worth sharing with everyone. A band of musicians from Brazil playing Beatles songs in the style of the 'blues'. Certainly a novel idea !

They call themselves the Blues Beatles. You'll know the famous song title, but this version of 'Yesterday' is almost unrecognisable. 

Marcos Viana: vocals; Lancaster Ferreira: guitar; Flavio Naves: keyboards; Fred Barley: drums; Bruno Falcao: bass; & Denilson Martins on sax. 

There's a 2016 album called "Get Back to the Blues" and a more recent "Let It Blues". Good stuff 

   

In July 1962 the communications satellite 'Telstar' was launched. (If you have been following the latest 'James Webb Space Telescope' news story you will no doubt appreciate the degree of space exploration that has taken place in the 60 years since).

In 1962 'Telstar' was a big deal when on July 23rd the first transatlantic television pictures and satellite phone calls took place. Repairs were needed in early 1963 and then irreparable transistor failure occurred and it went out of service on 21st February. Telstar 2 was a replacement, launched from Cape Canaveral in May 1963 and remained active for two years.  

Such a big deal that record producer and songwriter Joe Meek composed and recorded a tune called 'Telstar' on 22nd July, performed by The Tornados and released on August 17. 

It was recorded in Meek's studio in a small flat above a shop in the Holloway Road, North London. (Years later a lawsuit resulted in no royalties being paid, due to plagiarism, successfully filed by French composer Jean Ledrut). 

The Tornados' single was a UK No.1 in October and then provided the first US No.1 by a British group on December 22nd 1962. 

Both original 'Telstar' satellites still orbit the Earth !

 

This coming Monday, 18th July is Mandela Day.   

Cue the concert to commemorate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday Live in London's Hyde Park, from 27th June, 2008. 

Eddie Grant deliveries a great version of 'Gimme Hope Jo'Anna' assisted by a full cast of colourful singers and musicians along with South African singer Kurt Darren.  

 

A song of hope from the late 1980s. Banned in South Africa when it was released, but widely played. Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990. 

  

As explained in the video introduction by accordionist Martin Green, Kris Drever wrote this after visiting the unique, but very flat, landscape of Norfolk. This came to mind as we drove there last week, so here's that piece of music. 

Guitarist Kris and fiddle player Aidan O'Rourke are both Scottish, while Martin grew up in Cambridgeshire, England, an area that would present a big contrast to their homeland.

Experience 'Horizontigo' by Lau - my favourite and one of the best folk groups of the last 16 years. 

   

So what has Jon Anderson been doing in recent years as Yes go about their way without him ? 

His most recent offering is a record called '1000 Hands'. As it implies a lot of hands came together over a number of years to bring this album to fruition. 500 artists might not be an exaggeration [click on: wikipedia>'1000 Hands' > see origins - for the full lowdown]. It's a huge assortment of musical styles and different artists.  

Jon Anderson has compiled a Zoom window style video for this track 'First Born Leaders' - with a definite calypso / gospel feel for a real joyful song. 

Still singing 'sweetly', still dreaming his dreams...