The week before Christmas in 1986 this record was Top of the Pops in the UK singles chart. It was denied the cherished Christmas No.1 slot by a re-issue of 'Reet Petite' by Jackie Wilson* - which took top spot on the December 21st chart. 

So many years later this a cappella version of the Isley-Jasper-Isley original, a plea for people to take care of one another, still resonates today. From English indie band The Housemartins 'are you ready' for 'Caravan of Love' > 

* A number one almost three years after Jackie Wilson's death and 29 years after it's original UK chart success in 1957, when it reached No.6. 

 T H I S   D A Y   1 5 0   Y E A R S   A G O

-   A R O U N D   T H E   W O R L D   I N   8 0   D A Y S   -

"After reading in the Daily Telegraph that a new railroad in India had made it theoretically possible to travel around the world in 80 days, Phileas Fogg bet his fellow members at the Reform Club, London that he will make that journey in 80 days or less; the wager was for the princely sum of £20,000 (half his fortune). On the evening of 2nd October 1872, along with his valet Jean Passepartout he set out to win the wager."

The story began serialization in Le Temps, the Paris newspaper, on 6 November 1872. It was published in installments over the next 45 days, with its ending timed to synchronize Fogg's December 21st deadline with the real world. Chapter 35 appeared on 20th December; 21st December, the date upon which Fogg was due to appear back in London, did not include an installment of the story; on 22nd December, the final two chapters announced Fogg's success. As it was being published serially for the first time, some readers believed that the journey was actually taking place – bets were placed, and some railway companies and ship liner companies lobbied Jules Verne to appear in the book.

🎬 A 1956 movie staring David Niven, Cantinflas and Shirley MacLaine won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture. See music trailer below.

🌍 No idea when I saw this film but it must have certainly fired our young imaginations.  

The book was published in 1873. An 1874 stage version, written by Verne and French playwright Adolphe d’Ennery, was also wildly successful and ran for several decades.  

  

A month or so ago we watched the 2019 film about Harriet Tubman called simply 'Harriet'.

Based on the inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, 'Harriet' tells the extraordinary tale of her escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes. Her courage and tenacity in freeing hundreds of slaves changed the course of history.

Cynthia Erivo, an English actress, singer and songwriter from London, played Harriet Tubman and co-wrote 'Stand Up' a song that plays during the movie's end credits. The movie received Academy Award nominations for Best Address and Best Original Song. 

Cynthia Erivo sings 'Stand Up' on this: official lyric video including clips from the movie >  

  

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). 

Thanks go to Dave Lawrence for enthusing about this crazy Croatian cellist duo of Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser - artistically known as 2Cellos. 

Playing instrumental arrangements of well-known pop and rock songs, as well as classical and film music. Check this video out and the many more available on YouTube.

This'll get you started >

  

I completely missed the sad news of the death of Christine McVie last week (there must have other things going on 😏)

Did you see the BBC reran a special about her career, which was mostly with Fleetwood Mac. Her first band was Chicken Shack with Stan Webb, when she was still, somewhat accurately Christine Perfect. The band had a 1969 hit single with a version of Etta James' - 'I'd Rather Go Blind' - the same year Christine was voted best female vocalist by readers of the 'Melody Maker'. 

To quote Stan Webb "RIP Chris. A legend never dies" 

This song has already been a Star Track, way back in 2016, performed on that occasion by Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa. 

  

Can't quite recall how I came across this video, but the bass guitar solo certainly registered and when I discovered the player shared my birth date, I had to earmark it for today's track.  

Tal Wilkenfeld (born 2 December 1986) is an Australian bassist and guitarist, singer and songwriter and has performed with lots of well-known artists over the years.

In 2008, Tal was voted "The Year's Most Exciting New Player" by Bass Player magazine readers' choice poll [at age 22]. 

This video is of Jeff Beck live at Ronnie Scott's in 2007, performing the Stevie Wonder composition (as an instrumental): 'Cause We've Ended as Lovers'.

One minute 30 in, her solo starts and she looks pretty pleased with herself 70 seconds later -
many happy returns > 

In addition, and interesting listening - here is Rick Beato analysing this very song and informing us that Jeff Beck is 'Uncopyable' > click here. 

 

For the record over the last seven years   T H E  F R I D A Y  M U S I C  S P O T   has now starred 350 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 200-250 is here ; 250-300 right here. Today lists the last 50, below.

Click on the blue arrow ➤ to replay that track. Please note: Many of the 350 videos are showing unavailable now, but you can search for an alternative, if you wish.

301 ➤ All I Want Is You......…..............….............................. Roxy Music
302 ➤ Different Drum …................................................... Stone Poneys
303 ➤ Starman.........…........................................................ David Bowie
304 ➤ Fill to me the Parting Glass .......... Shaun Davey with Orchestra
305 ➤ Willin'...........…....…......................... Linda Ronstadt / Experience
306 ➤ To Her Door...............………......................................... Paul Kelly
307 ➤ Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) ..................... Jerry Garcia Band
308 ➤ Comin' Back to Me ……….............….…......... Jefferson Airplane
309 ➤ Cry Baby.…………..................................................... Janis Joplin
310 ➤ Motorcycle Emptiness.........….…......… Manic Street Preachers

311 ➤ Paris 1919….…............................................................. John Cale
312 ➤ Sweet Jane …............................................................... Lou Reed
313 ➤ War......…….............................................................… Edwin Starr
314 ➤ Everlasting Love ........................................................ Love Affair
315 ➤ Milky Way........……....…..............................................…… Kitaro
316 ➤ Splendor…….….……..........….............................................. M83
317 ➤ Guitar Jangle ...................................................... Jason Loughlin
318 ➤ Floodlit World ……….................…............................ Ultrasound
319 ➤ Jumpin Jack Flash……….............................… Ananda Shankar

320 ➤ Revolution.........……................................................… Tomorrow

321 ➤ Get Over You….….….……................................. The Undertones

322 ➤ Universal Soldier ......................................................... Donovan
323 ➤ Look Through Any Window .......……...................... The Hollies
324 ➤ Six Blocks Away .............................................. Lucinda Williams
325 ➤ I'll Find My Way Home........................…............. Jon & Vangelis

326 ➤ True Faith................................................................... New Order
327 ➤ End of Me ...............................................................… Billy Talent
328 ➤ Latin Quarter ………..............….................…….… Marc Antoine
329 ➤ Parallels.…………..............................................................… Yes
330 ➤ First Born Leaders..............…...........................… Jon Anderson

331 ➤ Horizontigo….….….……....................................................... Lau

332 ➤ Gimme Hope Jo'Anna …......................................... Eddie Grant
333 ➤ Telstar………......................................................… The Tornados
334 ➤ Yesterday .............................................................. Blues Beatles
335 ➤ Even If I Could........…....................…. The Mamas & The Papas

336 ➤ Stay With Me.…….….………............................................. Faces
337 ➤ The Bluest Blues .....................................................… Alvin Lee
338 ➤ The Heart of Saturday Night ….….........................… Tom Waits
339 ➤ Black Light Night.……..............................… The Hanging Stars
340 ➤ The Driving of the Year Nail.…................................. Leo Kottke

341 ➤ Zadok the Priest ............................................................. Handel

342 ➤ May You Never ….................................................... John Martyn
343 ➤ The King Will Come .…….................................... Wishbone Ash
344 ➤ 007 Theme Tune ....................................... John Barry Orchestra 
345 ➤ Waking Up ...................…............................................... Elastica
346 ➤ Shake Your Money Maker .…......... Paul Butterfield Blues Band
347 ➤ If I Had the World To Give ...............................… Grateful Dead
348 ➤ Diana ………..............….……...................................... Paul Anka
349 ➤ Walking In Memphis.………….................................. Marc Cohn
350 ➤ I Put a Spell on You .…………............................. Alan Price Set