Keeping the positive vibes going this week are The Lathums. 

I first heard this group from Wigan, England a few years back when their debut album 'How Beautiful Life Can Be' made No.1 on the UK Albums Chart in 2021. Reviewed as "a record very much steeped in the jangly sound of The Smiths and The Housemartins: jaunty guitars and anthems with swelling festival crowds in mind".

The Lathums are formed of singer/songwriter and guitarist Alex Moore, lead guitarist Scott Concepcion, bassist Matty Murphy and drummer Ryan Durrans. 

Most of you know how much I like a 'jingle-jangle morning' and Scott Concepcion's Rickenbacker guitar serves up plenty of Johnny Marr-esque guitar lines.

From the debut LP, I could have picked any number of tracks, this is 'I Know That Much' >

Definitely give the album's title track a listen (here) and see also the acapella version and another performed with The Killers. 

Their 2023 release ‘From Nothing To A Little Bit More’ earned the band their second No.1 LP in the UK album charts.
Later they issued a single 'Thoughts of a Child' - more uplifting lyrics "we can dance and we can sing" - sing along, this is really great too (link) 

    A T   C H R I S T M A S   T I M E   

 -   T h e   B r i n g e r   o f   J o l l i t y   - 

by Gustav Holst

"Jupiter, with it's ribbons of white cloud, it's mottled bands of salmon pink
and the Great Red Spot staring out like a baleful eye" 

ARTHUR C. CLARKE

And yet Holst called Jupiter 'the Bringer of Jollity' ! Which seems right for this time of year. 

The Planets Suite was first performed in 1918, The first complete performance at a public concert was given at the Queen's Hall, London on 15 November 1920.

At that time Jupiter had just five moons, as of 2023, there are now 95 known moons. The four largest moons of Jupiter - Io, Callisto, Ganymede, and Europa - were the first objects in the solar system discovered with a telescope. Galileo discovered them in 1610.

The music from The Planets Suite for 'The Bringer of Jollity' is nearly 8 minutes in total, while the slower middle section was later used as a patriotic hymn: ‘I vow to thee my country’.

Here's that section from Salisbury Cathedral with John Challenger playing the organ.

I came across this earlier in the year via a 'Drones fly through Salisbury Cathedral to Jupiter' article (click here) - again featuring John Challenger and filmed by Ben Tomlin. 

  

He was described as an inspiration, defying expectations, changing attitudes towards disabilities and the most extraordinary person ever on Strictly Come Dancing !

Chris McCausland - who with remarkable professional dance partner Dianne Buswell won the competition last weekend - was registered blind after losing his sight to retinitis pigmentosa in his 20s !

Strictly Come Dancing never fails to surprise and this year was no exception: like a Viennese Waltz to Metallica ? !! 

There was also one of those standout memories referred to as a "poignant blackout moment" when dancing to 'Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)' - both these dances are at the end of this post. 

Firstly it's that Metallica song performed with the San Francisco Symphony: 'Nothing Else Matters' 
[  ] go to full screen, bottom right >

Watch dances by Chris and Dianne > Waltz (click link)

& ‘Instant Karma’ with it's blackout sequence > [link 2)

   

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). 

Starring BE BOP DELUXE

This all began with me picking up for a £1 an EP released in the 70s called ‘Hot Valves’. It was one of those ‘Promotional - Not for Sale’ discs and contained 4 excellent tracks by Be Bop Deluxe. It set me off exploring the group’s catalog and I soon realised guitarist and singer Bill Nelson is a classic example of an unsung ‘Forgotten Fretmaster’ ! His playing is remarkable and the invention in the band’s music stands the test of time. Friday's track ‘Maid in Heaven’ was a minor hit (#36) in 1976. It was a mere taster, here's the full story and many extras.

Classic Rock magazine describes the band - 

Be Bop Deluxe blurred the battle lines between glam, art-rock and prog, offering a scintillating fusion that pointed to an unscripted future. Visionary works like albums 'Sunburst Finish' and 'Drastic Plastic' pre-empted the new wave of post-punk and beyond. Just as crucially, in Nelson they had the embodiment of the modern guitar hero; a riff lord of sophistication, guile and consummate ability.

I have a shortlist of favourite songs and notes for your attention: 

'Ships in the Night'; 'Music in Dreamland'; [like The Killers meet the Beatles] 'Modern Music'; [with it's radio clips] 'Panic in the World'; 'Orphans of Babylon'; 'Crying to the Sky'; [Hendrix guitar lines] 'Life in the Air Age'; 'Sleep That Burns' [Baba O'Riley ish] 'Shine' an extended improvised 'live' instrumental [from 'Live! In The Air Age' LP] and 'Jet Silver' [very Bowie] & 'Blazing Apostles' [both on the afore mentioned EP]. 

Picking one for today's music spot I've selected the 'Live' version of 'Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape' which is extended from the 3-minute song on their debut LP 'Axe Victim'. Prepare yourself for some extraordinary guitar playing from Bill Nelson and wonderful keyboard work by Simon 'Andy' Clark - Be Bop Deluxe live in 1977 (audio video only) 

Want some action videos: Check out these 2011 concerts featuring Bill Nelson & The Gentlemen Rocketeers - and compare 'Maid In Heaven' to the original > click here 

Also with the Rocketeers 'Adventures in...' > guitar / flute / bass / sax / guitar [solos] on this link 

And as if I needed and excuse, today is Guitar Hero Bill Nelson's birthday 😀

  

A hastily composed music spot to kick off a planned ‘Spotlight’ featuring one of the most underrated bands of the 70s. 

Full lowdown: band info, the timing and how I caught up on all their music, to follow midweek - today is ‘Maid in Heaven’ by Be Bop Deluxe >

 

On the 'Whistle Test' in 1975. 

   C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s   t o   

 -   R A L P H   M c T E L L   - 

8 0   t o d a y

"Happy Birthday" Ralph May: born 3 December 1944

Here he is performing at his 60th birthday party at the Royal Festival Hall.
- It is dedicated to the hands of Joseph Spence a unique guitar player who has had a big influence on Ralph McTell's guitar style. The 'Hands of Joseph' >

Having been included in a BBC 'One-Hit Wonders' show, nothing could be further from the truth !

I could list dozens of great tracks but this will probably do it for me - 
Full Discography > http://www.ralph-mctell.co.uk/uk.html - it's quite a walk through.