"Rock Me, Mama" was originally penned by Bob Dylan during the 'Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid' sessions in 1973. 25 years later Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show added verses (some of which are geographically inaccurate, as the hitchhiking Southbound journey unfolds) and he called the song 'Wagon Wheel'. Then in 2013 Darius Rucker, ex lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish recorded his version and it became huge. 

It's a great singalong track, you'll soon pick it up... 

  

I've had this song lined up for a while, waiting patiently to be played. Last Monday's Dylan show at our local provided the perfect cue.

I know Bob Dylan features a lot in these blogs, directly or as inspiration to others. I make no excuses for this as I would argue he is the greatest songwriter of our age. 

'Changing of the Guards' was the opening track on the 'Street Legal' album, released in 1978 just before I saw him in London on 20th June. This was the tour that saw him rework many of his best known songs so that when they were played you didn't recognise them until the lyrics came in.

It seems todays track wasn't part of that night's set (according to setlist.fm). Later shows on the tour list it as an encore. But what I can say for certain is our tribute band (of Jason McNiff and Richard Moore) played it last Monday.

Critics have praised 'Changing of the Guards' for its originality and the haunting effect of the backup singers (Carolyn Dennis, JoAnn Harris, Helena Springs) echoing Dylan's words throughout the verses. Lyrical references and disguised personal content, it's one of his typical no chorus compositions - hit it

  

Somehow we haven't had one of these in awhile. That is my regular feature of an artist or band I've only recently discovered.

From Toronto, Canada we have Elephants and Stars. Formed in 2020 their bio tells us :

"Elephants and Stars are real. Much like both real elephants and the stars above us, they are mature. They spend their time in rehearsals and in the studio crafting rock songs with hooks and lyrics with a bite that might take more than one listen to fully appreciate."

My take is they've master the art of the 3 minute rock song. And if the initial hook doesn’t get you by the time of the chorus it will have you !

Their line-up is: Manfred Sittmann - vocals, guitar; Adam Seed - lead guitar; Michael MacMillan - bass; Stewart McKinney - drums, with keyboards by: Simon Head.

I've picked ‘Strangers on a Train’ as my Star Track, because the 'fish-eye' video is so good. But I could have chosen anything by them, there's loads of great tracks, to many to list (and plenty of videos too). I can highly recommend the 'Dreamland' (EP) and the 'Under the Earth and Above Heaven' album, for starters, having bought both of these. 

Bandcamp is the place to go to buy their music - download prices are in Canadian dollars [$1.88 to the pound] so they are really good value. Link is here.  

Let's Rock & Support Canada 

   

Today's track needs no introduction, but it's going to get one...

Next week marks 40 years since the release of 'Graceland' by Paul Simon. 

Partly recorded in Johannesburg, Paul Simon had become fascinated with 'mbaqanga', South African street music and was criticized at the time for breaking the cultural boycott due to the policy of apartheid in South Africa. He said the record showcased collaboration between black and white people and raised international awareness of apartheid. With some praising him for helping popularize African music in the West.
In 1987 the album won the Grammy for Album of the Year and is now considered one of the all time great albums.

Picking one track of the record isn't easy but I've gone for this as it heavily features the male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.  

'Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes' (from The African Concert, 1987)

  

Having suggested this Summer was feeling like one of those from the sixties. How about I pick a year and ask you what you were listening to ?

The Summer of 1968: here's a few singles in the charts > 'Young Girl’ Gary Puckett and the Union Gap; 'My Name is Jack' Manfred Mann; 'Dance to the Music' Sly & the Family Stone; 'Mrs Robinson' Simon & Garfunkel; 'Fire' by Arthur Brown. 

The Beatles 'Yellow Submarine', animated musical film was on release, so perhaps you were in the cinema ? Or maybe you remember this forgotten hit, by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich called 'Last Night in Soho'. 

If you didn't already know, the group were five friends from Wiltshire, David John Harman (Dave Dee), Trevor Leonard Ward-Davies (Dozy), John Dymond (Beaky), Michael Wilson (Mick) and Ian Frederick Stephen Amey (Tich).
I saw a 2021 film of the same name earlier this year. This British psychological horror filmed around London's Soho, had dream sequence flashbacks to the 1960s, and cast members from that era, including Terence Stamp and Rita Tushingham. The Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich Top Ten single played over the final credits.

The video is from Beat-Club, a West German music programme that ran from September 1965 to December 1972. 

   

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). 

This is the final part of my Rabbie Burns trilogy.

We're away up in Scotland and this song and the video seem ideal for this time.

'Now Westlin Winds', or 'Song Composed in August' is based on a Robert Burns poem and is a celebration of the bird life of Scotland and of the gentleman’s pursuit of hunting.

Sung by Dick Gaughan 'Now Westin Winds' is from his 1981 LP 'Handful of Earth' - accompanied here by this scenic video

  

Couldn't let the Summer go by without mentioning that along with the long days of hot weather it's starting to feel like a Summer from the Sixties.

But first the name Andrew Watt, a 35 year old New York, music whizz kid/record producer gets a mention because he links some famous legends from the past that need no introduction. He worked with Paul McCartney on his album 'Boys of Dungeon Lane', released in May. Check out 'Home To Us' a song duet with Ringo that's about their Home Town, that even manages to include some yeah, yeahs !

I should also say Ringo had a nice single release called 'Long, Long Road' along with a great video. More pure nostalgia ...

So two Beatles records and now a new LP from the Rolling Stones. Andrew Watt, who could be their grandson, produced the 'Hackney Diamonds' album in 2023 and he's at it again on the latest offering from Mick, Keith and Ronnie. And it's a another winner.

'Foreign Tongues' is out now and I particularly like this track all about that 'American Dream', reflecting on how it's not what it once was... 'Ringing Hollow' > some great lines

And from the album, give 'Back In Your Life' a listen. 

Along with those Beatle tracks for the full nostalgia trip ! Summer's here, the time is right 

   

Bit of an 80s party happening this weekend. Madness - you bet !

Welcome to the 'House of Fun' - a UK No.1 hit single in 1982, about a young fellow trying to buy condoms on his sixteenth birthday. It could only be a Madness song !

Along with a video that's very Monty Python-esque. The boy in the song is misunderstood by the chemist, as he asks for the condoms using slang euphemisms.

Written by band members Lee Thompson (saxophone) and Mike Barson (keyboards) and naturally sung by Hastings born Graham McPherson, better known as Suggs. 

Curiously 'House of Fun' was not released in America, however the music video was shown on the then newly launched MTV channel >

PS:

To confirm the 'Prog Prom', mentioned last week, is on tv tonight at 7pm on BBC4. 

   

Tonight is the first night of The Proms 2026. Copland, Gershwin and Ravel launch this season. 

Tomorrow night it's the turn of composers Emerson, Anderson, Banks, Hayward, Hammill, Oldfield, Zappa and Wright: in a Special Prog Rock Prom titled 'A Fanfare for the Common Man'. See the full programme here. 

Many of the featured compositions have been Friday Star Tracks, so it's a popular selection performed by an orchestra and a band comprising of Carl Palmer and Peter Hammill along with Guy Garvey, Jane Weaver and Gruff Rhys. I'm sure you'll know most of the songs included. 

To following the evening's title I've picked today Emerson, Lake & Palmer's version of 'Fanfare for the Common Man'. This is a shorten edit from the 9 minute original, which was the *Aaron Copland composition at the start and end with a 6 minute middle section added by Keith Emerson. Filmed at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal. 

NB: This Prog Prom is scheduled for TV broadcast next Friday, 24th July on BBC4 and will be available on the iplayer from then.

One song in the programme I was not familiar with was 'Refugees' by Van der Graaf Generator, so I gave this poignant piece a listen and recommend you do too: (link here) - interesting video also. 

*The 1942 original 3 minute classical piece is basically all 'Fanfare'. Here's a video with some fantastic images - fyi (click on)  

  

World Cup 2026, with an introduction last Wednesday, (scroll down) takes another musical break today.

Aside from the cameras constantly picking out people in the crowd you don't recognise it's been the 'Hydration' breaks that have caused as many talking points as VAR decisions.   

Commercial / Coaching / Music / booing breaks call them what you will they have become a pause of annoyance. And apparently the best way to stop the crowd booing is to get them to start singing, with American stadium DJs quick to get the music playing. 

So you have probably heard ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ by Journey and other singalong tunes by John Denver and The Killers and no doubt this track by Bon Jovi.

Though not in anyway about football, I can see why it was chosen, with lyrics like: 

"hold on to what we've got"
"We'll give it a shot"

And "we're halfway there" - all rallying cries of encouragement to take back on to the field of play.
All together - 'Livin' On A Prayer'

 

WORLD CUP 2026

As the Football World Cup progresses to the Quarter-Final stage, time for a breather and some musical reflection. 'Life is a Highway' is the song used for the excellent ITV introduction titles. The lyrics 'All night long', have in some cases been quite literally that ! (from a watching perspective)...

The song is from the movie ‘Cars’ and is played by the American Country Music band Rascal Flatts. The original composition, from 1991 is by Canadian Tom Cochrane. Here's the full track FYI - click link

  

A I (as in Artificial Intelligence):

Plenty of discussion this week about this. A recent newspaper article spoke about various Apps that allow you to easily create your own songs, along with this quote "As an artist I'm a bit frightened - these songs sound really good".  

A friend had made such a song for their husband's birthday, With personalised lyrics and a catchy tune which was extremely good. Then my wife using Suno: a generative artificial intelligence music creation platform, made a song for me: 'My Favourite Partner in Crime'😃*

Then a few days ago I read about the streaming platform: Tidal, that had updated its policies with regard to AI and that music generated by the technology will no longer be monetised on the platform !

And this brings me to music I heard on a YouTube channel under the banner 'Crossroads Records'. There's literally dozens of videos all very similar in structure. It even has a menu guide by listing featured instrumentation:- Reverb-Heavy Electric Slide Guitar - "Train-Whistle" Harmonica (Call and Response) - Deep Hammond B3 Organ & Minor-Key Piano - Slow-Drag Brush Drum Rhythm. 

See what you make of today's track ‘The Last Train from Memphis’ with guitar playing [like Gary Moore] and soulful singing, however no mention at all of artists names playing these instruments. So I'm pretty sure it's AI. 

Is it therefore about enjoying the sound of the music or the ethics of it's origin ? How do you feel ?

* A Link to this song is available upon request. Just ask. 

NB: SUNO Inc. has been sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for copyright infringement, and thousands of musicians have signed a letter demanding that the company cease using copyrighted music in their training data. Suno does not disclose the dataset used to train its artificial intelligence.

  

10 years ago, on the morning of June 24th, we all woke up to the result of the UK referendum on EU membership. And the phrase 'Brexit' embedded itself into our lives. I think I can safely say the 90s music that was labelled 'Britpop' was significantly more fun. 

So if the result from that morning came as a surprise, today's Star Track artist may also be somewhat unexpected. It's Robbie Williams ! With a single from his chart topping album 'Britpop', released earlier this year (see what I did there). 

Sounding like Liam and Oasis, the song 'All My Life' did not enter the UK Singles Chart but made No. 44 on UK downloads and No. 50 on UK sales charts ! Whatever that means ?
The single come out at the time of Robbie's ‘Britpop’ album release. Which made No.1 on the Album Chart Top 100, but then disappeared after just 3 weeks ! So you could have easily missed it. How different and transient charts are nowadays. Take it away Robbie >

   

I really like it when this happens...

A couple of weeks ago, after my Folk filled 'Star Tracks' in May, I got an email from Roy Maggs. He'd enjoyed them and asked if I'd heard of the singer Kate Wolf. I hadn't and promptly gave a listen to the songs he suggested I check out. And so here we are today.

One of those songs 'The Redtail Hawk' from a live release in 1983 is just wonderful. 

Kate Wolf, who sadly passed away in 1986 aged just 44, performed with Nina Gerber from 1979 and a number of her songs have been covered by Nanci Griffith and Emmylou Harris among others.

‘Redtail Hawk writes songs across the sky’ - is a song written by George Schroder and is the main part of the track ‘Pacheco / Redtail Kite’. As a 9 minute mood scape, it's 2 mins of 'Pacheco' then we're into Kate singing 'The Redtail Kite' with some fantastic mandolin playing from Nina Gerber, a violin solo from David Balakrishnan, while long time collaborator Bill Griffin is also on the track.
'Pacheco' refers to Pacheco Pass on Highway 152 which runs east - west between the San Joaquin Valley and Highway 1 south of Santa Cruz. Yes, we're going to sunny California ! And Sonoma gets a name check too. 

Further listening links >

There is a 'live' video performance (without the violin solo) of 'Redtail Kite': Click Play

And I'd recommend her song ‘Across the Great Divide’: Play 

Also a video of this song performed by Nanci Griffith with Nina and guests: Play

Kate Wolf also sings a great version of Jackson Brown's 'These Days': Play

  

Continuing from last Wednesday (please read the intro first):

The Bevis Frond gig in Hastings is tomorrow night. And I've been refreshing my memory and making additional notes. I can't be accused of not doing my homework !

I've some must listens and a Star Track. So here's 'Six of the Best' (click on each arrow to listen):

➤ 'He'd Be a Diamond' *(Song covered by Teenage Fanclub)

➤ 'Lights Are Changing' (Sounds like The Byrds) + a great acoustic version, search 'Aterpe Sessions'

➤ 'The Strangers Mirror' (11 minute slow track into some blistering guitar solos)

➤ 'Mr. Fred's Disco' *(great lyrics, like "Don't smile your crown shows up in ultraviolet light")

➤ 'Through the Hedge' *(organ based melody and smouldering guitars)

➤ 'Coming Round' *(Power chords, an encore track)

"Everyone has a favourite tune. Is this yours" ?

From the 2011 album release 'The Leaving of London' this is 'Johnny Kwango' - who was a professional wrestler and was on British TV when Wrestling was popular.

 

* Denotes tracks currently on the 'live' setlist.

.... there are of course lots more where these came from. 

I hope you like The Bevis Frond as much as I do. 

  

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). 

Back end of last year I came upon this band. I'd never heard of them before and the track 'You’re On Your Own’ did more than just catch my attention. Then I found they were playing a gig in Hastings accompanied by the following blurb "The Bevis Frond (guitarist and songwriter Nick Saloman) have become the UK's leading underground psychedelic rock band. Their music is an iconoclastic collision of distinctly British psychedelia, space-rock, grunge, slow-burning soulful laments, even grizzled folk and more occasional moments of sublime pop genius."

All this from one band was summed up by the fact they'd released something in the regions of 29 albums since their debut in 1987. I freely admit that at first I became a bit obsessed with The Bevis Frond, trying to get to grips with such a varied and extensive catalogue of music. Not only was I liking a lot of the songs but I found that Nick Saloman, a Londoner, was now a Hastings resident, and the extensive recorded output was through his own and various other independent record labels. Going some way to explaining why I'd never heard of him and why 'underground' perhaps best categorises him if you too don't know the name.

Describing the 2018 LP 'We're Your Friends, Man' The Progressive Aspect website says of the aforementioned song - "The longest track here is the 13 minute album closer 'You’re On Your Own', one of Nick’s trademark Neil Young-duels-with-Jimi beasties" !

As I personally delved deeper into the music I was hearing influences from Elvis Costello and Tom Petty vocally to The Jam, Procol Harum, the Cure, Pink Floyd and Hendrix. Weird and wonderful, odd subjects and song titles and 'stoned-out' lengthy guitar jams all the way to sensitive folky numbers. No wonder my head was spinning - so let's play the track I came in on and go back to those liquid light show psychedelic days of yesteryear. 

(This reminds me of the very first FMS Star Track 'Maggot Brain' by Funkadelic) > 

 

Today is just an introduction... 

Friday I shall list other favourites leading to a Star Track, which will be a distinct contrast to this Bevis Frond track. Nick Saloman is a man of multiple hats and the wealth of material available can be overwhelming at first. 

... to be continued

   

Last weekend in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland the 22nd 'Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival' took place. This was heavily publicised on Facebook and that's where I came across this video from a 1979 gig.

It's a BBC tv recording from a show at the Middlesex Polytechnic, Hendon in January 1979. Amazingly good quality and what a performance. "Guitar on a lead, playing and singing, no ear monitor and mixing it with the crowd" is one amazed YouTuber comment. And there's only three of them !

A fantastic rhythm section of Gerry McAvoy (bass) and Ted McKenna (drums) with William Rory Gallagher on guitar and vocals. 

NB: There's a short intro to the video from the YouTube contributor and then we're off to 'Shadow Play' 

   

A Scottish folk song involving a tale of love between a soldier and a woman. An Irish captain is rejected, because Peggy has no intention to marry a foreigner or a soldier. The captain soon dies due to either a broken heart or battle wounds, possibly both. The historical context is unclear, though the song may allude to the 1644 capture of the Fyvie Castle. 

Like many folk songs, the authorship is unattributed and there is no strict version of the lyrics, though William-O and Peggy-O are the named captain of the Irish dragoons and the beautiful Scottish girl from Fyvie, in most versions recorded. 
Often titled 'The Bonnie Lass O' Fyvie' or in this case 'Peggy-O' it's been recorded by so many artists and has the knack of sounding just like a song by that artist. Check out different versions: Bob Dylan's 'Peggy-O', it's undoubtedly him, Simon & Garfunkel it's very them and likewise today's track by the Grateful Dead is totally them. 

The video helpfully has the lyrics of this tale of woe pretty Peggy-O & William-O (and some typically excellent Jerry Garcia guitar playing). And is probably an America version ?

   

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). 

Back last January on Burns Night I mentioned having a few more songs to share at certain times of the year. Here then is one of the most famous love songs associated with Robert Burns, 'My Love is like a Red, Red Rose'. 

Five Hand Reel recorded their beautiful version in 1978, Dick Gaughan taking the vocals for this rendition of the classic Scottish poem. "As fair art thou, my bonnie lass"

  

Connection up the dots from the last three weeks... 

Singing many of his own compositions Jason McNiff is quick to recognise his musical influences. Often playing Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Jackson C. Frank, as mentioned last week and also the songs of Townes Van Zandt. 

I'm not overly familiar with much of his work but I heard this song almost 20 years ago now and it's stuck with me. The song was written back in the 70s and recorded by Townes Van Zandt in 1978, it was covered in 1998 by Lyle Lovett on his album of cover versions titled 'Step Inside This House'. 

Townes Van Zandt died in 1997. The video is a tribute to him.

The song is called 'Flyin' Shoes' - version by Lyle Lovett > 

Connecting - Pentangle with Bert Jansch, to Jason McNiff and now Townes Van Zandt