Another 'old' film that came on TV recently was 'Almost Famous' from 2000. I can only conclude that I'd not seen it since it's release because I couldn't remember most of it. While the soundtrack from the early 70s was extraordinary and far more familiar.

Except for this track which the film's writer and director Cameron Crowe has said is his favourite song by The Beach Boys.

'Feel Flows' features twice during the movie and is from the album released in 1971* called 'Surf's Up' - if you'd asked me I'd have thought they'd already used that title during the 60s.

Beautifully psychedelic track from the Very Famous - Beach Boys 

There's a brand new Box Set (out today) called 'Feel Flows: The Sunflower & Surf's Up Sessions'. It includes remastered editions of those two albums alongside unreleased tracks.

 

* This leads to a future Friday Music Spot - coming soon 

  

One of my favourite films of the last 20 years recently came on TV and although I only caught half of it the memory and enjoyment of (We don't need no education) - 'School of Rock' was fully intact.

The track played in the Battle of the Bands contest is simply called 'School of Rock' (Rock Got No Reason) and in the film is attributed to lead guitarist Zack.

I have a video for you that combines the original film footage with a 10 Year School reunion from 2013 and an after-party performance of that song. To see the kids 'all grown up' is amazing and surprising. I know you're going to like this >

To remind you of the cast on stage:

• Jack Black as Dewey Finn (lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar)
• Joey Gaydos Jr. as Zack "Zack-Attack" Mooneyham (lead guitar)
• Kevin Clark as Freddy "Spazzy McGee" Jones (drums)
• Rivkah Reyes as Katie "Posh Spice" (bass)
• Robert Tsai as Lawrence "Mr. Cool" (keyboards)
• Maryam Hassan as Tomika (lead and backing vocals)
• Aleisha Allen as Alicia (lead and backing vocals)
• Caitlin Hale as Marta (lead and backing vocals)
• Miranda Cosgrove as Summer

 

  

This coming Saturday I'm finally going to a football match again, first time in nearly 18 month. Which has had me thinking about the very first time I went to a Chelsea game at Stamford Bridge in 1964. The team would always run out to an unusual song that apparently the players had heard while on a Caribbean Tour that Summer, liked it and ask if it could be played as they ran on to the pitch during that season.
The song was called 'Sammy Dead', while a bit of an odd title, the song was typical Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, a Jamacian ska, calypso and Soca band (strangely appropriate).

Amazingly there's some old 'live' footage from the time. Not surprisingly it's not great quality. Amazed I even found it...

Lead vocal is attributed to Eric 'Monty' Morris > 

The song is fairly short, so here's the original release, which is a slightly different version and must have been the actual single played in 1964. 'Sammy Dead'   

 

I first heard this song at the end of the London 2012 Olympics on the BBC as a closing summary full of highlight memories - [playout sequence clip] to jog your memory.
The song is a unique collaboration between Thea Gilmore & Sandy Denny. In late 2010 Thea Gilmore was commissioned by Sandy Denny’s estate, in conjunction with Island Records, to write melodies for unfinished manuscripts, lyrics without music, and works in progress (that had come to light in 1989) to finally bring some of Sandy Denny’s last works to the world. Of course this song is not about the Olympics but just being away from home.

The 2012 Olympic playout was just an edit, this is the full track called > 'London' 

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). 

Whether it was the Drones in the sky display or the Pictograms performance that caught your eye during the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony, you must have wondered at the music during the Japanese Kabuki dance-drama section featuring the artist Hiromi. Playing piano in a flamboyant style, much like her 'anime' hair, her improvisation and mix of jazz, classical and rock reminded me of Keith Emerson's much loved meanderings and indulgent show-off-manship while hitting the ivories with everything available.

Her actual performance from the ceremony is not available on the web, though a short picture sequence is [FYI here].
The full piece called 'Spectrum' is available to experience > Hiromi

 

There are many other videos worth a look, those with her trio especially. 

Last week in the YouTube comments column someone had remarked the Obi track reminded them of Nick Drake's 'From the Morning'. This in turn triggered my memory of when Margaret, unfamiliar with his music, asked Alexa to play songs by Nick Drake.
The resulting playlist that followed included a veritable who's who of classic singer/songwriters:- Tom Waits, John Martyn, Gordon Lightfoot, CSNY, America, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Donavan, Cat Stevens, Tracy Chapman & Sandy Denny - all came up...
Explore your own playlist, starting with 'From the Morning' by Nick Drake > 

"Now we rise / And we are everywhere"

I noticed another comment on YouTube that said:- 

"I like the fact that the final song on the last album recorded in Nick Drake's lifetime was actually a song of hope and inspiration! "

 

This week I have mostly been cycling !
But what music was in my head ? ...on our route along the Kennet & Avon canal from Bristol to Reading (and onto Hurley).
I did some research on Beats Per Minute & Heart Rate and toyed with the idea of finding a nice steady beat (a cadence) to pedal along to. Nothing to energetic. This resulted in various speeds [108-115 bpms] and many tracks on playlists and 'Happy Cycling Mixes', with some great pieces to consider. Then I came upon this video about actually cycling along the Kennet and Avon that ends with this track which seemed ideal. 'Somewhere Nicer' too.

So this is British indie-pop group Obi singing 'Somewhere Nicer' > 

The video of the actual cycle I found is here for those interested. Pedal here 👉

Not exactly our route, but mostly the same.

 

Big band. Big concert.

And when The Edge's guitar comes chiming in - the reaction, is just amazing !

Clearly that tells you this is U2. In concert from 2001 on their Elevation Tour Live in Boston [video: strobe warning] - go Full Screen. 

Performing 'Stay + Bad + Where the Streets Have No Name' - 'No barriers, no limitations'

U2: Elevation Tour - Live In Boston [DVD] - check out the whole concert, it's brilliant. 

 

I seem to remember I promised awhile ago another performer from Rick Beato's Top Female artists list.
Brazilian Lari Basilio plays guitar with a smooth latin vibe, jazzy and rocky, while clearly enjoying herself enormously. 

Here she is playing a track titled 'Not Alone' in the 'Guitarguitar' music store in Birmingham. Dare I say she needs the money for some new jeans ? No, that would make me sounds old fashioned right 😏

There's plenty of different tracks (and different guitars) on YouTube: 

Check out:-  'Far More' [with a band in the studio]; Her Signature Ibanez guitar track 'Novo'; & 'New Time' - [beach video]. Simply search Lari Basilio 

 

I somehow can't ignore all these rousing Football singalongs any longer. Side-stepping the obvious 'Three Lions' and 'Seven Nation Army', likewise 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie' and going for a screamer. 
'Chelsea Dagger' by The Fratellis comes to mind, especially after seeing the fun McDonalds ad currently showing during most half-time breaks [link]. But that is possibly a bit much, so I've gone for the full on goal celebration that is 'Song 2' by Blur. Woo-hoo...

> This track is also being used in another ad right now for airbnb. 

Action Replay - just hit the play button again 😁