A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
It’s not every day we feature a piano solo by an Ethiopian nun. From the album Ethiopiques 21, which I play a lot. Sort of Erik Satie meets Scott Joplin. … Continue readingEmahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou: The Song of the Sea
Suggested by Andy Marshall, who found last week’s submission too much to bear. Old softie!
THERE is something not quite right about reservoirs which wildlife seems to recognise. Perhaps it is the changing water level which presumably makes it impossible for vegetation to take hold … Continue readingThe drowned village
Gentle, relaxing sounds for a Sunday morning in March.
Cotton Fields was written by Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Leadbelly, who made the first recording of the song in 1940. I’m not sure if this is the first but it … Continue readingThe Beach Boys: Cotton Fields/Cottonfields
Brilliant clip from the recent Colorado album, featuring the great Nils Lofgren with Old Shakey for the first time in decades.
Excellent track from his eponymous 1972 solo album, even if he does look a bit Fotherington-Thomas (hello birds, hello sky!) on the cover.
I have a clear memory of listening to this in a booth on the first floor of the electrical shop in Beckenham with friends after school. I can’t quite remember … Continue readingThe Shadows: Atlantis
I’ve always enjoyed the non-rhyming couplet: Two of us got wasted tonight on the jobOne lost his liquor and the other lost his hand Here’s a live version of the … Continue readingJohn Cale: Gun
One of many radically different versions by the Junks of the Lou Reed classic, the first of which appeared on their 1988 album The Trinity Session. This one starts with … Continue readingCowboy Junkies: Sweet Jane