Rory Gallagher: Bad Penny
What a guitar sound! Peerless stuff from the Rorster.
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Kirk Olsen: An Old Dog’s Song
Another selection from Olsen’s canine classic.
Tom Waits: Swordfishtrombone
I think it’s fair to say that there’s nobody else in the world with a sound quite like this.
The Hollies: I’m Alive
This was the group’s first UK No 1 single. It was released in 1965 and got to No 84 in the States. It was written for them by American Clint … Continue readingThe Hollies: I’m Alive
Dame Flo paints it black
SPARE a thought for poor old Floella Benjamin. Or rather Dame Floella. Having arrived in the UK as a child from her native Trinidad, she grew up in leafy Beckenham, Kent, and worked … Continue readingDame Flo paints it black
Brian Hyland: Ginny Come Lately
This was by Hyland’s regular writers Gary Geld and Peter Udell and released in 1962. It reached No 21 in America and No 5 in the UK.
Our eight-legged friends
IT always makes me sad when someone expresses a fear of or loathing for spiders. They are the most amazing creatures, and without them we would be swatting away flies … Continue readingOur eight-legged friends
Sufjan Stevens: Decatur
Magical banjo and vocals turn from the 2005 concept album Come On Feel The Illinoise, part of Sufjan’s short-lived project to record an LP for each and every state of … Continue readingSufjan Stevens: Decatur
The Fleetwoods: Come Softly to Me
This was written by the Fleetwoods – Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis and Gary Troxel. It was their first hit, reaching No 1 in America and No 5 in Britain in … Continue readingThe Fleetwoods: Come Softly to Me
Harry Evans – brilliant editor, decent human being
SIR Harold Evans, the legendary newspaper editor, has died in New York at the age of 92. I had the privilege of meeting him in his heyday. I was on … Continue readingHarry Evans – brilliant editor, decent human being