Mighty Pixies
TAKE a smattering of surf rock and add a pinch of punk. Stir in a generous slab of Beefheart with a sprig of Buddy Holly and a dash of Iggy … Continue readingMighty Pixies
Recent Posts
Tom Petty: Dogs on the Run
I can’t tell a lie. My master chose this one.
Hatfield and the North: Halfway Between Heaven and Earth
Live at the Rainbow Theatre, 1976, from the compilation album Over the Rainbow.
Bonnie Raitt: Angel from Montgomery
Bonnie Raitt sings John Prine. Beautifully. A live performance from 1974.
Brahms’s Academic Festival Overture, Op 80
THIS delightful work is a combined musical thank you letter and a joke about academic stuffiness. The career of Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was something of a slow burn, and he … Continue readingBrahms’s Academic Festival Overture, Op 80
Michael Jackson: Ben
This was made when Jackson was 14, and regardless of anything that happened later, I think it is a brilliant song. It was written for the 1972 film Ben. The lyrics … Continue readingMichael Jackson: Ben
The Ronettes: Be My Baby
Ok, Phil Spector was a weirdo but he was a pop genius. I can’t think of a better producer (Brian Wilson not far behind) and he was a great songwriter. … Continue readingThe Ronettes: Be My Baby
Rubble by the Ribble
WHEN Storm Ciara arrived last weekend, it was one of the few occasions I can remember when the weather warnings turned out to be accurate. In Lancashire we were lashed … Continue readingRubble by the Ribble
Bridget St John: Song to Keep You Company
From a 1969 Peel session, sheer bliss.
Elvis Costello: King of America
Another clip from what I think is his best album, this time the title track.