What Am I Living For?
Two contenders for best version. It was written by Fred Jay and Art Harris and first released by Chuck Willis in 1958, reaching No 9 in America. Conway Twitty destroyed … Continue readingWhat Am I Living For?
Recent Posts
Cat Stevens: Wild World
Stevens wrote this and recorded it for his 1970 album, Tea for the Tillerman. Released as a single it reached No 11 in the US. It did not figure in the … Continue readingCat Stevens: Wild World
Genesis: Supper’s Ready
From the band’s archives, what seems to be a compilation of live videos. Supper’s Ready is of course the suite of songs from side two of the brilliant 1972 album … Continue readingGenesis: Supper’s Ready
Three chairs for the editor!
WHEN I started on the Daily Mail in Manchester in 1978, it soon became obvious that the messengers ruled the roost. Only they were allowed to transfer copy from one department to … Continue readingThree chairs for the editor!
Peter Gabriel: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Prog meets punk in this 1978 performance of the title track from Gabriel’s final album with Genesis. How they missed him.
The Shirelles: Soldier Boy
This was written by Luther Dixon and Florence Greenberg and released by the Shirelles in March 1962. It topped the US charts and reached No 23 in Britain. Quite honestly … Continue readingThe Shirelles: Soldier Boy
Thurston Harris: Little Bitty Pretty One
This was written by Bobby Day under his real name Robert Byrd. He made the first recording in 1957 with his backing group the Satellites, reaching No 57 in America. … Continue readingThurston Harris: Little Bitty Pretty One
Bob Dylan: Girl From the North Country
Affecting 1986 live version of the classic which first appeared on The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan in 1963 and then in a duet with Johnny Cash (aka Durex Money) on 1969’s … Continue readingBob Dylan: Girl From the North Country
Pavement: Shady Lane
There are longer versions of this track from the 1997 album Brighten the Corners, but I like the Spike Jonze-directed video.
Karen Peris: George in the Car
Live in her front room, a solo effort from the Innocence Mission’s delightful chanteuse.