I tried uploading/downloading this one, but it wouldn't reproduce. It happens a lot. I must be doing something wrong. Love Gladys Knight, but I guess you would have worked that out.
That's a Carole King song from Tapestry. One of her best too. Fond memories of Tina as well from my time in Australia. This is my favourite from 1994. What a belter, and it still gives me chills.
As you probably know I'm a funk and soul man, not really a rock man but my son was putting together a 'Guitar Solo' playlist on Spotify and I suggested this. Surely the best of all time? Outstanding from good 'ol boys Lynyrd Skynyrd, and one that everybody knows. From the mournful lyrics to the honky tonk piano to the blistering dual solos at the end. Shortly after this most of them were killed in a plane crash. The stoned faces in the crowd here are hilarious at this gig that I think was in Hyde Park. If you want the juicy bit go straight to 6:25
...and here's another I suggested. Went to see Blue Oyster Cult (when I was a long haired metal head) in Sophia Gardens in 1979. I had to go up the back because my ears were actually hurting so bad and I STILL came out deaf. Buck's Boogie is amazing and features Donald 'Buck Dharma' Roeser on guitar:
I'm on a roll now. Sorry guys. I've been to see Peter Gabriel a couple of times - once in Sydney. Always great, visual shows and forever looking to innovate. It's very difficult to pigeonhole him. This song is extraordinary and is about your world turning upside down for whatever reason. I saw him and his daughter do this in Glasgow. It's pretty special. Stick with it because it builds.
Ah yes....Mr Blue Sky. 'Out of The Blue' was the soundtrack to my youth. Everybody had that album and that was my favourite track. I used to have loads of arguments ('cos I argue with everyone! ) about the ending on the vocoder. As it was the last track on side 1 of the vinyl - no Cds then - I said it was "Please turn me over" but my mates said it was "Mr Blue Sky". ELO played Glasto this year where they were brilliant and did a world tour. This footage from the Hollywood Bowl proves I was right! ....and that bastard Jeff Lynne is pushing 70 and looks the same.
Astaire was one lucky fella. He spent most of his working life, if you can call it that, in the arms of four utterly gorgeous women, viz, Ginger Rodgers, Eleanor Powell , Cyd Charisse, and here with the oh so sexy Rita Hayworth. Sod him.
If you think they were loud you should have been at the Sophia Gardens for the Who in 1970, a few days after the "Live in Leeds" concert. The James Gang started off and they were loud. Then the Who came on and made the James Gang sound like an acoustic group. I was glad to be at the back `cos there were people being carried out and vomiting all over the place. I was pretty deaf for about three or four days afterwards. They were really on fire during that tour, good times are hard to find these days.
OK moving on......... there's no video for this song, but it doesn't need one. This is a song called Heavyweight by Infected Mushroom. This song just blows my mind. It's one of the best collaborations of electronic music and 'real' instruments I've come across. The song is quite a journey. They are an Israeli duo, but collaborate with many other musicians. Truly amazing.
I discovered a band called Bent in (I think) 2002. I did a compilation of their stuff years ago and took it on a boys week on my mate's boat in Majorca. They all wanted a copy of it at the end. Maybe I indoctrinated them lol. They can be pretty experimental at times, creating wonderful soundscapes ansd quirky little songs but I think they're great and they use a combination of samples (usually from very old songs), real instruments and lots of humour. They're innovative, funny and thoroughly enjoyable - to my ears anyway. Here they are in full cheese mode with 'Leavin' Me' where they combine 70s disco, 90's ambient and an old track called 'Bidin My Time' by Anne Murray. It's a thing of joy, but ignore the terrible video which was nothing to do with them.
This is another one of theirs that found its way onto many a chillout compilation. In fact, that's how I discovered them. 'Private Road' - fond memories of SCUBA diving with the family in Sharm el Sheikh 2003. I was playing this as we pulled the boat into Ras Zakkhar and did some snorkling with the turtles. Great stuff. A beautiful piece of ethereal music with a lovely vocal by Zoe Johnston from the 'Programmed to Love' album.
Loved that side of the album, concert for a rainy day all four tracks are top quality. I've got it on vinyl as well. I was always partial to Turn to stone and Sweet Talking Woman.
