Remember The Children - Earth, Wind and Fire

Picked up Earth, Wind and Fire's Last Days and Time on CD for mere 33p over the weekend and, especially given mad Vlad's deranged rantings, it struck me a being a pretty spot on title for what's going on right now. 

The Best Mistakes - The Divine Comedy

Channelling his inner Benny and Bjorn Neil Hannon's latest track is an instant classic (especially if you're of a certain age when you can dimly remember seeing The Divine Comedy play upstairs in a pub back in the 90s). File next to My Way, yep, I think it's that good. 

Two Tribes (Annihilation Mix) - Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Way back in 1984 the world was a scary place...there was a virus (HIV) spreading across the world, inflation was running at 5% and the threat of nuclear war seemed pretty real. Fast forward to 2022 and, well, not a lot has changed really has it eh? At least it's a great excuse to dust off Frankie's Two Tribes. 

Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan

Just how effortless does the bearded dude (Elliott Randall?) make playing the guitar look? And how much fun does the bloke who looks like Rod Hull seem to be having? And how does Donald Fagen manage to fit in all those lyrics? Steely Dan-tastic. 

When The Wind Blows - David Bowie

Given the storm currently battering large parts of the UK today what better than this all too rarely heard gem from Bowie eh? Best not to put out the washing right now...

Im Nin'alu - Ofra Haza

Saw Ofra Haza singing with Sisters of Mercy on an old Top of the Pops last night and was reminded of this track from '88 that I've still got on vinyl somewhere. Compared with the pretty limited range of music that seems popular these days (did you see the TOTP Christmas specials....oh dear) the 80s seem positively cosmopolitan. 

If I Had $1,000,000 - Barenaked Ladies

Another great track from last week's 10p per CD haul, this time from Barenaked Ladies' (hmmm, wonder if you could get away with calling a band that name these days...) Gordon album. I think the song dates back to the late 80s/early 90s when $1,000,000 was still a staggering sum. Sadly the way things are going in a year or two if you have $1,000,000 you could probably just about afford to pay your gas and electric bill for a year... 

The CD revival part 256

Two more recent articles have appeared in the last week heralding the revival of the CD with one of them suggesting that the little silver discs that still seem pretty miraculous to me may once again become 'the discerning music aficionado's format of choice'. I bought 12 of the buggers last weekend for a grand total of £3. This included a signed promo copy of a Roy Ayers CD (£1) and a cool New Orleans compilation featuring Dr John's Basin Steet Blues (10p). Bonkers. 

Streaming may always be the most popular way of consuming music now but, as Neil and Joni showed last week, one day the tunes you love may be available, the next...meh...not so much. And what about the hedge funds that are currently hoovering up back catalogues like a starving ant eater in an ant farm. Are they going to continue allowing their assets to be streamed for a fraction of a penny until the end of time? I'm still convinced that the internet will end up being charged for like water, gas and electricity one day too. It's got to happen. Possibly. And then, when listening to Steps' Greatest Hits will cost you £5.99, well...come and see me...I can do you a deal. 

Let's Dance (Club Bolly Extended Mix) - David Bowie

It's a nippy one today so let's end the week with a cheeky Bollywood Remix of Bowie's Let's Dance that I heard last night for the first time on yet another charity shopped bargain CD (Club Bowie). Enjoy! 

Norma Waterson RIP

Sad to learn that Norma Waterson (arguably the grandmother of the UK folk revival that kicked off back in the 60s) has passed away at the ripe old age of 82. Despite suffering ill health for a number of years as recently as 2018 she was still kicking it folk stylee...

...and here's another treat, John Peel visiting Norma, Martin and Eliza back in the 90s