When the Wind Blows - David Bowie

A bit windy down here in the 'sunny' South West today, thankfully not a nuclear wind but then again it's still fairly early in the day and who knows what the hell will happen from one minute to the next at the moment. If you've not seen the film When the Wind Blows, sound tracked by Dame David Bowie, it's a frankly horrific tale of an elderly couple who'd survived WW2 only to get bumped off by radiation poisoning during WW3. There was a lot of this kind of stuff going on during the 80s, which might account for my generation's somewhat cheerfully nihilistic view of life.

Walking in the Rain - Flash and the Pan

How have I managed to get to almost 56 without knowing that the Grace Jones track Walking in the Rain was actually written and originally recorded by Aussie New Wavers Flash and the Pan? Picked up a Best Of compilation for the band a couple of weeks ago and I'm surprised they've not been bigged up as much as they deserve to be. Older readers may know them for this slinky synth classic, which hit the dizzy heights of number 7 in the UK in 1982...

One of the band, George Young had a couple of rather famous brothers, Angus and Malcolm, of AC/DC fame who were produced by him and fellow Flasher Harry Vanda. The pair also wrote Friday On My Mind when they were in The Easybeats and Love Is In The Air (as featured in Strictly Ballroom). 

Every day's a school day eh?  

Who Do You Love - Juicy Lucy

Today might be 'blue Monday' but this slice of early swampy 70s blues rock (a cover of a Bo Diddley track) from Juicy Lucy might help. I'm actually as old as this single...1970...good grief.

Vambo (Live) - Sensational Alex Harvey Band

I was listening to an Alex Harvey compilation last night and thought I'd share a little live footage with you for the end of the week. Now that's a performance eh? Sensational in fact.  

Dry Jan - Goldie Lookin Chain

This is a first, a Goldie Lookin Chain on the Aid. I did Dry Jan once (2013 apparently). No idea why. If there's one month a year when a nice drinkypoo or two goes down a treat it's January. Good luck to all those doing Dry Jan this year though. 

Hurricane - Katherine Priddy

Great to hear Katherine's new track getting so many plays on 6Music, loving the video filmed at one of my favourite gig venues The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath unless I'm very much mistaken too (nice to see a familiar face or three as well). Without a doubt one of the best songs she's released so far... 

Let's Dance - David Bowie (Live at Glastonbury 2000)

As you'd expect the tenth anniversary of David Bowie's passing is getting a fair bit of coverage at the moment. You never really know whether a gig's 'iconic' until a little while after the event, but it was a pretty safe bet that Bowie's Glasto gig in 2000 was going to make the cut. It's proved to be the case and I thank my lucky musical stars that I was one of those who were there to see it live. Twenty six year ago too, bugger me where does the time go eh?  

Antidepressants (Live) - Suede

Great to hear this track from Suede getting some spins on the radio at the moment. One of their best songs ever? Could be. Not too shabby for a band in its fourth decade.

Happy New Year!

Ouch. It's always a bit of a 'mare getting back to reality after the Christmas break but the sudden cold snap that we woke up to yesterday was particularly brutal. Happily I'm carrying a 'little' extra holiday weight, so the layers of blubber stopped my vital organs from freezing solid. 

2026 sees several notable anniversaries including the passing of Black (aka Colin Vearncombe) and David Bowie, who sadly both passed away on the same day ten years ago (okay, I know Colin technically died on January 26th but the injuries he received in a car crash on January 10th effectively ended his life) and the tenth anniversary of the death of Prince in April. On a slightly lighter note this year sees the twentieth birthday of this blog in August. Plans are already being made for a huge celebration...so that'll be an Ivor Dewdney pasty and a couple of pints of cider at Ye Olde Cider Barrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr in Newton Abbot. I'm a simple soul, as you'll have noted if you've read any of this jibber jabber over the past couple of decades.   

Merry Chris-mix 2025

As usual I've trawled through You Tube (which now seems to be awash with AI generated crap) to find a genuine funk and soul mix to make your yule extra cool and this year's winner is courtesy of Onze Rayons. 

As is also usual I'm off for my annual digital detox now, so have yourselves a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

I'm Free - The Who

 For those of us lucky enough to have a little bit of time off over Christmas...

Lazy Day - Spanky & Our Gang

Another random CD I picked up recently, this time by the delightfully named Spanky & Our Gang, purveyors of classic sunshine pop...and we could all do with a whole heap of that right now. Play this 10 times in a row and I'll guarantee you'll feel at least 38% better. 

T Shirt - David Byrne

Been meaning to post this new one from David Byrne for a few weeks now, the video's well worth a watch too. You can't beat an amusing/inspirational t-shirt can you eh? 

Welcome to Burning-By-Sea - Joe Jackson

Tribal sea shanty anyone? Joe Jackson's chameleon career continues with what appears to be a love hate anthem for the good old British seaside and, quite possibly, Britain itself. It's a catchy bugger too. 

La Vie en Rose presents...volume one

Feeling that pre Christmas lull? Cop a listen to this then. I picked it up on CD last weekend for just 20p and it's hi-nrg-tastic from start to finish. 

Hairstyle Of The Devil - Momus

Picked up yet another of those 100 tracks from the 80s 5 CD compilations at the weekend and amongst all of the usual suspects was this Momus tracks. I do love a bit of Momus and it never ceases to amaze me that he never really made it when you listen to stuff like this. If you like Pet Shop Boys you'll love it. 

I Didn't Come Here For Art - Lynks

Blimey, where's the time going eh? If your pre-Christmas wind down is turning into a festive wind-up give this track a spin and have a dance around your office/kitchen/prison cell (I know my audience). 

Steve Cropper RIP

Another musical genius joins that great gig in the sky. If all Steve Cropper had done was to co-write (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay that'd be enough, but he played on some of the greatest soul songs of all time too. Oh hang on...he also co-wrote Knock On Wood and In The Midnight Hour too?! Not too shabby eh? Here are just three other tracks that Cropper added a little magic to...

Dr. Ice Cold - Room Service

Another instant classic from Room Service. Drop this at the Christmas party and you're guaranteed to pull. Hell yeah. 

Gemini Rising - New Orleans Saxophone Ensemble

Managed to limit myself to just the two CDs over the weekend, one of them a compilation of New Orleans music entitled Jockomo Jockomo (you can pick it up online for less than a fiver). It's a cracking comp featuring, amongst other gems, this track. Cool eh?