I did end up doing Zappa about 20yrs back, and apart from the parts I know which are excellent, I dont play Zappa out of course. It didnt ring out with me that well, albeit, Id maintain, some of the guitaring is otherworldly and out on its own. But there are lots of non events in Zappa. It can be a real grind. Then some really serious fcken masterpieces. I prefer Beefheart, and indeed, Zappa’s best work was with Beefheart on Hot Rats, try Willie the Pimp, also try the album Joe’s Garage, I think you’ll find these more accessible than Live at Filmore East.
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Welsh Singer Bonnie Tyler has died aged 75.
She used to live around the corner from my friend’s house in Mumbles, Swansea. Lovely lady by all accounts.
This was probably her biggest hit globally:
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It’s on my to watch list. Hoping to get to it soon
I understand that about Zappa, it’s for sure not to everyone’s taste. I particularly like the guitar driven instrumentals and guitar solos. Watermelon in Easter Hay has always been one of my favourites. Some of the MOI stuff can be really difficult to listen to and for that reason I have listened to the first disc of You Can’t do that on Stage Vol 5;Disc 1 about twice all the way through. Disc 2 on the other hand is great, think that’s the 80 band with Steve Vai.
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Watermelon in Easter Hay is a beautiful piece of music. One of those you close eyes to, and let it wash over you.
Maggotbrain is probably the defining song of that ilk, which I adore. Floyd obviously have some spectacular solos. I have to say I have a real soft spot for some of Bucketheads work too (Electric Tears and Colma are excellent albums). His version of Sketches of Spain is marvelous
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I must admit I didn’t know about “Rockin all over the World”, I just assumed it was Quo as it only had 3 chords.
As others have mentioned, “Proud Mary” is one that is often overlooked due to the success of Ike and Tina Turners version.
Great band, and Fogerty’s voice is so distinctive.
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I don’t think I have seen these mentioned on the Thread. There is a lot of positive noise about them at the moment, especially their Live performances.
I am going to see them at the Arts Club later this year.
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Just like the Abba tribute acts, I’m guessing town will be packed on this night with hundreds of Marc Bolan lookalikes :0)
Epstein Theatre - 14th Oct
T-Rextasy Live in Liverpool!
Voted “Best Live Tribute Band in the UK” by BBC1.
Relive the glam-rock magic of Marc Bolan & T.Rex with the only official tribute endorsed by Bolan’s family.
Hits, energy, sparkle — a true 70s rock’n’roll experience!
Guest appearance from Pickford?
Was out with the Missus last night at a rooftop bar in the Kiez, everything was great except they were playing the shittiest music imaginable. After about an hour of this stuff I was ready to commit a serious crime. I know I’m old and all that, but I’m not against all new music or against music from different parts of the world. Far from it, but this stuff is grisly!
Rant over.
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I really don’t see how they can compare streaming to physical sales. I still listen to the CD of Sgt Peppers that I bought in 1990. Those repeat listens don’t count as streams. If the Streams were based on unique users, I could see some comparison, but even then, there is a big difference between listening on a free-to-play system compared to something that has had hard earned cash spent on it.
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Between The Wars - I used to think this song was about the past, but it now sounds more and more prophetic.
“Their’s is a land of hope and glory
Mine is the green fields and the factory floor
Their’s is a sky all dark with bombers
Mine is the peace we knew between the wars”
This is my favourite version;
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This one is interesting. Radio Bremen have released footage of Black Sabbath playing N.I.B. for a recording of Beat Club in 1970. Apparently, this was recorded at the same time as “Black Sabbath” and “Blue Suede Shoes” which were both broadcast at the time, but this is just the raw footage without the added video effects:
I’m curious to know what other footage they have lying around. Fortunately, Radio Bremen’s video archive was far better than the BBC’s at the time.
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Admittedly going off on an a tang ent….
Although it is probably very simple to understand how downloads and streaming relate to physical sales, I have refused to invest myself in this purely from a basis of denial.
I appreciate that there are a lot of benefits to streaming and having your music library online. However, like you touched upon, and with a huge scoop of nostalgia, for me there is/was nothing better than saving physical cash, travelling to your local music shop and buying said media. Then being so excited, that your fingers fail to work quick enough to open/play the music and furthermore, there not being enough people in the local vicinity to proclaim to/understand your joy.
Furthermore, the Artwork!
I just finished an Office fit out for an international client, in a nice area of the City. Their artwork was focused heavily on the City (B’ham) and its musical influence and so they had vinyls from local artists, Sabbath, Judas Priest, Dexy’s, Musical Youth, ELO, UB40, Joan Armatrading, etc, everyone of them recognisable and all a talking point.
If you put a Fontaines DC or a Lil Simz album infront of me and removed the text, I most likely would not have a clue as to who the artist was. Yet give me a small section of a pre 2000 album cover and I would almost certainly know it.
Imagine a world with no Sgt. Pepper, Abbey road, Darkside of the Moon, London Calling, and I would not of thought it but according to Rolling Stones ‘unknown pleasures’ by Joy Division.
The 2024 chart, for your enjoyment.
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Thank you for introducing me to them, I will try and give them a bit of a listen and hopefully end down many a rabbit hole.
A band I Love and with a sound I think you would like - although I can imagine you are already aware of - is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. They have an album called ‘Howl’ which i find prophetic. I don’t have the vocabulary to give their sound and in particular this album justice. But they are amazing and even better live 
https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mKdJiXVe1nStbsH8kaJc9ipBB6rlM2zWs&ra=m
I am really liking this guy’s soul music. Please check out this Jalen ngonda if you like old skool soul brought up to date. @Wilkored08
This is his whole album below.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxA687tYuMWhqFdXpJymjyX-CWWH__dUc&si=-xx6R5m_TMB6WzoB
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OMG… Not sure who is the worst lookalike 
It’s an interesting list, and an intriguing mix between the very intricate and the minimalist.
The Virgin shop in Glasgow used to have blown up classic album covers hanging over the stairwells. My favourite was The Beatles Revolver, which i don’t think was on their list, but which I always find a striking piece of pop art. Also, they didn’t mention With The Beatles, which I think is a fantastic piece of black and white portrait photography.
I’m just thinking of some of the other Virgin ones. Nevermind springs to mind, as well as Queen’s News Of The World. Kraftwerk’s Autobahn is a favorite of mine, it’s both weirdly very modern and rather nostalgic at the same time. And for Metal albums, I would have to go for Master Of Puppets.
Of course there are the less well conceived album covers. There is an exhibition of them that tours Britain.