I was a Bandsman in the British Army for a few years. My instrument was supposed to be the Euphonium, that’s what I played at school and in the local brass band. They changed me to Saxophone, how difficult could that be I thought. Whilst I enjoyed playing in the band and practised constantly, I… Continue reading Music Librarian
Category: Music
The dark side of the early eighties
The only music I really had access to when I was younger was my Dad’s record collection. He didn’t have much in the way of vinyl, maybe enough to fit into a couple of cardboard boxes and most of it had been played to death or had been scratched by us as kids. It sat… Continue reading The dark side of the early eighties
19, Paul Hardcastle
I first heard this record round my cousin Paul’s house in Ipswich after it was released in 1985. Paul was a townie and a casual, unlike me and my brothers who where from a rural village in Essex. Never as well dressed, we were as unlikely to wear electric blue cords or Fila tracksuit tops… Continue reading 19, Paul Hardcastle
Christmas songs – The best
Here they are, my favourite Christmas songs. All the best music is American, which is why they’re top of the list. 1) Sleigh Ride – The Ronettes It’s true to say that I am biased towards American music, and this is why. Sleigh Ride starts with coconut shell clopping and a whinniying house noises straight… Continue reading Christmas songs – The best
Christmas songs – The worst
I love this time of year, and for me music plays a huge part in the wanton overindulgence that is Christmas. Next week I’ll be blogging a list of my favourite Christmas songs. Until then, and in no particular order here’s a list of my worst. They can be heard here on Open Spotify. 1)… Continue reading Christmas songs – The worst
Phil Collins. Awful music, but a bad person?
This has been bothering me for a while, about ten years, a few months ago being bothered turned into guilt. It’s Phil Collins. Like a lot of young people in the 90s I was consumed with musical snobbery, and to a certain extent I still am. In public I’d only admit to liking anything on… Continue reading Phil Collins. Awful music, but a bad person?
The death of our pubs
It was after I read an article somewhere a few years ago that I began to think that things were going wrong for British Pubs. I can’t remember what it was in or when, but it was about John Illsley, former Bass player from Dire Straits taking over a pub in Hampshire, which turns out… Continue reading The death of our pubs
I’m learning the Guitar
I’m learning how to play guitar, Mandy brought me one as a present for my birthday and I’m properly getting in to it. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do as it’s been my favourite sound for as long as I can remember. I used to play the Saxophone, grade 8, although that means nothing… Continue reading I’m learning the Guitar
Hilary or Barack, the air of failure
All my favourite writers are American, as is most of the music I listen too, in fact it’s difficult to think of a culture outside of our own that has given my life so much pleasure. I re-read Steinbeck’s work over and over in the same way that I’ll be listening to Sonic Youth in… Continue reading Hilary or Barack, the air of failure
The Fall of Troy
I was going to write about ‘Brave Prince Harry’, the ‘Homecoming Hero’. But I’ll just end up getting angry and spoiling what would have been a perfectly good March Monday afternoon, albeit a wet and windy one. I find that one of the main problems of playlisting in apps like WinAmp or iTunes is that… Continue reading The Fall of Troy