Tom Jones and Nina Persson Burning Down the House

All wet hey you might need a raincoat. Shakedown dreams walking in broad daylight. Three hun-dred six-ty five de-grees - burning down the house!

Quick Hit

“Burning Down the House” by Tom Jones and the Cardigans (2008)

Now in his seventies it is hard to believe that women used to throw undergarments at Tom Jones as he ripped it up in the swingin’ sixties. Such classics as “It’s Not Unusual”, “The Green, Green Grass of Home”, “She’s a Lady”. “Delilah”, “Daughter of Darkness”, “Help Yourself” and my favourite “What’s New Pussycat” topped the charts in the 60's and early 70's.. Elvis was said to have been very moved by “The Green, Green Grass of Home” and played it over and over when it first came out.

The British are coming, the British are coming...

Some forgotten British gems

Amimals - Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted

10cc - Bloody Tourists

Roxy Music - The High Road (EP)

Small Faces - Small Faces

The Clash - Train In Vain (Live)

Well some things you can explain away but my heartache's in me till this day

70’s Pick of the Week

“Train in Vain” by the Clash (1979)

He is not likely going to be posthumously knighted ‘Sir Joe Strummer’. One of the central figures in punk rock, Strummer was viewed as an extremist and mocked the government. You don’t get knighted for that. The Clash would sit around another round table though – that of Punk Rock.

From the womb of a nation wracked with economic turmoil and political and social unrest came writhing, spitting, sneering and swearing, a youth with only anger, fear and contempt for anything that smelled like authority - that was the essence of punk rock. 

The Beatles - Revolution (Live)

But when you talk about destruction Don't you know that you can count me out Don't you know it's gonna be all right

Quick Hit

“Revolution” by the Beatles (1968)

 One of my favourite Beatles songs was written entirely by John Lennon, but credited as was usual practice, to both McCartney and Lennon. Recorded in the Abby Road Studios this classic song is inspired by the French government under Charles DeGaulle.  Student uprising were occurring all around the world primarily in the U.S. against the Vietnam War. When strikes in Paris resulted in riots. Lennon was directing this song at the world’s young revolutionaries – he was anti-war.

Bryan Adams - Summer Of '69

Standin' on your mama's porch You told me it would last forever Oh the way you held my hand I knew that it was now or never

Quick Hit

“Summer of ‘69” by Bryan Adams (1985)

I do know someone that sat beside Glen Campbell on a plane. I know someone who was on the deck of a boat with the Beatles when he was a kid and my sister was in an elevator with Duran Duran once. I also know someone who rode with Huey Lewis and the News on a plane once. My daughter saw Dan Ackroyd at the garden center once.  One of my friends saw Van Morrison regularly and had met the “brown–eyed girl’ once.

I was once at this party where someone had met and said they knew Bryan Adams. He was supposed to show up. I waited all night for him - and of course he never showed. I am sure he was too busy making records or writing songs, well at least that is what I tell myself.

Monday, Monday...Can't Trust That Day...

Doobie Brothers - The Captian & Me

The Mama's & the Papa's - If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears.

Toto - Toto

Various - Legacy of Sun Studios

Into the Night- Benny Mardones

She's just sixteen years old, leave her alone, they say, Separated by fools who don't know what love is yet

Sappy Song Department

“Into the Night” by Benny Mardones (1980/89)

Sappy but brilliant, the vocals on this song are phenomenal! Benny’s range and soulful rendering over this catchy melody is memorable. It is really a shame Benny Mardones did not do more material. It is estimated that this song has been played at least 4.5 million times in the U.S. alone.