Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Classics IV - " Spooky " 1968

Love is kinka crazy with a spooky little girl like you. You always keep me guessin’. I never seem to know what you are thinkin’.


Hip to be Square

“Stormy” by the Classics IV (1968)

This is the story of a band few know the name of, but because they have been covered so often many have heard.

The British invasion was in high swing in mid sixties in the U.S. when this southern band formed in Jacksonville Florida. Doing covers of instrumentals (like the Ventures surf music), they were soon asked to sing. Dennis Yost the “stand-up” drummer as he was called started singing and drumming. The band, originally called the “Classics” was so named because of the brand name on his drum kit.

Saturday, 21 January 2012

Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun

The phone rings in the middle of the night My father yells what you gonna do with your life. Oh daddy dear you know you're still number one but girls they wanna have fun


‘80’s Pick of the Week

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper (1983)

There ain’t no stoppin’ the whirling New York dervish called Cyndi Lauper. In 2010 at age 57 she had the number one selling blues album on Billboard called “Memphis Blues”. 

Seems like she came out of nowhere. Her contribution to ‘80’s styles is unquestionable. Was it her inextinguishable New York charm? Was it her little high pitched squeals interjected into songs? Was it her hair? Or does it really go deeper; like she really is an amazing singer with a innate feeling and understanding for the material, whether her own or the interpretation of others?

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Disco: Get Down!

BeeGees - Spirits Having Flown

Blondie - Parallel Lines

Chic - C'est Chic

Silver Convention

Sunday, 15 January 2012

Paul Simon et al. - Late In The Evening

I remember there’s a radio coming from the room next door, my mother laughs the way some ladies do


Pick of the Week

“Late in the Evening” by Paul Simon (1980)

Imagine for a moment what the world would be like if the 5 o’clock train never showed up, or there were no such thing as hot dogs, or your grandma hopelessly and endlessly missed a stitch every time she knitted. Now think of a world without Paul Simon songs...........sucks right?  It was Simon himself who said “every generation throws a hero up the pop charts”. He may not have been talking about himself, but damn he wrote some catchy pop songs.

Thursday, 12 January 2012

One bright morning when my work is over I will fly away home.....Reggae on mon.



Street Gospels - Bodouin Soundclash
Exodus - Bob Marley

Toots & the Maytals - Light Your Light
Jimmy Cliff - The Harder they Come

Sunday, 8 January 2012

Van Morrison - Into The Mystic

Hark, now hear the sailors cry. Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic.


70’s Song of the week

“Into The Mystic” by Van Morrison (1970)

My friend Jim from Belfast knew who the brown-eyed girl was. She ended up marrying a bartender and they ran a pub. Jim also used to see Van Morrison on the street corners of Belfast many years ago. He would perform on street corners when he was not performing his duties as a window cleaner.  He is maybe not the friendliest guys in the world but he can sure write and sing a song!

Wednesday, 4 January 2012

Get Down. Get Funky!

James Brown - 20 All Time Greatest

Curtis Mayfield - Superfly

Prince - 1999

Sly & the Family Stone - There's a Riot Gonin' On