TRICKY SITUATION – Rolling Stones & ‘STICKY FINGERS’ (1971) neilsambrook@btinternet.com September 2, 2022 The lyrical imagery is delivered amongst country, blues, funk and rock, but for all its variations STICKY FINGERS never sounds in danger of losing its grip. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Mick Taylor, Pete Townshend, Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers
AN EAGLE TAKES OFF – Don Henley & ‘I CAN’T STAND STILL’ (1982) neilsambrook@btinternet.com August 22, 2022 ‘Dirty Laundry’ is an indignant critique of an increasingly intrusive media and one of the most important rock songs of the 1980s. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Danny Kortchmar, Don Henley, Eagles, Glenn Frey, Hotel California, I Can't Stand Still, Joe Walsh
The Empire and the States: The Kinks & ‘ARTHUR’ (or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire); neilsambrook@btinternet.com August 15, 2022 ‘ARTHUR’ (1969): Seeking out a song with more astute social comment than ‘Shangri-La’ is not worth the effort. It hasn’t been recorded. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Arthur (or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire, Dave Davies, John Dalton, Mick Avory, Pete Quaife, Pete Townshend, Ray Davies, The Kinks, The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society, The Who, Tommy
WE’RE ON OUR WAY (More or less): ENGLAND – the Ron Greenwood era neilsambrook@btinternet.com August 8, 2022 The Ron Greenwood era: There is a sense it should be remembered more fondly, but only a handful of displays spring to mind as truly memorable; RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bobby Moore, Brian Clough, Don Revie, England, Kevin Keegan, Ron Greenwood, Sir Alf Ramsey, Trevor Brooking, World Cup 1966, World Cup 1982
OH NO NO – Faces & ‘OOH LA LA’ neilsambrook@btinternet.com July 29, 2022 Faces: ‘OOH LA LA’ (1973). On release Rod called it ‘a disgrace’ but over time would put his name to far lesser recordings. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Every Picture Tells A Story, Faces, Glyn Johns, Ian McLagan, Kenny Jones, Maggie May, OOH LA LA, Pete Townshend, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane, Ronnie Wood, Steve Marriott
TOMMY’S HOLIDAY CAMP – Manchester United win the 1974-75 league title………. neilsambrook@btinternet.com July 21, 2022 FOOTBALL WIZARD – in the week the film adaption of ‘TOMMY’ is released, Docherty leads United to the 74-75 league title…… RANTS & REFLECTIONS Brian Clough, Celtic, Denis Law, George Best, Manchester City, Manchester United, Rangers, The Who, Tommy Docherty
TAYLORED TO FIT: James Taylor – ‘MUD SLIDE SLIM and the BLUE HORIZON’ neilsambrook@btinternet.com July 8, 2022 ‘Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon’ (1971) provided refuge against the world rather than a reaction to it. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Carole King, Crosby Stills and Nash, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, Stephen Stills, Sweet Baby James, Tapestry
COMPLETE CONTROL – Twenty great games of 1976-77…………… neilsambrook@btinternet.com June 30, 2022 TWENTY GREAT GAMES of 1976-77 – Liverpool win the league, European Cup and like The Clash exert ‘Complete Control’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, QPR, Spurs, West Ham United, Wolves
HULL OF FAME – Alan Hull & ‘PIPEDREAM’ neilsambrook@btinternet.com June 15, 2022 Brimming with wit, wisdom, purpose and poignancy, ‘PIPEDREAM’ (1973) is the great ‘lost’ masterpiece of 70s British rock. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Alan Hull, Every Picture Tells A Story, Lindisfarne, Pipedream, Ray Jackson, Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements, Rod Stewart, Simon Cowe, The Beatles
BREEZE ROCK: Crosby & Nash – ‘WIND ON THE WATER’ neilsambrook@btinternet.com June 9, 2022 ‘WIND ON THE WATER’ (1975): Hailed as a ‘creative renaissance’ the LP received more acclaim than the Stills-Young effort of 12 months later. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Carole King, Crosby & Nash, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, James Taylor