SOUL PURPOSE – Marvin Gaye and ‘WHAT’S GOING ON’ [email protected] October 8, 2019 ‘WHAT’S GOING ON’ showed how intense soul music could be, standing as key text in 70s expressionism. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Curtis Mayfield, Here My Dear, Marvin Gaye, Midnight Love, Motown, Stevie Wonder
NO GAP YEAR – contrary to claims 1974 produced some great albums….. [email protected] October 1, 2019 ‘1974 brought brilliant work from Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young so has plenty to recommend it’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Average White Band, Bob Dylan, Dan Fogelberg, Eric Clapton, Gene Clark, Gram Parsons, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Neil Young, Queen, Randy Newman, Richard & Linda Thompson, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, The Band, The Who, Van Morrison
THE WARREN COMMISSION – Warren Zevon & ‘EXCITABLE BOY’…… [email protected] September 25, 2019 With ‘Werewolves of London’ becoming a hit single, ‘Excitable Boy’ rose steadily up the US album charts. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Carole King, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Eagles, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Newman, Warren Zevon
ON THE BANDWAGON – with the only group good enough to be called simply The Band [email protected] September 12, 2019 A handful of artists have begun their careers with two great albums – but only The Band kick off with two masterpieces. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bob Dylan, Garth Hudson, George Harrison, levon helm, Martin Scorsese, Music From Big Pink, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson, The Band, The Last Waltz
THE POUR BOYS: smiles return thanks to the FACES [email protected] September 3, 2019 For aggro and anger it was the Stones or The Who – but for raucous revelry the Faces were the only party in town. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Every Picture Tells A Story, Faces, Gasoline Alley, Ian McLagan, Kenny Jones, Maggie May, OOH LA LA, Pete Townshend, Rod Stewart, Rolling Stones, Ronnie Lane, Ronnie Wood, Tetsu Yamauchi
PEOPLE ARE ON THE PITCH, THEY THINK THE WHO ARE ALL OVER: Wembley Stadium – August 1979 [email protected] August 27, 2019 Wembley Stadium – August 1979: With closed eyes, for a few seconds it was if nothing had changed. But opening them brought back the harsh reality Keith was gone. RANTS & REFLECTIONS John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Kenny Jones, Pete Townshend, Quadrophenia, Roger Daltrey, The Who, Tommy, Wembley Stadium, Who's Next
THE WRONG ONE – Eagles fall to earth with ‘The Long Run’ [email protected] August 17, 2019 If ever an album cover reflected the state of a group the tombstone sleeve of ‘THE LONG RUN’ could not have been more appropriate. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bob Seger, Don Felder, Don Henley, Eagles, Glenn Frey, Hotel California, JD Souther, Joe Walsh, Randy Meisner, The Long Run, Timothy B Schmit
MATCH OF THE DAY – 20 Football Matches That Were Well Worth Seeing [email protected] August 7, 2019 England v Brazil, Guadalajara – 7 June 1970: ‘Have so many world class footballers ever been assembled on one pitch?’ LET'S LIST AGAIN Arsenal, Bobby Charlton, Brazil, Celtic, Denis Law, England, Euesbio, Everton, George Best, Gordon Banks, Jimmy Greaves, Manchester United, Scotland, Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers
NOTHING TO LEARN? BECOMING CHAMPIONS – Netflix documentary (review) [email protected] July 30, 2019 ‘The take on ’66 is baffling to say the least. George Cohen provides insight, but more time is given to the ’86 defeat against Argentina.’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, England, Gordon Banks, Peter Shilton, Sir Alf Ramsey, Sven Goran Erikson, World Cup 1966, World Cup 1970
STILL(S) AMAZING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS – Stephen Stills & ‘MANASSAS’ [email protected] July 24, 2019 On ‘MANASSAS’ (1972) Stills incorporates blues, rock, bluegrass, funk and Latin-shuffles into a sprawling, nigh-on faultless collection. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Buffalo Springfield, Chris Hillman, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, Neil Young, Stephen Stills