LIVING FOR TODAY: John Lennon – ‘IMAGINE’ (1971) [email protected] November 30, 2022 On his last solo album Lennon declared ‘The Dream is Over’ – but in longing for peace on ‘Imagine’ he can be judged as saying Long live the Dream. RANTS & REFLECTIONS George Harrison, Imagine, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Plastic Ono Band, Ringo Starr, The Beatles, Yoko Ono
NATIONAL MEASURES – Twelve fine 70s players who never won an England cap……. [email protected] November 22, 2022 Twelve fine 70s players without an England Cap: KENNY HIBBITT (Wolves): Great passes, plenty of goals, but no international recognition…… RANTS & REFLECTIONS Alan Woodward, Billy Bonds, Dave Wagstaffe, Derek Parkin, Duncan Mackenzie, George Armstrong, Howard Kendall, Jimmy Greenhoff, Kenny Hibbitt, Mervyn Day, Ron Harris
LONDON CALLING – Twenty great games of 1978-1979 [email protected] November 17, 2022 Twenty great games of 1978-79: Osvaldo Ardiles & Ricky Villa: Loved at the Lane/annihilated at Anfield……. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Arsenal FC, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Ipswich Town, Liverpool FC, Manchester City, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest FC, Shrewsbury Town, Spurs, Wolves
TRAMPS & SCENES – Bruce Springsteen & ‘BORN TO RUN’ (1975) [email protected] November 7, 2022 Albums by other great artists needed years of critical gestation, but within 18 months of release ‘Born to Run’ was acclaimed as ‘the greatest ever made.’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bob Dylan, Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
SHOCK ABSORBING – Ten defining FA Cup ties of the 1970s [email protected] October 31, 2022 BETTER CALL PAUL – Maguire opens the scoring as third division Shrewsbury Town topple Manchester City in January 1979………….. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Chelsea, Hereford United, Leeds United, Leyton Orient, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Shrewsbury Town, Spurs, Wrexham
MOVING UP – Bob Seger & NIGHT MOVES [email protected] October 20, 2022 Bob Seger had long been a respected if unsung artist, but with ‘Live Bullet’ and then ‘NIGHT MOVES’ (1976) went from the margins to mainstream glory. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bob Seger, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, Bruce Springsteen, Live Bullet, Night Moves
A FAIR(S) ASSESSMENT – English teams and the Fairs Cup 1955-1971 [email protected] October 17, 2022 English teams and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Geordie and Triumphant – Newcastle United: Fairs Cup Winners 1968-1969 RANTS & REFLECTIONS Arsenal FC, Chelsea, Everton, Leeds United, Liverpool FC, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Spurs
OUT OF AFRICA: Paul McCartney & Wings – BAND ON THE RUN [email protected] October 7, 2022 BAND ON THE RUN (1973): Paul makes his definitive post-Beatles statement – going to Africa in order to record it. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Band on the Run, Denny Laine, George Harrison, John Lennon, Linda McCartney, Paul McCartney, Paul McCartney and Wings, The Beatles
WE CAN BE HEROES (for more than one day) – Twenty great games of 1977-78 [email protected] September 30, 2022 Twenty Great Games of 1977-78: Nottingham Forest – novelty leaders in November, authentic league champions the following April. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Arsenal, Chelsea, Coventry City, England, Everton, Ipswich Town, Liverpool FC, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest FC, Spurs, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United
SONGS OF THE ASKING – Paul Simon & STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS (1975): [email protected] September 13, 2022 Reunited with Art Garfunkel on ‘My Little Town’ rarely has rock sounded so sophisticated and yet so sumptuous at the same time. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Still Crazy After All These Years