This week’s classic album is another one that I recommended. It’s The Velvet Underground‘s debut album from 1967. Some Historical Context It feels like I’ve always loved The Velvet Underground but that can’t possibly be true. I think I actually discovered them about thirty years ago. I know that I saw Nico in concert in… Continue reading The Velvet Underground and Nico
Tag: music
The Harder They Come
This week’s “classic album” is Jimmy Cliff’s The Harder They Come – which is actually the soundtrack of a film and therefore contains some songs that aren’t by Jimmy Cliff. Some Historical Context This will be short. I’ve never heard this album before. Oh, I know who Jimmy Cliff is and I recognise a few… Continue reading The Harder They Come
Highway 61 Revisited
Week two in the “listening to classic albums” music club. This week it’s Bob Dylan‘s 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited. Some Historical Context This album was released just before my third birthday so, unlike last week’s album, I have no memory of the album coming out. In fact, I can’t really remember when I first… Continue reading Highway 61 Revisited
A Night at the Opera
I’ve joined a music club on Facebook. It’s a bit like a book club but instead of reading a book you listen to an album. This week we’re supposed to listen to Queen’s A Night at the Opera. Here are my thoughts. Some Historical Context I had this album soon after it came out in… Continue reading A Night at the Opera
2011 in Gigs
One of my pet hates is all that “review of the year” stuff that appears before the year is over. But I’m not planning to go to any gigs in the next three days, so I feel justified in reviewing the gigs I’ve seen this year before the end of the year. According to Songkick… Continue reading 2011 in Gigs
Stealing Sheep
One Wednesday in August I went to the Barfly in Camden to see Alessi’s Ark. I knew nothing at all about the support acts for the night. The first act on were called Stealing Sheep. The first song they played was this one. It’s called “I Am The Rain” I am the Rain by stealing… Continue reading Stealing Sheep
Boothill Foot-Tappers
Gather round boys and girls and let Uncle Dave tell you about the Boothill Foot Tappers. It’s the early 1980s and punk rock is pretty much dead. A number of bands are experimenting with combining the spirit and energy of punk with more traditional forms of music. The best-known example is probably the Pogues version… Continue reading Boothill Foot-Tappers
Some Gigs
It’s been a busy few weeks for gigs. I thought you might be interested in a summary of what I’ve seen recently. 9 Oct: The Sixteen Starting with something a bit different. A nice drop of Thomas Tallis (and a few other things) in a local church. The Sixteen are great – but I’m not… Continue reading Some Gigs
Flaming June and Fire Up Mary
Over the last couple of years I’ve been getting back into the habit of seeing live music. But most of the gigs I’ve seen recently have been at relatively large venues. I haven’t been going to places like Wembley Arena, but I’ve seen a lot of gigs at places like the Union Chapel and the… Continue reading Flaming June and Fire Up Mary
Gigs for Old Gits
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for gigs. On the assumption that at least some of my readers have similar tastes to me, here are brief reviews of the three gigs I’ve seen in the last couple of weeks. Fairport Convention, Union Chapel, 20th FebThis is the second year running that I’ve seen Fairport… Continue reading Gigs for Old Gits