You have to give this band a LOT of credit for sticking to their guns. No – they never became a “trendy” band, but just for that reason alone you need to check them out! There are some good stuff among their huge musical output. Read on! Hawkwind – music more important than money By […]
ARTICLE ABOUT Hawkwind FROM New Musical Express, January 16, 1971 — My Things – Music history for those who are able to read.
Billboard #1 Hits: #411: “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”- Leo Sayer. January 15, 1976. #1 1 week in Billboard Hot 100. Single: ” You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”- Leo Sayer Record Company- Warner Bros Genre: Pop, Disco Written by Leo Sayer and Vini Poncia Time: 3:31 B-side:”Magdelena” Album- Endless Flight Grade: B- Peaked […]
BILLBOARD #1 HITS: #411: “YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE DANCING”- LEO SAYER – JANUARY 15, 1976 — slicethelife
This song, written by guitarist and vocalist Justin Hayward, is from the Moody Blues’ Seventh Sojourn album, released in 1972.
To my mind, this is one of the most beautifully written and produced songs that I know — and so underrated.
What is more, its message is very poignant for our times, a time of change, where new horizons are literally opening up for us, so we can leave all our present nightmares behind. Godspeed to us all.
Copyright Francis 2020
Drops on washing lines
Joyless British flags, hanging
Blackbird’s stark subsong
Copyright Francis 2020
On this day, November 22, 1913 English composer, conductor, and pianist. Edward Benjamin Britten was born He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music, orchestral and chamber pieces. His best-known works include the opera Peter Grimes (1945), the War Requiem (1962) and the orchestral […]
Edward Benjamin Britten [1913-1976] — Marina Kanavaki
Influenced by the Shoreham landscapes of Samuel Palmer, and his teacher John Nash, here are the eerily empty landscapes of Essex, Sussex Downs, and elsewhere.
Quiet Landscapes: watercolours of Eric Ravilious 1 — The Eclectic Light Company
A review of the best album by Progressive Rock group Deep Purple – Machine Head.
Deep Purple – Machine Head (1972) — The Ultimate Music Library
*Remastered version here.
Firstly a proviso: This is my list, so it almost certainly won’t match with anyone else.
Secondly, I’m English so this maybe a bit Anglocentric, so apologies there too. Actually, looking at it again there’s only two British bands in my list, so not guilty!
I’m also no spring chicken, so my picks tend to fall in my formative years during the late 60s and 70s — when the music was better, right?
Coming in at number 5: ‘Dark Side of the Moon‘ Pink Floyd – EMI 1973
This had to make my top 5. Everything from the concept, production, musicianship, lyrics… is top notch.
Coming in at number 4: ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water‘ Simon & Garfunkel – Sony 1969. A wonderful collection of songs that have stood the test of the last 50 years.
Coming in at number 3: ‘Aja‘ Steely Dan – MCA 1977. This is not actually my favourite album by this band now. This maybe partly due to the fact it got ‘played to death’ whilst I was at college. Nevertheless, head ruling heart, I have to acknowledge the sheer painstaking craftsmanship that has gone into this, producing something almost peerless; intellectual yet accessible; sophisticated but easy on the ear.
Coming in at number 2: ‘Blue‘ Joni Mitchell – Reprise 1971. Again, this is probably not my favourite of Joni’s repertoire these days. But the songwriting is just wonderful, heart on sleeve stuff, so painful at times, but always simply beautiful. The best of a singer songwriter at their peak.
And finally, coming in at number 1: ‘Revolver‘ The Beatles – EMI 1966. Ok, I know — what about ‘Sgt. Peppers..’? I just think this is better. So much variety in one album, fantastic songs which are very short and wonderfully produced. The Beatles at their peak in my opinion, at the turning point of their first era of predominantly love songs, looking towards the future of experimentation… and so influential: ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ anyone?
Copyright Francis Barker 2020
Researchers created a 3D-printed scale model and broadcast ‘chirps’ at different frequencies When Stonehenge was intact, the acoustics were more like…
A New Study Assesses the Prehistoric Acoustics of Stonehenge.
Captain Scott took jars to the Antarctic with him, and Edmund Hillary took one up Everest. Marmalade is part of the British national myth. Livvy …
Marmalade: A Very British Obsession
Mr. Blue Sky (Electric Light Orchestra) – Postmodern Jukebox ft. Allison…
Reblogged by Francis Barker 2020
