Old Man Riva

As I recall, the BBC banning Relax was instigated by DJ Mike Reed, who, upon playing the single, got an earful of the lyric, and stopped playing it half-way through, chirruping loudly about it being the start of the decline of civilisation as we know it - I may have over-egged that last bit, but it’s not far off.

Pushed for just one, Aladdin Sane by Bowie. The gatefold sleeve and iconic cover, poring over the the lyric sheet for hours on end (all songs included save for the Stones cover - could never get my head around that as a kid), mesmerised by the most amazing music. What’s not to be obsessed about for the past 46 years?!

She still tours with Sinéad O’Connor...

Philip Glass - The Bowie Symphonies at Festival Hall on Thursday. Liked the Low symphony; loved the Heroes symphony; couldn’t get on with Lodger at all. Story of my life..!

Every now and again something pops up that you just want to share...

I like to imagine a Stella Street-style parallel universe where Mick is in his kitchen carefully ironing his jim-jams shouting camp abuse at the radio as (Si Si) Je Suis un Rock Star wafts across the airwaves... (I actually own a copy of that single!)

That was probably a rare barre chord day..!

Completely agree. There's the odd track post-Some Girls that I like - mainly singles like Emotional Rescue, Undercover of the Night (although I can't hear that track without thinking about Muriel Gray getting incredibly 'upset' interviewing a giggling/despairing Jagger and Julien Temple regarding the video some years back on The Tube) and a few others - but the last Stones album that I (can) listen to without interruption is Some Girls - I still think Miss You is one of the best songs (of many contenders) that they ever wrote. You're never quite sure what you're going to get with Jagger's solo stuff, suffice to say, I've never got it. And the track he did with Peter Tosh is just that. With the Stones he's unrivalled (IMO) but without them, well... I'm sure he'll not be losing sleep over it, mind..!

For me, as the primary writers, the Stones should feel like it’s Mick and Keef. But the thing that the Stones has (again, IMO) is that unique bond between Keef and Charlie. It’s what makes the Stones sound, well, like the Stones! Any number of talented players will never manage to nail the Stones sound due to the unique chemistry between the two. Then add Jagger’s unique vocals and that’s the band. The Ronnie Wood thing is interesting. His contribution songwriting-wise is minimal (compared to their output since he’s been in the band) but he’s made contributions where I feel he really should have been given a writing credit - the bass line on Emotional Rescue as an example. On a related matter I’d urge any Stones fans to have a listen to Keef’s Talk is Cheap, which has just been re-released as a 30yr anniversary piece (with extra tracks). It’s the album he did with Steve Jordan in 1988, when Jagger wouldn’t tour the Dirty Work album. To this day it’s still a great listen - and features Bootsy in fine form on the opening track, which is worth the price of admission alone!

How was it? Like yourself, I saw them in the 70s with Schenker and then Chapman, so went to the Leamington gig on this tour (through nostalgia as much as anything - probably not the best reason to go to a gig, trying to rekindle that feeling you had as a wide-eyed 15yo!). I hadn’t seen/heard Vinnie Moore before and it wasn’t my cup of tea at all. Undoubtedly talented (certainly from a technical perspective) but the whole ‘fretboard frenzy’ thing didn’t really do it for me. It made me realise how good both Schenker and Chapman were in the band, supporting the songs and adding the gloss, when required. I thought Phil Mogg was fabulous (though the mix did him no favours). He’s such a good vocalist, and hugely overlooked too. For me he is/was UFO.

Yamato Japanese drummers at the Peacock Theatre London last night. Not seen anything like it before and it was a wonderful experience. They’re on a run at the theatre until 31st March, so if you fancy a bombardment of the senses along with a bit of fun (and can broadly clap in time, should you wish to join in at all!) then there are worse ways in which to spend an evening... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadaiko_Yamato

Funnily enough also listened to Bootsy today - James Brown’s Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose. Clyde Stubblefield; oh my word...

Yes, he comes across really well in that doc. I imagine the pressure of being in a group of musicians that included Jamerson would’ve been quite something. He was a wonderful player in his own right, and nailed the songs in the doc perfectly - why wouldn’t he?! And Chaka Khan! There’s a moment during What’s Going On where the world almost stops turning for me due to her performance...

It's such a great line; one of the grooviest things I've heard in a long long while. Great feel and tons of groove... Jamerson is on the rest of the album with the exception of Mercy, Mercy Me and Right On, which are Mr Babbitt.

Listened to the Detroit mix of the What's Going On album today and lost the whole day to it! The Detroit mix is the original mix, and not the mix found on the released album (which was done in LA a month or so after the Detroit mix). Anyway, Inner City Blues. I've always 'heard' the (Bob Babbitt) bass line in my head as being much simpler/straightforward than it actually is, but listening to it on headphones today there's a ton of stuff going on that I'd not heard/appreciated before. It's such a lovely line; perfect for the song and beautifully played... so, maybe a daft question, but... is there more than one bass on the track?! I know there are vocal comps through the album (initially coming about by accident where the two engineers - Kenneth Sands and Steve Smith - mixed a comp of two vocal takes, which Gaye loved) so is the bass line a similar experiment/outcome? Whatever it is, it's a masterful performance by a wonderful musician? Help a curious pair of ears out here, folks!

Wasn’t expecting this at all, especially the voice... Good band too...

Watched both episodes and really enjoyed them. There’s some really good early footage of both Iovine and Dre at the start of their respective careers that show how completely driven they were and their passion for music (and it’s safe to say that neither came from what you’d call a ‘moneyed’ background). Really looking forward to next week’s episodes. As a couple of asides: JJ Fad had previously completely passed me by! And I’d forgotten just what a wonderful piece of music Springsteen’s Meeting Across the River is. Yeah, well worth a watch...

My first ‘proper’ album, that. Had it as a Christmas present in 1972 (I think). In the late 70s/early 80s they used to do an annual Christmas gig at Brum Odeon, which were consistently great nights out. And they influenced Prince’s spelling, the daft Black Country rockers!

Not sure if you’ve seen it (or aware it exists!) but the Nikki Sixx ‘My Favourite Riff’ episode with Vai as a guest included some good Zappa stories.

Cheers for the recommendation! I’ll give Last Day of Summer a go. Hadn’t realised the drummer and guitarist left - agree the drummer was especially good. There’s a version of At the Farm on YouTube featuring those two that is just so good - shades of Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac in the guitar playing.

Forgotten all about that. Love it! The electric piano reminds me of Tomahawk Kid from the live album. One of those bands I forget I like until I’m reminded I like them then I play them so much I go off them!

I stumbled across White Denim on 6Music a few years back and was blown away. Not too keen on recent records but the albums D and Corsicana Lemonade were played to death.

To add to Frank’s list and other excellent additions on the thread I’d argue a passionate case for Gerry Mulligan & Chet Baker ‘Carnegie Hall Concert’ (features Ron Carter on bass). Song for Strayhorn is one of my favourite pieces of music of any genre. Stunning.

Great pic. He was cool as... Lucky enough to see them a few times over the years and one show (with Brian Robertson) was, to this day, one of the best gigs I've seen - the band were right on top of their game. Also saw them with Snowy White and John Sykes (separately) playing foil to Scott Gorham and, whilst neither were as good a fit as Robertson (imo), and parts of the shows may have been patchy with some of the material not up to the standard of the mid/late 70s Lizzy (again, imo), Philo was always fabulous. For me, one of rock and roll's great frontmen...