With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

“There are concrete mountains in the city and pretty city women live inside them” December 22, 2014

Filed under: Obituary — justwilliam1959 @ 11:55 pm
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I was saddened to hear of the death of true music legend Joe Cocker aged just 70. Joe had one of the finest rock and blues voices in music history. He appeared at the historic and iconic Woodstock Festival in 1969 and his Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour shortly afterwards gave a big break to Leon Russell. In fact he had a big hit with Russell’s song “Delta Lady”. His early musical influences were Lonnie Donegan and Ray Charles.

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He showed his range and excellent song interpretation throughout his career including his duet with Jennifer Warnes from the ‘Officer And A Gentleman’ soundtrack, “Up Where We Belong“. The song was a massive hit in 1982, reaching the top of the US singles chart. But many people including myself remember his amazing cover of the Beatles song “With A Little Help From My Friends” which topped the charts in the UK, Switzerland and the Netherlands in 1968. Incredibly it only made it to number 68 in the USA.

Joe Cocker In Concert At Zenith In Paris

My thoughts are with Joe’s family, friends and fans. RIP Joe Cocker, one of Sheffield’s and the world’s finest voices.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRzKUVjHkGk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ui-vp9rQcY

 

“I need you and you need me, oh my darling can’t you see” November 19, 2011

Filed under: News,Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 12:09 am
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Cliff's statement to Absolute Radio

I heard in the news this week that there is a radio station, Absolute Radio 60s, that is refusing to play anything by Cliff Richard as they don’t believe he is relevant. Is this a contemporary urban station or a specialist rock or punk station? No it’s a 60s station. Now I’m not a big fan of Cliff but to refuse to play him on a 60s radio station is frankly stupid! Click here to read the story on the BBC.

Cliff prepares for his version of another brick in the wall

In the late 50s Cliff Richard was quite a groundbreaker for British rock n roll. Try listening to “Move It” again, it’s a classic. As for the 60s Cliff had stacks of UK hits including a fair amount of number ones. Many of these were hits across Europe. He may have not had much success in the USA but it’s hard to deny how big he was elsewhere. “Summer Holiday”, “Bachelor Boy”, “Livin’ Doll” and “The Young Ones” to name but a few are classic 60s pop songs. You could also argue that Cliff’s Eurovision runner-up “Congratulations” is also a brilliant pop song, although personally I don’t like that one.

Cliff meets the young, vibrant management of Absolute 60s Radio

I really don’t like his schmaltzy Christmas songs and things like “Millennium Prayer” But that is no good reason to deny how strong his 60s output was. He may not have taken music forward in the way that perhaps his label mates at the time, the Beatles did. But he became a star before they did and perhaps without the likes of Cliff, Tommy Steele, Lonnie Donegan to pave the way the Beatles may not have had the same trajectory.

Cliff threatens to wear this outfit outside the Absolute Studios until they start playing his songs

As for that 60s station refusing to play Cliff Richard, surely if you run a 60s station you play 60s music, specifically 60s hits. Well that’s what I would do and a formulaic operation like that means that effectively your own taste doesn’t really come into it!

"OK Absolute I suggest that you play my songs or you won't like where this finger will be going!"

What do you folks think of this issue?