Like many people of my generation I was sad to hear of the hard copy demise of the Dandy comic this week, although it is still available on-line. I tried a few outlets today but was unable to get myself a copy of that final edition which has an appearance from Paul McCartney. So if anyone has a spare one let me know, I’d be happy to pay for it.
Now as this is a music blog I need to find a couple of Dandy appropriate songs, so here goes.
Amazingly it is now 50 years to the day that the Beatles first single was released. “Love Me Do” came out on 5th October 1962 and reached the heady heights of number 17 in the UK charts later that year. It was an US number one when it was eventually released there in 1964. It also finally achieved a higher position in the UK charts on its reissue in 1982 when it peaked at number 4.
The song was mostly a Paul McCartney composition although John Lennon contributed the middle eight. It was most likely written in 1958/ 1959 in one of the notebooks that John and Paul used to write their songs; usually under the heading of ‘Another Lennon-McCartney Original’. Many of the songs the pair wrote in the late 50s were done at Paul’s house and often while they were playing truant from school. (Allegedly at least!)
The first recording of the song in 1962 featured Pete Best on drums. Pete was then infamously replaced by Ringo Starr who played on the next recording of the song. Producer George Martin was unhappy with Ringo’s performance and brought in session drummer Andy White. Ringo was relegated to tambourine for the Andy White session and it is this which makes it easy to distinguish between the Starr and White versions.
“Love Me Do” is one of only two Lennon and McCartney songs that are wholly owned by John Lennon’s estate and paul McCartney; the other is the B Side “P.S. I Love You”. The reason for this is that all later releases were published via Northern Songs. The publishing company has been owned by, ATV, Michael Jackson and Sony at various times.
The song has been covered by many artists including Bobby Vee and Sandie Shaw. It was also played live a few times by David Bowie on the Ziggy Stardust tour in 1972/1973. In a strange coincidence the first James Bond film had it’s UK premiere on 5th October 1962.
Is this the first time I have sent any kind of begging letter on my blog? Probably not. But here it is anyway. I will be running the great North Run from Newcastle to South Shields on Sunday September 16th this year, barely a week and a half away! Why am I doing this? Firstly because my boss and good friend, Mr Nick Cooper ‘press ganged’ me and three others (Stuart O’Hara, Simon Downs and David Carline) into taking part. So the St John’s Ambulance volunteers along the route could have a busy day! Secondly we will be raising money for the Save The Children charity which I’m sure you will agree is an excellent cause!
So onto the begging part now. we have a target of £1,500 to raise and so far we are at £969 or 64% of target. So any donation that you can make, whatever size, would be very much appreciated. As is usual for these things we do have a ‘Just Giving’ page to make it easier to support us. Click here to get access to it.
Of course this is a music blog so I can’t end with no music can I? So here are thirteen (one for each mile of the run) running related songs for you to listen to while you donate!
1 “Running Away” – Sly and the Family Stone
2 “Run Runaway” – Slade
3 “Keep On Runnin'” – Spencer Davis Group
4 “Run For Home” – Lindisfarne
5 “Runaway” – Del Shannon
6 “Run Run Run” – Jo Jo Gunne
7 “I’m Gonna Run Away From You” – Tami Lynn
8 “Running Away” – Roy Ayers
9 “Running Up That Hill” – Kate Bush
10 “Run To The Hills” – Iron Maiden
11 “If You See My Rooster (Please Run Him Home)” – Memphis Minnie and Black Bob
12 “Run To Him” – Bobby Vee
13 “Band On The Run” – Paul McCartney and Wings
I must confess that I was a tad disappointed that a number of my favourite British artists never appeared at the Olympic Closing Ceremony.Notably David Bowie and Kate Bush. There was a strong rumour in the week before the show that Kate would appear. This appears to have been driven by a remix of “Running Up That Hill” being made available to buy on-line last week. That remix was played during the show. It was never likely that Bowie would play the show given the low profile he has taken since his heart problem back in 2004. But I did get my hopes up when a medley of his songs and associated film clips were played. However it turned out to be just a precursor to the celebration of British fashion element of the closing spectacle which itself was soundtracked rather obviously by the Dame’s 1980 hit “Fashion”.
Apparently David Bowie, Kate Bush, the Sex Pistols and the Rolling Stones all turned down the chance to appear at the Olympic Stadium last Sunday night. John Lydon said a while back that he had been asked if the Pistols would play and turned the organisers down flat. I wonder if they would have expected the Pistols to play “God Save The queen”? It is also alleged that the Who only agreed at the third time of asking. Who else would you have liked to have seen on the bill? Personally I’m surprised that Adele or Paul Weller wasn’t there or any of the beknighted music stars; Tom Jones, Macca, Elton, Cliff or even Rod Stewart who probably longs to be knighted. Personally I’m glad Cliff wasn’t there as his Jubilee appearance was truly awful. The same goes for Paul McCartney who I didn’t think was particularly good at the Opening ceremony.
Kate fills the long jump pit by hand
So let’s finish with what we might have missed some Kate and some Bowie.
this man is a Knight of the Realm................ no seriously, he is!
I think it would be fair to say that there is one area of my life that my Mother may be disappointed in me. That is my dislike of the institution of the British Royal family and all condescending pomposity it has. Yes in case you hadn’t noticed I am very much a Republican (not in the US political sense obviously) and most definitely not a Royalist. Having posted recently about Mick Jagger (aka Sir Michael Philip Jagger) turning down afternoon tea with ‘Call Me Dave’ Cameron and Boris Johnson it’s strangely appropriate that a story about those who turned down Royal Honours appeared in the news today. Following a freedom of information request by the BBC a list of those now deceased who have turned down various Royal Honours form 1951 and 1999 has been published. There are 277 people on the list including artists Henry Moore, Francis Bacon and LS Lowry and authors Roald Dahl and Aldous Huxley. There are no rock or pop stars on the list. Read the full story on the BBC site by clicking here.
Sir Tom shows off his first house
However it got me thinking about those rock and pop stars who have accepted honours and those that haven’t. The obvious list of those who have are the rock and pop ‘Sirs’ Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard, Elton John, Mick Jagger, Tom Jones and Bono and Bob Geldof who as Irish citizens are Honorary Knights of the British Empire (KBE). Add to that list Dame Shirley Bassey. A large number of British musicians have received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), which is the highest honour a British subject can receive below a knighthood or damehood. Those include: Annie Lennox, Roger Daltrey, Eric Clapton, Sting, Robert Plant the Bee Gees and Rod Stewart. It was alleged that at the time of Elton receiving his knighthood Rod was just a little jealous.
Macca ponders his failure to win top score in Rate My Mullet
What really interests me though are those rock and pop stars who turned down Royal honours. David Bowie turned down a CBE in 2000 and a knighthood in 2003 and was quoted as saying that “was not what he spent his life working for”. George Melly and Paul Weller also turned down the offer of a CBE in 2001 and 2007 respectively. Thankfully Keith Richards also turned down a CBE; I’d have been gutted if he had accepted! His comment on Jagger’s knighthood was that he felt it was ludicrous. Influential guitarist and stalwart of the Shadows Hank Marvin turned down an OBE as did Dub Poet Benjamin Zephaniah. At the time Zephaniah publicly stated ‘I get angry when I hear the word ’empire’; it reminds me of slavery, it reminds me of thousands of years of brutality, it reminds me of how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised’ An MBE was offered to John Lydon who turned it down. I’m pretty amazed that they offered him one really.
Never a Knight of the realm but the only one who came close to looking the part as opposed to looking like an anagram of part
The four Beatles all received the MBE in 1965. John Lennon later returned his to the Queen in 1969 accompanied by a note which read ‘I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam, and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts’. It has been alleged that his Aunt Mimi who brought him up and upon whose mantelpiece the award lived was not amused!
I may be a few days late but big congrats go out to Paul Weller and his wife Hannah. She recently gave birth to Weller’s 6th and 7th children; twins John Paul and Bowie. My assumption was that John Paul was named after Weller’s father John and the Modfather himself. However I read somewhere that John Paul is named after Lennon and McCartney. There is no need to guess who Bowie is named after is there? I do seem to recall that Weller only became a bit of a Bowie fan relatively recently, so maybe he is a bigger fan of the Dame than we perhaps thought! I wonder if John Paul and Bowie will come to call their Dad the Modfather as some of his older kids do?
Mr Weller with two of his older kids
Jon Bon Jovi has been the subject of a death hoax this week. It was falsely claimed that the 49-year-old had died of a heart attack. He went so far as to post a picture of himself posing in front of a Christmas tree on-line with a card reading “Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey Dec 10th 2011 6.00″
There have been many music related death hoaxes. Perhaps the most famous was the Paul McCartney is dead stories in the 60s. Apparently one of the clues to this was the fact that Paul was barefoot on the cover of the ‘Abbey Road’ album. There have been a couple this year too. Mick Jagger and Justin Bieber. It was claimed that the Biebertron had been shot by a publicist and killed in a car crash. As far as I know Jon, Paul, Mick and Justin are all alive and well. But perhaps Jon Bon Jovi is just “Living On A Prayer” or maybe he is “Wanted Dead Or Alive” anyway he has now declared “It’s My Life”
It’s the 19th December, it’s day 19 of my ABC of Motown Christmas Advent Calendar and we’ve reached the letter S. I have chosen one of my favourite Motown songs for this letter. It is the timeless and truly amazing “Superstition” from Mr Stevie Wonder. The song was the first single from Stevie’s ‘Talking Book’ album. He wrote, produced and arranged the song and played drums and keyboards, obviously he did the vocal too.
It reached number one in both the US Billboard chart and the US R & B chart in 1972. It made it to a sadly less impressive number eleven in the UK. It was his first US Billboard number one since “Fingertips Part 2” in 1963. Whilst I really love much of Stevie’s music I really don’t like the only two number ones he has had in the UK. “Ebony and Ivory” the duet with Paul McCartney in 19282 and the dreadful “I Just Called To Say I Love You” in 1984. But he has recorded so much excellent music I can happily forgive him for those two. I’m just not sure I can forgive the British public for making them both number one.
Stevie originally wrote “Superstition” for Jeff Beck but Motown Supremo Berry Gordy saw the potential in the song and insisted that Wonder should record it himself. Jeff Beck later recorded his version with Beck, Bogert and Appice. Jeff has often played the song live and also recorded Stevie’s “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” for his ‘Blow By Blow’ album in 1975.
The song as the title would suggest is about superstition, however there are not many superstitious elements mentioned in the lyrics. Notably thirteen, breaking a mirror and ladders get a name check. The song can also be heard in a few movies. A character in John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ listens to it on a boombox. Will Smith’s character listens to it at the start of ‘I Robot’. Enjoy Jeff Beck’s version followed by Stevie’s below.
And finally here are Jeff and Stevie playing the song together at the 25th Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2009.
Katy does the garden........ shearly not?
I’m sure that you’ve heard Katy Perry’s new single “The One That Got Away” which is clearly yet another slice of perfect perry pop and a great radio song. But what intrigues me about it is the line about making out in the lyrics. It reads ‘We make out in your Mustang to Radiohead’. Firstly we get Katy Perry mentioning Radiohead, which I feel makes for quite strange bedfellows. Secondly, does anyone actually make out to Radiohead? I love the band but they wouldn’t be my choice for a sultry, seductive night in with Catwoman! I would prefer a bit of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ album.
Having listened to the song again though it got me thinking about some of my favourite songs that mention bands or singers. You can enjoy five of them below. Let me know what your favourite songs that mention other artists are;
“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” – Vampire Weekend – mentions Peter Gabriel
“Destroy Rock n Roll” – Mylo – mentions a cast of thousands including Michael Jackson, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, David Bowie, Van Halen, Madonna, Huey Lewis and the News, The Cars, Herbie Hancock, Bonnie Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Men at Work, ZZ Top, Paul McCartney, Weird Al Yankovic, Cyndi Lauper, Pink Floyd, Pretenders, Billy Joel, Billy Idol, Elton John, Neil Young, Sheena Easton, Patty Smyth and Scandal, Fashion, Big Country, Morris Day and The Time, John Lennon, Apollonia 6, REO Speedwagon, David Gilmour, Rolling Stones, Pat Benatar, Hall and Oates, Wham!, Rebbie Jackson, Adam Ant, Bananarama, Christine McVie, Queen, John Cougar Mellencamp, U2, Fleetwood Mac, The Alan Parsons Project, Rick Springfield, Thompson Twins, Missing Persons, Duran Duran, Police, Eurythmics, Culture Club, Boy George, Band Aid, Stevie Wonder and Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
“White Man In The Hammersmith Palais” – The Clash – mentions Dillinger, Leroy Smart, Delroy Wilson, Ken Boothe and the Four Tops.
“God” – John Lennon – mentions Elvis and the Beatles
“Punky Reggae Party” – Bob Marley and the Wailers – mentions the Wailers, Maytals, Damned, Jam, Dr Feelgood and the Clash
“All The Young Dudes” – Mott The Hoople – mentions T Rex and is easily my favourite song that mentions other bands or artists.
OK folks I am proud to announce (cue fanfare) that this blog has now received its one millionth hit! It’s taken just under three years and frankly I am completely blown away. My expectations when I started it back in February 2009 were that it would be superb to achieve maybe 50 or 60 visits a week. However it wouldn’t have happened without all the regular commentators, subscribers, followers and those of you that chanced upon it through some random search. Let me tell you some of those were very random indeed!
Some of you I already knew before the blog began and some of you I have met (albeit in the blogosphere) along the way. If you like my blog you really should check out the links on my blog roll. There is some great stuff out there and I am honoured to be linked with some of it. I recently sent an e-mail to my regular contributors and subscribers to ask for their one favourite song for inclusion in this millionth hit celebration. So here they are, in the order I received them, with some reasons why they are favourites. Thank you and enjoy!
Jane from Berkshire is a subscriber and strangely she also went to the same school as me in Hillingdon; Bishopshalt! She says “Corny but mine is George Benson ‘Never Give Up On A Good Thing’. A couple of times over my 24 year marriage when things have been a bit tough this song has been played and the lyrics have hit home. I have LOADS of favourite songs – but this probably just tips it”
It may be corny but I like it too, my favourite track from Mr Benson is ‘Breezin’
Next up it’s Mandy from Leeds who I worked with at GNER a few years ago. I discovered that like me she is also a fan of the great Johnny Nash, but he doesn’t feature in this post. Mandy says “Great idea! I must have 100s of favourites so really difficult. There is one very special song that for me is timeless and I always feel amazing after listening to it, no matter where I am or what I’m feeling. I first heard it when I was very young as my mum had the album (she liked the picture on the front cover!). I played that album to death and was mortified when it was lost in a house move just a couple of years ago after holding onto it for over 30 years – it was like losing my photo album, heart wrenching. I have the CD and digital versions and they don’t have the same scratches or jump at the same time as the original – so there are a few words I didn’t know existed until a few years ago! From the album ‘Let’s Get It On’, my all time favourite song is ‘Come Get To This’ by Marvin Gaye”
I think that Marvin was a genius; I would never be without a copy of the wonderful ‘What’s Going On’ album.
Simon from Bramham is next (is this beginning to sound like a local radio request show or what?) He lives almost on top of the site of the Leeds Festival and here is what he says about his choice. “My favourite song ever is ‘In Between Days’ by The Cure. A great twanging guitar and bass line with crashing drums make it the ultimate Indie foot-tapper. Always makes me smile when I hear it even though the lyrics are rather disturbing by themselves! It has a great video too especially with the ‘Frightmare’ make-up. It reminds me of being a teenager”.
I am not a big fan of the Cure but I do love the more poppy stuff like ‘Love Cats’ and ‘Friday I’m In Love’
Now it’s time for someone from my town, York. It’s Tom who I met when I did some volunteer work at York Hospital Radio. I was lucky enough to sit in on a few of Tom’s excellent Wednesday night shows. Tom was also the brains behind this blog’s Lily Allen naked experiment, so I’d like to thank him once more for that. If you’d like to know more about the experiment just let me know. Anyway here is what Tom has to say about his choice of favourite song of all time. “Congratulations on reaching this milestone, I read all the blogs and enjoy them all. I also learn an awful lot and find myself waiting for the next one to come through!! As far as my favourite song goes, it is such a hard question to answer, but it has to come from one band really; the Beatles, but this doesn’t make it any easier. If I had to say one that stands out from the rest it would have to be ‘All You Need is Love”, the title alone says so much. I think the lyrics are simple but powerful, it’s easy for everyone to enjoy and relate to. The message that it encapsulates defines the Beatles themselves and for that reason it is my favourite Beatles song. I would like to add that my brother had it as his first dance song at his wedding, the little git! He has totally nicked my idea. But at the wedding, seeing everyone enjoying the song and joining in, it reaffirmed the power of the song. People of all ages, backgrounds and musical tastes were singing along and enjoying it. I also now have new memories of this song as my little brothers first dance as a married man and it adds another level of enjoyment to it. To summarise, I can put this song on, at anytime in any mood and I always end up getting lost in it and feeling totally at ease with everything after the 3:48 piece of genius. What more could I ask for from a song? I hope that this is useful Bill and don’t forget: All You Need is Love!”
I totally agree that this song is absolutely superb. If it wasn’t for the fact that the brass refrain at the start was effectively the French National anthem it would have been a contender for my first wedding dance at my recent marriage to the beautiful Catwoman a.k.a. Catherine. Incidentally my favourite Beatles song is ‘Don’t Let Me Down’.
Next in line is Ben who has a band called Reason Breeds Monsters. We used to work together in a garden as Flowerpot Men with Little Weed, actually I just made that up as I am Bill and he is Ben. Although I’m sure I may have been in a garden with a little weed sometime. Anyway enough crap from me, here is what Ben has to say about his choice. “Hi Bill! Congratulations on your million! Thanks for the invite to comment. My answer, based on which song I have listened to most times in my life, is Bert Jansch‘s ‘Blackwaterside’ which was also covered by Led Zeppelin as ‘Blackmountain Side’. On the tree of folk music, it’s a flower on the highest branch. No one’s played guitar with such soul and inventiveness since, and every acoustic guitar player has been at a loss as to what to do. That’s why I’ve listened to it so many times – trying to work it out.
I like the Led Zep version but now Ben’s delightful prose has also turned me on to the Bert Jansch version too.
Andy from Leeds has this to say about his favourite song; “Favourite song: Ahead by a Century by The Tragically Hip. Why? Not sure really – it just ‘hits the spot’ every time I hear it and has reduced me to tears a couple of times watching them live and singing it out very loudly, surrounded in the main by a large group of Canadians. Great band – Canada’s most beloved – and still going strong
after 20 years plus together. ABAC is a beautifully simple song (like all the best ones are) with a typically vague Gord Downie lyric which could be interpreted in almost any way you deem applicable. ‘And that’s when a hornet stung me and I had a feverish dream – with revenge and doubt. Tonight we smoke them out. You are Ahead by a Century – and disappointing you’s getting me down’
Great video too!”
It’s not a song I am familiar with, but I have heard some stuff from the ‘Hip. I do like it though, it may well make an appearance on my iPod very soon.
One of the regular readers is Nicole from Australia who is currently based in Pakistan. She really struggled to select her favourite song of all time, but she got there in the end. Here is what she had to say about it “Hope I am not too late?
The reason why is that I couldn’t decide. I was thinking about London Still by the Waifs (Aussie band singing about being an expat in London – enough said). Then I was thinking about Everybody got their something by Nikka Costa (upbeat motivating song). Then I was thinking 21 things I want in a lover by Alanis Morissette (it has a permanent position at the start of my running mix). Then I was thinking Lighthouseman by the Waifs (Because it gets me through tough times). Then I was thinking Going Somewhere by Colin Hay (because it’s just a great song). Then I was thinking Celestine by Kirsty MacColl (A song that most women should be able to relate too……… well I certainly do :-))
But then I thought – my favourite song is actually Cowboy Take me Away by the Dixie Chicks and I don’t even know why. I just like the sentiment of a simple life I think? Closely followed by Steve McQueen by Sheryl Crow just because it’s fun!”
I like some Dixie Chicks stuff and frankly anyone who can piss off George W Bush in the way those girls did is brilliant in my book.
Catwoman took advantage of the fact that we are married and live together, obviously, and dictated this while I typed! Here is what she has to say. “My song has a bit of a holiday vibe that would go well with cocktails and dancing. I am also a girl who loves her shoes and I have massive amounts of empathy for the character in the song – after all shoes are a girls best friend and they are mostly cheaper than diamonds. My favourite song in case you haven’t guessed is “In These Shoes” by Kirsty MacColl. Coming a close second is “Into My Arms” by Nick Cave which was our first dance at our wedding in September”
Obviously I reckon this is a good choice and a shoe related song from my beautiful wife is highly appropriate.
Now we hear from my good friend Nick from Marlow, who is also my Reading Festival buddy. Here is what he has to say about his choice “I’ve been racking my brains for the best, hadn’t forgotten. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfR_HWMzgyc this is the best online version of my choice! The song that lingers the longest is Kashmir Led Zep, I remember it so clearly the day i bought physical graffiti just as it came out, i also remember it as awesome from Knebworth 1979. For me it just is Jimmy Page and Robert plant at the top of the game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhrghRDkRTc. The song has great rhythm, menacing almost, great vocals, great pace slow and fast, its simple but it deep, orchestral but also there for a rap . The drumming, the screeching, theirs almost a brass feel to it at points, then the mystic east, what can i say, the presence you get when you really listen to it is amazing, can’t think of another song that really draws me in so much. Probably sticks with me coz Knebworth made such an impression on me as a young student http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV7i7eaQtmU.
Without it being a song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6oykAkUwCo this at 3 minutes in was just awesome. Self indulgent by todays standards but then we didn’t have them in those days. Id also say it’s probably Kashmir because Physical Graffiti is so awesome, not just as an album but as a double album and I’m never disappointed when i return to it. I LOVE THE COVER, THE FOLD OUT ENVELOPE, EVEN THE LABEL ON THE VINYL, STANDARD LED ZEP. I’m sure there are other songs that I hear on the radio from rock stars and pop stars that I think wow that’s great, I just can’t pick one, not Dylan, Not Bowie, Not Young, Not Radiohead (although Creep will always be up there), not even the likes of Queen or AC-DC or Blink or Foo’s Not Hendrix (oh boy how can i say that with “voodoo chile”) not Lennon, not beatles, not Jackson, not the clash or Johnny Cash, im just having to say all this to convince myself…….. not UB40, not the Kinks, not the Smiths, not Doctor Feelgood……
Bill your question is almost like torture, its been too difficult! If it wasnt Kashmir it would probably be “Immigrant song” or “dazed and confused” thinking about it. Kashmir is all about Page with a big dose of Plant and its never been the lyrics, I thought, but then an opening line of: “ Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream” Followed by: “I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been To sit with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen They talk of days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed” And finishes: “Let me take you there. Let me take you there”
Beat that MATEY!!” http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ledzeppelin/kashmir.html
What can I say? A great choice mate!
Next up it’s Mr Barton…. Simon to his friends. Here’s what he had to say. “Favourite song? Veeeeeeeery difficult to choose from almost a lifetime of listening to music. When I was a kid my fave was always Bohemian Rhapsody… until I discovered Punk and it became Anarchy In The UK. ( Slight contrast, I know. ) I’ve had many and varied “favourite songs” ever since, from The Band to The Jesus & Mary Chain, from Smokey Robinson to Metallica etc. etc. Although ( at this moment in time ) I’ll probably have to go with Springsteen’s Thunder Road, the ultimate evocation of his nostalgic, cars ‘n’ girls ethos: “It’s a town full of losers / I’m pulling out of here to win…” Still sends shivers down the spine. And then there’s Clarence’s sax solo… Perfection!
( Then again, I could choose Jungleland… or Born To Run… or… )
Anyway, if you’re interested I blog under the name of cerebus660 @http://glasswalking-stick.blogspot.com/ where you’ll find lots of random nonsense about music, films, comics, cats… you know, all the important things in life 😉
I’d be happy if you dropped by some time…” Simon I certainly will 🙂 I also love Thunder Road too
Tom Demalon from the wonderful Barely Awake In Frog Pajamas blog is next.
Tom said “Congrats on the impending milestone. I shall be joining you – if my calculations are correct – sometime in April 2026.
Choosing one favorite song is quite a task. However, this morning, Peter Gabriel’s Solsbury Hill popped up and I realized that I could never completely commit to one song has the be-all end-all for me, there is something about Solsbury Hill that gooses my spirit no matter how many times I hear it.
I know some of the song’s lore and the context in which it was released, but none of that intrudes upon on it for me. It’s always a singular listening experience that adapts to what I need at the moment, though the song always returns me to a place of calm and gratitude while offering hope through its resolute tone.
Congrats again. Look forward to reading your stuff for through the next million hits”
This is one of my own favourite songs of all time
Incidentally I once posted about my top 100 favourite songs for my 100th post. If I were to ignore Bowie my top song from that post remains my all time number one. It’s “No Woman No Cry” by the wonderfully talented Bob Marley.
Almost finally here is a list of all those wonderful songs. Once again a big thank you to all of you who contributed and all of you whoe read my blog. I would never have got this far without you all!
Never Give Up On A Good Thing – George Benson
Come Get To This – Marvin Gaye
In Between Days – The Cure
All You Need Is Love – Beatles
Blackwaterside – Bert Jansch
Ahead By A Century – The Tragically Hip
Cowboy Take Me Away – Dixie Chicks
In These Shoes – Kirsty MacColl
Kashmir – Led Zeppelin
Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
Solsbury Hill – Peter Gabriel
No Woman No Cry – Bob Marley & the Wailers
I couldn’t think of which song to use as the theme for this post, so I settled on the Barenaked Ladies and a clip from someone who shares the same hairstyle as me; Dr Evil. Enjoy! (Well at least they both mention one million!)
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 