John Peel

John peel died today, 65 years old. I remember back in the early seventies he had a show on BBC Radio One on a Saturday afternoon. I used to have to wash my father's car for pocket money and John on the radio made it bearable. At that time he was playing late psychedelia and good prog rock. I remember hearing Golf Girl by Caravan and being so impressed I had to buy the album. As the years progressed I spent less time listening to him but on occasion, when I had notice of a good session coming on I would sit down and tune in. He was the same affable and occasionally mistake prone guy (can you play a CD at the wrong speed?). By now he would crop up on the telly and even my mum would know who he was. But I still remembered listening to long, groovy and sometimes unlistenable tunes he had chanced upon. And I won't hear that any longer.
Cheers John, thanks for the education.

Back to Normal

Kids back at school tomorrow. Back to the taxi service but in the meantime I've been listening to the CD sold at the Giant Sand gigs. A friend in London sent one to me, thanks to Shaun for that. I also listened to a Pixies gig available at http://tulum.free.fr/ , pretty good stuff. Looking forward to seeing Nick Cave in a fortnight at the Carling Academy.

Winter

It's getting cold here, the central heating is now on much of the time. The trouble with central heating is that there's no focal point, no roaring fire to sit around. Images of Hollywood films with families gathered around the blazing logs fly around my head but when I think back to the days when we had a real fire it was always small with no real heat unless you sat right next to it and then it was too hot. It always seemed to be a real chore to light it, something my mother always ended up doing. Anyway, before I end up as if I was a character in the Broons I'd better shut up. Today's musical delights are courtesy of the Incredible String Band. I recently received a great set of old radio and live shows which are really good. Hadn't listened to this band in a long time and had forgotten how good they were.

today's business

Well, not much going on, looking after the kids due to school holidays. Weather wet so trying to amuse indoors. Eventually get to sit down and spin some music, a new neil Young show downloaded , pretty good, solo and a nice selection of old songs. Read about the recent exploits og Giant Sand on the continent. Playing London later this week, no chance to see them. Nevermind, maybe next time they will venture into the frozen, wet wastes of Scotland.

Hello and welcome

This blog is a space for me to muse on the world and the happenings therein. Music, books, coincidences and finds.