A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
Cracking track from his 1982 comeback album Beautiful Vision. I struggled for ages to come up with the tune quoted by the brass section towards the end. Then M came … Continue readingVan Morrison: Dweller on the Threshold
Fascinating studio footage of the song that would appear on the Roxy and Elsewhere album. Ikettes Linda Sims and Debbie Wilson recording with Frank Zappa and the Mothers at Ike … Continue readingZappa and the Ikettes: Cheepnis
A live Whistle Test recording of the song from their superb second album Adventure.
From her album Take the 5ifth, a beautiful piece of melancholia from the brilliant Bridget. When she sings ‘I’m l-o-o-o-ost without you’ it sends shivers down the spine. My spine, … Continue readingBridget St John: Maybe If I Write A Letter
On that cheery note . . . from his 2004 album When The Detail Lost Its Freedom. If you like it, try Stars of the Lid, of which he is … Continue readingBrian McBride: A Gathering To Lead Me When You’re Gone
Complete with cheesy introduction from Merv Griffin, a live version of the cheery instrumental from the 1972 LP Greenhouse.
One of the loveliest tracks from the German-born Arizona guitarist who died of a brain tumour in 1997. And here’s Evan Dando on a tribute album which helped pay Rainer’s … Continue readingRainer Ptacek: Rudy With a Flashlight
I HAVE to say I’m greatly enjoying this trawl through the columns of the last three years. Here we are almost half way through. 60 Kathleen Edwards: Back to Me (2005) I wrote … Continue readingMy Top 100 Part 5
One of the Dan’s finest little novelettes – an old queen berating his younger lover for bringing an Argie rent-boy home. This 2008 live version has Walter Becker on lead … Continue readingSteely Dan: Gaucho
Like Free, Patto had a wonderful feeling of space within their music. RIP the great Ollie Halsall.