R.I.P. 2017

Some of those that passed in 2017...(not everone, obviously!)

2017_01_08 Peter Sarstedt - Where Do You Go To My Lovely
2017_01_10 Buddy Greco - The Lady Is A Tramp
2017_01_21 Maggie Roche (The Roches) - We
2017_01_23 Bobby Freeman - Do You Want To Dance
2017_01_23 Gorden Kaye (with Sue Hodge) - Be Our Guest
2017_01_25 John Hurt - My love is as a fever, longing still (Sonnet 147)
2017_01_25 Mary Tyler Moore - Show Theme
2017_02_08 Ray Galton - Acceptance Speech
2017_02_08 Tara Palmer Tompkinson - Joline
2017_02_12 Al Jarreau - Moonlighting (Theme)
2017_02_12 Damian - Time Warp
2017_02_17 Peter Skellern - You're A Lady
2017_02_19 Larry Coryell - Gypsy Queen
2017_03_03 Jim Fuller (Surfaris) - Wipe Out
2017_03_06 Ritchie Adams (Banana Splits) - Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)
2017_03_09 Jane Freeman - Ivy Last Of The Summer Wine
2017_03_10 Joni Sledge (Sister Sledge) - We Are Family
2017_03_18 Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven
2017_04_08 Brian Matthew - After Seven Ending
2017_04_11 J Geils (J Geils Band) - Centerfold
2017_04_11 Toby Smith (Jamiroquai) - Deeper Underground (Instrumental) (b- Vocal)
2017_04_18 Gordon Langford - These Foolish Things
2017_04_22 Erin Moran (with Scott Baio) - You Look At Me from 'Joanie Loves Chachi'
2017_05_09 Robert Miles - Children
2017_05_10 Geoffrey Bayldon - I Am Catweazle
2017_05_18 Chris Cornell - You Know My Name
2017_05_23 Roger Moore - Where Does Love Go
2017_05_27 Gregg Allman - Midnight Rider
2017_05_28 John Noakes - On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at
2017_06_01 Roy Barraclough (with Les Dawson) - Cissie & Ada's Aerobics Class
2017_06_02 Peter Sallis - A Married Man
2017_06_08 Norro Wilson - Hey Mister (The Most Beautiful Girl)
2017_06_09 Adam West - Miranda
2017_06_19 Brian Cant (with Toni Arthur and Jeremy Irons)- Playaway
2017_06_31 Barry Norman - Film 72 to 98
2017_07_15 Martin Landau (with Barbara Bain) - When We Were Small
2017_07_20 Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) - Numb
2017_07_25 Hywel Bennett - Shelley Signing On
2017_08_03 Robert Hardy - Sigfried Farnon On Pets
2017_08_08 Glen Campbell - Rhinestone Cowboy
2017_08_18 Bruce Forsyth - Life Is The Name Of The Game
2017_08_20 Jerry Lewis - Sometimes I'm Happy
2017_09_03 Walter Becker (Steely Dan) - Haitian Divorce
2017_09_05 Holger Czukay - Cool In The Pool
2017_09_08 Don Williams - I Recall A Gipsy Woman
2017_09_15 Harry Dean Stanton - Tennessee Whiskey
2017_09_25 Liz Dawn (with Bill Tarmey) - I Remember It Well
2017_09_25 Tony Booth - Join The Tea Set
2017_10_02 Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down
2017_10_22 George Young (Easybeats) - Friday On My Mind
2017_10_24 Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill
2017_10_24 Robert Guillaume - Upendi
2017_11_04 Dudley Simpson - The Tomorrow People and Blake's 7 Themes
2017_11_05 Robert Knight - Love On A Mountain Top
2017_11_19 Pete Moore (The Miracles) - Love Machine
2017_11_21 David Cassidy - Daydreamer
2017_11_21 Rodney Bewes - Dear Mother Love Albert
2017_11_24 Mitch Margo (Tokens) - Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)
2017_12_05 Johnny Hallyday - Viens Danser Le Twist
2017_12_11 Keith Chegwin - Fun Dead (Cheggars vs The Gonk Osymyso Remix)
2017_12_15 Heinz Wolf - The Great Egg Race
2017_12_16 Keely Smith (with Louis Prima) - That Old Black Magic

RIP 2016

PLAY IN MIXCLOUD BY CLICKING PICTURES

01 2016_03_10 Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Fanfare For The Common Man (Keith Emerson AND Greg Lake)
02 2016_03_17 Cliff Michelmore Interviews - David Bowie (Tonight 1964)
03 2016_01_10 David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes
04 2016_04_21 Prince - 1999
05 2016_10_23 (Pete Burns) Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
06 2016_02_04 Maurice White (from Earth Wind & Fire) - September
07 2016_01_18 Glenn Frey - The Heat Is On
08 2016_02_15 Vanity - Under The Influence
09 2016_04_05 Leon Haywood - Don't Push It, Don't Force It
10 2016_04_24 Billy Paul - Thanks For Saving My Life
11 2016_11_25 Colonel Abrams - Trapped
12 2016_10_05 Rod Temperton Beatwagon - Never Too Late To Start
13 2016_01_08 Otis Clay - The Only Way Is Up
14 2016_07_21 (Lewie Steinberg - Bassist) Booker T & The MGs - Green Onions
15 2016_08_22 Toots Thielemans - Bluesette
15a 2016_01_09 Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart - Spot Was Not Like The Rest
16 2016_01_31 Terry Wogan - The Floral Dance
17 2016_10_21 Dave Cash - 1971 Radio Show
18 2016_03_16 Frank Sinatra Jr - Family Guy Medley
19 2016_11_03 Kay Starr - Rock And Roll Waltz
20 2016_03_10 Gogi Grant - Wayward Wind
21 2016_04_11 Emile Ford & The Checkmates - What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For
22 2016_12_12 Jim Lowe - The Green Door
23 2016_10_24 Bobby Vee - Rubber Ball
23a 2016_11_23 Andrew Sachs (Manuel from Fawlty Towers) - Leonardo Da Thingy

24 2016_11_11 (Robert Vaughn) Man from U N C L E Opening and Closing Theme
25 2016_04_19 Lord Tanamo - I'm In The Mood For Love
26 2016_03_18 Ned Miller - From A Jack To A King
27 2016_09_25 Jean Shepard - A Dear John Letter (with Ferlin Husky)
28 2016_11_15 Mose Allison - Young Man s Blues
29 2016_04_06 Merle Haggard - Okie From Muskogee
30 2016_11_07 Jimmy Young - Unchained Melody
31 2016_01_07 Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean A Lot
32 2016_07_24 Marni Nixon - I Could Have Danced All Night (from My Fair Lady)
33 2016_08_29 Gene Wilder - Imagination Medley
34 2016_02_12 George Tipton - Soap
35 2016_03_24 It's Garry Shandling's Show
36 2016_10_23 (Jimmy Perry) Bud Flanagan - Dad's Army (Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr Hitler)
37 2016_11_09 Al Caiola - The Magnificent Seven
38 2016_06_12 Janet Waldo - Perils of Penelope Pitstop
39 2016_03_31 Ronnie Corbett - Fanny
40 2016_02_28 Frank Kelly (from Father Ted) - Charlie Stepped In
41 2016_06_03 Dave Swarbrick - Once I Loved a Maiden Fair
42 2016_01_30 Frank Finlay - Casanova
43 2016_01_26 Black - Wonderful Life
44 2016_12_18 Zsa Zsa Gabor on Dame Edna
45 2016_04_20 Victoria Wood ~ The Ballad Of Barry & Freda (aka Let's Do It)
46 2016_07_02 Caroline Aherne - Debbie McGee on Mrs Merton
47 2016_10_02 (Sir Neville Marriner) Academy of St. Martin in the Fields - Gymnopedie No 3 (Satie)
48 2016_03_17 Paul Daniels - I Don't Feel Grumpy
49 2016_12_06 Peter Vaughan - Game Of Thrones Extract
50 2016_03_15 Sylvia Anderson - Parker, Well Done
51 2016_04_21 Lonnie Mack - Memphis
52 2016_06_28 Scotty Moore - Mean Woman Blues
53 2016_07_16 Alan Vega - Jukebox Babe
54 2016_09_24 Buckwheat Zydeco - Marie, Marie
55 2016_05_28 Floyd Robinson - Makin' Love


56 2016_08_06 Pete Fountain - Ja Da
57 2016_05_02 (Paul McDowell) Temperance Seven - You're Driving Me Crazy
58 2016_09_17 Charmian Carr - Sixteen Going On Seventeen (with Dan Truhitte and Julie Andrews)
59 2016_11_07 Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah
60 2016_03_08 George Martin - Scrambled Egg
61 2016_04_13 Gareth Thomas - Blakes 7 The Lost Interviews
62 2016_08_13 Kenny Baker as R2d2 - Star Wars Dubstep Remix
63 2016_05_05 Isao Tomita - Golliwog's Cakewalk
64 2016_01_14 Alan Rickman - Intelligence
65 2016_05_31 Carla Lane - Cow (with Linda McCartney)
66 2016_01_28 Jefferson Airplane - Tobacco Road (Signe Toly Anderson AND Paul Kantner)
67 2016_03_30 Thunderclap Newman - Something In The Air
68 2016_11_13 Leon Russell - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
69 2016_02_19 Harper Lee - To Kill A Mockingbird Interview
70 2016_12_24 (Richard Adams) Art Garfunkel - Bright Eyes
71 2016_08_07 Ruby Winters - I Will
72 2016_06_27 Sir Mack Rice - Muhammad Ali
73 2016_06_03 Cassius Clay (Muhummad Ali) - I Am The Greatest
74 2016_05_24 Burt Kwouk - Hey Little Hen
75 2016_09_08 Prince Buster - Madness
76 2016_06_17 Tenor Fly - Bright Side Of Life
77 2016_09_21 John D Loudermilk - Language Of Love
78 2016_10_14 Jean Alexander as Hilda Ogden
79 2016_12_27 Carrie Fisher - Princess Leia's Life Day song
80 2016_12_24 Rick Parfitt from Status Quo - Rockin'  All Over The World
81 2016_12_25 George Michael - Faith
82 2016_12_28 Debbbie Reynolds - Tammy


By Date...

2016_01_07 - Kitty Kallen

2016_01_08 - Otis Clay

2016_01_09 - Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart

2016_01_10 - David Bowie

2016_01_14 - Alan Rickman

2016_01_18 - Glenn Frey

2016_01_26 - Black

2016_01_28 - Signe Toly Anderson and Paul Kantner (BOTH from Jefferson Airplane)

2016_01_30 - Frank Finlay

2016_01_31 - Terry Wogan

2016_02_04 - Maurice White (from Earth Wind & Fire)

2016_02_12 - George Tipton

2016_02_15 - Vanity

2016_02_19 - Harper Lee (author of ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’)

2016_02_28 - Frank Kelly (from ‘Father Ted’)

2016_03_08 - George Martin

2016_03_10 - Keith Emerson (from ELP)

2016_03_10 - Gogi Grant

2016_03_15 - Sylvia Anderson (voice of Lady Penelope)

2016_03_16 - Frank Sinatra Jr

2016_03_17 - Cliff Michelmore

2016_03_17 - Paul Daniels

2016_03_18 - Ned Miller

2016_03_24 - Garry Shandling

2016_03_30 - ‘Thunderclap’ Newman

2016_03_31 - Ronnie Corbett

2016_04_05 - Leon Haywood

2016_04_06 - Merle Haggard

2016_04_11 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates

2016_04_13 - Gareth Thomas

2016_04_19 - Lord Tanamo

2016_04_20 - Victoria Wood

2016_04_21 - Prince

2016_04_21 - Lonnie Mack

2016_04_24 - Billy Paul

2016_05_02 - Paul McDowell (from The Temperance Seven)

2016_05_05 - Isao Tomita

2016_05_24 - Burt Kwouk

2016_05_28 - Floyd Robinson

2016_05_31 - Carla Lane

2016_06_03 - Dave Swarbrick

2016_06_03 - Cassius Clay (Muhummad Ali)

2016_06_12 - Janet Waldo (Voice of Penelope Pitstop)

2016_06_17 - Tenor Fly

2016_06_27 - Sir Mack Rice

2016_06_28 - Scotty Moore

2016_07_02 - Caroline Aherne

2016_07_16 - Alan Vega

2016_07_21 - Lewie Steinberg (Bassist from Booker T & The MGs)

2016_07_24 - Marni Nixon

2016_08_06 - Pete Fountain

2016_08_07 - Ruby Winters

2016_08_13 - Kenny Baker (R2d2 from ‘Star Wars’)

2016_08_22 - Toots Thielemans

2016_08_29 - Gene Wilder

2016_09_08 - Prince Buster

2016_09_17 - Charmian Carr (from ‘The Sound Of Music’)

2016_09_21 - John D Loudermilk

2016_09_24 - Buckwheat Zydeco

2016_09_25 - Jean Shepard

2016_10_02 - Sir Neville Marriner (founder of The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields)

2016_10_05 - Rod Temperton

2016_10_14 - Jean Alexander (Hilda Ogden from ‘Coronation Street’)

2016_10_21 - Dave Cash (Radio DJ)

2016_10_23 - Pete Burns (from Dead Or Alive)

2016_10_23 - Jimmy Perry (Comedy Writer)

2016_10_24 - Bobby Vee

2016_11_03 - Kay Starr

2016_11_07 - Jimmy Young

2016_11_07 - Leonard Cohen

2016_11_09 - Al Caiola

2016_11_11 - Robert Vaughn

2016_11_13 - Leon Russell

2016_11_15 - Mose Allison

2016_11_23 - Andrew Sachs (Manuel from ‘Fawlty Towers’)

2016_11_25 - Colonel Abrams

2016_12_06 - Peter Vaughan (from ‘Game Of Thrones’)

2016_12_07 - Greg Lake (from ELP)

2016_12_12 - Jim Lowe

2016_12_18 - Zsa Zsa Gabor

2016_12_24 - Richard Adams (author of ‘Watership Down’)

2016_12_24 - Rick Parfitt (from Status Quo)

2016_12_25 - George Michael

2016_12_27 - Carrie Fisher

2016_12_28 - Debbie Reynolds

 

RIP 2012

2012 RIP Mix by Sfcpres on Mixcloud

Like every year, 2012 was a year in which we lost some great talents, and some of my personal favourites were among them..
In January, we lost the great Johnny Otis. It's a name that isn't so well known in the UK, having only had a single Top Ten hit in 1957 with Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me (which was covered by Lena Zavaroni in 1974). But the song was important to me, as it appeared on one of my first albums;- Alan Freeman's History Of Pop. Three days later, on the 20th January it was announced that Etta James had also passed away. The news reports naturally concentrated on her huge contribution to music in the States, and her biggest hit there, At Last, entered the UK charts as a tribute. However, very little was made of her biggest UK hit, I Just Want To Make Love To You, which reached the Top 5 in 1996 on the back of a very popular cola ad.
In February, the tragic news of the death of Whitney Houston hit the media, and like most, I think it was news that we'd been half expecting knowing her lifestyle choices. The talent that had been shown in her early releases had gradually been sucked away by a series of unfortunate events. The end of the month saw the departure of the British voice of the Monkees, Davy Jones. Many hours of my childhood had been spent watching this anarchic show, and it was with sadness that I noted the small amount of coverage his passing received.
March saw the passing of bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, who, along with his partner Lester Flatt, had a string of hits that included Foggy Mountain Breakdown, and the themes to the Beverley Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction TV programmes. A month later, it was a British guitar legend that was taken from us. Bert Weedon was cited as an influence to Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Hank Marvin and many other guitarists who had seen his skills on TV on many programmes, both solo and as backing artist to the many American superstars who visited these shores.
In May, it was Disco that was to lose two of its biggest stars. First, Donna Summer, passed away, and it was 'hard' not to think of the many sexual experiences that she provided to young teenage boys in an age when sex was a natural, subtle selling point and not quite so orchestrated and commercial as it appears today.
Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, also joined his brother Maurice who had died in 2003, leaving only Barry to carry on the Bee Gees name.
Very little was said on the passing of Brian Hibbard in June. He was lead vocalist with the accapella group, The Flying Pickets, who hit the height of their fame with a Christmas cover of Yazoo's Only You. The Pickets were an incredibly talented vocal group, who managed to invigorate any song that they turned their minds to, and Welsh-born Brian, also become a notable character actor, appearing in episodes of Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Eastenders.
Another wonderful Welsh character actor from another era, also passed away in June, Victor Spinetti was a friend of the Beatles, and appeared in several of their films, but he became better known for his multiple TV appearances and for his role as "The Mad Jaffa Cake Eater" in countless TV commercials for the product in the 70s.
One of the greatest comedians of all time (in my opinion) passed away in July. Eric Sykes was a star of Film, TV and Radio; He had written and performed, as a comic actor, both on his own and with fellow comic legend Spike Milligan. Name any great comic that came from that era, and chances are they owed a debt to the comic writing skills of this great man. Frankie Howerd, Tommy Cooper, Morecambe and Wise, and many others, benefitted from his humour and timing skills. He was known for his thick rimmed glasses, which ironically concealed the fact that he was partially deaf, and had been fitted with a hearing aid.
The 16th July saw the loss of two giants at either end of the musical spectrum. Jon Lord, keyboardist with the mighty Deep Purple died following a bout with cancer, whilst the Queen Of Country Music, Kitty Wells died of a stroke at the age of 92. It was Kitty's first hit, ...Honky Tonk Angels that not only earned her the title of first woman to top the US Country charts, but it also earned the respect of Status Quo who used the song as the basis for their hit Wild Side Of Life.
July also saw the demise of veteran crooner Tony Martin, who had been lucky enough to be married to two screen goddesses, Alice Faye and Cyd Charisse, within his 98 years in this world.
August saw the loss of falsetto voiced singer Jimmy Jones, and also the composer and performer of one of the finest instrumentals, The Entertainer by Marvin Hamlisch. Also known as the theme tune to the hit movie The Sting, Hamlisch was well known for his music for films and shows, having also composed for The Way We Were, The Spy Who Loved Me, A Chorus Line, Ordinary People and Woody Allen's Bananas. The true entertainer Mr Max Bygraves also died this month. I had the pleasure of meeting Max in the 90s and found him to be a genuinely sincere and decent gentleman, of the 'old school' generation.
Legendary Darts commentator Syd Waddell, left the oche on August, as did the pub quiz's favourite one hit wonder, Scott McKenzie.
September brought the passing of two great songwriters, the force of nature that was Hal David, best known for his work with Burt Bacharach, and the not so well known Joe South, who is mainly remembered for the hit The Games People Play, but wrote many other songs for many other artists, by acts as diverse as Gene Vincent, The Osmonds, Kula Shaker and Deep Purple.
Newspaper personality Derek Jameson also 'snuffed it' in September, as did easy listening superstar Andy Williams. Andy's theme tune was Moon River, but ironically it was never released as a single. It did however became a number one UK hit for South African born Danny Williams (no relation).
Big Jim Sullivan appeared on no less than 55 UK Number One hit singles and over a thousand chart hits. He was constantly appearing on 70s TV shows, but older readers might remember him best as the presenter of the 'Teach Yourself Guitar' segment on the Bay City Rollers TV Show Shang A Lang. He also scored an episode of Gerry Anderson's Space 1999.
Not known for her musical talents, the world said 'adieu' to actress Sylvia Kristel, star of many of the Emmanuel series of films, and it was another beautiful woman (that shall remain nameless) who introduced me to the delights of jazz vocalist Terry Callier, who although remained virtually unknown in the UK, was a true legend, leaving behind an amazing body of work.
November had several fine actors leaving the stage for the last time, as Dad's Army's Clive Dunn (Corporal Jones), Coronation Street's Bill Tarmey (Jack Duckworth) and Dallas's Larry Hagman (J R Ewing) passed away in quick succession. Clive and Bill had both been known for their vocal talents off screen, but it was Larry's on-stage vocals that were played on news reports as his embarrassing fluffing of lines on the Royal Variety Performance in 1980 was endlessly repeated. To me however, Larry will be forever known and appreciated as Captain Tony Nelson, the man who turned down the amorous advances of Barbra Eden in I Dream Of Jeannie.
Folk musician Ian Campbell died from cancer at the end of November, and contemporary classical composer, Jonathan Harvey, finally left this world for the next after a long battle against motor-neuron disease. Jonathan was the best selling artist on my record label Sargasso, and the few opportunities I had to meet him were always a pleasure and an education. His philosophies on life and religion were always of great interest and this gentle and kind manner was a fine example of what all humans should strive towards.
Jazz supremo Dave Brubeck also failed to make it to 2013, and Boxing Day brought me news of two great influences in my life. Fontella Bass had recorded the best soul recording of all time with Rescue Me, a song that never failed to get my foot tapping and my heart pounding whenever I heard it. But it was the demise of Gerry Anderson that really bought my year to an apt closure. Creator of Thunderbirds, Stingray, Fireball XL5, Space 1999, UFO, Joe 90 and Terrahawks, this man had straddled my formative TV viewing years like a colossus, and it was his shows that fostered my love of Sci Fi that remains today.
 

Gerry Rafferty RIP

When Gerry Rafferty passed away at the beginning January this year (4th), it was only then that I realised the impact that he had had on me throughout the years.

Although his early years with the Humblebums had meant little to me, the other famous member of that eclectic group had an enourmous impact on my sense of humour. Without Gerry Raffertty there would have been no Humblebums, and without them, Billy Connolly would never have stepped up to the mike to reveal his unique brain to the world! It was only later whilst watching an interview with Connolly that I realised this.

Later in the 70s, again without realising, Rafferty had also had a landmark influence on my music taste as well!

In 1973, I wandered into my local branch of Rumbelows looking to buy my first single. I had heard 'Standing on The Inside' by Neil Sedaka, and was determined that my pocket money would go towards the purchase of that 7" piece of vinyl. However, as fate would have it, my nerves got the better of me, and once inside the shop, standing at the counter, with my handful of shiny new pence sweaty in my palms, I went into a panic and couldn't think of the single I wanted to buy! Looking frantically at the Top Singles chart pinned to the wall, I went for the similar sounding "Stuck In The Middle" by Stealer's Wheel.

In hindsight, that was the best mistake I ever made. Instead of the naff Neil Sedaka single that no-one now can remember, I can proudly claim that the first single I bought was the ultra-cool Stealer's Wheel track. A song that became cool all over again when, the master of cool, Quentin Tarantino used it in 'Pulp Fiction'.

I played that first single to death, and grew to like it very quickly, but failed to recognise the connection when years later, 'Baker Street' was being played everywhere, and driving me insane. It was only when the follow-up single "Days Gone Down" was released (and failed to chart) did I grow to love Gerry's music.

So here's my Memorial 2CD for Gerry Rafferty - better late than never...


CD1

01 - Blood And Glory - Humblebums
02 - Please Sing A Song For Us - Humblebums
03 - Shoeshine Boy (0) - Humblebums
04 - Steamboat Row - Humblebums
05 - Can I Have My Money Back (0)
06 - Mary Skeffington
07 - New Street Blues
08 - Sign On The Dotted Line
09 - Late Again (0) - Stealer's Wheel
10 - Who Cares - Stealer's Wheel
11 - Stuck In The Middle With You (8) - Stealer's Wheel
12 - Everyone's Agreed That Everything Will Turn Out Fine (33) - Stealer's Wheel
13 - Star (25) - Stealer's Wheel
14 - Right Or Wrong (0) - Stealer's Wheel
15 - Home And Dry
16 - Right Down The Line (0)
17 - Baker Street (3)
18 - Days Gone Down (0)
19 - Family Tree
20 - The Way That You Do It

CD2

1 - Why Won't You Talk To Me
2 - Night Owl (5)
3 - Get It Right Next Time (30)
4 - Garden Of England
5 - Bring It All Home (54)
6 - Royal Mile (67)
7 - As Wise As A Serpent
8 - Sleepwalking
9 - The Right Moment
10 - Letter From America (3) - Proclaimers
11 - A Dangerous Age
12 - Shipyard Town
13 - Tired Of Talking
14 - Don't Speak Of My Heart
15 - Over My Head
16 - Keep It To yourself (0)

Gary Moore RIP

Gary Moore passed away on Sunday 6th of February 2011 in his sleep of a heart attack while on holiday in Spain. Moore, who was 58, started out in Irish band Skid Row (not to be confused with the later named HM band) before collaborating with Thin Lizzy and forming a strong friendship with frontman Phil Lynott (who died in 1986 after battling alcohol and drug addiction).

Belfast-born Moore started learning the guitar at eight and went on to forge a prolific solo career after his stints with Thin Lizzy, pairing up with some of the greatest names in blues and rock music. He helped create several bands (Colloseum II, G-Force and BBM) but inevitably always returned to his solo career.

Never a compulsary purchase, his albums were nonetheless always diverse and interesting, and he bacame like an old friend that you didn't see so often, but when you did, he provided a comforting and enjoyable familiarity.

Here's my 2CD compilation for Gary

CD 1

1. Skid Row - Mad Dog Woman (1970)
2. The Energy Dance (1973)
3. Thin Lizzy - Still In Love With You (1974)
4. Colloseum II - Secret Places (1976)
5. Greg Lake - C'est la Vie (1977)
6. Thin Lizzy - Waiting For An Alibi (9 in 1979)
7. Parisienne Walkways (8 in 1979) with Phil Lynott
8. Thin Lizzy - Do Anything You Want To Do (14 in 1979)
9. Thin Lizzy - Sarah (24 in 1979)
10. Greedies - A Merry Jingle (28 in 1979)
11. G Force - You (1980)
12. Hold On To Love (65 in 1984)
13. Empty Rooms (23 in 1984)
14. Out In The Fields (5 in 1985) with Phil Lynott
15. Over The Hills And Far Away (20 in 1986)
16. Wild Frontier (35 in 1987)
17. Friday On My Mind (26 in 1987)

CD 2

1. Loner (53 in 1987)
2. Don Airey - Song For Al (1988)
3. After The War (37 in 1989)
4. Ready For Love (56 in 1989)
5. Oh Pretty Woman (48 in 1990) with Albert King
6. Still Got The Blues (For You) (31 in 1990)
7. Walking By Myself (48 in 1990)
8. Too Tired (71 in 1990)
9. Cold Day In Hell (24 in 1992)
10. Story Of The Blues (40 in 1992)
11. Since I Met You Baby (59 in 1992) with BB King
12. Seperate Ways (59 in 1992)
13. Parisienne Walkways (Live) (32 in 1993)
14. BBM - Where In The World (57 in 1994)
15. Need Your Love So Bad (48 in 1995)
16. When The Sun Goes Down (2002)
17. Power Of The Blues (2004)

Ronnie James Dio RIP

Another victim of cancer, Ronnie James Dio died on 16th May at the age of 67.

Most reports have concentrated on his stint as lead singer with Black Sabbath, replacing Ozzy Osbourne in 1979, but he came to my attention previous to that on a totally different sounding track.

Roger Glover had just put together his concept album, The Butterfly Ball in 1974 and it was the lead single from this album "Love Is All" that, although failed to chart in the UK, became a number one in Holland and launched Ronnie's career worldwide.

It was a career that had taken quite some time to get going, his first recording being released in the 1950s as a trumpet player with Ronnie and the Redcaps. He then progressed through several bands until, whilst supporting Deep Purple, he came to the attention of Ritchie Blackmore.

Ritchie left Purple and formed his own group with Ronnie and the rest of his band. Rainbow were to become one of the biggest rock acts around. In 1976 Dio came to my attention again, with what is still one of my favourite rock tracks of all time, from the 'Rising' album "Do You Close Your Eyes' is a masterpiece in classic rock composing, and set the standard for the rest of the album.

The following album, 'Long Live Rock 'n' Roll' started to generate hit singles, and it was then that Ronnie decided to move on. His relatively short stint with Sabbath was followed in 1982 by the formation of his own band Dio. Their first album was a top 20 hit in the UK and spawned a single from the title track (a song that was covered in 1998 by Pat Boone, of all people, in a 'swing' style with Ronnie on backing vocals - a unique performance!!!).

Ronnie continued with Dio and to collaborate with other artists, including another stint with Black Sabbath, until his death last week. His last project was a tour promoting a new album for his other band Heaven And Hell which he formed in 2006 with ex-members of Sabbath, which was recently cancelled due to Ronnie's ill health.

Here's my 2CD compilation for Ronnie;-

CD1

1. Ronnie & The Redcaps - Conquest

2. Ronnie & The Prophets - Love Potion No.9

3. Electric Elves - Hey Look Me Over

4. Elves - Amber Velvet

5. Elf - I'm Coming Back To You

6. Elf - Carolina County Ball

7. Roger Glover & Friends - Love Is All

8. Rainbow - Man On A Silver Mountain

9. Rainbow - Do You Close Your Eyes?

10. Rainbow - Kill The King (Live)

11. Rainbow - Long Live Rock'n' Roll

12. Rainbow - L. A. Connection

13. David Coverdale - Give Me Kindness

14. Black Sabbath - Neon Knights

15. Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell

16. Black Sabbath - Die Young

17. Black Sabbath - Mob Rules

18. Black Sabbath - Turn up the Night

19. Ronnie James Dio - Budweiser TV Ad

CD 2

1. Dio - Holy Diver

2. Dio - The Last In Line

3. Dio - Mystery

4. Dio - Hungry For Heaven

5. Hear'n Aid - Stars

6. Dio - I Could Have been A Dreamer

7. Dio - Hey Angel

8. Black Sabbath - TV Crimes

9. Dio - This Is Your Life

10. Pat Boone - Holy Diver

11. Ronnie James Dio & Yngwie Mamlmsteen - Dream On

12. Dio - Master Of The Moon

13. Queensryche - The Chase

14. Girlschool - I Spy

15. Heaven & Hell - Bible Black

Malcolm McLaren RIP

Malcolm McLaren died earlier this month on the 8th April 2010 of progressive cancer.

The term that instantly sprung to mind when I heard the news was that of "impresario". It is a term that only a very few can legitimately use, but I think it certainly fits this individual. His creativity changed ideas for more artists than can be listed here. From fashion, design, image and music, his influence affected hundreds, and although his methods sometimes made unpopular amongst those he worked with, he will still be dearly missed.

Whenever someone of Malcolm's influence passes away, I wade through my music collection and create an 'ideal' memorial album. From my own experiences of compiling legal compilations, I know how difficult it can be licensing this type of compilation, but the joy I get from making these has never left me, so I still feel the need to create these albums, even if no record companies are interested in them anymore.

So for your interest (and mine), here's my 2CD set for McLaren...

CD1

1. TV Show extract.
2. New York Dolls - (There's Gonna Be A) Showdown
3. Richard Hell & the Voidoids - Blank Generation
4. Television - Prove It
5. Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen
6. Malcolm McLaren - God Save The Queeen Symphony
7. Sex Pistols - The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle
8. Malcolm McLaren - You Need Hands
9. Adam & the Ants - Lady
10. Bow Wow Wow - C30 C60 C90 Go!
11. Bow Wow Wow - Go Wild In The Country
12. Malcolm McLaren - Buffalo Gals
13. Malcolm McLaren - Soweto
14. Jimmy The Hoover - Tantalise (Wo Wo Ee Yeh Yeh)
15. Malcolm McLaren - Double Dutch
16. Malcolm McLaren - Duck For The Oyster

CD2

1. Malcolm McLaren - Madame Butterfly
2. Malcolm McLaren - Waltz Darling
3. Malcolm McLaren - Aria On Air (from the British Airways Ad)
4. Malcolm McLaren ft Lisa Marie - Something's Jumpin' In Your Shirt
5. Malcolm McLaren - House Of The Blue Danube
6. Malcolm McLaren - Magic's Back (from 'The Ghost Of Oxford Street')
7. Fantastic Planet - Carry On Columbus
8. Malcolm McLaren - About Her (from 'Kill Bill Vol. 2')
9. Malcolm McLaren & Catherine Deneuve - Paris
10. Amerie ft Malcolm McLaren - Some Like It (Remix)
11. Liz Phair - Whip/Smart
12. Eminem - Without Me
13. Mariah Carey - Honey
14. Nelly Furtado - Powerless