UKSounds.com Blog by Rod Mocker Thanks for them there Allman boys
Is this referring to Jessica?
UKSounds.com Blog by JohnnyBoy RIP
Yeah. I'm playing something on the next show. Just as a tribute to his musical contribution. Love it or hate it, you have to admire what he did in the early 80s.
I can't see what all the fuss is about. I know he did some good stuff over the years but people are describing as a 'musical genious'. He wasn't. He was a great singer and a great dancer. Did he actually write any of his stuff? I don't wish an early death on anyone, but I really don't think all this outpouring of emotion is warranted.
Well I guess it depends on your perspective. He was a part of many people's lives and as Russ said you have to admire his success even if his music wasn't your thing
UKSounds.com Blog by Nigel (Plans for) I was talking to a mate the other night in the pub. We were originally discussing Glasvegas, but the conversation moved on to ridiculous band names. So here's our list. The Goo Goo Dolls The The Mister Mister Duran Duran Limp Bizkit Chumbawumba Amazing Blondel Spooky Tooth Mott The Hoople Any more?
The Osmonds? From where did they get the idea for that crazy name?
Dumpys Rusty Nuts
You leave my nuts out of this.
UKSounds.com Blog by Billy Porter So who was it? And why? Forgetting the old joke that Ringo wasn't the best drummer in the world, (punchline = Ringo wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles), he actually wasn't a bad drummer at all. But unless you're Buddy Rich or Carl Palmer or Cozy Powell, you're never going to get much respect as a drummer, no matter how good you are, so poor old Ringo is out of the reckoning before we even begin. Even penning Octupus' Garden can't save him. How about John? Well it's undeniable that he created some timeless classics that changed the face of music, but just how good was he? If John Lennon hadn't been around when he was and in the position that he was to create it, would similar music have never been written? Would no-one else have ever thought of playing tapes backwards and writing senseless songs about fields of Strawberries? And what did he do of note since the Beatles disbanded? Imagine? I often think had Barry Manilow had written Imagine, it would have been berated with a deserved amount of venom. Double Fantasy was a collection of sappy songs to Yoko, which frankly was a waste of vinyl and wouldn't have gained a second listen (let alone a few hit singles) if Mark David Chapman hadn't produced his party piece shortly after its release. Paul? There's no denying that he was less experimental than Lennon and tended to write more conventional songs. Hey Jude and Let it Be still stand strong today, but what about his solo work after the breakup? Can any McCartney fan honestly hold their hand over their heart and declare that McCartney has produced a classic album since the breakup? Some highlights yes, but a classic album where every track is a gem hasn't happened in 40 years. And some of it has been utter crap. And finally George; the dark horse. He was given the odd token song on various albums, but no-one really took notice until "Something" was released as a Beatles single. By this time it was too late, the Beatles were in their final throes as a musical force. His ambitious triple album All Things Must Pass had highlights again, but then what? A few forgettable albums and My Sweet Lord at number one twice. So who is the best Beatle? Well the bottom line is there isn't one. It's impossible to define and it really doesn't matter. Now if you were to ask who was the best band - ever - then there's abosolutley no question. No question whatsoever. It was the Beatles of course.
I agree that someone would probably have done what the Beatles did eventually, but it's irrelevant isn't it? They were the the right band in the right place at the right time and what they did was exactly right. The rest doesn't really matter.
Regarding John and whether someone else would have played tapes backwards and sung about fields of strawberries or not etc…Well they might have done but they still wouldn’t have been John Lennon…John Lennon was a unique artist… If you study his music, apart from the obvious rock ‘n roll stuff, he was always telling people about how he was feeling at the time…and that carried on after the Beatles…That was John expressing himself…that’s what he did…His first album after The Beatles (John Lennon Plastic Ono Band) is pure John Lennon telling it like it is… Regarding his output after The Beatles…Have you ever listened to Walls and Bridges…Mind Games…I think there’s some good stuff on there. And Double Fantasy…he was telling Yoko how he felt…I don’t think you can write off …‘I’m Losing You’…’Watching the Wheels’…and ‘Woman’… Paul did a lot of great Beatles stuff…and after Beatles I think Red Rose Speedway/Band on the Run/and Flaming Pie were damn good albums that could stand up on their own. Personally I think Paul was a fantastic melody writer and John was an artist expressing himself through music and together they inspired each other to greater things. George…I don’t think he ever got the attention he deserved…he did some excellent songs and was a good songwriter but competing with John and Paul he was always going to be in third place… Yea…The Beatles…Greater than the sum of their parts…that’s absolutely true…Even if you don’t particularly like their stuff I don’t think anyone can deny their unique influence upon the world of music…and they still command attention today…there’s many a young band admitted their appreciation of them and to being influenced by them… The best Beatle..? It’s personal taste…
Very personal! For me, though? John. Always John. Johns phone rings in the middle of the night... "Hello?" "John? Its Paul. I just heard Imagine. A little schmaltzy, I think, but a nice number" "Thanks Paul. Whats this I hear about frogs?"
LOL
UKSounds.com Blog by 57Chevy I don't know about you but I've always wondered about the term the 'Third World'. If there's a Third World, there must be a 1st and 2nd World too maybe or even a 4th. And through the wonders of the internet I found this info that explains it all : The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned or neutral with either capitalism and NATO (which along with its allies represented the First World) or communism and the Soviet Union (which along with its allies represented the Second World). This definition provided a way of broadly categorizing the nations of the Earth into three groups based on social, political, and economic divisions. Although the term continues to be used colloquially to describe the poorest countries in the world, this usage is widely disparaged since the term no longer holds any verifiable meaning after the fall of the Soviet Union deprecated the terms First World and Second World. While there is no identical contemporary replacement, common alternatives include developing world and Global South. French economist and demographer Alfred Sauvy, in an article published in the French magazine L'Observateur, August 14, 1952, coined the term Third World, referring to countries particularly in South Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Oceania, that were unaligned with either the Communist Soviet bloc or the Capitalist NATO bloc during the Cold War. His usage was a reference to the Third Estate, the commoners of France who, before and during the French Revolution, opposed priests and nobles who composed the First Estate and Second Estate. Sauvy wrote, "Like the third estate, the Third World has nothing, and wants to be something," He conveyed the concept of political non-alignment with either the capitalist or communist bloc.
That's amazing! I've often wondered what it was that French economist and demographer Alfred Sauvy did.
Even though it's nothing to do with music, it's actually quite interesting. I too had always wondered how the term came about, I just never realised it. :)
Yea...Thanks...I believe Alfred Sauvy wrote the French version of 'Happy Birthday' niece too...and there's the link !!
UKSounds.com Blog by roger ...and Elvis, of course, is very much alive. As is Jim Morrison. Bob Holness played that excellent sax solo on Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street and Rod Stewart played the harmonica on My Boy Lollipop. Mama Cass choked on a ham sandwich (or is she also still alive?) David Bowie invented Connect 4. Any more?
Micheal Jackson owns the Beatles songs?
I think he does doesn't he?
I know he did own them, well at least most of them. But didn't he have to sell them after being found out molesting children?
I saw Stuart Maconie on have I got news for you a couple of weeks ago. He said he started the Bob Holness sax and Bowie connect rumours. To my eternal shame I believed the Bob Holness myth for many years :)
Me too :-)
UKSounds.com Blog by Mick Giles I was listening to a certain radio show on a certain music web site when a certain presenter commented about his dislike of big Arena gigs. I do concur, and I too no longer frequent these obnoxious and futile gatherings. If you as much as rise from your seat to dance (or more likely headbang) the yellow coats appear out of the blue and commence a reading of the riot act, and it’s now reached the stage where they won’t even issue pass outs, so if you leave in the middle of the show (for a smoke or a big mac or a hooker for example), that’s yer lot mate – you ain’t coming back in. Still, the last arena gig I attended a couple of years ago did a little to restore my faith in human nature. The smoking ban had just come into force at the time and it was with pure delight that I found myself surrounded by a bunch of hard nosed scousers who were not only smoking, but blatantly smoking illegal substances. And very nice it smelled too. There IS still hope!
This is encouraging news! :-)
I spose it depends who ur seeing. Ive spent many happy hours puttinf up with all sorts of inconveniences, such as being knee deep in mud in places like glastonbury watching some brillinat bands. If the bands worth it who cares if you can't go out for a smoke or a big mac?
You mean they don't allow you outside at Glastonbuy? :)
I believe they make an exception for a hooker :-)
They allow hookers out of Glastonbury? Actually it must be true because the last time I was there I couldn't find one for love nor money. :-)
Don't you mean you couldn't find love FOR money?
Something like that. They should seriously consider holding these festivals at a few down market places. Blackpool would be ideal.
Blackpool would be an ideal location if rather than being knee deep in mud you prefer to be knee deep in used condoms and spew.
Blackpool hosts a Punk festival now and then. And its all very nicely done with folks retiring to hotels with proper beds showers and toilets. Much more my thing these days, I reckon!
It kind of defeats the object of a punk festival really though doesn't it?
UKSounds.com Blog by USASoundsDan Hi. I'm Dan, and I do the USASounds Radio show here. As I say often on my show, I live in San Jose, Costa Rica now. I was born and raised in northern California, first in Sunnyvale for 9 years then what seemed like almost forever in Roseville, near Sacramento. Over the course of my life I was always interested in music and got my parents to buy me a cheap guitar back around 1960. I taught myself to play with the help of a book of chord diagrams. A few years later I talked my parents into buying me an electric guitar ($50) which turned out to be a nice sturdy instrument to learn on. I started playing in rock bands in high. I had a few non-music jobs between 1970 and 1984 but it was as a working musician that I made my living. I never 'made it big' or had a record out, but I was able to avoid a real job until I was well over 30. When I finally settled down I worked for about 15 years as a computer programmer/analyst, as well as playing part time when the opportunity arose. I moved to Costa Rica in 2004 and enjoy the climate and nightlife, if not the local cuisine. I've known Russ the DJ for over 10 years now, and he talked me into trying to do a show. There may be a ton of better DJs in this world, but NONE play music I like better. The goal of my show is to play music I like that hasn't been played to death on the raido and/or jukeboxes. I hope some of the listeners will hear a few things and go 'wow, I need to check that out a little closer.' And it's also a nice non stressful hobby. Email me!
Nice show Dan
UKSounds.com Blog by Billy Porter It was difficult not to notice when first visiting this site that there was the almost inevitable swipe at programs like the X Factor/Pop Idol/American Idol. They are easy targets aren't they? I often wonder if it's snobbery or jealousy that causes people to react this way to this form of entertainment - for it is surely one of these. Before I continue, I must point out that I am not a fan of these programs. Frankly I would rather switch off the television and listen to some old scratched vinyl, but that is the case for almost all TV output, not just “talent” discovery shows. But what concerns me is why people feel the need to constantly berate them? I agree that from the little I have seen of them, they are extremely unlikely to unearth a new Clapton or Bowie or Lennon. I also agree that any winners of these programs are likely to remain in the limelight for a few months and then disappear without trace. But isn’t that the point? The reason they disappear without trace is due to their lack of appeal. There are literally millions of wannabe famous/rich/adored “Oh yeah Baby” singers out there all clamouring for a little limelight. If they’re special, they will survive; if not they’ll soon be forgotten. So everyone’s happy. The “singers” have their 15 minutes of fame on national TV, the screaming audience have themselves a good night out, Simon Cowell makes a few more grand, the TV companies sell lots of commercials and we don’t have to endure the winners for too long. In fact there’s a really simple way of not having to endure the winners at all. Just press the “off” switch on your remote control.
Or simply don't switch it on in the first place :-)
I agree that berating these kind of programs shouldn't be an automatic, knee jerk reaction. It should be approached calmly and with much contemplation. Then, after a short period of reflection, as much hate and venom as is humanly possible should be should be forcibly directed at these programs and all who sail in them :-)
LOL
18.5 Million Viewers that "Britain's got talent" got the other day. That's almost a third of the population. Amazing.
Why Amazing? It's simple effortless entertainment for simple.... Well you know.
it strikes me that this plce is full of a bunch of fucking toffee nosed snobs
I'm guessing that this is where this thread ends?
No
Just because somethings popular doesn't mean it's crap...I mean bread for instance...it's popular and I love it man... I wonder what people watch when they don't watch these popular shows...unpopular shows..? Cricket..? Who knows...
Hey Chevy57 (whoever you are)... Be careful what you say about cricket :-)
The same applies to 57Chevy too.
I think you can generalise in the case of entertainment though. It's not always the case I agree, but generally if it doesn't really require much effort to appraciate something (i.e. crap), it's usually popular.
UKSounds.com Blog by Russ Walton Presenting a Radio Show for anyone is a great privilege, but doing one for these guys is an absolute treat. We live in an age where almost everything is driven by the need to sell, sell, sell and make as much money as is absolutely possible. The vast majority of Radio Stations these days only exist to sell commercials and the only way they can do that is by gaining a huge audience - and the only way they can do that is by playing what popular culture demands. Which is inevitably mindless crap. So I was a little wary when the UKSounds guys asked me to present a Radio Show for a brand new website. The last thing I needed was a computer telling me what to play and when I should play it. “No”, they assured me, “that’s not the case here”. I was intrigued. Of course there still remain last bastions of resistance against mass market radio here in the UK. On National Radio, the wonderful Bob Harris still plays a wonderful mix of new/old/classic/obscure/folk/country/rock on his brilliant Saturday night/Sunday morning show on Radio 2. Radcliffe & Macconie - also on Radio 2 - serve up a glorious couple of hours of wit, wisdom and fine music four nights a week. And who can forget that Wonder of the World that was John Peel? The master of playing exactly what he wanted, but still having a huge influence on the UK music scene. Let’s not forget Johnnie Walker too. In the days when it was only acceptable for daytime radio to play top 40 chart music, he rebelled and introduced the likes of Steely Dan, The Eagles and even Cockney Rebel to an unsuspecting but truly grateful UK audience. When he was offered a new contract only on the condition that he stuck to playing top 40 music, he politely declined, and in doing so gave up a prestigious daytime radio show on the nation’s most listened to station. What a guy. “You can play what you like”, they said. “What, even such as Tubular Bells in its entirety?” I asked. “Perfect” they replied “We bet no-one’s done that since 1973”. This all sounded too good to be true. And indeed it was good and it was very true. So, though I won’t claim to be in the same league as my aforementioned radio heroes, I do think you’ll hear a unique mix of music for three hours every week. You won’t like everything of course, but I hope there’ll be a few pleasant surprises in there for you. And I also hope you’ll contribute too! When we’ve got past those awkward first couple of shows, absolutely anything can happen – and I sincerely hope that you will be involved in making “anything” happen! I’ll be watching my mail with interest. There was another advantage to working with these guys that attracted me. While we were preparing for launch, I got to write the first blog!
Nice show but you didn't mention Roger Scott!
Yes Johnny this is very true. But I am planning a Roger Scott mini feature in a few weeks time, so keep listening out.
Apart from the show, which by the way is a 'reet cracker' ; one of the things I've always wanted to know is 'How many beans make five'...you know 'cause some people say "that guy there...he's Ok...he knows how many beans make five"...well is it 1 bean+ 2 beans+1/2 a bean+1 1/2 beans...? I've never bean sure :-)...
See, this is the kind of material I need for these shows. I'm a busy man you understand. Currently the Twenty/20 World Cup is happening here and then in early July the REAL stuff begins when the Aussies arrive for the Ashes. If it wasn't for such wonderful contributions such as this, I'd have to spend countless hours doing heavy research in an attempt to make a 3 hour show vaguely interesting, and I'd never get chance to watch any of this wonderful and completely misunderstood game. Respect Man!