Other News

The cover version is arguably a product of recent times. In the past there were songwriters and performers. With the advent of bands and singers writing their own material, the cover version became more explicit.

Forgive a cliché, but musician. political exile and government minister Gilberto Gil's life certainly throws some light on Brazilian culture and politics from the 1960s. Musically he is a mix of Samba and wider African and Caribbean beats as well as Rock Music (he likes punk as well). Andar com fé (walk with faith) is one of his most popular songs.

Dance away the heartache.

Let Eugene Record, lead singer and songwriter of the Chi-Lites, tell you a story. And then just listen to those harmonies.

'Sunday Girl' may not be Blondie's best song ('The Tide is High' anyone even if it isn't theirs?) but it's from their heyday and still sounds good (there's a French version as well).

Your Song of the Week editor saw them live in Leicester when Debbie Harry came on stage and uttered the opening line "hello Manchester".

There is much to be said about Wagner but whatever you think he is one of the few artists who can confidently claim to have changed an art form; in his case, opera.

The Flying Dutchman has been doomed to an eternity of wandering the seas. Once every seven years, he is able to leave the ship to search for a woman whose perfect love will redeem him. Senta perhaps?

Popular music is full of bad luck stories but Badfinger's takes some beating. Not that they weren't without some success, which makes for the saddest stories of all.

There is a lot of construction, renovation and general moving of stuff going on around the University and City just now.

Now, no doubt it is all being done with 100% efficiency, but just in case here is the definitive 'work not getting done' tribute. Incidentally the song was recorded in the same studio where, a few months later, the Beatles changed the face of popular music.

As you will have read above (we hope), James Sparks will be talking about Bach's Goldberg Variations at the Spitalfields Music Festival. James says of Glenn Gould's interpretation. 

"Variations 3n+2 are all of this type (n=1,2,..,9) - two melodies, fast, one in each hand, with crossing of melodies/hands in every conceivable way you can imagine!"

Disco (or D-I-S-C-O as the song has it) has its critics. Music for people who don't like music being one barb. However, nothing beats a good hook and More, More, More more than delivers.

With the summer party on the horizon, let Chuck get you in the party mood. There are one-hit wonders and no-hit wonders and Chuck might just fall in to the latter category though this song has cult status among the Northern Soulters and has been covered by the likes of Dexy's Midnight Runners.