The music I've chosen for your delectation this month is Breaks Co-op They're a New Zealand band, actually they're my brother's band. Are they not brilliant?
I'm all about the sheer brilliance of Elton John at the moment. His melodies are genius, and his music still takes me places that are special to me. My favourite Elton songs? Philadelphia Freedom, Tiny Dancer, Border Song, Sweet Painted Lady......the list could go on, but I won't let it.
If you want to know a bit about where to find great music, look to
Graham Reid . He is an eminent journalist and his website is great.He has very kindly placed samples from albums that deserve, as he says "your attention but have been passed over by mainstream newspapers and magazines." I agree.And even more helpfully, you can buy the albums contained on that webpage.It's a great, great resource.........
Music is about memories, isn't it? Such a sensory thing. I know what year it was by the music that I was listening to. Nostalgia is a big motivator for me. Childhood was about Herb Alpert and Glen Campbell. Then as I got older, Elton John, my first true, and only abiding, love. Rod Stewart made a minor play for my affections when I was 14, but it wasn't an enduring love. The 70's were The Four Seasons and Chicago mainly, I think. JJ Cale et al.And then disco took over. Elton was always there (I even bought Johnny B Good. I'm dedicated, I told you). Captain Hook were a favourite, ELO,Commodores,Jackson Browne, Supertramp,the Doobie Bros,KC and the Sunshine Band,Kool & and the Gang,Little River Band, Andrew Gold.....
My twenties (and the 80's) were first and foremost Elton John, of course, followed by Mike and the Mechanics,Bruce Hornsby,Al Stewart, Huey Lewis and the News,Stephen Bishop,Aretha Franklin,Bette Midler,Earth Wind and Fire, Foreigner,George Benson,Style Council, disco of any shape or form,Pet Shop Boys, Simply Red, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, Ultravoxx - need I go on? Can you tell my seminal years were the 80's? Oh, and did I mention Elton John
In my thirties, I discovered that I loved jazz. Instrumental largely. Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck, you know the sort of thing. In my forties, suddenly things have happened to my musical tastes. They have broadened, and now I get excited by new stuff. Stuff that may be old, but I never knew about. Stuff that other people discovered for themselves 5 or 10 years ago, but that was new to me. Alot of music I was introduced to by my brother
Hamish Clark He has a very eclectic music collection.And it was thanks to him that my mind was opened up to artists like Ludovico Einaudi,Buena Vista Social Club, Carlos Santana, Confucius, The Kings of Convenience, Lemon Jelly,
Mark de Clive Lowe ,
Nathan Haines ,
Phoenix Foundation ,
Sola Rosa ,Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, Bill Withers, Jamiroquai, Nightmares on Wax,Jose Gonzalez, Ray LaMontagne, and more.
And so to myspace. There are a lot of talented people out there. These are the ones that I particularly like, and that I recommend you look into.
one million dollars ,
Gianmarco Liguori ,
Little Glitches ,
Eska ,
Cities of Foam ,
JT ,
Sam Sallon and
Rallentando . Click on the links, listen, and purchase. Isn't that the joy of myspace?.Do it.
Check out some Kiwi TV courtesy of Television New Zealand. Brilliant!