Jul 5: 1977

Another great year for music.

February saw the release of Jethro Tull's 'Songs from the Wood' - perhaps their most complete album and which had the connections back to the land...

This is one of the albums I used to get out of the library in Rotherham and take home in large cardboard carriers on the bus before playing on my parents' Dynatron music centre before I got my own separates sound system from Richer Sounds.

Doing a bit of research I found it was the Dynatron "Norfolk" (MC1010CR) music centre with Garrard 35-SB turntable, manufactured in Cambridge, England.

Pink Floyd's 'Animals' was also released in this year. This was one of their more memorable albums.

Peter Gabriel 1: Car - a classic cover from Hipgnosis as well.

Talking Heads 77 - I was fortunate to see David Byrne earlier this year, and it was a superb theatrical performance.

What are your favourite albums from 1977?

Jul 5 - For the Record - Episode 5

I've mentioned this web series before. It's produced by the Cosmic Shambles Network, and presented by Charlotte Ritchie. 

It promises to tell the history of music. Early reviews have been very positive. 

I'll post links to the episodes here to increase exposure.

Part Five: Yesterdays We examine the role of religion in music and the rise of two of the major influences of western music, opera and classical music. We look at how classical music differs from region to region, from Europe to China to Africa and how it’s changed over time. We explore how deaf people enjoy music and it’s influence on film music and Bugs Bunny is also up for discussion… Interviewees include: Shirley J Thompson, Jess Hitchcock and Neil Brand

This series is an entirely independent production made possible by fan support on Patreon and Substack. 

Episode 5 is here:

Episode 6 coming up next 

I will post a review of the series when I've had the chance to watch and also add links to the episodes.

Jul 5: A-Ha

It's now forty years since A-Ha released the single Take on Me, with its innovative video...

In 2022 the band A-Ha released their album 'True North'. The band is Norwegian, but the cover looked more like Iceland to me - the Reynisfjara area, but it didn't look quite right.

Wikipedia says that the album artwork actually shows an image from a legendary remote surfing bay in Lofoten, an island group close to and accessed by ferry from Bodø, where the album was recorded. The location of the bay is called Unstad.

Here's the video for the song.

Back in the 90s, the 12" version of their single 'Manhattan Skyline' was regularly played by me too.

Jul 4: The Return of the Durutti Column

I had several Durutti Column albums back in the day, including one on cassette packaged in a box with sandpaper on it... released by Factory Records.

This had some nice music with guitar from Vini Reilly and delay to produce a Philip Glass / Oldfield style vibe.

Now, they are back with a new album to celebrate Vini's 70th birthday and the first single came out in June called 'Liars'.

Here's the 2nd single: 'Scammer'.

Jul 4 - For the Record - Episode 4

I've mentioned this web series before. It's produced by the Cosmic Shambles Network, and presented by Charlotte Ritchie. 

It promises to tell the history of music. Early reviews have been very positive. 

I'll post links to the episodes here to increase exposure.

Part Four: Build This Love

Using pianos and guitars as a case study we explore the evolution of musical instruments from ancient times to modern electronic devices. We then start to explore how we send music out in the world via the invention of sheet music and eventually recording and distribution systems like records and radios. Finally we make our own gramophone with a pin and a cone.

Part Four includes exclusive interviews, rare archive and performances from Ian Rankin, Mark Miodownik, Sophie Galpin, Robin Ince, Jon Batiste, Steve Pretty, Marina Frolova-Walker, Gabriele Rossi Rognoni, Richard Walley, Beaty Rubens and more.

This series is an entirely independent production made possible by fan support on Patreon and Substack. 

Episode 4 is here:

Episode 5 coming up next 

I will post a review of the series when I've had the chance to watch and also add links to the episodes.

Jul 4: 1976

1976 saw the arrival of another few classic albums. Blondie was in the charts a lot at the time - I was in Secondary school by now... and a half century has passed since... 

Genesis released 'A Trick of the Tail', another album since Peter Gabriel's departure.

Perhaps the best album released this year is now a classic, but I didn't encounter it for another 20 years at least....

2026 is the 50th anniversary of its release.

Bright Size Life is the name of the album: a trio recording, and the debut for Pat Metheny - at the age of just 21.

The album features Pat Metheny of course, plus Jaco Pastorius on bass and Bob Moses on drums. It was released by ECM Records. Details are here.

Here's the title track:

Meanwhile, there was another album which kick started a long career. This time in electronic music.

Jean Michel Jarre released 'Oxygene': a classic.

Rush released 2112, which really sent their career into overdrive too... I remember listening to this album when still at school, so that must have been a few years after it was released....

The summer of 1976 saw the heatwave which is still referred to to this day.

I remember it well.

I am currently reading this book, which is a social and cultural history of the months from May to July of 1976. 

One of the sections is about music.

I was also pleased to see that when I opened the book, a Spotify playlist had been created for it.

What are your favourite albums from 1976 with its long hot summer?

Jul 4: Aimee Mann

"So that's today's memory lane
With all the pathos and pain
Another chapter in a book where the chapters are endless
And they're always the same
A verse, and a verse, and refrain..."

This is a track from Aimee's first solo album from back in 1995, and the song that introduced me to her music as I mentioned earlier in the year.

It's also a song with a date as a title.

Several more of these feature in my Everyday Geographies playlist.

Jul 3: 1975 - 'Ommadawn' and the rest

In November 1975, Mike Oldfield's third (and best) album was released: Ommadawn.

Here's a short documentary on the making of the album, which featured a much larger group of musicians than for his first two albums. They included Pierre Moerlen, who he would work with quite a lot in years to come.

The cover image was shot by David Bailey and there were some additional images of Mike in the same session which are great shots of him at that time.

And here's a performance from Knebworth Festival, with the band I saw in 1980 when I saw Mike play, in the same t-shirt... some improvisational differences, but I still remember it very well....

Coincidentally it was released on vinyl in June as a limited edition release.

Here's the details of the rereleased album:

Mike Oldfield’s appearance at Knebworth on June 21st 1980 marked a significant moment in his career, representing one of his rare large-scale live performances during this period. The concert was part of a major outdoor festival that also featured other notable acts of the era, including the Beach Boys and Santana. For Oldfield, who was known for being somewhat reclusive and uncomfortable with live performances, taking the stage at such a massive venue was particularly noteworthy. The event drew tens of thousands of fans to the historic Hertfordshire estate, which had become one of Britain’s premier outdoor concert venues during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The performance showcased material from Oldfield’s extensive catalogue, with particular emphasis on his ground-breaking multi-instrumental compositions. His stage setup required substantial technical coordination, as Oldfield was known for playing numerous instruments himself during live shows, seamlessly transitioning between guitars, keyboards, and other instruments. The live interpretation of his work demanded both musical virtuosity and careful orchestration, as many of his studio recordings featured extensive overdubbing and layered instrumentation that had to be recreated in a live setting.

The Knebworth concert came during an interesting phase of Oldfield’s career, following the enormous success of Tubular Bells and subsequent albums like Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn, and Incantations. By 1980, he had established himself as a pioneering figure in progressive rock and instrumental music, though he remained an enigmatic presence who gave relatively few interviews and live performances compared to his contemporaries. The scale of Knebworth represented both an opportunity and a challenge for an artist who preferred the controlled environment of the studio.

The event itself has become part of Knebworth’s storied history as a concert venue, joining the ranks of memorable performances by major rock acts of the period. For fans of Oldfield’s work, the concert represented a rare opportunity to witness his complex compositions performed live with full production values. While Oldfield would continue to perform sporadically throughout his career, his Knebworth appearance remains a notable milestone in demonstrating his willingness to share his innovative musical vision with large audiences despite his well-documented discomfort with the spotlight.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

1975 also saw Camel release 'The Snow Goose' based on the book by Paul Gallico. 

This has some good moments.

The string arrangements were by David Bedford, who also worked with Mike Oldfield.

For Dylan Jones, this was one of the most important years for music. I've been reading his book on 1975, and there are mentions for various other key albums from this year too, including Keith Jarrett's Köln Concert.

What were your favourite albums which were released in 1975?

Add them in the comments below.

Jul 3: Sweden

Bob told me about a Swedish song that reminded him of a place... and a particular time.

"Sommaren är kort" (Swedish for "Summer is short") is a popular 1982 song by Swedish singer-songwriter Tomas Ledin. 

This song instantly reminds me of an event. I went to in Värmland in the summer of 1996. 

This was a place I went back to work later. 

The song reminds me of landscape, the weather and how those two weeks brought me closer to the place and the country.

Jul 3: World of Music playlist

Any music that is added to this blog is also added to a special Spotify playlist.

As we pass the half way point of the year, that playlist has now passed 48 hours in length - two full days of excellent music that has been showcased on the blog.

Have a browse here.... 

Jul 3 - For the record - Episode 3

I've mentioned this web series before. It's produced by the Cosmic Shambles Network, and presented by Charlotte Ritchie. 

It promises to tell the history of music. Early reviews have been very positive. 

I'll post links to the episodes here to increase exposure.

Part Three includes exclusive interviews, rare archive and performances from Sofia Aziz, Richard Dumbrill, Nitin Sawhney, Koroleko Moussa, Nicole Cassandra Smit, Richard Walley, PIQSIQ and more.This time we head to deep caves in Germany to discover the oldest known musical instrument and explore the music of ancient civilisations from Babylon to Greece to Egypt. We look at how music has been taught across cultures and generations and answer that age old question, did neanderthals hum?

This series is an entirely independent production made possible by fan support on Patreon and Substack. 

Episode 3 is here:

Episode 4 coming up next 

I will post a review of the series when I've had the chance to watch and also add links to the episodes.

Jul 2: 1974 & Hergest Ridge

Hergest Ridge is a hill in Herefordshire on the Welsh border near the town of Kingston. Overlooking the landscape is a house called 'The Beacon'.

It's also the name of Mike Oldfield's second album.

Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone featured it. There was a vinyl shortage in mid 1970s, so the original release had a poor sound quality. A 50th anniversary 2025 stereo-mix by Mike himself was released back then.

Hergest Ridge composed at leisure.

The town was where Oldfield retreated to, after finding the success and attention of Tubular Bells too much to bear.

He flew model planes (he would later get his own pilot's license) and played for beer in Penrhos Court (which sadly was closed recently - it would have been nice to revisit again and sit by the fire as Mike did).

Also released in the same year - a busy year for music.

Jul 2: For the Record - Part 2

I've mentioned this web series before. It's produced by the Cosmic Shambles Network, and presented by Charlotte Ritchie. 

It promises to tell the history of music. Early reviews have been very positive. 

I'll post links to the episodes here to increase exposure.

In part two we explore the mathematics that underpins musical structure and how that differs from culture to culture. We take a piano lesson and then try to make sense of why we humans like music so much in the first place.  Part Two includes exclusive interviews, rare archive and performances from Charlotte Church, Nitin Sawhney, Donald Harrison Jr, Dean Burnett, Philip Ball, Jess Hitchcock, Grace Petrie, Matt Parker, Jim Bob, Ruarri Joseph, Mick Jagger and more. 

This series is an entirely independent production made possible by fan support on Patreon and Substack. 

Episode 2 is here:

Episode 3 coming up next 

I will post a review of the series when I've had the chance to watch and also add links to the episodes.

Jul 2: Abdullah Ibrahim RIP

Back in April I posted about the South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim / Dollar Brand.

I was sorry to notice an obituary for him in yesterday's issue of the i newspaper, and that he passed on June the 15th.

I saw him play a concert in Sheffield.

I don't think it was at the Leadmill from memory, although I know that he did play there.

It must have been in the early to mid 1980s as I remember having to get a lift home, so I hadn't learned to drive yet...

This website suggests he played the Crucible Theatre in 1981-ish with his Quartet.... not sure it was there either. Although I did see the late John Martyn there in a memorable concert.

Here's a track from the late 1970s... full of the energy I remember from seeing him play live. His later albums were more reflective.

Here's a Guardian obituary for him.

His music played a part in the freedom struggle in South Africa. His tune Mannenberg, recorded during a return visit in 1974, became an anthem of the movement, its title referring to a Cape Flats township created under the Group Areas Act to house black South African people evicted when Cape Town’s District Six was designated a whites-only area.
After the Soweto uprising of 1976 he left South Africa again, declaring his support for the African National Congress. Nelson Mandela was said to have described him as “our Mozart”.

Here's Mannenberg with some shots of Robben Island when he visited.

Jul 1: For the Record - Episode 1

I've mentioned this web series before. It's produced by the Cosmic Shambles Network, and presented by Charlotte Ritchie. 

It promises to tell the history of music. Early reviews have been very positive. 

I'll post links to the episodes here to increase exposure.

For The Record: An Incomplete History of Music is an epic nine part docuseries presented by Charlotte Ritchie that takes viewers on a journey through the entire history of music. From The Big Bang to AI and everything in between. What is it, how does it work and why does it matter. From the multi award winning director Trent Burton and The Cosmic Shambles Network. Explore more on this and other episodes with bonus features, playlists, reading lists, quizzes and more at https://cosmicshambles.com/fortherecord

Episode 1 is here.

Episode 2 coming up next 

I will post a review of the series when I've had the chance to watch and also add links to the episodes.

Jul 1: Ticket Stub #11: Mary Chapin Carpenter

Mary Chapin Carpenter has produced some classic music through a long career.

Back in 2015 she toured the UK. She doesn't do that very often and so it was a chance to see her, and the Apex in Bury St. Edmunds is a great venue with good acoustics, and less than an hour's drive from home.

Her recent albums have not quite been of the same standard as earlier ones, but in this show she brought out some of her classics as well as playing some newer songs, and it was musically accomplished and sounded excellent in the Apex.

As with many artists, Mary also released some music recorded during the pandemic, including this performance of 'I am a town'.

Jul 1: 1973

1973 was a stellar year for music.

The highlight of course was this banger... a multi-million seller which spawned 50 years of music and a business empire...

Listen to Side 2, as Side 1 has already been posted...

I've blogged elsewhere about how this album has been in my life for 50 years, and single-handedly helped determine my musical preferences and taste, with its nods to minimalism, its changes of tone, wonderful guitar solos and emotional arc and final release... which was honed to perfection on 'Ommadawn' several years later.

Also out this year were a range of other classics.

In January, the Sweet released this classic from school discos of the time... and we all dressed like that in the 1970s....

John Martyn released 'Solid Air'.

I saw John perform many times, including at Sheffield Crucible theatre and Devonshire Green in a tent.

March saw the release of another perennial classic... I had this on a good vinyl version with the poster and stickers.

Jethro Tull released 'A Passion Play', Yes released 'Yessongs', Rick Wakeman released 'The Six Wives of Henry the 8th'.

What were your favourite albums from 1973? 

There are a lot of classics to choose from.

Let me know in the comments...

Jun 30: Hackett and Rothery

A new album has been created by Steve Hackett (formerly of Genesis) and Steve Rothery (of Marillion).

It's called The Roaring Waves.

The first track is now out, and it doesn't really go anywhere... more drama needed. Looking forward to hearing the whole album.

What do you think?