The Jam were huge in the UK during the punk era, scoring four top-ten albums and four number-one singles. They emerging from Woking, on the outskirts of London. The three-piece band were fast and aggressive enough to initially be considered…
As I wrote in an earlier Syd Barrett post: When people talk about wasted potential in rock and roll, it’s usually premature deaths like Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, or Kurt Cobain. But Pink Floyd’s original leader Syd Barrett also belongs on the list –…
Congratulations to everyone who scored 100% in last week’s Scrambled 1990s vocalist quiz, and especially to Sheik Yerbouti who just nudged out Tony, 2loud2old, and Geoff for the fastest time. This week we’re looking at 1970s artists on their album…
As a young music fan, I was reliant on greatest hits albums for my collection. I earned $3 for mowing the lawn and new albums cost $20, so compilations were a surefire way of getting bang for my buck. Compilations…
I’m just the right age to have accumulated a collection of friends who were obsessed by The Smashing Pumpkins. One friend went for at least two years where he listened to at least one Pumpkins song every single day. Another…
Congratulations to Tony from Mumbling About… who scored full marks with the quickest time last week while eliminating his options. This week’s challenge is double-pronged – you need to unscramble the anagram of a 1990s vocalist, then match it to…
Three more recent releases for your listening pleasure. Jessie Ware’s sophisticated dance-pop, Yves Tumor’s abrasive electronica, and Rina Sawayama’s brash pop. Enjoy! Jessie Ware What’s Your Pleasure? Jessie Ware is probably the UK’s most likeable mainstream pop star; I struggle…
Even before she released her first solo album, New York’s Carole King had already enjoyed a prolific music career. She’d inspired Neil Sedaka’s ‘Oh! Carol’ and written a hit song for her daughters’ babysitter (Little Eva’s ‘Loco-motion’). The 1960s hits…
Congratulations to John Snow from 2loud2oldmusic, who scored the fastest time in last week’s quiz (and was one of only two 100% scores, along with Rich). I know how much he likes memes, so…. This week’s quiz isn’t too tricky,…
The two figures at the centre of 1980s English indie-rock band The Smiths were an unlikely pairing. Vocalist Morrissey was socially awkward, literate, and camp, while guitarist Johnny Marr was an aspiring football player who trialled with Manchester City. Bonding…
