David Hood helped define “country soul” as bass guitarist in the famous Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, playing on countless hits over 40 years.

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Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – The Night (more…)

Slade were one of my first favourite bands, along with T. Rex and The Sweet. This came from their album Slade Alive!

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Labi Siffre was a West London boy but paid tribute to a beauty spot in Staffordshire on his song Cannock Chase.

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In the first half of the ’70s Brinsley Schwarz were the flag bearers of pub rock – the backlash to prog that led directly to punk. Bob Andrews played keyboards.

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Roy Buchanan was overlooked rather than underrated as a guitarist. No one who heard him could fail to have been impressed by his talent.

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Chicago blues and soul man Lou Pride recorded this Northern Soul favourite after moving down south to El Paso in 1972.

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Here’s a tune from the early days of reggae by Nora Dean, who earned herself a place in the niche genre of “naughty” reggae, best known for her saucy hit Barbwire (In His Underpants).

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There was a time when the demise of a Moody Blue might have made headlines; at least in the music press. This week the death of keyboard player Mike Pinder – the last of the original members – passed almost unnoticed. But not by me.

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This laid-back easy-listening gem is redolent of summer sunshine. And, you may say, cheese. But I like cheese.

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