If you’d asked me what I thought about Demis Roussos, this would not spring to mind. I would not have answered with a king of disco. 

(more…)

In 1977 I was listening to a solid diet of one-chord wonders, varied only with a weekly dose of Top of the Pops to find out what the rest of the country was listening to while I pogoed.

(more…)

In the late Seventies, after The Saints lit the fuse of Australian punk with their classic single (I’m) Stranded, they were followed to the UK by Radio Birdman.

(more…)

Junior Delgado was one of the lesser celebrated figures of reggae music – with one of the most prolific and longer-lasting careers.

(more…)

(more…)

French vocal trio Belle Epoque had their biggest (and possibly only) hit single in 1977 with disco classic Black Is Black.

(more…)

Back when punk and reggae were rebel bedfellows, I discovered this deep cut – thanks to Johnny Rotten. I still can’t find out much about it.

(more…)

Motörhead shook the foundations of the Top of the Pops studio in 1980 when they played a barnstorming cover of an old Motown tune.

(more…)

I’d never heard of The Bears until I began reading Richard Norris’s memoir, Strange Things Are Happening, and came across their debut single, On Me.

(more…)

A Carry On-style collaboration between John Martyn and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Big Muff came into being at the breakfast table of Island boss Chris Blackwell.

(more…)