This is the opening track from my favourite Elton John album. And who’s that on backing vocals? Why, yes, it’s Dusty Springfield!

(more…)

Aretha Franklin had a US hit with one of Elton John’s early flops, Border Song, when she put it out in 1972 – two decades before they sang it together.

(more…)

Three Dog Night introduced Elton John to the world when they recorded Your Song – six months before it gave him his first hit.

(more…)

I can’t pretend I was listening to disco music in 1979: I was parading around in a leather jacket festooned with badges proclaiming punk bands and anti-social slogans.

(more…)

In the pantheon of disco music there are two moments that tower above all others. The first is Donna Summer’s I Feel Love – surely the greatest disco song of all time – and this is the second.

(more…)

Linda Lewis was the first female black British singer I ever saw on TV. They were a rarity in the early Seventies – in fact she’s the only one I can think of.

(more…)

Here is another slice of white reggae from the dusty depths of my singles collection. I remember the cover art – by Ralph Steadman – as well as I recall the single.

(more…)

Gordon Lightfoot, who died yesterday at the age of 84, was a legend in his home country of Canada. He might not have the same global fame but he was revered there as much – if not more – than contemporaries like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell.

(more…)

Happy Beltane to all the old hippies, from the most famous pop idol to come from my neighbourhood, Stoke Newington.

(more…)

Peter Gabriel performed A Whiter Shade Of Pale as a punk parody – or was it a tribute? – at Knebworth in the summer of 1978.

(more…)