So very sad to hear of the death of Jamaican toaster U-Roy, aka Ewart Beckford, aka The Originator, aka Daddy U-Roy. One of the reggae greats.

(more…)

The second single from the second album by Cockney Rebel (The Psychomodo), Mr Soft gave Steve Harley his second hit after Judy Teen. (more…)

This hot mess of a sloppy bluesy jam is arguably the last really great Stones single. (more…)

This is my favourite Sparks song – though only a whisker ahead of their next one, Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth. (more…)

The smoothest and sweetest soul balladeers of the era, The Stylistics’ signature sound was built around the lush Philly productions of Thom Bell and the soaring falsetto of Russell Thompkins Jr. (more…)

This was far from being the biggest hit by The Sweet. But it’s their best. It’s also the best song Chinn & Chapman ever wrote. (more…)

(more…)

Cockney Rebel were the second headline band I ever saw live. At York University in June 1974. (more…)

No sooner had the full falsetto horrror of The Rubettes begun to fade than along came another rock’n’roll revival outfit – the equally abysmal Showaddywaddy. (more…)