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The Modern Lovers’ only album is, for me, one of the greatest albums ever. Roadrunner is pretty much a standard now. It’s astonishing that this song, which most of us only heard years later, was recorded back in 1972. (more…)

 I had never heard of The Velvet Underground while they were still going. Of course I hadn’t – I was 12 when Lou Reed left the band, and only eight years old when they recorded their landmark debut album.
 

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RIP Paddy Moloney (1938-2021)

14th October 2021 · 2021, Music

I only had the one encounter with Paddy Moloney, the late leader of The Chieftains. It was in Japan. (more…)

Not one but eight snippets of songs from the earliest days of punk, shot at CBGBs in New York over the course of (I’m guessing) 1974 and 1975. (more…)

In early May 1976 I went to see my musical hero David Bowie play live for the first time. It was his Thin White Duke period, promoting Station To Station. 

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Neu! – Super

13th October 2021 · 1970s, 1973, Music, Punk
You can go on for ever trying to trace the roots of punk. Many have tried; few have reached a consensus. But most would find an argument to include Neu! in the debate.

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The Damned – New Rose

12th October 2021 · 1970s, 1976, Music, Punk

This was the first UK punk single. It came out on 22 October 1976. Four days later I saw The Damned for the first time.

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For me, punk rock was born on the Fourth of July in 1976, on a sweltering summer Sunday night at The Roundhouse. That’s when The Ramones came to London. (more…)

Ohio Players – Pain

8th October 2021 · 1970s, 1971, Funk, Music, Soul
This was the first of seven straight hit singles by The Ohio Players to burn up the US charts with their brand of slinky horn-powered funk and soul in 1971.
 

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The Kay-Gees – Get Down

7th October 2021 · 1970s, 1974, Funk, Music

Here’s another infectious party in your ears. There’s not much to it but there doesn’t need to be, beyond that fat beat, the funky bass, the jagged guitars and the constant exhortations to Get Down. Apart from that soaring soprano sax that keeps on taking it higher. (more…)