World Wide Woozle episode #674

Hello everyone. Welcome to the blog that shakes, that moves, but can't live without your love.

Tried to save the trees, bought a plastic bag, the bottom fell out, it was a piece of crap

I wasn't an early adopter of anything made by Apple or Google. That is unless you count the Apple IIe and IIc computers that we used at school in the mid 1980s. I was, however, extremely happy with my ten year old MacBook Air until this week. It does everything I need and looks good doing it. That is until the AI bots at Google sent me a friendly email to inform me that their Chrome browser would no longer be getting any security updates on my Mac. How rude. Does anyone just stop looking after their car, house, or child when it turns ten? On top of this I did some research only to find out that the boffins at Apple aren't releasing security patches for my MacBook either. It's just two more products from Bastards Incorporated. I can hear you wondering, "what does it all mean, Basil?" In the short term I have dumped Chrome completely and returned, after about ten years, to the Firefox browser. I will be the first to admit that it has come a long way and is seriously cool. After only a week I am a complete convert. With Apple's allegedly planned obsolescence I'll be doing anything to do with money or passwords on my iPad which is much, much newer. I understand that products have to have some kind of lifespan, but, if Apple insists on making such high quality hardware then maybe they need to support it for longer. A new Mac of any description is a serious financial investment that I'm not prepared to make at the moment. Maybe I can get my head around imagining it as a yearly cost over the next ten years because that doesn't sound nearly as bad.

Petra - Computer Brains - https://youtu.be/HpqCgnq_bAU

Let there be drums

With apologies to DJ DJ, I'm going to write about Jethro Tull now. For once, the algorithms feeding me music got it right when they recommended the new and improved version of a 1984 album that I'd never heard of. Under Wraps was apparently quite unloved when it was released as it represented a significant departure from the band's trademark prog/folk sound. It has programmed drums, synthesisers and Cold War era lyrics (and that flute). The new version has one remastered CD where the drum sounds have been stripped out and updated for a fuller, more modern sound. For those who prefer, there's also a remastered version with the original drums. Then you get a couple of live concerts, some demos, and a full Ian Anderson solo album. I think it's good value and a copy is winging its way (in a Sopwith Camel given the postal time estimates) to me here at HQ World Wide Woozle. The funny thing is I reckon I would've liked this LP if I'd heard it in the mid-80s . To close the loop though, Jethro Tull are not, and never were, hard rock or metal. The Grammys got that very wrong.

Jethro Tull - Lap of Luxury (Bruce Soord 2026 remix) - https://youtu.be/9pY7T4Smhck

All I wanted was a Pepsi

I've just had a week of annual leave. To be completely honest, I needed time away from work. My brain wasn't working particularly well and I needed a minute to let it reset. I did my best not to stay at home for the whole week and managed a lot of walking and a few catch ups. Still, it's very easy to be a hermit which I know is unhealthy. I really thought I'd be OK for a short bike ride today but my right hip said no so I will keep waiting, and wondering if it's ever going to happen. At least, after almost a year,  I've stopped wanting to swear every time someone rides past me when I'm out walking. Accepting my limitations is far from easy. In positive news though, I did get out and help a friend's band setup their sound mix and in-ear monitoring. I knew what to do but learning some new technology on the fly had me working hard for a bit! Maybe I'll pick up a guitar soon. Maybe.

Bobaflex - Hey You - https://youtu.be/rm5eWLXW6l4

That'll do. Thank you, come again.

Keep smiling,

The Woozle

"An’ here I sit so patiently
Waiting to find out what price
You have to pay to get out of
Going through all these things twice..."

Bob Dylan, Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again, 1966. (Cat Power 2007 version)

World Wide Woozle playlists are here.

World Wide Woozle episode #673

Hello out there all you radio fans. Welcome back to the on again, off again musical juggernaut that is The World Wide Woozle. Please ensure that your tickets have been checked.

Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday

Today is the 137th day of the year. What does that mean I hear you ask. Well, it means that there are now 137 songs in my 2026 daily playlist. So far I've managed to keep up the good fight adding one a day with no artist appearing more than once. I'm unsure if we'll get to the end without some double ups but that really doesn't matter. If you haven't plugged your phone, computer, tablet or other listening device into 365 days with The Woozle yet then you know what to do. It's available on Spotify, Tidal, and YouTube. Details, as always, are here.

Custard - Music Is Crap - https://youtu.be/nvpEZtyKR4g

I was born in the cemetery, under the sign of the moon

Slayer isn't ever going to be everyone's cup of tea but is arguably the most influential thrash metal band ever. This week the 40th anniversary edition of their second studio album, Hell Awaits, was released. I've had a few listens, as have my neighbours and their dog that barks for 15 minutes at 0510hrs every day. If you're a fan then I'm preaching to the converted and you'll probably appreciate that this sounds a lot clearer than what we're used to listening to from 1985. It's not straight ahead either, with tempo changes and longer tracks which weren't nearly as common back in the day. Slayer went on to release twelve studio albums and remain one of the biggest metal bands of all time. Their third album, Reign In Blood, is referenced by so many artists as being a huge influence. However, Hell Awaits was quite a statement.

Slayer - Hell Awaits - https://youtu.be/NZPBGSiJzJw

Ease on down, ease on down the road

In 2024, although I didn't really know what to expect, I knew that I was fortunate to get tickets to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. One of the artists playing that night was a guy called Don Schlitz. I had no idea that he was the songwriter behind The Gambler which was of course made famous by Kenny Rogers. To add to that, it was the first song that Don ever had put down on tape! Seeing him play this, tell stories and clearly enjoy performing live was an amazing experience. If you ever get to Nashville then make sure you go to the Opry. Sadly, Don passed away a few weeks ago and he was only seventy-three. His version, the original, of The Gambler is a bit different as Kenny put his own touches on it. I watched an interview recently in which Don said that when he wrote it, at twenty three years old, he didn't drink whisky or play cards and he hadn't been on a train!

Don Schlitz - The Gambler (live) - https://youtu.be/mgnniR7OG_w

Every bit takes another bite without control over wrong or right

Last time around I wrote about using artificial intelligence to try and locate a song. In the last few weeks I've noticed that Spotify will allow users to create AI prompts to come up with playlists. This instantly appealed to me so I had to have a go. Prompts like, "make a playlist of ten songs I've played less than five times, that are based on my listening habits, and exclude Radiohead and Coldplay", were sort of successful. But I really didn't just need songs from albums that I already liked. I'll continue working on it whilst being a very specific curmudgeon. My effort asking for songs from NZ that I might like, hadn't listened to, and from the last five years wasn't too bad at all! Technology is cool as long as you refuse to be sucked into the default, uber-predictable version of what it thinks you should like.

The Veils - The Ladder - https://youtu.be/yvIrQIM-YJc

It's meant to rain this afternoon so I'll sign off now. I need to get outside before that happens so I'm going to do my second set of exercises for the day, plug the TENS machine into the gas mains for an extra boost, and then hit some bush tracks.

Happy birthday Toddo!

Keep smiling,

The Woozle

"Somewhere deep inside my soul
We strum three chords and the truth"

George Huitker, Brother From Another Mother, 2023.

I think you've got a low self opinion, man

The self-hatred that binds you, blinds you, grinds you, keeps you down

I subscribe to an email list written by Mark Manson, author of, The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck. He sends a couple of sentences to think about. One of his most recent messages was titled, "Do you like yourself?' That sat me back on my heels and made me think, and I've been coming back to it for a while now. One of the prompts was, "You're going to be in a relationship with yourself for your entire life. So you should probably learn how to make it a good one." Mark then goes on to ask if you like spending time with yourself and is there a decision that could improve that relationship. For a very long time I didn't like myself at all. People around me mostly liked me as did my family but I tried to silence the internal monologue by self-medicating in a number of unhelpful ways including by obsessively controlling my exercise and diet. Even though I've done the work to help me manage a few mental health problems, Mark's email and the associated reflection has helped me admit that I'm good at sabotaging my own happiness. That's a reflection of how much I do or don't like myself at the time. It's hard because I like doing things to make others happy so why do I either not do this for myself or feel so bad when I do? I guess part of my ongoing work to reclaim my life is going to be learning to like myself again. Not just on the surface and in public, but deep down. Step one is admitting the issue and it's out there now. I'm not asking for help and if I wasn't in a relatively good place then I wouldn't have even written this.

Weddings Parties Anything - Rain In My Heart - https://youtu.be/5jx3c5yk744

World Wide Woozle episode #672

Welcome back, your applause will be recorded and donated to a less fortunate artist.

Your outside is in when your inside is out

Yesterday I went on a search for echidnas with Zoë and Zac. And wouldn't you believe it, they were all hiding from the strange people who had just flown in from Scotland! Never mind because we saw a quoll!! I've only ever seen one before and that was at dusk so seeing one in the morning was a very welcome surprise. Not to be outdone, late this afternoon in a different area of the park, another cheeky quoll bounced in and out of the bush in front of me for about five minutes. My next trick may be a visit in the dark to see if I can spot a bettong. Night vision equipment may be required.

The Doors - Hello, I Love You - https://youtu.be/mTu1GQSyq4I

You only get a minute, better live while you're in it

So, what does being 55 look like? For me it has meant both refusing to accept that I am getting old and then grudgingly making some concessions. I mean, who knew that if you stood up for over 12 hours a day that eventually your feet would complain? Since I can only sit for a maximum of an hour at a time, this is a problem. Harnessing the power of Al Gore's internet, I used A.I. for good and eventually decided to try compression socks. Winning. I'm not quite ready for a walking frame this week.

Don Henley - The Boys of Summer - https://youtu.be/6RUIeX6UCT8

'Cos I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby

Can I talk about another album cover this time around? Of course I can, it's my blog. When I started listening to AC/DC, buying an LP was a big deal and a significant investment. After saving and saving, I remember having the $13 needed for a record and heading, with my Mum, to Maxfield's Sports and Records in Moe. What a great place that was. Where else could one buy a football, a bicycle, firearms, and the latest music? My first ten speed bike came from there in 1983. Firearms weren't on my list. I had a couple of AC/DC albums dubbed onto cassette courtesy of DJ DaveDubya but choosing one to own was quite the choice to make. In the end I chose their 1978 live album, If You Want Blood (You've Got It). I was sold by the cover; Angus Young, impaled by his own Gibson SG guitar whilst Bon continues to sing. Later on I'd find out that this was a screengrab from the music video. The other reason I chose a live album, their only one at the time, was to get a solid selection of songs. If You Want Blood didn't disappoint. It's recorded at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow and is razor focussed with only 10 songs and at 52 minutes long. My only slight annoyance at the time was that the song the album is named after wasn't on there.

AC/DC - Bad Boy Boogie (live 1978, Glasgow) - https://youtu.be/E8-LNg7w2LY

I felt the whole world was so jive

A couple of weeks ago I was searching for a song. Normally, song title and lyrics are the only things I can remember while useful things including what I'm meant to be doing at work need to be written down. This song eluded me for a few days though so I thought that if the internet could help me choose socks then it could definitely find a song. I knew the song was a country tune, sung by a female vocalist, was relatively recent, and was about a town that sounded like Waxahatchee. ChatGPT told me a wide range of songs by the artist Waxahatchee but no matter how I asked or refined the question it couldn't find the song. I gave up and was a bit miffed. A few days later I wondered if Waxahatchee could be spelled differently. It can, and in about 20 seconds using a search engine I was in luck. It's hard to believe that artificial intelligence is so smart but couldn't work out a simple spelling error! Here's the song in question.

Miranda Lambert - Waxahachie - https://youtu.be/KDVeN3aH3kg

The Champs-Élysées is a busy street

In an effort to continue to listen to an ever widening range of music I have tried a lot of different artists and tracks. Last week, after looking at a map, I ended up looking for something from France that I might like. What I came up with was a well known French band with a new album. I listened and I liked it. Later I found out that this is actually an album of other people's songs that they like whereas I had thought it was a few covers and their own work. Not to worry, here's a cool track for you, and I have more to explore as a result.

Matmatah - Tombé pour la France - https://youtu.be/dXt-Ep_n_LI

Please remember, World Wide Woozle playlists are here. The song a day for 2026 is also now available on Tidal. Details at the link.

To those of you who have made it to the end, well done and thank you.

See you next time right here,

The Woozle

"With everything I own upon my back, I carry such a heavy load."

Stevie Wright, Hard Road, 1974.

World Wide Woozle episode #671

Welcome back campers, let's get started.

I'm a bit run down but I'm OK

Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. And a shout out to my brother for the reminder that I am now eligible for accommodation specifically for those aged 55+. I celebrated by having brunch with two very good friends, a long walk in the nature reserve, and dinner with the Northside Velo crew. Given my lack of cycling for almost a year, I am slightly concerned that I may become the team mascot! Honestly though, I had a much, much better day than I'd expected and I'm very grateful for that. My birthday is the day of the year where I miss my immediate family the most. Somehow, even when I was unwell and difficult to live with, they managed to make it special.

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes - Better Days - https://youtu.be/bJnGv8M0v8Q

They could've been your mates

I recently watched the first episode of a documentary on the SBS about the work being done to extend and remodel parts of the Australian War Memorial. I shouldn't have read about it on one of the news pages that allows for comments because it made me sad. Seriously, if you think the War Memorial is glorifying war then you need to take a long hard look at yourself. Maybe head over there one day for the Last Post Ceremony, walk along the Rolls of Honour among the names of 103,000 Australians who died in war, and stand in the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. In the museum part, take a look at the conditions ensured by POWs, or read about the Bangka Island Massacre. Remembrance, respect, and commemoration are what this place is about.

The Externals - Edge of the World - https://youtu.be/Fg32Pvg1cU0

I know his name

I'm not sure whether this is good or bad news, but, in Scotland, filming is underway on a remake of the best motion picture ever made, Highlander. I saw the 1986 classic for the first time at the drive-in theatre in Moe and have since seen it far too many times for my own health. It features a Frenchman playing a Scot, a Scot as a Spaniard, and an American as a Russian. So, of course for the remake we have an Englishman as the Highlander, an antipodean as the Spaniard, and again an American as a Russian. For me, the only good news is that Queen will still be in the soundtrack and Karen Gillan (a Scot) got a starring role. I watched the film last week and I think it's time for me to at least consider a copy on BluRay as the DVD version is a bit of an average transfer.

The Proclaimers - Cap In Hand - https://youtu.be/DMMSndY7H5A

I thought I might explore the importance, or perhaps the influence, of album covers. I feel as if with the advent of streaming they may have become less important. Given the time I spent making sure that the right artwork appears in my online music library it would seem that they remain important to me. There are also seven LP sleeves in frames and on the walls in my humble abode. So, I'll start with one of my favourites. Stormwatch by Jethro Tull. I imagine there are two or three people in total reading this that may have listened to the record and that's OK. I challenge you to look at the album cover below and imagine what the music might be like. For those not in the know, Jethro Tull plays folk influenced rock music with a bit of a progressive bent. There's almost always a flute involved, and the flautist/vocalist often stands on one leg looking like a cross between a court jester and an olive drab flamingo. I see the artwork and hear crashing waves, I smell the oilskin jacket I once had, and I feel the cold sting of the North Sea when, as a wee lad, my Grandfather tries to assure me that I am NOT going in for a swim. And it all feels timeless.

Jethro Tull - Old Ghosts (live) - https://youtu.be/b6iwufdF0VY

I think that's enough for this episode. It looks like you're all stuck with me a bit longer as I begin my 55th revolution of the sun.

Keep smiling,

The Woozle (50 +GST)

"And now that I live to see my melodies betray me

I'm sorry the love songs all mean different things today"

Jason Isbell, Gravelweed, 2025.

World Wide Woozle episode #670

Hi everyone, and welcome back.

In this episode I was considering writing about the war, the price of petrol (gas for my North American friends), spending $300 million dollars, and maybe even football. After a bit of a think I've decided not to do that. There are so many things going on that are a total bummer and you can read about them somewhere else if you want to. I'm not ignoring the real world, just putting it aside for a little while. So, "sit back, kick off your shoes, start losin' the blues!"

Might sell my body on the internet

Remember I said I was rebuilding my digital music library? Well I'm there. It was a mammoth task but now there's a hard drive with all of my CDs ripped onto it. I'm not stopping playing CDs but I really wanted access to my own music library without having to rely on the corporate greed and algorithms of companies simply out to make a buck. The iPods work well and I'm sure I look very 2005. I don't like to sit still though and I have plenty of time on my hands. So I thought I'd investigate building my own music server. That way I can listen to my own collection wherever I am, including in the car. I used to be good at IT type stuff and I'm sure my brain will let me delve into a solution to make this happen. To be fair, it looks fairly simple just using a Raspberry Pi computer and a hard drive combined with a couple of pieces of software. Is it super nerdy? Probably. Is it unnecessary? Definitely. Will it be fun? I think so. Watch this space.

St. Vincent - Digital Witness - https://youtu.be/mVAxUMuhz98

Wearing badges is not enough on days like these

I like this next song a lot, and it's one I've performed live a couple of times. One day I'll do that again. As a result of taking a swing through Mark Seymour's solo back catalogue I stumbled across his version of Steve Earle's song, Jerusalem. I present it here without commentary other than that I too did not learn to hate in Sunday School.

Mark Seymour - Jerusalem - https://youtu.be/PPU6ndIHamo

Way up on high, the clock on the silo says eleven degrees

Let's stick with Mark Seymour for a moment, because I want to talk about his music in addition to that amazing cover version. Most of you will be familiar with his work fronting Hunters and Collectors, and I imagine it is hard for him to escape all of those classic songs. I would encourage you though to try something more recent. Mark has an instantly recognisable voice but also a talent for storytelling in songs in a similar way perhaps to Mick Thomas from Weddings, Parties, Anything. The songs sound like the places they are about as well as the people involved. In recent years I've spent more time in Melbourne than I ever did when I lived in Victoria. Walking the suburbs, riding the trams and trains, and finding the places that are comfortable for me. A lot of Mark Seynour's songs feel like Melbourne. Maybe I'm not describing that at all well. Have a listen.

Mark Seymour - Stars of Fitzroy - https://youtu.be/0gsCDHJd_E4

Hey, hey, mercy woman plays a song and no one listens

Years ago I went to see Mia Dyson play. I really enjoyed it, but not the crowd who managed to talk, eat, and drink through her super show. Wrong venue I guess. Mia is another storyteller, and I remember the audience actually taking notice after being told about this song. She'd met a woman who had been forced to give up her baby for adoption. All these years later, this track still hits hard.

Mia Dyson - Jesse - https://youtu.be/cLHOp_ts2uQ

I've come to talk with you again

Over Easter I walked up some big hills. I can't walk up them as quickly as I want to but, this is progress. The more I walk, the more I want to be away from the noise of cars. I can manage it most of the time in the suburbs and parks near my house, but getting into the bush is a total winner. During my hill walks I think I saw one person in three days. Perfect. I saw trees, echidnas, kangaroos, wallabies, birds, rocks, and a cairn. This weekend I'm a bit achy so the hills will have to wait a few more days to see me again. I'm not at all grateful about this back injury, but somehow it conspired to point me to a place I feel at home which was something that was missing without my bike.

Icehouse - Great Southern Land - https://youtu.be/vp-Ew23q3JM

Tune in next time for Jeep news, there's been a slight delay!

Keep smiling,

The Woozle

"There's no time for us
There's no place for us
What is this thing that builds our dreams, yet slips away from us..."

Queen, Who Wants To Live Forever, 1986.

World Wide Woozle episode #669

Welcome back and thank you to all my regular readers, listeners and correspondents. Your cheques are in the mail.

This is a public service announcement, with guitars

Remember, World Wide Woozle playlists are here.

I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys

For those following along at home, by the time this is published I will be two-thirds of the way through re-digitising my entire CD collection. There are about 1300 albums to get through. I've got plenty of time on my hands at the moment and once you get into a groove it's just a matter of cycling the discs through the computer. So far, only two CDs have failed to cooperate. They will be replaced post-haste.

Along with this, I have to say a massive thanks to DJ Chippy and DJ Pat who answered my calls for old iPods to use. Getting the devices to talk to the newer version of Apple's software is a bit of a fiddle but I seem to have it sorted out now. Between those two iPods and a couple of small ones I still have here, I reckon I'll get the whole collection offline. The fun now is splitting it up in some kind of fashion that makes sense only to me!

Stars on 45 - https://youtu.be/7skQvj-aBV8

So your bags are packed and you're ready to go

Last weekend Zoë and Zac were here in Canberra. It was only a few days over two years since I'd seen them last. And then on Friday, Angus popped in to see me on his way through town. Living away from them is challenging at times but hearing about all the good things in their lives really helps to give me some perspective. I'm an extremely proud old Dad.

Neil Young - Comes A Time - https://youtu.be/qxH_4e7W7hc

There's only one way to rock

I've been distracted by the release, finally, of Van Halen's expanded edition of the 1986 classic LP, 5150. Thanks to DJ 3825 for hooking me up with a way to listen to a super high quality version whilst I wait patiently for a good deal on the physical media. To me, this record is one of the best that the band made. Everything is strong here; the players, the songwriting and the production. Nothing is perfect, but in terms of hard rock music, this comes very close. It's worth buying for the live concert video alone. Seeing a band playing so well and having a ton of fun is what this kind of music is all about. The concert footage also highlights how important Michael Anthony's high backing vocals are to the Van Halen sound. There are a few issues though. I mean, why do we only get three 2026 remasters of live tracks from the concert video when the whole thing is also on another CD and sounds quite different? Hmmmm.

Van Halen - Best of Both Worlds (live) - https://youtu.be/xs7v7qEyldY

I was a high school loser

It's no secret that I do a lot of walking. At the moment it's around 50km a week (more if I'm not feeling all that happy). Frankly, I'd much rather be mixing that up with some cycling but you all know the story about me having to be patient. There are upsides to walking. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and podcasts, and I know all the local dogs. I'm sure the whole neighbourhood recognises me as well. After seeing Zac using his drone last week I am seriously considering getting one to get some cool photos and maybe video of my favourite nature reserve. I can walk for a couple of hours there and see no-one except kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and, if I'm lucky, a quokka! The issue I am having is shoes. They simply don't last! I have wide feet and that, coupled with the need for orthotics, makes it hard to get good footwear. Yeah, yeah, yeah; it's a first world problem. 

Steven Wilson - Personal Shopper - https://youtu.be/sX22dFMSNcg

This year gone by ain't no piece of cake

Today is the birthday of Bing, the gentle pusher of prog. We've been mates, no brothers, for many years now. I've lived at his house on two separate occasions, we've played many gigs together, and he's a generous spirit. So do me a favour and click HERE to listen to one of his great songs. Happy Birthday Bro.

Porcupine Tree - Time Flies - https://youtu.be/JTEWlSTQ1RI

That's it. Thanks for reading and hopefully for listening as well. Stay tuned next time to see my new Jeep!

The Woozle

"And you can shake your fist at the TV set
And you can slam your hand in the table
And you can cry and curse through tight, locked teeth
Just as hard as you are able
But you can't run away from trouble
'Cause there ain't no place that far
No fuel left for the pilgrims
That's just the way we are..."

D.A.D., Jihad, 1989.