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.