Hello, hello! Welcome back to your relatively unfiltered peek into what's making me tick at the moment.
We're going where the sea is blue
Right now I'm at Saratoga which is on the Central Coast of New South Wales. It's not the Saratoga that Carly Simon sang about. It is, however, a rather beautiful spot although the humidity takes a bit of getting used to for people like me who live where the heat is dry! I've walked beside the beach, been to Australia's largest shopping centre (just to say I did), and checked out the local area. Storms are forecast for later on so I'm glad I know how to swim. Honestly, a little time at the coast is good for me. Although I prefer to be inland a bit, this is rather groovy for a couple of nights.
Billy Joel - Stormfront - https://youtu.be/uUYChbzuFMU
Radio is a sound salvation
As anyone who has been following along for a while will know, Spotify algorithms have been driving me insane. It's just so much of the same stuff all the time. I listen to a wide variety of music but the constant recommendations of 80s music is simply too much. I miss access to decent radio stations. The best radio stations were programmed by humans, and you couldn’t skip songs. There was something amazing about searching for a cool station and listening in. I read about a streaming radio station called Radio Paradise offering a few different channels but all are programmed by people, not by computers. It’s free, there are no ads, and they don’t track your listening. So far, I’m quite impressed. Sure, it’s via the internet as opposed to a real radio, but I can live with that. After a week or so of listening to it I feel much more positive about music in general. I've heard great tracks that I'd forgotten, deep cuts I love, and a whole heap of other artists to explore.
The Ramones - We Want The Airwaves - https://youtu.be/zB1cg9tAeYY
It's pretty in the land of the free
Elvis Costello has released (another) super deluxe version of his first album, My Aim Is True. Labelled as the 49th Anniversary Edition, I couldn't help myself and have had quite a few listens. To be totally up front, I think it's a ripper of an album, completely setting the scene for what has become a stellar career. One online commenter remarked that all the demo versions were akin to seeing Elvis try on different outfits before going out. I don't think this is a bad thing. None of the early versions or demos are horrible. What we're treated to is songs that morphed into classics, some early live versions, and a great insight into Costello's music. If you're a fan, or interested in music, the Broken Records interview with Elvis is well worth a listen. Hearing what some of the songs mean to him as well as about their development is very fab and groovy.
Elvis Costello - Pay It Back - https://youtu.be/0SEu2e12x1w
She was practiced at the art of deception
SpyVsSpy were a fantastic band. I didn't get to see them in the 80s but a couple of years ago I saw one of the current touring versions. I was excited to see that their first two albums had been re-released on CD and LP record and I now have my hands on a copy of A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. It's a really strong album and I was glad to replace my old cassette copy. However, other than one line in the notes recognising the people who made the re-release possible, there is nothing other than the lyrics. Nothing written by the band about the album, it's not remastered, and there are no extra tracks. I still love it, but I'm slightly disappointed.
Spy vs Spy - Sallie-Anne - https://youtu.be/xE54H9xmeWo
That's all for now. RIP Don.
The Woozle
"And stood against him,
Proud Edward's army,
And sent him homewards,
Tae think again..."
The Corries, Flower of Scotland, 1968.
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