Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต June 3, 2026

"Can't Find My Way Home" by Blind Faith

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An integral part of Spencer Davis and Traffic before this side project with 'the world's first Supergroup' .. and Stevie was barely 21 when he wrote this ๐Ÿคฏ

There are some great covers out there - but seriously - did you know that this even existed? And no - it is not a 'great' cover (in both senses of the word) ... 'good' maybe - but not 'great'.

Album Cover from Nektar with a cover

More of Stevie in the future.

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Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต June 2, 2026

"Everybody's Talkin' (1971 Mix)" by Harry Nilsson

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Interesting that his two biggest hits were other people's songs. #JustSayin

Scene from Midnight Cowboy

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In case you were wondering where ๐Ÿ–‡๏ธ this quote came from …. the answer is ๐Ÿ”—๐ŸŽต๐Ÿ“ผ Ren - he is just so good. This one is a kind of ๐Ÿ”—๐Ÿ“ผ Musical Gary

If you are reading this post on my site, you will see that this link is rendered as an embedded video at the bottom of the post. (THANKYOU @rknightuk]. It will render just fine - unless the video owner wants you to watch it over on YouTube (and to be fair - there are very good reasons for that). If that happens, click on the link above and you will be taken to YouTube. The 'error' is only because the creator wants you to got to YouTube to watch it. That said - on rare occasions, it might actually be broken. If it is - sorry about that - try sending me an email and I will check if I made an error.

Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต June 1, 2026

"Can't Take My Eyes Off of You (Live)" by Andy Williams

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Why Andy's version? Because 'mum' - who was not a particular fan of Andy - but we all liked it and it sticks in my mind - because of mum's reaction ....

Off of you? It's off you ... off you why can't they speak English.

It was a different time๐Ÿ˜.

Side Note - Frankie's 'original had no 'of' - even though 'the two bobs' wrote 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' ... so why the change? Some say that 'Off of' helps the song's rhythm, I would agree.

In these modern times it appears that both are acceptable phrasing. Back then - I think my mum saw it as the ever deepening crisis of the Americanisation of the English language. Oh my - what would she make of 2026?

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Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 31, 2026

"Five O'clock World (Remastered)" by The Vogues

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The song came into my world through a great cover, but the Vogues original is still most excellent.

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Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 30, 2026

"Kayleigh" by Marillion

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Always enjoyed the song. Never a massive fan of the band - but definitely a fan - all the way back to the days when some were heralding him as the 'new' Peter Gabriel ... I got it - but really he was just plain old Derek William Dick doing his thing - and his thing was rather good.

Oh - and that's Kayleigh - not Cรจilidh.

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Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 29, 2026

"Parklife" by Blur

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I am pretty much 'in' on all things Blur - so hard to choose a specific. Settled on it because it is just a year earlier than yesterday's - but for me inexorably linked.

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๐Ÿ‘๏ธ๐ŸŽต itโ€™s as if McCartney is on a global farewell to Public life tour.


Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 28, 2026

"Common People (Full Length Version)" by Pulp

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Pulp. Jarvis. Classic. Only Shatner might have improved it.

I'll see what I can do.

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๐Ÿ‘๏ธ I forgot that I had two ๐ŸŽตLastFM accounts - time to merge. Somehow.


Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 27, 2026

"Waterfall" by The Stone Roses

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Madchester!

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Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 26, 2026

"I'd Rather Be the Devil" by John Martyn

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A vastly under appreciated catalogue. This track? ๐Ÿคฏ

As always - despite first appearances - there is always a connection to the image.

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Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 25, 2026

"Season of the Witch (2002 Remix w/o Horns)" by Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield & Stephen Stills

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A song covered by so many - over so many years - but surely this is the definitive ... Bloomfield, Kooper and Stills for 11 minutes.

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Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 24, 2026

"iFiesta Fatal! (Album Edit)" by B-Tribe

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I was on a work trip in Finland. My hosts decided to expose me to some Helsinki night life. I can still picture it all - but sadly no pictures to share. At one point we were in a bar/restaurant/nightclub - which it was dependant on the time of day - and this music like no other swept through the whole place and I just disappeared into it.

This was the track. Got back to the UK - bought the album - and it turns also out their second - clearly wasn't in the vanguard on this one. I also bought 3, 4 and 5 as they came out - they never failied to suck me in.

There is a sixth - do not own it - but of course in my online library - though a little different to its predecessors.

And all of this came to mind yesterday as I was wrestling with ๐Ÿ–‡๏ธ my blog issues - to pick one random post that didnt arrive until today.

BUT - iFiesta Fatal! kept me sane.

Fiesta Fatal?

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Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 23, 2026

"Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode

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The live one in particular I think nails why I love Depeche Mode - 'electronica sensibility rocks out'.

Also adding this live cover by Depeche Mode of Depeche Mode - Berlin.

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๐Ÿ–‹๏ธ Abba - Meet Pink Floyd

I donโ€™t really understand the concept of listening within a genre or making music within a set of stylistic limitations.


Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 22, 2026

"Hurry On Sundown" by Hawkwind

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Came to mind this morning after reading ๐Ÿ”— this. As a lad - Hawkwind definitely hit a nerve. Still does. Lemmy's successor - not so much. This is the first track on their first album - (a couple of albums before Lemmy became a full timer) .. because there are again too many to choose - but like other occasional references to tracks in this world - the first of the first started me on this particular journey.

Slow Sunset

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Crucial Track ๐ŸŽต May 21, 2026

"Green Tambourine" by The Lemon Pipers

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Continuing yesterday's 'theme' .. another 'one hit wonder' - same kind of time - same kind of sound and definitely my jam - then and now. It's just that this one is from the other side of the Atlantic.

A Lemon Meringue Pie

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Funny๐Ÿ‘๏ธ how suddenly things just come to mind. Take ๐Ÿ”—๐ŸŽต Russ Conway - not thought of him for decades - my mum was a fan (which is why I even know his name), but I still have no idea how he suddenly cropped up in my brain.