🎵 Music
Crucial Track 🎵 May 28, 2026
"Common People (Full Length Version)" by Pulp
Pulp. Jarvis. Classic. Only Shatner might have improved it.
I'll see what I can do.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 27, 2026
Crucial Track 🎵 May 26, 2026
"I'd Rather Be the Devil" by John Martyn
A vastly under appreciated catalogue. This track? 🤯
As always - despite first appearances - there is always a connection to the image.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 25, 2026
"Season of the Witch (2002 Remix w/o Horns)" by Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield & Stephen Stills
A song covered by so many - over so many years - but surely this is the definitive ... Bloomfield, Kooper and Stills for 11 minutes.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 24, 2026
"iFiesta Fatal! (Album Edit)" by B-Tribe
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 🖇️ my blog issues - to pick one random post that didnt arrive until today.
BUT - iFiesta Fatal! kept me sane.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 23, 2026
"Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode
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.
‘nuff said
🖋️ Abba - Meet Pink Floyd
I don’t really understand the concept of listening within a genre or making music within a set of stylistic limitations.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 22, 2026
"Hurry On Sundown" by Hawkwind
Came to mind this morning after reading 🔗 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.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 21, 2026
"Green Tambourine" by The Lemon Pipers
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.
Funny👁️ how suddenly things just come to mind. Take 🔗🎵 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.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 20, 2026
"Kites (Stereo) [2004 Remastered Version]" by Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
If you know Stackridge - you may know The Korgis.
I know both. Love Stackridge. Like The Korgis.
In case you don't know ...Stackridge made quirky, melodic English pop-rock that mixed progressive, folk, and vaudeville, whilst The Korgis made highly melodic British pop with thoughtful lyrics, strong vocal harmonies, and irresistibly catchy hooks.
Interesting then that the creative forces of Stackridge were the same as The Korgis - Progressive Rock 70s 'albums' band transitions to melodic harmonies 80s 'singles' band.
I have known the connection forever.
If you know Simon Dupree and the Big Sound - you may know Gentle Giant.
I know both. Love Simon Dupree. Love Gentle Giant.
In case you don't know ... Simon Dupree and the Big Sound blended blue-eyed soul and R&B with a psychedelic-pop sheen, whilst Gentle Giant played highly complex, fiercely inventive progressive rock that fused hard rock with classical, medieval, folk, and jazz .
Interesting then that the creative forces of Simon Dupree and the Big Sound were the same as Gentle Giant - Soul/R&B band from the 60s (just about a one hit wonder) transitions to one of the most avant-garde and influential progressive bands of the 70s.
I never - ever knew this - discovering it just this morning as I was being a squirrel around today’s crucial track. 🤯
I guess you can't hold great creatives down and great creatives are not one trick ponies.
Have a better than expected day (tip o’ the hat to ‘JW’)
Crucial Track 🎵 May 19, 2026
"Flowers in the Rain (2007 Stereo Mix)" by The Move
The last song you heard on the radio
Another prompt - but going to bend the rules on this one ...
Radio? What's that Daddy? So long ago that I can barely remember doing it - BUT - my choice would be a Crucial Track anyway - so let's call it a 'twofer'. Except this is a 2007 stereo remix - so it definitely wasn't this track. Mono all the way baby.
The first song ever played on Radio One in 1967 in the UK - and yes I was there on the end of the speaker listening to it. The Move - and their descendants have a permanent place in my heart. Tony Blackburn? Cough - not so much.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 18, 2026
"Chicago" by Groove Armada
And Another 'Prompt' Entry ...
Hit shuffle on your music library and post the first song played
I generally post an image in my 'Crucials' that is connected to the song - but in an odd way.
Bonus points today if anyone can tell me whatthat might be today.
Twelve years ago - 🔗📼🎵 I was there. Love you man.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 17, 2026
"The City: Grass and Concrete / Taxi To Brooklyn / Speak Easy It's a Whiskey Scene" by Mark-Almond
One of those bands that are so far under the radar in 2026 that subterranean doesn't even start to describe it - and they have so many 'CRUCIALS' - that I ended up choosing this one because it is over 10 minutes of total bliss. Originally from the Mayall School of Music - look it up kids.
And it's Mark Almond - NOT Marc Almond - who one day will get his own entry.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 16, 2026
"Oh Well (Live)" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Talking of superb covers … as I wrote 🖇️ here not even a month ago - a glorious cover of track by Fleetwood Mac. Before John and Stevie. Even before Christine.
Bonus Round ...
🔗🍎🎵 PartONE that Tom covered.
🔗🍎🎵 PartTWO that Tom did not cover - totally different and Peter Green's favourite part.
both performed by Fleetwood Mac.
Crucial Track 🎵 May 15, 2026
"I Write the Songs" by Barry Manilow
Never a fan of Barry. Too saccharine, too schmaltzy. Not my style - but there is always an exception to the rule (still looking for Rush’s exception - but that remains another story.)
When I first heard this in 1976 - my instant reaction - was - ‘TYPICAL - BLOODY BARRY. ’I’ write the songs … seriously? The arrogance.
But it hooked me. Totally - and still to this day remains on my Apple Playlist called Just Good Songs.
Of course he didn’t write the song, something I learned a little later - and so my dichotomy was resolved. Of course it was a great song - it was written by a ‘Beach Boy’ - and the claim ‘I write the songs …’ as certainly more defensible. Even more so when I realised that;
The ‘I’ in the song is God, and that songs come from the spirit of creativity in everyone.
💬 Bruce Johnston
(Why not share Bruce's version? In my mind - just not as good - so sticking with the version that hooked me.)