Single Review: “That’ll Be The Day” – Buddy Holly

As tomorrow is 63 years since Buddy Holly, along with Richie Havens and The Big Bopper died tragically in a plane crash I thought I’d commemorate this with my favourite Buddy Holly song.  I have memories of jamming this on the piano with my friend Simon and him singing and playing on a battered acoustic …

Single Review: “Living Proof” – Pearl’s Cab Ride

WELL!!! This… is…. FUNKY! The stabs in the intro promise so much and over deliver, this is professional musicianship at its best. From the horns, drums, bass, vocals, hammond organ this is a blast to listen to – it reminds me of early 90s acid jazz, and it’s so well done, I don’t want to …

Single Review: “Boys From Jungle” – Junior Bill

I’m trying to decide whether this is a punk protest song or not. It’s definitely punk, the attitude is there.  But the lyrics are definitely interesting, it’s the reality of immigrants coming to the UK, and their stories, it’s loud, it’s aggressive. But do you oboe what? It’s getting the message across.  For me the …

Single Review: “Sidecar” – Prima Hera

I have heard this song so many times now, I think it’s part of my soundtrack of 2023. It’s such a simple song, Prima Hera’s vocals are gorgeous on this. She has a touch of reverb on her vocals, and she’s able to harmonise comfortably going from a major to minor harmony with the other …

Single Review: “I Still Love Him” – Blossom Calderone

There are so many things that I like about this song, first of all it’s in 3/4 time. That will always be welcome around here.  Secondly, the pizzicato strings, you don’t usually hear that in music nowadays unless it’s arpeggiated a la Rodney Jerkins 90s productions, so it’s good to hear that.  Thirdly, Blossom’s voice …

Single Review: “Penny Lane” – The Beatles

“Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes…” You know you sang along with that. I certainly did.  This song is part of English history and on this particular day in 1967, the Beatles did a last minute remix of it along with “Strawberry Fields Forever” the double a side single that they …

Single Review: “Few And Far Between” – Calum Baird

The thing I like about Calum’s voice is that it’s… Honest. What do I mean about that? Well first of all, you can hear his Scottish accent coming through real true, there are no heirs and graces there. He’s a folk singer telling a story in his songs, and you have to have a believable …