“News from up the street, she’s people I’d like to meet.” – Dan Hicks

Wherein I mention a few random things that have been floating around in my head or of which I’ve become aware, of greater or lesser import. The first two are of greater import, IMHO.

**Kinks fans take note – There is an exhibition at London’s Proud Galleries (https://www.proudonline.co.uk/) called The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. It runs from 4th October – 18th November 2018. I wish I could go to this but boy, my Hamilton tickets ate considerably into my pond-hopping funds. According to the press release:

“Proud Galleries is delighted to announce ‘The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society’, an exhibition celebrating the 50th-anniversary multi-format release of The Kinks’ sixth studio album, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.

On display is a selection of rare collector’s items including specially commissioned artworks by members of the band and vintage memorabilia, together with a collection of photographs documenting this remarkable period in the band’s history.

Each work is hand-signed by surviving band members Ray Davies, Dave Davies, and Mick Avory. ‘The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society’ explores the album’s defiantly British sensibilities and commemorates what is now considered to be the high point of The Kinks’ outstanding career.”

Spotify link

**Geoff Emerick died at 72 years of age on October 2, 2018. Beatlemaniacs of all stripes will recognize his name as the then 20-year old audio engineer who worked with George Martin and the lads on Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour, The White Album (he quit when it became intolerable working with them), Abbey Road (came back anyway.) Emerick remained on friendly terms with the Fab Four and oversaw the building of Apple Studio.

He also recorded the Zombies and post-Beatles he worked with McCartney, Elvis Costello and everybody from Jeff Beck to Supertramp to Robin Trower (Bridge of Sighs.) Emerick published a controversial book called Here, There and Everywhere in which he downplayed Ringo and George’s contributions, George’s guitar playing and even George Martin’s producing skills(!) We love you anyway, Geoff.

**Speaking of the Beatles, here’s an odd trivia note I learned when I read Volume 2 of George Martin’s biography. It’s fairly well-known that Martin used to create orchestral versions of Beatles’ songs.

When Pink Floyd were recording “Eclipse” with Abbey Road Studios doorman Gerry O’Driscoll saying, “There is no dark side in the moon, really. Matter of fact, it’s all dark,” a “section of an orchestral version of ‘Ticket to Ride’ can be heard faintly at the very end of the recording. That was unintended: the music was playing in the background at Abbey Road when it was being recorded.” They pulled this from the shelves when it was discovered but I bet you can find plenty of copies out there:

**If you’re a blogger, you regularly get spam from people or organizations who seem to think you’ll be tricked by their “flattery” into selling stuff on your website by embedding URL’s. Below are a couple of my favorites. You’d never guess English was their second language:

“Hello my loved one! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all important infos. I’d like to look extra posts like this.”

“Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous sex and you are just extremely wonderful. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of sex keep it wise. I can not wait sex read far more from you. This is really a tremendous web site.”

**When the Stones recorded the song “Anybody Seen My Baby” for their 1997 Bridges to Babylon album, they discovered they had a little problem. As Keef relates in his autobio, Life, “My daughter Angela and a friend were at Redlands (Richards’ country house – ME) and I was playing the record and they start singing this totally different song over it. They were listening to k.d. lang’s ‘Constant Craving.’ It was Angela and her friend that recognized it.”

The two gave Lang credit, along with her co-writer Ben Mink. Lang said she was “completely honored and flattered” by receiving the songwriting credits.” (Heh. And I would have sued you bastards if you didn’t. – ME).

**I like the cover page on this blog. Oddly, looks like Kurt Cobain is the busboy.

**I was zipping around the interwebs looking for good blogs and stumbled on a site called The Top 100 Most Influential Music Blogs of 2018. I’m always up for seeing what the other guys and gals are doing. Imagine my surprise when I made my way down to #94 and found Music Enthusiast there. (On the list, but barely.)

That post has been up since February and I had no idea as no one contacted me or anything. I find it amusing that this blog can be deemed “influential” when the average album I review is some 40 years old. But, not to quibble. In the immortal words of Sally Field:

**Lastly, I was reminded by a note from Word Press the other day that I’ve been at this blogging thing for three years. So, there’s that. Onward!

Have a nice day! 😀

Images courtesy of Proud Galleries © Andrew Maclear, © Barrie Wentzell, © Morgan Howell, © LFI/Avalon, © Ola Svensson/Bilder i Syd and © Dave Davies.