What I Talk About On This Blog

Urban dictionary – Music Enthusiast – a person who is very driven or has a huge passion for music and the musical culture.

“Music is the international language – can make friends, bridge the geographical and cultural barriers, and perhaps promote a bit of international understanding.” – Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records.

This blog is here to chat about music, specifically rock, blues, jazz, soul, R&B and pop. (While I do like classical, I don’t know much about it and feel woefully inadequate to the task of writing about it. I’ll leave that to others who do a better job.)

I also have come to realize that part of my “mission” with this site is to keep older music alive, to let it not be forgotten. So it pains me when another blogger who teaches tells me his students don’t remember The Band or when people have never heard of, say, Sly and The Family Stone.

So in addition to current stuff, you will hear about those bands and you will hear about early rock and roll and you will hear about doo-wop. And if those don’t appeal to you, you are probably in the wrong place.

See my first post for more detail.

I encourage you to comment, suggest ideas for blogs, chit-chat, etc. (The comment section will ask for email and user name but I’ve turned those features off so you can post anonymously. I’ll still be moderating posts as there are a lot of crazies out there).

I’m generally posting about 1 – 2 times/week. Hopefully, that won’t barrage you with too much but it turns out I have a lot to say. Hopefully so do you.

BTW, I see this as a community of people who like to talk about music, not people who like to compete with or one-up each other. If that’s you, I’m sure there’s a blog for you somewhere. You won’t last long on this one.

27 thoughts on “What I Talk About On This Blog”

  1. Hey Jim. Seen you checked out ‘Head Hunters’. Brought me to your site. Quick glance and I see we have lots of common tastes. But it’s always cool to make some discoveries of old gems and new gems that were missed. Hey we only have so much time. Don’t worry about the “Clunkiness” it’s all about the music. If it sounds good I’m in. I’ll be popping in to take a look now and then. Later fella. ps Doo-wop? Are you kidding? I’ll take that any day.

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  2. Ok, well, welcome. I couldn’t remember what the ‘ciunkiness’ reference was as I wrote this like, a year ago. Long-since forgotten as an issue if it ever was. Doo-wop? Did it. Check it out on your next visit. Cheers!

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  4. I see where ‘catchgroove’ checked out your site. Said he’s enjoying it. He has a wealth of really good stuff over on his side of things. Does some real concise bits on new stuff, re-issues etc. He knows his stuff and keeps it positive. He packs a lot in.

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  6. Hi Guys,
    Hope you doing well. I got some exciting news for you.
    I’m excited to share that we have added you to our list of Top 20 music On The Web for 2017

    http://www.ukulelemusicinfo.com/blog/top-20-music-blogs-2017/

    If you have have any additions to the bio, photos, or comments, feel free to contact me.

    If you’re interested (I’m sure you’re readers would be😉), I’ve added a code for the “top music blogs” badge you can embed to your website:

    We love your work!

    Best,
    Dave

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  7. From Joseph Harlow (DRUMMER) in Great Yarmouth

    I have enjoyed your blog very much.

    I spent many years working as a professional musician and had the pleasure of backing many well known names over the years including Ronnie Carroll Skiffle legend Chas McDevitt and lRay Lewis and the legendary American vocal group THE DRIFTERS.

    A couple of years ago I took part in a documentary for the BBC called SEASIDE ROCK along with Peter Jay drummer with 1960’s band Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers about the Great Yarmouth music scene of the 1960’s.
    I have enclosed below a review of the documentary by Derek James for the Let’s Talk magazine with a link at the bottom for you to view the documentary SEASIDE ROCK which I hope you will all enjoy

    .SEASIDE ROCK DOCUMENTARY FILM

    LET’S TALK MAGAZINE REVIEW BY DEREK JAMES CALLED BEATING THE EAST COAST DRUM

    Beating the East Coast drum

    Lets Talk Magazine, Post on 26th August, 2015

    It was only the big names who hit the headlines. From the Shadows to the Beatles, but now a new documentary film turns the spotlight on the East Coast rockers. Derek James reports.

    Almost every place of any size across Norfolk and Suffolk had at least one. They shared the stage with many musicians who went on to be the best in the world. . . and what great times they had. So did we. The fans who jived and twisted to the exciting sounds of the ‘60s.

    While we handed over our money, usually about five bob, to see the likes of Gerry & The Pacemakers, the Shadows and even the Beatles, there were usually “local boys” who got the crowd warmed up. They were the groups formed by lads from all backgrounds, not just in Norwich or Ipswich, but in towns and villages across our region. There were dozens of them and they gave us so much pleasure.

    In fact, some were just as good as the headliners but they came from an unfashionable part of the country and didn’t have the luck. And it often came down to luck – getting the right break at the right time and getting one big hit that all groups needed.

    One did. Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers, formed at Norwich City College, had a top twenty hit with Can Can 62. Today the much-loved Peter is “Mr Yarmouth”, running the wonderful Hippodrome Circus, and he is one of those featured in a charming short documentary called Seaside Rock.

    It is a little beauty, mixing old footage with new, taking a look at the music scene in Great Yarmouth during the swinging ‘60s and chatting to members of local bands – the likes of Charlie Marsden, David McDermott, Peter Pease, Bron Parker, John George and members of a new band, Destination Mars.

    Along with The Jaywalkers there were several other good rock bands in Yarmouth – the Strangers, the Ramblers, the Mi££ionaires, the E-Types and others. Don’t you love those names!

    Being in a big holiday destination they had the opportunity of playing with the biggest bands and artists in the land.

    One of the music makers starring in the film is Joseph Harlow, who was born in Yarmouth 60 years ago. He loved playing the drums as a boy and was taken on by Trevor Copeman – remember that great band leader?

    He was resident at the Tower Ballroom. A talented musician. He was also at the Samson in Norwich and most of the other venues across East Anglia. Joe then went to London where he studied under renowned drum teacher George Fierstone and Martin Drew. He played with many famous names and also worked with top Norwich jazz pianist the late great Mike Capocci. Another rare talent and a lovely man.

    “Over the years I had the pleasure of playing with some wonderful musicians and backed many well known names,” said Joe. From Ronnie Carroll to The Drifters, Joe beat the drum for the best.

    That is what comes over in this film. The pure joy and fun these Yarmouth musicians got from entertaining locals and visitors alike at venues such as The Tower, the Garbaldi, Goodes Hotel, the Floral Hall, (Ocean Rooms), on the piers, the holiday camps, the clubs and pubs.

    Seaside Rock was created and made by students on a film making course led by course leader Brian Gardner, run by the Workers Educational Association and supported by BBC Voices and the Time and Tide Museum at Yarmouth. All those involved are to be congratulated on at last making some of the original East Coast rockers film stars. See it for yourself by going on Goggle, U-Tube and clicking on seaside rock film.

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    1. Well, thanks much. Glad you’ve been enjoying the blog. One of your comments seemed to be a repeat so I deleted it, the other two should post. I’ll definitely watch the documentary and if it seems like it’ll be of wider interest to readers, will note that in a future post. Thanks.

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    2. Hey, Joe. Just watched the documentary. Enjoyed it. Thanks for sending this. I think I’ll do a post on it. It’s a nice slice of musical life that a lot of us don’t know anything about. Watch for the post soon.

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        1. I am – for a reason I cannot explain – inundated with requests from Toronto. I’m starting to wonder if anybody up there is NOT in a band. I had to actually write back to musicians and reps up there and ask them to stop. Alas, you are collateral damage on this one. Sorry.

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