Songs to Learn and Sing

As Bobby mentioned with his choice of song yesterday, I spent the weekend in the Cotswolds with him, Ray, George and Dagenham Trash: a reunion with friends that I have known for most of my life. And the fact I have known them that long makes me feel very old. Back half a lifetime ago, [...]

Amazingly. Indeed, inexplicably we are yet to feature Dusty Springfield in our catalogue of wonderfulness. How has that happened! 461 songs have made it onto our pages before one of Dusty’s – we should be thoroughly ashamed! Perhaps it’s because she didn’t write her own stuff, but nor did Aretha Franklin or Elvis for that [...]

We’ve had a bit of a spat. It’s not a new thing this – as a group, back in the day, some of our rows were legendary – I only have to mention Namibian Mineworkers. We’re all in the right in this particular row – we’re just right in our own particular ways. But, like [...]

In another time and another place, it was a hot summer – I would lie in my bed and listen to my vinyl copy of the album Blood On The Tracks on my little white record player. I knew very little about Bob Dylan, I did not understand that this was the album in which [...]

Devon and Cornwall week! I ask you! What next? Rotherham week? Chipping Norton week? A week of songs about fish? I have to admit that I was struggling with Devon and Cornwall week, the Wurzels were looking increasingly attractive and then, in a strange stroke of luck, I happened to be doing some research into [...]

Yesterday, Bobby West laid down the challenge of ‘Devon and Cornwall theme week’ for Songs To Learn And Sing.  Bobby’s only been posting for a fortnight and he’s already calling theme weeks.  Cheeky bastard! I can’t help reflecting that Ray’s Welsh week or Bobby’s D&C week don’t offer the same quality of material to work [...]

Muse are an interesting band, who, from memory caused a bit of a schism amongst the four of us at Allthatsleft the last time we got together and imbibed. It is true that they are prone to a little bit of pompous grandiosity – but, at the same time, one can’t deny a few things [...]

Finally, I’ve found a 2012 song worthy of posting here at Songs To Learn And Sing.  It was almost two months ago that I was bemoaning the lack of songs this year worth featuring.  Since then, both George and Ray have posted songs from 2012 (in the latter case, after a false turn) but I’ve [...]

The last song on the album. The final note. The last beat. Afterwards no more. It’s been great. And now, there’s nothing left apart from playing the album again (and again if it’s that good) and waiting for the band to record their next one, which you will listen to hoping (often in vain), that [...]

Four days ago, I suggested the idea of a Songs To Learn and Sing theme week based on great closing album tracks.  At the time, I said that the only real competition to the Stone Roses’ I Am The Resurrection came from The Beatles. So here we are: for me the greatest of the lot. [...]