In the spirit of Samuel Beckett’s ‘Mirlitonnades’ – literal and literate scraps he wrote on torn envelopes and ciggie packets (he smoked Gauloises) – I wrote the following piece in around 33 and a Third minutes for an ‘instant book’ an acquaintance was assembling on the subject of Christmas Music. It’s probably for sale somewhereContinue reading “Christmas Monkee Business”
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A Dream Where The Contents Are Visible: Van Morrison’s ‘Poetic Champions Compose’ (1987)
If you have seen the current expensive looking advert for Cunard’s expensive looking cruises (‘I wonder, I wonder…’) you have heard the voice of British philosopher Alan Watts (1915-1973). This reminded me of a favourite Van Morrison song, ‘Alan Watts Blues’ from 1987, tucked away in the middle of side two of perhaps the smoothestContinue reading “A Dream Where The Contents Are Visible: Van Morrison’s ‘Poetic Champions Compose’ (1987)”
Oh, I Just Couldn’t Say… ‘Hard To Believe’
Having uploaded a piece on ‘Someday Man’ and ‘A Man Without A Dream’ to this blog recently, people were kind enough to say they liked it, and asked about other song analyses that were cut for reasons of space from my book The Monkees, Head and the 60s. There are lots, enough for another bookContinue reading “Oh, I Just Couldn’t Say… ‘Hard To Believe’”
Tomorrow’s a new day, baby: The Monkees and ‘Someday Man’
Another in the occasional series of pieces which didn’t make it to my book The Monkees, ‘Head’ and the 60s, a volume which Michael Nesmith, Bob Rafelson and Jack Nicholson all praised to my face. Did I mention that before, somewhere? Might have done. This close look at ‘Someday Man’ and its unjust obscurity wasContinue reading “Tomorrow’s a new day, baby: The Monkees and ‘Someday Man’”
Sock It To Me: The Monkees and ‘Goin’ Down’
This is one of my occasional posts of material left on the cutting room floor of my 2016 book The Monkees, Head and the 60’s. If you like it, check out my book here http://jawbonepress.com/the-monkees-head-and-the-60s/ What’s the connection between Mose Allison, Breaking Bad and The Monkees? We’ll get to the TV show but Allison wasContinue reading “Sock It To Me: The Monkees and ‘Goin’ Down’”
Vinyl Fetishes…
In the last year or so I’ve had the chance to do some interesting little side projects for the BBC (Time Travellers for Radio 3) and for a magazine or two – one of which was writing a few small things for Record Collector magazine, a monthly which appeals to me because, well, y’know, IContinue reading “Vinyl Fetishes…”
Going, Going, Gone…Pop, Museums and Auctions
‘Going, Going, Gone’ is one of Bob Dylan’s less well known tunes. It’s on Planet Waves, his one and only studio album not to appear under the bright tangerine colours of Columbia/CBS. It came out on Chris Blackwell’s Island label in the UK and David Geffen’s Asylum in the US, a substantial coup for bothContinue reading “Going, Going, Gone…Pop, Museums and Auctions”
Different Drum: the adventures of a song
In 2016 my book The Monkees, Head and the 60s was published by Jawbone Books. It’s been a great success, which pleases me no end. It’s long enough, but as is my wont, I wrote at least twice as much material as ended up in the final version. So every now and then I willContinue reading “Different Drum: the adventures of a song”
The Monkees: The Mike and Micky Show (Rhino 2020)
In a recent chat on Facebook Michael Nesmith said that he was happy that the new Monkees live album The Mike and Micky Show had come out because it captured ‘something temporary’. This is true of everything, really: it’s all temporary. All things must pass. However with specific reference to The Monkees it is particularlyContinue reading “The Monkees: The Mike and Micky Show (Rhino 2020)”
Covers #3: Hej, Jude
You know that idea of ‘rabbit holes’? Often applied to Youtube watching; you start looking at one clip, next thing you know you’ve been gazing at ‘related videos’ for about three hours. Well my current rabbit hole is (or are) translations of hit songs from English into other languages. Now, for better or for worse,Continue reading “Covers #3: Hej, Jude”
Pete Sounds 