Just Wondering

What was the last series (be it TV, movie, book) that you got hooked on?

When you get hooked by something, do you watch/read everything all at once, or parcel them out to make it last longer?

What series really surprised you by being really great (or really stinky)?

Pink Floyd - Paintbox

Good Morning

John Betjeman: On Trains

John Betjeman On Trains by John Betjeman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What a little gem of a book this is, a present from my brother davesmusictank who is aware of my lifelong love of steam locomotives. John Betjeman (1906-84) was a devotee of the railways and probably the best-loved of English poets. He was a great champion of British heritage whose legacy lives on, not just in his poetry but in his diaries, broadcast and letters. This book will certainly appeal to those of a certain age - like me - who can remember the 50s and 60s with great affection. This beautiful volume, compiled by Jonathan Glancey, brings together some of JB's correspondences written on his travels and describes all that Betjeman found of value in the landscape and architecture of this country as it cuts a nostalgic, personality-filled arc through Betjeman's Britain - with some laugh out loud moments.

Betjeman had an acerbic wit and could level sarcastic comments at anyone. He did not suffer fools gladly and could at times be curmudgeonly when talking about modern architectural design.

In the 1960s Sir John Betjeman led a campaign to save St. Pancras Station and the Chambers from demolition. In tribute to the famous poet and railway enthusiast an 8.5ft sculpture by Martin Jennings was designed and stands in the concourse at St. Pancras.



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Bix and Jazz

Another cold wintry day. There was some sunshine but it has disappeared behind the threatening malignancy of the clouds.

There is no reason for me to venture out and I am awaiting a package to arrive.

Last night I finished the first season of the eighties drama The Beiderbecke Affair starring James Bolam and Barbara Flynn on Britbox. I loved the series when it first came out in 1985 as it features James Bolam as a woodwork teacher who is into jazz music.

Geordie Trevor Chaplin (James Bolam) teaches woodwork, enjoys football and is passionate about jazz. Jill Swinburne (Barbara Flynn) is interested in neither football nor jazz but teaches English and wants to help save the planet, standing in a local election as "your Conservation candidate". After Jill left her husband, her colleague Trevor began giving her lifts to school and from there a relationship blossomed. They have an easy-going relationship where half the words seem to be left unspoken but the viewer is never in any doubt as to the subtext.

The Beiderbecke Affair — set in Leeds in 1985 — is a character-led drama with a plot that initially appears rather unclear, moving as it does from one seemingly unrelated event to another. These events—and the characters involved with them—are eventually shown to be interconnected.

It all unravels to a soundtrack of jazz music in the style of Bix Beiderbecke. The theme song of the series uses the actual Bix Beiderbecke instrumental "Crying All Day" by Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra released in 1927 on Okeh Records and re-released in 1941 as part of the "Hot Jazz Classic" series on Columbia Records.

Theme tune

Sometimes I know how he feels -

It is a great series and I recommend the whole trilogy.

World Music Sunday

Global grooves time -

Aamina Camaari - Rag waa Nacab iyo Nasteexo (Men are Cruel and Kind)

Taken from Various Artists « Sweet as Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes from the Horn of Africa
(Ostinato Records LLC)

Emad Youssef - Al Bareedo Ana (The One I Love)

Abdou El Omari - Marsoul Alhoub

First issue of this previously unreleased Oriental psych monster from the organ king of Casablanca, combining traditional rhythms with spaced out modern sounds. Third part of Abdou El Omari's Nuits-trilogy. This album contains dazzling instrumentals spiced up with some traditional vocal parts. While playing his fine melodies Abdou switches swiftly from his "Farfisa Professional" mothership to an analogue ARP synthesizer. This new sound and funky wah guitar riffs give his music an extra-cosmic touch.

ENJOY

Snow ...

Good Night