Isley Brothers song, 1974, best soul band to come from these isles. Oh, and Robbie McIntosh on drums. Sweet.

Average White Band. Work To Do.

God, the bloody sun came out for a few minutes this afternoon! Little fluffy white things scudding across the sky as well. I must need a drink. Still, if it's Friday, not quite 5 to 5, it must be time for some jangly guitar. The sun made me put on a playlist called Here Comes The Sun and the shuffle threw this up first. I bloody love this tune. Delays and Wanderlust (2003, really?)

and all of those in the Massive going through relationship shit.
Someone called me a hopeless romantic the other day. It was meant as a term of endearment, as it usually is, but it grated with me. It struck me that it means ' a romantic without hope' and I'm the complete bloody opposite. I see the best in everyone and always think that good things will happen to good people. So I've decided that the phrase my work colleague meant to use was hopeful romantic. I hope, I hope, I hope. I'm going to see Paul Brady on Sunday night for the absolute umpteenth time. Many of my favourite nights have been in his company. I think he is the consummate songwriter. He writes about relationships, good and bad, the really hard stuff that we don't understand but all have to pretend we do. Reading Stick's post and the subsequent replies from Hannah, Dave and many others that I care about (even though we've never met) made me think of this song. "This helpless heart will always belong to you." Life can be shit. I can't believe some of the crap I've come through to get to this point, happy, content, satisfied with my lot and in love with the sunniest ball of fire you could ever hope to meet. Am I just lucky? Perhaps. Or perhaps my hopeful heart won out after all.

I'm partial to a well constructed and melodic dance choon, me. Trouble is, they're rarer than Shane MacGowan's teeth. This one is a classic of it's type; great melody, great sound and great vocal. Have a stonking weekend one and all.

Kelly Rowland, David Guetta "When Love Takes Over."

Been away on biz for a few days and this has been the soundtrack to my week. My mate sent it to me on one of his regular CD's and I haven't stopped playing it. It's one of those near ten minutes that I could happily have go for another ten. Sitting in a hotel room, missing my wife and listening to this just about finished me off. Glad its Friday, glad I'm home. Just glad. Give the one you love a hug and play this.

Richard Hawley - Remorse Code

11seconds at the start of a single in pop history. It's NOT just the riff (though it is the greatest riff ever written.) It's not just the "Ooww" (though it is one of the greatest Oowws in rock history.) it's the flam on the snare, before the backing vocals roar in, that seals the deal. It's perfect.

If you have a different opinion (yeah, right!) then give it your best shot.

My favourite Fannie makes a 'solo' album and it's gorgeous. Like Bob, I've been away for a while, following a bit of a shellacking from a couple of people on here. I'm a sensitive, fragile soul so it upset me. My problem? Maybe.
This album has been floating through my day and has made me yearn for evening sun, sitting in the garden and a glass of red. Sadly, it has heaved it down all day. I wish for better. Then, I always do.
Some people are just too fragile.

3 days with Slipstream, the new Bonnie Raitt album, and early indications are...really good. It sounds wonderful, Bonnie is in fine voice and the songs are very strong. The first single is Gerry Rafferty's 'Right Down The Line' (you know he's dead?)
The band have been so loyal to her (7 years off? How do you pay the bills?) and The Official Coolest Man In Rock, George Marinelli, is playing some wonderful guitar on this. Fantastic to have her back after her traumas. Now, let's see some U.K dates for next year, please?

just. Des & I have moved to Nottingham from Guildford. For him, it is one of many moves in a life of upheaval. For me, I am leaving home for the first time. Life will never be the same. We have moved into a 3 day week, industry that is on it's arse and a town that is jumping. We trawl Raleigh Bikes, Imperial Tobacco and anywhere that might give us a job. Nothing. We are in a B&B in West Bridgford. It is 1976 and I just want to go home. We become regulars in The Trent Bridge Inn and make friends with the locals. We get invited to a Saturday lock-in before Forest play Chelsea and revel in the involvement. The violence in the city is shocking. We don't last 2 months but it is the most important period of my life. We come home in December. Des stays with us for months after and, 36 years later, is still my best mate. There are times when I look back and shiver at the memory. There are times when I look back and smile at the fun, at the laughs and at the music we shared. This is our song.

There was a recent post about covers that were better than the original. I was away, so missed the chance to say I love Macca's version but Plonk & Sir Roderick sing the feckin' arse off this!

of the update to the Jess Roden update. Neil Storey has posted the track-listing for CD 5 of the JR Masters package. As Martin Tyler would say, "And It's live!"

http://www.neilstorey.blogspot.co.uk/

This currently has me bouncing round the house like a loon. As you were.

Morning Star by Fastball

He is 4 months off his 21st birthday. His band is falling apart at the seams. What were you (and I) doing at his age? Not this, I'll guess. Please give it up for the single greatest singer these islands have ever produced, Mr Paul Rodgers!

when the world stopped turning, the planets aligned and, fuck me, everything made sense! I chuffing hate the bleedin' phrase but in my very not so humble, pig-ignorant opinion, THIS is the toppermost of the poppermost 45 released in the 60's, EVAH! Sing the song, Stevie. If the sainted and oh so venerable Massive think any different, verily lay it on me, brother.

Look, it's Friday night and we've all had a drink.