A friend writes:

'I was reading an article in the Evening Standard yesterday about Eddy Grant getting annoyed about Gorillaz possibly nicking the melody of one of his songs: http://godwin.thisislondon.co.uk/2010/03/did-damon-ape-eddy.htm.
What interested me was what he was saying about ‘Copyright law, it has been observed, was written with white musicians in mind. You are not allowed to copy someone else’s lyrics or melody, but rhythms and basslines are fair game.

Could any of the massive help him out?

Amid the welter of re-appraisals of classic albums as 'not very good' or 'total abortions' that have become de riguer around these parts in recent days, I was reminded by something the oul fella said to me nearly 25 years ago.
As he was praising Ralph McTell to hilt in a bid to get me to expand my horizons from whatever narrow passing indie trend I was into at time, he was met with a volley of abuse about the Tickle on the Tum hitmaker.
His reply was perfect: "Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's rubbish." And, much though I hated to agree with him then as now, he was right.
On any scale of success, either sales or critical/ fan approval, 'London Calling' and 'Trout Mask Replica' among others, are great albums. They live beyond their times because they have an enduring appeal which allows them to transcend the contemporary.
Just because you don't care for them doesn't make them bad.
And anyway, the reappraisal of the 'canon' in any art form almost inevitably leads to diametrically opposed verdicts than those originally given. And, it's almost always pointless posturing.

I'm up late (with four pack of Tanglefoot inspired by the bitter thread) for the latest stage of the European season opener stage race Paris Nice.
I flippin' love professional cycling, in fact I love watching any kind of cycling, including junior and senior races at my local 1k track (Litherland Park Sports Centre).
I know there's a few rouleurs in the massive - what are your predictions for the season?
Depending on entries/ injuries, I predict:
a) Contador for two of the Grand Tours (with some ease despite having a crackpot team)
b) Armstrong to struggle in Le Tour to even get a top 10 (amid further 1999 allegations) and still criminally get the majority of the coverage.
c) Boasson Hagen to upstage Wiggo and emerge as Sky team leader.
d) Cav to struggle with a poorer lead out train in the tours, but win one or two of the spring classics. Hopefully he'll also to be in the mix for a favourable worlds course and then take Britain's first road race rainbow band since Tom Simpson.
e) Wiggo to win his first grand tour stage in a time trial - can't expect much more given grand tours' routes.
f) Cancellara to take Paris Roubaix, because he is awesome.

I MOSTLY listen to speech radio now as a) commercial music radio is just too aggravating and b) I'm a news junkie more than a music fiend.
Of the other options: I can't tolerate Radio 1, fear Simon Mayo is turning me Radio 2 (but only while cooking the dinner) and I haven't got the 6Music habit back after its shocking treatment of Gideon Coe.
But there are a number of great radio shows I often miss and would dearly love a global iPlayer/ on demand service to record.
The play lists below will show why.
But are there any other shows I should be dipping into once in a while? Let me know.

Stuart Bailie
NME alumnus Bailie keeps the heritage of great music on BBC Radio Ulster started by Mike Edgar and kept going by Ralph McLean and Colin Murray.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/stuartbailie/

John Kelly
Former BBC Radio Ulster jock John Kelly has the most eclectic play lists in all music - like Late Junction squared. Surely the only show with Oscar Peterson, Sigur Ros and Debussy on the same night.
http://www.rte.ie/lyricfm/jk/1248971.html

Paul McLoone
The current lead singer with the Undertones, this show is surely The Word on the airwaves? No? Perhaps plays too much of the Mancunian 'How Soon is Now?' hitmakers to be totally Word.
http://www.todayfm.com/shows/weekdays/paul-mcloone/Blog.aspx

Myself and Jamie Bowman recently did a great wee podcast - how about doing one at a Liverpool link-up?
We could do one on The Word and related ephemera and it would naturally be done on licensed premises.
Let me know if you fancy it.

Phil Jones, '.co-editor...contributor, distributer, seller, layout/designer, Pisshead' of the now legendary fanzine The End has copies of some of the most memorable covers and pics up on Photobucket.
http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/fatskin/The%20End/
A long mooted book, which encountered problems with a previous prospective publisher, is promised for this year.

Some months ago I posted a video featuring this Rolling Stone writer as he posited that old style music reviewing is dead the future is Twitter-style short form.
This is an interesting piece about what he did next.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/feb/18/twitter-rock-reviews-box-set
BTW: I don't think you can do much justice to records if you review 1,000 in a year.

I spent an inordinate time crafting a long, wordy review of Dr K for another magazine which I thought I could simply cut and paste to here, but alas, it's not right for the site.
Actually, as it goes, this review by Dr K says more about the man's genius than I ever could.
The best film review of all time. Apologies to all who have seen before.

Inspired by the concurrently running thread about famous people who aren't very nice, I would like to express my deepest admiration for Dr Mark Kermode - I hope he is lurking here at the parish noticeboard.
A brilliant raconteur and performer, (I'll do a My Night with... for Monday) he put in a great shift entertaining the troops while promoting his new book at FACT in Liverpool last night.
Then during the signing he was interested enough to listen to and answer some questions on Bob Fosse from a couple of students, offering them essay advice.
And from a FACT insider I know, the very essence of unstarry, niceness off stage.
It's always a tremendous relief to find this out about the ones you admire.

What are the small, often tiny, bits of songs you truly cherish. Mine are mostly vocal inflections, any of the musical variety?
Here's mine:
1. The high pitched way Weller says 'society's got' in Going Underground
2. Deelite: 'I couldn't dance with another, *ah ha, ah ha*
3. Clash, 'Mag 7': 'Fuckin' long, ain't it?'
4. Clash, 'London Calling': 'Ow ow, ow ow, ow ow, ow ow...'
5. Public Enemy, 'Don't Believe the Hype,': 'Harry Allen, I gotta ask him: Are we that type?' (Sotto voce) 'Don't believe the hype.'
6. Steve Harley, 'Come up and see me...': 'Guitaaar..' just before a *great* solo.
7. The first bar of Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone' - life changing, and I really mean that
8. The Hold Steady: 'Tramps like us, and we like tramps...'

Got this from a blogger pal in Liverpool - it's the original 'proposal' document sent to HBO by David Simon.
As far as I can see it is kosher.
The detail is amazing and it is interesting to see the changes made either through casting (Judge Phelan ain't here) or development by writers.
I have been fascinated by it all day today.
Plus Stringy Bell ain't anywhere nearly as hip as Stringer.
Hope it is OK to use scribd, Fraser?

The Wire - Bible

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/vic-chesnutt-singer-dies/

At mass this morning, just as the gospel started with the words: 'In the beginning there was the Word,' I noticed a stranger to our congregation sitting opposite us in a Fairport Convention rugby shirt.
Was he sent to walk among us by Hepworth and Ellen?
He didn't have a beard though...

Santa's been while we were out the back for a gasper; turkey, veg, stuffing, soup and trimmings done. Computer been banned to the 'office', but using my phone, am I the only sad sack still here? (Listening to non festive Beulah). Who else is here?

He's seven years dead today. Just wanted to mark it.

To quote Bubbles, I know I'm equivocating like a motherfucker here. But for all his faults and his obvious feet of clay and contradictions and the inevitable naysayers who'll post negatively on this strand, all his music still means the world to me.
And no words from any pop star have ever affected me so greatly as those in the clip above.
All the best