Watching Lord of the Rings always always,always makes me think of Led Zeppelin in their mid seventies pomp - I mean check the inside of Led Zep IV - thats that wizard Gandalf isn't it??

Both book/film and band/record take themselves so seriously....and yet its so removed from reality......

...because music is such an aural experience I think the mind's eye has to conjure up links to keep the other senses happy. So sometimes these will come from childhood (I hope you're happy Freud) or things that you may think have happened sometime in the past (I know you said they're a given but maybe this accounts for moments like Joni Mitchell/Two Ronnies..I always think of Morecambe and Wise when I see Shirley Bassey but that actually happened didn't it?)
DJ's can be very powerful when remembering records too. I cannot ever listen to Little Star by Stina Nordenstam without thinking of Mark Radcliffe, as he was the first person I heard play it.
Then there's the weight of history.. Is there anyone who doesn't think of John Lennon when Catcher In The Rye is mentioned?

Think you are spot on Stuart. I grew up with the radio on all day and every time i hear DLT i think only 2 minutes to W.O.L.D.
The thing for me is i can't remember any of them until the moment i'm experiencing the Song,Person etc.
Yesterday i heard "Drivers Seat " and Paul Burnett came into my head and wondered if DJs still had Powerplays.
This is the joy of music for me. It's a time machine.Also the reason i love the internet. Not that i don't live for the present but let's be honest we all like to go back every now and then.

...Cheese and wine get better with age and music does too. So much of the media is based around "New Music" (pointing finger at Zane Lowe) but Music + Time is much more interesting to me. Perhaps I'm a frustrated historian. Enjoyed reminiscing, Paul.