Category Archives: Songwriters

The Band – Best of The Band

With the passing of Garth Hudson THE BAND is no more. I was listening to The Band well before I started listening seriously to Dylan. I encourage you to seek out or stream a collection and enjoy America’s finest Canadians bottling the spirit of the States in a way no one else has been able to do. Musically they had few if any peers as a collective group of musicians.
The Band – yes, THE band. Enjoy their legacy as with Garth Hudson’s passing we will not see their like again. TAKEN FROM MY BOOK ‘Tracks of our Years’ bit.ly/bookneal

CSNY, Joni Mitchell, The Band: Legendary Wembley Concert – Sept 14th 1974

Fifty years ago today (Sept 14th) on a glorious late summer day at London’s famous old Wembley Stadium a legendary concerts took place – CSNY, The Band, Joni Mitchell created never to be forgotton treasured moments under the iconic twin towers. I was there. There were special standout moments – Neil Young was captivating, Joni took your breath away as her voice soared around the stadium backed by the jazz tones of the L.A.Express. Please enjoy my reminiscences of a wonderful unrepeatable day – is it really fifty years ago?

Musical Reflections: Uncovering the Stories Behind My Vinyl Collection

Today, as I listen to the Bruce Springsteen ‘River’ album, I am wondering what it is that shapes our love of music and particularly a genre that we seem to stay with for life. To be fair I did come to Springsteen a little later in life although the seeds were already there for him to step into my collection. My reason for starting this journey through my past, to paraphrase Neil Young, was my father’s vinyl collection. My father died recently, and he left a vast collection of vinyl including 78’s which I suppose are technically shellac. His CD collection was even more extensive, but it was the vinyl that fascinated me.

Paul Simon – Live Rhymin’

Live ‘Rhymin’ is a largely forgotten gem in Paul Simon’s catalogue. It captures the Simon of the time beautifully, as well as giving an insight into how he must have sounded in those heady mid ’60s days touring the bleak Northern towns of England.

Joni Mitchell – Court & Spark

Blue is my favourite Joni Mitchell album and that will never change. However, I listen more often to Court & Spark. This is probably because of the musicality of the album and also it coincided with the only time I saw her perform live – at Wembley stadium in 1974. That was a never to be forgotten day when she blew all the cobwebs out of that old stadium with an exhilarating performance with Tom Scott and the L.A.Express. Please enjoy my new book of Musical Memories & bit.ly/bookneal

Bruce Springsteen – Darkness on the Edge of Town

It is this classic, definitive collaboration with the E-Street Band that is my number one go-to album by him. It is pre the superstardom he was to have. The process of making great art is pressed into these tracks on ‘Darkness.’

Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel

Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel Of all the albums I have ‘reviewed’ in my Vinyl collection up to now I would say this is the most difficult. Views on it will always be subjective, so I am writing this as an objective view looking back fifty years rather than how I may have felt backContinue reading “Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel”

Ralph McTell – Spiral Staircase

Ralph McTell – Spiral Staircase Before we headed out for a session at our local tennis club, my friend Chris would want to play an album. Our pre-exercise ritual. His brother was an enthusiastic and talented acoustic guitarist. We weren’t but wished we could pick the strings. We were better than him at tennis thoughContinue reading “Ralph McTell – Spiral Staircase”