The algorithm posted a clip of Nanci Griffith early on David Letterman’s show ('88) and I hope I never get to posting mere clips so here’s the full version of this glorious Julie Gold song made so famous by Bette Midler I guess . . . . . From a Distance
Nanci Griffith, "From a Distance" on Letterman, August 30, 1988
we miss her . . .
From the music of machines as Dylan was saying to the exact opposite and you could not get more authentically real with our Nance
"Composed by Julie Gold, performed here by Nanci Griffith two years before Bette Midler's massive hit."
And friend to the blog and neighbour (to me!) Diamond Dave dropped by to let me know the legendary drummer and session player Clem Catinni has died, his playbook checklist is frankly astonishing some folk believe he played on as many as 50 hits singles in the British Charts and was one of the first musicians I bought a single by via The Tornados - Telstar . . . heck I LOVED that single! I was 9!
The Tornados - Telstar
with Clem Catinni on drums
He played on literally hundreds (check his Wikipedia entry it is amazing! of the work of others as session drummer and was even considered before Bonham for Led Zeppelin but played with Cliff Richard to Lou Reed!! Has died aged 89
Kingfishr - The Sun Will Never Settle - Ireland 2026
an old friend and ex-colleague Pat C shared this on his Facebook page from, . . . what’s that file streaming bandit called? Oh yeah Spoti-arseness! So here's a live version from this year in Ireland!
The Sun Will Never Settle filmed in Ireland, June 2026.
Video by Casey King
with additional footage by Mikey Aldridge, Conor Beegan and Ronan O’Donnell
Drone footage by Aerial.ie
I loved Oldenburg from the get go as a precocious teenager discovering books on Pop Art for the first time (soft drum kit?) and would seek out his work wherever I could find it . . . . most memorable encounter a giant garden trowel in the grounds of the Sculpture Garden at Eindhoven in The Netherlands (see also Richard Serra Spin - off)
Revisiting Claes Oldenburg’s Monumental Sculptures: A Pop Art Legacy
Not my bag at all but Kostas always does such a brilliant job of profiling gold and the Canterbury scene no less than others we appreciated Daevid Allen, Steve Hillage and all the guests but that prog rock vibe is for others . . . check out the biog of a historically important UK Band here
Kostas says: "Gong are a rock band associated with the Canterbury scene. They incorporate elements of psychedelic rock, jazz and space rock into their musical style. Anarchic, experimental, and whimsical ensemble originally led by guitarist Daevid Allen, a founding member of the Soft Machine.The group was formed in Paris in 1967 by Australian musician Daevid Allen and English vocalist Gilli Smyth. Band members have included Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Steve Hillage, Mike Howlett, Tim Blake, Pierre Moerlen, Bill Laswell and Theo Travis. Others who have played on stage with Gong include Don Cherry, Chris Cutler, Bill Bruford, Brian Davison, Dave Stewart and Tatsuya Yoshida. “
hit the green link above to go straight there
ALBUMS DISCUSSED ON THIS POST
01.GONG - MAGICK BROTHER 1970
02.(DAEVID ALLEN) GONG - BANANA MOON 1971
03.GONG - CAMEMBERT ELECTRIQUE 1971
04.GONG - FLYING TEAPORT 1973
05.GONG - ANGEL'S EGG 1973
06.GONG - YOU 1974
07.GONG - SHAMAL 1976
08.GONG - GAZEUSE 1976
9.EXPRESSO II 1978
10.PIERRE MOERLEN'S GONG- DOWNWIND 1979
11.PIERRE MOERLEN'S GONG - TIME IS THE KEY 1979
For Urbanaspirine fans . . . .
The Canterbury Scene: An Interview with Steve Hillage & Daevid Allen - BBC South
Curiously ebullient and chatty (sniff sniff) Bobby expounding whilst drawing the interviewers portrait
on the future of music and how everything will be taken over by machines!
Bob Dylan talks about the future of mainstream music. Filmed on location in Hamilton, Ontario, during the making of the movie ‘Hearts of Fire’. This is an extract from a BBC TV ‘Omnibus’ documentary called ‘Getting to Dylan’, first broadcast in 1987.
