Out of 2022 – Into 2023

2022 followed in 2021’s wake, in that motivation continued to be lacking. Bizarrely, I had spurts of ambition and often planned a lot of things (& even started stuff), but then I just couldn’t follow it all through – #MindTheBand and #MindTheBard are two cases in point. I got some things written but it was like […]

Bondathon: Ranking the theme tunes (25-21)

Hardly an original idea, but it’s taken me until doing this Bondathon to consider the canon of theme tunes as a whole, rather than the regular few favourites. This isn’t an intensely analytical series by any means – it’ll mostly be subjective, with a little dash of objectivity thrown in every now and then. Maybe […]

“I Can Hear Music” – News of the World

Hot Stats Release date: 28 October 1977 UK chart peak: #4 Running time: 39:10 Singles: We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You (#2), Spread Your Wings (#34), It’s Late A perennial fan favourite, News of the World managed to reach the top 10 in most territories across the world: the Netherlands & France (#1), Germany […]

“I Can Hear Music” – Hot Space

Hot Stats Release date: 21 May 1982 UK chart peak: #4 Running time: 43:29 Singles: Under Pressure (#1), Body Language (#25), Las Palabras de Amor (#17), Calling All Girls, Staying Power, Back Chat (#40) Though it’s often looked back on unfavourably, Hot Space still managed to reach the top 10 in most territories across the […]

#MindTheBand 2022: round-up

Continuing the tradition of rounding things up in a belated fashion… I’m finally drawing a line under this year’s #MindTheBand! I’m still keeping everything crossed that they might decide to mark the 25th anniversary of Word Gets Around in concert fashion, but I’m well aware that this is quite unlikely; Stereophonics are well booked up over […]

#MindTheBand: “I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio” – Scream Above the Sounds

Performance (& Cocktails)Release date: 27 October 2017UK chart peak: #2Running time: 46:29Singles: All In One Night, Caught by the Wind Scream Above the Sounds had a mixed response from critics, but was still a hit with fans. It had a varied international performance, reaching the top ten in three other countries: Ireland (#9), New Zealand […]

#MindTheBand: “I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio” – Pull The Pin

Performance (& Cocktails)Release date: 12 October 2007UK chart peak: #1Running time: 46:25Singles: It Means Nothing (#12), My Friends (#32) Pull The Pin may not have been a hit with the critics, but it was no less popular with fans in the UK, giving the band their fifth consecutive number one album. It performed less well […]

#MindTheBand: “I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio” – Word Gets Around

Performance (& Cocktails)Release date: 25 August 1997UK chart peak: #6Running time: 42:02Singles: Looks Like Chaplin, Local Boy in the Photograph (original release – #51, re-issue – #14), More Life in a Tramp’s Vest (#33), A Thousand Trees (#22), Traffic (#20) Though Word Gets Around ended up performing incredibly well in the UK, eventually going 3x […]

Stereophonics: Oochya! (The Brighton Centre)

Saturday 26 March 2022 is a date that will live long in the memories of music fans across the world, being the date (for most) that heralded the news of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins’ death at the age of just 50. A desperately sad day, though made incredibly special & poignant as the tributes […]

#MindTheBand 2022: Diary

This time round I’ll be out & about quite a bit each day, whether I’m off to work or on day trips, so I thought it would be worth the effort of the diary post idea for 2022. As always, my daily endeavours will find their way onto my Instagram stories, so do keep an […]