The Big 4-0: Part Two...

Happy 40th Birthday mate. Welcome to the big 4-0! It comes to us all you know...

A Trip To The Arcade

While you're waiting for the next entry on this site - why not take a trip to the Tea & Symphony Arcade...

Pac Man

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2002/f_pacman-p1.php

Asteroids

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2004/f_asteroids-p1.php

Space Invaders

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2002/f_space_invaders-p1.php

Christmas Invaders

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2003/f_xmas_invaders-p1.php

Air Hockey

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2006/ikoncity-air-hockey-p1.php

Tea & Symphony - Volume IV

'Tea & Symphony Volume IV: Days Gone Down' is ready to fly on Monday 11th December. Another double CD of 30 tracks (plus one bonus) for your listening pleasure compiled July-November 2006.

It's where I am musically, lyrically and emotionally right now

Into The Blue..

Right then - lots of news to tell you about - so let's get to it!

ELO - Pictured above (sort of!) are scheduled to release remastered editions of 'Out Of The Blue' and 'Balance Of Power' next year. The Face The Music website is now just showing a title page and a rather cryptic lyric quote! Hopefully more details soon.

Just one request: 'Out Of The Blue' is my all time favourite album and has been since I was 15 years old so please get this right lads!

Roy Wood - A remastered version of 1973's "Wizzard Brew" was released on 27th November with bonus tracks - mainly the 1973 singles and flipsides.

Sparks - Their show at London Forum on 5th October was filmed with a view to a future DVD release.

Cliff Richard - 'Tea & Symphony' is a pro-Cliff zone and I'm having no truck with those radio stations that sneer at either the man or his music! So I'll be taping a three part documentary series on Radio 2 called 'Cliff - Take Another Look' which airs on 12,19 & 26 December.

Emma Bunton - Released her new album 'Life In Mono' on 4th December. If you get chance checkout Emma's website at http://www.emmabuntonofficial.co.uk/Emma/ as I think it's a neat little website and the 'live action' images of Emma on the left of the screen are a nice touch.

Jon Anderson - From Yes has gone completely mental and is releasing five albums simultaneously with a further 15 to follow!! This is all part of a Jon Anderson's 'The Lost Tapes' series. Further details of which can be viewed here: http://www.jonboxset.com/ Flippin' eck! And I was trying to slow down on buying CDs too!!

Judie Tzuke - Has announced dates for a UK tour in 2007 but sadly isn't coming anywhere near the West Midlands this time. Ah well. Support on the tour will include Judie's daughter Bailey Tzuke who is currently working on her debut album. Further details can be found at Judie's site here:

http://www.tzuke.com/

And Bailey's site here:

http://www.myspace.com/baileytzuke

Incidentally, Bailey also has video diary podcasts available to download (for free) via i-tunes.

Billy Idol - Has recorded an album of Christmas standards called 'Happy Holidays' . Tracks include 'Frosty The Snowman' and 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'. Be afraid. Be very afraid...!

Hall & Oates - Also have a Christmas album with some of the proceeds going to charity. Further details can be found here:

http://www.wherehouse.com/music/product-detail.jsp?id=2653711

10cc - Graham Gouldman & Kevin Godley have been working on some new material which, at the moment, is available exclusively via their website http://www.gg06.co.uk/songs/index.htm

Van Halen - Dave Lee Roth & the Van Halen Brothers are reuniting for a tour. Details to be announced in the new year.

Bucks Fizz - All five members of the original Bucks Fizz line-ups including Shelley were together for the first time ever to appear in a video for Comic Relief next year. A few small pictures and a message from Shelley can be found at her website
http://www.shelleypreston.co.uk/

Nik Kershaw - Has a new album called 'You've Got To Laugh' released on his own label, further details can be viewed here: http://www.nikkershaw.net/

Quote of the week: "I Just love the England Man!!"

Macca vs Mucca

When Heather demanded £80 million pounds and Paul's £8 million pound home in her divorce settlement, Paul decided to take matters into his own hands...

The Heat Goes On...

Three days prior to the Human League gig Colin, Dave & myself went to see the original Asia line up at the Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton. It was one of the best concerts I've seen for a long time.

I'd seen the John Payne/Geoff Downes Asia a couple of times (2002, 2005) and they were very good both times but this was in another league entirely.

The band performed two sets separated by an interval. Set One consisted of 'Time Again', 'Wildest Dreams' , 'One Step Closer' , the old Yes classic 'Roundabout', 'Without You', 'Cutting It Fine', an acoustic spot by Steve Howe ('From The Balcony' and 'Mood For A Day') and 'Fanfare for the Common Man' (fine keyboard work from Geoff Downes on this one).

Set Two consisted of 'The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (acoustic)', a fine acoustic version of ' Don't Cry' (I first heard that song in 1983 in a hotel room in Paris!), the majestic and funereal 'In the Court of the Crimson King' (I was very surprised they did that one!), 'Here Comes the Feeling', a full band version of 'Video Killed the Radio Star' (!!), a fabulous version of 'The Heat Goes On' incorporating a spectacular drum solo from Carl Palmer, 'Ride Easy' (acoustic') 'Only Time Will Tell' and , 'Sole Survivor'.

The sight and sound of Steve Howe adding a guitar solo to 'Video Killed The Radio Star' with Carl Palmer on drums and a grinning Geoff Downes in ray-bans and a tasteless retro jacket was as wonderful as it was surreal!

I'd waited 24 years to see this incarnation of Asia and it was even better than I thought it would be. A world class rock band on top form in a small, nearby venue. Worth £16 of anyone's money I'd say.

Empire State Human

On Monday 4th December Dave , Steve & myself went to see the Human League at Wolverhampton Civic. I have to say they were superb. I've seen them twice before at Birmingham Odeon (1987) and Wolverhampton Civic (1995) but they've considerably upped their game since then; they've even got a stage set and projections for crying out loud!

Highlights of the show for me were 'Love Action' ' Mirror Man' ' The Lebanon' ' Don't You Want Me' (obviously!), a cracking version of 'Empire State Human' , 'Being Boiled', 'Sound Of The Crowd' and Susan Sulley in a variety of rather fetching outfits! She's not someone I would normally say that I'm attracted to but when you see her in person, on stage, there's definitely something about her...

The other highlights were a really superb atmosphere and the sight of a very young girl - couldn't have been much more than four years old - sitting on her parents shoulders, waving her hands in the air and copying Joanne Catherall! Bless. Not sure what she made of all the flashing lights and early eighties electronic dance/pop mind...

The support act were an Irish electronic band called Neosupervital. They have their own site which can be viewed here:

http://www.myspace.com/neosupervital

A Few Pictures From The Human League Gig

Bird Flu

How to prevent Bird Flu this winter...