Unemployment is on the rise, the subprime mortgage industry has crashed, and they say the economy is the worst since the Great Depression.  The bigwigs at NBC are well aware of these dire economic times and their new creation The Jay Leno Show proves it.

The new talk show, intended to be a spin-off of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, is the first talk show aired during prime time, in a coveted 10 p.m. hour slot on Monday, since the 1950s.  Rather than foot the bill for an expensive hour-long drama that could cost the studio up to $3 million, NBC chose the inexpensive route by funding the comedic antics of much loved Jay Leno.  And costing a mere $350,000 to $400,000 each episode, Leno saves NBC $13 million a week.  A job well done, NBC execs: frugal spending in bad economic times.

But as far as the quality of the show, the old adage rings true: You get what you pay for. Jay’s new talk show is a dressed up version of The Tonight Show, but they are essentially one in the same.  NBC makes no apologies for this; Jay Leno is their biggest star and, at a salary of around $30 million a year, they’ll obviously do whatever it takes to keep him.

The October 19^th show began with the traditional late night stand-up routine, a mixture of jokes ranging from awkward to racy to funny.  Important to consider is Leno’s new audience here–a mixture of old, die-hard fans and newbies looking for an easy laugh at an early hour.

Most of his jokes bordered on inappropriate and some were way over the top (making light of divorce and affairs, calling reality TV stars “hateful and untalented”).  Some were funny (Cheney would have shot balloon boy down), and some simply fell flat. Regardless, Leno’s stand-up routine was a good source for odd, quirky news and a good wrap-up for the week’s debauchery in the world of celebrity, which is a main interest of his new prime time audience.

Singer Rod Stewart gave a smart interview promoting his new album; he was very quick on his feet and entertaining.  Again with the recession feel, Stewart was made to work for his promotion in a segment “Earn Your Plug,” in which he spun a wheel to determine what song he sang.  “I plugged this, you have to earn it,” quipped Leno, awkwardly.  An endearing, nostalgic rendition of “It’s the Same Old Song” commenced.

Next there was the “Green Car Challenge”, a segment where a celebrity races in an electric Ford Focus around a track filled with various obstacles in an attempt to set a new record.  Celebrities compete with one another, and in this episode we watched as Serena Williams set a new record. A cute idea, if you overlook the blatant product placement and rather lackluster action.

The Jay Leno Show is at its best when its laughs come from real people, real happenings, and ridiculousness in real life.  A segment with Owen Benjamin, where he went to local businesses and wrote them a jingle was funny because of the real people he interacted with.  The segment “Headlines, ” a throwback from The Tonight Show, was hilarious because of the inanity of the real people making the mistakes.  The rest of the show’s segments seem forced, awkward and worst of all, scripted.

NBC thinks they’re beating the system with The Jay Leno Show, but in actuality they are boring their audience.  They are wrongly assuming a lack of sophistication in the average prime time viewer. People want entertainment in the prime time hour.  They tune in to watch actors act, not be interviewed.  They want larger-than-life; they want an escape from news–oriented reality. NBC is unapologetically whoring themselves to the world of reality television, and doing so without the slightest bit of creativity.

It’s recession, people. Blame it on the recession.

-Maggie Summers

Pavarotti, Robert Plant, Freddie Mercury, Joni Mitchell, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey and uh…. Geri Halliwell.  

So I have something in common with a lot of great singers and a ginger lady.

Greetings from the fringes of the Sahara. Life here has turned a little dusty and blowy in recent days. I fear the long endless summer may be over and a north African winter is upon us. Dust devils play in the streets that were, only a few weeks ago, alive with the sound of squealing motor bikes and throaty automobiles of young Tripolitans.

October is quite a splendid month here on reflection. The debilitating humidity lifts and a warm air blows across the city whilst a beautiful clear light in the mornings and evenings bathes the numerous mosques, building sites and cranes.

Driving

The past month found Mrs L and the small L’s descending on my orderly and quiet existence, an existence that was further disrupted when I was required to tackle the mean roads of Tripoli under the expert tuition of Don, an ex-body guard from Wales, on my defensive driving course. The course involved me having to drive, at high speed, towards orange cones in an empty car park before slamming the brakes on and swerving to miss the obstacle in my path. Don then took me onto the streets and proceeded to tutor me in the finer details of the minds of the good, the bad and the ugly behind the wheels of Tripoli’s V8 engines. Libya is statistically the third most dangerous place in the world in which to drive, Don told me as I gingerly made my way along the dual-carriage way that is the main shopping street in rush-hour traffic. While I was digesting this rather alarming piece of information and attempting to avoid the uncovered manholes in the road, I was forced to take evasive action in order not to hit a fellow road user who decided that he was indeed traveling in the wrong direction and should in fact be on my side of the road. A swift handbrake turn found him slotting into the spot between me and the car in front. As I recovered my fragile composure I was met by a second car heading straight towards me on the wrong side of the road. “Expect the unexpected,” sage Don murmured as the driver mounted the pavement, got out and hurried into the shop he had wanted to visit.

The Captain

Shortly before the arrival of Mrs L, I bumped into Tawfiq (a hunter friend – who I met when I was having coffee with Awar, a retired police helicopter pilot), in the supermarket near our apartment. I have yet to work out how, but Tawfiq is constantly spitting out small pieces of pistachio nut shell, although I never see him actually putting anything into his mouth. I asked him if he knew where I could find a sprung mattress for N’s cot. His English is not terrific so in order to understand precisely what I was asking he phoned his brother, Dr Ali, in Britain. I relayed to Dr Ali what I was after (to my relief he confirmed that I was right not to be purchasing a foam mattress) and instructed me to hand the phone back to Tawfiq. I finished paying for my groceries and apologised profusely to the large queue behind me as Tawfiq gathered my shopping up and strode out to a car where he introduced me to Captain Osama. The Captain is a MIG fighter pilot in the Libyan Air Force. Captain Osama, Tawfiq and I then spent the next hour driving around Tripoli searching for my sprung cot mattress. I apologised for my sweaty demeanor as I had just finished playing football (and I was slightly nervous in such esteemed company), but Captain Osama told me not to be so British and to stop apologising and squirted me with some Tunisian Jasmine perfume and said it would no longer be a problem. Whilst we drove Captain Osama showed me a video clip on his mobile phone of a Libyan MIG crashing (which apparently took place a couple of weeks previously). He knew both pilots who died in the spiralling jet. “The Russians turned this generation of their MIG’s into scrap metal ten years ago,” he informed me as he put his phone away. He then rummaged in his glove compartment and handed me Nelly Furtado’s latest album which he said I could have as he had two copies. We finally found a mattress shop that could provide me with what I was after and Captain Osama and Tawfiq took me home. Before they headed off for something to eat (this is where they were going before the mattress saga began) Tawfiq got out of the car to say goodbye and ruffled my hair like one would do to a small boy: “If you need anything, phone me.”

Sink

Towards the end of the month I came across a horse festival that was being held on a strip of land between the sea and a large cemetery. It transpired that the festival was a pre-wedding gathering attended entirely by men and children. The participants had travelled from far and wide, many not even knowing the groom or his family. It was the the riding that they had come for. Teams of riders, wrapped in white cloth, astride Arab horses champing and frothing at their decorative bits would attempt to gallop the length of the ‘beach’ in a straight line without any member breaking rank. The winning team was the one that maintained this discipline as best as possible. Many of these high speed charges were made by the teams along the dusty beach. It was here that I fell into conversation with Khaled, a lecturer in electronic engineering at the university in Tripoli, whose son was riding one of the family horses. Khaled, a bulky man, was hobbling around with a flimsy looking walking stick and one leg heavily bandaged as, he told me, he had cut the tendons in his ankle when the sink he was washing his foot in had come away from the wall and shattered on the floor. Another rider who introduced himself from upon high was the ex-Libyan ambassador to Spain and Venezuela (“Hugo is a very good friend of mine” he told me when I mentioned President Chavez’s name – as if I knew him.). He spoke beautiful English and introduced me to his over-weight and sweaty son, another rider, who looked slightly uncomfortable on his large horse.

Cliff Richard

Abdul the dry cleaner, who talks in a very sing-song voice (a voice which always leaves me feeling slightly ridiculed for some reason), sang Cliff Richard’s We Don’t Talk Anymore, followed by Wired for Sound, and Rod Stewart’s Baby Jane. I’d only gone in to have a sheet repaired and told him my name, for what I assumed was purely for invoicing purposes. I can only guess as to why he branched out into Mr Stewart’s back catalogue. He now greets me as Mr. Robert every time I walk past his shop. All very confusing. Perhaps it is the strong cleaning fluids they seem to use here. No concern for the environment is obvious, but then again there is no Waitrose either.

Parece que los viejos rockers se resisten a dejar paso a las nuevas generaciones y, desde aquí, se lo agradecemos con muchas ganas (hay sitio para todos). Tras su separación en 1975, consecuencia de la incorporación del guitarrista Ronnie Wood en los Rolling Stones, a principios de este año corrían rumores de que algunos componentes de la mítica banda se juntarían para volver a grabar de nuevo, un disco que sería el sucesor de “Ooh La La”, siendo el fallecido Ronnie Lane sustituido por Flea de los Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Cuando el río suena agua lleva. No tenemos el disco y no está confirmado que vuelvan a grabar nuevas canciones, pero sí tenemos información sobre una gira que va a volver a reunirlos de nuevo en el 2010 tras el acercamiento que vivieron en el Royal Albert Hall de Londres, cuando subieron al escenario sin contar con la voz de Stewart. Un dulce aperitivo para los recuerdos de una banda que no pudieron obviar la miel de los labios.

Pese a las expectativas creadas por el cantante Rod Stewart, quien parecía querer volver a formar parte del proyecto finalmente su voz no estará presente porque, dicen, está muy centrado en sus nuevos proyectos.

Sin embargo, puede que le viniera bien teniendo en cuenta que se enfrenta a una demanda por impago de facturas por valor de 2,2 millones de euros (claro que si son ciertos los rumores de impago no será por falta de capital).

El teclista Ian McLagan no tuvo reparos en mostrar su impaciencia ante la puesta en marcha de la gira aclarando que “si no lo hacemos muy pronto, uno de nosotros va a facturar hacia otro sitio. ¡Tengo 64 años, por el amor de Cristo! Hemos estado esperando y esperando para que Rod dijera que sí; ahora que finalmente ha dicho que no y que está ocupado haciendo otra mierda, vamos a hacerlo”.

La banda quedará formada así: el ex-Rolling Wood a la guitarra, Ian McLagan a los teclados, Kenney Jones a la batería y nuevos componentes. Se plantea la voz de Mick Hucknall, de Simply Red, como sustituto de Stewart.

Well.

Been AWOL for a while, but I now return with another entry in my ever expanding cache of pointless lists that nobody asked for.

Recently I was involved in a discussion about cover songs. No, I don’t know why. The point is, it spawned this little ditty -

The Top Ten Cover Songs You Probably Didn’t Even Realize Were Cover Songs.

It really is exactly what it says.

Ten: “The Man Who Sold the World.” (Nirvana)

I almost hate to admit it, but I think I genuinely prefer Nirvana’s live, unplugged version of this song to David Bowie’s 1970 original album version. While such a statement may seem somewhat blasphemous, in Nirvana’s defense I heard their version first – and, to add insult to injury, it’s really good. I suppose that your enjoyment of this song, like most on this list, simply boils down to when you were born, or when you first heard it. If you’re a child of the ’70s, you’ll probably prefer Bowie’s version. If, however, you are a child of the glorious ’90s, you’ll probably go for Kurt’s take on it. Regardless, the irony of the situation does not seem lost on Bowie himself. Thanks to Cobain covering it, even to this day when Bowie performs the song himself he comes across “kids that come up afterwards and say, ‘It’s cool you’re doing a Nirvana song.’ And I think, ‘Fuck you, you little tosser!’”

I think even Kurt Cobain could get behind that one. And he wasn’t really known for shooting off his mouth. (Just the area above it.)

Nine: “Black Magic Woman.” (Santana)

I honestly was not aware, literally up to this very moment, that this was originally a Fleetwood Mac song. Peter Green wrote it in 1968; Santana made it a hit in 1970. Better luck next time, Peter Green. Well, at least you still have Fleetwood Mac who I’m sure is going to be huge andOH YOU QUIT THE BAND.

BTW…who the fuck is Peter Green?

Eight: “Mr. Tambourine Man.” (The Byrds)

Bob Dylan is probably one of the most covered artists of all time. I say “probably” because I don’t know for sure and I’m too lazy to look it up. But rest assured, he’s gotta be, like, top twelve at least. Anyways, this is another instance of a song taking me by surprise. I’m sure more people are familiar with the Byrd’s trippy version of this song than Dylan’s original – myself included. Either version is solid, though – in fact, it has the (meaningless) honor of being only one of three songs to be included twice on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Songs. Not too shabby for a song about tambourines that (at least in Dylan’s version) doesn’t include any tambourineing.

Seven: “Lovers in a Dangerous Time.” (The Barenaked Ladies)

Little bit of Canadian content for y’all.

The Barenaked Ladies are a strange beast. They’re all fairly talented musicians who can write a hook filled pop masterpiece seemingly whenever they want to. It’s usually combined with bizarre to nonsensical lyrics that range from obscure pop culture references, to abstract fragments, to genuinely insightful commentary – all the while being either rapped by Ed Robertson or operatically sung by Steven Page with gleeful abandon.

Occasionally, they have curbed their wackier tendencies to produce something much more subdued and restrained, which can at times border on being fully beautiful.

Like their cover of this Bruce Cockburn song. After it’s release in 1991 (fittingly for a Cockburn tribute album) it became a Canadian radio staple – a certifiable hit for the band. Even now it continues to crop up on the radio from time to time, though you rarely – if ever – hear Cockburn’s original.

Six: “No More I Love Yous” (Annie Lennox)

This song easily could have made my Thirteen Guilty Pleasure Songs You Hate to Love. (Or Love to Hate) list as well. But it didn’t, and luckily it’s found itself a new avenue for infamy on my blog as being a catchy as hell song we all instantly recognize as an Annie Lennox ditty, but was in fact originally written and performed by some band called “The Lover Speaks.” No, I’ve never heard of them either, and when I type the name into Google image search, a confusing array of pictures, none of which features anything remotely similar to a band, comes up. So apparently even the internet has forgotten about them as well.

I think that what I’m trying to say is, cover though it may be…I think Annie’s pretty much got a monopoly on this song. Good for her!

Five: “Downtown Train.” (Rod Stewart)

Rod Stewart covers Tom Waits. There’s something funny to be said here, but I honestly don’t know what it is.

No, not funny – weird.

The Stewart song is the radio friendly one; the Waits version is the “good” one. In fact, if there ever comes a time when you’re contemplating downloading or buy Rod Stewart’s entire discography, I urge you to just download Wait’s 1985 masterpiece Rain Dogs instead. You can thank me later.

Four: “Hallelujah.” (Jeff Buckley)

Now, to be fair, I think people are about as aware of the Buckley version of this beautiful song as they are of the Leonard Cohen original. Both versions are excellent, by the way – thanks to Cohen’s poetic lyrics and simple, yet evocative melody. But it will forever be associated with Buckley – partly due to his untimely and tragic death, and partly do to his stunning and haunting arrangement of it. Cohen wrote a classic, artistic ballad; Jeff Buckley perfected it.

Three: “Nothing Compares 2 U.” (Sinead O’Connor)

I had no idea this was originally a Prince song. I suppose the number “2″ and the letter “u” in the title should have helped tip me off, but it didn’t. I truly thought this was an original song by Sinead. And, after hearing Prince’s version, I’d like to continue thinking that, please.

Incidentally, this song title was the inspiration behind U2’s name.

No it wasn’t.

Two: “Respect.” (Aretha Franklin)

“Respect” is to Aretha Franklin what “Nothing Compares 2 U” is to Sinead O’Connor – a signature song. A song that we immediately identify with these artists, and, when thinking about these artists, it’s usually the first one that pops into our noggins’. It seems odd then, that both these womens signature songs should be covers. I don’t really know what that says about them, except that they both totally own these tunes. Otis Redding may have been the first to spell out the word “respect” for mass audiences, but it was tailor made for the Queen of Soul. I’ve never heard Otis Redding’s version of the song, and have no need to; no one could possibly come close to matching Aretha.

One: “All Along the Watchtower.” (Jimi Hendrix)

Dylan’s was good. HIS was better.

From the iconic opening guitar riff, to the whacked out solo, this is the definitive version of Bob Dylan’s tune. It’s been covered countless times since, but Jimi’s 1968 version remains the one to top. It’s a song that makes people go “REALLY?” whenever somebody mentions that it’s not a Hendrix track, but one of Dylan’s.

Which I think perfectly sums up just what this list is all about.

Well.

There were a few more songs that I came across that would have fit this list, but I tried to wittle it down to the best ten. Feel free to tell me what I missed and mock my attempt in general below.

So, until tomorrow, enjoy some Annie Lennox.

And you damn well know you will.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo…WHOA OH.

Some songs just send a shiver through me. Or used to. As a young girl, I felt particularly anxious about certain music. Upon reflection, these songs shared a particular theme: the one I heard today is by The Zombies, and asks, “What’s your name? Who’s your daddy?” We learn later, of course, that it is in fact the time of the season for loving.

Similarly chilling songs included pretty much anything by Rod Stewart, but especially “Tonight’s the Night,” with its very, very veiled metaphor, “spread your wings and let me come inside.” And even “I’m on Fire“: “Hey little girl, is your daddy home?”

Apparently I thought these middle-aged rockers all wanted to come to my house and violate me while my parents were out. Is all I can figure. I took the “daddy” lingo quite literally, too, which was not the intent. Right? Right?

There were other songs that intimidated me. Genres, really: Pretty much all heavy metal. And rap. I’m not sure if this had to do more with the performers or with the people at school who liked said music. But I have had many moments, in recent years, when I heard something by Metallica or AC/DC or Run-DMC and thought, “This is not scary. At all. What was my deal?”

I can’t think of any music that scares me now, I suppose because I’m a gwone-up. But when I hear the Zombies play those opening licks, it doesn’t take much to leap back to a time when they had the power to send a shiver down my spine.

Do you know what’s better than being witness to a man and his loving wife reviewing some documents of extreme importance? Nothing. Absolutely NOTHING. The fact that we are able to witness this moment of marital bliss in a print ad is simply breathtaking.

Wait, there’s so much more. The gifts. They just keep on coming.

Punch. Not Steve. Not John, or Albert, or Farnsworth. Punch. I think Rod Stewart said it best, “Some guys have all the luck”. And just what do you do when you’re blessed with parents who have such incredible taste in names? You honor them by purchasing a personalized phone number. 416.PUNCH.ME. Don’t mind if I do. Where does the line begin my friend? I hate you for being perfect Punch.

And, because perfection just isn’t good enough for these two, Punch, and the lovely Missis, decided to rub a little salt in the wound by displaying what appears to be two Emmy’s. The son’s of bitches.

Well, I hate to do it, but I must. I’m FedExing a platinum nomination for the two of you to review and sign. Yet another trophy to add to your collection. Yippee.

Let’s all thank Jason Allen for sending us this little reminder of just how much the rest of us suck.

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BERLUSCONI ROCK STAR DELL’ANNO SECONDO IL MAGAZINE “ROLLING STONE”

ANSA – Berlusconi batte Obama e il Papa. Per l’edizione italiana della rivista “Rolling Stones”, infatti, il presidente del consiglio italiano è più rock del presidente degli Usa e del Pontefice, rispettivamente al secondo e terzo posto. Al premier, eletto rockstar dell’anno all’unanimità,verrà dedicata la copertina del numero in edicola a dicembre, realizzata dal designer americano Shepard Farey.
Per la vita del premier, dice il direttore di Rolling Stone Italia Carlo Antonelli, “la definizione di rock&roll va persino stretta. I Rod Stewart, i Brian Jones, i Keith Richards dei tempi d’oro sono pivellini in confronto. La “Neverland” di Michael Jackson è una mansardina in confronto a Villa Certosa, e via così”. Nonostante il tono ironico, Antonelli assicura però di non voler “dispensare giudizi da destra o da sinistra”…

.

Io mi chiedo perche’…

il rock’n roll e’ CONTRO IL SISTEMA

il rock’n roll e’ LIBERTA’ DI ESPRESSIONE

il rock’n roll e’ MOVIMENTO E PLURALISMO

il rock’n roll e’ prima di tutto GIOVANE!

…e Berlusconi con queste cose cosa c’azzecca?!

e poi…

La De Filippi non e’ Rock

Il Grande Fratello non e’ Rock

Pagare le prostitute non e’ Rock

… SOLTANTO FARE LE CORNA E’ ROCK!

ma non mi sembra comunque abbastanza per tale onorificenza!

in quanto a sesso e droga… beh, in effetti, forse ci siamo…

Gran trovata pubblicitaria, MARCHETTA colossale! la si puo’ considerare una “provocazione”…fatto sta che ora tutti parlano del Rolling Stone…  ma leggendo i commenti lasciati dai lettori sul sito del magazine, direi che il rischio di perdere lettori, piu’ che guadagnarne, e’ piuttosto realistico!

…provocazione o ordine dall’alto, purtroppo c’e’ anche chi considera questa nomination sacrosanta! in tanti guardano il Papi come una star, un idolo di masse, un modello comportamentale e di vita da seguire… cambiamo il DISCO???

Saturday started with a session at Laguna Park 2, fairly quiet as everyone seemed to have hangovers, but we still managed to have a good time.

The main part of the day was taken up by our Fun Day at the Club Olympus Pool Bar, in aid of Live Arico Animal Protection, an animal sanctuary based here in Tenerife. We started at 3.00pm with the Walk on Water Balls and had loads of kids running around on the water.

Special mentions go to Elise and Letisha, our Tinkerbells, who were brilliant and finally got the hang of it. Also Alfie and Louie, you were both excellent, you wore the team out!

Darcy Face Painting

We also had April doing face painting, we have never seen so many butterflies in one place, you all looked fantastic. Thank you to April for donating her services!!

The evening party started at 7.00pm with Elvis – no he is NOT dead!! – kicking off the proceedings, absolutely brilliant, thoroughly abusing the audience and they loved it! He was followed by the superb Suzie Q, who did covers of Duffy, Jackson and many more and got the audience singing and dancing, great session that had to be cut short as Suzie had another club to go to. Book early to avoid disappointment with this act!

Our next act was Charlie Karlsen, who won Tenerife’s Got Talent in 2008, as well as Young Talents of Tenerife 2009. Absolutely sensational, the crowd loved him and he sang for ages! Charlie has got to be one of the nicest young entertainers on the island, we all wish him further good luck, as if he needed it, for his bright future.

The last act on was Rod Stewart, he is a regular at Club Olympus and well loved! He was fantastic and had everyone up and dancing all over the place!

We had various karaoke singers, with special thanks to Barbara and Martin and their hilarious rendition of Victoria Wood favourite the Ballad of Barry and Freda – Let’s Do It.

We managed to raise over €300,00 during the day and have a brilliant time as well.  With special thanks for donating prizes to El Molino Blanco, Trike Tours, Maxicat Catamaran,Pearly Grey Resort, The Card Shop, Cafe 5, Ticket Box and Mel at Olympus Pool Bar.

This was the first Charity Event we have held and it will certainly not be the last!

Rod Stewart – Soul Book

Rod Stewart - Soul Book

I’ve always enjoyed Rod Stewart’s soul covers on his 70’s albums; ‘You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Man’, ‘If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don’t Want To Be Right’, ‘I Know I’m Losing You’ and ‘You Send Me’ spring to mind. Now in 2009, this 64 year old recently released a great collection of soul covers ….  great album.

Favourite track: It’s The Same Old Song

Leonard Cohen – Live In London

Leonard Cohen - Live In London

In July 2008, then 73-year old Leonard Cohen recorded ‘Live In London’ which was released as a double CD in March this year. A superb collection of songs with incredible musical arrangements, linked by Leonard’s surprisingly lighthearted banter and continuous acknowledgment of the band.

Favourite Tracks: Hallelujah, Recitation (A Thousand Kisses Deep)

Bob Dylan – Together Through Life

Bob Dylan - Together Through Life

I have never been a big fan of Bob’s vocal style, but he sure writes some awesome songs. On this album, featuring the two guys kissing on the cover (c’mon, look closer), he teams up with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and produces some fine swampy, bluesy songs.

Favourite track: Beyond Here Lies Nothin’

Uriah Heep – Celebration (Forty Years Of Rock)

Uriah Heep - Celebration

Uriah Heep first appeared in 1970 with their ‘Very ‘Eavy Very ‘Umble’ album featuring the classic ‘Gypsy’. I was hooked, and am still a fan today.  They are still going strong, though guitarist Mick Box is the only original member.

2008’s ‘Wake The Sleeper’ is one of my albums of the last decade, and Uriah Heep recently released ‘Celebration’. This album features only two new recordings, the rest are newly recorded covers of their greatest hits. Not always a recipe for success, but these new recordings breathe new life into many of my old favourites, except for ‘The Wizard’, which just doesn’t seem to work.

Favourite tracks: July Morning (2009 recording), Look At Yourself (2009 recording)

Special Mentions:

U2 – New Line On The Horizon

Steve Earle – Townes

Neil Diamond – Hot August Night / NYC – Live From Madison Square Garden

Neil Young – Fork In The Road

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Gods & Guns

Ian Gillan – One Eye To Morocco

Rod Stewart – Soul Book

Rod Stewart - Soul Book

I’ve always enjoyed Rod Stewart’s soul covers on his 70’s albums; ‘You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Man’, ‘If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don’t Want To Be Right’, ‘I Know I’m Losing You’ and ‘You Send Me’ spring to mind. Now in 2009, this 64 year old recently released a great collection of soul covers ….  great album.

Favourite track: It’s The Same Old Song

Leonard Cohen – Live In London

Leonard Cohen - Live In London

In July 2008, then 73-year old Leonard Cohen recorded ‘Live In London’ which was released as a double CD in March this year. A superb collection of songs with incredible musical arrangements, linked by Leonard’s surprisingly lighthearted banter and continuous acknowledgment of the band.

Favourite Tracks: Hallelujah, Recitation (A Thousand Kisses Deep)

Bob Dylan – Together Through Life

Bob Dylan - Together Through Life

I have never been a big fan of Bob’s vocal style, but he sure writes some awesome songs. On this album, featuring the two guys kissing on the cover (c’mon, look closer), he teams up with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and produces some fine swampy, bluesy songs.

Favourite track: Beyond Here Lies Nothin’

Uriah Heep – Celebration (Forty Years Of Rock)

Uriah Heep - Celebration

Uriah Heep first appeared in 1970 with their ‘Very ‘Eavy Very ‘Umble’ album featuring the classic ‘Gypsy’. I was hooked, and am still a fan today.  They are still going strong, though guitarist Mick Box is the only original member.

2008’s ‘Wake The Sleeper’ is one of my albums of the last decade, and Uriah Heep recently released ‘Celebration’. This album features only two new recordings, the rest are newly recorded covers of their greatest hits. Not always a recipe for success, but these new recordings breathe new life into many of my old favourites, except for ‘The Wizard’, which just doesn’t seem to work.

Favourite tracks: July Morning (2009 recording), Look At Yourself (2009 recording)

Special Mentions:

U2 – New Line On The Horizon

Steve Earle – Townes

Neil Diamond – Hot August Night / NYC – Live From Madison Square Garden

Neil Young – Fork In The Road

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Gods & Guns

Ian Gillan – One Eye To Morocco

If you think I’m sexy,

I can see a rainbow…

Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart is a British singer-songwriter born and raised in London, England and currently residing in Epping. Rod Stewart (birth-name: Roderick David “Rod” Stewart) was born on 10 January 1945 at London, England. Rod Stewart is of Scottish and English lineage. Rod Stewart was awarded CBE (Order of the British Empire, Commander) for his achievements in music industry. Rod Stewart was voted at #33 in the poll of “Q Magazine top 100 Greatest Singers of all time”.

Rod Stewart came to prominence with his distinctive raspy singing voice, in the late 1960s and early ’70s with The Jeff Beck Group and then Faces. Rod Stewart launched his solo career in 1969 with his debut album An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down (US: The Rod Stewart Album). Rod Stewart’s work with The Jeff Beck Group and Faces proved to be influential on the formation of the heavy metal and punk rock genres, respectively. Both bands were also pioneers of blues-rock.

Rod Stewart has released 25 studio albums so far. Rod Stewart’s latest album “Soulbook” was released in October 2009 and was in Top 10 in UK and US album charts.

Rod Stewart has announced UK & Ireland Arena Tour for 2010. Rod Stewart UK Arena Tour will kick-start on 11 May 2010 at O2 Dublin, Ireland. Rod Stewart UK Arena Tour will commence at London’s O2 Arena on 29 May 2010.

Rod Stewart Tickets for Rod Stewart’s UK Arena Tour are available at Sold Out Ticket Market against nominal price. Sold Out Ticket Market is ideal for Rod Stewart Tickets at affordable rates. Check out the Ticket Market for Rod Stewart Tickets.

Rod Stewart Tickets – £125.00

Rod Stewart Tickets on Sold Out Ticket Market
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Asevera la leyenda que sólo ha existido alguien capaz de contar hasta el infinito… y lo hizo dos veces.  Un tipo tan duro que a base de nombrarlo convirtió el último programa en el más fuerte, con las canciones más enérgicas y con las nominaciones más largas y tensas que os podáis imaginar. Lo que tampoco podréis adivinar es qué demonios tiene que ver el del sombrero vaquero con el Rock ‘n’ Roll, pero para eso tenéis ahí abajo cierto enlace, para que lo descubráis cuando os apetezca, sin prisas.

Y entre tanta patada voladora, los peores chistes y la mejor música, cómo no: Chuck Berry, Aerosmith, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Kim Carnes, Ryan Adams y más.  No te lo pierdas y si lo haces ten mucho cuidado. Chuck Norris no perdona y en estos momentos podría estar detrás de ti.

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Radio Rock ‘n’ Roll 29

1. Good Golly Miss Molly Little Richard

2. Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo Rick Derringer

3. Breaking All The Rules Peter Frampton

4. Human Touch Bruce Springsteen

5. Chicago Vetusta Morla & Christina Rosenvinge

6. No puedo vivir sin ti Los Ronaldos

7. Cacho a Cacho Estopa & Rosendo

8. Smoke on the Water Deep Purple

♫ And there have been many affairs
Many times i’ve thought to leave
But i bite my lip and turn around
’cause you’re the warmest thing i’ve ever found.. ♫

*at least for me