October

 

It is now October and once again I realize how quickly the has year has gone by. Three more month until the turn of the year and two of them filled with work at the office until I can go on vacation again in December. Like another nine months until I retire. Everything moves fast and what was important this year is mostly arbitrary in retrospect. Things come and go and you should be happy about here and now. For example that VfB Stuttgart is in second place in the Bundesliga after six days, after the supporters had to suffer for years, were only bland football was offered and hat to experience two relegations to second division. Autumn will ever be the time for me when I pick out some classic folk music because I think that fits to the season when the leaves are starting to fall. While I was thinking bout a song with October in its title I remembered a song by Roy Harper form his debut album The Sophisticated Beggar. Released in 1966 after Harper stopped travelling around Europe and North Africa to force his musical career. Harper is a member of the 60's folk-rock triumvirate beside John Martyn and Nick Drake. Listening to this song again after a long time I think that this kind of music is timeless and could be played to every time.

Roy Harper - October Twelfth

Forgotten Monday's Long Song

There is one song in my mind that I should feature on our Monday's series and I have to admit that I remembered but forgot when I typed a new post. So here is a song that I always come back to from time to time. Roy Harper, a Manchester born folk/rock singer-songwriter is one of the artists that made great records but never made it to icons in music history. The way he plays his finger picking guitar and the way he arranges his complex songs is outstanding and extraordinary. This one is from his 1971 album Stormcock probably his best and an album I come mostly back to on cold and wet evenings in the winter.

Roy Harper - Me And My Woman 

Twanging Tuesday # 31

Chris Spedding is not the typical one that plays a real twanging guitar but he is one that could play it when necessary. Last Tuesday he celebrated his 70th birthday and I think that it is a good reason to pay some tribute in this way. He is one of these musicians who have become known not for own work, but for the support of other artists with her works. He is one of Britain's most versatile session guitarists. Throughout his career he played nearly every style of rock & roll and some jazz as well. One of his first appearances as a session guitarist was on Jack Bruce's first solo album Song for a tailor. His qualities are described best if you imagine with which musicians he has played and toured: John Cale, Roy Harper, Roxy Music, Brian Eno, Tom Waits, Elton John, Nick Mason .... And don't forget that he was a member of Mike Batt's Wombles. He also produced the the first Sex Pistols demos. Although he reached the carts with Motor Bikin most of his other musical output missed the masses. Not that they are important in history of rock they are some pieces you ought to know if you are a bit into good guitar sound.

So listen and enjoy.

Chris Spedding - Nervous
Chris Spedding - Hurt By Love
Chris Spedding - Get Outa Ma Pagoda
Chris Spedding - Motor Bikin

North Country

Over the last days I listened often to the records by Roy Harper because Davy informed that there's a new record out. I followed him and his music from the late 1970s with different breaks but he was still one that I like to listen to in the later hours of the day. Just intimate music from an extraordinary musician. Most of you will know him and his music the others should go and visit Wikipedia. This song is from a session he did for BBC in 1974 released as BBC Tapes II.

Enjoy and have a good week.

Roy Harper - North Country