Formed to indulge their fascination with the psychedelic pop and rock of the late 1960s.
The Dukes of Stratosphear were a fictional English psychedelic-pop group who were, in reality, a side project and alter ego of XTC. Formed in 1984 in Swindon, Wiltshire, the Dukes allowed Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding and Dave Gregory to indulge their fascination with the psychedelic pop and rock of the late 1960s without the expectations attached to the XTC name.
This is a series of posts that will talk about my favorite Keyboard players.
In Part One I chose; Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Eumir Deodato, Gershon Kingsley, Jon Lord, and Elton John. I’ll keep it going here with some more excellent ticklers of the ivories!
The album takes its title from Edgar Allan Poe’s famous collection Tales of Mystery and Imagination and transforms many of Poe’s best-known poems and short stories into musical compositions.
Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Edgar Allan Poe) was the debut album by The Alan Parsons Project and remains one of the most ambitious concept albums of the progressive rock era. Released in the United Kingdom on June 25, 1976, the album marked the beginning of the creative partnership between producer, engineer,
Four more losses to reflect on here in 2026.
These individuals were a NASCAR driver and champion as well as a broadcaster; an English composer, arranger and keyboardist known for work with Jethro Tull; a singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist, member of the Sylvers; and a contractor and entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry, treasure hunter, and owner of Blind Frog Ranch.
Four more losses to reflect on here in Spring of 2026…
These guys were a professional stock car racing driver and racing team owner who competed from 2001 to 2026; an English saxophonist who played on Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon; an English actor who had roles in, Blake’s 7, Doctor Who, and EastEnders; and a record producer known for his work with Aerosmith, Cheap Trick and John Lennon.
This is a series of posts that will talk about my favorite drug related songs. See if you agree with any of these!
In part one I picked, “Novocaine for the Soul”, “Day Tripper”, “The Pusher”, “White Rabbit”, “The Acid Queen”, and “Poppies”. Here I’ll write about another six that I’ve always liked. “Comfortably Numb” is one of Pink Floyd’s most enduring and psychologically resonant songs, written primarily by David Gilmour with lyrics by Roger Waters
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, buried Pompeii under waves of ash, pumice, and poisonous gases that overwhelmed the city within hours.
Pompeii began as an Oscan settlement that developed over the centuries before Rome’s expansion, growing into a significant town in Campania during the fourth and third centuries BC. Its position on the Bay of Naples allowed it to prosper through agriculture, trade, and craftsmanship, and under Roman rule it expanded into a wealthy city filled with
These are songs that contain “Help Me” in their lyrics.
“Help Me” is a song written and recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in March 1974 as the lead single from her critically acclaimed album Court and Spark. Blending elements of folk, pop, and jazz, the song features Mitchell’s signature lyrical introspection and was produced with jazz-fusion band L.A. Express,
This is a series of posts that will talk about my favorite Guitar Players. See if you agree with any of these!
Jimmy Page, born James Patrick Page on January 9, 1944, in Heston, Middlesex, England, is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative guitarists in rock history. Rising to prominence as a prolific session musician in the 1960s, he played on recordings by artists such as The Who, Donovan, and The Kinks before joining The Yardbirds in 1966. After their dissolution, he founded Led Zeppelin in 1968,
These are songs that contain “Salvation Army” in their lyrics.
Hazy Shade of Winter is a song written by Paul Simon and originally recorded by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966, released as a standalone single before appearing on later compilations. The track, with its urgent tempo and melancholic lyrics, reflects on the passage of time and lost opportunities, using the changing seasons
