Jazzjet

Good idea. If only I could remember what I was going to say.... ...you what? Anyone remember that wonderful jazz bookshop that was just opposite Great Ormond Street hospital in Holborn? I think it was run by Theresa Chilton, John Chilton's wife. Wonderfully dusty place where you could get all kinds of second hand bargains including Brian Rust discographies etc.

Radio broadcaster Danny Baker has just tweeted that all the animals in Britain's zoos are looking around and saying to each other 'very mild for Christmas Day isn't it?'

Good idea. If only I could remember what I was going to say....

Me too. I used to go down to the Collet's basement in New Oxford Street regularly as a teenager. Ray had a certain curmudgeonly aura about him but he knew his stuff when you summoned up courage to ask for advice. Until I read Richard Williams's obituary, I didn't know that the rather imposing white haired Gill Cook, who used to run the folk part of Collets, died back in 2006.

I've nothing against the couple and hope they have a nice day, like I would for any other couple. However, the thing that I can't stand is the suffocating sycophancy that seems to operate at all levels, from the media to politicians. I'd like to think that the age of deference has died but maybe not. George Orwell got it right when he said that England is just like a large family but with the wrong people in charge.

For all those with fond memories of ( mostly ) London record shops, this thread ( via Word magazine ) should provide a nostalgic rush : Charismatic record shops

Here's an interview with Robert Pozar : Robert Pozar interview

Thanks for the advance warning. If it's as good as the Vaughan Williams film it will be a treat.

The version of 'Surf's Up' on the later album of that name has always been one of my favourite pop songs. The lyrics might be daft (or so coded as to be impossible to decipher without the code) but when was that ever a obstacle to a great performance (try some opera libretti!)? All the stuff about 'pop symphony' etc might be overblown, but that's more about the constructs imposed on it by critics and commentators. It may not be as direct as 'God Only Knows' or 'The Warmth of the Sun' but it has delicious melodies, a nice structure with contrasting sections and harmonies to die for in its final section. Surf's Up has always been one of my favourites as well, not just the song but the album as well. Great tracks such as Til I Die, Disney Girls and Feel Flows ( with Charles Lloyd ).

Many thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes. Much appreciated, although the birthdays do seem to come round with worrying frequency!

I'm still waiting for someone to come up with a business concept that mixes the record shop bricks and mortar experience with the convenience of the internet. If I was a savvy business entrepreneur maybe I would have done so already. Anyone know of any attempts at this?

Nice memories. I remember whizzing down to New Cross from Woodford in Essex after school in the 60s ( we had lessons on Saturday mornings! ), hopefully escaping without paying the tube fare, and getting half an hour in Chris Wellard's before going on to watch my local team, Millwall. The considerable challenge was getting back to school by 6 pm to avoid dire consequences and avoiding the football thugs nicking my LPs and beating me up, with even direr consequences. As a Millwall fan, weren't you doing the beating up? No, I was one of the few that wasn't. I must have stood out like a sore thumb with my school uniform and regulation navy blue macintosh.

Nice memories. I remember whizzing down to New Cross from Woodford in Essex after school in the 60s ( we had lessons on Saturday mornings! ), hopefully escaping without paying the tube fare, and getting half an hour in Chris Wellard's before going on to watch my local team, Millwall. The considerable challenge was getting back to school by 6 pm to avoid dire consequences and avoiding the football thugs nicking my LPs and beating me up, with even direr consequences.

Preferably instead of Kate and Wills. Careful. Isn't daddy your landlord? Well I don't pay him rent, unless you count the excessive taxation in order that he can employ someone to squeeze his toothpaste for him.

Preferably instead of Kate and Wills.

Gives a whole new meaning to 'wrong side of the tracks'.

The quality of the video is excellent. Not sure how many other - if any - clips there are of the late, great Mike Osborne.

Agree. Typically, it's playing the vinyl once to digitise it and then it goes into cold storage.

Hopefully, this doesn't sound too smug but all our snow has gone here in Cornwall.

I've got an ION USB turntable and I'm very happy with it. I'm sure there are better ( and more expensive ) options which will produce better audio results but the ION is very easy to use. Personally, I use CD Spin Doctor software ( included with Roxio Toast ) rather than the bundled Audacity, which I find a bit clunky. You really can't go wrong at that price.

As the Cornishman said " I went to England the other day. A day trip to Plymouth. Didn't like it - never leaving Cornwall again."

They still are, but then its Redruth.

Lovely photos, Bev. All our snow has disappeared and almost normal November temperatures.

And Brubeck. Plus Tubby Hayes, John Dankworth etc. More ham than your local branch of Tesco but worth watching.