Stef DiFranco and Bad Manners On Tour

Just about finished for the night. At this moment loading up cd's to take on the road; thought I would share some of the music I will be listening to.

I grew up (almost) listening to Ian Dury & the Blockheads. He was a clever bastard, so he takes priority. Top man, dead now, but to me and many others the Noel Coward of the 70's and 80's, a little bit rude, and poetically incorrect.

Noel Coward will make an appearance, I have His Masters Voice recordings from 1928 to 1957. Not many people know him, flamboyantly gay writer from the 20's. Mad Dogs and Englishman is one of the classics, but there are so many that take me back to a time where I wish I were born. We will also watch again one of the best movies.....well I think so. The Italian Job, staring Michael Caine and Noel Coward form 1969. Best car chase you will ever see with three Mini Coopers Ssssss. It's way better than the useless remake a few years back.

Another great listen is George Formby. When we were kids growing up in England, summer holidays were made up of kids morning tv including movies by Formby. My favorite was TT Races that still go on today on the Isle of Man. The TT Races are open to just about anyone. The Isle of Man is off the west coast of England, they have been racing there since 1904. George Formby has long since passed, but has a fan club that still rivals anyone's that includes Paul McCartney, the late Harrison and Lennon. He played the ukulele and wrote near the knuckle songs back in the 30's 40's. Talking of Uke's, I love IZ, also gone form us. Grace an I went to Maui a while back, this just makes me smile.

Also there will be some contemporary stuff form Power Pop Brit band Rialto, split up now, but bloody brilliant. The album with Monday Morning 5:19 is ace.