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Akira Ifukube - Japanese Rhapsody / Symphonic Fantasia No 1 (Godzilla)

December 2, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Monstrous talent: Akira Ifukube and Godzilla

Monstrous talent: Akira Ifukube and Godzilla

Song of the Day: Following on from Hikaru Hayashi, we dip into the next Japanese composer, a prolific writer of film scores best for the famous Godzilla monster movies, as well hundreds of other classical pieces

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In 1935, 1983, film soundtrack, classical Tags songs, song of the day, instrumentals, film, film soundtrack, Akira Ifukube, Godzilla, Igor Stravinsky
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Hikaru Hayashi – La Mort De L'Enfant (Theme from The Naked Island)

December 1, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Nobuko Otowa as the mother in The Naked Island (1960)

Nobuko Otowa as the mother in The Naked Island (1960)

Song of the Day: Following Joe Hisaichi, another distinguished Japanese composer who among his many works wrote the beautiful theme from a 1960 film without dialogue directed by Kaneto Shindo

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In 1960, classical, traditional, film soundtrack Tags songs, song of the day, Hikaru Hayashi, film, film soundtrack, Japan, Kaneto Shindo
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Joe Hisaishi – One Summer's Day / The Day of Life (from Spirited Away)

November 30, 2018 Peter Kimpton
A scene from Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, with music by Joe Hisaishi

A scene from Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, with music by Joe Hisaishi

Song of the Day: Moving from Ryuichi Sakamoto to another great Japanese pianist and composer, the man behind the beautiful music to the animated Studio Ghibli films directed by Hayao Miyazaki

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In 2001, classical Tags songs, song of the day, films, film soundtrack, Joe Hisaishi, Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli, 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano
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Ryuichi Sakamoto – Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (Forbidden Colours) / The Last Emperor / Andata

November 28, 2018 Peter Kimpton
David Bowie and Ryuchi Sakamoto on the set for Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence

David Bowie and Ryuchi Sakamoto on the set for Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence

Song of the Day: Linking our last entry with not only the recently deceased director Bernardo Bertolucci and also David Bowie, some exquisite music by the great Japanese composer, pianist and actor

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In 1983, 1987, classical, electronica, film soundtrack Tags songs, theme music, film soundtrack, Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Bowie, Bernardo Bertolucci, David Byrne, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Andrei Tarkovsky
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Armistice Day Centenary: No Man's Land (The Green Fields of France) / Last Post

November 11, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Lest we forget …

Lest we forget …

Song of the Day: Simply a song, a piece of music and a poem to mark 100 years since Armistice Day 11 November 1918, the end of the First World War, in which there were 40 million casualties

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In traditional, folk, classical, 1918, 1976 Tags songs, First World War, remembrance, Armistice Day, Eric Bogle, Robert Graves
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Bernard Herrmann – Taxi Driver / Vertigo / Psycho

October 17, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver (1976)

Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver (1976)

Song of the Day: It is hardly a stab in the dark to pick out the great American composer’s film work as the next entry in film score music, but here is an artist surely among the greatest for matching image and sound

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In 1958, 1960, 1976, classical Tags songs, song of the day, Bernard Herrmann, film, film soundtrack, Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, James Stewart, Kim Novak, Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Robert De Niro
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Elmer Bernstein – The Magnificent Seven / The Great Escape / Sweet Smell of Success

October 16, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Sweet Smell of Success (1957), starring Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis, with a equally sharp Bernstein score

Sweet Smell of Success (1957), starring Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis, with a equally sharp Bernstein score

Song of the Day: More outstanding film theme music, this time with three contrasting examples from the New Yorker with a huge, award-winning repertoire, reaching deep into the American and British psyche

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In 1960, 1963, classical, jazz, 1957 Tags songs, song of the day, Elmer Bernstein, John Sturges, Steve McQueen, Yul Brynner, Richard Attenborough, Donald Pleasance, Second World War, Burt Lancaster, Chico Hamilton Quartet, Alexander Mackendrick
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Jerry Goldsmith - Chinatown / Planet of the Apes

October 15, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)

Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)

Song of the Day: Moving on from Britain’s John Barry, two pieces of work from the highly versatile US composer and conductor here showing contrasting styles that equally express the dark and disturbing

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In 1968, 1974, classical, jazz Tags songs, song of the day, Jerry Goldsmith, film soundtrack, film, Roman Polanski, Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, Uan Rasey, Franklin J. Schaffner, Charlton Heston
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John Barry – The Ipcress File

October 14, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Now listen to me … Michael Caine is accompanied by one of John Barry’s finest soundtracks

Now listen to me … Michael Caine is accompanied by one of John Barry’s finest soundtracks

Song of the Day: Completing a Michael Caine leading role trio, the beautiful, haunting theme composed by one of film and TV’s all-time great composers who is best known for the James Bond films

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In 1965, classical, jazz Tags songs, song of the day, soundtracks, film, John Barry, Michael Caine, Sidney J Furie, Len Deighton
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Oscar Peterson – Hymn To Freedom

October 11, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Oscar Peterson and friends

Oscar Peterson and friends

Song of the Day: Continuing from yesterday’s jazz ode to freedom by Billy Taylor, with a version by Nina Simone, let’s move onto another piano great, and an instrumental number from 1963 that definitely echoes it

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In 1963, classical, jazz Tags songs, song of the day, Oscar Peterson, civil rights, Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen
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John Schroeder and Sounds Orchestral – Money Runner / Blowin' Your Mind / Cast Your Fate to the Wind

October 9, 2018 Peter Kimpton
John Schroeder

John Schroeder

Song of the Day: After three belters from Quincy Jones, today let’s move on to full fat funk TV and movie orchestra sounds from the 60s and early 70s, with tracks rarely recognised, but whose still hits home instantly

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In 1971, 1965, funk, classical, jazz Tags song of the day, songs, instrumentals, funk, television, film, film soundtrack, John Schroeder, Sound Orchestral, Quincy Jones, Zack Laurence, Gordon Parks, Helen Shapiro, Johnny Pearson, Vince Guaraldi
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Lalo Schifrin - Theme from Bullitt / Ape Shuffle (Planet of the Apes)

October 3, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Bullitt (1968)

Bullitt (1968)

Song of the Day: Continuing the funk-orchestral movie-theme thread, another colossus of the genre, the Argentina-born American composer and conductor famous for so many outstanding film and TV soundtracks

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In 1974, 1968, funk, classical, jazz Tags songs, song of the day, Lalo Shifrin, film soundtrack, Bullitt, film, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood
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Minnie Riperton – Les Fleur

April 10, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Minnie Riperton in 1971

Minnie Riperton in 1971

Song of the Day: After our previous Manchester late-80s dance tracks, when flower power returned with a new chemical twist, we hark back to another petal-infused and influential song by the vocalist linked to our previous Rotary Connection selection

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In soul, fusion, folk, classical, jazz, psychedelia, 1968, 1971, 2001 Tags song of the day, songs, Minnie Riperton, Ramsey Lewis, Richard Rudolph, Charles Stepney, 4Hero
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Women's suffrage special: Lesley Gore – You Don't Own Me / Ethel Smyth - March of the Women

February 6, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Millicent Fawcett campaigns for the vote in London's Hyde Park

Millicent Fawcett campaigns for the vote in London's Hyde Park

Song of the Day: Two very contrasting songs to celebrate the centenary of the first legal step into women's suffrage in Britain - the Representation of People Act 1918 - followed by the eventually ratification across the US in 1920.

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In classical, soul, pop, Motown, 1911, 1963 Tags songs, song of the day, women's suffrage, human rights, Lesley Gore, Ethel Smyth, Emmeline Pankhurst
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Moondog – Lament I, Bird's Lament / Moondog Monologue

January 28, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Moondog in Manhattan

Moondog in Manhattan

Song of the Day: After Captain Beefheart, could there be any musical figure more influential, eccentric, strange and innovative? Louis Thomas Hardin, aka the Viking figure who for years silently stalked New York's 6th Avenue, is a strong contender

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In 1969, classical, avant garde, folk, jazz, psychedelia Tags song of the day, songs, Moondog, Louis Thomas Hardin, avant garde, jazz, poetry, classical music, New York, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Prefab Sprout, Pentangle, Antony and the Johnsons, Mr Scruff
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Renaissance – Northern Lights

January 20, 2018 Peter Kimpton
From the cover of Renaissance's 1978 album A Song For All Seasons

From the cover of Renaissance's 1978 album A Song For All Seasons

Song of the Day: After yesterday's mention of northern lights in a Laura Gibson song, let's turn back the clock to 1978, and a beloved hit by the prog rock band with a symphonic, soaring chorus and cascading bass line

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In rock, prog rock, classical, 1978 Tags Renaissance, Betty Thatcher-Newsinger, Annie Haslam, Ronnie Wood, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Dunford
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Tindersticks – Tiny Tears

January 12, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Tindersticks

Tindersticks

Song of the Day: Following yesterday's Prince of Tears by Baxter Dury, let's move onto another deep-voiced, orchestral-backed song of wonderful melancholy by the Nottingham band from their second album in 1995

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In 1995, indie, classical Tags songs, song of the day, Tindersticks, Stuart Staples, The Sopranos, film soundtrack, television, soundtracks
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Sufjan Stevens – Christmas Unicorn

December 25, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Few people do Christmas like Sufjan Stevens

Few people do Christmas like Sufjan Stevens

Song of the Day: Christmas is a time of tradition and cliches, but if there's one artist who manages to address the festive season with full enthusiasm but in a altogether alternative manner, it is the Detroit-born, Brooklyn-based singer

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In 2012, prog rock, psychedelia, classical Tags songs, song of the day, Sufjan Stevens, Christmas, religion, Joy Division
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Human Pyramids – Louise

December 18, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Human Pyramids: Paul Russell and friends

Human Pyramids: Paul Russell and friends

Song of the Day: Surviving the hectic regime that runs up to Xmas? For those struggling to get through that to-do list, keep up with socialising and stave off illness, after a short break, this week on SOTD we're embarking on a series of songs to invigorate the body, mind and spirit

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In classical, pop, prog rock, 2017 Tags songs, song of the day, instrumentals, Human Pyramids, Paul Russell
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Walter Schumann – Once Upon a Time There Was a Pretty Fly (from Night of the Hunter)

October 31, 2017 Peter Kimpton
Rabbits look on during Pearl's song in Night of the Hunter (1955)

Rabbits look on during Pearl's song in Night of the Hunter (1955)

Song of the Day: Another musical echo of eery beauty from yesterday's Nature Boy, an extraordinary song with a strange, soaring melody, in a equally otherworldly scene in a brilliant film directed by Charles Laughton

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In 1955, classical, folk Tags songs, song of the day, film soundtrack, film, Walter Schumann, Charles Laughton, Night of the Hunter, Robert Mitchum, Kitty White, Davis Grubb, folk
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Older Posts →

DRINK OF THE WEEK

Pink martini

Pink martini.jpg

SNACK OF THE WEEK

grilled artichoke hearts

grilled artichoke hearts.jpg

MORE MUSIC …

Featured
Feb 18, 2019
New albums: Chaka Khan, Ladytron, Piroshka, Methyl Ethel, Cass McCombs, Stats, Czarface and Ghostface Killah, Bis, Homeshake
Feb 18, 2019

Alongside full funk and pop from Prince’s great friend Chaka, experimental, indie and electronica dominate this week’s roundup, including Australia’s Methyl Ethel and long due return from Glasgow’s catchy popsters Bis

Feb 18, 2019
Feb 11, 2019
New albums: International Teachers of Pop, Yak, LCD Soundsystem, Elder Island, Mercury Rev (& various), Flat Worms, Jessica Pratt, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Panda Bear, Lemonheads
Feb 11, 2019

Electronic pop from the International Teacher and Elder Island, Yak’s long -awaited indie, covers by Mercury Rev and Lemonheads, slow beauty by Jessica Pratt and lo-fi live studio recordings by LCD Soundsystem are among this week’s bumper roundup

Feb 11, 2019
Feb 4, 2019
New albums: Beirut, The Specials, Ian Brown, Rustin Man, Tiny Ruins, Unloved, The Cool Greenhouse, Angel Bat Dawid, Cherry Glazerr
Feb 4, 2019

Brass beauty from Beirut, a 40th anniversary album from The Specials. and a new solo album from the Stone Roses frontman are among this week’s roundup of releases that are various experimental, rock, electronica and more

Feb 4, 2019
Jan 29, 2019
New albums: Toy, Swervedriver, Better Oblivion Community Center (Conor Oberst & Phoebe Bridgers), DAWN, Rat Boy, Sunflower Bean, Mike Krol
Jan 29, 2019

From an experimental album by New Orleans artist DAWN to a collaboration between Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers, as well as a return by 90s shoegazers Swervedriver, this week’s roundup has plenty of surprises

Jan 29, 2019

Featured
Feb 20, 2019
Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters – A Quiet Place
Feb 20, 2019

Song of the Day: Following Miles Davis with In A Silent Way, a beautiful ‘64 soul number pleading for silence on a noisy street by the artist who grew up in Philadelphia and developed his Sam Cooke-like voice in church and doo-wop bands

Feb 20, 2019
Feb 19, 2019
Miles Davis – In A Silent Way
Feb 19, 2019

Album of the Day: A special edition to mark the anniversary of a unique masterpiece recorded 50 years ago today on 18 February 1969 at New York’s CBS 30th Street Studio. Davis’s contribution was small, but key, fitting perfectly alongside the work of other greats

Feb 19, 2019
Feb 15, 2019
The Staple Singers – Bridges Instead of Walls
Feb 15, 2019

Song of the Day: On the day Donald Trump calls an attention-seeking national emergency to get funding for his controversial wall project, a song from 1973 by the great soul and gospel family with a message that’s loud and clear

Feb 15, 2019
Feb 12, 2019
The Beatles – Birthday
Feb 12, 2019

Song of the Day: Combining two birthdays, one for the Song Bar itself - now three years old, and less significantly, the Bar’s Landlord, this off-the-cuff rock number was written during the White Album recordings on 18 September 1968

Feb 12, 2019
Feb 3, 2019
The Groundhogs – Cherry Red / Eccentric Man (plus John Lee Hooker)
Feb 3, 2019

Song of the Day: Deliberately one day after the traditional date of Groundhog Day, life and music repeats itself with two songs by the British 60s band were inspired the great American bluesman and one of his numbers

Feb 3, 2019
Jan 22, 2019
Sandie Shaw / Ron Moody / Galliano – Reviewing The Situation
Jan 22, 2019

Song of the Day: To capture the current state of farcical flux and political impasse over Brexit and US government shutdown, a classic written by Lionel Bart for the musical Oliver!, which also became a feminist 60s pop hit for the female star

Jan 22, 2019
Jan 15, 2019
Alabama 3 – Woke Up This Morning
Jan 15, 2019

Song of the Day: After Miss Otis Regrets, another songs about a women who decided to stop taking abuse from a man, this time by the band from Brixton whose song eventually became synonymous with the Sopranos

Jan 15, 2019
Jan 14, 2019
Ella Fitzgerald / Ethel Waters – Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Lunch Today)
Jan 14, 2019

Song of the Day: After yesterday’s She Drew The Gun songs, let’s go back to an original Cole Porter number from 1934, which contains that shot line of defiance and revenge, a tragic tale about a society woman who simply would not take it anymore

Jan 14, 2019

Featured
Feb 17, 2019
Word of the week: flimflam
Feb 17, 2019

Word of the week: It means pseudo-intellectual nonsense, insincerity or a confidence trick perpetrated by elected officials, so while antiquated, always current and relevant, and with a lovely musicality where has it been used in lyrics?

Feb 17, 2019
Feb 9, 2019
Word of the week: gabardine
Feb 9, 2019

Word of the week: Let’s extend the lyrical wardrobe. It’s a smooth, durable, twill-woven worsted, rayon or cotton cloth material and also the name of coat, but is a also beautifully sounding, musical word, perfectly suited to sung words

Feb 9, 2019
Feb 2, 2019
Word of the week: harridan
Feb 2, 2019

Word of the week: It traditionally means a scolding, bossy, unpleasant woman, possibly with origins from the 17th century and related to the verb to harry, or hassle, and has a certain comical quality, but where does it come up in song lyrics?

Feb 2, 2019
Jan 23, 2019
Word of the week: ichthyosaur
Jan 23, 2019

Word of the week: After last week’s fictional Jabberwocky, a real-life deep-sea dinosaur, a fish-reptile with an extraordinary evolutionary history on land and sea, famous in fossils, but where can we dive to find it in song lyrics?

Jan 23, 2019
Jan 16, 2019
Word of the week: jabberwock
Jan 16, 2019

Word of the week: It’s best known as the mythical monster in Lewis Carroll’s poem from Through The Looking Glass (1871), but the word also means nonsense or gibberish, something that continues to be very much at large

Jan 16, 2019

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