Yeah, we believe you Charlie.
I've never been a fan of the Royal family.
The concept of inherited privilege at the taxpayers expense sticks in my craw.
Like a fishbone to the Queen Mother.
Camilla Parker bowls.
regards
Titus
Thursday, 5 February 2026
Cecil Taylor Unit
Antioch College
Yellow Springs, Ohio
April 3rd 1971
Remastered FM.
This post was inspired by a Mike L. comment.
Cecil Percival Taylor was a classically trained pianist.
A pioneer of free-jazz and occasional poet.
It's a great recording but their relentless approach to jamming
may not be to everyone's taste? :)
This band throws caution to the wind.
Frank Zappa might well have dismissed it as "noodling".
file under: Extreme Jazz Improv.
'Yellow Springs' sounds like an Australian chardonnay.
regards
Titus
Part 1 (61:41)
Part 2 (44:55)
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Fillmore West
San Francisco, CA
April 29th 1970
Remastered soundboard.
The Floyd at their psychedelic best.
regards
Titus
Disc 1
01 Grantchester Meadows
02 Astronomy Domine
03 Cymbaline
04 Atom Heart Mother
05 Embryo
Disc 2
01 Green is the Colour
02 Careful with that Axe, Eugene
03 Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
04 A Saucerful of Secrets
05 Interstellar Overdrive
Tuesday, 3 February 2026
Heart
California Jam II
Ontario Motor Speedway, CA
March 18th 1978
Remastered broadcast (maybe TV?)
I'm trying to cut down on America-bashing so here's a band as American as apple pie!
(Apple pie originated in England,
with the first known recipes appearing around the 14th century...Ed.)
Scheiße!
regards
Titus
01 Sylvan Song
02 Dream of the Archer
03 Love Alive
04 Heartless
05 White Lightning & Wine
06 Kick it Out
07 Silver Wheels
08 Dreamboat Annie
09 Mistral Wind
10 Little Queen
11 Devil Delight
12 Magic Man
13 Barracuda
14 Crazy on You
Monday, 2 February 2026
The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)
Roman Polanski's take on the Transylvanian legend.
It's had various titles:
Dance of the Vampires (UK)/Tanz der Vampire (Germany)
The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck
(later, thankfully, shortened to The Fearless Vampire Killers)
The film co-starred the enchanting Sharon Tate.
Tate and Polanski were married in Chelsea, London, on January 20th 1968.
On August 9th 1969 Sharon Tate (aged 26) and four others were murdered
by members of the Manson Family in the home she shared with Polanski who was away.
She was eight-and-a-half months pregnant.
In 1977, Polanski was arrested and charged with drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl.
As a result of a plea bargain, he pleaded guilty
to the lesser offence of unlawful sex with a minor.
In 1978, after learning that the judge planned to reject his plea deal
and impose a prison term instead of probation, he fled to Paris.
A number of other women have later accused Polanski
of raping them when they were teenagers.
An Interpol red notice was issued for his arrest, and he rarely leaves France.
In 1979, Polanski gave a controversial interview with novelist Martin Amis
in which, discussing the case, he said
"If I had killed somebody, it wouldn't have had so much appeal to the press, you see?
But fucking, you see, and the young girls.
Judges want to fuck young girls. Juries want to fuck young girls.
Everyone wants to fuck young girls!"
So Polanski is a flawed genius to put it mildly.
His comments in the 79 interview have unnerving parallels
to Epstein and his high-rollin' friends.
I love many Polanski films but it's always disheartening
when the personal lives of people you admire turn out to be abhorrent.
I choose to separate the art from the artist.
Some of Hitler's paintings are not bad :)
regards
Titus
Flights of fancy...
"International tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) grew by 4% in 2025,
as most destinations worldwide posted solid results.
According to the first World Tourism Barometer of the year,
an estimated 1.52 billion international tourists
were recorded globally in 2025, almost 60 million more than in 2024.
The US experienced a drop in foreign visitors (around 6%) and international spending,
making it an outlier among nations seeing global tourism booms.
Perceived 'America First' policies, tariffs, and increased border scrutiny
negatively affected traveller confidence, particularly from Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Tourism from Denmark to the USA experienced a significant decline in 2025,
with figures dropping by approximately 19% to 25% compared to 2024.
Canadian travel to the US in 2025 dropped significantly,
with an estimated 22.9 million trips, a 28% decrease from 31.9 million in 2024.
International visitor spending in the United States
is projected to drop to approximately $169 billion in 2025,
a significant $12 billion decrease from $181 billion in 2024."
regards
Titus
Progglådan Box C: Folkprogg & Sjungande låtskrivare
(folk progg & singing songwriters)
CD 306
Norrlåtar/Ramlösa Kvällar
Norrlåtar were a Swedish folky ensemble.
Their fiddle-led sound is reminiscent of traditional Irish music
and I'm sure they would go down well in any Irish pub
if they quickened the pace more often. :)
Ramlösa Kvällar were a short-lived Samlas spin off
which included Lars Hollmer and Coste Apetrea.
They mostly play arrangements of traditional pieces.
Super talented and great sax from Ulf Wallander.
regards
Titus
Sunday, 1 February 2026
The IQ second division.
Let's face it, if you're below 100 it ain't good.
To be fair, countries with civil unrest, political turmoil
and an oppressive government are at a distinct disadvantage
so maybe we should give the USA a break :)
Poor showing by the lazy/idiotic UK.
At least we beat Germany!
regards
Titus
Saturday, 31 January 2026
Todd Rundgren and Utopia
One Block West
Kansas City, MO
October 17th 1978
Remastered FM.
Culled from two sources.
Rod Tungsten and the boys doin' thar thang in Kansa City!
First minute is a bit ropey but I tried to mitigate that as much as possible.
regards
Titus
Disc 1
01 Real Man
02 It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference
03 Love of the Common Man
04 Trapped
05 Abandon City
06 The Verb "to Love"
07 The Seven Rays
08 Can We Still Be Friends
09 The Death of Rock and Roll
Disc 2
01 You Cried Wolf
02 Gangrene
03 A Dream Goes on Forever
04 Black Maria
05 Eastern Intrigue/Initiation
06 Couldn't I Just Tell You
07 Hello It's Me (cuts in)
08 Just One Victory
Mr. Vampire (1985)
Reposted from October 2021
This Chinese film is an old favourite of mine and a classic example of the jiangshi genre.
A fantasy mix of horror, comedy and martial arts.
It's success led to a franchise/sequels but none of them lived up to the prototype.
English subtitles are included for those of you who are not as fluent as I am in Cantonese.
(我嘅上帝 ...Ed.)
regards
Titus
Friday, 30 January 2026
Good Rats
Belmont Park, Elmont, N.Y.
Aug 23rd 1980 FM
Belmont Park, Elmont, N.Y.
Aug 23rd 1980 FM
Reposted from July 2020
From Long Island NY.
...think Blue Öyster Cult/Ramones/Patti Smith/Dictators etc.
Peppi Marchello is like Eric Bloom, Bon Scott or Dick Manitoba.
Brother Mickey is a guitar hero and Joe Franco is an amazing drummer
and...mega plus point for me is that Flo & Eddie turn up for the encore of Turties songs.
regards
Titus
01 Intro
02 School Days
03 New York Survivor
04 Takin' It To Detroit
05 Does It Make You Feel Good?
06 Mr. Mechanic/Victory In Space
07 Tasty
08 Klash-Ka-Bob/Drum Solo
09 Local Zero
10 Eleanor (with Flo & Eddie)
11 Happy Together (with Flo & Eddie)
link
Roy Buchanan
American Axe Tracks Volume 9
The Alligator Years 1985-88
Another chunk of Roy.
This is the penultimate edition from the American Axe Tracks collection.
regards
Titus
Disc 1
1. Tribute to Jimmy Nolen
2. Country Boy
3. When a Guitar Plays the Blues
4. Mrs Pressure
5. Why Don't You Want Me?
When a Guitar Plays the Blues, 1985
6. Baby, Baby, Baby
7. Matthew
Dancing on the Edge, 1986
8. These Arms of Mine
9. Sunset Over Broadway
Hot Wires, 1987
10. Slinky Blues
11. Peter Gunn
Amsterdam, February 22nd 1985
12. Short Fuse
13. When a Guitar Plays the Blues
14. Mrs. Pressure
15. Chicago Smokeshop
16. Blues in E
Chicago, July 28th 1985
Disc 2
1. Roy's Bluz
Kansas City, August 2nd 1985
2. Matthew
3. Jack the Ripper
Osaka, September 19th 1986
4. Nickel and a Nail
San Antonio, February 7th 1987
5. Short Fuse
6. Green Onions
7. Down by the River
8. Beer Drinkin' Woman
9. When a Guitar Plays the Blues
10. Goose Grease
Vinnie tape, venue/date unknown
11. Peter Gunn
Stanhope, April 10th 1987
12. Baby, Baby, Baby
13. Country Boy
14. Messiah theme
Stanhope, December 18th 1987
15. Hot Cha
Cambridge, July 28th 1988
16. Honky Tonk
17. Drownin' on Dry Land
Guilford, August 7th 1988
M.R. James - Collected Ghost Stories
Montague Rhodes James (August 1st 1862 – June 12th 1936)
was an English medievalist scholar and author.
His collection of spooky stories has been repackaged and reprinted many times.
There have been numerous adaptations of his works for radio and television,
as well as a 1957 film version of 'Casting the Runes' retitled 'Night of the Demon'.
(US title: 'Curse of the Demon')
I have a few of the BBC ones and, of course, Night of the Demon
with the creepy Niall MacGinnis as Dr. Julian Karswell.
I'll post that film soon but I really recommend reading the original short stories.
Although his tales often lack a blockbuster ending
this is more than made up for by James' descriptive and unsettling prose.
When asked if he would ever write any more ghost stories
James replied "probably not".
regards
Titus
Thursday, 29 January 2026
Following the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents over the weekend,
the cell phone Pretti was holding moments before his death
has disappeared into federal custody.
The New York Times reports that the FBI initially collected evidence
from the shooting, including Pretti’s handgun and phone,
but has turned over that evidence to Homeland Security Investigations,
a division of the Department of Homeland Security,
which is now handling the investigation into Pretti’s death.
Pretti’s family told the Associated Press on Monday
that they have no idea where the phone is, and his father, Michael Pretti,
said they have yet to be contacted by federal law enforcement.
But perhaps most troubling: officials told CBS News
that there was no documented chain of custody for Pretti’s gun.
Raising the question of whether evidence has been improperly handled (or footage erased).
The Department of Homeland Security has refused to publicly confirm
whether it has the video he was recording.
The phone and Alex's gun
are probably in the same filing cabinet as the Epstein files.
I don't know if any US readers have updates on this situation?
Regards
Titus
Cardiacs family & friends
celebrate the life and work of Tim Smith
Band on the Wall
Manchester, England
October 10th 2024
Remastered audience recording.
Brilliant stuff.
I suppose R.E.S. was too much to hope for.
regards
Titus
01 All His Geese Are Swans!
02 The Duck and Roger the Horse
03 There's Too Many Irons in the Fire
04 Everything is Easy
05 Arnald
06 As Cold as Can Be in an English Sea
07 Day is Gone *
08 The Leader of the Starry Skies *
09 Joining the Plankton *
10 Ideal ***
11 Tarred and Feathered
12 Is This the Life? **
13 To Go Off and Things
14 Anything I Can't Eat *
15 Big Ship **
16 Stoneage Dinosaurs *
* with Mike Vennart
** with Mark Cawthra
*** with Jo Spratley
The lower half of the IQ Premiership table. (11-20)
The Aussies hold, a very respectable. 12th place...strewth!
Corked hats off to the Bruces and Sheilas.
I suspect they are conspiring with, regional neighbours. NZ.
A tip of the beret to France in 20th position. A bit like Wolves.
Here's an alternative view of the top 20 (in white):
Took me ages colouring in Canada!
regards
Titus
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Guy Murchie
The Seven Mysteries of Life (1978)
Murchie spent seventeen years researching this work.
He consulted many experts in various fields.
It's an extraordinary read.
The charming illustrations, done by the author, are a bonus:
My ex (US) wife introduced me to this book.
She found out that Guy Murchie's son ran a bookstore somewhere in the States
and wrote to him expressing her admiration for his father.
He was kind enough to write back thanking her.
What's the subject matter?...well Everything! :)
Let Guy lead you down his particular brand of rabbit hole.
regards
Titus
Supermarket Sweep
It's quite hard to make chicken curry and rice taste bad.
Must take them ages to come up with that cheap one.
This three-tier shopping applies to wine, refrigerators and granola
so get off your high horses right now posh folks :)
The more you pay the better the presentation.
Don't let them stigmatise your trolly!
Be proud of those cheap graphics!
Bad spellers of the world untie!
regards
Titus
Tuesday, 27 January 2026
10,000 Maniacs
Sadler's Wells Theatre
London, UK
July 31st 1988
Remastered FM.
I found this to have therapeutic value in these turbulent times.
Takes the edge off.
regards
Titus
01 Hey Jack Kerouac
02 Gun Shy
03 Planned Obsolescence
04 City of Angels
05 Cherry Tree
06 Lilydale
07 My Sister Rose
08 Verdi Cries
09 Like the Weather
10 What's the Matter Here?
11 Don't Talk
12 Scorpio Rising
13 Among the Americans
14 Poison in the Well
Monday, 26 January 2026
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