Summertime when the livin’ is easy, sang Ella Fitzgerald, among others. And for those of us who don’t have to go through the inconvenience of having to work for a living it’s very bleeding easy indeed.
As you may have noticed, it’s summer now, almost halfway through, in fact, and what better than to listen to some music? I can’t think of anything so to celebrate the fact, here’s my weekly music shuffle.
Ten tracks from my collection, chosen at random by my music device, and I tell you what it’s chosen. All you need do is click on the song title and listen, perhaps even sing, along.
I hope you find something you like.
- Blizzard Of Aahhs by Lisa Mychols. We start in 1990 with this lovely little ditty from her 1990 album Lost Winter’s Dream, which does what it says on the tin. All say aahh.
- Lost In Music by Sister Sledge. Assisted by Nile Rodgers, from 1979’s We Are Family, this is simply magnificent.
- I’ve Seen All Good People by Yes. And now it’s back to 1971, rock’s greatest year, for a lovely joint from The Yes Album.
- Whatcha Know Good by Blackberry Smoke. You can’t go wrong with the excellent Blackberry Smoke, this from 2024’s Be Right Here.
- Collarbone by Fujiya & Miyagi. I had no idea I even had this. They’re a band from Brighton. I really like it. It’s from their 2006 LP Transparent Things, which I don’t have (yet). I’ve found something I like today.
- Islands In The Stream (live) by The Bee Gees. This is from their fantastic 1997 album One Night Only. Not a guilty pleasure. I love them.
- What Can I Say by Boz Scaggs. I would go so far as to say that the album from which this classic comes, 1976’s Silk Degrees, is one of the greatest records of all time. Perfect. No record collection is complete without it.
- Anywhere But Here by Panda Bear. Panda Bear is called Noah Lennox really, but either way the Animal Collective leader is supremely talented. This, from 2025’s Sinister Grift is truly lovely.
- The South Atlantic by Public Service Broadcasting ft This Is The Kit. From their lovely album The Last Flight, which is all about Amelia Earhart, the band never sounded better, with added Kate Stables AKA This Is The Kit.
- Leave Home by The Chemical Brothers. And finally we end up in 1995 with an absolute banger from Exit Planet Dust. I almost feel like dancing, but only almost.
Now that’s what I call eclectic.
This week’s Desert Island Disc is, of course, What Can I Say by Boz Scaggs. To repeat, you must buy Silk Degrees.
That’s all for now. Have a good week till next week.
