Author Archives: Paul

Better known as Jazzie B, founder of Soul II Soul. 25 years ago this week, their debut album, Club Classics Vol.1 brought him to the world’s attention. But like most “overnight sensations”, his success was far from instant. He worked for years in recording studios and built an amazing sound system. He called it Soul […]

In truth, there was probably only ever one and it was near my school. Such a weird combo that I sometimes think I’ve made it up but no, I spent a lot of time and a lot of money in there – none of it on fruit and veg. It comprised a dusty old greengrocer’s […]

This hybrid hit, percussively produced by Phil and sung by not-the-blonde-one-the other-one from Abba. I have clear and definite opinions about most things: politics, religion, climate change but, strangely, not Phil Collins. My internal jury is still out: On the one hand, he’s a fantastic drummer and when he replaced Peter Gabriel as the frontman […]

Electric Avenue is in Brixton. I drove past it the other night and thought of my old friend Laurie Castelli who moved to Brixton about 25 years ago. At the time I was living in Kilburn and was no stranger to London’s “livelier” postcodes but even I thought a move to SW2 was insane. Laurie […]

As he grieves for his daughter Peaches who died yesterday. Geldof is famously difficult and irascible but a magnificent human being who has done so much for his fellow man. Yet he’s suffered so much in his personal life. There can be no greater tragedy than the death of a son or daughter and it’s […]

Who knows? But we do know that Jo Whiley has been incredibly fortunate. Never the most brilliant of broadcasters, she is nonetheless still enjoying a long and lucrative career on national radio. Cynics suggest that it’s simply because the BBC are desperate to have more female voices on air. The same sly whispers are now […]

This was mine. The last of literally thousands. By the mid-90s, my favourite format was being phased out in favour of the CD. Yet with their awkward plastic cases and cold digital clarity, CDs were initially a huge flop. They seemed set to go the same way as 8-tracks and Betamax until Gerald Kaufman MP […]

It was just the theme to a second-rate, instantly forgettable movie sung by a band with a silly, gimmicky name. Ah, but it was written and produced by Norman Whitfield. This man had been Motown’s most innovative producer in the 60s and 70s but he was notoriously difficult. By 1975, was out of work and […]

One: They always lead with the forecast for Western Scotland and Northern Ireland, even though it only affects a tiny minority of the population. The huge majority in the South-East have to wait because heaven forfend the BBC should be accused of a “London bias”. Two: The reality is seldom as bad as the forecast. […]

I’m assuming that, fifty years ago, this meant exactly what it means today. In which case, it was a very saucy proposition. Especially coming from the famously pure and chaste Doris Day who celebrates her 90th birthday today. Despite the squeaky clean aura which she always managed to maintain, Doris has led the sort of […]