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Category Archives: Worlds Shortest Radio Show

Worlds Shortest Radio Show

Who would win in a fight? Bruce Lee or Muhammad Ali?

Ali, no question. Think about it. We can all punch far faster than we can kick, and Ali was used to dodging the fastest punchers in the world. Ali was twice Lee’s size and phenomenally quick and powerful. And, unlike Bruce Lee, he was an experienced professional fighter. He’d have had no trouble staying out […]

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Why on earth do people speak on records?

So many execrable examples. Elvis on Are You Lonesome Tonight? Diana Ross on Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and I can’t even bring myself to think about Charlene on I’ve Never Been to Me. Michael Jackson, however, was the worst offender. He did it on Ain’t No Sunshine. He did it again on The Girl […]

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To a screening of The Wolf of Wall Street last night.

Great film, fantastic soundtrack. But given the glut of cocaine and hookers, I can’t believe this track didn’t feature. Actually, I can. Bit obvious and as the old saying goes “If you can see it, don’t say it”. Around the time the movie is set, I was DJ-ing in some big West End clubs where […]

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You never hear this track anymore.

It was once very popular because it espoused racial tolerance and inclusiveness. It speaks of one race – the human race – and a desire for us all to blend together in peace and harmony. However, I suppose it was that one line – “Curly Latin kinkies, mixed with yellow chinkies” which, not surprisingly, saw […]

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The other New Year’s resolution that’s never going to happen.

I know already that in 2014, I will again fail to take up a musical instrument. I’d give anything (except clearly time and effort) to be able to play the guitar or piano but I really had intended to take up the ukelele. It’s supposed to be the easiest instrument to master but, I fear, […]

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Did Spurs re-claim the “Tottenham Sound” yesterday?

The Dave Clark Five found fame as resident band at the Tottenham Royal, at the time North London’s most famous dancehall. Dave Clark was very much the leader but unusually, he was the drummer and their thumping, percussive style became known as the “Tottenham Sound”. Yet for some reason, Crystal Palace immediately adopted Glad All […]

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American Hustle features a cameo appearance by Jack Jones.

The veteran crooner was huge in 60s and 70s when his interpretation of Bacharach & David songs made him the undisputed lord of lounge. This is probably his most famous recording. However, as the world has moved on, “infamous” might now be more appropriate. Burt Bacharach and Hal David are rightly renowned as one of […]

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Sometimes the gigs you think won’t be any good….

…..turn out to be fantastic. And so it was about 20 years ago when I went along to Hammersmith to see Billy Joel. I only went because someone had given me a free ticket. Bit naff, I thought, bit AOR. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only was he a gifted singer, songwriter and […]

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One in the eye for the English Defence League.

Because the English Disco Lovers are set to appropriate the letters EDL. Their aim is to replace the racially intolerant protest group as the top search engine result for “EDL”. Isn’t that fabulous? Disco was always the most joyous of genres and I’ve loved the music and the dancefloor ever since I can remember. It […]

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How Cliff Richard invented hip-hop.

Tenuous but true. Ready? Here goes…. Cliff’s backing group, as everyone knows, were The Shadows. They had a huge instrumental hit in 1960 with Apache. In 1973, the Incredible Bongo Band released this exuberant cover version. At around 2.20, it features a bongo drum break. This caught the attention of DJ Kool Herc who was […]

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