Sometimes I feel like I haven't lived at all. Where was I when all those 70's bands were in their heyday? Sitting in my bedroom listening to Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel probably.
Anyway months ago I booked tickets to see June Tabor and Oysterband who played here in Sevenoaks Stag Theatre last night.
What a revelation. June Tabor, now 71 has the most beautiful voice. I'm not sure if I am in love with her or just want to be her.
Oysterband were great and reminded me somewhat (especially during some of the fiddle playing) of early Cockney Rebel.
Here's a YouTube clip of them playing Joy Division's "Love will tear us apart".

Dulce Pontes - Your Love, theme to Once Upon a Time In The West, just incredible tune, heart achingly breakingly beautiful tune, from the always brilliant Ennio Morricone, simply stunning!

Listening to at the Moment - right now? "Mr SOFT" by Steve, coming from the new Dutch DVD 2018.
Steve, thank you for producing this gorgeous DVD and the wonderful concert (I know it was in 2018 but I could not join the audience then).
The more I enjoy the Songs now!

Another genius in my opinion, still going strong, Ray Dorset. Great performace, reminds me of Steve's 'Songs from the Shed'.

My current (Walkman) playlist; by song / performer:

1. (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna / Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

2. 5AM / Katy B

3. A Woman In Winter / Skids

4. Action / Sweet

5. All I Want Is You / Roxy Music

6. All Of My Heart / ABC

7. Allentown / Billy Joel

8. Alone / Big Country

9. Another Time Another Place / Bryan Ferry

10. Beauty Queen / Roxy Music

11. Big Girls Cry / Sia

12. Blackwater / Rain Tree Crow

13. Can't Set Rules About Love / Adam Ant

14. Chance / Big Country

15. Close Action / Big Country

16. Could It Happen To Me? / Roxy Music

17. Day For Night / Bryan Ferry

18. December '63 / The Four Seasons

19. Desperate But Not Serious / Adam Ant

20. Down In The Park / Tubeway Army

21. Dynamite / Sigrid

22. Electricity / OMD
McCluskey's bass line is brilliant but no less is Humphrey's keyboard (in each case between top line lyrics). Together these are the USP for the single. The top line itself is ordinary (opinion). I can't think of another pop-song with these attributes and I love it ('ice skating', remember?)

23. Electricity / Suede

24. EPitome / Jem H

25. Everything / Neneh Cherry

26. Everything Will Flow / Suede

27. Fall In Love With Me / Japan

28. Fox On The Run / Sweet

29. Friend Or Foe / Adam Ant

30. Get It On / T Rex

31. Gotta Be A Sin / Adam Ant

32. Happy For You / Dua Lipa

33. Hollywood / Madonna

34. Honaloochie Boogie / Mott The Hoople

35. Hurry On Boys / Skids

36. I Want It That Way / Backstreet Boys

37. It's So Easy / Jem H

38. Judy Teen / Cockney Rebel

39. Just What I Needed / The Cars

40. Lay Your Love On Me / Roachford

41. Learning To Fly / Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

42. Lost Patrol / Big Country

43. Masquerade / Skids

44. Mirror Freak / Cockney Rebel

45. My Only Vice / Cockney Rebel

46. Nightingale / Roxy Music
I've realised why 'Siren' (1975), is my favourite album by Roxy Music. Apart from strong melodies throughout, the tracks are divided into ballads and rockers, with a bit of disco and punk thrown in, for good measure. The production and message, are clear.

47. Once Bitten Twice Shy / Ian Hunter ( with Mick Ronson!)

48. Only To Be With You / Roachford

49. Ripoff / Ian Hunter and The Rant Band

50. Saturday Night / Suede

51. Scoundrel Days / A-Ha

52 Ships In The Night / Be-Bop Deluxe

53. Some Kind Of Fool / Japan

54. Soul Love / David Bowie & The Spiders From Mars

55. Sovereign Light Cafe / Keane

56. Space Invader / The National

57. Strange Town / The Jam

58. Sweet Dreams / Cockney Rebel

59. The Night / Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

60. The One I Love / Big Country

61. The Other Side of Life / Japan

62. The Spirit Of Radio / Rush

63. The Tears Of A Clown / Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

64. The Way I Feel / Keane

65. Time To Say Goodbye / Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli

66. Trustfall / Pink

67. Umbrella Man / The Searchers

68. Viva Next / Jem H

69. Waves / Mr Probz
This track will remain on my 'mobile' playlist indefinitely, because of for me, it's vocal power and melody and ethereal vibe. It's the nearest I get to the 'Ibiza' scene. Nostalgia for love lost or unrequited love. The music is a total hook.

70. What Goes On / Bryan Ferry

71. Whirlwind / Roxy Music

72. Who Knew / Pink

73. Who's That Girl / Madonna

74. Wide Awake / Katy Perry

75. Wonderful / Adam Ant

76. Wonderland / Big Country

77. Working For The Yankee Dollar / Skids

78. Ziggy Stardust / David Bowie & The Spiders From Mars


(My own comments are being added three at a time, randomly selected. I've started adding these on the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice, 2026). All the best. X

---

On Later with Jools Holland (BBC TWO), 31/05/26:

HOLLY HUMBERSTONE
To Love Somebody
Cruel World

I think Jools said her new album, CRUEL WORLD, is currently No.4 in the UK. In my view she gets better and better...Next downloads, they will be included (probably the whole album)...

"And how could I not fall madly, madly, madly in love with the Ziggy Stardust album? Of course I did. Because Mick Ronson was all over it. He was everywhere. Mick was really gifted..."

Steve Harley (2017)

Source: 'David Bowie Rainbow Man 1967-1980' by Jerome Soligny (2023) Monoray p241