The Commodores in the mid 70s. Today is the 66th birthday of one of the funkiest bass guitarists in history so it seemed like a good time wheel out this little top 10 list. Ronald LaPread was the bassist for the Commodores from 1969 until his departure for a new life in New Zealand in…
The 40th Anniversary Of Springsteen’s ‘Born To Run’ LP – The Oddly Beautiful Piano Playing Of The Boss
Bruce Springsteen in the mid 1970s. A quick post to acknowledge two things: firstly, an all-time hero of mine is marking one of the more important anniversaries of his career*. Secondly, sometimes I feel there’s little I can add analysis-wise to one of the most analysed recording artists ever. And then something pops into my…
Road Tripping Through Canterbury In New Zealand’s South Island – My Top 50 Photos
Boats on the shores of Lake Alexandrina, near Tekapo. Continuing my series of ‘Top 50’ photo-essays that I enjoy making for The Roxborogh Report, here are my 50 favourites from last week’s road trip through Canterbury. This was my first time seeing Christchurch since the devastating earthquakes of almost five years ago. It was sobering…
‘We’d have the most fun’ – Barry Gibb Explains His Friendship With Michael Jackson
Maurice Gibb, MJ, BarryGibb, Robin Gibb – circa 1985. If Michael Jackson was still alive August 29th would’ve been his 57th birthday. That seems reason enough for me to remind fans of the personal and creative friendship that Michael shared with Bee Gee Barry Gibb. Over the years they always spoke very warmly of each…
The Redemption Of Cliff Richard – Why His Singing At Cilla Black’s Funeral Resonated So Much
Cliff Richard with Cilla Black (and with Lulu as well – bottom left). A link I put on my Newstalk ZB Facebook pages (facebook.com/timroxborogh and facebook.com/zbthetwo) yesterday showing Cliff Richard singing at Cilla Black’s funeral has quickly become one of the most liked and viewed posts I’ve ever shared. And so while there’s a good…
Skyscrapers & Jungle – Kuala Lumpur In 2015 – My Top 50 Photos
From the Helipad Bar, downtown KL. One month ago today I touched down again in the city I grew up in. My family was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from June 1983 to December 1990 before returning to Auckland, New Zealand when I was nine years old. Even after a quarter of a century, it’s amazing…
Return To Nazri’s Place – Top 50 Photos From Malaysia’s Tioman Island, 2015
Nazri’s Place, Air Batang, Tioman Island. This time exactly two weeks ago I was in the middle of a sweat-drenched 10-kilometre walk on an island Time Magazine once described as one of the 10 most beautiful in the world. Sure, that title was bestowed back in the 70s and Malaysia’s Tioman Island has dined out…
When The Bee Gees Went Disco They Also Went Country – 40 Years Since Jive Talkin’ Hit #1
Maurice, Robin & Barry Gibb – 1975. It’s 40 years today since the Bee Gees returned to US #1 with Jive Talkin’ and kicked off one of the most exceptional comebacks in music history. After five years of international hits between 1967-72, the Gibb brothers popularity in the US and UK dipped to such an…
Nick Jonas & The Gospel Version Of ‘Jealous’ – Why Hall & Oates Would Be Proud
Nick Jonas This is the version of Jealous by Nick Jonas that I mentioned on the radio last night. The original is one of the most purely fun R&B pop songs of the year. There’s also been the explicit version with the former wearer of one of those horrific virginity rings shedding his goody-good Disney…
Rod Stewart And The Faces To Finally Reunite
The Faces in the 1970s. See below for details of September’s Rod Sewart / Faces reunion* One of the joys of being a perpetual student of popular music is discovering songs you never really knew from bands you thought you knew all about. I thought I knew all about The Faces, the wonderfully ramshackle early…
Victoria, Australia Top 50 Photos – Kangaroos, Koalas & Cockatoos
Here are my top 50 favourite photos from last week’s five-day jaunt across Victoria in Australia. This was thanks to Tourism Victoria and the Herald On Sunday and was a fun revelation in terms of all the other things to see in the state beyond Melbourne. As for Melbourne itself, it’s undeniably one of the…
Top 50 Vancouver Photos 2010 – 5 Years On From Living In Canada
From the Vancouver Rowing Club with CBD skyscrapers the backdrop. Exactly five years ago I boarded a 14-hour Auckland-Vancouver flight as part of my year and a half long OE (Kiwi-speak for “overseas experience”). There’s been plenty of travel before and since the 2010-2011 OE, but that period was the only time I’ve had completely…
