A few days ago was the 35th anniversary of what is still the biggest selling album in Barbra Streisand’s entire career, 1980’s Guilty. Written by the Bee Gees and produced by Barry Gibb with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson, the album would ultimately sell close to 20 million copies around the world. In this episode…
Month: September 2015
Jimi Hendrix’s ‘All Along The Watchtower’ + 5 More Of The Greatest Cover Versions Ever
Jimi Hendrix. This weekend marked 45 years since the death of Jimi Hendrix so with him and his colossal take on Bob Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower in mind, here’s a list of five of my all-time favourite cover songs. I played All Along The Watchtower (featured at the bottom of this article) on my radio show…
New Zealand’s First Great Luxury Hotel: Why Staying At The Chateau Is Still So Worth It
The Chateau in Tongariro National Park, central North Island. I’d always wanted to stay at The Chateau. As far as historic hotels go in New Zealand there are few so iconic. So with it being my birthday last week I decided to see what the 86-year old dame is like. And given the lakeside town…
India: Temple Temptations – Adventures In Hampi – My 2nd Herald Article About South India + 30 Photos
From the top of Anjaneya Hill, Hampi. *UPDATED SEPTEMBER 19: Scroll to the bottom of this article to watch a one-minute video blog I filmed for Flight Centre and Intrepid in Hampi last year. Hopefully it gives you a taste of why this part of India is so beguiling. This place could seriously be the…
Victoria: Walks On The Wild Side – My Herald On Sunday Road Trip Article To Victoria, Australia
The unique rock formations of the Great Ocean Road. This past weekend the Herald On Sunday published my feature about some of the things to do in Victoria (Australia) beyond just Melbourne. I’d spent a week driving all over the state being wined and dined (tough gig I know!), exploring national parks both lush and barren,…
The Commodores 10 Funkiest Songs
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…