The first anniversary of one of my favourite pop composers, Roger Nichols, leaving this world. He’s best known for a bunch of great songs that he co-wrote with Paul Williams for The Carpenters. Here’s a beauty that he wrote with Tony “Pet Sounds” Asher.❤️ youtu.be/-Jx1XtAzp20?...

Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys is 60 years old today. It’s one of the most important records in my life and in the history of Pop. Here’s Nick De Caro‘s version of Caroline No, which I might actually prefer to the Pet Sounds original. That may seem like blasphemy to some. youtu.be/YiLYF775ba0?...

It’s Hard to Say Goodbye 🩵 I was sad to hear the news today that Claudine Longet has died. Roger Nichols and Paul Williams wrote this one for her. youtu.be/tCfRO45OvMQ?...

There’s a lot of Paul McCartney stuff going on just now and to celebrate, here is one of my favourite 21st Century songs written by Paul. It was recorded by Charlotte Gainsbourg, Paul also played on the track. I ❤️ it. youtu.be/TeRLyXIccwc?...

For me Abandoned Ship by April Showers (1984) is a serious contender for greatest ever Scottish Pop single… and of course it wasn’t a hit. youtu.be/PsaQCsp4hRg?...

Pearl & The Oysters are one of my favourite new(ish) bands and if you haven’t discovered them yet I think their new single is an ideal point of entry for you. I hope I may get to see them play live one day. youtu.be/OplhHPYRNAo?...

Brezel Göring was one half of my favourite groups ever Stereo Total. I was delighted to discover Brezel has been making new music and this track with Lilith Stangenberg is one of my favourite things I’ve heard in recent times. 💜💙🩷 youtu.be/vMXpbXT1qvA?...

It’s Donovan’s 80th birthday. Born in Maryhill back in 1946. Way underrated. youtu.be/MS9YiIpyxuM?...

Indiepop Chronicles #114 40 years ago 3/5/86 NME D. Swift on BMX Bandits @bmxbanditsduglas.bsky.social E102/Sad "equal parts Sesame Street/Modern Lovers & your little sister's 12th birthday party" & Mighty Mighty @mightymighty86.bsky.social Everybody Knows The Monkey "the sound & spirit of our C86"

Norman, Sean & I are doing a Q&A for a special screening in Bellshill of Grant McPhee’s beautiful documentary Teenage Superstars. It’s happening on June 5th. I think it’s the first time we will have been in Bellshill together for decades. www.northlanculture.co.uk/event/teenag...

Another tipping of my cap to Boris Karloff. Here he is in his last great film role as aging Horror star Byron Orlok in Peter Bogdanovich’s Targets. In this clip he brilliantly delivers a scary story in less than 2 minutes. youtu.be/88wMrLGch9w?...

Bandcamp Listening Party for Radhika's 'Cine-Pop' MAY 16 at 6pm. Come on down. Bring money!! 🍓 @glassmodernr.bsky.social @gidcoe.bsky.social @emmaandersonmusic.bsky.social @wishimage.bsky.social @heidianneberry.bsky.social glassmodern.bandcamp.com/live/radhika...

Song For Insane Times by Kevin Ayers from 1969. “Banana”. youtu.be/GEGNfw-jd_M?...

It’s alive! bmxbandits.bandcamp.com/album/prelp-...

Radhika's 'Since Yesterday" Number 1 on Tidal's Indie Britain by the way @glassmodernr.bsky.social @thepastels.bsky.social @bmxbanditsduglas.bsky.social @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social @gidcoe.bsky.social @augstone.bsky.social tidal.com/playlist/ef0...

Happy 92nd birthday Frankie Valli. youtu.be/-KtYgOM62fk?...

Happy 92nd birthday to Frankie Valli. This is so good... youtu.be/ejMQuyyG-10

Available to pre-order today. “Featuring an array of Glasgow’s pop glitterati, Duglas Stewart’s Frankenstein is the lost BMX Bandits lo-fi masterpiece.” Now on vinyl for the first time. bmxbandits.bandcamp.com/album/prelp-... #bandcampfriday

Hélicoptère. A not so well known song that I love by Serge Gainsbourg, sung by Mireille Darc, with a great arrangement by Michel Colombier. youtu.be/WowRnp6pTVc?...

In other news! We have added @bmxbanditsduglas.bsky.social to Manchester Popfest 2026! Limited edition Risographs hitting your best love “dive bars” now 🫶🏼 Tickets here: www.seetickets.com/tour/manches... ✨

Available to pre-order today. “Featuring an array of Glasgow’s pop glitterati, Duglas Stewart’s Frankenstein is the lost BMX Bandits lo-fi masterpiece.” Now on vinyl for the first time. bmxbandits.bandcamp.com/album/prelp-... #bandcampfriday

Today:

An excellent collection of lyrics by Dan Treacy of the Television Personalities with essays on favourite individual songs by a fine cast of musician fans (including me) and ex-TVP members. There’s a lot in it.

Get set for a lost lo-fi masterpiece from the one and only BMX Bandits @bmxbanditsduglas.bsky.social on Bandcamp Friday. Released for pre-order on Precious as PRELP 9 – Duglas Stewart's Frankenstein – limited edition 12-inch vinyl, revised and expanded with extra songs, and sleeve notes from Duglas

Radhika and her band with their excellent newly released version of Since Yesterday. Top pop with healing properties. @glassmodern.bsky.social youtu.be/Cyk-lod2CzA?...

Since Yesterday by Radhika. 42 years on from the poptastic original, Radhika brings a more delicate and tender feel to the song. youtu.be/ZxGup4TIlZ0?...

Ask @bmxbanditsduglas.bsky.social and listen to Norman Blake & @finlaymacdonald.bsky.social

Swell Maps in Glasgow tonight. youtu.be/ce-IqnxR9hU?...

My song for this sunny day. Suzi Jane Hokom- Come on Sunshine 🌞 youtu.be/E4rufDEyP5w?...

Looking forward to being special guests of The Bevis Frond for their show at Room 2 in Glasgow on June 6th. We are doing a duo set for the gig. Please find the tickets link below in replies. youtu.be/ur04ZIOjQrs?...

Sofie Royer is one of my all time favourite artists and she released a new track today, it’s a beauty. With each listen I love it more and more, on the first listen I was already loving it a whole lot. youtu.be/EkaEdrn2fyQ?...

We are playing a special intimate duo show in Leeds on June 27th. It’s a real cosy setting for this one, only 40 tickets will be available. Don’t dilly dally. www.seetickets.com/event/bmx-ba...

Sofie Royer is top of my pops. I’ve loved everything that’s she done so far. She has a new track out today and I am, of course, beyond excited, couldn’t sleep until I got to hear it. And yes, I love every second of it. youtu.be/E9vNLCB5cE4?...

We are doing a stripped back duo set on The Golden Hinde (yes, the ship) in London on June 28th. Hope to see some of you good folks there. Here is the link for tickets: www.seetickets.com/event/bmx-ba...

Believe In Me by Todd Rundgren. Todd’s influence on BMX Bandits has been huge and here is one of my favourites by him. I want to share this one with you. youtu.be/W5b-MVXOYO4?...

Written and recorded in 2006, that’s 20 years ago. How did that happen. Of all of the songs I’ve written this is one of the ones that brings me the most satisfaction. youtu.be/2m2JPN509dQ?...

Goodnight Patrick Campbell-Lyons of the original 1960s NIRVANA, a baroque pop duo. Jim Mcculloch introduced me to their music in the mid 1980s and I hadn’t heard anything quite like them before. They made some incredible records that deserve to be be more widely celebrated. youtu.be/3sUsxDf41xA?...

RIP Patrick Campbell-Lyons of the original Nirvana, whose music has given me so much pleasure. Here is the perfect combination of sound and image: All of Us and the opening titles of The Touchables (1968). youtu.be/dxDV5raOro4?...

Something For the Longing Box Set - Day 8. Here's one of the very, very great bands from Scotland - The Shop Assistants and I Don’t Wanna Be Friends With You. And an excellent photo of David Keegan taken by Paul Groovy in Brighton - 15/12/85 www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OxX...

And while I’m celebrating Sandy Salisbury’s 82nd birthday, here is his exuberant version of Brian Wilson’s With Me Tonight. youtu.be/qvGbmIZlJBA?...

Happy 82nd birthday to Sandy Salisbury, a giant of Soft Pop. Here’s one of my favourite songs that he wrote. He was 22 years old then. Healing music full of love, hope and magic. youtu.be/AFQoAnphoxg?...

"Another piece of cake?" RIP Angela Pleasence. SYMPTOMS, of course, but also part of a marvellously creepy double-act, with her father, in this segment of FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE (1974)

@glassmodernr.bsky.social @thepastels.bsky.social @johnrobbofficial.bsky.social @lukehaines.bsky.social @emmaandersonmusic.bsky.social @heidianneberry.bsky.social

Out today on paperback. The story of a dozen years of Scottish Independent Music. Get it now. From @grantmcphee.bsky.social

Postcards From Scotland has it's paperback release today so I'm sharing the film it was based on, Teenage Superstars for the day and night. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCn2...

For me, one of the greatest songs of the 1960s/ greatest protest songs ever, written by Janis Ian when she was 13-14 yrs old. A mighty Shadow Morton production frames its devastating narrative perfectly…and then our narrator gives it a final killer twist. Recorded August ’65 youtu.be/GxAKS4ZEdQI?...

This is so wonderful that I am sharing it once more as I don’t want anyone missing out.

Footprints on the Moon. I‘ve loved the mighty Scottish/ Welsh arranger and composer Johnny Harris’ haunting theme for a long time. Now I‘m grateful to Martin Green for turning me onto this version by Raffaella Carra. It’s beyond beautiful, truly out of this world youtu.be/LSuTZnlp5Jo?...

It’s the anniversary of Joe Meek’s birthday. To celebrate, here’s an excellent Joe Meek production of a Chip Taylor song, My Johnny Doesn’t Come Around Anymore. youtu.be/6iQWjAxT5qY?...