I know some purists will hate this but the bassline alone makes this a classic, never mind the vocals… youtu.be/WULff_XxcRI

Second day back at work after a few days in Seville with another couple. Yes, we did visit record shops. 3 very different in one street. One had tons of ‘my’ stuff but only fairly priced. A couple in the next tho - my mate got the Chameleons and the Whitfield era Temptations and funky jazz for me.

Woke up with this earworm. Long me nah smoke the good tu sheng peng and longer since it was a (Jamaican) dollar a stick in the city and 50 cents in the country but what a tune! youtu.be/1ZFCxtq7Lqo

Freezing morning on the station platform and what we need is some dubby disco-boogie and Sun, Sun, Sun… youtu.be/bUkI-On9Gtc

Happy New Year folks! Love my Latin, love a bit of psychy guitar and organ, love El Chicano and I hope you do too! youtu.be/hoR_vcdckgg

On a train home after a 10 hour shift and shuffle does it right for an old punk-soulboy whose birthday is tomorrow: youtu.be/TJdM9dazxQo

Is there a better accompaniment to tired and slightly drunk on the way home from a second 10-hour shift in a row than Ray Price? (Clue: No) youtu.be/orSArw274h0

Surfing to work on a wave of nostalgia… youtu.be/QAgVwp5OODc

Mackems at 2.00. Guests so won’t actually be watching but a big, big game!

Prepping Sunday Lunch and having a bit of a dancey shuffle round the kitchen to a stone-cold Latin jazz-funk classic: youtu.be/C9n02sGMaiU

Want some glorious catchy, danceable, soul-pop from the 80’s? The Empress has it for us: youtu.be/HB0P8XdVNUA

Someone just posted the ‘Cher with The Osmonds’ clip and it reminded me that I was going to post their ‘One Bad Apple’ song. Some debate with myself as whether to post the video but decided not to. Close your eyes and it’s funky and soulful pop worthy of the Jackson 5 youtu.be/30Cxl5bVmVU

‘What music is ‘doing it’ for you just now, Michael?’ ‘Why, since you enquire, it’s ’The Village Caller’ by Vibraphonist Johnny Lytle: youtu.be/e_Pw5qMYIdU

Today's episode of Give the Drummer Some will feature 3 hours of under-heard marvels by the women of ska and early reggae. Rarities, obscurities and beloved cuts. Hear the show live, 9 to noon (ET) on @wfmu.bsky.social's Drummer Stream. LISTEN: wfmu.org/wfmu_drummer... CHAT: wfmu.org/playlists/sh...

@cici6923.bsky.social Last full day in Italia and heading back to Bari station and…

All these years of wrongly thinking it’s Indian Pale Ale and in reality it’s ‘Italian’! ‘Luppolo in fiore’: flowering hops…no idea but it’s fine to celebrate US Lecce’s towering 0-0 draw and numb the pain of a poor Toon performance on the south coast.

Off to the game today but not NUFC. Getting the bus to the stadium with a Lecce Ultra. He goes in the Curva Nord where they wait outside until the gates are overwhelmed checking tickets and then push in for free - not a method of entrance for me given Hillsborough. I’m happy to pay £17 for Serie A!

Mike thinks: stylish, contemporary Anglo-Italian, jazz modernist with a hint of Ivy League. Italians think: aging big foreign lad in a lairy shirt…

When Mrs B is missing Strictly, Mr B could find himself at a performance by the local ballet school. Well out of my comfort zone but rather enjoyed it and fantastic Bach from the Salento Sinfonia Orchestra.

#5debutalbums8084 Timeless classic debut from one of the truly great soul/R&B voices and opened many musical doors for me. From the opening of the title track to the shivers down the spine of House Is Not A Home, total pleasure.

On a damp night in Southern Italy, do we fancy a high-quality jazz trio in a neo-classical theatre dating back to the 18th century? - indeed we do! Do we fancy two boxes for free when the same pianist (Aaron Parks) is playing Ronnie Scott’s a week later priced £35-£55? - indeed we do!

Modern Italian architecture in Lecce, office and home (home still under construction).

Can’t beat a bit o’ baroque Bach in Chiesa di Sant’Irene last night.

No offence but when this comes up I check and find I’ve accidentally flipped to ‘discover’…

Didn’t know but Martin Parr is in Monopoli talking about the recent doc on him and also an exhibition of his work. Bad news is that we were only there for the day and the site we wanted to visit was running on Italian time and was too late opening for us. Still cool @globaljukeboxer.bsky.social

Sitting in a cafe/bakery in Southern Italy and ‘Shout To The Top’ playing on an Italian oldies station - bliss!

Forgotten (if I ever knew) Bowie’s contribution to (northern?) soul. Typical idiosyncratic lyrics: youtu.be/-RAqE2ZscWk

Following on from the post from @monkeytennis.bsky.social re 80’s grooves, had to revisit this fave on the way to work. Short version with video, long version also recommended: youtu.be/0BZNl3_ZIFQ

Couple of fave ‘end of summer’ songs being posted so I thought I’d follow suit: youtu.be/jSaTzME5DrA

This is a fantastic return to form and in-form Chance is as good as it gets.

Not really the time of day for this but a truly unique voice and I really hope the bass player had as much fun playing as I do listening! youtu.be/nROTxaIG6gs

Not an incredible chazza haul but a small oasis in a desert of dross over the last few months. 50p each apart from the 3CD Ella for £1. Wanting a bigger sample of The Move for a while and similar with doo-wop. Got most of the Stax tracks already but 50p to add a couple I don’t have is a no-brainer.

The Bee Smiths

Woke up this morning and off to work with the blues…

F*ckin’ hell, sensual soft soul music! youtu.be/D7gPQ4en6Yw

F*ckin’ hell, pop music! youtu.be/F_OWsD04edQ

On the way home and Croydon looking brutalist but attractive in the evening sun…

Addition to the ‘The Good Life’ post from @delonsblues.bsky.social Joe Mooney’s version. Played accordion, piano, organ and sang. Blind from age of 10. Best known for two mid-60’s, small group jazz-pop albums. I love his voice and the arrangements despite a sad lack of success. youtu.be/Pe1iIQ7cbPw

Delivery from Oxfam sale. 2CD £3.99, book £6 (+postage). Obviously rather not have the record shop stickers but legendary Californian store Ameoba quite cool. Author talks about the book here (should be free). Thanks to Alastair for the info. www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...

Having a slightly surreal morning listening to Ronnie Aldrich and his two pianos + The London Festival Orchestra while taking down a small metal shed in the company of three Albanian and one Syrian gardeners/labourers… youtu.be/jhsrDCeqkk4

Of course it has to be followed by: youtu.be/PT1Dm6Ni1eQ

In the rush to discover great US female pop-jazz singers from the 50’s/60’s, it’s worth remembering we had some too. Topical song in South London early this morning: youtu.be/q9Bi0aZvrGA

The Avengers! The clothes! The plot! Emma Peel! ❤️

James Brown + related (easily the most) Barry White + related Iggy/Stooges + related Chi-Lites Antonio Carlos Jobim Julie London Astrud Gilberto Prefab Sprout The (Young) Rascals + related The Beach Boys Henry Mancini