June 2021/July 2022 updates: re-reading this item first published in Salut! Live's Song of the Day series 10 or 11 years ago, I am struck by a phrase I used to describe why the rationale for the Northern Ireland peace... Read more →
January 2022 update: this magical piece of northern humour made a remarkable ascent of the British pop charts in 1981, reaching the heady heights of number three. It is a riotously funny send-up of a famous old TV advert for... Read more →
Jan 2022 update: a few months ago, I republished this item with mention of the Monday morning blues that had sent me to YouTube for one of my regular Kate Rusby fixes. I have been championing her music for around... Read more →
September 2021 non-update: nothing more to say. I just fancied resurrecting this old piece from the voluminous Salut! Live archives ... The stories of Del Shannon, Runaway and - no point being modest - Salut! Live come together in a... Read more →
Jan 2021 update: the reason I am promoting archived material is that when it first appeared, Salut! Live had a pitifully small readership. It's not huge now but is a good deal larger and I believe there is content that... Read more →
September 2021 update: the piece you see below was written and published here 10 years ago, at the start of Salut! Live's Song of the Day series. I stand by every word except that the Toulon tunnel is now open... Read more →
