Pistols Mash Up

It's back to work day, it's pissing down with rain outside, Italian motorcycles are far from our mind, so that means time for a tune to blow away the cobwebs with one of the best punk mashups we've ever heard...

Hate and war

Seems to be a lot of it about at the moment. Some things just never change...

Complete and utter mastery

If you don't play guitar you won't understand - sorry..

Rumba Chillen

I've managed to sort out my 'office' so that I can actually get to my vinyl collection AND my turntable at the same time for the first time in years, and I've had so much pleasure from just delving into records (round and black with grooves in) that I've collected since I was a teenager, scratches, jumps and all.

One of my favourites is this collection released by Charly/Sun Records, called 'Rumble Chillen', with all the artists produced by the legendary Sam Phillips, and for which I paid a then princely £5.99 for sometime back in the 1980s - but it's aged well - would a download last as long?

 It's full of finger-tapping, foot-stomping rockabilly/blues tracks that sound so fresh again, and if you're a guitarist like me, the huge variety of guitar sounds, styles and sounds mixed up with hypnotic, almost primitive rhythms, is amazing. I was never a hardcore rockin' geezer like my brother but hung around some of the clubs with him (and a few girls..) enough to really enjoy the music, booze and the style.

Best track is still 'Rhumba Chillen' by Albert Williams, followed closely by 'Terra Mae' by Doctor Ross. And the scratches inflicted on this particular piece of vinyl over many years only make it sound better. Get a copy if you can.

Highway chile

Listened to this for the first time in ages - just fantastic.

Makes me want to ride off into the sunset, guitar on back.

13 - unlucky for some

Amazing that a bunch of old age pensioners can make such fantastic music - can't stop listening to it, and Rick Rubin's production is perfect. Best album I've heard for a long time. Proper music by Black Sabbath.

Sweatin' it with The Velvet Bulldozer

Ahh, I feel warmer already. Fantastic required musicianship from the wonderful Albert King, and including the amazing one-armed horn player Wilbert Thompson.

Sunday Stylers

Walk Idiot Walk - play loud!

No Love Lost

Still my favourite Joy Division track, with Novelty a close second. Play loud...

Bye Bye Bert Jansch

One of my favourite guitarists, Bert Jansch, died yesterday. He was truly unique (ask Jimmy Page why) and I was fortunate to have seen him play live twice. He alone has made me play more acoustic than electric guitar over the last few years. See why here:

Riff Raff

I ain't no headbanger but....these four AC/DC albums are some of the best music I have. I've been travelling a lot for work the last few days and been listening with intent again.

Thanks John 'Cavie' Webster for telling me about them back in '83 and to bandmate Stan Stammers for confirming in '86 that it was ok to love AC/DC and still be a punk and not a 'banger..