Don McLean – More than just a slice of American Pie

American Pie is undoubtedly Don McLean’s most recognized song. The epic 1970’s tale of the demise of an era that charts the ideals of the optimistic 1950s through into the darker 1960s resonated with the Baby Boomer audience and ensured the song reached #1 or #2 in nearly every country around the world. In Britain the American Pie album remained amongst the top charting albums for an astounding 54 weeks.

Violent Femmes – from Pretenders to Kings of the Heap

I have sometimes wondered how the Violent Femmes career would have panned out if they hadn’t decided to busk where they did on the 23rd August 1981. The spot they had chosen just happened to be where Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders were going to be performing later that day. Pretenders guitarist, James Honeyman-Scott, heard the band and was impressed, as was Chrissie Hynde who invited the them to play an acoustic set after the opening act that night.

What’s Been Did and What’s Been Hid –Donovan’s debut album

I often wake up with a song on my mind and have no idea what sparked the memory. Today I woke up with a whole selection of songs, all from an album that I have not heard in years, Donovan’s debut LP ‘What’s Been Did and What’s Been Hid’. It was released in 1965 and featured his first huge hit (and song that any guitar newbie learned at the time) Catch the Wind, and became a pretty special record in my life.

A Tribute to Colin Shamley

We received the sad news of the passing of Colin Shamley this week. Although Colin’s wasn’t a well known name to many, he was a leading voice during the apartheid years of South African music and well known, particularly on the folk music scene of the 70s.

Mini-Feature – Gordon Lightfoot

I thought that an article about Gordon Lightfoot would be a pretty straightforward task but as I researched this Canadian Folk/Rock legend I quickly realised that this was going to a winding journey through a professional career that has spanned 60 years.

Mini-Feature: Bread & Roses, the Mimi Fariña Legacy

I was transported back to a very different era of my life recently when South Africa’s Music Guru, Sean Brokensha, played Judy Collins singing Bread and Roses during his excellent weekend show on Johannesburg’s Mix 93 FM. Some may not remember who Judy Collins is, and fewer will know what the Bread and Roses movement was about, but it is an interesting bit of musical history that did so much for the social consciousness of the era’s music lovers. We’ll start with a little background about the movement’s driving force, Mimi Fariña.

Mini-Feature: Allysen Callery – Quiet Music for a Loud World

I came across Allysen Callery thanks to the Folk-Rock Facebook group and something told me to follow the link. I’m glad I did. Her style has been referred to as Ghost Folk and that is also the name of her 6th studio album that we’ll look at later. Today I am featuring few tracks spanning her career and a bit of background to this mesmerising singer/songwriter.

Loving the Music – Brown Bird

22nd October 2020: In the very early days of the Loving the Music page a friend sent me a link to a group that he thought I would enjoy. The group was Brown Bird, and thank you Jandre for introducing me to them. Unfortunately, Brown Bird is no longer with us due to the founder,

Loving the Music – Rising Appalachia

21st October 2020: Rising Appalachia has been on my radar for a while and today seems like a good day to appreciate their thoughtful style of Folk. The band represents more than just music and the founding siblings, Leah Song and Chloe Smith, have used their talents and time to support some good causes. Sisters