Friday Night Extra
Patrick Sherring
Andy told us that it was difficult to categorize the music of Martyn Joseph. Andy described the music as folk based covering wider themes of faith, social concerns and activism. He has produced 24 studio albums and thirteen live albums in a career dating back to 1983. Martyn produces a new album almost every year, and there was a new release in 2020. Andy had seen Martyn in concert on numerous occasions. Many had been at the Greenbelt Festival, but also in other venues. Mostly these have been with Martyn as an individual performer singing his own songs ,accompanied on the guitar. Andy chose three contrasting songs for us to hear.
Tonight’s playlist
Billy Joel – Still Rock & Roll to me.
Bee Gees – How deep is your love. Phyl requested this 1977 track that is no 375 in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Martyn Joseph – Here come the young – This 2019 track is about the young having new ideas to deal with the problems of the world.
Martyn Joseph – Liberal backslider – This 1999 track is about how people of faith can sometimes have issues with the structures of religious organisations and with issues of doctrine.
Martyn Joseph – Still a lot of love round here – Andy chose this 2012 track for the refrain, which he thought was an important reminder for us all at this time.
Jennifer Hudson – Listen – from the soundtrack of the 2006 film Dreamgirls.
Birthdays this week
Johnny Cash RIP – we lost John in 2003. He would have been 89 years old this week. We heard 1971 track Man in black, which explains why he always wore black on stage.
Howard Jones was 66 years old this week. We heard his UK no 3 and USA no 27 from 1983, New song. It is worth checking out the video of his Live Aid performance.
George Harrison RIP. George passed away in November 2001. He would have been 78 years old this week. We heard his UK no2 and USA no 11 from 1987 I got my mind set on you.
In a close contest tonight Chris from Harlow was our winner, being correct with the age of George Harrison. Rene was just one year out with Johnny Cash. Sarah two years out with the age of Howard Jones.
McFly – You’ve got a friend – their version of the James Taylor song.
Labi Sifri – You’ve got a friend – requested by Patrick. Chris had seen Labi in concert in 1979.
Men without hats – Safety dance.
Chart this week in
No 7 ELO – Mr. Blue sky. Amazing to find this track peaked at n 6. It s going to be used to promote the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the home city of many band members.
No 14 Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street. Winner of the 1978 Ivor Novello Award for the Best Song Musically and Lyrically.
No 19 Billy Joel – Just the way you are. This was the peak position in the UK for this track from Billy’s fifty album The Stranger. The track won two Grammy Awards for Record of the year and Song of the year.
Billy Preston – That’s the way God planned it (live) – from the 1971 charity concert for Bangaladesh, organised by George Harrison.
Joni Mitchel – Free man in Paris
Jason Mraz – Best friend
Seal – Kiss from a rose.
Join me next week when my guest will be Red House Rhythm & Blues Duo singer Chris Hollingshurst talking about his favourite artist, the Blues Band.
