What Are You Listening To

Shel Shapiro - Sleeping On My Own Again, Domani Ci Sarà Il Sole, Luna Gialla (Per Malindi), Spy and Quando Io Ti Vedo Li

From the fourth solo album by the British-Italian (Born in Stanmore*, Middlesex in 1943, based now in Rome) Singer/songwriter, “Per Amore Della Musica” (1987).

As I mentioned here before, Shel (Born Norman David Shapiro) formed a band with fellow English expatriates in Italy called The Rokes, where they found success in a unique and rather different spin on the “British Invasion” phenomenon. He has also worked as an actor, and still performs his music.

Living In The Background by Baltimora (1986)
(Italo-Disco)

Automatic Lover by Dee D. Jackson (1978)
(Disco)

Shel Shapiro - Spy (1987)
(Italian Pop rock sung in English)

The very best song off the album. I have to admit, Per Amore Della Musica as a whole wasn’t really a knock out of the park. I found it contained too many 80s ballads and was too soft, with the exception of the five I listed

@Mr.Myoozik
Ah, the Italian theme continues! Seeing as I’m both a CD and mp3 guy, if I ever find a CD by Baltimora, I’ll snap it up and rip the tracks on my handy FreeRip software

Kiss - Thou Shalt Not

Polvo De Tu Vida by J. Balvin & Chencho Corleone (2024)
(Reggaeton)

Barry Green (Later known professionally as Barry Blue) - Papa Do and Boomerang

From the 1972 Bubblegum/Glam rock single of by the English (From London) singer/songwriter

Operation Mindcrime by Queensrÿche

X-Raided - The Unforgiven, Vol. 1

F.B.I.* - F.B.I., Talking About Love, Free Prison, The Time Is Right To Leave The City, Bad Deal and Keep On Running

From the self-titled debut (and only one under this name) album by the incredible English (From London) mixed-race Funk/Soul band, released in 1976.

This album really cooks and sizzles! It’s a great, seemingly overlooked gem from the 70s-80s Britfunk period (in which an outpouring of British bands rained supreme in the genre, representing their home country in their unique yet united ways). The band was fronted by two lead singers, a black man and a white woman. They later re-grouped under the name Unfinished Business, released in 2000.

*Their name apparently didn’t stand for Federal Bureau of Investigation, but rather Funky Bands Inc., or sometimes Funky Business Inc.

Kiss - Paralyzed

Tessaract - Voices from the World Below

Ukranian Death Metal

Crush 40 - Open Your Heart

Overdrive - Your Greasy Boyfriend, If Only, The Bed With The Broken Springs, Play It Hard and Diamonds And Pearls

From the first album by the English (From Grantham, Lincolnshire) NWOBHM/Heavy metal band, “Dishonest Words” (1990)

The band were formed in 1977. The album cover depicts a character of a rather famous and notorious Grantham native, none other than the late Conservative politician Margaret “The Iron Lady” Thatcher (At the time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the longest serving one at that), depicted with a little Hitler mustache on her upper lip, her face contorted in a look of disgust and distain

Billboard’s Year End list of the 100 biggest hits of 2024, the top half

Kevin Ayers - The Clarietta Rag, Girl On a Swing, Song For Insane Times, The Lady Rachel, Soon Soon Soon and Religious Experience (Singing a Song In The Morning, take 103)

From the debut album (And arguably, his magnum opus) by the the late* English (From Herne Bay, Kent) Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist (and ex-member of the Soft Machine), Joy Of a Toy (1969). An amazing album bursting with colour, poetry and wry, eccentric English wit. It features an accomplished cast of backing musicians from the 60s/70s Canterbury Scene (including a couple of his ex-bandmates in the Soft Machine). In one song included as part of the bonus tracks on the 2003 CD reissue of this album Syd Barrett (ex-singer/songwriter/guitarist of Pink Floyd) guests on guitar, the aforementioned Take 103 of a song titled “Religious Experience (Singing a Song in the Morning)”. For those who are familiar with Syd’s musical output, his signature style can be heard in the song’s snakey lead guitar lines. Kevin and Syd knew each other from their days playing the same clubs in London, and were both signed to EMI’s fledgling “Harvest” label.

*1944-2013

Billboard’s Year End list of the 100 biggest hits of 2024, the bottom half

Five Finger Death Punch - Welcome To The Circus

Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe

White Hammer – Van der Graaf Generator

From “The least we can do is wave to each other”, released in 1970.

Kasabian - Darkest Lullaby, How Far Will You Go, G.O.A.T, Passengers and Italian Horror

From the eighth and most recent album by the English (From Leicester) Indie/Electronic rock group, “Happenings” (2024)

Indigo by Sam Barber feat. Avery Anna (2024)
(Folk/Americana)