Roy Stannard's Blog

When you think you know it all, ask the next question

Rare music

  • Songs for a Wedding

    Did Maria Callas expect to end up on a list of the greatest Wedding songs of all time? Probably not. However, here you will find Abba nuzzling next to opera, Callas lip-curling in royal fashion with the human sneer, Billy Idol – along with the Pelvis, Gloria Gaynor, Earth, Wind and Fire and the mighty… Read more

  • Another link in The Chain

    Never thought you would hear another track as good as Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’? At last, one has arrived. Lissie’s ‘In Sleep’ from her ‘Catching a Tiger’ album featured a coruscating yet agonisingly beautiful guitar run from Eric Sullivan. Listen and weep. A classic is born. Read more

  • Indie Love Songs that defined an era 1984-5

    How a song by Ricky Gervais (Seona Dancing – More to Lose) helped me fall in love in 1984 – and sixteen other great love songs compiled here – http://wp.me/pCEKG-7t Read more

  • The Greatest Indie Love Songs of all Time (Vol 4)

    ‘You and me gonna be fine’. Exit hand in hand walking into the sunset. In love? This is your soundtrack. Vol 4 of the Greatest Indie Love Songs of all time. Read more

  • The Greatest Indie Love Songs of all Time (Vol 1)

    You’ll have yours. I’ve got mine. Sixteen British Indie pop songs and one Swedish classic that changed the world. Inside my head at least. Some are deleted and impossible to find, one or two are recent and surprisingly capable of making a veteran Indie roller catch a little tear somewhere back in the throat. Geneva,… Read more

  • The best undiscovered Indie love song ever?

    When you’re sick and tired of everybody lying to you you just want to walk away….. walk right into better days if you can just stop wanting it….. it will come to you I know you try….. but don’t try too hard when I see you cry….. it breaks my heart I won’t stop loving you….. Read more

  • Excavating the Eighties Pt 2 – more rare 12″ vinyl

    Won Ton Ton’s singer Bea Van Der Maat  is probably the reason to explore this Belgian Eighties outfit. After Chow-Chow, the forerunner to Won Ton Ton split,  Bea started a career on television and sang in the LSP Band. Her popularity got the group a record contract. In 1987 the group reformed – under the name Won Read more

  • Rare Eighties music gems (ripped from 12″ vinyl)

    Jonathan Bernstein and Beatrice Colin together formed April Showers – a fleetingly brilliant Glaswegian pop duo who released just one single “Abandon Ship” on Big Star, a subsidiary of Chrysalis in 1984.  It quickly gained a cult following due to its sparkling production from Anne Dudley (Art of Noise) and string-heavy arrangements. This quality was echoed Read more