Guitar Emporium

Thank God its Friday - the end of the working week - it can't come soon enough. Wishing the days away - again and again... Support the show

"I'd like to get you on a slow boat to China" was a well-known phrase among poker players, referring to a person who lost and was quite happy to keep losing. Frank Loesser turned it into a romantic song, in 1947.  The romantic version is a lovely idea - the odd time I've played poker though I've really taken a hammering. Support the show

There's one idea behind this piece - but it wasn't intended to be Xanadu by Dave Dee, Dozy ,Beaky, Mick and Titch  - although thats exactly what it sounds like when the electric guitar comes in ... Nevermind.  Support the show

This riff - played on the piano in the amazing Bruce Hornsby recording -has stuck in my head for many years - my recollection may not be as accurate as it should be .. This is the final version of this tune . the one I put up earlier I hadn't finished editing - my apologies . Support the show

The comforting sound of rain hammering down outside but being dry and warm at home - not all of us have that luxury - but its good when you've got it.  You may hear a bit of the rain in the background of this recording - it was crashing down on the roof when I was putting the piece together. Support the show

A regular Sunday visit - a friendly bar in Alcobendas - I hope it survived all the pandemic stuff.  Great tapas - very tolerant and patient of my appalling Spanish. Support the show

I've only recently remembered the phrase when the clocks change - "Spring Forward - Autumn Fallback " - so there we have it - tonight the clocks go 1 hour forward and the evenings get lighter. Hope Springs Eternal . Support the show

For the world of  teachers today is the end of Term - a get-as -much -in -as -you-can sort of term and hard work for exam students. is it worth it for them ? I hope it is . Enjoy the holiday. Support the show

Toxic asset - something which has fallen so far that there is no longer a market for. In the financial crisis of about 2008 /2009 - I remember the expression well. The Uk spent the next ten years in austerity to put that right - and failed miserably.  Support the show

For my Mum on her 95th Birthday - Happy Birthday .... from your second son. Support the show

In about 2008 / 2009 there was a rather hushed up scandal about restrictive practices and discouraging union membership in certain industries - goodness how we need strong unions now. Bear it in Mind Support the show

Jeff Beck - another great player whose music I was introduced to pretty late on - my school friend Dud - who always has had amazing sound systems - played me the George Martin produced album "Blow by Blow" in the 1970's - absolutely amazing. As I was recording this I heard the Average White Band tune Pick up the Pieces in here somewhere. So there it is Blow it to Pieces. I've o...

I was listening to a radio presenter talking about the 50th Anniversary of the Pink Floyd album "Dark Side of the Moon" - which I loved. I was introduced to the music of the late John Martyn  - sometimes described as a one - man Pink Floyd - again quite late. The wonderful  John Martyn album Solid Air was 50 years old in February 2023. I finally got to see John Martyn play about a year b...

I heard this style of Jazz very late in life - and the piece this draws on is nearly as old as I am .  My Grandfather on my Dads side was a Greengrocer. When I talked to my Dad about it he called him a Florist - ( I think my Dad felt he was a bit more upmarket than a fruit and veg man ) All I can remember about my Grandfather was that he was deaf for much of his life  and that  he used to cycle to...

Another tune from the "Lost CD" - Lights in the Mist. I don't think it will be ever be missed - maybe one will turn up on eBay one day - I saw a copy of a CD I made called St. Aidans Dance up there once. It was quite nice to think someone had bought the CD and maybe listened to it a few times. Although it was a bit sad to see they didn't think it was worth hanging on to !  I&ap...

The two astrological signs for March. ...So what - I hear you say.. Yeh probably - but its in the stars ?? Someone born in March is Pisces if they're born between March 1 and 20, and Aries from March 21 through April 19 . Pisces are said to be "smart, creative and deeply intuitive," while Aries are said to be "passionate and independent. Support the show

How many times have you fallen for that one ?- the promise of a future benefit for a short term sacrifice . I can certainly put my hand up to that more times than I care to remember. Support the show

On 2nd January I put up - It Ain't Right - about the the song Roundsman - from a CD called Lights in the Mist , which seems to have got lost. I must have sold literally - a handful- I do literally mean ONE hand full.  Here' the song about a lovely old Postman called Alan. One of the jobs I had when we moved out of the rat race was a Postman - and I remember one delightful customer shoute...

What would you do with yours ? I've got no idea what I'd do with mine- so many conflicting and irreconcilable things it would be great to do . Dream on. Celebrating 50 years of the release of the Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon - in the style of... you've got it . Support the show

A  riff from a tune put together with Russell in the 19- somethings - quite a long time ago. Support the show

Fellow Travellers - we all are in one way or another. Watch out for one another is the sense behind the song. Support the show

Based around an 18th century tune todays piece is about elegant dancing - not something I can do - but I can wish. Support the show

I don't know why I haven't felt this before but as your children grow up and make their own decisions the family thing becomes a lot more difficult to sustain , or maybe it just changes. Distances between us are big and linking up to see each other becomes much more complicated. A Jigsaw Family - with a lot of pieces to try to make sense of.. Support the show

Can you ? I don't reckon so - everything has consequences, everything has a price. Even if you think you've got it all - I bet you're missing something .. and after all that - who cares , enjoy what you have  - its priceless. Support the show

The first tune up on the podcast was called "House on the Hill" - back in May of 2022.  Casa Lily is that house - up in the Hills in Asturias - we'll get there sometime. Support the show