It was an extraordinary start to 2016 for the loss of cultural icons.
I had heard the darkness of David Bowie’s Darkstar before it was announced that he had died. It created a widespread out-pouring of grief and reflection. It had similarities with Queen’s Made in Heaven (1995) where there was added poignancy once the background circumstances were widely known.
I wasn’t a great fan of Prince’s over-pomped pop music but I have seen him play with others on a Youtube clip with Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne and Dhani Harrison — “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (2004) (https://youtu.be/6SFNW5F8K9Y) and now recognise his guitar-playing, musicianship and many collaborations. We now know he drove himself too hard. I could forgive most things for writing Nothing Compares 2U. https://youtu.be/-ZCiHsIfrOg
In March 2016 Keith Emerson killed himself and I revisited some ELP. I have a string of the early albums but I had written elsewhere that I thought the music hadn’t survived the test of time. I have also declared support for recordings of live music so I was pleased to find a Youtube clip of their 2010 40th anniversary reunion concert. https://youtu.be/MyAtw0DVfTw
David Bowie – Darkstar, 2016
Fairport Convention – Myths and Heroes, 2015 – before seeing them live twice.
Fairport Convention – Leige and Leaf,
London Orion Orchestra – Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, 2016
The Poozies – Into the Well, 2015 – before seeing farewell tour concert
The Poozies – Changed Day Save Roots, 2003
Fay Hield – Old Adam, 2016
Mavis Staples – Livin’ on a High Note
Janis Joplin – Janis: Little Girl Blue (OMP) Soundtrack, 2016 – and watched the OMP on television
Graham Nash – The Path Tonight, 2016
Graham Nash – Take the Money and Rub, 2010
Bill Wyman – Bill Wyman 2015 Deluxe
Supertramp – Crime of the Century, 1974 and 1975 live
The Magnetic North – Prospect of Skelmersdale, 2016
Spencer Davis Group – Autumn, 1966
Steve Winwood – Revolutions, Best of, 2010
Various Artists – You Can All Join In, 1969
Santana – Corazon, 2014
Santana – Shapeshifter, 2010
Kacey Musgraves – Pagent Material, 2015
4Square – Duel, 2016
Afro Celt Sound System – The Source, 2016
Tanita Tikaram – Closer to the People, 2016
Eric Clapton – I Still Do, 2016
REM – Out of Time
Bob Dylan – Blonde on Blonde
Van Morrison – It’s Too Late to Stop Now (live) Vol. l, 1974
Van Morrison – It’s Too Late to Stop Now (live) Vol. ll, lll and lV, 1974. Released 2016
Van Morrison – Astral Weeks (expanded edition)
Richard Ashcroft – These People, 2016
Al Stewart – Time Passages Live, 1978
Megson – Megson Live, 2013
Megson – Good Times Will Come Again, 2016
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Cowell – The Travelling Kind, 2015
Paul Simon – Stranger to Stranger, 2016
Nils Lofgren – Every Breath, 1993
Muse – Drone, 2016 – ready for Glastonbury.
See Music of 2015 >
See also my collection of posts at My Music – Shifting Sands