Music | Tellyspotting

December 23, 2022
50+ years down the road, Bob Dylan reveals what makes him ‘feel at home’

A big TOH to Reid Robinson, Tellyspotting’s intrepid reporter in Richardson, TX who reminded me of one of music’s most controversial moments which occurred at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall in 1966. A heckler branded one of the greatest songwriters of all-time, “Judas” for going electric during a set thus ‘betraying his folk roots’. Reid pointed me in the direction of one Robert Allen Zimmerman and how, over a half century later, he answered one of life’s most sought-after musical questions.
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July 12, 2022
R.I.P. — Monty Norman, ‘James Bond’ theme composer, dies at 94

Unfortunately, there are countless individuals who’s names are unfamiliar to the masses but, in the same breath, you are infinitely familiar with their work. Monty Norman was one such individual. Chances are good that his was not a household name. His work, however, in creating one of the most famous musical movie intros ever will be […]
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January 30, 2022
It was 53 years today….the Beatles were on the roof to play

On 30 January 1969, the Beatles performed an unannounced concert from the rooftop of their Apple Corps headquarters at 3 Savile Row, within central London’s office and fashion district. Joined by keyboardist Billy Preston, the band played a 42-minute set before the Metropolitan Police asked them to reduce the volume. Other than those in earshot of Apple Corps […]
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January 20, 2022
The music of ‘All Creatures’ — Masterpiece Q&A with composer, Alexandra Harwood

When one thinks of the key elements to any successful British drama series, you immediately talk about the superior writing (think Downton Abbey), the brilliant acting (think Sherlock) and the visually stunning landscape (think Poldark). One other element, however, that goes relatively unnoticed but is equally as important in the creation of an overall success is […]
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November 10, 2021
A pre-‘Grantchester’ Robson Green once topped the UK charts with Robson & Jerome

From the ‘Department of Who-Knew’ comes today’s post about the singing career of a pre-Grantchester Robson Green. Turns out that in November 1994, in an episode of the UK television drama series Soldier Soldier, actors Robson Green and Jerome Flynn performed “Unchained Melody” as an impromptu duo The Unrighteous Brothers after the entertainment failed to appear at a wedding. Their […]
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September 9, 2021
R.I.P. — Sheila Bromberg, harpist in Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band

Sheila Bromberg passed away on August 24, 2021 at the young age of 92. While it’s a name you may not immediately recognize, if you are of the age that ‘Meet the Beatles’ was possibly the first album you ever bought with your own money, you will definitely know her work.
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May 23, 2021
Italy’s Måneskin grabs Eurovision Song Contest 2021 title!

The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 is in the books with Italy’s Måneskin being crowned the winner thus winning the right for the country to host the 2022 competition. Almost as good as watching this years final was following Radio Times’ blow-by-blow live blogging of the biggest and the most bizarre moments from this year’s event. As usual, some of these […]
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May 20, 2021
Return to the Swinging Sixties with PBS’ ‘Best of the 60s: Ready Steady Go!’

Ready Steady Go!, a.k.a. RSG!, was a British rock/pop music television program broadcast every Friday evening from 9 August 1963 until 23 December 1966 on ITV. The show went out early on Friday evenings with the tagline “The weekend starts here!“, and was introduced by the Surfaris’ “Wipe Out”, later by Manfred Mann’s “5-4-3-2-1”, then Manfred Mann’s “Hubble Bubble Toil […]
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March 2, 2021
Remembering the Cream Reunion Concert as The Royal Albert Hall celebrates 150 years!

The one and only Royal Albert Hall has been home to more legendary moments in music history then the law allows. While the past year has been more than challenging for this iconic venue, the concert hall that borders London’s Hyde Park in South Kensington is nothing short of a national treasure….and, has been for 150 years! My first memory of attending a concert at Royal Albert Hall occurred some 15+ years ago in 2005 to see the Cream Reunion Concert as part of the filming for the PBS series Great Performances,
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February 25, 2021
Happy Birthday, George Harrison — 25 February 1943

Sometimes known as ‘the quiet Beatle’, George Harrison would have been 78 years young today. The Liverpool-born musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer and, oh yeah, lead guitarist of the Beatles passed away in November 2001 of lung cancer at the very young age of 58. While most Beatles fans will immediately identify with songs written […]
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