Eagles 1972-1999 Selected Works

I found this superb 4CD collection plus 24 page booklet for 7 quid in Sainsbury's. Beautifully boxed in a fold out sleeve that slides into the outer cover.

The four discs 1. The Early Days 2. The Ballads 3. The Fast Lane and 4. The Millennium Concert

I am a confessed Eagles fan, have been for four decades. These guys have certainly gone the distance, sounding as fresh today as they did forty-odd years ago. In the early days the band consisted of Randy Meisner, Bernie Leadon, Don Henley and Glenn Frey; Henley and Frey - the great songwriting duo. Joe Walsh joined the Eagles in 1976 and in 1977 Timothy B. Schmit replaced Randy Meisner on bass.

In 1980 the Eagles partnership was falling apart and the official announcement came in 1981. They were off the scene for fourteen years apart from varying degrees of success in solo careers. And then in 1994 the Eagles made a splendid return for an MTV special followed by the 'Hell Freezes Over' tour that continued until the end of summer 1996. The album went on to sell 15 million copies. Do I have a copy? What do you think!

On New Year's Eve 1999 the Eagles played Staples Center, Los Angeles and this was probably their finest hour. I wish I had been there. And they are still touring; The History of The Eagles tour is presently doing various dates in the USA. Anyone in Lake Tahoe, NV have a spare room for 29th August.......

Classic fM Hall of Fame 2014

Like 1000s of other classical music lovers I tuned in to Classic fM over the Easter weekend and enjoyed four days of people's favourite classical pieces as voted for by the public. The list of 300 pieces is eclectic and encompasses such composers as Holst, Vaughan Williams, Einaudi, Beethoven and Grieg. The scope of this annual event is unsurpassed by any other musical chart and I enjoy participating every year.

And so it was with a great deal of delight that I purchased today the 4CD set containing 42 tracks selected from the original 300, at Sainsbury's, for a bargain £7.99 (around $13.00). The recorded quality is superb and the pieces that came first and second are included:

1. The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams here played by Nicola Benedetti and the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Andrew Litton
2. Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2, 2nd Movement, with Vladimir Ashkenazy on pf, and the London Symphony Orchestra under André Previn

Whilst I have most of the composed extracts as full recordings on other CDs and mp3s this collection is a sheer delight to listen to. I recommend this collection without hesitation to all music lovers. CFMD34 on the DECCA label.

Soixante-neuf...

I reached this landmark birthday today. Soixante-neuf sounds better than sixty-nine. One short of the 'three-score-and-ten'... Hmmm.

Anyway, I had my usual jaunt around Sainsbury's this morning. The 'Big Issue' seller, Stan, wished me a happy birthday then asked what I was doing shopping on my birthday. I always do the weekly shop on a Friday (well, mostly). Nothing changes there.

I will be enjoying a steak dinner with my wife Rosalind, a bottle of Carta Roja Gran Reserva 2007 (a rich, intense red from Spain) and a couple of Aberlour single malts from Speyside.

Amongst my presents I received from my brother a 2 CD set of Chris Barber & His Jazz Band, recorded in 1956, 1957 and 1958 originally on the Pye label. The sound quality is astonishing and many of these tracks take me back to my youth, particularly 'Petite Fleur'. He also found a book by Malcolm John entitled 'Around Historic Kent' published in 1978 by Midas Books. It's a little gem. Each entry of village, town or other location is accompanied by a beautiful line drawing. Much nostalgia here for me being a 'Man of Kent' (born south of the River Medway - those born to the north are 'Kentish Men').

As I write this I am listening to the wonderful pianist Ivana Gavrić playing 'Grieg Piano Works'. My favourite is the Lyric Piece 'Notturno Op.54 No.4'. And I am awake, daydreaming... Here is a link to this piece played by Mark Farago:

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And now, the sun is below the yardarm, somewhere - time for a birthday beer!