Sid Smith
@sidsmith.bsky.social
Freelancer writing about music & musicians in print & online. I share an office with a cat called The Bug.
Contact me here or via thesidsmith@gmail.com
Contact me here or via thesidsmith@gmail.com
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Sid Smith
@sidsmith.bsky.social
· Nov 11
My King Crimson biog is available here:
burningshed.com/sid-smith_in...
“Vivid and incisive” Mojo
"Beautifully written and engaging" Classic Rock
“Properly indispensable” Record Collector
"The most compendious, exhaustive history of the band that anyone could want." Stuart Maconie BBC Radio 6.
burningshed.com/sid-smith_in...
“Vivid and incisive” Mojo
"Beautifully written and engaging" Classic Rock
“Properly indispensable” Record Collector
"The most compendious, exhaustive history of the band that anyone could want." Stuart Maconie BBC Radio 6.
Listening to this, I'm reminded of a story my parents once told me. I was a small child & was shopping with them in Newcastle when they bumped into Duke Ellington leaving the Royal Turks Head Hotel. Apparently, he stopped to sign an autograph & patted me on the head. I have no memory of this & 1/2
February 16, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Listening to this, I'm reminded of a story my parents once told me. I was a small child & was shopping with them in Newcastle when they bumped into Duke Ellington leaving the Royal Turks Head Hotel. Apparently, he stopped to sign an autograph & patted me on the head. I have no memory of this & 1/2
February 16, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Chick Corea/David Holland/Barry Altschul
A.R.C. ECM 1009
Having guested on ECM 1004, Corea’s first album as leader lands with a flashy impact. Forever busy and bustling, they generate a lot of heat triangulating between splintery improv, riotous patterns, and euphoric swing.
#ECMFirst100 #ECM
A.R.C. ECM 1009
Having guested on ECM 1004, Corea’s first album as leader lands with a flashy impact. Forever busy and bustling, they generate a lot of heat triangulating between splintery improv, riotous patterns, and euphoric swing.
#ECMFirst100 #ECM
February 15, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Chick Corea/David Holland/Barry Altschul
A.R.C. ECM 1009
Having guested on ECM 1004, Corea’s first album as leader lands with a flashy impact. Forever busy and bustling, they generate a lot of heat triangulating between splintery improv, riotous patterns, and euphoric swing.
#ECMFirst100 #ECM
A.R.C. ECM 1009
Having guested on ECM 1004, Corea’s first album as leader lands with a flashy impact. Forever busy and bustling, they generate a lot of heat triangulating between splintery improv, riotous patterns, and euphoric swing.
#ECMFirst100 #ECM
Reposted by Sid Smith
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2019
Whitley Bay 2019
February 15, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2019
Whitley Bay 2019
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2019
Whitley Bay 2019
February 15, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Remembered Sky
Whitley Bay 2019
Whitley Bay 2019
Reposted by Sid Smith
February 14, 2026 at 8:19 AM
My parents bought this LP in 1958. It was a huge part of my childhood and has accrued the patina of decades. I've run it through the Pro-Ject cleaner, and it now glitters anew. A beautiful recording restored. There are many versions of The Planets, but this is the one that my world revolves around.
February 14, 2026 at 5:26 PM
My parents bought this LP in 1958. It was a huge part of my childhood and has accrued the patina of decades. I've run it through the Pro-Ject cleaner, and it now glitters anew. A beautiful recording restored. There are many versions of The Planets, but this is the one that my world revolves around.
The Bug patiently waits for his Valentine cards to be delivered…
February 14, 2026 at 8:35 AM
The Bug patiently waits for his Valentine cards to be delivered…
February 14, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Sid Smith
Rain in progress (although actually not, outside, at the moment)
February 13, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Rain in progress (although actually not, outside, at the moment)
Reposted by Sid Smith
February 13, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Watched the brilliant Evolver 62 by @marklewisohn.bsky.social the other day, and I have been on a Beatles kick as a result. It's a grey day, but the boys are a blast of instant sunshine this afternoon.
February 13, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Watched the brilliant Evolver 62 by @marklewisohn.bsky.social the other day, and I have been on a Beatles kick as a result. It's a grey day, but the boys are a blast of instant sunshine this afternoon.
Another track from the forthcoming Soft Machine album, Thirteen, has been released.
youtu.be/kHRlH-kFR8I?...
youtu.be/kHRlH-kFR8I?...
Brand New Soft Machine Single - 'Green Books' - 13 Feb 2026
YouTube video by Theo Travis Sax
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Another track from the forthcoming Soft Machine album, Thirteen, has been released.
youtu.be/kHRlH-kFR8I?...
youtu.be/kHRlH-kFR8I?...
And what better follow-up to the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book than to scroll forward a few centuries and have Aloys Kontarsky getting sub-atomic with Stockhausen's Klavierstück - all the same notes but not necessarily in the same order.
February 13, 2026 at 12:15 PM
And what better follow-up to the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book than to scroll forward a few centuries and have Aloys Kontarsky getting sub-atomic with Stockhausen's Klavierstück - all the same notes but not necessarily in the same order.
The return of the giant Hogwood
February 13, 2026 at 10:33 AM
The return of the giant Hogwood
February 13, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Into the office for the first time today in the company of what, for me, is Brian Eno's last great album. Obviously, it's much better on CD, but I am such a fan of the album that I bought this LP edition for the artwork alone.
February 12, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Into the office for the first time today in the company of what, for me, is Brian Eno's last great album. Obviously, it's much better on CD, but I am such a fan of the album that I bought this LP edition for the artwork alone.
February 12, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Reposted by Sid Smith
February 11, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Keith Tippett's exuberant celebration of jazz, rock, classical, improv, and sheer bloody spectacle warms the office this afternoon. I wrote the 3000-word essay for Esoteric's 2022 CD remaster, in which I chatted with various Centipedes about this mad, messy, but wholly remarkable artefact. Love it.
February 11, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Keith Tippett's exuberant celebration of jazz, rock, classical, improv, and sheer bloody spectacle warms the office this afternoon. I wrote the 3000-word essay for Esoteric's 2022 CD remaster, in which I chatted with various Centipedes about this mad, messy, but wholly remarkable artefact. Love it.
Getting the day underway with Sunset Glow by Julie Tippetts. A jewel of an album. Loved this on first listen, not too long after its 1975 release. Writing the essay accompanying Esoteric's 2022 remaster was made extra special by interviewing Julie about its making. A very special record for me.
February 11, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Getting the day underway with Sunset Glow by Julie Tippetts. A jewel of an album. Loved this on first listen, not too long after its 1975 release. Writing the essay accompanying Esoteric's 2022 remaster was made extra special by interviewing Julie about its making. A very special record for me.
Reposted by Sid Smith
Took the bins out and found myself inside a huge pint of freshly-poured ale.
February 11, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Took the bins out and found myself inside a huge pint of freshly-poured ale.
February 11, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Back to the office in the company of these fine LPs. . .
February 10, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Back to the office in the company of these fine LPs. . .
Reposted by Sid Smith
February 10, 2026 at 9:03 AM