Happy birthday Rod The Mod. First record I bought. Still sounds fantastic

Just heard the sad news, Johnnie Walker has left the stage. He’s been there ever since I first got into music in the early seventies. Used to rush home at lunchtime to listen to his chart rundown, see if Maggie May was still number one. Genuinely one of the good guys. RIP Pirate Johnnie

Farewell to the best of them all. RIP Jimmy Carter

Ace new selection from excellent beat poet Danny Gray. And a foreword by yours truly. Every home should have a copy. Available now from beatnpress www.beatnpress.co.uk

What I was doing this day in 1968. First visit to Filbert Street, taken by my dad and grandad. All the stars were playing that day. And Leicester won 2.1. And on the walk to the stadium , overall was the smell of fried onions. Funny how some dates stick with you

Records of the year. The passage of a few months has, if anything, made it sound even better. Socially relevant, superbly played. Every bit as good as many of the records from the eighties we know and love. A modern masterpiece

The Stones at the Marquee 1971 on Sky Arts. Fabulous stuff

Records of the year. Brand new from The Studio 68! Four minutes of Hammond-driven social commentary, sounding like Small Faces at their heaviest, with a full-on Maggie Bell style vocal delivery from the brilliant Dani Turner. Sleeve notes by Elliott Palm, as always. Heavy mod at its finest.

Records of the year. Pure class from beginning to end