Niall Brannigan
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niallb1.bsky.social
Niall Brannigan
@niallb1.bsky.social
I write about London recording studios, the people who worked there and the music they made:
willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com
Spurs; Woking FC; Red Sox; Big Big Train; Danny Camp, Frost*; live for live music.
@iainso999.bsky.social A very special day.
November 29, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The lineup for the 1967 Jazz & Blues Festival at Windsor; famous for seeing the debut of Fleetwood Mac. Someone commented how much guitar talent was on show so… Well, I love a challenge.
August 12, 2025 at 8:06 PM
My review of Van Morrison’s terrific return to form is now up on The Afterword site.
theafterword.co.uk/remembering-... Remembering Now. Van Morrison
Remembering Now. Van Morrison
theafterword.co.uk
July 21, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I’m Not Sleeping from Springsteen’s Tracks 2 sounds like classic @dannythechamp.bsky.social & The Champions of the World.

I can pay it no higher compliment.

youtu.be/KE21s2Q3Zx4?...
Bruce Springsteen - I'm Not Sleeping (Official Audio)
YouTube video by BruceSpringsteenVEVO
youtu.be
July 10, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Some thoughts from me on the death of Mick Ralphs:

theafterword.co.uk/hymn-to-the-... Hymn to the Dudes.
Hymn to the Dudes.
theafterword.co.uk
June 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
My review of a brilliant night at @soundloungecio.bsky.social has been published on The Afterword site.

theafterword.co.uk/the-robbie-m... The Robbie McIntosh Band
The Robbie McIntosh Band
theafterword.co.uk
June 21, 2025 at 12:12 PM
@robbiemcintosh.bsky.social and his stellar band currently blowing up a storm @soundloungecio.bsky.social
#guitarnerds
June 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Today, it is 25 years since this gorgeous woman said ‘I do,’ and we got married.

She is my rock, my forever girl and my best friend.

We’ve had some amazing adventures together; and there’s plenty more still to come.

Happy 25th anniversary, JB. I love you to bits

@jaybee2801
May 29, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I’m so lucky when someone stumbles across my blog and retweets, saying how much they like it. Thanks @mick002.bsky.social
Some wonderful articles in here...
I’ve been re-reading some of my blog for ‘a thing’ and this one still makes me smile; what a life Lucky Gordon had.
willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com/2021/12/22/t...
May 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM
My review of a very special Springsteen gig is up on The Afterword.
theafterword.co.uk/bruce-spring...
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band
theafterword.co.uk
May 16, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I’ve been re-reading some of my blog for ‘a thing’ and this one still makes me smile; what a life Lucky Gordon had.
willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com/2021/12/22/t...
The Studios Of London – Island / Basing Street Studios.
“We both decided to relax and, twenty minutes later, he’d done it. And it’s a great solo.” Island / Basing Street Studios: 105, Ladbroke Grove, W11 1PG Nearest Tube Station: Ladbroke Grove Al…
willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com
March 22, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A priceless evening with a musical hero. A showing of the film The Immediate Family plus a Q&A by David Hepworth, with Lee Sklar.
It’s a brilliant film, full of love and warmth, and is on a streaming platform right now.
Lee is the most humble, sweet guy who has time for everyone.
A great night.
March 19, 2025 at 12:26 PM
In case anyone missed this yesterday, here is part 4/4 of my story of EMI/Abbey Road Studios. It includes the end of The Beatles, Fela Kuti making 2 albums in 2 days and the making of The Dark Side of the Moon. Retweet it if you enjoy. 🙏
February 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The End; an African icon and an album that started in a room in West Hampstead, and sold 50 million copies.

Today’s studio-blog episode is the final part of the story of Abbey Road and features The Beatles, Fela Kuti and Pink Floyd.

willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com/2025/02/14/t...
The Studios of London – EMI Studios, Abbey Road. Pt.4
“We were putting the final touches to that side of the LP and we were listening to the mix. John said, ‘There! Cut the tape there!’ Geoff [Emerick] cut the tape and that was it. End of side one.” E…
willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com
February 14, 2025 at 10:38 AM
#OnThisDay 1999 : The first episode of The League Of Gentleman was broadcast on BBC Two.

#90s
January 11, 2025 at 9:03 AM
@theodelaney.bsky.social Thanks for re-posting my blog, Theo. 🙏
#Coys
January 10, 2025 at 6:59 PM
A song written on a Manchester bus and one of the greatest albums ever made;

Today’s 3rd episode of the story of Abbey Road Studios features The Hollies, The Beatles and a teenage songwriter.

willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com/2025/01/10/t...
The Studios of London – EMI Studios, Abbey Road. Pt.3
“Tony [Hicks], Allan [Clarke], and I are cutting glances at each other, and … we know this is a hit song. We know what we can do with it, too, putting a Hollies spin on the tune.” EMI Studios: No.3…
willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com
January 10, 2025 at 8:21 AM
@lookingforthemagic.bsky.social Love the new name and I really hope that this absolute classic becomes the theme tune.

The Dwight Twilley Band and Looking For The Magic.

youtu.be/VQ6CflnSxyo?...
Looking For The Magic
YouTube video by Dwight Twilley - Topic
youtu.be
January 8, 2025 at 6:42 PM
In all of the excitement of today I forgot to post this.
I’m not one for pride about things I’ve done but I couldn’t be more proud of myself for this.

Day 1,095.

Three years.
December 26, 2024 at 8:26 PM
The most important day in the history of popular music.

The 101st episode of my blog about London’s recording studios is Part 2 of Abbey Road.

It’s about what happened on a freezing cold, February day in 1963.

willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com/2024/12/20/t...
The Studios of London – EMI Studios, Abbey Road. Pt.2
“Brian Epstein said that he would run me home if I played the tape again. So I played the tape and he drove me back to Camden Town in his little Ford Anglia.” EMI Studios: No.3, Abbey Road, St. Joh…
willyoumeetmeonclareisland.wordpress.com
December 20, 2024 at 10:20 AM
Sad to see but journalists at The Times doing Murdoch’s bidding are no better than their former colleagues at the Screws of the World.
November 29, 2024 at 11:37 AM
Absolutely nothing to see here; yet Murdoch’s Press and Johnson’s BBC have hounded a perfectly good Minister out of a job.
And my question is: why has Starmer let this happen? It was a decade ago - a spent conviction. She was 26, not an MP, and had endured a traumatic experience. She was given a conditional discharge.

Does it compare to what an actual Prime Minister did recently? Really?😡
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Louise Haigh's swift resignation prompts numerous questions
Keir Starmer is under scrutiny after the rapid departure of the transport secretary from his cabinet.
www.bbc.com
November 29, 2024 at 11:35 AM
A fantastic night @TheJazzCafe with @TheHangingStars. Sid Griffin was on the bill too so I finally got to see him. The band made a great noise and built a terrific setlist to wow a packed audience. Definitely a band on the up.
November 28, 2024 at 11:28 AM
@dannythechamp.bsky.social This is a handy guide, Danny. The bit of software it suggests is very good at finding who you follow on Twitter.
November 26, 2024 at 8:36 PM