On Point

It only took a cursory look online to tell me all I needed to know about the band that came crashing thru my car speakers on Monday morning c/o one of those annoying (yet brilliant at the same time) Spotify algorithms that tries to predict what would come next if you'd only added another tune (or ten) to your (until then) perfect playlist.

Point Blank came out of Texas in the early 70s and between 1974 and 1982 released six albums. They'd often open for the likes of Kiss, Aerosmith and, hence the algorithm kicking in, ZZ Top. However, they called it a day in 1984 and, a bit like the Ramones, they're all dead now.

A couple of years before the band broke up they scored a hit single; until earlier this week I'd never heard it before, but, despite it being the epitome of AOR, you know what, I'm quite taken with it. And I particularly like the artwork from the album it came from - American Exce$$ looks like its cover was designed by those good people at Hipgnosis.

Anyway, here's their catchy ditty that reached #39 on Billboard's Hot 100.

Point Blank - Nicole (1981)

Smile

I was in Sheffield yesterday. It's only an hour's drive up the M1*, so after a pretty torrid week it was good to slip anchor and catch up with friends over a couple of beers and pull in Ian Prowse's gig at Greystones. The garage building (above) was just up from the road from our digs and, yes, I did smile back. It is contagious after all; just ask John Eric Bartholomew...

Morecambe and Wise (1971)

* I was due to catch the train but Mick and the lads were fighting the good fight.

Affirmative

Some things in life pass you by; for whatever reason you don't latch onto them. It's OK. These things happen. It should never be held against you. Well, not in a court of law, anyway. I can think of three straight off the bat: Withnail  and I; Dr. Pepper; Yes.

I know, I can almost hear you shouting at your computer screen now - ''But Withnail is a classic! Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann's performances were off the chart.'' If you say so. Likewise the fizzy drink from Hell. And that bunch of proggers & their Roger bloody Dean album covers. Whoop-de-doo.

And yet, and yet. I do rather like Roundabout. It featured on a playlist I was sent a little while ago and I was quite taken with it. Here it is in full, all 8+ minutes of it. I love everything about it, and I'm especially partial to the acoustic guitar intro, before it goes all mental. You may not agree, of course. That's your prerogative. In which case, as I said at the top of the piece, nobody will hold it against you. Except Jon Anderson, of course. You may, however, like this: it's the pared down radio edit weighing in at a mere 3:28. A mini Roundabout, if you will. I'll get my greatcoat.

     

Yes (official) · Roundabout (Single Edit)

Doris

Doris (2003-2023)

It's been a sad week this week, I don't mind telling you. We lost a family member on Thursday. Doris had been with us a couple of months shy of 20 years when she took her final bow and disappeared behind the curtain one last time; walking into the vet's with a cat in a basket and leaving 30 minutes later with the same empty basket is something we've had to do on more than one occasion - but it never gets any easier. She was the sweetest natured animal I think we've ever had. Rest easy, little one. And say hello to Tom for us.

...

In other (more cheerier) news, Georgie is now officially 11½ carpet stripes long. Although he keeps looking for Doris I think he knows, deep down, she's not coming back...

P.S.

I couldn't not post my favourite picture of Tom: it was taken when we were living up in North Yorkshire and about to hang 'his' painting.

I always flirt with death

Peter Perret is a lot of things - singer, guitarist, songwriter to name but three. He's also been many more - addict, junkie, lost, washed up. And that's just for starters. As head honcho of the Only Ones, Perrett wrote one of punk's defining singles Another Girl, Another Planet. Before the drugs took over he really could have been a contender.

After decades of drug addled addiction Perrett came back from the brink a couple of years ago (''I feel like a cockroach that survived a nuclear war'') and, with the help of his sons, has gone on to make a couple of splendid solo records. This being the title track from his comeback album.

Pete Perrett - How the West Was Won (2017)