Ten years ago I was writing several blogs on various subjects - F1 motor racing, Music, Classic Cars, Great Romances and, most crushingly, a personal journal that included my thoughts on America, memories of England and Africa, opinion, humour, writing and anything else that occurred. It all became too much (I was attempting to update the journal every day) and I collapsed, exhausted and thoroughly disillusioned in the end.
So this blog is indeed a Toe in the Water, a place to document my thoughts in and on WdC but with a determination not to get sucked into the blog whirlpool ever again. Here's hoping.
"Great Auk!" Sounds like some colorful expression of disgust from a turn-of-the-century teenager complaining about not being allowed to listen to the current and scandalous songs of the gay nineties. "He's the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo"
Amethyst Angel 🌼 The phrase "ghost in the machine" was first used as the title of a book by Arthur Koestler. He was a mid-20th Century philosopher and writer who experienced brief popularity in the 60s. I thought it expressed rather well my very literal interpretation as used in this essay.
A few days ago, S 🤦 asked in QOTD about our all-time, favourite songs. It’s not an easy question to answer, so much depending on mood (both of players and listeners), circumstances, experience, etc. But I came up with an answer and gave it.
I’ve been thinking since then and today I realised there is one song and performance that beats my picks. It’s a live recording of Dire Straits in their heyday but not, I hasten to add, the Alchemy recording of Sultans of Swing. That is great enough and most would have it as the very peak of the band’s incredible output. Yet I know of another one and this, I have decided, is the best.
It’s the Wembley performance of Tunnel of Love in 1985. Yes, their best period and the necessary drummer, Terry Williams, is in the thick of it, just as he was in the Alchemy concert. The band is as together as they were in the more famous song and Knopfler’s solos are even better, in my opinion. There’s a completeness and flow to the whole thing (crowd included) that just pips Sultans.
Anyway, I dug around and found the video and it awaits you below. Sure, it’s long but you’ll wish it were longer.
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