What I was listening to in… OCTOBER 2026

Week 41

Silverhead's albums are both bootleg quality and exist purely for historical significance.

The Neil Young double CD set was great - not played it for a long time. Well worth a place in anyone's collection.

Wizzard's CD is not just all hits but some of Roy's solo and lesser known stuff. Wonderful!

Week 42

Why oh why on the Genesis "Archive #2" did they cut the end off the track "It's Yourself"? It's the nice bit that links the song to "Mad Man Moon" from "A Trick Of The Tail". It's available in full on the "Match Of The Day" EP if you can ever find that!

According to my database I've only got seventeen albums with an unplayed date next to them. They're mostly compilations and greatest hits of the same artists so next week expect a lot of Cheap Trick, Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Steve Hackett, Slade and Sparks! Plus some more seventies yearbooks!

Week 43

Some volumes of my favourite singles that I burned to CD to play in the car. Next week it will be NOW 70s yearbook compilations.

Week 44

From the graphic it looks as though I've played fewer CDs this time but, in fact, I've played nearly twice as many as usual! The Now albums are all four or three disc sets.

I think that's all my albums played; I don't have any with a blank space next to the played date in my database.

Only thing to do now is to buy some more!

Roll on Christmas!

What I was reading in… October 2026

Three big events for October; the final Fantastic & Terrific (after eighty-nine weeks), the publication of The Collected Cloak, and Jessica Martin's debut novel Mud, Myth and Murder (well worth reading and there's more to come).

The Mighty World Of Marvel is now my weekly blast from the past soon to be joined by Spider-Man Comics Weekly. I don't have a complete set of this pair but there's nearly a years worth.

What I was reading in… September 2026

Next month sees the end of the run of Fantastic & Terrific but the beginning of The Mighty World Of Marvel so I'll be rereading those each week. I don't have a complete set but it'll be nice to revisit what's available.

The Peanuts book was very enjoyable, and for only £2!

What I was listening to in… SEPTEMBER 2026

Week 36

The James Bond CD has some classic tracks but also contains the worst theme tune to any of his movies (and some of the recent ones have been pretty poor!): Lulu's "The Man With The Golden Gun". Terrible song! And to think they rejected Alice Cooper's submission for the theme. Look it up, it's on YouTube.

The Earth Band CD contains a couple of unexpected cover versions - "Going Underground" and "Do Anything You Wanna Do".

Week 37

I found another bunch of CDs from Tracey's Woolworth haul that have never been played before.

RAP is not my cup of tea although I might play the Wyclef Jean album again …sometime! If I'm in the mood.

The classical CD has the usual highs (too loud) and lows (inaudible). There's never a middle ground with these sort.

Those of you paying attention may notice that I played the Cheap Trick album in week 31. Well that was the free Classic Rock version and this is the official release with the extra track - a cover of Slade's song "When the lights are out". Smashing!

Week 38

I think most of the albums I've got left to play are greatest hits, best ofs and live sets and they are all mainly the same artists. Let's see what turns up next week.

Week 39

Mostly the same artists, in nearly the same order, as last week. I'm getting close to the end of my unplayed list now so I might have to buy some new albums! (That's my excuse for getting more).

I've just found another box of CDs and DVDs that came free with newspapers plus some that my old pal Mark Craig Fisher burned for me years ago. They'll appear next week!

Week 40

Seven albums from my old pal Mark Craig Fisher (The Dylan one has a few distortion problems on disc two ) and two given free with newspapers!

The Roy Wood album has a hidden track at the very end (After the final listed track you have to let it keep playing for about ten minutes to get to it).

What I was listening to in: AUGUST 2026

Week 32

The reissue of "In A Glass House" has arrived. My Dad was given the cassette of it, back in the 70s, to pass on to me. I played it but wasn't that bothered about it at the time. Now this year I've been buying many Gentle Giant albums. I was expecting the CD to come in the same transparent sleeve as the LP (as it was advertised) but it just came with a clear window. Chiz!!

Week 33

It's a greatest hits/best of week again. CHANGESONEBOWIE is another out of the cassette box; from the Woolies bargain bin I think. The Elvis Costello CD is another that Tracey got from Woolies when it closed. It's supposed to be a two disc set but I only have disc 2. It's good though, not just all the usual hits.

Week 34

A selection of live sets again. The Silverhead album is of bootleg quality so it's not the best recording but is an important document of the bands live set.

After listening to the two Trapeze in Dallas albums it's easy to see why they never became a mega group along the lines of Deep Purple or Led Zeppelin! The songs are just not memorable.

Week 35

I really enjoyed this weeks selection. Some great tracks on the "Two Rooms" and "Nobody's Child" compilations.

I have a database of all my albums and it includes when I last played them. This list starts from 2014 when we had the conservatory built and I started playing records on a regular basis (with time off between Mar 2022 & Aug 2024 when my turntable broke). According to my list I have 99 undated albums to go.

What I was reading in… August 2026

The Brian Bolland book was a Kickstarter I backed in, I think, October last year! It was originally supposed to be delivered by the end of January 2026. I thought it was never going to turn up but it arrived this month! (it's very good though).

I do enjoy the Gerry Anderson Comic Anthologies. I hope there's a Captain Scarlet one coming. Mike Noble's art on those is magnificent.

What I was reading in… July 2026

The second series of "Reacher" is based on the Lee Child book I read this month. There were more differences between book and TV this time but they were both highly entertaining.

Bob Mortimer's book is excellent - you can't help but read it in his voice! I've got two more of his that I'll get to eventually.

What I was reading in… June 2026

We were given National Trust membership's as a Christmas present so each place we visit we try to ensure it's got a second hand bookshop. That's where some of this selection have come from.

The Clarkson books are great. Entertaining and informative.

I'd not read any Shaun Hutson since "Slugs" in the eighties. "Renegades" is violent and gory and well worth the couple of quid I paid for it!
Guy M Etchells just happens to work at the gym that my Anthony goes to. Ant bumped into him at a comic con so bought his two books.

Jamie Smart's Desperate Dan comics are good. It's not the Dan I grew up, and am familiar, with but once you get used to the style they're very funny.
 

What I was reading in… May 2026

The "Meanwhile" anthology comics were difficult to get hold of! No 11 was the last one I got and I was lucky enough to find it on an American site. The reason for collecting all of these was to get the conclusion of Gary Spencer Millidge's "Strangehaven".

I've been reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order. "Poirot Investigates" was her fourth (and the third Poirot book).

Lee Child is a new author to me. I bought this for Tracey, at Christmas, as she'd read all the Clive Cussler's and was looking for a new thriller series. I thought I'd give it a go myself and blimey! it was good. I flew through it and the day after finishing I watched the "Reacher" TV series based on it. Also good! I've since bought many more Lee Child books and they'll crop up in the coming months.

 

What I was reading in… April 2026

Jessica Martin's book is a teaser/prologue for her first novel due later this year. I've been looking forward to it for ages and she's always kept me up to date with its progress when we've met at Comic Cons.

Mervyn's Monsters is a collection of Leo Baxendale strips so you know straight away you're going to get something good.

What I was reading in… March 2026

Yaroooh! It's Billy Bunter! 

I first read some Bunter books back in 1970 and I loved them. Politically incorrect and probably offensive to many weak minded persons but very entertaining.

Lew Stringer's Brickman is his second collection of reprint strips (I think there are going to be three). Brickman, of course, not to be confused with anyone else who calls themselves Brickman! Lew got there first!

What I was reading in… February 2026

Continuing the Time Bubble series. There are fifteen in all and they are so good. Jason's written many more books so I'll be exploring them later this year.

Fantastic and Terrific are my comics from the sixties that I've been reading on their cover publication date each week. That should finish in October.

Past Perfect is a fanzine created by Paul Ware and has been running for many, many years. A good read.

What I was reading in… January 2026

 As well as listening to music I also like to read a lot. This includes fiction, non-fiction, comics, graphic novels, just anything that takes my fancy really!

I have magazine and comic subscriptions, so they crop up every month, and boxes of comics from the sixties and seventies that I've started revisiting now that I've got the time to do so! (isn't retirement fab).

This is the Christmas haul of books and annuals! 

After I'd read the latest Adrian Cousins book I was in the mood for more time travel stories so I took a chance with the Time Bubble series. Jason Ayres is a new author to me and his books are excellent. I've been getting through each one in a couple of days and can't wait for the next!

What I was listening to in: JULY 2026

Week 27

Ace and Colosseum II are new CDs I bought from BGO Records website. Well worth checking out the site for reissues of old albums that are hard to find. I've bought quite a few from them this year and there are still more I've got my eye on!

Week 28

A day early this week as I'll be out with the wife on Saturday.

I dipped into the old cassette box and found some albums I've only got on tape. I'm pretty sure these four came from the bargain bin at Woolworths!

Week 29

A lot of BBC broadcasts this week and some other live albums.

Week 30

It's FREE CD week! Yaaay! Here's a selection of giveaways from magazines I've bought over the years. Somewhere in the house is a box of cassettes that were issued before CDs became popular but I can't find them!

Week 31

More FREE CDs and some compilations from the batch Tracey got from Woolworths when it closed.

What I was listening to in: JUNE 2026

Week 23

This week's collection contains a few of those "extras" discs that you get in box sets - you know the ones; alternate versions, demos previously unreleased live tracks etc.

As I met Jeff Goldblum at a HMV signing last week his album eventually turned up. A fine set of jazz interpretations of some old standards! Nice one Jeff.

Week 24

Maisie Peters' CD is another of Ants HMV signings so I thought I'd give it a listen.

Osibisa & Quicksilver Messenger Service are new purchases that I've had my eye on for years so I thought I'd dive in and give them a go. Well worth it!

The Glen Miller set is good - it's nice to have a complete change sometimes.

And SHOCK, HORROR, a Best of Dr Hook CD that doesn't include "Sylvia's Mother!" What sort of alternate dimension have I fallen into?

Week 25

Headstone is another new band to me. I keep finding these great 70's rock albums, many more to come!

The "Bookends" CD includes a bonus track and is still less than 35 mins long! I know it's Simon & Garfunkel but come on lads, make an effort!

"The Planets" CD is one of those typical classical albums where the loud bits are overwhelming and the quiet bits are inaudible!

Another nice variety!

Week 26

There's a theme connecting some of last weeks albums; can you spot what it is?

What I was listening to in: MAY 2026

Week 19

The "Paladin" & "Gravy Train" albums are birthday presents so they had to get played. I've got some more that didn't turn up until the end of the week so they'll be on the next list.

I'm still going through the database of my albums that don't have a "last played" date next to them. That's why a lot of the same artists tend to crop up regularly. There's such a wide variety of music on offer, I'm glad I can appreciate so many different genres!

Week 20

Ant went to a HMV Melanie C signing which is why her album is featured.

The only thing I don't like about "Tormato" is that my CD sticks during track eight. I've had at least three copies of this and they all have the same fault. Surprisingly it plays on my PC so I ripped it and burned my own disc. That one plays fine!

CD rot has rendered my Anthony Phillips album unplayable. Luckily I found a two disc version available so that's now on order - arriving today I hope!

The Kate & Anna McGarrigle albums are new to me and I've played them many times this week. So good!

Week 21

It was April 1975 when I bought the two Genesis Collection box sets. They're still in decent nick and have the posters with them! The one box even has some drawings I did at the time - and the HP card from Corfields because I had to pay for them over a few weeks!

The Frampton & Poco albums arrived this week, they were late birthday presents. The song "Rose of Cimarron" is a great track and should be heard by everyone at least once (The same can be said of anything by Ivor Cutler).

Week 22

One thing I've never been keen on with the Icicle Works is the drumming! The chap's too energetic, has to hit everything throughout a song! Rein it in laddie, leave a bit of space! Serve the song, not the ego!

The Traffic CD is one I've not played too often. I wonder if it was as tedious to record as it is to listen to!

And finally, the award for album title of the week goes to…

"A Former Tour De Force Is Forced To Tour".

What I was listening to in: APRIL 2026

Week 15

The O'Sullivan and Sayer albums are both LPs, the first I've bought for ages. I found them at Cannock market, £5 for the two. They were in a bit of a state but once cleaned up they look and play fine. There was another LP I saw that I want so that might be on next week's list.

Week 16

As I said last week "I'm probably going to buy another LP from the Market", well I did! It's the James Bond Collection, which I used to have but sold to a lad I was at Hednesford college with. So glad to own it again.

Week 17

I'd not played Billy Joel for a long time so that was a nice listen. I think I might do a "Greatest Hits" week next.

Week 18

It's "Best Of/Greatest Hits" week this time!

The Bowie CD was disappointing. My original discs caught the dreaded CD rot so I burned the tracks to other discs. Now they've gone the same way! Might have to replace it with the "Platinum Collection".

The Kate Bush CD has the new vocal version of "Wuthering Heights". WHY? It's so inferior to the original. She can't hit the high notes - especially on the last "Cathy" she sings. Terrible!!

"Wingspan" is another of the CDs Tracey got when Woolworths closed down. It should be a two CD set but I've only got the "Hits" disc (Probably the best one. Pity it doesn't include "Helen Wheels" though).

What I was listening to in: MARCH 2026

Week 10
It was good to hear The Prisoner soundtrack again. I watched the complete series a couple of months back. What a great show that was!

Week 11
It's a day early this week as I'm at the NEC this weekend.

Week 12
When Woolworths closed down in 2009 the music department had a lot of CDs left over with no covers or cases. For a small donation the staff could have what they wanted so Tracey bought home a handful. The "Toploader" album on this list was one of them and this is the first time I've played it! It was good!

Week 13

The Travis album is another of the Woolworth's batch that I mentioned in last week's post. Again it's the first time I've ever played it.

The Elton John album is the cassette version. On the player I used it was listenable but there was no top end. It was muffled and bass heavy, great if you're a fan of Dee Murray!

Week 14

Every morning from 6am I listen to a CD for forty minutes while I'm on the treadmill. Well the treadmill packed up this morning so I've got to get it replaced. I've only had it nine months so hopefully it's covered by the warranty. I quite enjoy my 3km walk in a morning.

What I was listening to in: FEBRUARY 2026

Week 06:

More albums that have not been played for many years. I really like having the time now to revisit my old collection. They bring back some good memories.

Week 07:

It's been Greatest Hits/Best Of week, mostly, beginning with the first CD I ever bought. The last album on the photo is there because it was fifty years ago today that I walked from Cannock to Webbs in Chadsmoor to buy it. I remember it being a very sunny day, just as it is now as I write this.

Week 08:

Aaaargh! it's happened! The dreaded CD rot has struck. The last two tracks of "Parklife" are affected and are no longer playable.

On a more positive note it was good to blast out the Thunderbirds theme this week. It's got to be one of the best orchestral pieces ever written.

Week 09:

A bit of classical, a couple of E.P.s and two similar cover designs this time.