Ben Finlay
@benfinlay74.bsky.social
MA Cultural History, BA (hons) History. Former history and politics lecturer at University of Chichester. Historian, writer, reader, musician, talker, blues and jazz obsessive. https://bsky.app/profile/lionunicorn.bsky.social
#nowplaying Eric Clapton, '461 Ocean Boulevard' released OTD 1974. Ditching a serious junk habit, EC decamps to Miami with a great Tulsa rhythm section, & makes a record that lays the path for his laid back 70s sound. I grew up to this record, & it still sounds fresh today. #musicsky
"On an island built on coal and with oil beneath the sea, We struggle to get by and we’ve joined the EEC." I wrote a bit about Alan Price, together with an introductory playlist. thelionandunicorn.com/2026/08/05/h...
Have you heard… Alan Price
ALWYN TURNER celebrates the mid-1970s solo work of ex-Animal Alan Price.
thelionandunicorn.com
#nowplaying 'Free' (1972) by Airto Moreira, born OTD 1941 in Itaiópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Great album on CTI that blends Brazilian music, jazz & fusion. Features Hubert Laws, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Stanley Clarke & Ron Carter among others. Recommended. #jazzsky
A new piece on my Substack, gathered together from my various top ten's on @lionunicorn.bsky.social Read here: historyman74.substack.com/p/top-ten-1971
1. Calling all Family fans: A (very) recent upload of Family performing 'Part of the Load' from the then newly released 'Fearless' on Beat Club in 1971. Brilliant. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynSY...
Family (ft. Roger Chapman) - Part Of the Load (1971)
YouTube video by Beat-Club
youtube.com
"Have we really gone this far through space and time Or is this a vision in my mind?" Released OTD in 1973, the indispensable 'Innervisions' by Stevie Wonder, a high point for humanity. #musicsky
#nowplaying Ma Rainey 'Mother of the Blues, The Complete Paramount Recordings, 1923-1928' Newly released set of every one of the 92 titles Ma cut for Paramount between 1923 and 1928, plus rare alternate takes and test pressings, transferred by restoration engineer Doug Benson. Sounds amazing.
Sunday morning: Arthur Bliss (born on this date 1891 in London) Cello Concerto, beautifully played by the Bournemouth Symphony Ochestra.
"Everything that Traffic ever did, I'd give Steve a complete lyric, titled, with the verse, the bridge, the shape and rhyme & then Steve had to figure out how the words would fit musically" Remembering drummer, vocalist, writer & co-founder of Traffic, Jim Capaldi, born OTD 1944 #musicsky
"...the greatest priests on 52nd Street & on the streets of New York were the musicians. They were doing the greatest healing work. They knew how to punch through music which would cure & make people feel good." Remembering multi-instrumentalist genius Garth Hudson, born OTD 1937. #musicsky
The classic 'Grandstand' by Grant Green was recorded OTD 1961 at Van Gelder Studio. It of course features in my top ten Grant Green albums piece on my Substack, here: historyman74.substack.com/p/top-ten-gr...
'He is the very spirit personified of whatever is muddy river country at its core and screams up into the spheres...his playing was moody, awesome, sophisticated, hypnotic and subtle.' - Bob Dylan Remembering a true great, Jerry Garcia, born OTD 1942 in San Francisco and gone too soon. #musicsky
Deep into the heart of the English countryside... My Substack piece on Traffic's 'John Barleycorn', released OTD in 1970: historyman74.substack.com/p/my-favouri...
My Favourite Things
Traffic 'John Barleycorn Must Die' (1970)
historyman74.substack.com
The classic 'John Barleycorn Must Die' was released OTD in 1970. One of my favourite records, & I have an original copy of it. Below is my recent YouTube video on the album. Please like, share & subscribe if you feel so inclined because it really helps! #musicsky www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzYF...
Great British Albums - John Barleycorn Must Die by Traffic
YouTube video by Ben Finlay - The History Man
youtube.com
New YouTube video: On the occasion of Buddy Guy's 90th birthday, I share some thoughts and recollections of seeing Buddy play live in London over the years. #musicsky #blues #buddyguy
Happy 90th birthday Buddy Guy!
YouTube video by Ben Finlay - The History Man
youtu.be
Thread *1* Penguin Books was launched on this in 1935. The company was co-founded by Allen Lane and his brothers, Richard and John. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its inexpensive paperbacks. #booksky #literature #Penguin90
This is Your Life first aired on the BBC on this day in 1955. It was presented by the great Eamonn Andrews from its launch until 1964, and then from 1969 to 1987, when the show was revived by ITV. Prog rock trivia note: Andrews was also the namesake for a song by Soft Machine..
A very happy 90th birthday to Buddy Guy. I first saw him in person in 1990 (where, guesting with Eric Clapton, he made a Sunday night show overrun by an hour) & then many times after that, leaving me with some great memories. The most exciting live performer I've ever seen.
The juxtaposition between the 60s British folk scene in this documentary, and the content of the YouTube advert that interrupted it - about 'creating' an AI song in sixty seconds - has made me realise quite how awful the future will be. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTs...
Folk Britannia Part 2 of 3: Folk Roots and New Routes
YouTube video by orangefunk
youtube.com
#nowplaying 'Picnic – A Breath of Fresh Air', great Harvest Records sampler from 1970. An eclectic assortment of underground music from the label featuring Pink Floyd, Shirley & Dolly Collins, Michael Chapman, Roy Harper, Kevin Ayres, Barclay James Harvest among others. Far out. #musicsky
"I am the maker of everything, And I soar with the birds in the sky..." @benfinlay74.bsky.social is your guide to the music of British band, Heron. They're really rather good. thelionandunicorn.com/2026/07/29/h...
Have you heard… Heron
BEN FINLAY on the bucolic charm of Heron, getting it together i the country.
thelionandunicorn.com
Tonight from 10 on BBC4: The first two episodes of 'I, Claudius' which was first broadcast in 1976. The series is repeated on subsequent Wednesdays, and is on the iplayer.
Remembers... - Sir Derek Jacobi Remembers... I, Claudius
Sir Derek Jacobi remembers the landmark 1976 TV series I, Claudius.
bbc.co.uk
"David Bowie carried my PA into a folk club...once!" In a new 'Have you Heard' I look at the bucolic charm of Heron, getting it together in the country. Read here: thelionandunicorn.com/2026/07/29/h...
Have you heard… Heron
BEN FINLAY on the bucolic charm of Heron, getting it together i the country.
thelionandunicorn.com
Just realised that all six episodes of 'The Glittering Prizes' (first broadcast in January 1976) are on YouTube. That's the next few evenings sorted then.
Glittering Prizes [Complete] - YouTube
Twenty years in the lives of some Cambridge undergraduates, who all find that the real world of a changing Britain is a hard place. Starring Tom Conti, Simon...
youtube.com
Leonard Bernstein hired Getz to give the only public(ish) performance of Focus at his 50th birthday. This TV excerpt is the only other live performance I know of. youtu.be/0-cR1FCqF9U?... Another Sauter/Getz collaboration really worth a listen is the music for the film Mickey One.
FOCUS on TV 1963 Stan Getz and Eddie Sauter
YouTube video by Loren Schoenberg
youtu.be
"The way Stan reacted to the environment of the orchestra was one of the most gratifying things I've ever experienced." - Eddie Sauter #nowplaying 'Focus' by Stan Getz, the second recording session for the album taking place OTD 1961 in NYC. Absolutely essential. #jazzsky #musicsky
"Mike had a certain innate talent for playing the guitar that was instantly obvious to his mentors. They knew this was not just another white boy; this was someone who truly understood what the blues were all about."-Al Kooper Remembering the great Mike Bloomfield, born OTD 1943. #musicsky
Remembering Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright, the unsung soul of the band, born on this day 1943 in London. For me, the band were at their best when his subtle musicianship and jazz influence was prominent, most notably in the years 1967 - 75. #musicsky #pinkfloyd
