Royal Oak

That looks quite interesting. I remember reading a newspaper article a few years ago, dating the beginning of the demise of British society not to 1979 / Margaret Thatcher, as is often promulgated, but the year 1966. I wish I could remember the source..

It took me quite some time to appreciate Monk; in my early days of listening, when CDs were expensive and my disposable income was small, he was fairly low down on my list of purchasing priorities, as he didn't immediately grab my ears I like the album anyway, a very nice version of Round Midnight (are there any bad ones?) probably the highlight for me

Yes, a bit embarrassing to have waited over 20 years to get round to it, I admit.

Mulligan Meets Monk (OJC) - another new one to me.

Good point, and at least part of the reason I never finished, among other fat books, Bleak House, The Brothers Karamazov and Atlas Shrugged. My copy of the latter went everywhere with me for about six months, until I could take no more and abandoned it in a hotel room in York. To paraphrase the cricket commentator David Lloyd, "Start the car...short book's a good book"

I have read "On The Road", and not all that long ago, but don't recall very much of it, which tells you all you need to know I suppose. The Dharma Bums was alright, as Karl Pilkington might say, but I wouldn't walk to Buxton to read any more Kerouac.

Just finished Jack Kerouac's "The Dharma Bums". Blaaaaahhhh, at least I managed to finish it.

I watched "The Girl From Ipanema: Brazil, Bossa nova and the Beach", a BBC documentary about the rise of Bossa Nova in Brazil around 1960. Interesting enough, but I never need to hear that tune again in my life.

A recent purchase. It has a slight warp which is annoying, but I don't suppose you can complain for 99p

I like both Leo Parker Blue Notes, even though I think they probably make up a really good album between them. One thing which strikes me about them is the sidemen, not a household name among them.

A recent purchase.

Well, the UK Philips version of same.

50p for 5 minutes is the going rate in the UK.

It's what I was spinning at the time; it was merged with the Alan Haven post, against my will...... Yes, it is rather good, isn't it? You see, merged again....

I found an Alan Haven LP a couple of weeks ago - liner notes by Spike Milligan! I read on the net that he married Miss World in 1965. He died in January, in Stockport I think.

My dad said to me once that Lonnie Donegan was "living proof that any bastard could make it in showbiz". I'm not sure it was one of his quotes, however.

When we were small children, my sister and I both liked "Wowie Zowie" from Freak Out (dad's records, obvs) I'd pick some of the prettier songs, where there is perhaps a bit less Frank than usual eg Montana, Peaches, Oh No, Joe's Garage, Lucille, Harder Than Your Husband, Eat That Question etc

Woofers and tweeters.....

Hank Mobley - Dippin' A recent purchase, old hat to many I suppose. This group really cooks, especially in "Recado Bossa Nova". I love Harold Mabern and Billy Higgins in that tune.

He sort of asks you here..