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
Historian, writer, reader, musician, talker, blues and jazz obsessive.
https://bsky.app/profile/lionunicorn.bsky.social
Perfect listening for a dark and rainy afternoon...
#jazzsky #miles #classicalbum #vinylcommunity #musicsky
#jazzsky #miles #classicalbum #vinylcommunity #musicsky
Miles Davis - Blue Moods [HQ FULL ALBUM]
YouTube video by Säp The Jazzhoppa
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Perfect listening for a dark and rainy afternoon...
#jazzsky #miles #classicalbum #vinylcommunity #musicsky
#jazzsky #miles #classicalbum #vinylcommunity #musicsky
Reposted by Ben Finlay
Jazz OTD: A half-century ago today, Weather Report (at the time: Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Alex Acuña, Alphonso Johnson, and Chester Thompson) recoded this, among several tracks from their November 27, 1975 performance at The New Victoria Theatre in London. Happy Thanksgiving, folks! #jazzsky
Directions / Dr. Honoris Causa (Live)
YouTube video by Weather Report - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Jazz OTD: A half-century ago today, Weather Report (at the time: Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Alex Acuña, Alphonso Johnson, and Chester Thompson) recoded this, among several tracks from their November 27, 1975 performance at The New Victoria Theatre in London. Happy Thanksgiving, folks! #jazzsky
Absolutely delighted to have my @lionunicorn.bsky.social article on BBC Four republished by The Daily Sceptic!
#television #history #media #BBC #BBC4
#television #history #media #BBC #BBC4
In Praise of BBC Four – TV From When it Was Good – The Daily Sceptic
The BBC may be engulfed in a bias scandal, but at least we have BBC Four, says Ben Finlay. It's a window to the old world when TV was worth watching: a quiet treasure trove of glories, even if they ar...
dailysceptic.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Absolutely delighted to have my @lionunicorn.bsky.social article on BBC Four republished by The Daily Sceptic!
#television #history #media #BBC #BBC4
#television #history #media #BBC #BBC4
“Everybody looked up to Davy, because he’d gone into it in such detail...he was just incredibly adventurous for the time. He knocked everybody out.” - Martin Carthy
Remembering the most influential British folk guitar player, Davy Graham, born OTD 1940
#musicsky #folksky #guitar
Remembering the most influential British folk guitar player, Davy Graham, born OTD 1940
#musicsky #folksky #guitar
November 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
A little early, but it's cold and the evenings go on forever, so I'm putting the Christmas lights up; in this case, Oxford Street, Christmas Eve 1965, now set as my seasonal cover photo.
November 26, 2025 at 9:35 AM
A little early, but it's cold and the evenings go on forever, so I'm putting the Christmas lights up; in this case, Oxford Street, Christmas Eve 1965, now set as my seasonal cover photo.
"We were trying to get a sound that was purely Traffic and couldn't be mistaken for anyone else..."
Released OTD in 1971, Traffic's fifth studio album, the classic 'Low Spark of High Heeled Boys'
#musicsky #classicalbums #vinylcommunity #nowplaying #traffic #stevewinwood
Released OTD in 1971, Traffic's fifth studio album, the classic 'Low Spark of High Heeled Boys'
#musicsky #classicalbums #vinylcommunity #nowplaying #traffic #stevewinwood
November 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
"We were trying to get a sound that was purely Traffic and couldn't be mistaken for anyone else..."
Released OTD in 1971, Traffic's fifth studio album, the classic 'Low Spark of High Heeled Boys'
#musicsky #classicalbums #vinylcommunity #nowplaying #traffic #stevewinwood
Released OTD in 1971, Traffic's fifth studio album, the classic 'Low Spark of High Heeled Boys'
#musicsky #classicalbums #vinylcommunity #nowplaying #traffic #stevewinwood
"I never heard of a Jazz musician who retired. You love what you do, so what are you going to do… play for the walls?"
Remembering Nat Adderley, born OTD 1931 in Tampa, Florida.
#nowplaying the classic 'Work Song' from 1960...
#jazzsky #musicsky #vinylcommunity
Remembering Nat Adderley, born OTD 1931 in Tampa, Florida.
#nowplaying the classic 'Work Song' from 1960...
#jazzsky #musicsky #vinylcommunity
November 25, 2025 at 9:29 AM
"I never heard of a Jazz musician who retired. You love what you do, so what are you going to do… play for the walls?"
Remembering Nat Adderley, born OTD 1931 in Tampa, Florida.
#nowplaying the classic 'Work Song' from 1960...
#jazzsky #musicsky #vinylcommunity
Remembering Nat Adderley, born OTD 1931 in Tampa, Florida.
#nowplaying the classic 'Work Song' from 1960...
#jazzsky #musicsky #vinylcommunity
"Call My Bluff is a model of understated entertainment and - God forbid in the present day - maturity."
Tonight on BBC 4, Call My Bluff at 9 and Face the Music at 9.30. Read about my appreciation of both shows and BBC 4 here in my new article for @lionunicorn.bsky.social :
#BBCFour #television
Tonight on BBC 4, Call My Bluff at 9 and Face the Music at 9.30. Read about my appreciation of both shows and BBC 4 here in my new article for @lionunicorn.bsky.social :
#BBCFour #television
Let us now praise: BBC Four
BEN FINLAY celebrates the BBC that used to be.
thelionandunicorn.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
"Call My Bluff is a model of understated entertainment and - God forbid in the present day - maturity."
Tonight on BBC 4, Call My Bluff at 9 and Face the Music at 9.30. Read about my appreciation of both shows and BBC 4 here in my new article for @lionunicorn.bsky.social :
#BBCFour #television
Tonight on BBC 4, Call My Bluff at 9 and Face the Music at 9.30. Read about my appreciation of both shows and BBC 4 here in my new article for @lionunicorn.bsky.social :
#BBCFour #television
"Seldom does a group of musicians click on all levels and rise into the stratosphere, but this is one such record..." - All About Jazz Review
Released OTD in 1971, the classic 'Sugar' by Stanley Turrentine. One of my favourite records, and I'm a proud owner of an original copy.
#jazzsky #musicsky
Released OTD in 1971, the classic 'Sugar' by Stanley Turrentine. One of my favourite records, and I'm a proud owner of an original copy.
#jazzsky #musicsky
November 21, 2025 at 10:02 AM
"I honestly can't characterize my style in words. It seems that whatever comes to me naturally, I play..."
Remember one of the greats, Coleman Hawkins, born on this day 1904 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
#jazzsky #musicsky #tenorsaxophone
Remember one of the greats, Coleman Hawkins, born on this day 1904 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
#jazzsky #musicsky #tenorsaxophone
November 21, 2025 at 6:17 AM
"I honestly can't characterize my style in words. It seems that whatever comes to me naturally, I play..."
Remember one of the greats, Coleman Hawkins, born on this day 1904 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
#jazzsky #musicsky #tenorsaxophone
Remember one of the greats, Coleman Hawkins, born on this day 1904 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
#jazzsky #musicsky #tenorsaxophone
Reposted by Ben Finlay
Jazz OTD: Miles Davis and Gil Evans's reimagining of the first movement of Joaquín Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" is an iconic moment in 20th-century music, stretching the boundaries of jazz contributions. They recorded it on November 20, 1959 for the landmark album "Sketches of Spain." #jazzsky
Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio
YouTube video by Miles Davis - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Jazz OTD: Miles Davis and Gil Evans's reimagining of the first movement of Joaquín Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" is an iconic moment in 20th-century music, stretching the boundaries of jazz contributions. They recorded it on November 20, 1959 for the landmark album "Sketches of Spain." #jazzsky
"There's a lot of different forms of communication, but music is absolutely the purest one..."
Remembering one of the great guitarists, Duane Allman, born on this day 1946 in Nashville and gone far too soon.
#musicsky #allmanbrothers #blues #guitar #georgia
Remembering one of the great guitarists, Duane Allman, born on this day 1946 in Nashville and gone far too soon.
#musicsky #allmanbrothers #blues #guitar #georgia
November 20, 2025 at 7:24 AM
"There's a lot of different forms of communication, but music is absolutely the purest one..."
Remembering one of the great guitarists, Duane Allman, born on this day 1946 in Nashville and gone far too soon.
#musicsky #allmanbrothers #blues #guitar #georgia
Remembering one of the great guitarists, Duane Allman, born on this day 1946 in Nashville and gone far too soon.
#musicsky #allmanbrothers #blues #guitar #georgia
Remembering New Orleans legend Dr John, born on this day in 1941. I saw him play live many times over the years (first time on a double bill with BB King in 1990) and am a proud owner of an original copy of his 1972 classic 'Gumbo'
Gris gris gumbo ya ya good doctor.
#musicsky #neworleans
Gris gris gumbo ya ya good doctor.
#musicsky #neworleans
November 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Remembering New Orleans legend Dr John, born on this day in 1941. I saw him play live many times over the years (first time on a double bill with BB King in 1990) and am a proud owner of an original copy of his 1972 classic 'Gumbo'
Gris gris gumbo ya ya good doctor.
#musicsky #neworleans
Gris gris gumbo ya ya good doctor.
#musicsky #neworleans
"Right away, I bought me a through train ticket
Riding across Mississippi clean
And I was on that midnight flier out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans"
Pure joyous Cajun swamp pop from Louisiana, Johnnie Allan 'Promised Land'
#cajun #louisiana #swamppop #neworleans
Riding across Mississippi clean
And I was on that midnight flier out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans"
Pure joyous Cajun swamp pop from Louisiana, Johnnie Allan 'Promised Land'
#cajun #louisiana #swamppop #neworleans
Promised Land
YouTube video by Johnnie Allan - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
"Right away, I bought me a through train ticket
Riding across Mississippi clean
And I was on that midnight flier out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans"
Pure joyous Cajun swamp pop from Louisiana, Johnnie Allan 'Promised Land'
#cajun #louisiana #swamppop #neworleans
Riding across Mississippi clean
And I was on that midnight flier out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans"
Pure joyous Cajun swamp pop from Louisiana, Johnnie Allan 'Promised Land'
#cajun #louisiana #swamppop #neworleans
"Oh the songs
Pour down like silver
They can only
Only break my heart"
Richard & Linda Thompson's introspective 'Pour Down Like Silver' was released fifty years ago this week. It features in my top ten British folk rock albums for @lionunicorn.bsky.social here:
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/26/t...
Pour down like silver
They can only
Only break my heart"
Richard & Linda Thompson's introspective 'Pour Down Like Silver' was released fifty years ago this week. It features in my top ten British folk rock albums for @lionunicorn.bsky.social here:
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/26/t...
Top 10: British folk-rock
BEN FINLAY guides you through the best of British folk rock, from Nick Drake and the Fairports to Comus.
thelionandunicorn.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:36 AM
"Oh the songs
Pour down like silver
They can only
Only break my heart"
Richard & Linda Thompson's introspective 'Pour Down Like Silver' was released fifty years ago this week. It features in my top ten British folk rock albums for @lionunicorn.bsky.social here:
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/26/t...
Pour down like silver
They can only
Only break my heart"
Richard & Linda Thompson's introspective 'Pour Down Like Silver' was released fifty years ago this week. It features in my top ten British folk rock albums for @lionunicorn.bsky.social here:
thelionandunicorn.com/2025/07/26/t...
Frank Muir upon hearing the news that I've dispatched a new article to @lionunicorn.bsky.social about the joys of BBC Four that may include my deep appreciation of Call My Bluff...
November 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Frank Muir upon hearing the news that I've dispatched a new article to @lionunicorn.bsky.social about the joys of BBC Four that may include my deep appreciation of Call My Bluff...
Eno's 'Another Green World' turns fifty today. See what I have to say about it and where it ranks in my @lionunicorn.bsky.social top ten albums of 1975 here:
Top 10: 1975
BEN FINLAY selects the best British albums of 1975. Expect the unexpected.
thelionandunicorn.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Eno's 'Another Green World' turns fifty today. See what I have to say about it and where it ranks in my @lionunicorn.bsky.social top ten albums of 1975 here:
Coming soon on @lionunicorn.bsky.social , yours truly on the quiet treasure trove that is BBC4....
#bbc #writingcommunity #drama #documentary #film #history #art
#bbc #writingcommunity #drama #documentary #film #history #art
November 13, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Coming soon on @lionunicorn.bsky.social , yours truly on the quiet treasure trove that is BBC4....
#bbc #writingcommunity #drama #documentary #film #history #art
#bbc #writingcommunity #drama #documentary #film #history #art
Reposted by Ben Finlay
"The Basie orchestra never let up. They would swing you into bad health... I had never heard such swingin' music in my life... there were only nine of them, but that nine could out-swing anything that I'd ever heard."
Happy Birthday Buck Clayton
born November 12, 1911
Happy Birthday Buck Clayton
born November 12, 1911
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 AM
"The Basie orchestra never let up. They would swing you into bad health... I had never heard such swingin' music in my life... there were only nine of them, but that nine could out-swing anything that I'd ever heard."
Happy Birthday Buck Clayton
born November 12, 1911
Happy Birthday Buck Clayton
born November 12, 1911
12 November 1971 is a notable day in British progressive rock history, with 'Nursery Cryme' by Genesis, 'Fragile' by Yes and 'Pawn Hearts' by Van der Graaf Generator all released on that same date...
#musicsky #progrock #classicalbums
#musicsky #progrock #classicalbums
November 12, 2025 at 8:20 AM
12 November 1971 is a notable day in British progressive rock history, with 'Nursery Cryme' by Genesis, 'Fragile' by Yes and 'Pawn Hearts' by Van der Graaf Generator all released on that same date...
#musicsky #progrock #classicalbums
#musicsky #progrock #classicalbums
'.. one [of] the most intimate jazz shows captured on tape during the 1960s. It is the sound of a band in full possession of their considerable capabilities, celebrating them in a relaxed environment..'
Recorded OTD in 1967, the superb 'Live at the Lighthouse 68' by The Jazz Crusaders
#jazzsky
Recorded OTD in 1967, the superb 'Live at the Lighthouse 68' by The Jazz Crusaders
#jazzsky
Eleanor Rigby
YouTube video by The Crusaders - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:04 PM
'.. one [of] the most intimate jazz shows captured on tape during the 1960s. It is the sound of a band in full possession of their considerable capabilities, celebrating them in a relaxed environment..'
Recorded OTD in 1967, the superb 'Live at the Lighthouse 68' by The Jazz Crusaders
#jazzsky
Recorded OTD in 1967, the superb 'Live at the Lighthouse 68' by The Jazz Crusaders
#jazzsky
'The things that really matter don't mix with idle chatter.'
Remembering the influential Mose Allison, born OTD 1927 in Tippo, Mississippi. The Who, Georgie Fame, Elvis Costello, The Clash, Bonnie Raitt and Leon Russell covered songs written by Allison.
#jazzsky #musicsky
Remembering the influential Mose Allison, born OTD 1927 in Tippo, Mississippi. The Who, Georgie Fame, Elvis Costello, The Clash, Bonnie Raitt and Leon Russell covered songs written by Allison.
#jazzsky #musicsky
Everybody Cryin' Mercy
YouTube video by Mose Allison - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Now Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night have passed, it's only right that I start work on the @lionunicorn.bsky.social top ten Yuletide albums for next month...
#topten #christmas #yuletide #writingcommunity #vinylcommunity
#topten #christmas #yuletide #writingcommunity #vinylcommunity
November 6, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Now Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night have passed, it's only right that I start work on the @lionunicorn.bsky.social top ten Yuletide albums for next month...
#topten #christmas #yuletide #writingcommunity #vinylcommunity
#topten #christmas #yuletide #writingcommunity #vinylcommunity