Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
@bowiesongs.bsky.social
Books (Rebel Rebel; Ashes to Ashes), blogs (64 Quartets; Pushing Ahead of the Dame; Locust St.)
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A brand new, fully updated version of "Rebel Rebel," part one of the Bowie series (1963-1976), came out this year. Here's how you can get it. It's a large book, so it will look impressively bulky in Xmas wrapping: bookshop.org/p/books/rebe...
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
This time of year, my brain is always about 10% thinking about "Christmas Wrapping." I haven't heard the song yet in the wild, but it always excites me when I do. A few years ago, I wrote about the song's greatness! anniezaleski.substack.com/p/the-greatn...
the greatness of the waitresses' "christmas wrapping"
"A&P has provided me / With the world's smallest turkey"
anniezaleski.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 11:23 PM
This time of year, my brain is always about 10% thinking about "Christmas Wrapping." I haven't heard the song yet in the wild, but it always excites me when I do. A few years ago, I wrote about the song's greatness! anniezaleski.substack.com/p/the-greatn...
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
Newsdesk in Sounds 6th, December 1975 featuring David Bowie's return to Britain, image from GlamSlam.
@davidbowiereal.bsky.social
@davidbowiereal.bsky.social
December 6, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Newsdesk in Sounds 6th, December 1975 featuring David Bowie's return to Britain, image from GlamSlam.
@davidbowiereal.bsky.social
@davidbowiereal.bsky.social
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
6th, December 1975 David Bowie on the front cover of Sounds. Image from GlamSlam.
December 6, 2025 at 11:05 PM
6th, December 1975 David Bowie on the front cover of Sounds. Image from GlamSlam.
At one point, many years ago, i could recite much of Elizabeth Bishop's "The Man-Moth" from memory
December 6, 2025 at 10:57 PM
At one point, many years ago, i could recite much of Elizabeth Bishop's "The Man-Moth" from memory
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
If anyone else is new to Booker T and the MGs, @bowiesongs.bsky.social 64 Quartets essay has you covered
I really appreciate how Chris is able to write about music theory and put these records in the context of their times
I really appreciate how Chris is able to write about music theory and put these records in the context of their times
1. Booker T. and the MG’s
DISCOGRAPHY SOURCES PLAYLIST Njårdhallen, Oslo, Norway; 7 April 1967. It’s the next-to-last night of the Stax/Volt Revue, a Memphis record label’s deb…
64quartets.wordpress.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:22 PM
If anyone else is new to Booker T and the MGs, @bowiesongs.bsky.social 64 Quartets essay has you covered
I really appreciate how Chris is able to write about music theory and put these records in the context of their times
I really appreciate how Chris is able to write about music theory and put these records in the context of their times
Eno diary, 6 Dec 95: "Howie B. came over & we talked about the new U2 record. A lot of chefs in that kitchen - him, Flood, Nellee, the band. I predicted a possible future: that all the bright beginnings would get submerged in overdubs & then have to be rediscovered in the resulting Irish stew."
December 6, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Eno diary, 6 Dec 95: "Howie B. came over & we talked about the new U2 record. A lot of chefs in that kitchen - him, Flood, Nellee, the band. I predicted a possible future: that all the bright beginnings would get submerged in overdubs & then have to be rediscovered in the resulting Irish stew."
Evening boost. Wire meets Blur and Bowie and, indirectly, Milan Kundera
64 Quartets---Wire A to Z continues, with blood sacrifices, Blur, Milan Kundera's Book of Laughter & Forgetting, and one Bowie, D. 64quartets.wordpress.com/2025/12/05/9...
9. Wire. Harvest Lexicon: BLOOD—BOWIE
BLOOD SACRIFICE. There was a band that existed called Wire in the latter part of 1976, but that was somebody else’s band. It wasn’t until we kicked that person out of his own band that what y…
64quartets.wordpress.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Evening boost. Wire meets Blur and Bowie and, indirectly, Milan Kundera
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
RIP Frank Gehry: his childhood home in Toronto still exists!
December 5, 2025 at 7:37 PM
RIP Frank Gehry: his childhood home in Toronto still exists!
RIP Frank Gehry. "Architects may come and architects may go & never change your point of vie w..." (sung about one of his contemporaries)
December 5, 2025 at 7:38 PM
RIP Frank Gehry. "Architects may come and architects may go & never change your point of vie w..." (sung about one of his contemporaries)
Mekons in the Pioneer Valley!--well, 2026 has one good thing happening, at least
December 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Mekons in the Pioneer Valley!--well, 2026 has one good thing happening, at least
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
the issue here, especially with TCM, is more than half of its programming came from the Turner, and later WB, library. If you remove the network from the library, how is it going to afford to license 100% of its programming?
I just heard from someone at Netflix. TCM is apparently going with the other linear networks to Discovery Global.
Here is the official comment on what WBD assets will be acquired by Netflix:
"We are acquiring the film and television studios, HBO and HBO Max."
Here is the official comment on what WBD assets will be acquired by Netflix:
"We are acquiring the film and television studios, HBO and HBO Max."
December 5, 2025 at 3:03 PM
the issue here, especially with TCM, is more than half of its programming came from the Turner, and later WB, library. If you remove the network from the library, how is it going to afford to license 100% of its programming?
Glass Spider DB is also his most anime incarnation
December 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Glass Spider DB is also his most anime incarnation
remembering from my youth how "Time Warner" seemed like the embodiment of massive corporate American business power, like the Empire State building of companies. And look it now, scattered in pieces, diminishing more with each sale. "oh, how they come and go," as Nick Drake sang.
December 5, 2025 at 2:52 PM
remembering from my youth how "Time Warner" seemed like the embodiment of massive corporate American business power, like the Empire State building of companies. And look it now, scattered in pieces, diminishing more with each sale. "oh, how they come and go," as Nick Drake sang.
64 Quartets---Wire A to Z continues, with blood sacrifices, Blur, Milan Kundera's Book of Laughter & Forgetting, and one Bowie, D. 64quartets.wordpress.com/2025/12/05/9...
9. Wire. Harvest Lexicon: BLOOD—BOWIE
BLOOD SACRIFICE. There was a band that existed called Wire in the latter part of 1976, but that was somebody else’s band. It wasn’t until we kicked that person out of his own band that what y…
64quartets.wordpress.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:39 PM
64 Quartets---Wire A to Z continues, with blood sacrifices, Blur, Milan Kundera's Book of Laughter & Forgetting, and one Bowie, D. 64quartets.wordpress.com/2025/12/05/9...
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
Probably like a failing country or smooth jazz station in a college town, owned by someone with enough money not to worry too much about it, flips to alternative classics.
I have thought a lot about what a 2020s WKRP would be
December 4, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Probably like a failing country or smooth jazz station in a college town, owned by someone with enough money not to worry too much about it, flips to alternative classics.
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
New VU book forthcoming w/ a bunch of cool unseen pics of the band at the Boston Tea Party, 1967-69. [email protected]
December 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
New VU book forthcoming w/ a bunch of cool unseen pics of the band at the Boston Tea Party, 1967-69. [email protected]
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
I review De La Soul's wonderful CABIN IN THE SKY, as vibrant, buoyant, and thoughtful as any they've released. A lovely year-end surprise. humanizingthevacuum.wordpress.com/2025/12/04/p...
People go through pain and still don’t gain: De La Soul’s ‘Cabin in the Sky’
De La Soul have the undimmed ebullience of guys who send invitations to join a flourishing club. They assume we’ll know the in-jokes, lingo, hand signals; they assume the in-jokes, lingo, and…
humanizingthevacuum.wordpress.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I review De La Soul's wonderful CABIN IN THE SKY, as vibrant, buoyant, and thoughtful as any they've released. A lovely year-end surprise. humanizingthevacuum.wordpress.com/2025/12/04/p...
as always, it's good to see the Said the Gramophone 2025 song list. viva MP3 blogs: www.saidthegramophone.com/archives/bes...
Said the Gramophone: BEST SONGS OF 2025
www.saidthegramophone.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
as always, it's good to see the Said the Gramophone 2025 song list. viva MP3 blogs: www.saidthegramophone.com/archives/bes...
"I had to be two guys, because they couldn't afford two guitar players." RIP Steve Cropper. More in my Quartet piece on Booker T and the MGs, of whom only Booker T remains now. 64quartets.wordpress.com/2019/05/08/1...
1. Booker T. and the MG’s
DISCOGRAPHY SOURCES PLAYLIST Njårdhallen, Oslo, Norway; 7 April 1967. It’s the next-to-last night of the Stax/Volt Revue, a Memphis record label’s deb…
64quartets.wordpress.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:19 AM
"I had to be two guys, because they couldn't afford two guitar players." RIP Steve Cropper. More in my Quartet piece on Booker T and the MGs, of whom only Booker T remains now. 64quartets.wordpress.com/2019/05/08/1...
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
RIP Steve Cropper. Booker T & the MGs were one of the finest bunch of musicians this country ever produced. See, e.g., youtu.be/nbBcXvKvB08?...
Booker T. & The MG's - Time Is Tight (Live, 1970)
YouTube video by 60s70sVintageRock
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 11:58 PM
RIP Steve Cropper. Booker T & the MGs were one of the finest bunch of musicians this country ever produced. See, e.g., youtu.be/nbBcXvKvB08?...
I saw the video for the Dead's "Touch of Grey" not long ago and started idly reading the comments---just so much sadness, regret, loss, resilience. Broken friendships and marriages, dead parents and siblings, failed jobs: one after the other. a heartbreaking & kind of beautiful collection
same! @lukeoneil47.bsky.social had a good roundup of these a few years back www.welcometohellworld.com/youtube-comm...
December 3, 2025 at 8:09 PM
I saw the video for the Dead's "Touch of Grey" not long ago and started idly reading the comments---just so much sadness, regret, loss, resilience. Broken friendships and marriages, dead parents and siblings, failed jobs: one after the other. a heartbreaking & kind of beautiful collection
Reposted by Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)
“CALIFORNIA LOVE” TURNS 30 TODAY open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...
December 3, 2025 at 6:56 PM
“CALIFORNIA LOVE” TURNS 30 TODAY open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...
60 years old now. Like many in the US, my 1st impression (our copy was a battered LP from my parents' teenage years) was that it was the Beatles' "folk" album, sides opening w/ "I've Just Seen a Face" & "It's Only Love." So a revelation in 1988 when I finally heard the "soul" UK original.
December 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
60 years old now. Like many in the US, my 1st impression (our copy was a battered LP from my parents' teenage years) was that it was the Beatles' "folk" album, sides opening w/ "I've Just Seen a Face" & "It's Only Love." So a revelation in 1988 when I finally heard the "soul" UK original.
"Right now, somebody somewhere is listening to “The Harder They Come” and drawing strength for whatever battle’s facing them today. May that never stop being the case" nofencesreview.substack.com/p/turn-it-up...
Turn It Up - Jimmy Cliff Edition
Charles pays tribute to the great artist
nofencesreview.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:36 PM
"Right now, somebody somewhere is listening to “The Harder They Come” and drawing strength for whatever battle’s facing them today. May that never stop being the case" nofencesreview.substack.com/p/turn-it-up...
"Bomont looks like it could serve as an alternate filming location for [Reagan's] “Prouder, Stronger, Better.” ... the sort of make-your-own-fun place where teens’ idea of entertainment tends to take on a mean, dangerous edge has the ring of truth to it." thereveal.film/the-80s-in-4...
The ‘80s in 40: ‘Footloose’ (February, 1984)
A rebellious Kevin Bacon teaches a small town the value of dancing in an old-fashioned movie that nonetheless pushes back at attempts to turn back the clock.
thereveal.film
December 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
"Bomont looks like it could serve as an alternate filming location for [Reagan's] “Prouder, Stronger, Better.” ... the sort of make-your-own-fun place where teens’ idea of entertainment tends to take on a mean, dangerous edge has the ring of truth to it." thereveal.film/the-80s-in-4...