Charles Donovan
@pretentiousmuck.bsky.social
Writing, editing, subediting since 1994. Lifelong Londoner. My favourite thing: singer/songwriters & rare groove. Living with cauda equina syndrome, incomplete paraplegia, spinal stim. I commission stories for Diggin’ For Gold (Record Collector). 🏳️🌈
Pinned
Delighted to have contributed to this booklet (with Joe Marchese). I’ve been a Mary (McCreary-Russell-Bridges-Rand) head for quite a long time.
Hold On To This Feeling: TSD, Cherry Red Collect Leon Russell's Paradise Recordings on New Box Set - The Second Disc
By 1976, Leon Russell was already an industry veteran. The onetime Wrecking Crew pianist had already written and arranged hit singles for Gary Lewis and The Playboys, launched two record labels (Viva...
theseconddisc.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Delighted to have contributed to this booklet (with Joe Marchese). I’ve been a Mary (McCreary-Russell-Bridges-Rand) head for quite a long time.
Album: The Shirts (1978)
December 8, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Album: The Shirts (1978)
Somewhere near Embankment or The Temple, taken by my father, mid-late 70s
November 28, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Somewhere near Embankment or The Temple, taken by my father, mid-late 70s
Does anyone know how radiance can be quantified in percentage points? I feel I should try to calculate my current radiance level before I attempt to improve it.
November 15, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Does anyone know how radiance can be quantified in percentage points? I feel I should try to calculate my current radiance level before I attempt to improve it.
Insoles on a garden table, London, c1990s, by my father.
November 14, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Insoles on a garden table, London, c1990s, by my father.
Four comforts - a photograph, a painting, a candle and, out of focus, a Sandy Denny CD box set.
November 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Four comforts - a photograph, a painting, a candle and, out of focus, a Sandy Denny CD box set.
Billowing clouds, London rooftops and, in the top right corner, an aeroplane. 1992. Taken by my father from my bedroom window
November 11, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Billowing clouds, London rooftops and, in the top right corner, an aeroplane. 1992. Taken by my father from my bedroom window
Reposted by Charles Donovan
Flags don’t mean what they used to just months ago. I’ve written about how I think the same is happening to the poppy.
One thing I noticed today on that topic: so many people are wearing poppies that look nothing like the various ones the Royal British Legion sells…
One thing I noticed today on that topic: so many people are wearing poppies that look nothing like the various ones the Royal British Legion sells…
First the flag. Now the poppy
A sombre display of remembrance is being weaponised and policed by nationalists
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Flags don’t mean what they used to just months ago. I’ve written about how I think the same is happening to the poppy.
One thing I noticed today on that topic: so many people are wearing poppies that look nothing like the various ones the Royal British Legion sells…
One thing I noticed today on that topic: so many people are wearing poppies that look nothing like the various ones the Royal British Legion sells…
Editions: 2025 US vinyl; 2013 Japan paper-sleeve CD; 2020 US paper-sleeve CD from box set. The Japanese CD recreates the textured sleeve of the original American vinyl edition from 1971, but drops the border. The 2025 vinyl doesn’t recreate the textured sleeve but reinstates the border.
November 8, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Editions: 2025 US vinyl; 2013 Japan paper-sleeve CD; 2020 US paper-sleeve CD from box set. The Japanese CD recreates the textured sleeve of the original American vinyl edition from 1971, but drops the border. The 2025 vinyl doesn’t recreate the textured sleeve but reinstates the border.
I’m working my way through the Audrey Erskine Lindop bibliography. Next up, these two. This all began thanks to the Blu-ray reissue of I Start Counting, adapted from her novel of the same name. It piqued my curiosity to know more about this forgotten author.
November 7, 2025 at 10:52 AM
I’m working my way through the Audrey Erskine Lindop bibliography. Next up, these two. This all began thanks to the Blu-ray reissue of I Start Counting, adapted from her novel of the same name. It piqued my curiosity to know more about this forgotten author.
Pictures of frosted foliage taken by my father, 1978
November 7, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Pictures of frosted foliage taken by my father, 1978
A moment with Bare Trees
November 2, 2025 at 2:49 PM
A moment with Bare Trees
Taken by my father, c1969
November 2, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Taken by my father, c1969
Reposted by Charles Donovan
On the left, the refurbished Lincoln bathroom. On the right, picture I took in Saddam Hussein's palace in Basra in 2005.
October 31, 2025 at 5:57 PM
On the left, the refurbished Lincoln bathroom. On the right, picture I took in Saddam Hussein's palace in Basra in 2005.
Presents in the mail, including…
October 25, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Presents in the mail, including…
Mary Rand (aka McCreary, aka Russell, aka Bridges - I swear that every time proper public recognition has had this talented woman in its sights, she has changed her identity and unwittingly eluded it) going from tablet to DAC to amplifier. Her 2015, streaming-only album.
October 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Mary Rand (aka McCreary, aka Russell, aka Bridges - I swear that every time proper public recognition has had this talented woman in its sights, she has changed her identity and unwittingly eluded it) going from tablet to DAC to amplifier. Her 2015, streaming-only album.
For a moment, I thought the album was called Timmy’s Hamburgers
October 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
For a moment, I thought the album was called Timmy’s Hamburgers
Reposted by Charles Donovan
Polanski expertly dismantling the "rich people will move if we tax them" narrative, while Denham nimbly demonstrates how very patriotic such people are.
Former Head of Comms for the IEA, Annabel Denham, says the super rich will leave if we have a wealth tax.
Yes, the very same IEA that brought us Liz Truss’ disastrous mini budget. 🤦🏽♂️
Green Party leader Zack Polanski explains that their taxable assets can’t leave. #bbcqt
Yes, the very same IEA that brought us Liz Truss’ disastrous mini budget. 🤦🏽♂️
Green Party leader Zack Polanski explains that their taxable assets can’t leave. #bbcqt
October 10, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Polanski expertly dismantling the "rich people will move if we tax them" narrative, while Denham nimbly demonstrates how very patriotic such people are.
Wow. Had no idea there was still a market for reel to reels
Reel-to-Reel Rhino - Official Store
Reel-to-Reel - Browse the vast selection of products available at Rhino - Official Store.
store.rhino.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Wow. Had no idea there was still a market for reel to reels
Reposted by Charles Donovan
New blog post: questions & answers about ABBA – The Complete Recording Sessions 1972-1982 - Second Revised and Updated Edition
abbaomnibus.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/a...
abbaomnibus.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/a...
ABBA – The Complete Recording Sessions 1972-1982 – Q&A
Carl Magnus Palm has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new, second revised edition of his fan favourite book ABBA – The Complete Recording Sessions 1972-1982. I recently posed some questi…
abbaomnibus.wordpress.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:47 AM
New blog post: questions & answers about ABBA – The Complete Recording Sessions 1972-1982 - Second Revised and Updated Edition
abbaomnibus.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/a...
abbaomnibus.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/a...
11 years. 21 years since my first attempt, but today it’s 11 years of putting down alcohol and other grownup refreshments. I’m certainly not a finger-wagger or puritan - I’m just someone who seemingly couldn’t stop or moderate. It got to the point of a 40-ft fall in 2012. I’m lucky to be here.
Dalbello - Eleven (Official Video) - HQ
YouTube video by forgotten realms
youtu.be
October 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM
11 years. 21 years since my first attempt, but today it’s 11 years of putting down alcohol and other grownup refreshments. I’m certainly not a finger-wagger or puritan - I’m just someone who seemingly couldn’t stop or moderate. It got to the point of a 40-ft fall in 2012. I’m lucky to be here.
Melissa Manchester - "Just You and I" LIVE 1975
YouTube video by Antony W.P.
youtu.be
September 27, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Charles Donovan
OLIVER: “In Russia, when Putin rose to power, TV satirists were among his first targets… Putin was driven to madness by how he was mocked on a puppet show… the lesson is it’s not safe to let one show slide because there are currently others.”
September 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
OLIVER: “In Russia, when Putin rose to power, TV satirists were among his first targets… Putin was driven to madness by how he was mocked on a puppet show… the lesson is it’s not safe to let one show slide because there are currently others.”
Reposted by Charles Donovan
I honestly believe everyone needs to stop and consider how far @suedehq.bsky.social have raised the bar for older bands in their second existence. Antidepressants is a 10/10, and so were their three albums before it. Suede sound like they're winding UP, not down. And you won't see a better live act.
September 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I honestly believe everyone needs to stop and consider how far @suedehq.bsky.social have raised the bar for older bands in their second existence. Antidepressants is a 10/10, and so were their three albums before it. Suede sound like they're winding UP, not down. And you won't see a better live act.
Among my problems with Your Friends & Neighbours (Apple) - the writers seem to have given every character the same voice. They all speak in slick little bons mots, arch, self-satisfied witticisms, wisecracks etc. Instead of hearing a diverse array of characters, we’re hearing the writer(s).
September 17, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Among my problems with Your Friends & Neighbours (Apple) - the writers seem to have given every character the same voice. They all speak in slick little bons mots, arch, self-satisfied witticisms, wisecracks etc. Instead of hearing a diverse array of characters, we’re hearing the writer(s).