Spector phil

One singles-rich cracker, and one tampered-with turkey

Estelle Bennett found dead aged 67

This morning's sad news of John Martyn's death reminded me of a particularly colourful encounter I had with him, back in what they call the day, which I wrote about in my regular Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before column in Uncut in July 2004 and re-print below. Adios, John.

Spooked, sprawling synth-pop from intrepid New Yorkers

We’re speaking to the former Rolling Stones manager, and we want your questions

Hollywood starlet sings... The Tom Waits songbook!

Bruce Springsteen cohort and E Street Band keyboardist has died, aged 58

In one of those strange coincidences, I happened to buy a new DVD player the other week, and the film I chose to christen it with was The English Patient. It’s one of my favourite films, an unashamedly epic romance played out across the burning sands of Cairo, a self-conscious throwback to the kind of Technicolor splendour you associate with David Lean’s movies.

Singer does the double as single Mercy tops singles chart for a third week

Bernard Butler’s protégé croaks out some smart slices of dadsoul