Sunday 27 December 2009 - Mitch's Musical Review of the Year - Extended Playlist

REVIEW OF 2009:
Lady Gaga: Poker face
Album: The Fame
2009: Polydor

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Gone, gone, gone
Album: Raising Sand
2007: Decca

Adele: Chasing pavements
Album: 19
2008: XL

Black Eyed Peas: Boom, boom, pow
Album: The E.N.D
2009: Polydor

BB King: Sitting on top of the world
Album: One Kind Favour
2008: Geffen Records

Florence & The Machine: Rabbit heart (Raise it up)
Album: Lungs
2009: Island

Jamie Cullum: I'm all over it
Album: The Pursuit
2009: Decca



Susan Boyle: I dreamed a dream
Album: I Dreamed a Dream
2009: Sony

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys: Empire state of mind
Single: Empire State of Mind
2009: Roc Nation

Duffy: Stepping stone
Album: Rockferry
2008: Polydor

Michael Jackson: Thriller
Album: Thriller
1982: Sony

Gabriella Cilmi: Sweet about me
Album: Lessons to be Learned
2008: Universal / Island

Blur: The universal
Album: The Great Escape
1995: Food

Little Boots: Remedy
Album: Hands
2009: 679 / Atlantic



Bellamy Brothers: Let your love flow
Album: Number One Hits
2008: Curb

Taylor Swift: Love story
Album: Fearless
2009: Mercury



The Shangri-Las: Leader of the pack
Album: Leader of the Pack
2003: Hallmark

Patrick Swayze: She's like the wind
Album: Dirty Dancing OST
1987: BMG

Whitney Houston: Million dollar bill
Album: I Look to You
2009: Arista



Michael Buble: Haven't met you yet
Album: Crazy
2009: 143 / Reprise



Melody Gardot: Baby, I'm a fool
Album: My One and Only Thrill
2009: Verve / UCJ

The Third Degree: Mercy
Album: Uncovered (Various artists)
2009: Ministry of Sound

Sunday 15 February 2009 Chat

Pleased as I was to see Duffy, Estelle and Adele receive Grammy honours, I was chuffed to bits that BB King, now 83 years of age, has been recognised for his brilliant album, 'One Kind Favour'.
Possibly his best work of the past 10 or more years, this album compares favourably with the all-time best Traditional Blues Albums.
Incredible work justly rewarded.
As if that wasn't enough, the Blind Boys of Alabama won their fifth Traditional Gospel Grammy for the fantastic 'Down in New Orleans'. What an amazing legacy for gospel music.
But it was Robert Plant who with Alison Krauss (now winner of 26 Grammy awards!) who picked up 5 awards and stole this year's show.
The blissful harmonies and delicate production by T Bone Burnett rightly won 'Raising Sand' Album of the Year, plus Record of the Year for Just Read the Letter, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Rich Woman, Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album & Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, for Killing the Blues. Some haul!
And Alison Krauss is now just one Grammy away from Quincy Jones's living record of 27 Grammy wins.
Finally, because it was released earlier in the States which brought it into the eligibility period, my current album of the month, the fabulous Dr John & the Lower 911, with their album 'City that Care Forgot', won the gong for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Happy? If there had been a chandelier handy I would still be swinging from it!

* * * * * * * * * * *

After the success of ValeFest's pilot music festival, Winterval (25-31 January) here in the Vale of Belvoir (pronounced 'Beaver'), I've received some quite humbling comments and testimonials from children, bands and others involved in the project.
Taking on the task without payment, if anyone ever asks whether all the effort to bring the community together through music, promote local musicians and help the local economy was worthwhile, I have only to look at those messages.
Some are or will be featured the ValeFest website shortly. Meanwhile, here's an example from a Vale of Belvoir venue manager;
"After talking to Mitch at length about the idea of ValeFest I decided it was a great idea and I'm glad we got involved.
"We thought at The Manners Arms that we would be best suited to an acoustic session held in our bar and lounge area, partly due to the night we chose and also the question would we fill it?
"Well, what can I say? - we had the busiest Thursday in months! We were full from 7.30 til close and a great night was had by all.
"This is definitely something we'd do again and help to support the ValeFest vision."

Paul Hoad,Chef Manager
The Manners Arms, Knipton

How cool it that?!