Welcome to the last RPM Record Club Seven Day Soundtrack of 2023, week ending Friday 29th December. So, what's been a-bothering your lugholes this week?...Over to...

Philip -

"Twixmas greetings to all RPMers.

Today's "I" newspaper includes an article on better ways to engage in cultural activities. It includes cutting down on streaming by subscribing to only one platform (I'm not sure I want to engage in streaming at all), listening to entire albums all the way through (no doubt RPMers do that anyway), tuning in to live radio, and finding music "organically" (ie. doing your own research rather than relying on streaming algorithms). There's a couple of things there that relate to recent discussions on recorded music delivery media.

Here are my week 52 submissions for the 7DS, selected from three of my five albums of the year."

David -

"Some really great music last week, my thanks to you all and best wishes for one healthy and happy 2024. Three festive tracks this week relating (or not) to the Xmas phenomenon."

Piers -

"Trapped in the no mans land between Christmas and New Year, I find that there are a lot of tracks that I could post this week. But I have been looking back and thinking that it is funny how things tie together. A good few years ago Jayne and I attended the knitted Folk Festival… somewhere in Warwickshire. About a hundred people attended and we knew it was going to be interesting when two ladies knitted the festival wrist bands at the entrance gate. At the end of the garden, as well as a small stage for the performers, there was an even smaller one on which knitted 3D representations of the musicians, including Gerry Colvin and his band, were displayed concurrently with each performance.  (There was a lot of coloured wool and pins available and Jayne lent a helping hand by knitting some bunting). There was some jamming and the lady knitters gallantly managed to knit some more folk to sit around on tiny chairs. A couple of old boys with acoustic guitars banged out a song I’d not heard before. “Bright Lights Big City”. (No not that one) I told them that it was a great song and they told me that it was a cover of one written  by Gary Clarke Jr.  I became a fan overnight. 

I discovered Jackie Venson via Gary Clark Junior. So, had I not attended that rather quirky festival I wouldn’t be posting this…  Like the whole Manouche/Sinti gypsy jazz movement that has grown out of Django’s playing there seems to be a genre developing which started when Hendrix was still alive with the likes of Steve Miller (who took to playing a left handed Strat in an attempt to achieve some form of Jiminess) and Rob Trower and after Jimi’s death the torch was taken up by Stevie Ray Vaughan. I much preferred SRVs earlier work, but I always admired his guitar strap as clearly does Jackie Venson. (Probably the only thing we have in common!)  I love the way that she takes that Hendrix influenced vibe just a little bit further…"

Jayne -

"Thank you RPMers for your contributions to this year's soundscape, and especial thanks to Tim for being such an excellent host, administrator and for initiating this community and for keeping it going. Wishing everyone good things in 2024.

I’ve been hanging around again in the world of late night Radio 3…so you know what to expect by now..."

Nina -

"Hi RPM'ers. Thanks to you all for another year of superb music + biggest thanks to Tim for his creation + continued curation.

Here's my 3, very Happy New Year to you all + 'see' you in 2024."

Jackie -

"The soundtrack to our coffee in the Old Post Office cafe, Robin Hood's Bay...."

John -

"Happy New Year to you all RPMers, thanks for a great year of music. Here are my three for this week."

Tony -

"Here's my 3, hastily assembled this week. Best wishes and happy New Year to you lovely lot."

Kevin -

Dave -

"Hi RPMers, wishing you all a Happy New Year. Keep on rocking in the free world!!! Here are my 3..." 

Tim -

"The last three of '23...it's been a blast. Thanks for all your kind words, but if it wasn't for you lot, this (the 7DS) wouldn't happen, would it? Cheers!"

'Til Next Year.....