Peter Viney's Blog

CBS 1966 to 1973

03/02/2025 by Peter Viney

At Around and Around: SEE CBS 1966 to 1973
This is the period where under Clive Davis CBS established itself as one of the main players in rock music. It’s probably the longest article on the site because it has so much to cover: Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, The Byrds, establishing a UK label, then the ‘underground’ era and the Rock Machine samplers. Johnny Cash and C&W. Miles Davis, Weather Report and jazz. Barbra Streisand and Andy Williams were still mega sellers. Classical moved its Eugene Ormamdy and Leonard Bernstein roots to Terry Riley and Switched on Bach.

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Bank of Dave II: The Loan Ranger review

24/01/2025 by Peter Viney

Netflix film recently released, BANK OF DAVE II: The Loan Ranger (follow link to review) is a second chapter of the ‘true(ish)’ story of the tiny Burnley savings and loan company. This time they’re in pursuit of payday loan sharks, as they really did ten years ago. Starring Rory Kinnear as Dave. The first film was a surprise hit. It puts the ‘light’ into light entertainment, but remains a watchable and pleasant evening in front of a TV.

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Conclave – review

19/01/2025 by Peter Viney

A short review of CONCLAVE (follow link) with no plot spoilers. Based on the Robert Harris novel about a papal election, it’s much more interesting than you might think. The cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucien Msamati, so stand by for fine acting. It’s also a ‘streaming’ review as it’s now on Amazon Prime.

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A Complete Unknown review

18/01/2025 by Peter Viney

The Bob Dylan biopic A COMPLETE UNKNOWN (link to review) opened in the UK on 17th January, five weeks after the USA. So we were there on day one to see it. Absolutely wonderful, musically and dramatically. Timothy Challamée (Dylan), Edward Norton (Pete Seeger), Monica Barbaro (Joan Baez) and Ellie Fanning star.

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The Red Shoes

12/01/2025 by Peter Viney

The second play in our trip to Stratford. THE RED SHOES by Nancy Harris (follow link to review), adapted from the Hans Christian Anderson story. Read the linked review. We were decieved too, it’s NOT children’s theatre, and it is xtremely well done. Forget any negative reviews. Music, dance, comedy, horror and drama, all wrapped in together.

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Twelfth Night- RSC 2024-5

12/01/2025 by Peter Viney

Review of TWELFTH NIGHT (follow the link) at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon. It started in December, but we had to switch tickets, so the review is coming near the end of its run. On the other hand, so much RSC stuff moves to The Barbican or Live Streaming, so I doubt this is the last we’ll see of it. It should be interesting anyway if you know TWELFTH NIGHT. The photo is Samuel West as Malvolio.

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CBS 1962-1966

06/01/2025 by Peter Viney

CBS 1962-1966 CBS started its own UK / European label in 1962. There’s too much to put in one article. I cut at ‘about 1966’ because by 1966 CBS was a major rock label. It had taken them a few years to move into it.

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Columbia / Sony group

29/12/2024 by Peter Viney

At Around & Around. Columbia / Sony Group This is the intro page to CBS / Columbia, Epic and related labels. It follows the original US parent company from 1898 to its present position as part of Sony. There will be more to follow and as the biggest label of all, it will take some time.

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My Best Theatre of 2024 summary

27/12/2024 by Peter Viney

Here it is. The Best of 2024- Theatre. Follow the link. This year I’ve listed every play I’ve seen, in groups according to the star rating I gave theme at the time. They are in sections:
Shakespeare and pre-20th Century
Modern
Musicals
Dance Theatre
Best Theatre

The sheer variety of British theatre can be seen. Each play has a picture plus the link to the original reviews. Spoiler. In their categories, the winners are A Midsummer Night’s Dream (RSC), The Hills of California, Oliver! and Edward Scissorhands.