10/06/2024 by Peter Viney
Mercury (to 1963) (FOLLOW THE LINK to AROUND & AROUND) Mercury was a major American record label which became a core Philips / Phonogram label in 1961. At that point its EMI distribution deal still had two years to run. This article covers Mercury 1945 to 1963, when it was UK distributed by Decca, then Oriole, then Pye then EMI.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
03/06/2024 by Peter Viney
Vertigo (follow link) added to the Philips section at Around and Around. It was introduced as Philips / Fontana’s prog label, though it did better with metal over the years. It one of the most collected labels of all, and the article has notes and comments on key bands, as well as charts and for the early “Vertigo swirl label” it has values. The fewer it sold, the more it’s worth.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
02/06/2024 by Peter Viney
Chichester Festival Theatre has revived Helen Edmundson’s 2005 play CORAM BOY (follow link to my review). It’s set in 18th century England, and has a wide range of themes from Handel’s Messiah, to murdering babies, to romance to slavery. There is a lot of plot, and it can get confused. On the plus side, there is a lot of music and excellent young actors.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
01/06/2024 by Peter Viney
Review of THE DEEP BLUE SEA (follow link) at Bath Ustinov studio with Tamsin Grieg and Oliver Chris. This is quite simply the best version of Terence Rattigan’s greatest play we have ever seen. Read the review.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
30/05/2024 by Peter Viney
Dexys at Poole Lighthouse, Wednesday 29th May (linked). They are a legend. Kevin Rowland is a tremendous performer and songwriter. The sound wasn’t good. The review contains criticisms. Live with it.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
29/05/2024 by Peter Viney
Film review (or rather brief comments with no plot spoiler) on THE OUTFIT, on Netflix. (Follow LINK) It looks like a stage play. It isn’t a stage play. It’s a film. It looks like Hitchcock. It isn’t Hitchcock. It’s set in Chicago 1956 and features three of the greatest British actors: Mark Rylance, Simon Russell-Beale and Johnny Flynn.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
24/05/2024 by Peter Viney
This is my second version in two weeks. MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING directed by Sean Holmes (link to review). For a welcome change The Globe plays it in (superb) period costume with no significant gender switching. They also have as good a Beatrice and Benedick as I’ve ever seen in Ekow Quartey and Amalia Vitale. A perfect Globe experience – running all summer too.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
22/05/2024 by Peter Viney
Review of The Zombies at Poole Lighthouse. I saw them last year. This was even better, plus outstandingly good support from The Wandering Hearts.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
19/05/2024 by Peter Viney
Review of the Pulitzer Prize winning play ENGLISH, by Sanaz Toossi (LINKED). This is at the RSC’s The Other Place studio theatre until the end of May, then it moves to The Kiln in London for the month of June. It’s set in Iran, in an English class. It’s a must for ELT teachers but it’s also a very good play on cultural identity. My review goes into a lot of ELT detail too.
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
17/05/2024 by Peter Viney
Review of THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND (linked), on 16th May at Bournemouth Pavilion with full set list and pictures. They were, as they always have been, astonishingly good. It’s the Funk Finale Farewell tour. You need to catch it.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Peter Viney's Blog