The trouble with investigating Oldfield's catalogue is that it's mostly all dowhill after the first four studio albums. There are hidden gems, but they're few and far between. It's a lot of effort for scant reward, in my opinion.

Jules

It isn't quite a real gig, but not sure quite where else to put it, but a friend and I have just booked to see the film of David Gilmour's Circus Maximus gig at our local cinema in a couple of weeks' time.  Should be fun.

Is that the new 'remastered' edition, Mick?  I'm interested to know if it actually sounds better than the original one?

Apparently Cathy LeSurf had done that song with them at the previous Cropredy, so maybe it was just an easy add?

Krankenhaus was a joy as always.  And wholly dry.  Perfect weather for me, actually - dry and not too hot.  Tip top.

Best sets I saw (lasted from 9am to c.8-9pm every day so missed Throwing Muses, some of the Sea Power sets, Moonlandingz and Arab Strap) were ex-Easter Island Head (literally jaw droppingly good), Dean Wareham and Sea Power doing a Galaxie 500 set (gulp) - when Dean and Britta did a separate set she sang I'll Keep it With Mine (very much, I thought, in the style of FC), Richard Dawson (one of the best live performers around imho), Sister John (new to me), Stewart Lee (a brief 25 minute rip roarer), an absolutely hilarious conversation with Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris by Shaun Keaveny, likewise, John Robb interviewing Will Sergeant and Paul Simpson was comedy genius, and on the Sunday evening, The Modern Ovens (Jonathan Richman covers band with various Sea Power members etc.), and caught a bit of the Sexual Objects (Fire Engines, Josef K, Orange Juice etc.) before I headed back very contentedly.

Lots of great morning talks too.  And walks around Muncaster Castle.  And Ravenglass.  And, and, and.  Only 1500 people.  It's just exactly perfect.  Sadly, I think they're taking a year off next year.

Tonight, 9pm 'til 11pm : Scattering The Roots with Dan Ogus...two hours of the finest folk, roots, blues, etc...plenty of etc...
I've been exploring my cavernous musical vaults to bring you some excellent music both new and vintage every Wednesday evening from 9pm 'til 11pm.

The next show goes out tonight, 9pm 'til 11pm (after Express FM Country), featuring the following artists :

Show Of Hands, Bellowhead, Altan, Shawn Colvin, The Bad Shepherds, Karine Polwart, Luka Bloom, Pentangle, Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (feat. PJ Harvey), Al Stewart, Leo Kottke, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, James Taylor, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Seasick Steve, Elvis Costello, Eric Clapton, Thomas Dolby, Dire Straits, Jimi Hendrix...

Listen tonight, 9pm 'til 11pm on Express FM, on DAB and online here :
https://www.expressfm.com/programmes/scattering-the-roots/

I must investigate more of Mr Oldfield's back catalogue.  

Although Gladys's leap is all of 40 years old, my first purchase of it was this year's vinyl reissue.  I hope Talking Elephant do more Fairport on vinyl.

Just finished listening to Gladys' Leap. I still can't work out why they put 'My Feet are Set for Dancing' on an otherwise pretty decent album.

Yesterday, I had a bit of a Creedence afternoon. 'Willy and the Poor Boys' and 'Cosmo's Factory'. Their best two albums, in my humble opinion.

The new Alison Krauss album Arcadia
Steve Knightley's All At Sea
and the 40th anniversary re-issue of The Last Waltz by The Band.  

Mike Oldfield live in 1981, from the QE2 Deluxe edition