disques fridge

24/02/2026

Gig announcement coming up…

07/02/2026

The Making Of John Barleycorn Must Die

February, 1970: after the breakup of Blind Faith, Steve returned to the studio to record what was intended to be his first solo album, tentatively titled 'Mad Shadows' with producer Guy Stevens.

SW: “He had me cutting covers of bizarre things, like 'Great Balls Of Fire', which just wasn't working. So I went to Jim and said, ‘let’s make a Traffic album."

Two tracks from the session were salvaged: "Stranger To Himself" and "Every Mother's Son", and by September the album had been transformed into the next Traffic album, ‘John Barleycorn Must Die’. (Mad Shadows would become the title of Mott the Hoople's second album, also produced by Guy Stevens).

“I worked on two numbers, "Every Mother's Son" and "Stranger to Himself", and almost straightaway I brought Jim in to write and then to play. After we completed those two numbers I figured it was time to bring Wood in, we'll make it a Traffic LP. Guy Stevens produced those first two tracks. I'd known him for a long time; he'd been with Island all the way back to the Spencer Davis Group days, but I think he was looking for something else from me…I guess he wanted me to be a real rock 'n' roller. Not such a bad idea for right now, but it didn't go down too well with me at the time.” -SW

24/01/2026

in 1981, The New York Times published a review of Steve’s second solo studio album ‘Arc Of A Diver’.

“Mr. Winwood recorded his new album in a home studio he built on the farm, singing and playing all the instruments - keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, and percussion - and writing all the music.”

“…the lush, accessible sound also makes it clear that at the ripe old age of 32, Steve Winwood has become a traditionalist; a rock and roll conservative.”

10/01/2026

in 1981, Steve’s second solo album ‘Arc Of A Diver’ made its debut on the UK charts.

“On my second solo album Arc Of A Diver, I gave it everything. My record company thought I'd completely lost the plot, because I insisted on doing the whole thing myself - every instrument and all the engineering. I knew it was a gamble, but I felt it was something I could achieve, so I had to do it. And it was very successful. It went to No 1 in America, which felt good to me, because it was in the face of a lot of discouragement.” - SW

14/11/2025

“Traffic took originality to some phenomenally obscure places. What we wanted to do was create something that was completely our own. We wanted to create a form of music that people would recognise as Traffic music, and we did some weird and wonderful stuff.” - SW

📸Gered Mankowitz

13/11/2025

“I am immensely grateful that I am considered for recognition of my services to music. I am a proud upholder of British culture and values, and am extremely honoured to be rewarded in this way, and wish to thank all those who made the recommendation, and those who’ve supported my music over the years.” - SW

20/10/2025

On October 18, 1967, Bobbie Gentry's debut album, "Ode to Billie Joe" was #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart in the US. It was the only album to bump "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band" from it 15 week reign at the top of the album chart. The title track, garnered 8 Grammy nominations as a single with 3 wins for Gentry and one win for her arranger Jimmie Haskell.

Bobbie Gentry * Billboard Charts

01/10/2025

24/09/2025

A piece of history spotted in a barbecue joint in Nashville.

The Highwaymen formed in 1985 but did not use that as their group name until their 3rd album. Their 1st album with the Jimmy Webb penned single "The Highwayman" was credited to Nelson, Jennings, Cash, Kristofferson.

Though they didn't use the name "The Highwaymen" until later on recordings, they had already certainly used the name for the live performance at the first Farm Aid 9 months prior. Since Dylan inspired the idea for Farm Aid, it's a fitting gathering and a knockout lineup for this show at Radio City Music Hall. We're sure "The Highwaymen" had to have been performed at the show.

Bob Dylan * Willie Nelson * Waylon Jennings * Johnny Cash * Kris Kristofferson * Radio City Music Hall * The Highwaymen