Gil Scott-Heron’s first release of original material in many years is suitably dark and oppressive, from an artist that’s been battling his inner demons for the best part of four decades.

My stellar rendition of Papa Was A Rolling Stone at Bearpit karaoke is 100% certain to earn me a record contract. If anyone is out there, hey, I’m all ears (subject to a minimum advance of £1,000,000 and a 10-person entourage).

Sell! Sell! have posted a response to the Royal Mail’s recently announced stamp collection featuring classic album covers, suggesting an entirely different selection. It’s a debate that could go on indefinitely…

Bollocks to Oasis and Mickey Jackson – cockney legends Chas n’ Dave have parted ways after 35 years together. The rockney pioneers will be greatly missed.

There’s little doubt that Sylvester Stuart is a genius. You probably know (well, you should know) the floor-filling hits, but you owe it to yourself to dig your soul shovel through the tasty morsels hidden elsewhere. Digging the horns on the titanic, über-King Kong beast that is Crossword Puzzle from the album High On You.

Y’know… there are some days when the only thing that will do is a hefty dose of Blowfly. ‘Bubbly’ girls please look away now.

Television has been growing in popularity since its invention in 1966. Check out these clips of the show Soul – it’s Badder Than Evil, Gordon’s War!

Legendary drummer Mitch Mitchell is no more. His early years of pills, thrills and schlagzeug finally put his drumsticks to bed. High fives big man, rest in peace.

I’ve deliberately cropped Noel Redding out of this picture as he couldn’t play bass and he’s a moody bitch (read his autobiography for more details).

The legendary Isaac Hayes has passed away at the age of 65. May his Hot Buttered Soul rest in peace.

Now this is just silly…

The sleeveface Flickr photo pool is a work of genius! Please, somebody do a Don Blackman!

Fräuleinwunder Hildegard Knef’s über hip, neo-kitsch masterpiece “Holiday Time” is light-years ahead of its early 70s contemporaries. Remarkably, this was a B-side upon release!

Clive Sinclair’s Spectrum graced many a home in the 80s. It’s Herculean 48k of RAM (128k, if you were lucky) just doesn’t cut it these days, but the pioneering ZX Spectrum Orchestra is helping to keep the legend alive.

Everybody loves the theremin. What? You don’t? What the hell is wrong with you! Anyway, behold the curious mixture of thermin and amphibian.

Hammond-hero Jimmy McGriff’s funky fingers have departed this earth. He lay down some proper nasties in his career, and, forgiving a couple of dubious covers for which he’s forgiven, his discography tastes sublime.

High fives big man, keep hitting those ivories in the sky.

We listen to a broad range of music in the office. Nigel gets a look in fairly often; Wefunk runs hot and cold (the funk is hotter than July, but the rap/hip-hop/turd-beats is colder than a homeless eskimo’s ice lolly). Today, we (OK, fair dues, Tim) discovered Global Funk Radio, a delicious blend of tasty funk goodness fresh from the farm.

Go listen kids!