What we're listening to. Aretha 'Amazing Grace'.

Now we've known about this classic, wonderful Album for a long time but we never knew the story behind it....

'Amazing Grace' is a gospel album released as live in 1972. In fact, it is Aretha's biggest selling Album of all time and the biggest selling gospel Album of all time - no surprise, it's really just that good. Wonderfully. 

But back to the story...

Recorded at a Baptist Church in LA, it was filmed as a documentary by Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa, The Way We Were, Tootsie and many more) for Warner Brothers. 

However, he had failed to use a clapperboard before every take and therefore, not syncing the sound to the pictures. Something we know at Streamabout can happen - but it's pretty careless (every wonder why handclaps or clapperboards are used on shoots? That's why).

So the film was out of sync and it was shelved and ended up on the studio floor for 38 years until Pollack's death in 2008.

It was then handed over to Alan Elliot, a Producer, who took another two years to get it back and right which he did. 

He planned to release it in 2011 but....Aretha sued (for using her likeness without her permission). In fact, he noticed that a young Mick Jagger was actually in the Church audience at the time and is on the film.

However, Warner Brothers found the original Contract and felt they were able to show the film in 2015 at various festivals. But Franklin sued again and was granted an emergency injunction to stop it being shown. The film was therefore withdrawn and that's where it sits right now. As yet, unseen and we'd say it's a gem with Aretha's voice and Pollack's eye.

Amazing. Grace. 

This is just one of the most beautiful recordings ever and certainly it's Aretha at her magical best. 

It's a double Album so there's lots of it, supported by a choir and interspersed with a Preacher, almost like you're there. She was 30 when it was recorded and her father actually was a Preacher from Mississippi who founded a Baptist Church. He was known as the "million dollar voice" so it was in the genes and bringing Aretha singing in Church from age 14, this record must've felt like home to her.

Despite general belief, she was not Whitney Houston's Aunt although considered an 'honorary Aunt' and Aretha was very much the voice of Black Civil Rights.

This is one great record. Get it. 

Here's 'Mary don't you weep no more' which some hardnose fans will know from Bad Company 'Straight Shooter'. Unreal.

Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog.......Eric Clapton 461; Massive Attack Blue Lines; The Clash London Calling; Chris Isaak At The Filmore; Bob Dylan Street Legal;Bad Company Straight Shooter; Jackson Browne Love is Strange; Lou Reed Transformer; Steely Dan AJA; Stones Black+Blue; Stephen Bishop Careless; Nils Lofgren Night after Night; Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells; Neil Young Harvest; Led Zep 4; David Bowie David Live; Van It's too late to stop now; Wings Band on the run; Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing; Ryan Adams Heartbreaker; Santana Essential; Bob Dylan Desire; Roxy Music For your pleasure; Bob Marley Legend; Stephen Fretwell Magpie; James Taylor Sweet Baby James; Deep Purple Machine Head; Springsteen Darkness on the edge of town; Leon Bridges Coming Home; Eagles Hotel California; Jungle; Aretha Soul Queen; Neil Young After the Goldrush + Harvest; Zappa Overnite Sensation; Fleetwood Mac Rumours; Keith Jarrett Koln Concert; Doobies Southbound; Stevie Earle I feel alright; Tom Waits Closing Time; Pink Floyd Dark Side; Van Moondance; Eric Church Caught in the Act; Randy Newman Little Criminals; Elton John Madman across the water; Patti Smith Horses; Doobies Captain and Me; Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill.

What we're listening to. Clapton '461 Ocean Boulevard'.

So you're thinking, why is there two Albums here? Well, there isn't. Really. Sort of.

'461 Ocean Boulevard' is the Album we're listening to but, on the 'Give me strength' Album, you get the full 461 Album and some more recordings from 74/75. 

So you get extra, geddit?

'461' (as those in 'the know' call it) was Clapton's 2nd 1974 Album after his battle with heroin. In fact, it was the address of the house where he recovered and I think we're right in saying it was owned by Robert Stigwood in Miami, who helped him. 

At that time he was well known from Cream and The Dominos, but this marked a solo departure into Blues. 

'Motherless Children' is a cracking track if not, his best ever. 'I can't hold out' and 'Let it grow' are classics as of course, 'I shot the sheriff' which was the single (written by Bob Marley in 1973). 

The Album is a classic and well regarded and in a way, very summery. The Album for open top driving with a Miami sound. It's bright, interesting and varied but with blues at the core. The versions on the 'Give me strength' Album are at least as good, if not better and the extra tracks mean that it makes more sense to get it.

Still, if you want to hear Clapton at his lethal best, search up 'Further on up the Road'. It's a gem and no more so, than with blistering guitars with Robbie Robertson of The Band, in The Last Waltz. 

Crank up the sound full blast, sit back, press play and start to dance. Here it is....

  

Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog.......Massive Attack Blue Lines; The Clash London Calling; Chris Isaak At The Filmore; Bob Dylan Street Legal;Bad Company Straight Shooter; Jackson Browne Love is Strange; Lou Reed Transformer; Steely Dan AJA; Stones Black+Blue; Stephen Bishop Careless; Nils Lofgren Night after Night; Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells; Neil Young Harvest; Led Zep 4; David Bowie David Live; Van It's too late to stop now; Wings Band on the run; Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing; Ryan Adams Heartbreaker; Santana Essential; Bob Dylan Desire; Roxy Music For your pleasure; Bob Marley Legend; Stephen Fretwell Magpie; James Taylor Sweet Baby James; Deep Purple Machine Head; Springsteen Darkness on the edge of town; Leon Bridges Coming Home; Eagles Hotel California; Jungle; Aretha Soul Queen; Neil Young After the Goldrush + Harvest; Zappa Overnite Sensation; Fleetwood Mac Rumours; Keith Jarrett Koln Concert; Doobies Southbound; Stevie Earle I feel alright; Tom Waits Closing Time; Pink Floyd Dark Side; Van Moondance; Eric Church Caught in the Act; Randy Newman Little Criminals; Elton John Madman across the water; Patti Smith Horses; Doobies Captain and Me; Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill.

The world's most valuable company with the world's most ridiculous name.

The world's most valuable company with the world's most ridiculous name launched in 2015.

Alphabet, the company behind Google/YouTube, has overtaken Apple (which starts the Alphabet, A is for...) as the world's most valuable company at circa 544 Billion usd. Apple a poor second at 534 Billion.

Largely on foot of Alphabet posting Q4 Revenues of over 21 Billion usd, coming mainly from Google.

Mind you, they lost 3.6 Billion on other projects in 2015 which still may come in. Basically, upfront investment in future projects.

Still, it's a great performance for a company to be as valuable as country like Belgium. And it's tax domiciled where?

What we're listening to. Massive Attack 'Blue Lines'.

Now this is definitely not for everyone but Massive Attack 'Blue Lines' is one of the well regarded Albums of our time and still sounds fresh.

1991 Debut from a Bristol, British band but very American hip hop too. A blend. British band does American kinda' thing called 'trip hop'. 

Very electronic from an era of dance and ecstasy. 'Unfinished Sympathy' is the great single and generally the Album was quite dark but then, at the time, fairly breakthrough and new. It definitely has a coolness.

They produced more records (5) and 'Mezzanine' was their best commercial success but none every scaled the debut heights of Blue Lines.

It takes listening but it's atmospheric and interesting so well worth a listen for something different. Streamabout people screamed when we played it, ("Oh my god, I remember that!") so evocative it is of a time of dance and everyone had a copy. Every Coffee shop worth its salt, played it over and over again.

And the people here loved it anyway. 
Me? 
I blame the parents...

Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog.......The Clash London Calling; Chris Isaak At The Filmore; Bob Dylan Street Legal;Bad Company Straight Shooter; Jackson Browne Love is Strange; Lou Reed Transformer; Steely Dan AJA; Stones Black+Blue; Stephen Bishop Careless; Nils Lofgren Night after Night; Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells; Neil Young Harvest; Led Zep 4; David Bowie David Live; Van It's too late to stop now; Wings Band on the run; Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing; Ryan Adams Heartbreaker; Santana Essential; Bob Dylan Desire; Roxy Music For your pleasure; Bob Marley Legend; Stephen Fretwell Magpie; James Taylor Sweet Baby James; Deep Purple Machine Head; Springsteen Darkness on the edge of town; Leon Bridges Coming Home; Eagles Hotel California; Jungle; Aretha Soul Queen; Neil Young After the Goldrush + Harvest; Zappa Overnite Sensation; Fleetwood Mac Rumours; Keith Jarrett Koln Concert; Doobies Southbound; Stevie Earle I feel alright; Tom Waits Closing Time; Pink Floyd Dark Side; Van Moondance; Eric Church Caught in the Act; Randy Newman Little Criminals; Elton John Madman across the water; Patti Smith Horses; Doobies Captain and Me; Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill.

Spotify to launch Video online.

Spotify are to launch Video.

Initially to Android App users (mobile only), it will start in The UK, Germany and Sweden (funny enough). Clearly too, it's probably going to be music-led videos but there's no reason not to extend that into Sports, News, Entertainment and so. 

Spotify understand that the money is in online video and follow Facebook/Twitter/YouTube if you have an audience and they do. 75 million with 20 million of them subscribing.

A very appealing younger demographic and one which tends to be 'sticky' and which can be brought to relevant video depending on their choices.

Of course a movie service wouldn't be out of the question either we assume...

With a current valuation of 8.5 Billion usd, this will add to that, although it's not yet profitable and whilst this video service will be 'ad free', assume that should also say 'initially'.

Online Digital Video? Streamabout.com

What we're listening to. The Clash 'London Calling'

We've desperately tried to avoid playing Bowie or The Eagles just at the minute. There's just too much of it about but no doubt, we will in the next few weeks (although we've already blogged last year, 'David Live' and 'Hotel California').

Sometimes a record symbolises the unmistakable sound and the mood of a generation.

Nirvanas 'Teen spirit' being one, but none more so, than the opening riff of 'London Calling'. 

Founded in 1976 is was a scene that featured The Pistols, Ramones, Stranglers, Buzzcocks and The Banshees. So a whole new wave of music.

The Clash of course were seen (and were) very much a Punk band but that's not to forget the white boy reggae (like the early Police), Ska, Rockabilly and Rock, that you'll find on this record.

This double Album from 1979, was their 3rd Album and reflected real issues like drugs, characters (like 'Jimmy Jazz'), race and unemployment. Mick Jones did the music and Joe Strummer (who died in 2002 and was actually 'John Mellor') did the lyrics. The cover shot is actually Bassist Paul Simonon smashing his Fender on tour in NYC and is iconic.

It's an angry record and not for everyone but always appears in top ranking lists. It's raw.

So there's no track to listen to as such, because it's all so different but check out 'London Calling', 'Jimmy Jazz', 'Guns of Brixton' and for our money, the best track on it is 'Train in Vain'.

But the best Clash song isn't here although it's a great Album. 

That would be 'Rock the Casbah'....still, any self respecting music lover has to have 'London Calling' in their playbook. It is the sound of a generation.

One of our Streamabout crew claims to have seen The Clash live at The Top Hat in Dun Laoghaire 1978 so he's one of the 200,000 who were there then...but The Clash's first gig was in 1976 supporting The Sex Pistols.

The Clash were hugely influential and distinct and this is the Album that shows that. It's not everyone's taste, but it gets you in a mood and speaks to you. We defy you to listen to this and not smile, then stand-up from your desk. We did....

Then this...

Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog.......Chis Isaak At The Filmore; Bob Dylan Street Legal,;Bad Company Straight Shooter; Jackson Browne Love is Strange; Lou Reed Transformer; Steely Dan Aja; Stones Black+Blue; Stephen Bishop Careless; Nils Lofgren Night after Night; Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells; Neil Young Harvest; Led Zep 4; David Bowie David Live; Van It's too late to stop now; Wings Band on the run; Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing; Ryan Adams Heartbreaker; Santana Essential; Bob Dylan Desire; Roxy Music For your pleasure; Bob Marley Legend; Stephen Fretwell Magpie; James Taylor Sweet Baby James; Deep Purple Machine Head; Springsteen Darkness on the edge of town; Leon Bridges Coming Home; Eagles Hotel California; Jungle; Aretha Soul Queen; Neil Young After the Goldrush + Harvest; Zappa Overnite Sensation; Fleetwood Mac Rumours; Keith Jarrett Koln Concert; Doobies Southbound; Stevie Earle I feel alright; Tom Waits Closing Time; Pink Floyd Dark Side; Van Moondance; Eric Church Caught in the Act; Randy Newman Little Criminals; Elton John Madman across the water; Patti Smith Horses; Doobies Captain and Me; Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill.

Netflix Soars. Up to 9%

Well there's one stock that's soaring! Netflix. Up + 9% this morning.

Q4 numbers showed a massive overperformance and a forecast of +6 million new subscribers in Q1 2016. Stunningly good.

Revenue was up +23%.
US and International subscribers, UP.
It goes live in another 130 countries this month.

We're tired of congratulating Netflix (not!) time and time again.
It's just one great Digital brand.

And it's killing the former high-roller TV stations.
And it's opening Production opportunities at the highest end.

Magic.

RIP Glenn Frey. Hell just froze over.

Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Don Felder and Randy Meisner. 1977.

But it was all Glenn Frey and Don Henley really.

Sad.

Publicis are 90. So they're looking for ideas....

Publicis, the French Ad Agency group, are celebrating 90 years.

To help with that, they've launched a fund for digital start-ups which includes funding (10 million euro). Ideas submitted will be judged by a panel of Publicis and partners for a launch on June 30th in eh, Paris.

The website is here (you'll have to copy + paste)
http://www.publicis90.com/#/publicis90

But a quick read of the rules, seems to be a little complicated....especially on the funding end. However, well worth a look.

Credit too where credits due.

What we're listening to. Chris Isaak 'At the Filmore'.

Hard to define Chris Isaak really. 1950's crooner? Rockabilly? Slightly country? Roy Orbison?

But it's different, that's for sure.

Possibly best known for 'Wicked Game' (from 'Heart Shaped World') or 'Somebody's Crying', or indeed his own TV show from 2001-04 'The Chris Isaak Show' ironically.

His 'Forever Blue' Album is well regarded too and there's been 12 Studio Albums outside of this Live Album from 2008.

'Somebody's Crying' is here, as is 'Wicked Game' but two others you may not know that are well worth checking out. 

'Baby did a bad, bad thing' was heard in the film 'Eyes Wide Shut' and just is so much a reminder of George Thorogood's 'One Bourbon, one Scotch'. Eerie.

If you saw the last episode of the excellent, 'The Affair', you'll have heard 'San Francisco Days' in the final car scene and it's fabulously excellent. Almost Beach Boyish. Have a listen.

So if you don't really know him, this is the Album to start. You'll hear his falsetto voice in action here on 'Baby did a bad bad thing' which contrasts to almost everything else he does. 

However, this is the track that's the winner. Somebody's crying....Wicked Game will play straight after it if you leave it run. 

Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog.......Bob Dylan Street Legal,;Bad Company Straight Shooter; Jackson Browne Love is Strange; Lou Reed Transformer; Steely Dan Aja; Stones Black+Blue; Stephen Bishop Careless; Nils Lofgren Night after Night; Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells; Neil Young Harvest; Led Zep 4; David Bowie David Live; Van It's too late to stop now; Wings Band on the run; Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing; Ryan Adams Heartbreaker; Santana Essential; Bob Dylan Desire; Roxy Music For your pleasure; Bob Marley Legend; Stephen Fretwell Magpie; James Taylor Sweet Baby James; Deep Purple Machine Head; Springsteen Darkness on the edge of town; Leon Bridges Coming Home; Eagles Hotel California; Jungle; Aretha Soul Queen; Neil Young After the Goldrush + Harvest; Zappa Overnite Sensation; Fleetwood Mac Rumours; Keith Jarrett Koln Concert; Doobies Southbound; Stevie Earle I feel alright; Tom Waits Closing Time; Pink Floyd Dark Side; Van Moondance; Eric Church Caught in the Act; Randy Newman Little Criminals; Elton John Madman across the water; Patti Smith Horses; Doobies Captain and Me; Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill.

Nothing else to say.

Twitter launch new Ad format.

Twitter have launched to get ways to get the Twitterati talking about brands.

Looking at increasing the character length (from 150) - but importantly, a new Ad format that encourages people to tweet the advertisers message to their followers.

And that's far better, far more native, than it coming from the brand itself because a "friends" recommendation or tweet, is way more powerful. When the message is tweeted, the brand thanks you.

Called 'conversationals' it will have an easy button that when you click it, will be a pre-populated tweet with the advertiser message (as distinct from a simple 'retweet') which will include any photo or video. It can be amended or just tweeted as is.

But it comes from you. If you're influential, that's a big bonus and it might get a conversation started. And....it can be targeted at those big influencers only or those in the demographic with large followings.

If it's engaging or interesting it will work but the content will be king. 

Say it's something like, "Who'll win the Aldi Baking Competition?" or "Who's the Gillette man of the match?" rather than, "Aldi make great bread", it will work.

It's all about native.

What we're listening to. Dylan, 'Street Legal'.

Now let's be clear. We're not Dylan fans...at all. But two albums make the grade in our view. 'Desire' (1976) which we've already posted here and this one, 'Street Legal'. Another, 'At the Budokan' (1978 too) might just sneek in but generally when someone here puts on Dylan, there's a groan.

'Street Legal' though is well worth a listen. Well worth.

1978 and the 18th Dylan Album (he's actually, really, Robert Zimmerman), he's 75 this year of Lithuanian Jewish parents.

'Baby (please), stop crying' is the best known single from the Album but, 'Is you love in vain?' is a classic. Add to that 'Changing of the Guard', 'Senor', 'True love tends to forget' and 'New Pony' and it all works brilliantly.

At the time it was well slated and largely because of the Production, which quite frankly, we don't really understand. But that seems to us fairly mute, when you've some exceptional songs all on one Album - even if we're not "fans". 

But this is very well worth it.

What's amazing too, is the few Dylan songs on YouTube? Still, here's one to enjoy from this Album.

Previous 'listen to's'.......Bad Company Straight Shooter; Jackson Browne Love is Strange; Lou Reed Transformer; Steely Dan Aja; Stones Black+Blue; Stephen Bishop Careless; Nils Lofgren Night after Night; Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells; Neil Young Harvest; Led Zep 4; David Bowie David Live; Van It's too late to stop now; Wings Band on the run; Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing; Ryan Adams Heartbreaker; Santana Essential; Bob Dylan Desire; Roxy Music For your pleasure; Bob Marley Legend; Stephen Fretwell Magpie; James Taylor Sweet Baby James; Deep Purple Machine Head; Springsteen Darkness on the edge of town; Leon Bridges Coming Home; Eagles Hotel California; Jungle; Aretha Soul Queen; Neil Young After the Goldrush; Zappa Overnite Sensation; Fleetwood Mac Rumours; Keith Jarrett Koln Concert; Doobies Southbound; Stevie Earle I feel alright; Tom Waits Closing Time; Pink Floyd Dark Side; Van Moondance; Eric Church Caught in the Act; Randy Newman Little Criminals; Elton John Madman across the water; Patti Smith Horses; Doobies Captain and Me; Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill, Jackson Browne Love is Strange.

Reaching out to Mums? It's all about Content, all about Video.

Interesting blog from mykidstime.com about how content reaches out to Mums, not Ads.

They're saying that content helps to 'humanise' a brand and therefore that, more online video is needed rather than Ads which 'sell to'. We agree!

They also see a daily decline in banner Ads click-thrus and basically that Mums aren't interested in them. Particularly too, they note the prevalence of Ad blocking as a consequence - if we don't like the banner ads, let's not have them kinda' thing.

Mums too they find, are 'on the go' and therefore moving away from desktop onto mobile and other devices which makes sense. Note too that mobile formats for general advertising (not Video) are poor. About 30% of mobile ads are clicked by mistake anyway.

The last point is that of course, video content can be shared and Mums like to share. So if you are reaching out to Mums, here's an experienced site owner saying that you need to move to video and content. 

You can read the blog here;

http://www.mykidstime.com/business/why-content-not-ads-will-win-the-battle-for-mums-hearts/#%2EVo5A9mcI63Y%2Elinkedin

And some quotes from it.

"Mums would like to see more content and particularly video content (Mykidstime Userneeds Survey 2015 of 1228 respondents)".

"A content article on Mykidstime can achieve 5.37% CTR – compared to 0.04% CTR on Banners."

"Between 60-70% of Mykidstime parents use phones or devices to access content. 91% of Mykidstime tablet users are female, 90% of Mykidstime mobile users are female compared to 81% desktop."

Making a Murderer. Stunning, like Netflix.

It's full credit to Netflix, that they're showing the way to TV broadcasters as to what can be achieved online. The latest release, 'Making a Murderer' is the most talked about show at the minute. And really, it's another stunner.

But it follows 'House of Cards', 'Orange is the new Black', the superb 'Narco' and of course, 'Breaking Bad'. Add to that, the ideal follow-upper to 'Making a Murderer' which is 'The Jinx'.

Whilst not all of these were 'made' or commissioned by Netflix ('The Jinx' is HBO), it is Netflix that's making the audiences by releasing the series same day and broadcasting with quality at a time that suits you. In fact, lending itself to that 'bingeing' (watching many programmes one after the other) which can't be done on traditional TV.

In fact, 'Netflix & Chill' has now become common parlance for a eh, good (?) night in.

Those that Netflix have made, they've thrown money at and have done so in a first class way. 'House of Cards' a real example of quality TV film making.

So their audience just keeps growing.

Given that CEO Reed Hastings, who takes his famed 6 weeks holiday and was "the most hated CEO" by the stock market 4 years ago, it's been a pretty stunning achievement.

They simply deserve it all because they put the work in and make broadcasting rich entertainment again. Even making a real niche like Documentaries, cool again.

And if you haven't seen 'Making a Murderer' or 'The Jinx' just go and do it. 'Making a Murderer' takes one or two episodes to get going (it was filmed over 10 years) but then it's an incredible story.

Like Netflix.

Turner may spell the end of TV Commercials replacing them with long digital video. Wow!

Fairly amazing story coming out of Turner Broadcasting in the US which could/should change the face of traditional broadcasting advertising.

They're going to announce that they will be turning their TV network into one big native advertising platform. Channels include CNN, Cartoon Network, TNT and others (it's a big cable player) but what they're doing is actually to change commercial breaks.

Instead of your standard 30 or 60 second commercial, they'll replace it with digital video that will tell a brand story in a native way. Perhaps 2/3 minutes long, instead of say, 5 x 30 second commercials, and put them on TV breaks. Not unlike what they've done on CNN with Subaru creating 'CNN Heroes'. 

It's actually far better for viewers who get to see long form engaging content, albeit sponsored and branded, rather than just Ads. And it's better for the broadcaster as they'll scoop up that digital video which Streamabout is so familiar with and creates.

It's the re-imagining of TV advertising and perhaps spells the end of TV commercials as we know them. Given that they're such a big player, it's hard for other traditional TV broadcasters not to take note. 

It's also a very right move for a traditional TV broadcaster in the digital age and for once, we applaud TV. 

Good thinking at Turner.

Happy Christmas and New Year. See you all January 4th! Yipee!

And a very Happy Christmas and New Year to you all from all of us in Streamabout.

Without our Clients and our Friends, we wouldn't be here so we're always very grateful for that support. Thank you. Really.

We re-open 9am January 4th....until then.....look after yourselves.

What we're listening to. Our Album of the year 2015.

As you know, each Friday throughout the year we post about an Album we're listening to and recommend it. It proves popular so thanks for that (you can register on this blog for an email alert too if you wish on the right under 'Automatic Updates'). 

They're varied across the years - Classics. Stuff we're loving.

And here's the full 2015 list should you be looking for something over Christmas: Bad Company Straight Shooter; Jackson Browne Love is Strange; Lou Reed Transformer; Steely Dan Aja; Stones Black+Blue; Stephen Bishop Careless; Nils Lofgren Night after Night; Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells; Neil Young Harvest; Led Zep 4; David Bowie David Live; Van It's too late to stop now; Wings Band on the run; Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing; Ryan Adams Heartbreaker; Santana Essential; Bob Dylan Desire; Roxy Music For your pleasure; Bob Marley Legend; Stephen Fretwell Magpie; James Taylor Sweet Baby James; Deep Purple Machine Head; Springsteen Darkness on the edge of town; Leon Bridges Coming Home; Eagles Hotel California; Jungle; Aretha Soul Queen; Neil Young After the Goldrush; Zappa Overnite Sensation; Fleetwood Mac Rumours; Keith Jarrett Koln Concert; Doobies Southbound; Stevie Earle I feel alright; Tom Waits Closing Time; Pink Floyd Dark Side; Van Moondance; Eric Church Caught in the Act; Randy Newman Little Criminals; Elton John Madman across the water; Patti Smith Horses; Doobies Captain and Me; Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill.

But in April we came across Mr. Lamar and 'To pimp a butterfly'. Since then it's gone stratospheric - Rolling Stone/NME/New York Times one of 'the best Albums of 2015' and the highest number of grammy nominations (11) due for that announcement in Feb 2016.

Although 'Coming Home' Leon Bridges ran it close, but Kendrick Lamar's 'Butterfly' is our Album of 2015.

Here's what we said last April - 


Well we had to listen because it seems the whole world is listening too. 
So we were starting to feel left out.....

This will take a bit of getting used to but it IS worth it. 

His third album just released in March, with Dr. Dre and Pharrell Williams all playing a Production part. It's become/becoming a huge album (Billboard number one) with lavish, superb production values that need (like all good records) many listenings. Many are calling it 'a masterpiece'. We are, sorta, kinda.

It's a real mixture of jazz, hip hop, funk, pop....everything. 

The hip hop vinyl scratching on the track 'Wesley's Theory' is very 2 Pac (as is 'Momma'). 'For Free' is straight out of the Frank Zappa handbook (yes, Frank Zappa). 'King Kunta' is the single, pure rap, with the Michael Jackson 'Eddie are you okay?' reference. 'Hood Politics' starts as a Steely Dan tune. 

But go straight to the last few tracks and you'll know if it's for you. 'You Ain't Gotta Lie' which is very Erykah Badu and excellent as is 'i' (video below). 

But it's all a lot mixed up which makes it a lot...well, interesting. Beautiful even in parts and magnificently produced.

Nice for a change but you need to keep with it and it will reward you.

And all you Ad people, just listen to the sound mix and production on this....genius. Radio can work like this too y'know!

What we're listening to. Jackson Browne, 'Love is Strange'.

We do admit it upfront that few of us in Streamabout are hardcore fans of Jackson Browne but rather possibly, 'admire him from a distance'. That said, having heard this Album this week, that's changing. We've actually started to look at his live gig tickets and back catalogue - this Album is that good.

We'd all have the 'Running on Empty' and 'Pretender' (reflecting on the suicide of his first wife) Albums and of course, really familiar with his work with The Eagles. 

Very American stuff but what you might not know, is that he's actually German! Son of a GI stationed there.

But above all, Jackson wrote what has to be one of the great classics. It's on 'Running on Empty' and the last 2 tracks - 'The Load Out' and then it runs into 'Stay'. If you haven't heard it, just stop now and do it. It will stay with you for life.  "Now the seats are all empty, let the roadies take the stage....we got Richard Pryor on the video..." here you go.

Apart from being a well love classic (and trust us, it is), what's also interesting that the vocals on the song (from 1977) include David Lindley (violin and guitar too) and that's who we see on this 'Love is Strange' record sharing the cover pic. In fact if you watched that last clip, you'll see Lindley playing the slide guitar in it.

'Love is Strange' is a live album from 2010 but documents a Spanish tour from 2006. So it's very Spanish and in that way, very very charming. 

Really interesting stuff and to be honest, feels like Irish folk music in parts with a little zydeco, in other parts it Spanish flamenco. And although these are his well known songs, they sound totally different.

Very folky, guitar driven in a way not unlike Ry Cooder. But it's a big record that has so much going on, it's quite stunning. 

The opener 'I'm Alive' sets the tone, a beautiful thing and 'Your Bright Baby Blues' features some magnificent Spanish guitar that lets you float and lose yourself, just as say, Van would. You listen, you close your eyes.

'These Days' is about as deep Irish trad as you can get with a very Spanishy vocal by Luz Casal a very well known Spanish singer, 'Running on Empty' sounds American "John Cougar" traditional while the title track 'Love is Strange' has a 50's "Frankie Valli" tune style. Even 'Take it Easy' (which we generally hate because it's overplayed) sounds well and that's done in a zydeco way.

There's so much in here, layer after layer, that's it's so worth it. It's an ideal Christmas listen too, very calm, very beautiful. And you'll change the way you think about Jackson Browne for sure. We did. Little piece of magic.

And here's Browne singing himself 'Bright Baby Blues'.

Ad of the year.

Ad of the Year? 
That'll be John Lewis. Again.

But it's for Home Insurance (which is one tough nut to break, trust us) featuring Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer' from 'Madman across the water' which is a classic Album by the way.

Script, Concept, Performance, Production...it has it all, pure and simple.

And John Lewis keep doing it. Or should we say, 'Adam&Eve DDB' do. Straight outta London, goes straight global. One big result for a Home Insurance commercial.

Hats off from us and yep, we're all former Agency people so we know just how tough that was. Magic. 

What we're listening to. Bad Company 'Straight Shooter'.

Now this is a gem that cheers you up!

From 1975 it features the bands best known tracks 'Good lovin' gone bad' and 'Feel like makin' love' but every song is terrific. 

'Weep no more', the classic 'Shooting Star' (story of a rock star who dies early seemingly about Hendrix) 'Call on me' and the beautiful 'Anna' all make it a great Album. 

Paul Rodgers the lead singer had left 'Free' with Simon Kirke who both formed Bad Company ("All right now") and Rodgers vocals are superb (he later toured with Queen post Freddie Mercury). It was their second album in a classic 'hard rock' vein with their first Album being a great success. So they were very much in the groove.

Paul Kossoff (Koss) also a former 'Free' member was always on the fringes of Bad Company and expected to tour until his sudden death in 1976 (aged 26) on an airplane of all places, from heroin problems. He has to be considered as one of the greatest guitarists of all time and his headstone epitaph reads, 'All right now'. His father David, a well known actor, spent his life as an anti-drug campaigner after Paul's David. 

They were a very British band and very much of the era, but the Album is timeless. It's ballady and rocky but really interesting stuff that gets you going. Don't get put off either by the 'heavy rock' label, it's much more than that with great melodies. One you can always put on when sitting at home. Or in the office as we did. A real gem to have.

Have a listen and you'll get a sense...

Irish Independent and Ad Age reports today on TV audience massive declines. Ads must switch to online digital video.

The growing crisis in TV Ad slump of ratings, continues.

A Report today in The Irish independent, "TV ads slump as viewers move to Netflix", showed a -25% slump in viewership from TAM (Nielsen) data in Ireland. Particularly acute amongst 15-34's and Housekeepers with children between 2013 and 2015.

Comreg also reported that 9% of Irish households have Netflix but a huge 18% of homes in Dublin have ad-free Netflix (which is the real market), spending a whopping 7 hours viewing a week. 

14% of those subscribers now no longer watch live traditional TV.

Therefore the traditional TV universe (the potential for an Irish audience to see Ads) has slumped.

We did of course know that, but it flies in the face of PR being put out by broadcasters claiming TV viewing remains static or growing. It isn't.

Just search 'TV' in the top left Search bar of this blog and you'll see many stories over many years, saying just that.

Today too, 'Ad Age' reports "No end in sight for TV ratings freefall..." again using Nielsen data to show that only 3 US shows year-on-year show ratings gain. NFL Football (live sports) being one of the three.

The average ratings decline, similar to Ireland, is -25%.

Of course, the story here is the switch to online digital video, growth that Streamabout only knows too well. And the Ad dollars will follow albeit at a slower pace. Indeed Facebook now reporting over 8 billion video views a day! In essence, they're broadcasting a Superbowl every day!

But what it does mean is that traditional TV broadcasters are going to have Ad sales difficulties unless they're state supported (RTE for example, receive circa 180 million euro from the Irish Government we believe).

Clients need to take cognisance too that TV is no longer the mainstay medium for brands - online video is. We can build brands, deliver more effective results and do it for less.

The TV game is up.

Teresa Mannion. The remix....

Sorry, we just loved this.

RTE Reporter (teresa mannion whom we know) reports from a watery stormy town. And here's the remix.....by 'Super Ceili'. Well done boys and girls, lovely bit of editing....

What we're listening to. Lou Reed 'Transformer'.

Another 1972 classic largely because of one track, 'Walk on the Wild Side' which is about Reed's time at Andy Warhol's 'Factory' and the people there (like Candy Darling) - Reed died in October 2013 at 71 from liver disease. His name is actually Lewis Reed.

Produced by David Bowie (!) and Mick Ronson (who plays on the record but was in Bowie's band), it was Reed's second Album after The Velvet Underground. 

'Vicious' (from an Andy Warhol thought) and 'Satellite of love' are a worthy listen as indeed 'Perfect Day' which became better known 30 years later.

Very much from a New York Punk scene (David Byrne, Patti Smith), although recorded in London (!) 'Walk on the wild side' quickly became a controversial hit with lyrics like, "giving head" and "the coloured girls go...". Actually the three backing singers were white English women called 'The Thunderthighs'.

But 'Transformer' is the record that made Lou Reed although 'Sally Can't dance' from 1974 is well worth a listen too. Went down well at Streamabout anyway...

There's only one song to play here...

Hulu Mounts a challenge.

Hulu, the digital video service owned by Disney, 21st Century Fox and Comcast, seems to be mounting a challenge to market leaders Netflix and Amazon.

Buying up content, such as 'Empire' and 'Seinfeld', their subscriptions (9m+ subscribers v Netflix 43m) are up +60% yoy and therefore viewing is up +85%. On foot of that, Hulu are looking to expand internationally and move from loss making into profit.

They are of course, late to that international market and face internal competition as Disney talk about their own streaming service (meaning content may no longer be available solely on Hulu), nevermind pressure from Netflix on pricing.

Still, it's a streaming market that's growing as 'cord cutting' becomes more likely from traditional TV as better online options emerge. Meanwhile, traditional TV broadcasters simply sit on their hands.....and keep delivering their own home content in a way that nobody wants.

The trouble with Newspapers.

Online newspapers seem to grow and grow, yet paywalls seem to fail and this is all spelling out a really difficult future for traditional daily newspapers.

This week's 'Economist' outlines the points very clearly (as they always do).

Axel Springer bought BusinessInsider in September for 442 million usd and NBC invested 200m usd in BuzzFeed, in what's perceived as an attempt by traditional publishers to bring more online inventory into traditional media ownership.

Largely because their traditional Ad revenues continue to fall. 

Between 2005 and 2014, traditional print Ad spending in US newspaper dailies has dropped -60%. As it dropped, staff and newsrooms were cut. A bleak future response then, delivering a self-fulfilling prophecy. Ad revenue falls, staff are made redundant, product suffers, ad revenue falls.

Indeed, there may come a day when print advertising per se, drops to Zero and indeed, online Ad prices are falling too, as media options (where to place them) increases widely. Increased supply drives prices down and with Social Media options (Facebook, Twitter) developing a pace, they'll suck in more and more Ad dollars from newspapers.

Getting readers to pay for news has not been a success either - marked recently by the UK 'Sun' dropping their subscriber paywall. Metered or Limited paywalls have worked for some (notably The UK FT) but with so much free content, it's not going to work well. And certainly, will not compensate for the losses in Ad revenue in any real way.

Boosting online Newspaper Ad revenue is one way, but Newspaper online Ad revenue is only up +11% since 2007 - not enough. Not nearly. 

Although while Advertisers do look for more 'native content' (sponsored content) and online video, Newspapers just do not have the skills to produce video to an acceptable standard either - nor, in some ways, should they.

Sponsored content will also have a poor knock-on affect to readers who will realise that what they're reading as "news" is in fact Advertising - and they won't like it. It's breaking brand trust.

The real super threat is Programmatic buying, now becoming standard, where an advertiser buys the reader and not the Title and so that's a real threat to publishers. They should not embrace it but difficult to see how not to either. Turkeys and Christmas.

So Media buying by Title, is coming to an end. Ad Blocking proliferation is another threat too (and notably, video is not ad blocked).

One way suggest The Economist, is for publishers to branch out into areas such as Music, Sport, Health or Religion and they note, The Boston Globe developing a health site called 'Stat' this very month. Gardening and Wine Clubs too, possibly ideal for the Sunday reader (as in The Telegraph typically), may bring in some money.

It signifies a shift away too from 'Breaking News' which of course, given the print deadlines, traditional newspapers can no longer do. They still can of course, give insights into stories that have already broken, or special investigations. But it's limited.

There's no joy in saying it, but the traditional daily Newspaper days are numbered. They're facing an onslaught through online programmatic media buying; through ad blocking; through increased digital media supply bringing lower prices; by paywalls not delivering because of free news; through lower ad revenues; and a possibility of breaking reader trust with Native Stories.

Difficult to see a way out of this.

But it is clear that Newspapermen have to consider that their biggest asset is online and not what's being printed. If they stopped printing the Newspaper and focused on their online property, they'd save a lot. And that's considered heresy.