David Belbin

I always enjoy reading the TripAdvisor London Forum because I'm fascinated to see what foreign tourists expect, what they ask about and what surprises them. I thought this post from someone from Texas was a really lovely and cheering comment about riding the tube late at night

Saw him the night after the 97 election. Fantastic celebratory gig. Also saw him the night before the 2015 election. He said he'd be voting Liberal. Which I did, not because of BB but because I loathed the Labour candidate (Chris Leslie, who later defected). Lovely guy who writes a decent love song.

In the 80s BT was my favourite. I liked tougher stuff then than I do now: not sure I dare rewatch it (one day but it’s never on tv). The Man has aged well. DLN hasn’t aged at all, which speaks to its status as his masterpiece. Have a soft spot for Cold Heaven, big Brian Moore fan. But book’s better.

Not sure whether DLN, Bad Timing or TMWFTE is Roeg's masterpiece but the latter is another great novel that was adapted into an equally great but very different movie.

If you’re allowing Don’t Look Now you also have to include Hitchcock’s brilliant The Birds, in which the only thing scriptwriter Evan Hunter took from Du Maurier was her title and some of the atmosphere. Great story.

Last time I went to Glastonbury (i2009) the Eavises had the brilliant idea of scheduling Kasabian directly before Bruce Springsteen. Absolutely no crossover in the audiences so no all day stage hangers. Result: my gang were able to slide in from the side & get a prime spot soon as Kasabian finished.

If you think that's meandering you ain't listening...

Vote Keith, bonus Gavin, easy. Joni against the Isleys, hard.

Can't speak for Cope or Smith but Rowland was trying to ape General Johnson (of The Showmen and Chairman of the Board). Particularly Give Me Just A Little More Time.

The live version on 'guitar, vocal' (also on the expanded cd reissue) is the nuts.

This was the easiest round to vote in. Kind draw for Joni, up against a band best known for covering her. Doubled up on Richard and Linda at their darkest. Doom and gloom from the tomb indeed.

"And Kernan does not ignore the paradox that must strike every reader of Schuyler, that is how someone with such evident behavioural issues wrote the poems that he did."

Martin Stannard reviews the new biography of James Schuyler, pub. @fsgbooks.bsky.social‬:

www.littermagazine.org/2025/07/revi...

It's the last three days to crowdfund our new literary print journal, featuring 40 contributors from around the world. We've nearly hit £3000 - can you pitch in?

www.kickstarter.com/projects/new...

#writingcommunity

Bought The Boxer cd single for the remastered version of OLBINY back in the 90s as it was obviously mixed painstakingly for the definitive hits cd, then not used, but thrown out as a b side. Mind blowing sound.

Here's a heart-warming thing to start the day.

Higher in the US than here. His writing desk is a permanent exhibit in the literary research room at the Harry Ransom Center in Austin.

Split my allegiances with the bonus vote on A (Bruce, Floyd) but had to double up on my nom, Millie Jackson’s finest performance, Loving Arms, on B. Lots of tough groups, inevitably.

I have this, but not seen it since 1976'

John Button (1929-1982) - The Allen Ginsberg Project John Button in John Kingland’s apartment, NYC, January 1, 1953 -photo: Allen Ginsberg, courtesy Stanford University Libraries / Allen Ginsberg Estate John Button (1929-1982), a sadly forgotten but imp...

@davidbelbin.bsky.social - John Button (1929-1982) - Fascinating forgotten figure of the New York School - allenginsberg.org/2025/07/w-j-...

YouTube video by BBC Music Richard Thompson - Siggy’s Song (Radio 2’s 21st Century Folk)

Siggy's Song. You don't have to like Cricket or love Folk Music for this Richard Thompson tribute to bring a smile to your face on a wet morning.

youtu.be/2XfyTEfvtNA

The three discs and Five Leaves Left LP would all have fitted on two CDs. (The CDs precisely replicate the vinyl, covers and all, which I like). You pay your money and take. The discussion in the terrific book of why the Cambridge gig with Robert Kirby is omitted makes sense but is very frustrating.

Doubled up on one of Joni's more difficult but crucial numbers but gave my bonus to Emmylou's eulogy to Gram Parsons (after giving my main to Waylon).

Hmm, not hearing much Beatles there. Herman's Hermits maybe...🤔

POAL was my first but suspect the best entry point is to go a little earlier. The American is a quintessential James plot and a very good read.

Once again for the evening crowd, and here's a link to loads of readings by James Schuyler, including the one mentioned in the review. writing.upenn.edu/pennsound/x/...

Did the Los Shakers episode on my afternoon walk - which I extended in order to finish it. I only meant to listen to the second half of the Status Quo one, which is fascinating, but the Shakers followed on straight after and their Beatles pastiche got me hooked.

Microfinance from CARE International UK CARE International's microfinance lending initiative

One of the most satisfying things I do is invest in low-income countries through @lendwithcare.bsky.social You get to see how many jobs you create. Today I supported a business in the Palestine Territories. Why not make a £15 loan for free with this referral link? lendwithcare.org/referral/2YF...

Litter A  magazine of poetry and reviews. Published in the UK by Leafe Press.  ISSN: 2755-1784.

This is a great read: Martin Stannard on a new biography of James Schuyler in Litter. www.littermagazine.org/2025/07/a-of...

(how much) is that doggie in the window and the original version of I saw Mommie Kissing Santa Claus are the only top ten ones I would have known. (You can google the year: I'm old.)

Rest in Power, the great Tom Lehrer, whose songs my family would sing on long journeys when I was a child. Tom, generous and kind, made all of his music copyright free. Here it is. tomlehrersongs.com/category/mus...