Oh Oobee Doo

In case you haven't heard the news, Teenage Fanclub have a new album out soon. "Endless Arcade" can be pre-ordered here.

"The Sun Won't Shine On Me" is a wee taster:

For other info visit www.teenagefanclub.com

I've been on a Louis Prima kick recently. I have a distant memory of sitting in an Italian restaurant in Renfield St, Glasgow with the late Alex Chilton and a couple of other folk. Whatever they had on the sound system, Alex asked the staff if they would let him stick on his Best Of Louis Prima CD instead. They obliged and Alex grinned like the Cheshire Cat That Got The Cream. I remember Alex talking up "That Old Black Magic" and such at the time. But for some reason a switch just flipped with me a few days ago.

Prima's duet (as King Louie) with Baloo The Bear is probably my favourite sequence in all of the Disney movies.

"Pennies From Heaven is on repeat in my head (Teenage Fanclub should get into some scat singing). 

But here's Louis getting as good as he gives courtesy of Keely Smith. Their live shows must have been a riot...

I have the notion to give this a go...

If you get the chance to see Killing Escobar I would recommend taking it.

I've been re-watching Fawlty Towers. The episode The Germans references Britain joining the Common Market with Basil saying he didn't vote for it. And now look where we are.

Dunblane: Our Story was recently repeated on BBC One. I appreciated the opportunity to work on the music. Director Stephen Bennett made a powerful, moving film - deserving of its Scottish BAFTA.

I'm currently writing country-ish music for a TV documentary and also titles music for a children's TV show.

Stay safe.

Me And Sandi Toksvig

Teenage Fanclub's new album "Endless Arcade" will be on Tim's Twitter Listening Party on Thursday 6th May. Now available on Bandcamp - here's the link. Surely that's as good an excuse as any to share this again:

I'm on to another Le Carré...

A pages long discussion between government departments about funding covert security and intelligence missions should be pretty dull, but Le Carré gives us a splendid passive aggressive comedy of manners. And there are great wee occasional phrases like this - describing George Smiley - "he sat like his own effigy".

Hooray for this from Onjali Rauf

I wrote the music for this TV trailer.

Nigella's quesadillas are doing it for me.

Laura Cantrell covers Freedy Johnston for Charity: hear her here.

Velvet Sheep asked me to recommend a song. But what did I choose?!? Find out here.

I've been writing music for a proposed children's TV show, and also a documentary about certain people on Lewis. More I cannot say.

I've been dipping into this gem of a book:

TV? Darren McGarvey's Class Wars; Murder In A Small Town; The Mandalorian; Futurama; Junior Bake Off...

Marcus Harben passed away. I didn't know him well but I liked him a lot. I hadn't seen him for years but when I think of him, he is smiling. Sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. I'll repost this.