It was always about the music for these guys: Steve Cropper has just passed away aged 84 (October 21, 1941 – December 3, 2025). He made his name adding the tightest, toughest (mostly) rhythm guitar to Booker T and the MGs, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd & Arthur Conley classics, co-writing Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay and recording with many of the artists who passed through the legendary Stax Studio.

And at the even grander age of 94 we lost the great Eddie “Tan Tan” Thornton (pictured) (19/10/31 – 10/12/25). Besides the 6 tracks i played that featured the great man (ranging from Rico Rodriguez to The Beatles) he also played with the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra; The Good The Bad and The Queen; Aswad; The Stones (She’s A Rainbow); Small Faces; Kitty, Daisy & Lewis and more. Up until quite recently he could be found rocking out at the regular Thursday night sessions at Brixton’s Effra Hall Tavern with his musical bredren. Tan Tan was a lovely man, and a music man to his core.

Another chance to hear my interview with Greg Sanders/Lophae (lo-fi), a few joyful Yuletide tunes as well as some Christmas melancholy from Joni for anyone not having a picture book Christmas with all the trimmings.