dylandog

Oh, Bond Bug you're on form today!! No idea what the Frankie stands for - maybe nothing, or possibly there is some reason behind it. FGTH was massive in the UK for a number of years and it's great to hear some of these 80's stars in the spot light again. I know most of them have never gone away, but they've not had any real publicity. Interesting the track you didn't like was the Mark/Gary collaboration - that doesn't bode well for the new album, Milly :) Didn't actually know I had an inbox until today !!! The technological age somehow past me by - will check it out.

Glad to see Ben and Mark's involvement. I often wonder how Mark feels about Gary's song writing career. I'm sure he's delighted for him but there must be an element of disappointment that his career hasn't taken off in the same way- even though he's a very good songwriter. Thanks for the list - I may download but I love a physical copy so I'm sure I'll be able to pick one up from somewhere soon. It looked like a really good night - Gary seemed to enjoy himself. I can see your message Milly - will reply - thanks.

Sorry, that really made me chuckle - glass eye :) Yes, as said, he has a lazy eye which is more prominent the older he gets. Body wise he looks in fantastic shape, but facially I think he looks better when he's heavier. Whilst we're on the subject of his appearance - credit to his hairdresser. Whoever it is , they're not paid enough. In the last couple of days his hair looks twice as thick as it normally does. Tried to get the album today but it wasn't in the shop. I could buy off Amazon but I try and avoid that company if I can. Looking forward to hearing the songs in their entirety. I understand that Eliot has writing credits for a couple of the songs. Gary seems to be collaborating a lot with him at the moment. Both Eliot and Tim Firth seem to be genuinely lovely and talented men - Gary has a good support system around him.

The album has been received very well by the critics. I've heard snippets from it and whilst I don't like all of the songs there's more than enough quality overall. It's worth buying for the song Ascension alone, so I'll pick up a copy sometime soon. There are some videos out there and one in particular is of Holly Johnson singing Ascension - a fantastic performance, although I can hear people chatting which does distract from it. I for one cannot understand why anyone goes to a concert and doesn't listen to the performer !! I think you've mentioned this a number of times Milly, but Gary does seem to be producing fantastic work outside of TT at the moment.

Sorry for the multiple posts - don't know what happened there? Great news about The Flood , it's a quality song. I think Gary is beginning to garner some interest from the US due to FN and that's also good publicity for the band. In my view it's too late for them to make major inroads in America but some recognition is better than none. Milly, I hope you're right and those of us who don't have access to more specialist channels get the chance to view it. It's the kind of programme which really interests me, especially as it will focus on Gary's involvement in different areas of the music business.

Is 'Inside the Music' actually on terrestrial TV or is it on a specialist service such as Apple? If it's not on the main TV channels I can't imagine much interest in the album, although any increase in sales is better than nothing. If the programme is on BBC or ITV then Gary and TT fans had better 'battle down the hatches' because GB took rather a lot of flak for his NYE show some years ago. Since the tax issue many people seem to take great exception to him receiving any type of publicity and the internet trolls will certainly be out in force once again. I'm actually really looking forward to it. It should provide an interesting insight into the workings of the music industry and specifically the way in which Gary functions from a songwriting and production perspective.

Oh, iamstrong - so, so happy that you had a fantastic time :) I love hearing from fans who normally have little chance to see them live. The production was obviously scaled down, but they really don't need it , do they? Great songs, great performers and an enthusiastic crowd is all that's required!! I hope this gives TT the confidence to go further afield. It doesn't matter that they can't sell out stadiums. Small scale venues can be just as wonderful, if not better than the larger productions. I've a feeling they may consider a small South American concert in the near future. I'd also like them to test the water in Eastern Europe - their fan base may be small in that part of the world but they're very loyal. By the way what were your favourite songs from the set list?

Oh, I love Pray and forgot to add it to my list. I'd like to hear the arrangement they had for MLS back in the 90's. I wasn't a fan back then but I recall seeing a clip from one of their concerts. Gary and Howard were both playing key boards and the three others were sitting behind them. I really liked that arrangement of the song and I'd love to hear them sing it that way again. Thanks for the link to the Singapore concert, I'll check it out later today. They've been received so well in both places and looked really surprised and delighted about it. Given it's in the range of 20 years since their last tour, it's lovely that fans in that part of the world have had an opportunity to see them - have to say it looked mighty hot. Mark looked like he was going to melt :)

There's probably something in the laziness angle but I also think they aren't as confident about their material as they should be. There's a possibility they underestimate their audience and assume they want to hear well known songs and see the big productions which goes alongside songs such a RMF. All of these factors might play a part, but there's still room for new material and a more reflective set list. They need to be careful their shows don't become stale and simply a platform for their greatest hits. Audiences expect the hits but they also like the unexpected; and that goes for unusual arrangements of classics such as BFG.

There are certain songs I understand are close to being indispensable. I would say these include: RTW, Patience, Shine, RMF (not keen on at all), GD, BFG, The Flood, HUAL, TD and NF. I would contend that songs such as Said It All and The Garden follow close behind. It would also be nice to hear songs such as MLS, Nobody Else and LAHAM. I dislike Babe intensely and I'd be more than happy not to hear that song live ever again, but I can see why it's included because it was a No 1 single. Their set list could go to around 25 songs so there would still be room to include the songs I've mentioned before such as AFD, HBTT, CMH and WYBTFM. Songs such as Eight Letters and a number of B Sides could be listed and they wouldn't distract from the quality of the concert in any shape or form. In fact I'd contend that some of the B sides are stronger than some of the better known songs. The number of songs they haven't sung live is quite incredible!!!

I know Milly -it's so, so frustrating. I would love to hear songs like Butterfly, We All Fall Down, Holding Back the Tears, Carry Me Home, WYBTFM and countless others. I'm beginning to fear that it will be the same old set list for Hyde Park. For the life of me I don't understand their reluctance to experiment. Even the introduction of 3 or 4 new songs would make a difference!!!!

So Dying Inside would have been eligible is someone had nominated it - what a strange process. I thought it would be a committee type system. The record company could have nominated it - is that right? Anyhow, I get the impression TT aren't high on Polydor or Universal priorities any longer. Imagine , there's more chance of Gary getting a theatre award for his musical scores than TT for their pop output. Who would have thought that !!!

Oh, Milly, for me BW is the benchmark for all their albums from now on in. Very few fillers, lovely melodies and harmonies and some stand out singles. It is very middle of the road but that doesn't seem to have damaged Adele. The Brits found it virtually impossible to ignore TT when Patience and Shine came out because the quality of the work was so good. If I remember they also received the award for Best Live Act for the BW tour - but I stand corrected if I'm mistaken on this. . In my opinion the only chance TT now have of receiving Brits is to produce work that is so good they can't ignore them, as it's clear the committee aren't positive about TT in any shape or form. It's interesting that The Ivor awards always favourable to TT in the past now seem to ignore them. I don't know the eligibility for The Ivors but Gary should have received some kind of recognition for Dying Inside. In my view it's such an honest and heart felt piece of writing but it didn't garner any support from within the music industry.

The difference between 25 and lll are the sales figures. World wide figures aside, in the UK lll achieved decent sales whilst 25 sales were excellent. Money talks in the music industry and TT aren't selling enough to receive nominations and don't fit the 'cool' or 'critically acclaimed' criteria. I do think that if the re-leased version had sold better there was an outside chance of an album nomination. Hey Boy was a terrible, terrible choice to showcase the album. That aside, can you imagine the public outcry if Adele hadn't received any nominations; whereas TT aren't in the forefront of the public's mind any longer. lll was received with a wimper as opposed to a bang, with very little hype or interest. Adele's album was eagerly awaited and hyped to the seventh degree - it's as simply as that. Marketing and promotion is so, so important in today's market, although I get the feeling Adele could have brought out an album of nursery rhymes and she would have been perceived as the second coming. :) The Brits make it up as they go along simply to fit their own ends. TT have never been flavour of the month and that's certainly not going to change now their star is on the wane.

They were indeed worthy winners with Patience. I remember watching the show. Their segment was simple but striking with the lighting back ground. TT's strongest period was around 2006 - 2009. They seemed invincible around that time. I also remember when they won with Shine; totally unexpected as they were up against Leona Lewis with BL which I think was the highest selling single of that year? Strange to think that two of their strongest singles in recent times: RTW and TF never received nominations due to the fact that they only reached No. 2 in the charts I believe. This despite the fact that in terms of sales and air play RTW was up there at the top. It's possible Jeff Lynne could receive a nod for LTA award next year and quite possible that TT never receive that accolade. Not to put too negative a spin on things but it's also feasible that TT wont win another Brit. New artists are taking precedence and the music industry is mindful of young listeners. Unless TT can recapture their winning formula the Brits will quite happily over look them in favour of far less talented artists in my view.

I don't have a problem with TT not being nominated this time around as I think their work wasn't strong enough and there were far worthier candidates. Perhaps These Days could have been given a nod but I'm not sure if singles are based on sales and air play and they may have missed out based on that criteria. The Brits have always been lukewarm when it comes to TT, for reasons I can't fathom and I maintain they wouldn't have won Best Group in 2011 if it wasn't for Rob - who I think has something in the region of 17 Brits!!! It's interesting that in recent times they've introduced a Brit for best video - ID must thank their lucky stars, but dropped best live act which TT would have been strong favourites to win. I would be surprised if TT are given Life Time Achievement Award next year but it would be lovely if they were. As a British pop band they've produced some fantastic music and their shows are second to none - it would be great if this was recognized by the Brits committee. I didn't watch the show this year although I caught the lengthy tribute to Bowie on line ( which I though struck a nice tone )and some of Adele who I wasn't overly impressed with.

I'd hazard a guess that by residency he means a few weeks or months at most. I really don't believe they'd take up a long term residency because a) their children are still of school age 2) they have other family commitments in the UK and Germany 3) they wont want to ignore their main fan base and 4) these shows are incredibly hard work and time consuming. When touring they normally do two nights on and one night off. A nightly commitment, even without all the travelling, will be very arduous and physically demanding. If the short term residency is successful then I can imagine they might go back for short periods on an annual basis but as for upping sticks wholesale for LV - I find that difficult to believe. If the show is a fantastic success and the financial package is immense - maybe they'd review the situation, but I doubt it. It sounds like it will be a huge extravaganza - a typical, over the top production and that will take big bucks; so they'll be expected to bring in the crowds to off set the cost of the show. Interesting times ahead !

Have to say I'm more than a little concerned. They normally take around two years to write and produce a new album, so any release at the latter end of this year could be considered rushed. I would prefer a longer period to get the sound right. This album is the most crucial one since their return. Having listened to BW quite a lot over the past few days alongside ELO - which will please Kath :) there are very few fillers, it's a quality album and I've just realized how many songs off the album made up the set list for the BW tour. They were confident about BW in a way I don't think they were with lll - hence fewer songs off that album made the latest tour set list. I pray they return to the sound of BW/Circus - if they don't I predict a greater decline in their sales. :(

Concur with everyone's reasoning. Follow up singles have failed to make an impact due to: Poor quality, chaotic marketing and promotion, lack of B sides and insufficient air play.

Not everyone will like Ascension, but I don't think it's generic. It has an interesting intro, wonderful use of orchestration which isn't common in modern day pop music and an unusual climax to the song. I think it's fab and I wish Gary had kept the song for TT. Adaptations would have been required to suit the band but it would sound amazing live. Not often I agree with Elisabeth but at this stage Rob doesn't need TT. I think he did in 2010 but not now. As for Jay he's a very wealthy man and will never need to work again. If he decides to return ( which I think is very , very unlikely) it wont be for financial reasons because I don't think Jay has that kind of mind set, but because he genuinely misses performing.

I also love Ascension. It has quite an epic and really interesting sound. It's quite brilliant in fact and is very reminiscent of the song Power of Love an earlier song by Holly Johnson( showing my age here). Gary has captured the essence of Holly's sound and vocal ability exceptionally well. I have to agree Gary's best work has not been for TT - but for his other projects. If Ascension reflects the quality of the other songs off the forthcoming album then we're in for a treat. I would go as far as to say that if Ascension had been released by someone like Adele it would have been lauded and been a world wide hit. As things stand I doubt it will dent the charts as Radio 1 and the commercial stations wont give it air time. I'd love to know what's happening in terms of TT's songwriting approach - because whilst I enjoy III it doesn't reach the quality of Gary's current solo output. He seems to thrive off a brief which gives direction to his writing and I can imagine Ascension at the end of the film's credits as the lyrics fit fantastically into the film's theme. I would go as far as to say that Gary's transition into musical theatre and film is proving to be very successful and bodes well for his future in these areas.

Off topic, but I don't know how to start a new one so I'll hijack this one! Has anyone heard the track from Holly Johnson - Ascension? It's from the album Gary's produced/wrote to tie in with the new Eddie the Eagle film. In parts it has an epic Bond/Adele like sound. I love the string sections. I wouldn't say it has a TT sound and I'd be interested to find out what everyone thinks.

It's almost as though we've reverted back to 2010. Does anyone else recall the debates around Rob's inclusion back then? Who would have thought we'd been in the same position more that five years later. A mistake back then and I believe a mistake again. A charity one off concert as a celebration of their 25 anniversary would be more appropriate in my view. The issues around the identity of the group will surface yet again. The public may struggle to process the fact that the band ( post 2005) has been a 4, then a 5, then a 3 , then a 4 and then a 3 again! My brain is confused just thinking about it :) It really is difficult to market a band that has a revolving door of members. I don't think Rob's inclusion will have a positive impact. Financially yes, as Progress brought in shed loads of cash for the band, but that doesn't mean it was a good move as a long term strategy. A reunited TT will have no impact on Rob's status and position, but I'd hazard a guess it will on TT. My other issue is the production element. I just don't think it'll work with Rob singing TT songs post 2005 other than one's from Progress. The best option in my view would be to stick to songs from the pre 2005 era which unfortunately means fans would miss out on gems such as Patience and RTW. The worse case scenario would be to include TT4 and 3 songs which Rob sings and solo Rob songs which include the whole band.

Your right Laura, Gary is a pragmatist and he'll have weighed up all the pros and cons. Maybe I'm wrong about the Rob situation in which case I apologise. However, if the stories are in fact true and the reunion is delayed until 2018 then I think that's a shame and Rob should have put his solo career aside and put TT first for once. The 25 year anniversary is actually this year and if they delay it any longer it will be their 30 year anniversary :) One can hypothesis as to whether Rob would have become a big star if he hadn't been part of TT, but it certainly gave him the springboard he needed and for once it would have been nice for him to fully commit to the project and not expect the other three to change their plans. I've no doubt that Gary is the driving force behind the reunion and Howard and Mark will go along with whatever's been decided. It does appear that Jay will not be involved and for me that's such a shame. I've been listening to the BW album in the car today and Jay has a lovely voice and for me the best voice after Gary, which may be somewhat controversial. Jay was very much under used in the band from a vocal perspective and more should have been done to encourage his confidence in this area.

Elisabeth, as selfish as it may sound, I would prefer them to play smaller crowds without Robbie. There I've said it. I prefer TT4 and TT3 and if that means smaller crowds then so be it!! However, I'm under no illusions they would prefer a massive tour and I'm sure the band recognize that in relation to Europe/WW that means having Rob on board. I'm not sure what's been happening today as I've been at work but there's some confusion around a tour in 2018 as opposed to 2017. Whether that's true or not I don't know, but the talk is that Rob's not available in 2017. Without jumping the gun, if that's the case, I think it's appalling. If Rob is signing up then he should have the decency to fall in with the plans of the other 3 and not expect them to delay the anniversary tour because he has other things lined up. Either he's committed or he's not. I don't want to think negatively but I hope if Rob does return he has the decency to take a step back and I hope his return isn't perceived as the prodigal son's return to the fold. It's looking like I'll be bailing out of the anniversary tour and I may go for the cheese feast that is Vegas instead :)