Recently in Classic rock and pop Category

Every week on my radio show, ( BBC WM, Sunday afternoons 2 'til 4, and repeated for 7 days on BBC Iplayer ) I have a quiz - and it's proving to be incredibly popular.

So, are YOU really into your music - do you consider yourself a bit of an expert on rock, pop, soul, blues, rock'n'roll, country, etc ? If so, you are going to love my brand new weekly blog.

Every week, beginning today, there will be a "BEV BEVAN'S POP QUIZ" - 10 very varied questions that might cover any genre of popular music spanning the past 50 years or so - from Fifties pop and rock'n'roll right up to the present day.

MIDGE URE - Pure + Breathe (Edsel)

IN September 1991, Ultravox frontman and Band Aid co-founder Midge Ure released Pure, his third solo album.He waited until 1995 to release his fourth, Breathe.

Both albums featured an eclectic mix of guest musicians, including Robert Fripp from King Crimson, Paddy Moloney of the Cheiftans, Mark Brzezicki of Big Country and Liam O'Maonlai from Hothouse Flowers.

This expanded CD release of both albums boasts 13 bonus tracks too, including Ure's version of Peter Green's Man Of The World.

There's a live version, too, of Tom Rush's No Regrets, originally a solo hit for Midge in 1982.

MAXINE BROWN - Best Of The Wand Years (Ace)

SOME sophisticated New York City soul from the splendid Maxine Brown, who was one of the late, great Dusty Springfield's influences. Dusty, Rod Stewart, Cher and Manfred Mann all recorded versions of Goffin and King's Oh No Not My Baby but Maxine Brown's original remains the best. That recording was one of just three major American hits for her, along with All In My Mind and Funny.

She also sang several duets with Chuck Jackson, and one of these, Something You Got was a song I used to sing with The Move.

ELVIS PRESLEY

I Believe (RCA / Legacy)

THIS is an impressive 4-CD boxset and a fitting tribute to all of Elvis Presley's Grammy award-winning gospel and inspirational recordings.

It features the multi-platinum selling original albums Peace In The Valley, His Hand In Mine, How Great Thou Art and He Touched Me.

Also included are movie tracks such as Down By The Riverside from Frankie And Johnny, Swing Low Sweet Chariot from The Trouble With Girls, Sing You Children from Easy Come Easy Go and Let Us Pray from Change Of Habit.

It is interesting and surprising to note that throughout his distinguished career, Elvis Presley only ever received three Grammy awards and none of those were for his classic hits or groundbreaking rock'n'roll records, but all for his recordings of church music.

JOHN PHILLIPS

Pussycat (SPV Yellow Label)

JOHN Phillips was born in Paris Island, South Carolina in 1935 and is best remembered for creating folk-rock quartet the Mamas and Papas, who went on to enjoy several hit singles and albums during the mid-Sixties.

This shelved solo album, now on CD, was recorded in 1976 along with Rolling Stones Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood, and was produced by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Amongst the 10 original album tracks and the five bonus ones, you'll find Phillips' material from the movie The Man Who Fell To Earth, which starred David Bowie in the lead role.

This album was the last creative effort by John Phillips before his drug arrest in 1980. Sadly, he died in 2001.

Well, no doubt what the music highlight of 2008 was for me - appearing on Jasper Carrot's Xmas Cracker on Sunday December 21st at the NEC in Birmingham.

I have been involved in all of my pal Jasper's Xmas Crackers over the years (all of them at the NEC)

The first one was on December 19th 1993, when my old band ELO Part 2 appeared on the show, along with Cliff Richard, Showaddywaddy, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Roy Wood, Phil Cool, Chris Tarrant, Robert Powell - and Mr Blobby !

In 1997 I introduced The Troggs on to that huge NEC stage. Also included on the bill that year were Bjorn Again, Rick Wakeman, Bonnie Tyler, Bobby Davro, Fairport Convention, Chris De Burgh, Vanessa Mae and return appearances by Cliff Richard and Gerry Marsden.

In 2001 I was a compere once again, introducing The Hollies (including my old friend and former Move colleague Carl Wayne on lead vocals). Also on that star studded bill were Roger Daltrey, Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham ( husband David stayed backstage, babysitting), Ocean Colour Scene, Phil Cool, Roy Wood and, yet again, Gerry and the Pacemakers. I remember seeing David Beckham asking Gerry Marsden for his autograph, and Gerry agreeing to do so, in spite of Beckham "Playing for the wrong team"! - Gerry a real big Liverpool supporter of course.

Then, 5 years ago, it was a real privilege for my band "Bev Bevan's Move" to be backing band for my old friend Paul Carrack (who sang "The living years", "How long" and "Hi heel sneakers") and my old pal Robert Plant ( who sang "Need your love so bad", "Fever" and "Baby please don't go"). Also on the bill that time were Dave Dee, Tony Crane, Mike Pinder, Dave Berry, G4 and Robin Gibb.

This year, as usual, it was like being in the secret service, with the identities of the artistes due to appear on the show, a closely guarded secret. Two days before, when Jasper and I appeared on Ed Doolan's Radio WM Xmas Special at Birmingham Symphony Hall, in front of an audience of 1600 people, I let slip that I was going to be on stage at the "Cracker" I got a loud "Shush !" from Jasper, sitting next to me, and a kick on the shin.

The day of the "Xmas Cracker" began for me around noon when the bass player in my band, Phil Tree arrived at my house and we set off together to drive to the NEC. Only my car registration, pre-listed at security checkpoint 2, allowed us through to the backstage area, where we were issued all area access laminated passes. We were shown to our dressing room, where we hung up our stage clothes.

On rare occasions, for all of us, a day comes along that can change your life forever.

I believe that such a day happened to me in June 1965.

Following the demise of The Diplomats at the end of '64, I found myself, for the second time, with a "proper job", working at the classy and rather snooty Kean and Scotts in Birmingham city centre.

I was fast becoming a nine 'til five man. I'd managed to keep up my hire purchase payments on my Ludwig grey stripe drum kit and found the occasional semi-pro gig, including a stint with ex colleagues Nicky James and Phil Ackrill in Nicky James and the Wild Cherries.

(When I left that band my replacement was Led Zeppelin drummer to be, John Bonham!)

This band was never going to be more than a temporary gig though - more like a paid hobby than an actual career in the music business.

Meanwhile, much to my chagrin, fellow Birmingham beatsters were faring much, much better than me.

The Moody Blues had hit the top of the UK charts with Go Now (although the follow-up I Don't Want To Go On Without You only made No 33).

The Applejacks, meanwhile, had had three top 30 hits during 1964 - Tell Me When, Like Dreamers Do and Three Little Words.