What a cracking pair of programmes; the Folk America and Desperate Man Blues docs of course. I have the Seasick Steve programmes saved and will likewise save my judgement until I've watched them.

Anyway, Folk America must be about the best music documentary I've ever seen. I don't buy their thesis, that the American folk revival had its roots in the race/country records business. But otherwise truly excellent.

I wondered about the cigar as well. Not just the fact that it might burn Joe's basement down, but the fact that swirling clouds of smoke will get drawn, vortex like, onto those precious shellac grooves.

As it happens, the previous night I'd had a pretty nasty run in with some punter who doesn't like the fact that I've been recording a local jazz band for posterity - with the band's permission of course. I know. What the hell's it got to do with him? So it was nice to remember that there are people like Joe Bussard who've spent their lives saving the music that we all love.