Guardian Music — From riding a donkey to the best-dressed chicken in town, here are your favourite creature comfortsAnimals are like people. We look at the creatures around us and recognise ourselves. This being the case, as many RR regulars noted, most songs ostensi... more info

ContactMusic — Randy Wood, the founder of Dot Records, has died at 94. Wood passed away at his home in California on Saturday (09Apr11). His company, Dot Records, found success in the 1950s recording artists such as Louis Armstrong, Pat Boone, Mickey Gilley,.... more info

Guardian Music — My uncle, Frank Robinson, who has died aged 85, was a founder member of the Merseysippi Jazz Band, the world's longest-established two-trumpet jazz band. They were originally called the Wallasey Rhythm Kings when formed in 1948, and it was Frank, th... more info

ContactMusic — Adele's fans take photos of her dog's poo to sell on the internet.The 22-year-old musician has caught "eBay weirdos" following her around when she's walking her pooch Louis Armstrong in a bid to get their hands on some unusual memorabilia so they can... more info

Totally Fuzzy — Ishkabibliophile said... A Marianne Faithfull and Sally Timms mixtape Tennessee Waltz Sally Timms They Never Will Leave You Marianne Faithfull Oblivion Mekons Ghosts of American Astronauts Mekons The Crane Wife 3 Marianne Faithfull Glue Sally Timms (... more info

Guardian Music — US photographer and film-maker who chronicled the heyday of folk and jazzGeorge Pickow, who has died aged 88, was a photographer and film-maker whose images were used on many album covers in the US – jazz, folk and pop – and who made a significa... more info

The Telegraph — Herman Leonard's smoky, moody images of jazz greats such as Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong capture a lost era, says Mick Brown. more info

Guardian Music — Treme, the new show from the creator of The Wire, is a bluesy, boozy tribute to the most gutsy district of New Orleans. Catherine Shoard tours its iconic spotsFew places are so striking they inspire a TV show. Many series are shot on location; some e... more info

Guardian Music — We all have our own favourite seasonal songs. Mine work for a bleak midwinter – and for a profound, optimistic oneI've made it a rule that I can only start playing my favourite Christmas songs after 5 December, even if the supermarket ads have alre... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — It wouldn’t be a Kanye West record without at least a dash of ego, and sure enough, midway through the rapper’s holiday single “Christmas in Harlem,” in which West paints an atmospheric portrait of the holiday season in New York,... more info