December 2, 2024

 

 

We can smile at strangers,

It really is ok

to acknowledge the existence

of someone who walks our way.

 

We can share our humour

with someone we’ve never met.

Face to face is so much better,

and something we won’t regret.

 

We can share a moment,

even if it’s only with our eyes.

Smiling eyes are worth a chapter,

in the book of sweet surprise.

 

We can bond with people,

from the very first glance.

So go on, I double dare you,

give your beaming smile a chance.

 

 

September 19, 2024

 

 

I awoke and wrote in darkness,

the view much clearer than the day.

I’d tossed and turned with mind on fire,

so much not said, I had to say.

 

I wrote and awoke the madness

as moonbeams spurred me on.

I’d loved and yearned with hearts desire,

so much not done, where had time gone?

 

I slept and dreamed how different

today could well have been.

I ran and skipped in highest spirit,

so much imagined, in extreme.

 

I dreamed and slept in raptures.

Tomorrow a new dawn to explore.

I gently rode each wave that came.

Oh passion stay, forever more. 

 

 

 

August 13, 2024

 

 

Purple haze and yellow fever

Blue ridge mountains, golden retriever.

 

Lilac, lavender, white snowdrops

Orange cordial, Coco pops.

 

Red sails in sunsets and thunderclaps.

Lightning striking, men without caps.

 

Black ink by Quink and shocking pink.

Potato peelings blocking the sink.

 

Mauve and scarlet, yellow and green,

outshone by peach and tangerine.

 

Slushy snow and unfilled dreams.

Dad liked all flavours of ice cream.

 

Mushroom, beige and racing green.

Pale blue e-types now seldom seen.

 

Black and grey and Teal – the duck.

Bright red leather, not good luck.

 

Nutty brown and almond paste,

many a pastry eaten in haste.

 

Lemon jelly, cherry cake.

Waist expanding, big mistake.

 

Lime and soda and evergreen.

Hot pepper sauce, setting the scene.

 

Fawn at dawn and midnight blue.

In a hurry, join the queue.

 

 

 

 

 

I rarely cry, but today

a lone tear rolled down my cheek.

I was too choked to speak.

 

I rarely sigh, but today

a sense of weariness came passing by.

Oh me, oh my!

 

I rarely retreat, but today

some privacy I had to seek.

I momentarily felt weak.

 

I rarely transgress, but today

with my head on the block,

I had to take stock.

 

I rarely give in, but today

my excuses were running thin,

so I let him win.

 

I rarely shout, but today

my patience just simply ran out.

What’s that all about?

 

I rarely need help, but today

my world turned upside down,

so I hit the town.

 

I rarely regret, but today 

stupidity raised it’s head,

and from the scene I fled.

 

I rarely back track, but today

my actions were lacking attack.

I thought I would crack.

 

I rarely pray, but today

I did, as I’d lost my way.

No more to say.

 

 

 

May 22, 2024

 

 

In 60, this brit born Australian entered the charts.

when Lucky Devil peaked at No.22.

This being the first of 15 hits on Columbia,

ensuring Frank Ifield’s fan base grew.

 

Ending 60, Gotta Get A Date

reached to No.49.

And in 62, staying for 28 weeks in the charts,

I Remember You, spent 7 weeks on the No.1 line.

 

Also in 62, Lovesick Blues was a 5 week No.1

In 63, The Wayward Wind made a 3 week No.1 too.

Then, Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine, rose to No.4.

And for 2 weeks at No.1 was Confessin’ (That I Love You).

 

Ending 63, came Mule Train, reaching No.22.

And In 64, peaking at No.8 was Don’t Blame Me.

Next in 64, rising to No.25, was

Angry As The Big Oak Tree.

 

Still in 64, I Should Care, rose to No.33.

And Summer Is Over, settled at No.25.

In 65, Paradise, found No.26, 

And in 66, No One Will Ever Know, also a No.25.

 

Finally in 66, Call Her Your Sweetheart, made No.24,

And in 91, The Yodelling Song, on EMI, 

featuring The Back Room Boys, was a Top 40.

You were part of our DNA, Goodbye Frank Ifield, Goodbye.

 

Thank you for the music

R I P   Frank Ifield   1937 – 2024

written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

usual copyright rules apply.

 

 

May 16, 2024

 

 

When the butterflies came

I remembered your name.

When the butterflies came

We ran up the lane.

When the butterflies came

Life was so insane.

When the butterflies came.

When the butterflies came.

 

When the butterflies went

I remembered your scent.

When the butterflies went

I knew what life meant.

When the butterflies went

Love was all but spent.

When the butterflies went.

When the butterflies went.

 

by Harriet Blackbury.

 

 

May 7, 2024

 

 

In 72, ELO peaked at No.9 with 10538 Overture –

it being the first of three hits on Harvest.

In 73, Roll Over Beethoven made No.6,

and Showdown followed, rising to a No.12 best.

 

In 74, Ma-Ma-Ma- Belle, on Warner Brothers made No.22.

Then came 23 consecutive hits on Jet from 76 – 83.

The first being Evil Woman, making the Top 10,

and next, Strange Magic, a No.38 was to be.

 

Ending 76, Livin’ Thing, rose to the Top 4.

And opening 77, Rockaria! made the No.9 zone.

Also in 77, Telephone Line, peaked at No.8.

And ending 77, at No.18, was Turn To Stone.

 

In 78, Mr Blue Sky & Wild West Hero, both made No.6,

as did Sweet Talkin’ Woman, and ELO EP made No.34.

In 79, Shine A Little Love, became another No.6,

and Diary Of Horace Wimp made a No.8  score.

 

Still in 79, Don’t Bring Me Down, made the Top 3.

And Confusion/Last Train To London, a No.8 won.

In 80, I’m Alive, reached the Top 20,

And Xanadu was a 2 week No.1, with Olivia Newton-John

 

Also in 80, All Over The World, rose to No.11.

And ending 80, rising to No.21, was Don’t Walk Away!

In 81, Hold On Tight, made the Top 4,

and Twilight enjoyed a Top 30 stay.

 

In 82, Ticket To The Moon/Here Is The News – a No.24.

And in 83, at No.13, was Rock ‘N’ Roll Is King.

Also in 83, at No.48, came Sweet Messages.

And Calling America, on Epic, made a No.28 ring.

 

In 91, on Telstar, at No.60, came Honest Men,

for this multi-talented UK 70’s/80’s band.

Long may your work be remembered

and forever, played throughout the land.

 

Thank you for the music

R.I.P

Richard Tandy  1948 – 2024

 

  written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

May 2, 2024

 

 

With 14 consecutive hits on London label,

in 58, Rebel Rouser, at No.19, came into view.

And in 59, five more hits followed,

the first being Cannonball, settling at No.22.

 

‘Peter Gunn Theme’ came next, reaching No.6,

and ‘Yep’ reached No.17.

‘Forty Miles Of Bad Road’ peaked at No.11,

And ending 59, ‘Some Kinda Earthquake’, at No.12 seen.

 

In 60, came four more chart entries,

the first, also at No.12, was ‘Bonnie Came Back’,

followed by ‘Shazam!’, making the Top 4,

with ‘Because They’re Young’, a No.2 track.

 

Ending 60, at No.13, came Kommotion.

And in 61, the first of five hits was, ‘Pepe, at No.2.

Followed by ‘Theme From ‘Dixie’, making No.7,

and next , at No.17, ‘Ring Of Fire’, came into view.

 

Drivin’ Home, followed, and reached the Top 30.

And ‘Caravan’, rose to No.42, on Parlophone.

In 62, ‘Deep In The Heart Of Texas’, made No.19, on RCA.

And Ballad Of Paladin, also on RCA, hit the Top 10 zone.

 

Ending 62, Duane Eddy & The Rebelettes

took ‘Dance With The Guitar Man, on a Top 4 jive.

And in 63, on RCA, they made No.27 with, Boss Guitar.

Also in 63, ‘Lonely Boy Lonely Guitar, rose to No.35.

 

Their last hit of 63, ‘Your Baby’s Gone Surfin’,

also  on RCA, sailed up to the No.49 line.

And in 75, Play Me Like You Play My Guitar’,

on GTO, peaked at No.49.

 

In 86, Art Of Noise, featuring Duane Eddy,

on China, made ‘Peter Gunn’ a Top No.8 song.

Duane Eddy, you were an inspiration to so many,

and an original Rock Legend, loved all your life long.

 

Thank You for the life changing music.

 

R.I.P.

Duane Eddy     1938 – 2024

 

by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

 

April 27, 2024

 

 

In 64, ‘Go Now’ (their first of four hits on Decca) 

soared up to No.1 in the charts.

This song quickly becoming a classic,

with The Moody Blues winning hearts.

 

In 65, peaking at No.33, followed,

‘I Don’t Want To Go With You’.

And ‘From The Bottom Of My Heart’

came next, reaching No.22. 

 

Ending 65, ‘Everyday’ climbed to No.44,

and in 67, ‘Nights In White Satin’, on Deram, made No.19.

In 68, two more hits came on Deram –

the first being ‘Voices In The Sky’, at No.27 seen.

 

And ending 68, ‘Ride My See-Saw’

settled at No.42.

And in 70 ‘Question’, this time on Threshold

reached the Top 2.

 

In 72, two more hits came, when ‘Isn’t Life Strange’,

also on Threshold, reached the No.13 line.

And ‘Nights In White Satin, on Deram,

returned, climbing to No.9.

 

in 73, ‘I’m Just A Singer In A Rock ‘N’ Roll Band’,

on Threshold, rose to No.36.

And in 79, ‘Nights In White Satin’, on Deram,

re-entered the charts for a third time, with a No.14 fix.

 

In 83, Blue World’, on Threshold,

gained a No.35 score.

And in 88, ‘I know You’re Out There Somewhere’,

settled at No.52, on Polydor.

 

Thank You for the fantastic music.

R.I.P  

Mike Pinder         1941 – 2024

Graham Edge       1941 – 2021

Ray Thomas         1941 – 2018

Clint Warwick      1940 – 2004

 

written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

 

April 15, 2024

 

 

Whilst in a charity shop

I noticed a wicker chair all alone.

So I quickly took a photo for my friend,

and sent it off to her by phone.

 

She immediately said ‘Get it,

before you leave there,

and I’ll collect it from you,

as soon as possible, I swear’.

 

So the said chair was bought

and bundled onto sir,

in the passenger seat of the car,

as no other space to spare.

 

I then put it in the lounge,

Oh, how it added flair,

with two suitable cushions,

thrown on it, for a dare.

 

As the evening grew longer

the chair kept catching my eye.

I was falling for it – big time.

What a silly fool am I!

 

In the days that followed

plans to deliver it were set,

and then they were brought forward,

very much to my regret.

 

The chair that wasn’t mine,

would soon be leaving here.

A pull on the heartstrings,

that almost brought a tear.

 

On the day of departure

we loaded the chair into my friend’s car.

‘I’ll come and sit on you real soon’,

I whispered to the chair – Oh, how bizarre!

 

That in the short time I had known the chair,

such feelings had grown strong.

‘Tara, farewell, my dearest one,

I hope to see you before long’.

 

Well, a strange thing then happened,

as the chair en-route to it’s new abode,

saw my friend suddenly do a detour

along by the charity shop road.

 

And just as she arrived on their car park,

she spotted two new white wicker chairs

being unloaded from a van,

and decided then, that they were hers!

 

So she dashed into the shop,

and did the deal in a trice,

before anyone else could buy them,

saying quickly ‘name your price’.

 

But what happened next was unbelievable,

for two more chairs in her car, there wasn’t room!

So the original one, that had won my heart,

was returned to the charity shop in gloom.

 

My friend then tried to ring me,

to fill me in on what she’d done.

But her call went straight to message

which I missed. Oh what a carry on!

 

When eventually I picked up the message,

an hour later, my heart flooded with joy.

And I dashed back to the charity shop,

with hubby in tow – Oh’, ship ahoy.

 

I ran into the shop and 

discovered my chair back on display,

next to a line of others,

and scooped it up saying, hurray.

 

Sometimes in life weird things happen,

if they are meant to be.

No better thrill for me and my friend,

thanks to serendipity.

 

by Harriet Blackbury

July 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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