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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 18, 2024

 

 

 

 

In May 74,  Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel 

had a Top 5, on EMI with ‘Judy Teen’.

Also on EMI, ‘Mr Soft’,

at No.8,  enjoyed the Top 10 scene.

 

In 75, Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)

also on EMI, gave them a two week, No.1 hit.

And Mr Raffles (Man It Was Mean)

also in 75, reached No.13.

 

In 76, on EMI, peaking at No.10,

was ‘Here Comes The Sun’.

And also in 76, ‘Love’s A Prima Donna’

climbed to No.41.

 

In 79, ‘Freedom’s Prisoner’

on EMI, made a No.58 show.

And in 83, Ballerina (Prima Donna)

rose to No.51 on Stiletto.

 

In 86, The Phantom Of The Opera

with Sarah Brightman, made No.7 on Polydor.

And in 92, Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)

on EMI, made a No.46 score.

 

In 95, ‘Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)

on EMI, at No.33, was again to arrive.

And in 05, It re-entered the charts

on Gott Discs, peaking at No.55.

 

 

Every writer only needs one song

to set them apart from the rest.

and Make Me Smile (Come up and see me)

put you up there with the best of the best.

 

Thank you for the music

 

R I P   1951 – 2024

 

 

May 26, 2023

 

 

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls

and Liquorice  Sticks.

Five Boys Chocolate

and Jelly Babies Mix.

 

Mivvi’s and Jubbly’s

and Hollands Penny Arrow Bars.

Sherbet Lemons and Pear Drops,

bottled in screw top jars.

 

Washing up liquid –

the best was Fairy.

A bus ride to Heywood

to visit Auntie Mary.

 

Tinned fruit by Del-Monte

with Carnation milk – Wow!

Cadbury’s Eggs at Easter

and still a favourite now.

 

Omo and Rinso

and Sunlight soap.

Persil and Acdo,

and soap on a rope.

 

Weston’s Wagon Wheels

and Jammy Dodgers.

Halls Mentho-Lyptus mints

and policemen for lodgers!

 

Chivers Marmalade

and Hartley’s Jam.

Though Robertsons the best,

used to say my Mam.

 

Knights Castille soap,

that removed dirt with ease.

Along with Lux and Camay,

and Palmolive and Breeze.

 

Cadbury’s Bourneville

and Chocolate fingers.

anf Fishermans Friend’s,

with a taste that lingers.

 

Scourers like Brillo,

Ajax and Vim.

Driving to Whitley Bay

to visit Uncle Jim.

 

Polo Mints and Love Hearts,

and assorted Dolly Mixtures.

Wrigleys Chewing Gum and Midget Gems,

also more firm fixtures.

 

Fry’s Chocolate Cream Bars,

and Cadbury’s Selection Boxes.

And soothing Glacier Mints,

made by Fox’s.

 

Ambrosia Rice Pudding

and alphabet Spaghetti.

Going to Southport

to visit Auntie Hettie.

 

Colemans Mustard,

and Cross & Blackwell Soup.

Original Smith’s Crisps,

long before Hula Hoops.

 

And Heinz Baked Beans –

still the outright winner.

When a tasty snack needed,

for a light dinner.

 

 

May 25, 2023

 

 

With 22 of her solo UK hits on Capitol,

in 83, ‘Let’s Stay Together’, made No.6 in the charts.

And in 84, four more hits followed,

the first being ‘Help’, a Top 40, winning hearts.

 

Next came ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’,

a US No.1 & UK Top 3.

And then, reaching No.45,

arrived ‘Better Be Good To Me’.

 

Ending 84, ‘Private Dancer’, rose to No.26,

with four more hits next in 85.

When ‘I Can’t Stand The Rain’ made No.57, and

‘We Don’t Need Another Hero(Thunderdome)’at No.3 arrived

 

‘One Of The Living’ followed

rising to the No.55 line.

And on A&M with Bryan Adams

‘It’s Only Love’ made No.29.

 

Back on Capitol, in 86, came two more hits,

with ‘Typical Male’, at No.33, and ‘Two People’, at No.43.

And in 87, reaching the Top 30,

next came  ‘What You Get Is What You See’.

 

Also in 87, at No.43, was

‘Break Every Rule’, next in this mix.

And on Duck, with Eric Clapton,

‘Tearing Us Apart’, made No.56.

 

In 88, back on Capitol, rising to No.71,

came ‘Addicted To Love (Live)’.

And in September 89,

‘The Best’ reached the Top 5.

 

Ending 89, ‘I Don’t Wanna Lose You’, made No.8,

And in 90, ‘Steamy Windows’, rose to No.13.

And ‘Look Me In The Heart’, was at No.31,

with ‘Be Tender With Me Baby’, at No.28 seen.

 

Ending 90, with Rod Stewart, on Warner Brothers.

‘It Takes Two’, a Top 5, was to be.

And in 91, back On Capitol,

‘Nutbush City Limits’ climbed to No.23.

 

Also in 91, ‘Way Of The World’, made No.13.

And in 92, ‘Love Thing’ rose to No.29.

Also in 92, ‘I Want You Near Me’, was at No.22.

And in 93,on Parlophone ‘I Wanna Fight’ hit the No.7 line.

 

Eleven more hits followed on Parlophone,

and still in 93, reaching No.12 was ‘Disco Inferno’.

And also ‘Why Must We Wait Until Tonight’ rose to No.16.

And then in 95, came ‘Golden Eye’, with a Top 10 show.

 

In 96, ‘Whatever You Want’, rose to No.23.

And ‘On Silent Wings’, made No.13 heaven.

Also , ‘Missing You’, climbed to No.12,

and ‘Something Beautiful Remains’, made No.27.

 

Ending 96, ‘In Your Wildest Dreams’

reached No.32, featuring Barry White.

And in 99, ‘When The Heartache Is Over’

soared to the Top 10 height.

 

In 2000, ‘Whatever You Need’ climbed to No.27,

And in 2004, ‘Open Arms’, rose to No.25.

Anna Mae Bullock you were simply the best.

Forever will your work thrive.

 

Tina Turner

RIP  1939 – 2023

Thank you for the music

 

by Harriet Blackbury

usual copyright rules apply.

March 29, 2023

 

 

She watches every movement

of my hand.

Always alert.

Always in command.

 

I try to assure her

that my intentions are true.

But she has scars from her past –

a past I never knew.

 

It is going to take time,

but I’m up for the task.

though some days it feels like

an impossible ask.

 

Just when I think we are

moving on a bit,

quite out of the nowhere

appears another hissy fit.

 

Perhaps it’s something horrific,

lodged in her brain,

that returns in a cycle,

again and again.

 

When the moment is over

she comes and paws my hand.

I keep it quite still,

unsure of what she has planned.

 

She knows when she’s hurt me,

and is so full of sorrow.

I think she could like me,

if more time we could borrow.

 

So I avoided eye contact,

by keeping out of her way.

Fingers crossed this new tactic

is beginning to pay.

 

She has started me-owing

to let me know she is near.

She is watching me intensely.

I pretend not to hear.

 

She twists herself through my legs,

preventing my stride.

almost tripping me up,

to be ignored – she can’t abide.

 

She’s now been fed and watered,

and due her next five hour nap.

I don’t think in her lifetime,

she will ever jump on my lap.

 

But she is coming round slowly,

with a more confident view.

And now seems ready to move on,

from the heartache, she once knew.

 

 

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