December 31, 2015

 

 

I – Billy Idol brought us ‘White Wedding’

and ‘Need You Tonight’ sang INXS.

‘Running Free’ were Iron Maiden,

‘Body Talk’ by Imagination, a huge success.

 

J – From Jimmy Justice to Tom Jones.

From Quincey Jones to Elton John.

From Billy Joel to Jethro Tull, along with,

Japan and The Jam, the J’s carry on.

 

J – contd.  From Janet to Jermaine to Michael,

and with ‘ABC’, together, The Jackson Five.

But unrelated was Joe Jackson, with,

‘It’s Different For Girls, and ‘Jumping Jive’.

 

K – Making No.2 ‘Rock Me Gently’ sang Andy Kim.

But at No.1, Ben E King with ‘Stand By Me’.

Chaka Khan, The Kinks, and Kajagoogoo,

and Eden Kane and Kraftwerk, also top of the tree.

 

L – From John Lennon to Lulu and Cyndi Lauper,

and The Lemon Pipers and Peggy Lee.

Lieutenant Pigeon, Lindisfarne, and Annie Lennox

and also Level 42 and Leapy Lee.

 

M – Men at Work, Meatloaf, Madonna and Madness,

and Bob Marley, Marillion and Medicine Head.

Freddie Mercury, Bette Midler and George Michael,

and God Bless Lemmy from Hawkwind and Motorhead.

 

N – Gary Numan, New Order and Nilsson.

Stevie Nicks and New Kids On the Block.

Nazareth, Johnny Nash and Jimmy Nail,

and Phyllis Nelson and Nena, in this flock.

 

O – The O’jays, Billy Ocean and Mike Oldfield.

Des, Hazel, and Sinead O’Connor.

Odyssey, OMD and Gilbert O’Sullivan, but,

The Osmonds, and Roy Orbison, taking this honour.

 

P – Robert Plant, Tom Petty, and Pickettywitch.

The Pointer Sisters, Procol Harum and Pink Floyd.

Elvis Presley, The Police, Prince, and The Pretenders.

Gene Pitney and The Pet Shop Boys, all filled a void.

 

Q – ‘The Lone Ranger’ came from Quantum Jump.

and Suzi Quattro at No’1 with ‘Can The Can’.

‘There she goes again’ sang The Quireboys.

And Queen, with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody, just ran and ran.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 26, 2015

 

 

Oh knee that will not bend.

Oh agony that will not end.

A high tackle to defend!

To the ground I now descend.

 

Oh whistle that should have blown.

Oh hope that now has flown.

No sign of sympathy shown,

as I lie here and groan.

 

Oh red card that never came.

Oh yellow card, the same.

He got off without blame,

and left me bloody lame!

 

 

 

 

I would walk miles with my father,

when as a tot, reaching his thigh.

He would ruffle my hair in fondness,

as I grew to waist high.

 

We would clown about and play-fight,

and arm wrestle and compete,

when twelve became thirteen,

and teenage years came to greet.

 

I grew bolshi and arrogant,

and anything but shy,

when him I could stand next to,

almost shoulder high.

 

But as time passed, we buried

the misunderstandings of my youth.

Becoming close buddies again,

now me, less uncouth.

 

And for a short time we were able

to stand eye to eye,

before he, in a wheelchair,

now reached to my thigh.

 

We were pals to the end.

I had at last made him proud.

And the day that I lost him,

I unashamedly cried out loud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bench, my own

just for tonight.

Warm wooded slats,

the soul, to excite.

 

Free from the draught

of winter’s bite,

and wind blown leaves,

and doggy shite.

 

 

The bench, my own

til morning light.

The sky my ceiling,

twinkling bright.

 

No mortgage plan.

No rent arrears.

My shower – rain water,

hiding tears.

 

 

The bench, my own;

I slept well last night.

And awoke with new hope;

the aroma right.

 

Near my arm, a Big Mac:

I knew there was a god.

And a can of beer tied with tinsel

left by some kindly sod.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My luck’s in today,

a dandelion said ‘Hi’.

The first of the Spring, or maybe,

the last of the Summer to die?

 

 

 

 

Sugar stealers,

still out in force.

Their looming presence,

‘par’  for the course.

 

Oh, yes, yes, yes,

they readily agreed,

When the question posed,

planting the first seed.

 

Honeycomb centres,

sweetness deliver.

But the original source,

the purest giver.

 

Can I have it in writing,

with indelible ink, I plead.

So there can be no confusion,

causing hearts to bleed. 

 

 

 

 

It’s all gone in a moment;

quick as a lightening flash.

In the blink of an eye,

a generation crash.

 

 

December 21, 2015

 

 

A – gives us the Queen of soul:

Aretha delivered a song so well.

Then came Agnetha and Anni-frid from Abba,

right up to the present Queen of song, Adele.

 

B – ‘Thank you for the music’ from Bjorn & Benny,

and Barry Biggs with ‘Sideshow’ in 76.

And ‘The Crying Game’ from Dave Berry,

and also The Byrds and Blondie in this mix.

 

C – ‘On Top Of The World’ were The Carpenters,

and also Belinda Carlisle and Mariah Carey.

And Cher and Chic and Eric Clapton,

and The Commodores and Neneh Cherry.

 

D – From Bob Dylan to The Doobie Brothers.

From The Drifters to The Doors.

From The Detroit Spinners to Dr Hook;

For sure, the U.S. sound, had hit our shores.

 

E – The Eagles topping this next pile,

along with the dynamic Earth, Wind and Fire.

And ELO, Enya and Erasure,

and Gloria Estefan & Eurythmics, our desire.

 

F- Fleetwood Mac and Foreigner.

The Four Seasons and The Four Tops.

Billy Fury through to Fun Boy Three,

and with ‘Relax’, Frankie( GTH )– Top of the Pops.

 

G – Peter Gabriel, and Gallagher & Lyle,

and Gloria Gaynor and Marvin Gaye.

And Robin Gibb and Andrew Gold,

and Guns n Roses, the mainstay.

 

H – ‘I Thought It Was You’ from Herbie Hancock,

and Don Hartman’s ‘Instant Replay’.

And Hawkwind’s  ‘Silver Machine’,

making sure another ‘H’ verse I’ll say.

 

H – contd. ‘So you Win Again’ by Hot Chocolate,

and I’ll ‘Rave On’ about Buddy Holly.

and Manchester’s Happy Mondays, and The Hollies,

who stood at that ‘Bus Stop’ sharing a brolly.

 

And for his world-wide fan base, to finish,

I give you Cliff with ‘Mistletoe and Wine’.

Here endeth this part of my ‘Christmas Alphabet’,

which was No. I in 55, for Dickie Valentine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 14, 2015

 

 

Get into the Christmas spirit

with this week’s action packed

Tonys Time Machine

on Wednesday 16th Dec 2015

11.am – 1pm.

This week’s theme is FRANK SINATRA

with highlights of music from 

Creative Support singers –

Carman,  Steve and breakthrough rocks etc.

TONY will be reading his very own

‘Tribute poem to Chris Squire’ from ‘YES’

and his guests include

Alison, who will be reading 

‘For The Love Of Manchester’.

and Vikki will read ‘Fruit Rap’

both poems written by Harriet Blackbury.

Tony will also be reading

‘For The Love Of Street Life,

by Harriet Blackbury.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This early seasonal song,

a long time hit for Brenda Lee,

gets everybody in the mood

‘Rocking around the Christmas Tree’.

 

‘and here it is Merry Christmas’

a line that pulls at the heartstrings,

as memories come flooding back,

when nostalgia, a tear brings.

 

as the undisputed masters,

of Christmas records ever made,

with ‘Merry Xmas Everbody’,

sing out Noddy Holder and Slade.

 

Christmas comes but once a year,

but not if Wizzard had their way.

Something they never fail to tell us is,

‘I wish it could be Christmas Everyday’.

 

A more recent Christmas song,

from Chris Rea hit the spot.

His ‘Driving Home For Christmas’

proving family life, means a lot.

 

And not forgetting one of the very best

‘feel – good’ video’s ever made.

Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ hit putting,

all the others in the shade.

 

And just when you thought no better songs

at Christmastime could sound more classy,

with their version of ‘The Christmas Song’

along comes Blake, with our own Shirley Bassey.

 

And every year a new Christmas song –

offers something a bit different, than before.

This years surprise is  ‘Here Comes Christmas’

by Scott and NB 4.

 

If only the sentiment of Christmas,

could be expressed, all year long !

‘Why Can’t We Live Together’, asked Timmy Thomas,

in the world’s most unanswered song.

 

 

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