January 31, 2016

 

 

Dear life forever captured in sweet song;

a back-catalogue, housing DNA so strong.

Each opening bar a chapter to recall;

a moment of magic when we had it all.

 

And songs that to this day bring forth a tear,

when heady times of madness knew no fear.

And sense not at the forefront of the mind,

and people hurt when we were less than kind.

 

A song around when we, reached for the sky;

a song about a train – a sad goodbye.

A melody that haunts our very brain,

still set on ‘replay’, driving us insane.

 

A tune that opened up a new adventure;

sowing wild oats, where only fools would venture.

An artist we chose to get us in the mood,

an idol became, and then to us, life’s food.

 

A song that still sends shivers down the spine.

Oh happy days when love was so divine.

When we all, still in the first flush of our youth,

were innocent, trusting, but naïve in truth.

 

And as we grew, more important was the verse,

depicting all life’s blows, and journey’s curse.

When heartache the main order of the day,

that bless-ed pain, was never far away.

 

Then we chose songs to lull us back to life,

as cherished years, long gone –  the sacrifice.

We kidded ourselves the past was truly dead,

though that piercing high-note, still inside the head.

 

Whether Rock or Pop, or Gospel songs with chants.

or soft lullaby’s the loving breast implants.

From birth to death, life much richer for,

the sound of music, at our very core.

 

 

January 24, 2016

 

 

Founder member of The Eagles,

(who in the seventies hit the heights),

Glenn Frey their leading inspiration,

behind hits like ‘One Of Those Nights’,

 

which reached to No. 23 in 75,

and also in this year, no surprise,

followed their memorable hit –

the unforgettable ‘Lying Eyes’.

 

Then higher in the charts at No.12

was ‘Take It To The Limit’, in 76.

And in 77 ‘New Kid In Town’ & ‘Hotel California’,

two more sensational songs,  gave us a fix.

 

‘Please Come Home For Christmas’,

The Eagles seasonal hit of 78.

‘Heartache Tonight’ and ‘The Long Run’,

hits of 79, so great.

 

Glenn Frey’s solo hits of 85 being –

‘The Heat Is On’ and ‘Smugglers Blues’.

Either solo or with the band,

it seemed, he couldn’t lose.

 

‘Love Will Keep Us Alive’,

The Eagles later hit of 96.

And in 03, ‘Hole In The World’,

ends their UK, hit-list mix.

 

Selling more than 120 million Albums,

and always on top of their game.

It isn’t any wonder that 98 saw them,

inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

 

Their sound instantly recognisable;

a comfort to the soul.

A huge ‘Thank You’, Glenn Frey,

With love from, all the hearts you stole.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t miss this chance to tune into

Tony’s free Concert

on

Tonys Time Machine

Wednesday 27th January

11. am – 1pm  (with repeats throughout the week)

 

Tony’s ‘one off’ special show is entitled

‘Concert From The Gates Of Heaven’

 

with Great music and chat

and Poetry by Harriet Blackbury

 

Gates open at 11 am on the gong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 18, 2016

 

Tune into 

Tonys Time Machine.

on Wednesday 20th January 

11am – 1pm.

When Tonys guests will be

ALEX and JOSH.

 

Tony will be reading 

‘For The Love Of David Bowie’

by Harriet Blackbury.

 

and Josh will read

‘For The Love Of Films

also by Harriet Blackbury.

 

Alex will read his own Dedication.

 

Hope you all enjoy

the great Music… Chat….& Poetry  Folks

 

Repeats throughout the week. 

 

 

 

 

 

From ‘Space Oddity’ in 69,

( and it’s re-issue in 75 at No1.)

to ‘John I’m Only Dancing (again)’,

this decade of work from Bowie shone.

 

He brought us ‘The Jean Genie’,

followed by ‘Drive-In Saturday’.

‘Life On Mars’, ‘The Laughing Gnome’ and ‘Sorrow’,

saw his originality here to stay !

 

In 74 came ‘Rebel Rebel’,

and ‘Rock and Roll Suicide’

and with ‘Diamond Dogs’ and ‘Knock on Wood’,

he had us all on side.

 

‘Young Americans’ and ‘Fame’,

his first hits of 75.

And with ‘Space Oddity’ finally No.1,

‘Golden Years’, kept us alive.

 

Then followed ‘TVC’ in 76,

and in 77 ‘Sound and Vision’ made No.3.

‘Heroes’ the final hit of this year,

but by now, Bowie a hero to you and me.

 

‘Beauty And The Beast’ then followed,

along with ‘Breaking Glass’.

And ‘Boys Keep Swinging’ and ‘DJ’.

were yet more hits to prove his class.

 

In 80 came ‘Alabama Song’,

And then ‘Ashes To Ashes’ made No.1.

‘Fashion’ also reaching No5,

proving David Bowie still shone.

 

By now, the King of originality,

he gave us ‘Scary Monsters (and Super-Creeps)’

and ‘Up The Hill Backwards’, and ‘Wild Is The Wind’,

No wonder today –  the world weeps!

 

And then once more proving his diversity,

came the gift of ‘Peace on Earth – Little Drummer Boy’,

when he partnered the legendary Bing Crosby,

giving us a No.1 Christmas-time joy. 

 

In 82 came ‘Baal’s Hymn’,

and then ‘Cat People (Putting Out Fire)’.

And in 83, ‘Let’s Dance’ and ‘China Girl’,

once more filled our hearts with desire.

 

‘Modern Girl’ and ‘White Light, White Heat’,

finished off 83, with a roar,

before ‘Blue Jean’ and then ‘Tonight’,

his two offerings for 84.

 

In 85 ‘Loving The Alien’ at No.19,

(this song also being a re-entry in July.)

And then his release of ‘Dancing In The Street’

with Mick Jagger,  got a deserved, No.1 reply.

 

In 86 came ‘Absolute Beginners’  

which bounced up to No.2,

In this year also came ‘Underground’,

and ‘When The Wind Blows’, came into view.

 

‘Day-In Day-Out’, came in 87,

and ‘Time Will Crawl’, and ‘Never Let Me Down’.

The re-mix of ‘Fame’ entering the charts in 90,

making a bid once more for the crown.

 

In 92 ‘Real Cool World’ peaked at 53,

then in 93 ‘Jump They Say’ got to Number 9.

And ‘Black Tie White Noise’, featuring Al B Sure,

was followed by ‘Miracle Goodnight’ – so fine.

 

‘Buddha Of Surburbia’, featuring Lenny Kravitz –

this last single of 93 making it to No.35.

Two years later, ‘The Heart’s Filthy Lesson’,

in the charts, also at 35.

 

And to follow, this double ‘A’ side,

being the last chart success of 95 –

‘Strangers When We Meet’,  and

‘The Man Who Sold The World (live)’.

 

‘Hallo Spaceboy’ made it to 12 in 96, and in 97

‘Little Wonder’ and ‘Dead Man Walking’, we met.

The final hit of this year being,

‘Seven Years In Tibet’.

 

‘I Can’t Read’ came along in 98, and

‘Thursday’s Child’ and ‘Under Pressure (remix)’ – in 99.

With ‘Survive’ and ‘Seven’ in the year 2000,

The Noughties started off fine.

 

‘Loving The Alien’ and ‘Everyone say Hi’, in 02

and ‘Just For One Day (Heroes)’  next in 03.

‘Rebel Never Gets Old’, then came in 04.

‘Life On Mars’ & ‘Peace On Earth – Little Drummer Boy’,

in 07,  also back in the charts, once more.

 

 

A self confessed social observer –

David Bowie’s vision knew no bounds.

He spoke for the rebel in all of us.

by constantly breaking new grounds.

 

He bridged the gap from adolescence to adulthood,

when, for us all, there was a division.

So today we say Thank You, for leaving behind,

unforgettable ‘Golden Days’ of ‘Sound and Vision’.

 

written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

January 12, 2016

 

 

This week, the music world lost a legend.

His album, ‘Blackstar’, the final curtain call.

This coolest re-inventor of all time,

set sexuality free, in us all.

 

This week, so many fans feel grateful,

as now they sit and reflect,

on the life of a musical genius,

who qualifies for the highest respect.

 

This week, so many hearts are aching,

as part of our past he owned.

He brought out the ‘rebel’ in all of us,

making sense of what wasn’t condoned.

 

This week, we said goodbye to our hero.

A ‘one off’, and original soul,

who kept us all together through difficult years.

His exit – a private heavenly stroll.

 

This week Music has lost it’s ‘Starman’,

but ‘Golden Years’ of ‘Sound and Vision’, live on.

We thank you David Bowie, for your brilliance.

You were an artist, second to none.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury.

 

 

Tune in to 

Tonys Time Machine

on Wednesday, 13th January 2016

11.am to 1 pm.

In this week’s Show

Tony will be featuring

The Boss ( Bruce Springsteen),

and he will be in conversation with Ben,

who makes a return to the Show.

and also there’s

Part 2 of Emma Knights interview and Japan.

and the poem

‘For The Love Of Street Life’

by Harriet Blackbury.

 

January 6, 2016

 

 

R- Roxette, Rose Royce and Rainbow.

Todd Rundgren, Demis Roussos and Lou Reed.

And with ‘2-4-6-8 Motorway’ and ‘War Baby’,

Tom Robinson included, indeed.

 

S – Buffy Sainte-Marie, Sam and Dave, and Sade.

The Small Faces, The Smiths, and Soft Cell.

Frank and Nancy Sinatra, and Shakespear’s Sister.

The Shadows, Shalamar, and Sinitta, as well.

 

S – contd. Boz Scaggs gave us ‘ What Can I Say’,

and ‘Warm and Tender Love’ came from Percy Sledge.

‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’ sang Jimmy Summerville,

and Bob Seger’s ‘Hollywood Nights’ also had the edge.

 

S – contd.  The Stylistics, Supertramp and The Supremes

Dusty Springfield, Joe South and Squeeze.

Barbra Streisand, Rod Stewart and Donna Summer.

Soul II Soul, Spandau Ballet and Sparks, also did please.

 

S – contd.  ‘Sad Sweet Dreamer’ came from Sweet Sensation,

and ‘The Arms of Mary’ by The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver.

‘Breakout’ sang  Swing out Sister.

 And Al Stewart with ‘Year Of The Cat’,  did deliver.

 

T – ‘Barbados’, a No.1 for Typically Tropical,

And ‘Happy Together’ were The Turtles with ‘Elenore’.

Also, Judy Tzuke, Bonnie Tyler, and Twinkle,

and Andrea True Connection with ‘More, More, More’

 

T – contd.  Toyah, Texas, The Tams and 10cc.

Thin Lizzy, Tavares, The Troggs and T Rex.

Tina Turner, Traffic, The Trammps and Topol,

and with ‘Living On Video’, one hit wonder -Trans-X

 

U – On his own, Midge Ure No.1 with ‘If I Was’.

Also making No.1, UB40 with ‘Red, Red Wine’.

And USA For Africa at No.1 with ‘We are the World’.

Unit Four Plus Two’s ‘Concrete And Clay’, also a hit so fine.

 

V – ‘YMCA’  No.1  for The Village People,

long after 60’s singers Bobby Vinton and Bobby Vee.

Then ‘Turning Japanese’ were The Vapors.

But Frankie Valli, Luther Vandros and Vangelis top of this tree.

 

W – ‘Missing You’ came from John Waite.

‘It’s The Same Old Song’ sang The Weathermen.

Scott Walker gave us ‘Jackie’ and ‘Joanna’ .

Marti Webb sang ‘Take That Look off Your Face’ and ‘Ben’.

 

W – contd. Johnny Wakelin gave us ‘In Zaire’.

Dinah Washington sang ‘September In The Rain’.

‘Walk On By’ and ‘Heartbreaker’, two from Dionne Warwick.

And The Walker Brothers’  ‘No Regrets’, a favourite refrain.

 

Y – The Young Rascals in the Top Ten with ‘Groovin’,

long before Neil Young- ‘Heart Of Gold’ ever sung.

Then came ‘Wonderous Stories’  from Yes,  and

‘Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)’ by Paul Young.

 

Z – ‘Gimme All Your Lovin’ sang ZZ Top.

‘Let’s All Chant’ demanded The Michael Zager Band.

‘She’s Not There’, the highest hit for The Zombies.

Zager And Evans with ‘In The Year 2525, making a stand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 5, 2016

 

 

Tune in to the first

Tonys Time Machine

of the year

on

Wednesday 6th January 2016.

(with repeats throughout the week.)

Tony’s special guest

will be ‘Nutty Professor’ –

Michael Johnson (training dept)

The Show will also include

live chat, great music, fun and science.

along with 

This day in history.

and the poem –

For The Love Of Street Life

written by

Harriet Blackbury.