October 15, 2016

 

 

In 86, on time, at the station,

arrived A-Ha with ‘Train Of Thought’,

and Randy Crawford’s moving 81 hit –

‘A Rainy Night In Georgia’, our imagination caught.

 

At No.13 with ‘Steamy Windows’,

in 90, was Tina Turner,

and ‘Wheels Of Steel’ sang Saxon in 80,

stoking this all night burner.

 

In 69, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

with ‘Tracks Of My Tears’, in a Top10 place.

And in 76, Linda Ronstadt also,

‘Tracks Of My Tears’ – did embrace.

 

In 93 came Peter Gabriel,

at No.10 with his hit song ‘Steam’.

Also covering this track in 94

were Brian Harvey and East 17.

 

Charles McDevitt’s Skiffle Group & Nancy Whiskey

came thundering through at speed.

Reaching No5 in 57 with their

‘Freight Train’ – a hit indeed.

 

In 95, ‘Train Of Thought’ by Escrima,

also came into view,

And in 03, ‘Train On The Track’

gave Kelly Rowland, a Top 20 pew.

 

In 82, Colin Blunstone, with his version of,

‘Tracks Of My Tears’ –  was at his best.

And in 93, ‘Tracks Of My Tears’, again,

arrived at Platform16  for Go West.

 

‘The Train Is Coming’ sang Shaggy,

featuring Wayne Wonder in 96,

and ‘Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye’, in 70,

at No.9, by Steam, in this final carriage mix.

 

Wherever your destination

Whatever your reason for going;

be it business or pleasure, be sure,

your route, the railway track is knowing.

 

No matter how fast new developments

appear in this mad-cap technical dream,

There is no better way to reach your destination

than to arrive, relaxed, having got there by STEAM.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

October 11, 2016

 

 

 

 

Something for everyone on

Tonys Time Machine

Wednesday  12th October

11 am – 1pm

Hear Tony’s Interviews with

Ramsbottom Cricket Club Legends –

Jon Fielding  and Brian Fielding.

 

also on todays Show is

Tony’s visit in 22 hour time

to meet & listen to

Steve Howe.

and  Rock Music by

Gorilla Riot and The Travelling Man.

 

Gill Harris will be reading For The Love Of Motown 2

written by Harriet Blackbury

and

Denise Fielding will be reading For The Love Of Dancing

written by Harriet Blackbury.

 

 

 

October 4, 2016

 

Tune in to 

Tonys Time Machine

Wednesday  5th October

11am – 1pm

for

The Italian Job – Part 2

with Tony’s ‘live’ Interviews from Palermo,

and great music. 

Also,

Vikki will be reading

For The Love Of Italy and Beyond

written by

Harriet Blackbury

(Blackbury-poems.com)

 

October 1, 2016

 

 

In 67,  ‘See Emily Play’ at Number 6

after ‘Arnold Layne’ came from Pink Floyd.

And twelve years later in 79, their No.1 hit

‘Another Brick In The Wall’, we all so enjoyed.

 

In 78, Elvis Costello had a hit with –

‘(I Don’t Wanna go to ) Chelsea’

and in 82, in the Top 30 were The Cure,

singing about  – ‘A Letter To Elsie’.

 

In 67, Mamas & The Papas sang ‘Words Of Love’,

and In 02, with ‘Word Love’, Rhianna had her say.

Not in agreement, in 06, was Richard Ashcroft,

suggesting ‘Words Just Get In The Way’.

 

At Number 5 in 73 was Roger Daltrey,

with his solo hit ‘Giving it all away’

and Chaka Demur & Pliers, with ‘Twist and Shout’

20 years later, up to Number 1 – made their way.

 

In 94, this Jamaican Duo again in the charts,

reaching No.27 with ‘Murder She Wrote’.

And in 96 their ‘Every Kinda People’,

was another song getting our vote.

 

In 67, at Number 5 were The Box Tops,

with their delivery of – ‘The Letter’,

and in 70, in the Top 40 with this song,

Joe Cocker’s rendition – a gritty pace setter.

 

At No.6 in 02 with, ‘A Mind Of It’s Own’

Victoria Beckham’s third solo hit,  let us know,

just what she was capable of,

when singing ‘live’ on a top TV show.

 

In 78, Rita Coolidge sang ‘Words’,

ten years after The Bee Gees gave us this hit,

And also in 68 – a second Number One,

‘I Just Gotta Get A Message To You’,  their remit.

 

‘Paperback Writer’, a hit for The Beatles

in 66,  with their tenth Number One,

and back again in the charts of 76,

this favourite song, once more shone.

 

In 77, again came Roger Daltrey,

giving us ‘Written In The Wind’

and with his version of ‘Elusive Butterfly’,

in 66, at No.5 was Bob Lind.

 

In at No.16 in 97 were The Charlatans,

‘Tellin Stories’ in their special way.

Also in 97 – ‘Still Waters (Run Deep),

gave the Bee Gees another chart stay.

 

In 79 with ‘Turn Up The Music’,

at No.8 were The Players Association.

And in 06 with ‘Land Of A Thousand Words,

came another Scissor Sisters creation.

 

To some, words don’t come easy.

For others, the rhythm just flows,

But many writers unable to annunciate,

so no Performance or Hand-Waving Shows.

 

To some, words are second nature,

whilst others – by research are led.

But one thing of which I’m quite certain;

many writers are quite off their head !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her heart in the right place –

True, there was money to be made.

Their loneliness, her enterprise;

her own personal crusade.

 

A Luncheon with a difference,

offered hot or cold.

With an optional feather duster,

for those feeling rather bold.

 

She saw a gap in the market,

for men, (and there were many),

to whom she offered a needy service,

cashing in on the odd penny.

 

And yet so gentle was her soul,

although mischievous her gain.

But always good for a laugh,

was dearest Cynthia Payne.

 

I hope she’s gone to heaven,

and not to a hell below,

so she can part the clouds,

and continue with her show

 

Rest In Peace   (1932 – 2015)

 

 

 

 

I sent you a message by telepathy

that I hoped would arrive at your side,

as you boarded the 8.10 to Euston,

in time for your daily ride.

 

Once inside your head I tangled,

with your thoughts, until I got through,

patiently, willingly, waiting in line,

as I knew there’d be quite a queue.

 

I felt you take off your jacket;

placing it neatly across your knee.

One less thought for you to think about,

before you got around to me.

 

I blocked your thought of the Laptop.

I’m sorry to use my power this way.

I just needed to have your attention,

more so than ever today.

 

Instead you took out your newspaper!

Dear Lord, there goes my master plan.

It would be another twenty minutes,

before your mind I could fully scan.

 

But something you read, somehow made you

look out through the window to think.

So I grabbed the chance whilst I had it;

my message through, leaving me tickled pink.

 

You closed your eyes for a moment.

It was then I knew I’d reached first base.

When the smile that I live and die for,

appeared on your wonderful face.

 

 

‘Well ‘to and fro’ –

you know how it goes,

this game of ups

and downs and lows.

 

This getting on

with life in spite

of all the hazards

day and night.

 

Trapped on a see-saw –

thoughts suspended.

No get-out clause,

or ride open-ended.

 

And only viable

is this attraction,

when offloaded is

the weighty fraction.

 

So, there you go –

lets now put to bed

absurd misgivings,

sometimes falsely read.

 

No more getting wrong –

well – meant intentions,

that come out twisted

as if new inventions.

 

Trapped in a Dodgem

with a jerk, suspended.

No get-out clause;

a wedding ring intended

 

this ride for life

without distraction:

Problems worked through

until satisfaction,

 

sees fresh water

in the well run clear,

after a glass of wine

or a needy beer.

 

When unraveled are,

the old crossed wires,

replaced by moon dust

and loves desires.

 

 

 

 

Oh weekdays

when I have to face

groundhog day –

that same rat-race.

 

Oh weekends

when I become a chauffeur,

ferrying son

and impatient daughter.

 

Oh weekdays

when dear Monday arrives,

and I find stimulation

on which the brain survives.

 

Oh weekends

when I become handyman,

fixing plumbing jobs

the best way I can.

 

Oh weekdays

when I return to my chair,

sifting through emails

which become a blur.

 

Oh weekends

when I yearn to relax

and put my feet up

and play my sax!

 

Oh weekdays

when chaos starts up

The new MD decides

this old dog, swapped for a pup!

 

Oh weekends

now I need the family most,

they’re out doing ‘their thing’ –

no sign of Sunday Roast!

 

Oh weekdays

that were once salvation,

now an unsure future

heading for starvation.

 

Oh weekends, weekends

now I’ve faced the facts;

and on weekdays too

I’m belting out that sax.

 

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