August 24, 2015

 

 

‘On a little street in Singapore’

saw Manhattan Transfer in the charts.

But ‘Chanson D’amour’ made number one

and stole our very hearts.

 

‘Albatros’, a certain number one

by Fleetwood Mac – we knew.

Though ‘Man of the world’ came close,

when reaching number two.

 

John Denver’s ‘Annie’s Song’

sent us to a ‘feel good’ heaven.

But Boston gave us ‘More than a feeling’

three years later in seventy seven.

 

‘If you leave me now’ by Chicago;

another hit about heartache.

Proving, if proof be needed;

the group a ‘Hard habit to break’.

 

With ‘Memphis Tennessee’,

Chuck Berry let us know,

that he was here to stay,

though insisted ‘No particular place to go’.

 

Dinah Washington, well remembered

for her ‘September in the rain’.

And Gerard Kenny, released in 78

New York, New York – his penned refrain.

 

‘How am I supposed to live without you?’

put Michael Bolton on the map.

Long after Bob and Earl,

gave us the ‘Harlem Shuffle’ hand-clap.

 

The ‘Last train to Clarksville’

had the Monkees on the run,

heading towards a ‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’:

This group guaranteed us fun.

 

Towns and Cities of the World,

each, in their own way, unique.

People and places brought together,

when adventure one does seek.

 

Each country brings a memory,

(no matter whether sun or snow;)

from the warmth of passing strangers,

who for a time, we got to know.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To hear Harriet’s poem

‘For The Love Of Travelling’

tune into 

Tonys Time Machine

Wednesday 24th August

11am – 1pm

(Repeats at the usual times

throughout the week)

This weeks theme is

‘Tony’s  world travels

 

August 13, 2015

 

 

Berry Gordy did something no-one else did

when he created  ‘Motown’ – God Bless.

Third finger, left hand and Jimmy Mack

ensured Martha and the Vandellas success.

 

Jimmy Ruffin sang an anthem

to those who have loved, then departed;

giving us his memorable hit

‘What becomes of the broken hearted’.

 

The Temptations, ever slick,

with such harmonious tone,

went high into the charts

with ‘Papa was a rolling stone’.

 

Soulful Marvin and Kim Weston,

had a hit with ‘It takes two’.

then Marvin and Tammi Terrell sang

‘Ain’t nothing like the real thing’: so true!

 

‘Seven rooms of gloom’ and ‘Bernadette’

were early hits for The Four Tops.

But with ‘Reach out I’ll be there’,

they pulled out all the stops.

 

Fast moving ‘Needle in a haystack’

found the Velvelettes with a hit.

This brilliant disco classic,

the moment, sure did fit.

 

Yet another Motown artist ,

who everybody knows,

is melodic Marv Johnson,

who sang ‘I’ll pick a rose for my rose.’

 

‘This old heart of mine – (is weak for you)’;

an Isley’s standard we adore.

The opening bar guaranteed

to get us on the dance floor.

 

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles

gave us ‘I second that emotion’,

and their ‘Going to a Go-Go’,

ensured total fan-base devotion.

 

‘Spring in the air’, – the opening line

to this ‘Marvellettes hit song.

‘When you’re young and in love’, their anthem,

that couples danced to all summer long.

 

With ‘Uptown’ and ‘I was made to love her’

Little Stevie Wonder had us hooked,

and his ‘My Cherie Amour’, made certain,

every ‘live’ performance – fully booked.

 

Tamla Motown gave us something,

that’s stayed precious to this day.

So many romantic, soulful ballads,

now part of our DNA.

 

Songs that will never leave us;

so many classics – the mainstay.

To have lived through that amazing era;

we were fortunate in every way.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 11, 2015

 

 

Poetry is therapy.

Poetry is expression.

Words from the heart

released at will;

helps old hurt to lessen.

 

Poetry flows freely.

Poetry never forced.

Words from the mind,

when life stood still,

and from society divorced.

 

Poetry a lifeline:

Poetry a muse:

Words from the soul

when one, less than whole,

has nothing left to lose.

 

Poetry, the saviour:

Poetry the rod:

Words from the brain

one can’t explain.

Poetry, thank God.

 

 

 

August 2, 2015

 

 

The undisputed Queen of Liverpool,

who won our hearts in sixty three,

Has been suddenly taken from us,

without any reason, we can see.

 

To her fans she was simply ‘Our Cilla’

Changing her surname from white to black.

Her first single , ‘Love of the loved’ ;

showing she was on the right track.

 

In 64, three more songs followed,

2 of which reached number one;

‘Anyone who had a heart’ and ‘You’re my world’,

being the ones ‘It’s for you’ outshone.

 

Next came ‘You’ve lost that loving feeling’

reaching number two in 65’

proving Cilla was here to stay,

and with Bobby by her side, would thrive.

 

But ‘Alfie’ always the one,

to give us an emotional fix,

spent nine weeks in the charts,

in nineteen sixty six.

 

In 68 ‘Step inside Love’,

saw Cilla back in the top ten,

And in 69 with ‘Surround yourself with sorrow,

she went and did it again.

 

In 1971 ‘Something tells me –

(something is gonna happen tonight’),

was in the charts at number 3,

and Cilla’s career still doing alright.

 

Our Darling of Music and Television,

who gave of herself, so much,

with Surprise, Surprise and also Blind Date,

showed her warmth, and her common touch.

 

Whatever Cilla turned her hand to,

she gave it one hundred per cent.

Her natural ability making it look easy;

she was loved wherever she went.

 

So now she is re-united with her Bobby,

and John & George, & Brian, wherever they are.

As all of her fan-base world wide,

say a fond farewell to this fab ‘Superstar’.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury

especially for LDOK.net (Tonys Time Machine)

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 1, 2015

 

 

Secrets and lies

and honey trap pies.

Bread and butter for hacks;

truth stretched to surprise.

 

Discrete camera’s flashing;

caught in the act.

Just a hint of suggestion,

based loosely on fact.

 

Whiter than white:

Purer than light:

A blotted copybook,

not yet come into sight.

 

Paying top dollar,

to be first past the post.

Confined to the sin-bin,

for that naughty boy boast.

 

Say nothing to no-one,

or ones career long dead,

as embarrassed blushes

turn faces bright red.

 

That old potato, the past,

just waiting to erupt.

That one step too far,

yet hardly corrupt,

 

will come back to bite one,

sure as night follows day.

From the straight path,

t’was madness to stray.

 

Yesterday’s headlines;

Chip paper today.

Shock horror stories,

now thrown away.

 

Secrets and lies,

and honey trap pies.

Play at ones peril,

if no conscience applies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 28, 2015

 

 

Wednesday 29th July

This weeks show

includes music and chat 

with Tonys guests.

and some of  Harriets poems.

The show is repeated

as follows

Thurs  8.00 am

Friday  01.00 am

Sat  19.00 pm

Monday  11.00 am

 

 

 

July 23, 2015

 

 

 

So sad when a house,

no longer feels like a home.

Abba sang ‘Knowing me’, Knowing you’,

guaranteeing hearts would roam.

 

‘Hotel California’ was also,

another heartfelt pit-stop,

which landed the famous Eagles,

an album never to be forgot.

 

‘The Folks who live on the Hill’,

a classic from Peggy Lee.

Showing that when it’s right,

how perfect love can be.

 

The Four Tops sang of gloomy rooms,

that in total numbered seven.

And much later Led Zeppelin found,

their very own – ‘Stairway to heaven’

 

This next song of sound construction,

is a fortress to digest.

‘All along the watchtower’,

saw Jimi Hendrix at his best.

 

Whilst ‘Concrete and Clay’ the hit,

for Unit Four plus Two,

was hod-carried up the charts,

and loved by both me and you.

 

This well loved performer,

proved he was no spoof.

Trust Kenny Lynch to have a hit,

that sat high  ‘Up on the roof’.

 

The soul of a house enables us

to ‘Look through any window’ clearly.

This cracking Hollies song,

reminding us,  we love them dearly.

 

The Doors, also seized an opening

with their ‘Roadhouse Blues’ appeal;

although originally intended as

the B side to ‘You make me real’.

 

Lastly, the master of creation,

and best career builder of all,

has to be Michael Jackson,

who gave us ‘Off the wall’.

 

Buildings of the past;

architecturally sound.

Like the foundations of an idea,

that rises from  deep underground.

 

Buildings of the future;

high-rise with a small footprint.

Like the landscape of a City,

where the sun on glass does glint.

 

Written by

Harriet Blackbury

especially for LDOK.net

Tonys Time Machine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 17, 2015

 

 

Silence fell, all but for a sigh.

The final act, was the last goodbye.

It’s over now; wasn’t meant to be,

but I still have you, you still have me.

 

It doesn’t work like that.

All cannot be well.

The cost is high.

The tear ducts daily swell.

 

And the point quite missed,

for with the morning mist,

returns the horror:

‘Why didn’t I resist?’

 

What was done was wrong,

and known then,  as now.

No amount of time puts right,

the past somehow.

 

The future open-ended

on this rocky ride.

Natural deaths have happened,

but still no turning tide.

 

One last chance was given.

The question asked out loud.

The same reply came back –

‘Not now’ was said, head bowed.

 

Couldn’t look me in the eyes.

Once more a bolted door!

‘Why open a can of worms?’ was said,

like oft times before.

 

At that point realised,

was the damage done.

The magic solution,

on it’s head, had spun.

 

A new tomorrow;

another new start.

The future never can, or will,

repair a broken heart.

 

And taken to their grave,

was our deadly deed,

leaving me custodian

of worms that bleed.

 

And taken to my grave,

will be this tale I tell,

in case, they’re still watching

and see me in hell.

 

 

July 16, 2015

 

Chips for supper.

Chips for Tea.

Bread and butter

and chips for me

 

Chips for breakfast.

Chips for lunch.

Forget bananas

even by the bunch.

 

Chips at snack-time.

Chips for Lent.

Chips at Easter,

I won’t relent.

 

Chips in Summer.

Chips in Spring.

I just love chips

more than anything.

 

Chips from the McDonalds

Chips at home.

Chips by the mirror

as my hair I comb.

 

Chips in the hallway.

Chips on the loo.

I’m so full of chips

I don’t know what to do.

 

Chips and more chips

and more chips still.

Forget rabbit food,

it just makes me ill

 

Chips tomorrow.

Chips next week.

Chips by the mouthful

until I can’t speak

                                                   

Chips in my tummy,

chips on my mind.

Chips by the plateful,

all the chips I can find.

 

Chips forever,

til the end of time.

I just think chips

are so sublime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Harriet Blackbury.

 

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