March 15, 2019

 

I can confirm I am not a Robot.

I have a heart and soul that is real.

I melt when I feel anguish,

and when I feel joyous, I do squeal.

 

I can confirm that I am vulnerable.

I have a mind that works overtime.

Over thinking is my enemy –

worrying about the next mountain to climb.

 

I can confirm that I am a reclusive.

Privacy, the order of the day.

Preferring to remain uncontactable.

My hopes and fears, not to give away.

 

I can confirm I am not a robot.

Whatever a robot may be?

Technical terms not my forte.

Pen and parchment favoured by me.

 

I can confirm my sense of loyalty.

As a friend, you have my trust.

I exist on a gluten-free diet,

though could kill for a proper buttered crust.

 

I can confirm that I am eccentric.

Normality never was for me.

My rationale somewhat daunting,

to those not blessed with a will to be free.

 

I can confirm I am not a robot.

If you pinch me, I’ll pinch you back.

Too soft have I been for most of my life,

but with age comes the counter attack.

 

I can confirm my thinking not logical,

to those with a different I Q.

But inside everyone lies alacrity,

that shoots from the hip and says BOO !

 

I can confirm I am blessed with madness.

Too long in the tooth to be tamed.

So this is me – take me or leave me.

Life is too short to sit feeling ashamed. 

 

November 3, 2018

 

 

Fernando Riccardo Alberto Semprini, known as Semprini

in 61, had a hit with ‘Theme From Exodus’ on HMV.

Florian Cloud de Bounevaille Armstrong, known as Dido

in 01, arrived in the charts singing ‘Here With Me’.

 

William Yarnbrough, known as William Bell

in 68, with Judy Clay sang ‘Private Number’ on Stax.

Claudia Ogalde, known as Deetah

in 98, had a UK Top 20 with ‘Relax’.

 

Marvin Lee Aday, known as Meat Loaf

in 79, on Epic arrived with ‘Bat Out Of Hell’.

Charles Hardin Holley, known as Buddy Holly

in 58, had a UK Top 5 with ‘Rave On’ doing well.

 

Patricia Arnold, known as PP Arnold

in 67, with ‘First Cut Is The Deepest’ – a UK Top 20.

Mary Sandeman, known as Aneka

in 81, gave us ‘Japanese Boy’ – a No.1 entry.

 

Graham McPherson, known as Suggs

in 95, had a hit with ‘Camden Town’.

William Robinson, known as Smokey Robinson

in 70, with the Miracles, at No.1 with ‘Tears Of A Clown’.

 

Terrance Quaites, known as TQ

in 99, on Epic reached No.4 with ‘Westside’.

Sybil Lynch, known as Sybil

in 89, gave ‘Don’t Make Me Over’ a Top 20 ride.

 

Russell Roberts, known as Russ Abbot

in 84, brought to the Top 10 ‘Atmosphere’.

Samim Winiger, known as Samim

in 07, with ‘Heater’, had a Top 20 to cheer.

 

Lynn Goldsmith, known as Will Powers

in 83, took ‘Kissing With Confidence’ into the Top 20.

Joscelyn Stoker, known as Joss Stone

in 04, with ‘You Had Me’- made a Top 10 entry.

 

Norma Jean Egstrom, known as Peggy Lee

in 61, sang ‘Til There Was You’.

Sadenia Reader, known as Eddi Reader

in 96, with ‘Town Without Pity’, gained a Top 30 view.

 

Sannie Carlson, known as Whigfield

in 94, had a No.1 with ‘Saturday Night’.

John Stephens, known as John Legend

in 08, with Andre 3000, had a hit with ‘Green Light’

 

Artis Ivey Jr, known as Coolio

in 95, took ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ to the top of the tree.

Sam Faulkner, known as Newton Faulkner

in 07, reached No.7, with ‘Dream Catch Me’.

 

Aristottle Savalas, known as Telly Savalas

in 75, had a No.1 with ‘If’ on MCA.

William Royce Scaggs, known as Boz Scaggs

in 77, had a Top 10 with ‘What Can I Say’.

 

 

 

October 24, 2018

 

 

After leaving The Flamingos in 1960

Tommy Hunt enjoyed a solo career,

with 18 US hit singles, before arriving in the UK in 69 and

becoming an Artist the UK Northern Soul scene held dear.

 

Three UK chart hits followed on the Spark label –

in 75 ‘Crackin Up’, reaching No.39.

In 76 came ‘Loving On The Losing Side’,

and ‘One Fine Morning’ another hit, divine.

 

Now 85, Tommy Hunt is still held in high regard,

by his peers both in the US and UK.

Thank you for songs that bring back sweet memories –

let the music continue to play.

 

 

October 1, 2018

 

Tune in to 

Tony’s Time Machine

at Noon on Tuesday 2nd October 2018

for another fast moving hour of music. and chat.

 

This week the Show includes

Tony’s interviews with

Kee Marcello (formally of Europe and East Action)

in advance of the ‘Scaling Up’ Tour.

and also

Steve Hackett  and ‘Genesis Revisited’ Tour dates.

 

Tony will also be reading the poems –

 

For The Love Of Genesis  written by Harriet Blackbury

For The Love Of Chas & Dave  written by Harriet Blackbury

and

For The Love Of Charles Aznavour   written by Harriet Blackury.

 

 

September 3, 2018

 

 

’25 OR 6 TO 4′ by Chicago on CBS –

reaching No.7 in 70 – the first track in this mix,

and in 66, Wilson Pickett, on Atlantic

took ‘634 -5789’ to No.36

 

‘747 (Strangers In The Night)’ by Saxon,

on the Carrere label, in 80, at No.13 shone,

and on Epic in 84, Nena,

took ’99 Red Balloons’ to No.1

 

In 76, ’16 Bars’ by The Stylistics

on the H & L label, at No.7, we did see,

and at No.2  ‘1999’ by Prince & The Revolution,

on Warner Brothers,  appeared in 83.

 

In 68, at No.4 on the Columbia label

came  ‘1-2-3  O’Leary’ from Des O’Connor,

and in 96, The Spice Girls on Virgin

with  ‘2 become 1’,  gained another No.1 honour.

 

In 77,  at No.5, on EMI, was ‘2-4-6-8 Motorway’

by The Tom Robinson Band,

and in 09 on the Regal label

with ’22’,  Lily Allen made a No. 14 stand. 

 

In 04, ‘Thunderbirds/3AM’ on Universal

gave Busted their fourth No.1 so far,

and in 67,  ’59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy)’

on Warner Brothers, a Top 40 for Harpers Bizarre.

 

 

August 16, 2018

 

 

‘Respect’ on the Atlantic label

gave Aretha Franklin a UK Top 10 in 67.

This song also making the US No.1 slot

for this singer who’s voice was just heaven.

 

‘Baby I Love You’ came next

and then ‘Chain Of Fools’ and ‘Satisfaction’.

‘Since You’ve Been Gone’  followed on,

and ‘Think’ got a Top 30 re-action.

 

‘I Say A Little Prayer For You’,

also in 68, made a UK No.4.

‘Don’t Play That Song’ and ‘Spanish Harlem’

coming next with a Top 20 score.

 

In 73, ‘Angel’ made the UK Top 40,

and ‘Until You Come Back To Me

(That’s what I’m Gonna Do)’  –

Aretha’s last hit on Atlantic  – proved to be.

 

Switching to Arista in 80, then came

‘What A Fool Believes’ and ‘Love All The Hurt Away’

followed by ‘Jump to it’ and ‘Get It Right’,

then ‘Freeway Of Love’  the next UK chart stay.

 

‘Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves’

with The Eurythmics in 85 made No.9 on RCA,

then ‘Who’s Zoomin Who’ and ‘Another Night’

before ‘Freeway Of Love’ – another chart visit did pay.

 

At No.1 in 87, on Epic with George Michael –

came ‘I Knew You Were Waiting ( For Me)’,

and also in 87 on Arista –

Aretha gave us the song ‘Jimmy Lee’.

 

‘Through The Storm’ with Elton John came next,

then ‘It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be’

with Whitney Houston,  making a UK No.29,

before ‘Think’ made another chart plea.

 

In 91 came ‘Everyday People’,  and then

‘A Deeper Love’ and ‘Willing To  Forgive’  in 94,

and in 98  ‘A Rose Is Still A Rose’ made a UK No.22,

followed by ‘Here We Go Again’,  from this Star we adore.

 

RIP  Aretha Franklin     1942 -2018

(The Queen of Soul & Inspiration)

Thank You For The Music 

 

 

Written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

 

August 15, 2018

 

Cliff Richard & The Shadows on Columbia,

had a No.1 with ‘Summer Holiday’ in 63,

and in 66 ‘Sunny Afternoon’ for The Kinks

on the Pye label – their third No.1 proved to be.

 

At No.4 in 75 was ‘Summertime City’

on Epic for Mike Batt with The New Edition,

and in 78, John Travolta & Olivia Newton John,

with ‘Summer Nights’,  for 7 weeks, held the No.1 position.

 

In 78, ‘Summer Night City’ on Epic

took Abba to No.5,

and in 85, Bryan Adams on A & M

kept ‘Summer of 69’ alive.

 

‘Summertime Of Our Lives’ on Columbia

gave A1 a Top 5 in 99,

and in 74, ‘Summer Breeze’ by The Isley Brothers,

on Epic, another classic so fine.

 

With ‘Paper Sun’ at No.5 and ‘Hole In My Shoe’ at No.2,

in 67, Traffic, simply no wrong could do.

and in 81 on De-lite, Kool & The Gang

brought ‘Summer Madness’ to you.

 

‘Daydream’ & ‘Summer In The City’ 

two Top Tens for Lovin Spoonful in 66,

and from 2004, ‘Summer Sunshine’ by The Corrs,

on Altlantic, included in this mix.

 

 

Written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

 

August 4, 2018

 

 

In 88, Tanita Tikaram

reached No.10 with ‘Good Tradition’,

and in this year her ‘Twist In Sobriety’,

also on the Wea label, made the No.22 position.

 

‘The Good The Bad and The Ugly’, on RCA in 88

gave Hugo Montenegro a UK No.1,

and ‘A Good Year For The Roses’ reached No.6

for Elvis Costello & The Attractions in 81.

 

In 77  ‘Good Morning Judge’ on Mercury

gave 10cc a UK No.5 place.

and in 85, Fergal Sharkey on Virgin,

took ‘A Good Heart’ to No.1 in the chart race.

 

‘Good Times’ by Chic on Atlantic

was at No.5 in 79.

In the 90s – ‘So Good’ and ‘Good Thing’ on EMI

2 of 15 Top 20s for Eternal, doing fine.

 

‘Good Vibrations’ from The Beach Boys on Capitol,

in 66, a number 1 in the US. & UK.

and reaching No.7 in 73 was Perry Como,

with ‘For The Good Times’ on RCA.

 

‘Good Morning Freedom’ on the Philips label,

a Top 10 in 70 for Blue Mink,

and featuring William Orbit, on Columbia,

with ‘Feel Good Time’ (a Top 3 in 03) for P!nk.

 

In 95 ‘Back For Good’ on RCA,

for Take That – their 6th Uk No.1.

and in 98, ‘Goodbye’ on the Virgin  label,

the 8th UK No.1 for The Spice Girls – dance on.

 

Written by

Harriet Blackbury 

 

 

July 22, 2018

 

 

In 66, The Rolling Stones on Decca,

were at No.2 with ‘Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown’,

and in the charts of 87, Bruce Willis

was at No.7 with ‘Respect Yourself’, on Motown.

 

‘My Brother Jake’ on the Island label,

in 71, was a hit for Free,

and John Lennon was in the charts with ‘Mind Games’

on the Apple Label in 73.

 

In 65,  Dodie West on Decca,

had a Top 40 with ‘Going Out Of My Head’,

and in 92 on Epic – ‘Heal The World’

at No.2, Michael Jackson said.

 

‘Holding Back The Years’ on Electra,

arrived in 85 for Simply Red.

Becoming a US No.1 in 86, on the Wea label –

Mick Hucknall’s voice – to his fans – life’s bread.

 

In 65, ‘Heart Full Of Soul’ on Columbia

found the Yardbirds at No.2,

and in 78 with ‘Mind Blowing Decisions’ 

Heatwave’s fourth consecutive Top 20 on view.

 

In 91, George Michael on Epic,

had a Top 40 with ‘Heal The Pain’,

and in 2006 with ‘Rehab’ on the Island label –

Amy Winehouse shared with the world, her strain.

 

In 65, ‘Help’ by The Beatles on Parlophone –

their eighth UK No.1,  proved to be.

and in 69 ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’,

also on Parlophone, gave The Hollies a UK No.3

 

In 82, Imagination, with their fifth Top 20,

gave us ‘Music And Lights’,

and in the Uk chart in 75 ‘ making No.9,

‘Let The Music Play’ sang Barry White. 

 

Whatever our choice in music,

be it Classical, Pop or R & B –

there’s a song that makes life worth living,

when our minds drift out to sea.

 

So whatever mood we wake up in,

at the start of another groundhog day,

Let’s jump to our feet and pop on the radio,

and dance all our blues away.

 

Written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

 

June 3, 2018

 

 

In 52,  a Trinidadian pianist – Winifred Atwell,

we welcomed with open arms.

‘Let’s Have Another Party’ and ‘Poor People Of Paris ‘

two UK No.1s’  that showed off her charms.

 

Joe ‘Mr Piano’ Henderson,  entered the UK Top 20 in 55,

with ‘Sing It With Joe’ and ‘Sing It Again With Joe’.

before ‘Trudie’ came along in 58  – 

becoming another favourite fans got to know.

 

Also in this era – Russ Conway,

a pianist, our Grans’ won’t let us forget..

With two career No.1s  being –

‘Side Saddle’ and ‘Roulette’.

 

In 61, an American instrumental group,

in the UK charts, with a flourish did arrive.

The Dave Brubeck Quartet hitting No.6

on the Fontana label, with ‘Take Five’.

 

In the 60s,  The Spencer Davis Group

were a UK Band very much adored.

‘Keep On Running’ and ‘Somebody Help Me’ –

two No.1s, with Steve Winwood on keyboard.

 

Bobby Crush, another UK male pianist

that in 72, we got to know.

Performing on the Philips label,

he gained a Top 40 with Barsalino.

 

In 75, ‘Mandy’ – a US No.1 for Barry Manilow

made No.11 in the UK charts.

‘Could It Be Magic’ and ‘Can’t Smile Without You’,

two more of his hits, to win hearts.

 

Brenda Russell – a US vocalist /keyboard player,

in 80, with ‘So Good So Right’,   made her mark,

before, in 88 entering the charts at No.23

with ‘Piano In The Dark’.

 

‘For Once In My Life’ and ‘My Cherie Amour’ –

two early hits from ‘Stevie Wonder, on view.

This top US singer and pianist having UK No.1s  with

‘Ebony and Ivory and ‘I Just Called To Say I Love You’.

 

With a song for every occasion –

whether it be ‘Nikita’ or ‘Bennie And The Jets.

Or ‘Daniel’ or ‘Philadelphia Freedom’  –

Sir Elton John, a comfort, through all life’s regrets. 

 

Written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

 

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