April 23, 2021

 

With ten consecutive Top Ten hits in 5 years,

The Bay City Rollers entered the UK charts in 71.

Their first hit reaching No.9 on the Bell label,

was  ‘Keep On Dancing’, and so their magic begun.

 

Four more Top Ten hits followed in 74 –

at No.6 ‘Remember (Sha-la-la)’ & ‘Shang-a-lang’, at No.2.

Next came ‘Summerlove Sensation’ at No.3,

and at No.4,  ‘All Of Me Loves All Of You’.

 

Three more Top Ten singles came in 75 –

the first two, both gold selling No.1 hits.

‘Bye Bye Baby’ and ‘Give A Little Love’,

followed by ‘Money Honey’ – thrilling fans to bits.

 

In 76, still on the Bell label,

at No.4 was ‘Love Me Like I Love You’.

And ‘I Only Wanna Be With You’, also a Top 4,

for this group, who no wrong could do.

 

In 77, now on the Arista label,

making No.16, was ‘It’s A Game’,

and at No.34 ‘You Made Me Believe In Magic’,

so apt, as their last chart entry claim.

 

This Scottish band, loved by so many –

(founded by brothers Alan & Derek Longmuir)

won every teenage heart in the 70’s,

with their music, so wonderfully pure.

 

Thank you for the music.

R I P   Alan Longmuir     1948 – 2018

R I P    Les McKeown     1955 – 2021

 

written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

April 19, 2021

 

 

1     O GREENER FOREST     5  9

2     REFINED WILL M     7  5

3     OR BOLT IN NET     4  7

4     L U NICE MALL     4  6

5     J CAN SHOOT  H K     4  7

6     L  HE S  REAL  M C     3  7

7     I  SIR H W  LABEL ME I     6  8

8     MARK N ROY  G     5  4

9     I D   ARENA AND A K     6  6

10   L  WE B WISE  B     5  4

11    I ON YR FIELD  W B     8  4

12    E   R J    I SAME BOB     6  5

13    J T   HASH   O SO M     4  6

14    YOURS  IF  G S  SING LO     5  10

15    RING   HOVE SEA HUTS     7  8

16    L  SO NICE CHARM     5  7

17    HANDY AND A     3  6

18    L LED    U ENTER         3  7

19    Y HIS FAR RIGHT  RF     5  9

20    EYE  N AWARD     5  4

21    AIM   DO DEFEND ROW     7  7

22    A TALENT   A     4  4 

23    MASTER IT   M G       4  6

24    VAR   O CHURCHILL     4  9

25    J  LEO LANE     3  5

26    A NEON BAG  B C     3  7

27    U HEAR NOON  CHOIR     5  9

28    ANGLE ANGLER     5  6

29    O  MR HITS KEY     5  5

30    AKA   FLANK BIZ IS US     6  9

31    FAB COLD BROTH     3  9

32    I MUCH     5

33    E LARGE SUN FOX     4  8

34    VAR ANS BE  IN     5  5

35    O I NET RALLY     4  6

36    O ME A WALL  J     5  4

37    A TURN   SAIL C     4  6

38    H N JOKING     4  4

39    EG   I CHARM U     4  5  (on loan)

40    RE   A RITZ TROMBONE     7  8

41    WE LABEL KID  J     4  7

42    OH I C  C     5

43    ON MIGHT E SEA   L J     8  5

44    SEND A VIBE     3  6

45    B T CORNER  SO ON  R     6  7

46    THEIR LAKE  K W     5  6

47    JOG AN HUNT   AMAZED N     8  2  6

48    HE  ARTY  AN  N D     6  4

49    RIO SERVED US  D     5  2  5

50    LEO BY HILL     5  4

51    COAST   SIR CLINT     5  8

52    LUNCH CALLER H     3  9

53    L ME   M V CHOIR     6  4

54    HERE S  MY EARL   J C     6  7

55    O BIRD FEEDER     6  5

56    Y SKI NEAR RIALTO’     8  6

57    GREEN LED   WAY OUT     5  9

58    J B WON AS ONE     5  5

59    HNDY  ANAGRAM     5  6

60    Y DID WE SELL U     6  5

61    AT N  OF  JULY     3  6

62    COOL SPIN ACE     5  6

63    MY RED WINTER     5  6

64    CARRY ON   HEAD     5  6

65    ENTER ORLANDO  N  EFL     8  8

66    ED AND ALL  A W     4  6

67    U R DOIN ART  T M     5  6

68    C NEW DEAL  SIR     3  8

69    A LONDON CAST  J S     5  8

70    RULES  N  ME     3  5

71    L MAILING CHUM  J     3  10

72    WHAT   EVERY D G     4  7

73    WAY I SHALL SMILE     6  8

74    HUGS   ME HIKE     4  6

75    SEEN SOLVING NET     5  9

76    E G    GLAD  N  Y     4  4

77    NR  WEBSITE  LOC     5  7

78    SO ME   ALL IN JCS     5  7

79    Y PETER VOTES     5  6

80    I AM TO DASH     3  6

81    MOSTLY ON ME     5  5

82    SEEKS JOY     3  5

83    J WALK  FORCE     4  6

84    K T    HE DO IT   D     5  4

85    FINE R R SNACK     5  6

86    PHONE  DR SOLOMAN  T     7  8

87    WIN LINE R    AIM LO  S     6  8

88    MY MY   R  MC OSCAR     5  7

89    C J   LEN IS OFF     5  5

90    R  BLEND SOY  YEARLY     7  8

91    Y KEN NOT LAUGH     4  8

92    E BAND  EVENTS     6  5

 

The answers will appear on my website –

blackbury-poems.com

on 21st May 2021

Compiled by Harriet Blackbury

(usual copyright rules apply)

Thank you for visiting my website. Regards Harriet

 

 

 

April 4, 2021

 

 

1     COVER K   ‘N ONION     5  6

2     TENSE ROLE  P G     5  6

3     SAY U C  LARGE    M     6  5

4     A MENU    PAY  AL     4  6

5     A REAL H D   AS DR KING     6  9

6     US  AN  DREAMS  S     3  8

7     I  T    AN ENVOY     4  5

8     I WILL TAKE ON  S     5  7

9     JUST NANS SPOON     6  7

10   HAS GO AND SO MOD     5  8

11    E  J B  LED      I WALK     4  7

12    BY  GREAT LISTS     4  8

13    O ASSUME    DO JOB     5  7

14    AS  LINE DUKE  L     4  7

15    A HAND    BEAM SIR     4  8

16    C  Y    TO STILL B     5  5

17    AKA   E MARCH   I  JG     6  6

18    TALL   YET IN A V J     6  6

19    U ANGLED   A J     4  5

20    G  IN CHARLIE     6  4

21    L Y  LONDON AND COAST     7  9

22    ENTRY SAVER     5  5

23    GORDON NOW ERE     3  9

24    CEO  TOKEN     3  5

25    USE AN M B CAR     6  4

26    NINE NACHO PKT     5  7

27    SALAD N MAINS     5  6

28    NINE RAN   SO ICY     4  8

29    E  CROSSING  A     5  5

30    A YARD  VIA  D     5  4

31    NOON   JUST SNAPS     6  7

32    YR NEAT SEND  P H     5  7

33    C NO TARIFF    SMILE     5  9

34    KITE HILL MEN     5  6

35    O IN CHERRY     4  5

36    O MAY B  NUMBER     5  6

37    GRAND YEAR     5  4

38    SEVERAL MOR   D S     4  8

39    ROYAL  B T  ERO   R T     6  6

40    HERALD OWNS HOT D     4  10

41    NB   MEN HEAD    S SCORES     4  4  8 

42    CRY    BAKER AGREED     5  9

43    I  C  CHARTER  DATED     7  7

44    O FIND EVERY  K G     5  7

45    L  C NEW CHARM CLOUD     6  9

46    I D   WINTER SON     7  4

47    O   MR J T   WISE     3  6

48    AKA   SIR CHARM     5  6

49    Y SO WOULD U   L     5  5

50    U CROSS ARMS  F     6  5

51    O E B OK   OR BB     3  6

52    GO    STAR BERRY     4  7

53    ROK  N  ED   FM     4  4

54    I DO  C    C B HIRE     4  6

55    TEAS AN SHINE  M J     7 6

56    A THANKS FROM     6  5

57    E IS   A TEAM J B     5  5

58    SO   BY BROS B     5  4

59    CAN SING A THIRD ROAR     9  8

60    I D   OK   CALL  JAY H     4  8

61    O SHOPPING DRILL     6  8

62    SIR H   DO SKIP IN     5  7

63    DO STAY   N  C  T     4  5

64    U Q FOR  I TEAS     6  4

65    O  YES ROGER   E  G P     6  6

66    O MIRACLE MAN  ON SIDE     8  9

67    C  ENTRY  FOR SKI     5  7

68    O I B  ROCKO BEE     6  5

69    L   E LEN AN SAM     4  6

70    C  A  ANKLE   J     4  4

71    DJ VISA   ALSO H     4  7

72    DONNY SAT IN     4  6

73    O  DVD    U B  IN AT  T     5  6

74    O MR WISE   J T     3  6

75    NEE    A  HERALD     6  4

76    L   HURRY ROCKET     5  7

77    EG   JONAH  N     4  4

78    O  Y  RING A   T C     4  5

79    GROCER ROSS     5  5

80    P O GARAGE    SO GREEN     6  9

81    E  DR CHARLIE     7  3

82    L  LINE  IS  MILE     4  7

83    HAD WARM SOFA     4  7

84    ADAM A GROUTING   I O U   A     7  10

85    Y  LINE BALL     5  4

86    CLOCK CAMRA MAN     4  9

87    ID   O RIDER GEE     7  4

88    U PLAN SAVE     4  5

89    VESSEL HILT   PIP     5  8

90    ENGAGE SIR OR FC     6  7

91    C PHONE SIR   AS  F J     7  6

92    O ZERO RICE  J     3  7

93    MY NIGHT SONG    MOI     5  9

94    MD  SOLO  IN BEACH     7  6

95    DEAR LILY  B     5  4

96    PANEL CUBE     4  5

97    E ASK   IN WINTER     5  7

98    RON N JO   FRIDAY  N H      6  8

99    A   N E  HALLWAY     4  6

100  BETTER   O DR    FC     4  7

101   O BIGGER  TOWERS     6  7

102   AH  PS    R U BULB     4  6 

103   I MY MAN     I  J B     5  4

104   O C   J D   NOT HENRY     4  8

105   AL NELSON    A J     5  5

106   YES TODD    RUSH     5  6

107   I    A READING     3  6

108   C   ME LOST  T     3  5

109   O  E  SAME  J J     3  5

110   NEE    O THIS  K J     5  5

111   REALLY DASH  B W     7  5   (The Chase is on)

 

the answers will appear on my website –

blackbury-poems.com

on 30th April 2021.

 

Compiled by Harriet Blackbury

(usual copyright rules apply)

Thank you for visiting my website    Regards Harriet

 

March 31, 2021

 

 

 

1     STEVE BULL

2     BILLY WRIGHT

3     DEREK DOUGAN

4     JOHN RICHARDS

5     CONOR COADY

6     RON FLOWERS

7     DEREK PARKIN

8     ROBBIE KEANE

9     STAN CULLIS

10   JOLEON LESCOTT

11    DIOGO JOTA

12    PHIL PARKES

13    JACK GREALISH

14    HUGH CURRAN

15    RAUL JIMENEZ

16    KI – JANA HOEVER

17    JIM McCALLIOG

18    BERT WILLIAMS

19    BILL SLATER

20    RUBEN NEVES

21    ANDREAS SONDERGAARD

22    JONNY WOLVERHAM

23    ADAMA TRAORE

24    GEORGE BERRY

25    FABIO SILVA

26    PAUL COOK

27    KENNY HIBBITT

28    DAVE WAGSTAFFE

29    WILLIE CARR

30    PETER BROADBENT

31    RAYAN AIT – NOURI

32    BOBBY GOULD

33    MATT DOHERTY

34    FRANK MUNRO

35    JONNY OTTO

36    JIMMY MULLEN

37    LEANDER DENDONCKER

38    ROMAIN SAISS

39    RORY BROWN

40    WILLY BOLY

41    PAUL INCE

42    NELSON SEMEDO

43    JOAO MOUTINHO 

44    PETER WITHE

45    MICHAEL KIGHTLY

46    JOHNNY HANCOCKS

47    DANIEL PODENCE

48    ANDY MUTCH

49    DARREN FERGUSON

50    MATT JARVIS

51    RUI PATRICIO

52    KEVIN FOLEY

53    MAX KILMAN

54    PEDRO NETO

55    ALAN SUNDERLAND

56    SYLVAN EBANKS – BLAKE

57    FERNANDO MARCAL

58    DENNIS WESTCOTT

59    JOHN RUDDY

60    MIKE BAILEY

61    ANDY THOMPSON  (also No.67)  oops!

62    LEO BONATINI

63    WAYNE HENNESSEY

64    MORGAN GIBBS – WHITE

65    MIKE STOWELL

66    KEVIN DOYLE

67    ANDY THOMPSON  (also No.61)

68    MALCOLM FINLAYSON

69    DEAN RICHARDS

70    BILLY HARRISON

71    MEL EAVES

72    ROY SWINBOURNE

73    EMLYN HUGHES

74    ROBBIE DENNISON

75    MATT MURRAY

76    BOB HAZELL

77    RICHARD STEARMAN

78    MICK KEARNS

79    PETER EASTOE

80    TOM BADDELEY

81    ALF BISHOP

82    NORMAN DEELEY

83    ANDY GRAY

84    TOM GALLEY

85    BILLY HARTILL

 

Compiled by Harriet Blackbury

March 2021

(usual copyright rules apply)

Thank You for visiting my website – Regards Harriet. 

 

 

March 29, 2021

 

 

 

In 95, ‘My Friends’, on Warner Brothers,

for The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, made No.29.

And in 07, ‘The Girls’, on Sony,

saw Calvin Harris on the Top 3 line.

 

In 84, ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’,

on Portrait, gave Cyndi Lauper a Top 2.

And in 99, ‘Friends Forever’, for Thunderbugs,

reached the Top 5, on 1st Avenue.

 

In 86, Queen peaked at No.14, on EMI,

with ‘Friends Will Be Friends’.

And in 07, The Spice Girls, on Virgin,

made No.11, with ‘Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)’.

 

In 71, ‘You’ve Got A Friend’, on Warner Brothers,

gave James Taylor, a US No.1 & UK Top 4.

And in 79, ‘Girl Talk’, on Swansong,

for Dave Edmunds, also a UK Top 4.

 

In 70, ‘Friends’, on Decca,

gave Arrival, a No.8 entry.

And in 89, ‘Girls NIght Out’,

on Wildstar, for Alda, made the Top 20.

 

In 71, ‘Girls Are Out To Get You’, on Mojo,

took The Fascinations to No.32.

And in 2000, Melanie C, on Virgin,

had a No.1 with ‘I Turn To You’.

 

In 92,’Good Friends’, peaked at No.61,

on Columbia, for Paris Red.

And in 2010, Plan B, on 679/Atlantic,

had a Top 3 with ‘She Said’.

 

In 83, ‘Dear Prudence’, on Wonderland,

was a Top 3 for Siouxsie & The Banshees.

And in 05, ‘All About You’/’You’ve Got A Friend’,

on Island, for McFly, made No.1 with ease.

 

In 82, Zoom, on Virgin,

gave Fat Larry’s Band, a Top 2.

And in 63, The Beatles had a 7 week No.1,

on Parlophone, with ‘From Me To You’

 

written by Harriet Blackbury.

 

 

March 26, 2021

 

 

In 80, Roger Daltrey, on Polydor,

raced to No.39 with ‘Free Me’.

And in 05, ‘Free My Name’, on Sanctuary,

for Ocean Colour Scene, reached No.23.

 

In 78, Free, rose to No.11,

on Island, with ‘Free EP’.

And in 84, ‘I Want To Break Free’,

on EMI, for Queen, made the Top 3.

 

In 73, ‘Free Electric Band’, on Mums,

gave Albert Hammond, a No.19.

And in 80, ‘Running Free’, on EMI,

for Iron Maiden, also a No.19.

 

In 94, ‘Free Spirit’, on Parlophone,

for Kim Appleby, was at No.51, seen.

And in 04, ‘Freedom Fighters’, on Virgin,

gave Music, a No.15.

 

In 93, Jon Secado had a Top 50,

with ‘I’m Free’, on SBK.

And also in 93, ‘Free To Love Again’,

made No.58, for Suzette Charles, on RCA.

 

In 77, Deniece Williams, reached No.1,

with ‘Free’, on CBS.

And in 84, ‘Freedom’, on Epic, gave Wham,

a gold selling US & UK No.1 success.

 

In 87, ‘Free’ on Mercury, made No.56,

for Curiosity Killed The Cat.

And in 97, ‘Freed From Desire’, on Big Life,

found Gala, with a silver selling No.2 hat.

 

In 97, ‘Free’, on Positiva,

saw DJ Quicksilver at No.7.

And in 01, ‘Free’, on Interscope,

for Mya, peaked at No.11.

 

In 95, Free Spirit reached No.68,

on Columbia, with ‘No More Rainy Days’.

And in 2000, ‘Freedom’, on Mute,

gave Erasure, a No.27 gaze.

 

In 01, ‘Free At Last’, on Positiva,

took Simon to No.36.

And in 95, ‘Free As A Bird’, on Apple –

a No.2, for the Beatles, ending this mix.

 

written by Harriet Blackbury.

 

 

March 16, 2021

 

 

1     L   BLUE VEST     5  4

2     BRIGHTY WILL     5  6

3     GO  ARDEN DUKE     5  6

4     H  JOINS ARCH RD     4  8

5     O  Y  ON ACCORD     5  5

6     R F WON ROLES     3  7

7     E KIND PARKER     5  6

8     OR  I  KEEN   BABE     6  5

9     US STILL CAN     4  6

10    LET J NET   SO COOL     6  7

11    O  I  A  GO TO  D J     5  4

12    HIP  SPARKLE     4  6

13    L  I REACH   ASK  J G     4  8

14    ARCH RUN   HUG     4  6

15    L  IN  AZURE  JEM     4  7

16    AKA – HE  V  JOIN  E R     2 – 4  6

17    L   C GOAL  MIMIC J     3  9

18    I WILL BE SMART    4  8

19    L   RESIT BALL     4  6

20    BE  EVEN  RUNS     5  5

21    A GRAND SEASON  R DARED     7  11

22    VAR  JOY   N MEN HOWL     5  9

23    A DREAM   A ROTA     5  6

24    REG BY REG  OR  E     6  5

25    FOIL  AS I B  V A     5  5

26    LOOK  A    U  PC     4  4

27    THINK IT  B  BY  N E      5  7

28    DWF   A STAGE FAVE     4  9

29    I  CARER  WILL     6  4

30    BET NET OR READ  B P     5  9

31    YOU – IN ART ARIA  N     5  3 – 5

32    O  B  BOLD   GUY B     5  5

33    TRY HOT MADE T     4  7

34    N FOR UNMARK     5  5

35    JO  NOT  TONY     5  4

36    U  N Y  JEM MILL M     5  6

37    NEED LAND  N REED  ROCK     7  10 

38    A MISS   SO I RAN     6  5

39    BOY    WON R R R     4  5

40    L   Y O Y  WILL B     5  4

41    U IN PLACE     4  4

42    ME LONE   SO SEND     6  6

43    O HI  JO MAN   U TOO     4  8

44    WIPE  T   THERE     5  5

45    AH   MIGHT LIKELY C     7  7

46    CANNY  HOCKS  ON  J H     6  8

47    I C  OPEN ENDED  AL     6  7

48    Y  U  MATCH  D N     4  5

49    R ROSE GARDEN  FUN     6  8

50    ITS  AT  VAR  M J     4  6

51    I  C  U  PAIR  TRIO     3  8

52    ONLY  KE  FIVE      5  5

53    ALAN MIX  M K     3  6

54    RED  TO  OPEN     5  4

55    NN  RUN SALAD DEAL     4  10

56    VAN B KEYS – SANK LABEL     6  6 – 5

57    A LEONARD M RAN F C     8  6

58    TIN CONTD SWEETS     6  8

59    N Y  DJ  OUR D H     4  5

60    Y  E  MAIL BIKE     4  6

61    POST  MONDAY  N H     4  8

62    O BOAT  IN  LINE     3  8

63    YES   E  HEN  N  SWAN   Y  E     5  9

64    ROW B  –  BEAMING SIGHT     6  5 – 5

65    WILL SEEK  TOM     4  7

66    Y  E  KIND LOVE     5  5

67    MANY HOT PONDS     4  8

68    MY MOON CALLS FINAL     7  9

69    I  C  DEAR HANDS  R     4  8

70    I  ON  BARRYS  HILL     5  8

71    SLEEVE M     3  4

72    WIN BY   U  R  ON ROSE     3  10

73    S N E  HUGELY  M H     5  6

74    O  E  NINE RIBS BOND     6  8

75    MM  ART   U ARTY      4  6

76    OH  BE   Z  BALL     3  6

77    TEA AND CHARM  SIR R     7  8

78    KICK EARNS  M     4  6

79    E REPEATS  TOE     5  6

80    E DO MY DEAL  T B     3  8

81    L  I  FAB SHOP     3  6

82    E  ME  ROY AND LEN     6  6

83    Y GARY   DAN     4  4

84    LET MY GOAL     3  6

85    Y  I  B  ALL THRILL     5  7

 

the answers will appear on my website –

blackbury-poems.com

on 31st March 2021

(usual copyright rules apply)

 

Thank you for visiting my website – Regards Harriet        

 

 

March 15, 2021

 

 

and buttercups in the meadow knew,

that you need me and I need you.

 

and honey bees, who saw us coming,

filled with joy and started humming.

 

and swans with cygnets formed a flotilla,

when we arrived to give them dinner.

 

and hungry gulls with a deafening sound,

dive bombed the party, and came to ground.

 

and canadian geese picked up the scraps,

along with ducks – such cheeky chaps.

 

and pigeons too, from far and wide,

gathered by the waterside.

 

and all too soon, the food was gone,

and the late – comers, just looked on.

 

‘that’s it kids, no more today’,

I say, with sadness, turning away.

 

‘next time, I promise to bring more’,

with deep sincerity, I implore.

 

as buttercups in the meadow view,

us coming back, with hands held true.

 

and honey bees who saw us coming,

no longer there – no sound of humming.

 

written by Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

and when I thought all hope was gone,

my watch had stopped at five to one.

 

and then I thought ‘what can I do’,

by which time it was ten past two.

 

I’d lost my mind, which worried me,

until it returned at quarter to three.

 

I showered and dressed, and opened the door,

by which time it was twenty to four.

 

I breathed fresh air, and felt alive,

as the town hall clock struck dead on five.

 

I walked for miles – my mind to fix,

by now it was six minutes past six.

 

I talked to people, it felt like heaven,

then wandered home at half past seven.

 

I took a path, which wasn’t straight,

that got me home just after eight.

 

I cooked some food, and drank some wine,

then read in bed, til well past nine.

 

‘I simply must do this again’,

‘to hell’, I thought, ‘with News at Ten’.

 

written by Harriet Blackbury

 

March 14, 2021

 

 

‘I’m a ‘Youth Dew’ girl,

she would always insist to me.

 

I told her that I found it

a little over-powering,

and that maybe she

should use a tad less.

 

I would sneeze as soon as

she clambered into my car.

We would give each other

that same knowing look.

 

Her first words always the same:

‘You’re flaming crackers, and you

can turn that racket off the radio too –

lets talk instead’.

 

That’s how it was, mile after mile.

She talked and talked. I listened 

and occasionally butted in.

I’d heard every word many times.

 

She loved dogs and trees,

and ten people and me,

but the rest of the universe

could all ‘sod off’.

 

In an attempt to suppress

another imminent sneeze,

I would mischievously press

the passenger window switch,

 

and her window would come

flying down, letting in some

lovely, cool clear air, and scaring

her witless, in the process.

 

‘Put this window back up,

you damned idiot’, she would

demand, closing her eyes and

shaking her head in dismay.

 

Oh. what I would give to

smell the perfume on her today!

 

Now, more than a decade on,

I occasionally catch the aroma

of Youth Dew on someone that

I pass in the street. and choking back

tears, face all the comeuppance

I deserve.

 

Sorry for being such a bitch Mum

Love you tons.

 

written by Harriet Blackbury

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