August 18, 2018

 

 

Joyously Uplifting –  

the best thing ever to have come out of a Wheelie Bin !

 

 

Harriet Blackbury

 

 

 

August 17, 2018

 

They both arrived on cue,

each one wagging their tail –

though that’s not strictly true,

for they’d come by British Rail,

 

as no Virgin trains on the platform

to be mounted for the ride,

they had taken the escalator

to the other side.

 

and waited for an ‘Inter City’

recommended by their cat,

who had now become a home-bird,

because of this and that,

 

and who’s travelling days were over

and who wisely took the view,

to step aside and let the youngsters

do what youngsters do !

 

The next train at the platform

they decided wouldn’t do,

as their cat had strictly told them

that all journeys end at Crewe.

 

So with tails between their legs –

though that’s not strictly true,

they went down another escalator,

wondering what to do.

 

No Porter on this platform,

though one across the track,

who just completely ‘blanked’ them,

as he loaded a mail sack,

 

so with frustration building,

they sat down for a while,

and decided to ring their cat,

who, of course, was on speed-dial.

 

But their cat by now had settled,

and was in the land of nod,

so back up the steps they trundled,

and said  ‘ain’t life a sod ! ‘

 

But just then, to the rescue,

came magically into view –

the delayed train they had wanted,

and their excitement grew,

 

and then with both tails wagging –

if only that was true!

they took their waiting seats

and then the whistle blew.

 

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 12, 2018

 

 

Amber, Apricot & Apple Green –

Jersey potatoes nicely scrubbed clean.

 

Crimson, Caramel & Cerise Pink –

Peas from the pod drained in the sink.

 

Marigold, Mauve & Midnight Blue –

A hint of paprika in a rich stew.

 

Lemon, Lilac & Lily White –

Hot milk at bedtime for a restful night.

 

Purple, Peony, Peach & Plum –

Banana fritters laced with rum.

 

Shades of Denim and Army Khaki –

Toasted soldiers in eggs  – what a Malachi !

 

Powder Blue, Navy and Deep Magenta –

Coconuts, Mangoes, and Flying Fish  I sent her.

 

Scarlet, Strawberry & Ruby Red –

Blacksticks cheese, with Sourdough bread.

 

Turquoise, Tangerine, Taupe & Tan – 

catching moon-dust in a dustpan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

!

 

 

August 6, 2018

 

 

Tune in to

Tony’s Time Machine

at Noon on Tuesday  7th August

for another fast moving hour of

summer chat and great music –

including 

Tony’s ever popular

‘This week in History’.

 

Tony will also be reading the poem

For The Love Of Good’

written by

Harriet Blackbury.

 

August 4, 2018

 

and blood was shed

and hearts were broken –

no meaning left

in love’s gold token.

 

one making plans

for future dreams,

the other lost

in a head of screams.

 

and blood was shed

with few words spoken

too late the senses

were awoken –

 

one making plans

and forward thinking,

the other lost

in an eyelid’s blinking.

 

Review —The Duchess Of Malfi – RSC

 

 

 

When something rankles

and the mind won’t settle,

even after losing oneself

in a burst of heavy metal

 

Just let it go.

 

When an injustice outstanding

with no sign of a result,

and a stone lands on the nose

from a loose catapult.

 

Just let it go.

 

When words said in good faith

linger long in mid air,

leaving hurt and ill-feeling

and a hot tempered flare 

 

Just let it go.

 

When there’s no getting over

the things people do,

put it down to experience

and The Lord will bless you.

 

Just let it go.

 

 

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 

 

 

August 3, 2018

 

 

She never saw it coming –

she never had a clue.

It took a moment to sink in –

you and him and her and you.

 

She never would have thought it –

not in a million years.

Such things are just unthinkable –

her and you and him – nightmares!

 

She never saw it coming-

she never had a clue.

Some lines not meant for crossing –

somethings one shouldn’t do.

 

She never would have found out

without one being close by,

who stood aghast with eyes wide open,

peering through nets that didn’t lie.

 

She never would forget it –

the moment truth appeared,

the incredulous amusement –

irony on hind legs reared.

 

She never could dismiss it –

trust forever gone.

The certainty of certainties –

the lost bet that was odds on.

 

She never could unblock it –

in cycles it came to light.

She even questioned her own judgement,

looking back at dead of night.

 

She never saw it coming,

her and you and him, it’s true.

Never was a Holy Trinity

so absurd, and so taboo.

 

 

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