March 10, 2018

 

 

 

‘Hello Dolly’ a hit for Louis Armstrong

on London, in 1964.

This song also well covered,

by Frankie Vaughan, Kenny Ball and more.

 

In 63 ‘Hello Little Girl’, on Parlophone,

for The Fourmost, reached No.9.

And in 03, The Super Furry Animals, on Epic,

had a No. 31, with ‘Hello Sunshine’.

 

In 69, ‘Hello Suzie’, on Immediate,

gave Amen Corner, a Top 4 sell.

And in 76, ‘Hello Happiness’, reached No.12,

for The Drifters, on Bell.

 

In 77, ‘Hello Stranger’, peaked at No.26,

for Yvonne Elliman, on RSO.

And in 80, ‘Hello America’, made No.45,

for Def Leppard, on Vertigo.

 

In 84 ‘Hello’, on Motown,

for Lionel Richie, a US & UK No.1.

And in 92, ‘Shakespear’s Sister, on London,

reached No.14, with ‘Hello (Turn Your Radio On).

 

In 67, ‘Hello, Goodbye’, on Parlophone,

for The Beatles, a US & UK No.1 claim

And in 68, ‘Hello I Love You’,

found The Doors in the Top 20 frame.

 

In 60, ‘Hello Young Lovers’, on Columbia,

saw Paul Anka with a No.44 won.

And in 81, ‘Hello Again’, on Capitol,

for Neil Diamond, reached No.51.

 

In 68, ‘Hello How Are You’, on United Artists,

for The Easybeats peaked at No.20.

And in 90, ‘Hello’ on WEA,

gave Beloved a No 19 entry.

 

In 74, ‘Tell Him’, a Top 6,

for UK male group -Hello, on Bell

And in 86, ‘Hello Darling’, on UK Bubblers,

gave Tippa Irie, a No 22 spell

 

In 2015 arrived ‘Hello’,

on the record label XL,

and rightly ending this mix,

is UK singer, Adele.

 

 

 

 

Each answer snappy

with growling overtones,

 

that changed the timing

of the household beat,

 

and constant knotting

of pillowcase strings,

 

as angry voices rang out

down below.

 

And unsightly fingernails

chewed to the quick;

 

the dog seeking refuge

underneath the bed.

 

And the hell of knowing

worse was yet to come.

 

The physical sickness

stomach nerves brought forth.

 

The thumping loud

on table’s hardwood top.

 

as trembles forcing

a urine flow.

 

The stress of loyalty

seemingly misplaced;

 

to want to love,

but feelings not embraced,

 

for fear of harsh words

after all was done.

 

No need to have 

it all spelt out,

 

the pattern so familiar

had become,

 

the outcome obvious

set in cold cement. –

 

Grandma’s yearly visit

was now imminent !

 

_______

 

And come, she did,

and settled in,

 

as peace and calm

replaced the din.

 

The dog so sweetly

by her leg,

 

wagged it’s tail

and sat to beg,

 

as the household slowly

did uncoil –

 

the kettle, the only thing

now on the boil.

 

She played Board games,

and made us laugh and squeal,

 

and taught us how

to do cart wheels.

 

She learned about

the things we do,

 

and listened to 

our point of view.

 

Then all too soon

her visit through,

 

and no-one dead –

we all said ‘phew’.

 

Now twelve months had we,

with older eyes,

 

before another

love-torn compromise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We listen and we shake our head,

not always in agreement with what is said.

 

But listen we do – a friendly ear,

a silent soundboard – in neutral gear.

 

We do not comment, tis not our place

to get involved – we smile with grace,

 

as the latest saga is unravelled,

with repetition, and so well travelled,

 

as hot frustrations, are now aired –

steam coming with each hurried word,

 

whilst waiting for, the point of entry

to change the mood, with humour plenty.

 

To stop the rot – to have some fun,

before the will to live is done.

 

One tale’s good, til another’s told,

one thinks as this tale does unfold,

 

and just as advise, about to slip,

one thinks it wise, to bite the lip.

 

as no end does, there appear in sight,

a toilet visit – seems polite.

 

To stem the flow, to bring a change,

and the mindset, to re-arrange.

 

So good to get it off one’s chest –

to have good friends, one so is blessed  !

 

 

 

The Lily pond, not as it seems –

not quite the same as in one’s dreams.

 

A mystery around it lingers,

and not the place for tiny fingers.

 

No birds on view, the sky quite still,

with clouds now absent, yet still a chill

 

is in the air, as winter’s sun,

sits low, unsure if spring’s begun,

 

and early flowers, in wonderment,

burst forth as if heaven sent.

 

Each snowdrop, crocus and daffodil,

a welcome sight on Richmond Hill.

 

Though the Lily pond, not as it seems –

not quite the same as in one’s dreams.

 

A mystery around it lingers –

and not the place for tiny fingers.

 

 

 

February 24, 2018

 

 

 

 

Their first Chart entry in 76

saw  The Real Thing  reach No. 1.

With  ‘You To Me Are Everything’

their stardom had begun.

 

‘Can’t Get By Without You’

also in this year made No.2,

and with two more hits in 77

their popularity grew.

 

In 78, ‘Whenever You Want My Love’

claimed a Top Twenty slot.

‘Let’s Go Disco’ also released in this year,

and ‘Rainin Through My Sunshine’  – so hot.

 

‘Can You Feel The Force’,

in 79, made Number 5 ,

and ‘Boogie Down (Get Funky Now)’

in the Top 40 did arrive.

 

In 86,   two decade remixes

both made a Top 10 score,

and a remix of  ‘Can You Feel The Force’,

– in the charts at No. 24.

 

In 05, The Freeloaders featuring The Real Thing

with ‘So Much Love To Give’  made No.9

So much ‘feelgood’ factor music coming

from this Uk male vocal group – so fine.

 

Thank You for the music

Rest In Peace    Eddie Amoo   (d 2018).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tune in to

Tony’s Time Machine

at Noon on Tuesday

27th February 2018

for another super-fast hour

of great music & chat.

 

No two Shows the same –

Don’t miss a minute

 

Tony will also be reading the poem –

For The Love Of  The Real Thing

written by Harriet Blackbury.

 

February 14, 2018

 

 

Free, with their ‘Wishing Well’,

in 73, gained a Top 10 score.

and in 87, Terence Trent D’arby

took another ‘Wishing Well’ to No.4.

 

And at No.10 in the Charts,

in the year of 82,

were ‘A Flock Of Seagulls’ with –

‘Wishing  (if I had a photograph of you’.

 

In 84, China Crisis  took

‘Wishful Thinking’ to No. 9,

20 years after The Mersey Beats in 64

with ‘Wishing & Hopin’,  were doing fine.

 

Roxette took ‘Wish I Could Fly’

as high as No.11 in 99,

and ‘Wishing On A Star’ by Rose Royce

at No.3 in 78,  also a favourite – divine!

 

In 76  ‘I Wish’ by Stevie Wonder –

a US No.1 hit, for which we are blest.

and ‘The King Of Wishful Thinking” –

a Top 20 in 90, for Go West.

 

In 63, Buddy Holly

with ‘Wishing’,  reached No.1o,

and in 93, Soul ll Soul,

had a Top 30 with ‘Wish’.    Amen

 

 

Whatever is on our ‘wish list’

to help us get through the day,

we also must live for the moment

and not wish our life away.

 

Whatever our hopes and aspirations –

let solace, through music be found,

by enjoying life on a daily basis,

listening to our favourite sound.

 

Written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

 

January 22, 2018

 

Tune in to the much awaited return

of

Tony’s Time Machine

at Noon on Tuesday

the  20th February 2018.

 

This fast moving hour contains

lively chat, great music

and many surprises.

 

Tony will also be reading the poem –

‘For The Love Of The Moody Blues’

written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

Welcome Back Tony

Your fans are rooting for you –

Life is a wondrous story.

January 11, 2018

 

Back by popular demand  !!!

 

another Special Broadcast of

‘Concert from the Gates Of Heaven’

from

Tony’s Time Machine

on Tuesday, 16th January 2018

at 12 Noon.

 

The Show includes the poem  –

‘Beyond Heaven’s Gate’

written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

Tony’s Time Machine

will be back ‘LIVE’ on

Tuesday, 23rd January 2018

at Noon.

 

 

January 7, 2018

 

 

Their first chart entry – ‘Go Now’,

a Number 1 of Christmas 64.

In 65, three hits followed,

also on Decca, as before.

 

In 67, ‘Nights in White Satin’

reached No. 19, in the charts –

This song also a Top 20 in 72 and 79,

and still today melts many hearts.

 

In the summer of 68  ‘Voices In The Sky’

at No. 27 , came through.

and also ‘Ride My See-Saw’,

in December reached No.42.

 

In May of 70,  ‘Question’,

was in the Top Ten at No.2,

and 72 found ‘Isn’t Life Strange’

at No.13, loved by fans, loyal and true.

 

‘I’m Just A Singer ( In A Rock ‘N’ Roll Band)’

reached No.36 in 73,

and ‘Blue World’, also a Top 40

ten years later in 83.

 

‘I Know You’re Out There Somewhere’  –

this last tribute to members across the divide.

Thank You for the great music –

your contribution, can’t be denied.

 

Rest In Peace 

Clint Warwick – 2004

Ray Thomas – 2018

Graeme Edge – 1941 – 2021

 

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