March 26, 2018

 

 

Get set for Tony’s Time Machine

on Tuesday  27th March  2018

at NOON

 

You’d be crazy to miss

this wonderful hour

of musical celebration

in tribute to 

SIR KEN  DODD.

 

The Show will include musicians/singers

from Liverpool,

and a special dedication from

Ken’s friend, John Salton.

 

The Show will also feature the poem

‘For The Love Of Ken Dodd.

written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

Enjoy the fun Folks

( This will be Tony at his very best –

squeezing every last second out of

a very busy, fast moving hour.)

 

March 12, 2018

 

 

His first Top Ten came in 1960

spending 18 weeks in the chart.

With ‘Love Is Like A Violin’

this singer/comedian won every heart.

 

In 61, followed ‘Once In Every Lifetime’,

and in 62, ‘Pianissimo’ continued to thrill.

and changing from Decca to Columbia,

in 63, his next hit was ‘Still’.

 

‘Happiness’ and ‘So Deep’Is The Night’ –

two more hits coming in 64,

and in 65 his first No.1, ‘Tears’

sold 1.5 million copies  and more.

 

‘The River (Le Colline Sono In Fioro)’ –

his last hit of 65, reached No.3.

And as his popularity soared,

this Liverpudlian filled us with glee.

 

With ‘Promises’ – his Top Ten of 66,

and ‘More Than Love’,  a Top Twenty.

His final hit of this year –

‘It’s Love’,  made a Top 40 entry.

 

‘Let Me Cry On Your Shoulder’

in 67 reached No.11,

and ‘Tears Won’t Wash Away These Heartaches’,

in 69, another ballard,  fans thought just heaven!

 

‘Broken Hearted’  came next in 70 –

our love for him going on and on.

‘When Love Comes Round Again (L’arca Di Noe)’ –

his next Top Twenty in 71.

 

‘Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms)’,

his only chart hit of 72.

And in 75  – ‘(Think Of Me) Wherever You Are’ –

so apt today – as we surely will do.

 

His final chart entry in 81

also fittingly was  ‘Hold My Hand’.

Thank You Ken Dodd for the love and laughter –

the best Act ever, a stage, to command.

 

written by

Harriet Blackbury 

 

March 10, 2018

 

 

Tune in to

Tony’s Time Machine

at Noon on Tuesday

13th March 2018

 

for another super-charged hour of

great music, memories and lively chat.

 

This week Tony’s lovely guest will be 

Andrea – direct from Sherwood Forest.

They will be discussing

‘Life after death – in a positive way.

 

Tony will also be reading the poems-

‘For The Love Of The Real Thing’

and 

For The Love Of Ken Dodd

written by

Harriet Blackbury.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘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

 

 

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