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October 21, 2017
Tune in to the acclaimed
‘Tony’s Time Machine’
on Tuesday, 24th October 2017
at Noon.
This week Tony will be featuring
the music of THE WHO.
including his reading of
‘For The Love Of ‘The Who’
written by
Harriet Blackbury
Enjoy another fast moving, fun packed hour Folks.
(You’d be barking mad to miss it.)
In 65, ‘I Can’t Explain’- a hit
for these UK, R & B men,
and ‘Anyway Anyhow Anywhere’
gave The Who their second Top Ten.
Their last hit of 65 – ‘My Generation’,
reached as high as No.2.
In 66, five more hits arrived
with ‘Substitute’ & ‘A Legal Matter’ in view.
‘I’m A Boy’ & ‘The Kids Are Alright’ followed,
with ‘Happy Jack’ filling the dance floor.
‘Pictures Of Lily’, their first hit of 67 –
and ‘The Last Time’/ ‘Under My Thumb’, in at 44.
‘I Can See For Miles’, came next –
making the Top Ten line.
Then in 68 came ‘Dogs’ & ‘Magic Bus’,
and at No.4, ‘Pinball Wizard’, in 69.
Their 2 Hits of 70 included –
‘The Seeker’ and ‘Summertime Blues’,
and ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ & ‘Let’s See Action’ –
2 Top Twenty hits of 71, over which, fans enthused.
‘Join Together’ their next offering-
reaching No.9 in 72.
and in 73 ‘Relay’ & ‘5.15’,
saw more hits adding to the queue.
In 76 came ‘Squeeze Box’ & ‘Substitute’
with ‘Who Are You’ in 78, reaching No.18.
Then ‘Long Live Rock’ in 79, before,
‘You Better You Bet’ & ‘Don’t Let Go The Coat’, seen.
‘Athena’, their Top 40 of 82,
was followed by ‘Ready Steady Who (EP)’, in 83,
and ‘My Generation’, back again in 88 and 96 –
completes this hit list from A to Zee.
Well known for their Rock Opera – ‘Tommy’,
this Legendary Mod group, loved so true.
Sadly, losing Keith Moon back in September 78,
and John Entwistle in June 2002.
Thank You for the ground-breaking music –
You changed so many lives.
Written by Harriet Blackbury
October 16, 2017
Tune in to the acclaimed
‘Tony’s Time Machine’
on Tuesday, 17th October
at Noon
to hear Tony read
‘For The Love Of Steely Dan’
written by
Harriet Blackbury.
Enjoy Folks –
It’s good to have Tony back live on air.
‘Do it again’ made the UK Top 40
in 75 for Steely Dan.
This U S group then reached the Top 20
with ‘Haitian Divorce’ going to plan.
‘FM (No Static At All)’
in 78, their next release
‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, came in 79 –
Walter Becker – May you rest in peace.
October 8, 2017
Ten years I’ve been without her.
Ten years I have been free.
Still passing her belov’ed Plane tree
that she first pointed out to me.
Ten years of doing my own thing.
Ten years without reprimand.
Still acting as impulsive as ever,
without being slapped on the hand.
Ten years not hearing ‘I told you so’.
Ten years of missing unconditional trust.
Still re-opening age’d battle scars,
from the times we did combust.
Ten years of heartache and agony.
Ten years it’s taken, til time forgot.
Now at last I’m ready to admit it –
She was right sometimes, but not a lot!
Ten years of thinking it could have been different.
Ten years of knowing it simply could not-
‘We were too alike’ as she said often –
on that, she hit the spot.
Ten years without my sparring partner.
Ten years on freedom’s trail.
Still a decade on I so miss her –
Mother Dear, I’m starting to wail.
October 6, 2017
.
To hear Harriet Blackbury’s poems
For The Love Of Tom Petty
and
For The Love Of Glen Campbell
tune into the all new exciting
Tony’s Time Machine
on
Tuesday 10th October
at 12pm
October 4, 2017
In 77, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
hit the UK Charts with ‘Anything That’s Rock ‘N’ Roll’.
Also in 77 their ‘American Girl’
made the Top 40 scroll.
In 81, joining with Stevie Nicks
came ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’,
and in 85 ‘Don’t Come Around Here No More’
entered Top 50 ground.
Going solo in 89 – ‘I Won’t Back Down’
became his highest UK hit.
and ‘Runnin’ Down A Dream’ & ‘Free Fallin’
fans loved more than just a bit.
In 91 came ‘Learning To Fly’
and in 92 ‘Too Good To Be True’
Followed in 93 by ‘Something In The Air’
and in 94 ‘Mary Jane’s Last Dance’, on cue.
Florida’s ‘own’ Tom Petty –
So talented and versatile.
May your journey ‘Into The Great Wide Open’
be welcomed with a huge smile,
by those who have gone before you,
impatient to make their next song. –
Those ex Traveling Wilbury faces
with their guitars still strummin’ strong.
Keep doing what you do best –
‘Rock on in style Tom Petty.
written by
Harriet Blackbury
August 10, 2017
Appearing on the scene in 69
Glen Campbell won our hearts,
when he gave us ‘Wichita Lineman’,
which made No. 7 in the charts.
In the same year 2 hits followed:
‘Galveston’ – much loved by he.
And assisted by Bobbie Gentry –
‘All I have to do is Dream’ reached No.3
‘Try a little Tenderness’ came in 70
then ‘Honey come back’ making No.4
‘Everything a man could ever need’ came next,
and ‘It’s only make believe’ a No.4, once more.
‘Dream Baby’ made the Top 40,
(his only hit of 71)
until in 75 with ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’
at No.4 – he once again shone.
‘Southern Nights came in 77,
from this home grown US boy.
Thank You Glen Campbell – vocalist and guitarist,
for bringing us so much joy.
RIP 1936 – 2017
July 25, 2017
I am rescued
to a life of solitude;
I am king
of all I survey.
The loneliness
is immeasurable,
but I cope
living day to day.
I am rescued
from a cruel start to life,
where I was
chained up all day.
My bed was
my own faeces –
No other place
for me to lay.
I am rescued
by a kindly soul,
who gives me
food and water, it’s true.
But walks
are to a minimum,
for normal functions
that I must do.
I am rescued
to a far better place,
away from the
hellhole I knew.
And for that
I’m truly grateful,
but loneliness
still makes me blue.
I am rescued
but still imprisoned,
and boredom
has sent me insane.
After a three minute
walk each morning,
back indoors
is where I remain.
I am rescued
but still isolated,
withdrawn
and un-socialised.
I exist in a world
of make-believe.
My own thoughts
will be my demise.
I am rescued
to routine predictable.
Everyday at noon
I hear the door-key,
And along the road
we saunter,
for my usual
three minute wee.
I am rescued
but live in a bubble.
How much sleep
does one dog need?
Afternoons drag on
laboriously,
until five o clock
when I’m back on my lead.
I am rescued
but going off my mind.
For many years it’s
been this way.
These three minute
walks to freedom –
my lifestyle twice,
every single day.
I am rescued
to evenings of madness.
No lovely long
walks in the park.
Instead, my owner
sits endlessly listening,
to bloody repeats of
Beethoven and Bach.
I am rescued
but may as well be alone;
my owner not much company
asleep in the chair.
And though I sit at the door
asking for a late night wee,
most times my hinting
goes unaware.
I am rescued
and glad of the morning –
and another start to
Ground Dog Day,
But I have a roof over my head,
and food and water,
and for that,
I thankfully pray.
I am rescued
and serve a purpose.
My owner loves me,
I have to say.
And though at times
I could bolt to freedom,
I’m needed here –
It has to be this way.
June 22, 2017
The Book
Poems of Love Life & Loss
by Harriet Blackbury
can be found
in the ‘Adult Section’
of
The Poetry Library
at
The Southbank Centre
London