November 5, 2017

 

 

Heard coming out of every Disco

from Manchester to Malibu

were these unmistakable sounds

in magical 1972.

 

‘Here I go again’ by Archie Bell & The Drells –

in the UK charts of October at No. 11,

and Eric Clapton’s ‘Layla’-

in the Top Ten of August at No.7.

 

And David Bowie’s ‘Starman’ –

his first hit of this year too.

Followed by ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’,

and ‘The Jean Genie’ –  our minds blew.

 

‘Mama weer all crazee now’-

a No 1 for Slade, sent us all insane.

and in December at No.3

arrived Carly Simon, with ‘You’re So Vain’

 

‘Meet Me On The Corner’,

in February saw Lindisfarne at No.5,

and in July, flying in at No.3 came –

Hawkwind’s  ‘Silver Machine’, with power drive.

 

Gilbert O’Sullivan reached No.1

declaring his love for ‘Clair’,

and bending our ear was Don Mclean,

telling us of ‘Vincent’ and his despair.

 

Paul McCartney & Wings

gave us ‘Hi Hi Hi’ and ‘Cmoon’,

and in at No.2  came Ringo Starr

singing his ‘Back Off Boogaloo’ tune.

 

This year also saw T Rex – 

 in May at No.1 with ‘Metal Guru’,

and The Stylistics’  ‘Betcha By Golly Wow’

and ‘I’m Stoned In Love With You’.

 

The first hit for Roxy Music

came in August, with ‘Virginia Plain’

and ‘My World’ and ‘Run To Me’,

from the Bee Gees, in our hearts remain.

 

‘School’s Out’ sang Alice Cooper

as we let down our guard,

and Paul Simon’s ‘Mother And Child Reunion’ came

with ‘Me & Julio Down By The School Yard’.

 

Simon & Garfunkel gave us ‘America’,

and Hurricane Smith sang ‘Oh Babe What Would You Say’,

and Donny Osmond with ‘Puppy Love’ at No.1,

proved he was here to stay.

 

‘Morning Has Broken’ by Cat Stevens

arrived in the charts as January began,

followed soon after in April,

by Elton John and his ‘Rocket Man’.

”

Two more hits of this year for Elton

were ‘Honky Cat’ and ‘Crocodile Rock’,

and in January ‘Son Of My Father’

for Chicory Tip,  made the top slot.

 

‘You Wear It Well’,  a No.1 in August,

for Rod Stewart – the 2nd hit to come his way,

after the double-sided No.1 of ’71 –

‘Reason To Believe’ and ‘Maggie May’

 

‘Got To Be There’ and ‘Rockin Robin’ –

the first single to make the Top Ten

for Michael Jackson in 72,

followed by ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ and ‘Ben’.

 

In August, ‘Living In Harmony’

saw Cliff Richard again in the charts,

and ever since ‘Move It’ -back in 58,

Sir Cliff continues to win more hearts.

 

Whichever year ‘did it’ for you;

whichever year pulled at your heart strings,

there’s no better ‘feel good’ factor,

than reliving the joy each memory brings.

 

Whatever your situation now;

whatever your reasons to exist on this land.

Just put all your troubles behind you –

relax, and listen to your favourite band.

 

 

 

October 27, 2017

 

 

Tune in to the fast moving

Tony’s Time Machine

on Tuesday 31st October

at Noon.

for Tony’s Halloween Special.

with songs from some of his favourite bands.

 

and Tony will be reading the poems –

‘For The Love of Fats Domino’,

‘For The Love Of George Young’ 

&

For The Love Of Halloween.

all written by Harriet Blackbury)

 

Don’t miss this hauntingly great Show Folks.

 

 

George Young of The Easybeats

this month, left life behind.

This Group best remembered

for their hit of 66 – ‘Friday On My Mind’.

 

Their next hit came two years later

with the success of  ‘Hello, How Are You.

George was the brother of  ‘AC/DC’s

Angus and Malcolm too

 

Let the music live on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This popular singer and pianist

totalled 21 hit singles in the UK,

amongst them was ‘Country Boy’,

‘Ain’t That A Shame’ & Blue Monday.

 

‘Walking To New Orleans’ & ‘Jambalaya’,

two more songs we will never forget,

along with ‘Margie’ & ‘My Girl Josephine’,

and of course – ‘Red Sails In The Sunset’.

 

Over a twenty year period

Fats Domino’s music gave fans a thrill.

His final UK chart entry coming in 76

with the re-release of Blueberry Hill.

 

Thank You for the music

Fats Domino  ( 1928 – 2017 )

 

 

October 25, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

A room of words, on paper, strewn,

piled in corners, touching the moon.

 

A room of words, taking up much space;

standing room only, in this place.

 

A room of words – unedited tosh,

written when the mind was all awash.

 

A room of words, a life poured out;

drawers full of words, with roots that sprout.

 

A room of words on paper curled,

never released to the outside world.

 

A room of words, where thoughts expressed –

simply an outlet, when repressed.

 

A room of words – never explained.

The contents of, a heart when pained.

 

A room of words and forgotten schemes.

A life of fantasy and old pipe dreams.

 

A room of words where madness grew.

Solitude a killer – a witches brew.

 

A room of words  and damnation’s fate.

Sweat and tears by the hourly rate.

 

A room of words, where shadows dance –

each line depicts, a lost romance.

 

A room of words, where solace sought,

when a mind, untethered, to fantasy did resort.

 

A room of words, where truth concealed

ancient wounds that never healed.

 

A room of words, where mirrors reflect

the writers mood, and thoughts direct.

 

A room of words, where graffiti runs wild

around the head of an ‘only’ child.

 

A room of words where nouns provide,

the comfort of adjectives by their side.

 

A room of words, and repeated rhymes,

that bring to mind, the scene of the crimes. 

 

A room of words, with books unread –

‘originality’ a must, one writer said.

 

A room of words, that did restart

a fading beat, when stabbed through the heart.

 

 A room of words, in notebooks, old –

undated scribblings full of lice and mould. 

 

A room of words – never transferred

onto the latest icloud, as a pen preferred.

 

A room of words – a vault from hell,

housing love and laughter, and life too mad to tell.

 

A room of words, all covered in dust.

The door kept locked – nothing discussed.

 

A room of words, with a vacant chair.

Thank God, I got – the hell out of there.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

  

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