July 12, 2016

 

 

Tune in to Tonys Time Machine

on

Wednesday  13th July

11am – 1pm

 

With Interviews from Seven Ayres/Sheffield  

and also 

Top of The Pops through the Ages.

 

Tony will be reading

‘For The Love Of Slack Alice’

Parts One & Two

written by

Harriet Blackbury.

 

Dance on Folks.  

 

 

July 9, 2016

 

 

 

Close your eyes and ‘Listen To The Music’

by The Doobie Brothers, & you’re back in the Bar,

of Manchester’s hottest night club,

co – owned by the No 1 Footballing star.

 

‘Take Me In Your Arms’, another Doobies favourite,

then later, ‘What A Fool Believes’ coming in 79,

and with ‘Rock The Boat’ by The Hues Corporation.

Life was so happening and fantastically fine.

 

‘Long Tall Glasses’ supplied by Leo Sayer,

and ‘One Man Band, also in 74.

‘When I Need You’, his No 1 of 77;

a hit with couples, on every dance floor.

 

‘Sad Sweet Dreamer’ by Sweet Sensation

another brilliant 74, Number One.

And ‘Rock Your Baby’ at No.1 for George McCrae,

in this year when Slack Alice, second to none.

 

‘(Win Place Or Show) She’s A Winner’ –

in 74, gave The Intruders a top 20 fit.

when ‘Georgy Girl’, in Washway Road, Sale,

reminded us of The Seekers, much earlier hit.

 

‘Summer Breeze’ by The Isley Brothers,

their top 20 hit of the day.

then ‘Harvest For The World’ two years later,

when life still perfect, in every way.

 

‘Don’t Stay Away Too Long’, in 74,

had Peters & Lee fans tapping their feet.

And ‘All Of My Life’ by Diana Ross,

a fitting song, for this Manchester retreat.

 

Slack Alice will never be forgotten:

What joy, when to Bootle Street, we all strode.

And for those with a stronger constitution;

The Embassy Club, was just up the road!

 

 

 

 

‘Rubber Bullets’ and ‘Wall Street Shuffle’

came from Stockport Band – 10cc.

and ‘Giving It All Away’ was Roger Daltrey

without The Who, in 73.

 

Also in this year, ‘Walk On The Wild Side’

by the lovely, late Lou Reed.

And ‘Stop, Look, Listen (to your heart)’,

Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye did plead.

 

‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ by The Stylistics,

and ‘Midnight At The Oasis’, from Maria Muldaur.

and ‘Albatross’ from Fleetwood Mac,

guaranteed a fab night, for sure.

 

‘When Will I See You Again’ sang The Three Degrees.

‘Ring Ring’ from Abba, came the reply.

‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’,

sang Elton John, as we waved our goodbye.

 

Whatever the era you lived through;

be it The Ritz or Mr Smiths, your feet found,

or the meeting place of the moment,

when none better, than Rowntrees Sound!

 

Or if Top Of The Town, your favoured venue,

and Takis along Oxford Road.

Or the infamous Oasis in Lloyd Street –

your much loved, borrowed abode.

 

The Swingin Sixties saw Manchester Buzzin

and through the 70’s, still heart and soul…..

And Slack Alice gained a welcome brother,

when Oscars, saw the dice roll.  

 

 

 

 

July 6, 2016

Tune in to

Tony’s Time Machine

Wednesday 6th July

11.am – 1pm.

to hear a repeat of

Tony’s ‘Class of 65/66’ Show

with Liz & Jerry.

who will be reading

Harriet’s poems

‘For The Love Of Hello’

and

A Bunch Of Footy Tunes’

 

Great Chat & Great music

 

 

 

June 30, 2016

 

 

and if all hugs be

the yeast of life,

wheat-free 

but a small sacrifice.

 

and when kisses fuel

the want for thee,

not a problem

being nut-free.

 

and tender strokes

as soft as silk,

replace the lactose

found in milk,

 

when romance feeds

the hearts desire;

the food of love

there to inspire.

 

 

 

 

A name from birth

so much disliked.

A growth inhibitor;

the thorn that spiked.

 

A name from birth

not of ones choosing,

and therein lies

a life of losing.

 

A name from birth;

a crippling shackle.

The first words said,

one has to tackle.

 

A name from birth

so cruelly given,

by one half mad,

post-natally driven.

 

A name from birth;

a real non-starter.

A nickname sought,

by one much smarter.

 

A name from birth

on a certificate shown,

until changed by deed poll.

or a marital scroll.

 

 

 

And now a world

we leave behind,

as we step into

the great abyss.

 

A minefield or

a path to freedom?

Only time will tell

the sense of this.

 

Decisions made –

the split near equal.

Each argument,

an ante-dote.

 

A minefield or

a path to freedom?

Each man must stand

by his own vote.

 

And now a world,

we find bemusing.

Knowing not what

to make of this!

 

A learning curve,

like newly born orphans;

only now we know

what we might miss.

 

Decisions made –

the result final.

Many votes unsure

on this see-saw.

 

A minefield or

a path to freedom?

Each man a prisoner

of sod’s law.

 

 

June 28, 2016

 

 

The signature tune of Gertie Gitana

was the famous ‘Nellie Dean’.

She came from Longport, Stoke on Trent,

setting the 1907 scene.

 

Later, Wilson, Keppel and Betty

were strutting their stuff in 1933,

and ‘Mary From The Dairy’ by Max Miller,

also in this 30’s spree.

 

‘Your Baby Has Gone Down The Plughole’

came from a writer unknown.

And ‘Busy Busy Bee’ sung Arthur Askey,

who was one of Liverpool’s own.

 

Florrie Forde sang ‘Has Anyone Here Seen Kelly’.

‘Goodbye Dolly Grey’ by George Lashwood, next.

Vesta Victoria, ‘Waiting At The Church’ sang,

‘Daddy Wouldn’t Buy Me A Bow-Wow’, feeling vexed.

 

‘Any Old Iron’ sang Harry Champion,

and of course,  ‘I’m Henry The 8^th I Am’.

He also sang ‘Boiled Beef And Carrots’,

long before the invention of spam!

 

‘I Do Like To Be Beside The Sea-Side’, and

‘Hello, Hello, Who’s Your Lady Friend’;

both these songs from Mark Sheridan,

continuing this joyful trend.

 

‘It’s A Long Way To Tipperary’ by Florrie Forde

and ‘Hold Your Hand Out You Naughty Boy’ –

And ‘Down At The Old Bull & Bush’

always guaranteed to fill hearts with joy.

 

‘The Man Who Broke The Bank At Monte Carlo’;

a hit for Charles Coburn around 1922?

after ‘When Father Papered The Parlour’

by Billy Williams, with his Australian view.

 

‘If You Were The Only Girl In The World’,

saw George Robey, pledging love to stay.

Whilst, the signature tune of Lottie Collins –

was ‘Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay’.

 

Nostalgia, the name of the game,

in early TV days of The Old Music Hall.

With Leonard Sachs centre stage,

our families sure had a Ball.

 

He introduced the all-time favorites,

and up would come a loud cheer.

His vocabulary, so exquisite –

words I couldn’t attempt – no fear!

 

The likes of Jewel and Warris;

who were 1st cousins too.

And Tommy Trinder and Ted Ray

just to name a few.

 

And little Hylda Baker, who came

from Farnworth’s Plodder Lane,

with her side-kick, Big Cynthia,

who gave her so much pain.

 

Which brings me back to Max Miller

who got the loudest roar of the day;

with ‘Confessions of a Cheeky Chappie’ –

What more is there to say? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May the future be ‘May’

to save the day.

Is simply all

that’s left to say!

 

 

 

June 22, 2016

 

 

Gone are the years of boom and bust,

and maxed-out cards and much distrust.

 

And on reflection these ‘Cameron’ years,

on the whole have eased, our many fears.

 

The economy now is so much stronger.

Ok – Hands up – it has taken longer.

 

But no euro change in your pockets jingling.

A sterling job, kept our hearts singing.

 

Why step into – a huge abyss?

Why de-rail now, I ask you this?

 

Let’s finish off, the job we started.

Why walk away, as if half hearted?

 

Gone are the years of gloom and doom.

The future certain – let’s not presume?

 

Two Party Leaders – with the same voice!

Let’s build on that – Rejoice, Rejoice.

 

Now not much time, so best be quick.

In the right box, just place your tick.

 

And join Branson, Brady and Beckham too,

and Soames and Sugar, and Amber’s view.

 

Though always to yourself be true,

and tick the box that best suits you.

 

But I’m sure, on balance, you will be glad,

ticking the same box, as Boris’s Dad!

 

 

 

 

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