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August 13, 2015
Berry Gordy did something no-one else did
when he created ‘Motown’ – God Bless.
Third finger, left hand and Jimmy Mack
ensured Martha and the Vandellas success.
Jimmy Ruffin sang an anthem
to those who have loved, then departed;
giving us his memorable hit
‘What becomes of the broken hearted’.
The Temptations, ever slick,
with such harmonious tone,
went high into the charts
with ‘Papa was a rolling stone’.
Soulful Marvin and Kim Weston,
had a hit with ‘It takes two’.
then Marvin and Tammi Terrell sang
‘Ain’t nothing like the real thing’: so true!
‘Seven rooms of gloom’ and ‘Bernadette’
were early hits for The Four Tops.
But with ‘Reach out I’ll be there’,
they pulled out all the stops.
Fast moving ‘Needle in a haystack’
found the Velvelettes with a hit.
This brilliant disco classic,
the moment, sure did fit.
Yet another Motown artist ,
who everybody knows,
is melodic Marv Johnson,
who sang ‘I’ll pick a rose for my rose.’
‘This old heart of mine – (is weak for you)’;
an Isley’s standard we adore.
The opening bar guaranteed
to get us on the dance floor.
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
gave us ‘I second that emotion’,
and their ‘Going to a Go-Go’,
ensured total fan-base devotion.
‘Spring in the air’, – the opening line
to this ‘Marvellettes hit song.
‘When you’re young and in love’, their anthem,
that couples danced to all summer long.
With ‘Uptown’ and ‘I was made to love her’
Little Stevie Wonder had us hooked,
and his ‘My Cherie Amour’, made certain,
every ‘live’ performance – fully booked.
Tamla Motown gave us something,
that’s stayed precious to this day.
So many romantic, soulful ballads,
now part of our DNA.
Songs that will never leave us;
so many classics – the mainstay.
To have lived through that amazing era;
we were fortunate in every way.
Written by Harriet Blackbury
August 11, 2015
Poetry is therapy.
Poetry is expression.
Words from the heart
released at will;
helps old hurt to lessen.
Poetry flows freely.
Poetry never forced.
Words from the mind,
when life stood still,
and from society divorced.
Poetry a lifeline:
Poetry a muse:
Words from the soul
when one, less than whole,
has nothing left to lose.
Poetry, the saviour:
Poetry the rod:
Words from the brain
one can’t explain.
Poetry, thank God.
August 5, 2015
Tonys Time Machine
Wednesday 12th August 11 am
Lively chat, music and poetry:
Todays show includes
Tony’s update on ‘Yes’
and
Harriet’s poem
‘For the love of Buildings’
and
Alison will be acting out
Harriet’s ‘Fruit Rap’ poem
————
Thursday 6th August from 2pm
Tune in to this special
‘Gorse Hill Studio’
Launch Day Programme.
Rowetta from Happy Mondays
with be droppping by.
and Vikki will be at the helm
pulling it all together.
‘ENJOY’
August 2, 2015
Tune in to
LDOK.net
Tonys Time Machine
Wednesday, 5th August
at 11.am (UK time)
to hear Tony read
Harriet’s tribute poem
entitled ‘Our Cilla’
Also featured this week
is
Live Aid 85 – JFK Stadium USA.
Thank you for tuning in.
The undisputed Queen of Liverpool,
who won our hearts in sixty three,
Has been suddenly taken from us,
without any reason, we can see.
To her fans she was simply ‘Our Cilla’
Changing her surname from white to black.
Her first single , ‘Love of the loved’ ;
showing she was on the right track.
In 64, three more songs followed,
2 of which reached number one;
‘Anyone who had a heart’ and ‘You’re my world’,
being the ones ‘It’s for you’ outshone.
Next came ‘You’ve lost that loving feeling’
reaching number two in 65’
proving Cilla was here to stay,
and with Bobby by her side, would thrive.
But ‘Alfie’ always the one,
to give us an emotional fix,
spent nine weeks in the charts,
in nineteen sixty six.
In 68 ‘Step inside Love’,
saw Cilla back in the top ten,
And in 69 with ‘Surround yourself with sorrow,
she went and did it again.
In 1971 ‘Something tells me –
(something is gonna happen tonight’),
was in the charts at number 3,
and Cilla’s career still doing alright.
Our Darling of Music and Television,
who gave of herself, so much,
with Surprise, Surprise and also Blind Date,
showed her warmth, and her common touch.
Whatever Cilla turned her hand to,
she gave it one hundred per cent.
Her natural ability making it look easy;
she was loved wherever she went.
So now she is re-united with her Bobby,
and John & George, & Brian, wherever they are.
As all of her fan-base world wide,
say a fond farewell to this fab ‘Superstar’.
Written by Harriet Blackbury
especially for LDOK.net (Tonys Time Machine)
August 1, 2015
In the stillness of the night,
as I slept the deepest sleep
I was suddenly awakened and
so scared that I did weep.
A song revived lost memories,
transporting me back in time,
by creating a vivid picture,
so perfect, in detail and rhyme.
I shook as the dream started fading,
and the music, no more, could I hear.
I had seen you with so much clarity,
and felt so moved that you chose to appear.
What happened to those long hot
summer days, when we sat around
making daisy chains and searching for
four leaved clovers, before making
our way home under the Seven Arches,
without a cloud in the sky to
dampen our spirits, or the sound of
a motorway to disturb our simple joy?
Secrets and lies
and honey trap pies.
Bread and butter for hacks;
truth stretched to surprise.
Discrete camera’s flashing;
caught in the act.
Just a hint of suggestion,
based loosely on fact.
Whiter than white:
Purer than light:
A blotted copybook,
not yet come into sight.
Paying top dollar,
to be first past the post.
Confined to the sin-bin,
for that naughty boy boast.
Say nothing to no-one,
or ones career long dead,
as embarrassed blushes
turn faces bright red.
That old potato, the past,
just waiting to erupt.
That one step too far,
yet hardly corrupt,
will come back to bite one,
sure as night follows day.
From the straight path,
t’was madness to stray.
Yesterday’s headlines;
Chip paper today.
Shock horror stories,
now thrown away.
Secrets and lies,
and honey trap pies.
Play at ones peril,
if no conscience applies.
July 28, 2015
Wednesday 29th July
This weeks show
includes music and chat
with Tonys guests.
and some of Harriets poems.
The show is repeated
as follows
Thurs 8.00 am
Friday 01.00 am
Sat 19.00 pm
Monday 11.00 am
July 23, 2015
So sad when a house,
no longer feels like a home.
Abba sang ‘Knowing me’, Knowing you’,
guaranteeing hearts would roam.
‘Hotel California’ was also,
another heartfelt pit-stop,
which landed the famous Eagles,
an album never to be forgot.
‘The Folks who live on the Hill’,
a classic from Peggy Lee.
Showing that when it’s right,
how perfect love can be.
The Four Tops sang of gloomy rooms,
that in total numbered seven.
And much later Led Zeppelin found,
their very own – ‘Stairway to heaven’
This next song of sound construction,
is a fortress to digest.
‘All along the watchtower’,
saw Jimi Hendrix at his best.
Whilst ‘Concrete and Clay’ the hit,
for Unit Four plus Two,
was hod-carried up the charts,
and loved by both me and you.
This well loved performer,
proved he was no spoof.
Trust Kenny Lynch to have a hit,
that sat high ‘Up on the roof’.
The soul of a house enables us
to ‘Look through any window’ clearly.
This cracking Hollies song,
reminding us, we love them dearly.
The Doors, also seized an opening
with their ‘Roadhouse Blues’ appeal;
although originally intended as
the B side to ‘You make me real’.
Lastly, the master of creation,
and best career builder of all,
has to be Michael Jackson,
who gave us ‘Off the wall’.
Buildings of the past;
architecturally sound.
Like the foundations of an idea,
that rises from deep underground.
Buildings of the future;
high-rise with a small footprint.
Like the landscape of a City,
where the sun on glass does glint.
Written by
Harriet Blackbury
especially for LDOK.net
Tonys Time Machine.