August 19, 2015

 

 

I wept and then I stopped

and wept no more.

No thought for what the

future had in store.

 

Where signs – what signs?

 

No clues were there in sight!

So blindly treading, crazily barefoot,

I reached the cliff not long

after midnight,

 

And for a moment thought

that I might stay.

til sense prevailed

and took me on my way.

 

I wept and then I stopped

and wept no more.

I sensed the waters ebb

at the seashore.

 

Where beach – what beach?

 

No sand was there in sight!

Just harsh shale underfoot,

that glinted back, defiant

at moonlight,

 

and called me down to where

the flotsam lay,

amongst the tangled seaweed,

near to a polystyrene tray

 

containing fast-food supper remains,

where seagulls gathered squawking

– half out of their brains.

 

I wept and then I stopped

and wept no more.

The sea, now not an option

to explore.

 

Where Ship – what ship?

 

No ship was there in sight.

With Tilbury long forgotten,

it was heading out to sea,

alas, with one seaman light!

 

As never destined back was I;

my life now, not worth a dime.

The waiting gallows beckoned,

and I must pay my crime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To her that is forever

part of thee.

The loveliest flower this world

did ever see.

The one who came;

the one not meant to be.

The gift of love

that caused insanity.

 

To her that is forever

on the mind.

More so now, than ever,

one does find.

The one condemned

to die before her time.

The chance one takes;

this mountain one must climb.

 

To her that is forever

out of sight.

No happiness has found,

as was her right.

The one who happened

as if, by God’s will,

stays cherished in the heart,

and in the memory still.

 

To her that is forever

now unreal.

A figment of the past;

a fair done deal?

That ran it’s course

as these things often do.

Until the next world,

one must say ‘adieu’

 

To her that is forever

by ones side;

not in the way as planned,

but the heavens opened wide,

and welcomed home

two hearts that were as one.

No earthly solace found,

but now all suffering gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 18, 2015

 

 

‘Heatwave came along

and turned up the controls.

Their ‘Central Heating’ album,

warming many souls.

 

‘My Life’, a sure hit release,

with a meaningful beat.

Billy Joel gave of his best,

with his Album – 52^nd Street.

 

Singing, for this songstress,

always a walk in the park.

Linda Lewis well remembered

for her delightful LP ‘Lark’.

 

Herbie Hancock; the cool dude,

who always got it right.

Made sure of huge success

with his great album ‘Sunlight’.

 

‘Warmer Communication’;

music we all understand.

Is still as good today,

by The Average White Band.

 

Billy Paul’s ‘Only the strong survive’,

and Rose Royce ‘Greatest hits’

two more special albums

that we all loved to bits.

 

One of the soulful romantics;

Al Green gave us ‘Explore your mind’,

and Gap Mangione’s ‘Funk America’

so right, when needing to unwind.

 

The Commodores ‘Midnight Magic’

was played until the dawn,

and also The Crusaders ‘Streetlife’,

brought us to another morn.

 

And finally, ‘The Weather Report’

came from Mr Gone.

Whilst ‘Exodus’, just the beginning

as Bob Marley’s sound lives on.

 

Albums notable by their Cover;

each track from memory, follows on.

The warm glow of nostalgia,

back then, when bright sun shone.

 

Each LP meant the world;

a musical diary to behold.

The plastic path of life;

the joy that vinyl told.

 

Written by Harriet Blackbury –

usual copyright rules apply. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonys Time Machine

Live

Wednesday  19th August

11 am – 1pm

(with repeats to follow at the usual times)

This week Tony is in conversation

with  Suzy.

and he will be reading Harriet’s poem –

For The Love Of Motown  – Part 1

Be sure to join in the fun

 

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.

 

 

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