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Showing posts with label 60s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 60s. Show all posts

12 December 2023

History (well, School Days in the 1960s)

Intro: I was a bit of a 'goody two shoes'. In junior school, I once had to write 200 lines "I must not talk in class" - I didn't mind the lines as I enjoyed writing. However, I hadn't been talking and I made a point of telling the teacher when, as an adult, I saw him at a bus stop in the rain and offered him a lift. I now laugh about how ridiculous that was! In senior school, I had one detention when the whole class was kept behind for something (not sure what as, once again, I wasn't part of it). It consisted of staying half an hour late in school, which was great because I managed to complete half my homework!

Part-1

In the summer of 1965, the pupils in class 4A (now Year 6) parted ways at the end of term. Although many would be attending the local comprehensive, Peter was accepted at the boys' grammar school in a nearby town and I would be starting at the girls' grammar school in another nearby town. I only mentioned Peter because, years later, I discovered that he and a friend's brother were in the same class at grammar school.

During the summer break, I was kitted out (at enormous expense) with the appropriate uniform of tweed skirt, tie, blazer, mac, white shirts, ash green cardigan and/or jumper, green beret, scarf, white science coat and PE kit: green culottes, big black gym knickers, white polo shirt, hockey boots and a hockey stick. There was also a summer dress in a specific fabric but this was deferred until summer term, a few months away.

In the first year (now referred to as Year 7), we were placed into classes by age and there were two other girls, Christine and Elizabeth, with whom I shared a birthday.

We were also assigned to 'houses' but, as nobody paid any attention to these, it was soon phased out. I was placed in St Winifred's, which warranted a yellow button badge and determined which musical I could see in London for a Christmas treat - it was Paint your Wagon. I think Oliver and The Sound of Music were on offer to the girls in other 'houses'.

The 'first-years' were housed in an old building with the science labs. There was a Christmas outing to the local church and we all had to wear our berets - the one and only time I ever did. It was very icy that winter and I slipped over and broke a tooth as I walked across the courtyard.

Once a week during autumn/winter, we played hockey and I was so useless that my hardly-worn, expensive hockey boots were as-new when I finally gave them away. I must also have had plimsoles to play tennis (also useless) and athletics (even worse) during the spring/summer; I wasn't too bad at gym. It's a shame there was no squash or badminton because I was OK at those when I grew up.

In the summer term, the girls wore a collared dress with optional cardigan. In June, our end-of-year exam reults determined our destinies for the following year. 

During that first year, I met Mo who, apparently, I was friends with as a baby when her parents and mine were neighbours, before both familes moved out of North London and lost touch (we're still friends). Anita was another classmate who was to feature in my life after we left school... more about that if I write a post about the 1970s. 

September 1966: arriving at school on the first day of term, my long hair in braids as per the rules, one of the prefects mistook me for a newcomer. Obviously, that hair was instantly set free! I soon realised that most of the rules applied to first year girls only and then, afterwards, nobody bothered!

Thankfully, I was placed in the arts stream rather than the science stream. The main difference being that we were not taught taught Physics and Chemistry but we did study English literature and all the usual lessons: English Grammar, Maths, French, History, Geography, plus Biology, Art and a choice of Needlework or Cookery. There were the compulsory PE and RE lessons too.

I was an average student, so we'll leave academia behind and concentrate on the fun side of being a young teen in the late 1960s. 

Update: Just remembered how fashionable my 11-year old self was! Christmas, 1965, my parents bought me a blue anorak and blue stretch trousers with a strap that looped under the foot to stop them riding up. A year later, my Christmas present was a sleeveless, polo-necked skinny-rib top in white with a mustard colour mini-skirt in crimplene ... CRIMPLENE!!!

Part 2.

1966-1970 were the best years to be a carefree teenager! As far as homework interfering with the social side of life, it didn't. Most of the time, I did whatever homework we were assigned during the morning during lunchtime and whatever was assigned in the afternoons was started on the bus journey and completed the following morning by getting in forty minutes before school started. Those were the good old days when pupils were trusted to be in their classrooms without supervision.

My school mac was originally designed to cover the knees but we turned up the hems by about 8" to be mini-length coats. Similarly, skirts were turned over and over at the waist to become mini-skirts. Outside of school, it was mostly mini-skirts, which got higher as stockings were replaced by tights, but I also had a lime green trouser suit which I wore endlessly!

As with many teens in the '60s, music filled my head. Having been introduced to Buddy Holly's songs by my older brother when I was about five years old, Beatlemania arrived soon afterwards. In fact, I was lucky enough to be taken to a Beatles concert in 1964 - how many people can claim that?! Some of the other artistes my parents took me to see were: The Moody Blues ("Go Now" with Denny Laine), The Tornados ("Telstar"), Susan Maughan ("Bobby's Girl") - I'll add any others as I remember them. 

My brother gave me my first ever record. It was a 78 RPM of Buddy Holly and The Crickets, "Think It Over" / "Fools Paradise" (he had started collecting the new 45 RPM 'singles'). In fact, he also gave me my second record - a single - "Can't Buy Me Love" / "You Can't Do That" by The Beatles, as he had bought their LP (33 RPM) and both songs were on it. For any young people who are unsure what RPM means, it signified the speed of the turntable - revolutions per minute.

Some of my other favourite bands in the 1960s were: Manfred Mann and The Animals, The Monkees, The Kinks, The Troggs, Small Faces, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch. Late 1960s: Amen Corner, The Herd, The Equals, Beach Boys; then a host of Tamla Motown artistes: Jimmy Ruffin, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, etc. I'm sure I've missed loads. At age 13ish, a schoolfirend, Marina, and I saw The Small Faces (Stevenage Locarno) and The Monkees (Wembley Arena) and I went with another couple of schoolfriends to see The Amen Corner and The Bonzo Dog Do-Dah Band, both at Tottenham Royal, when I was around 14 or 15.

My introduction to politics was via The Marine and Broadcasting Offences Bill, which was put together by Harold Wilson's Labour Government in 1967/68. It's sole purpose (in my opinion) was to close down Radio Caroline and Radio London so that the music we listened to could be controlled by the government. I have loathed politics and politicians ever since. No wonder there are so many rebellions by teenagers.

As I have now mentioned Tottenham, another of my weekly past-times was watching football, mostly at White Hart Lane. I usually went with Gill, my best friend from school, and took my younger brother. This started in 1967 and continued for several years - my younger brother is a season ticket holder and hasn't missed many games since. Jimmy Greaves was my hero. I still follow the club but mostly from my cosy armchair.

In the summer of '68, I had a 'phone call from another schoolfriend, Pat, who was on a Caravan holiday with her parents near the Essex coast and was bored silly - am I free to spend the next week with her family? Oh, yes. My dad drove me there and I had a great time - it was the only the second holiday I had ever had (the other being Butlins in 1966 in wet Wales). I remember that my favourite song at the time was "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival - it's still one of my favourites. 

Gill and I used to go roller skating every week at 'Ally Pally' and often went to discos at the weekends. I lived miles from anywhere and always had to find the best bus route to wherever I was going; sometimes I would arrange to stay over at one of my friends' houses instead.

When I was 15, I stayed with some 'cousins' in Essex, not far from Southend. They were actually family friends but I had always called their mum 'Aunty Vi'. They had a flat roofed house and the boys and I used to jump off the roof onto the lawn. Why? No idea! They also had a motorbike (a 350 AJS) which they were too young to drive but they walked it to some local wasteland and rode around. I tried but accelerated too hard and I fell off the back as the bike reared - no harm done but they wouldn't let me near it again. I remember that my favourite songs during that time were "Band of Gold", "The First Cut Is The Deepest" and "Don't Play That Song For Me" by Freda Payne, P.P.Arnold and Aretha Franklin, respectively. 

At some point during those football years, I had all my long hair cut off to within 1" in my scalp and started wearing jeans, which is still my staple to this day. I have a photograph of me looking 'hard' with my new haircut, jeans and a blue and white scarf. Hilarious!

As 1969 handed over to the next decade, I passed most of my O-levels and spent the summer waitressing in a café, which I loved! My favourite song at that time was David Bowie's "A Space Oddity". I started a real job in September and life was still fun but that's for another post, another time. Thanks for reading.

Bernie


15 November 2023

Review: Last Night in Soho

I wanted to watch the film, Last Night in Soho, ages ago because I like the song (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch, 1960s) and I like the Director (Edgar Wright) plus the cast had some good names (Matt Smith, Diana Rigg and a host of other names) but my favourite character, John, was played by Michael Ajao.

Billed as a psychological horror, the film is about Eloise (another 1960s hit song, featured in the film), a teenage girl who is accepted at a fashion design college in London. A quiet personality, she had little in common with girls she shared halls with so decided to find her own lodgings. Around this time, she began hallucinating about events that happened in the past (taking us back to the 1960s again) which were so real that she became part of that life, skilfully taking the movie into a thriller/horror genre. 

It's too difficult to go into details - you can watch the film if you need to know them - but the nightmare eventually ends and you realise that Ellie isn't going insane but is sensitive to the strong psychic vibes of the 'ghosts' in the room (oh yes, There's a Ghost in my House by R Dean Taylor, 1970s, was also on the playlist, as were: A World Without Love by Peter & Gordon, Don't Throw Your Love Away by the Searchers and Wishin' & Hopin' by Dusty Springfield, to name a few). 

'Nuff said. I think I liked the movie. If it's your cup of tea, give it a go. Here's the trailer:


10 November 2023

Review: One Night in Miami

Another one that I'm not sure whether to recommend. It's an account of a fictional evening following Cassius Clay's victory over Sonny Liston in 1964, shared with other icons of the day: Sam Cooke, Jim Brown and Malcolm X. 

In the film, they spent most of the evening in a motel room. The boxing champ, the American footballer, the singer and the activist. Guess which one was the least fun, interrupting the celebrations with his ranting? Malcolm X seemed almost schizophrenic, jumping from rants to normality throughout the film. 

Being British, I'd never heard of Jim Brown who retired from (American) football to become a reasonably successful actor (the character was played by Aldis Hodge who is known for such roles as Hardison in Leverage) but he seemed like a nice, level-headed guy, the best of the bunch. Sadly, Jim Brown died earlier this year. 

And who hasn't heard of Sam Cooke? A great voice, he released many songs during his short time on earth (shot and killed a few months after the film was set), including: You Send Me, Wonderful World, I Can See Clearly Now, Cupid, Twistin' the Night Away, Another Saturday Night, Change Gonna Come... and more. 

Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali shortly after his rise to fame, encouraged to change religion by Malcolm X.  Most(?) people alive today will know who he is, a much loved character who sufferered from Parkinson's Disease in later life. I don't know much about Malcolm X so I don't feel that I have the right to comment here.

The film is an Amazon original. Here's the trailer:

Summary: a well-acted and well made film with light moments and humour. Personally, I am always  uncomfortable with stories from the 1960s/70s that comprise some elements of ugly truth, such as racism, sexism and other prejudices.


04 October 2023

Music from Blues to Pop

Many British groups in the 1960s started off as blues bands then moved over to pop music under pressure from record labels wanting to make more money (for the band, too, to be fair).

In the mid-60s, Amen Corner had minor hits with Gin House Blues and World of Broken Hearts but their big break came with their third single - Bend Me, Shape Me - a pop song.

Earlier than that, though, Manfred Mann was a blues band. Original lead singer, Paul Jones left on good terms with his former band mates and his friend Mike d'Abo stepped in as front man. This marked the change from blues to pop.

Remember hits like My Name is Jack, Semi-Detached Suburban Mr James, The Mighty Quinn, Fox on the Run and Ragamuffin Man? All great songs; here's one: 


Paul still has a blues band and also toured with The Manfreds, including Mike but, amusingly, the line-up didn't include Manfred Mann whose Earthband was famous for covering Bruce Springsteen's Blinded by the Light. Tom McGuinness also formed a band - McGuiness-Flint - biggest hit When I'm Dead and Gone.

The band ccovered many Bob Dylan compositions but many of them also wrote songs, e.g. Mike d'Abo wrote Handbags and Gladrags for Chris Farlowe and covered by Rod Stewart. 

Beebopalula

20 March 2014

♫ Music from 1962

Chart music from 1962 reflected a wide range of tastes from the post-war generation and their parents, who purchased their favourite songs. It was a mix of jazz, crooning ballads, rock and roll and the beginnings of pop - Beatlemania was just weeks away.

Vinyl had recently moved from large 78 r.p.m. discs to smaller 45 r.p.m. discs and usually came with a single recording on each side; consequently the common terms used were 78s, 45s (also called singles) and records. There were a few 45s that contained 4 or 5 songs in total and these were known as EPs (elongated play); LPs (long play) were larger discs (around 12") containing 8 to 14 tracks and were played at 33 r.p.m.

Charts were compiled each week by Melody Maker and other music-related media, using record sales (singles charts and LP charts) from a representative handful of record shops.

Elvis Presley (Return to Sender) and Cliff Richard (The Young Ones) featured - plus Bobby Vee, Billy Fury, Adam Faith, Lonnie Donegan, Sam Cooke and the Everly Brothers, all of whom released great records but not in this year, in my opinion.

Instrumentals
The Tornados: Telstar
Duane Eddy: Dance with the Guitar Man
The Shadows: Wonderful Land, Guitar Tango
Acker Bilk: Stranger on the Shore
Kenny Ball & his Jazzmen: Midnight in Moscow, March of the Siamese Children
Johnny Keating: Theme from Z-Cars

Comedic Songs
Bernard Cribbins: Hole in the Ground
Pat Boone: Speedy Gonzales
Mike Sarne with Wendy Richard: Come Outside

Other hits from 1962 including many Classics
The Four Seasons: Sherry
Bruce Channel: Hey Baby
Chubby Checker: Let's Twist Again
Dion: The Wanderer
Chris Montez: Let's Dance
Little Eva: The Loco-motion
Danny Williams: Moon River
Carole King: It Might as well Rain until September
Neil Sedaka: Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen
Joe Brown: A Picture of You
Bobby Darin: Things
Ketty Lester: Love Letters
Jimmy Justice: When My Little Girl is Smiling
Mark Wynter: Venus in Blue Jeans
Frank Ifield: I remember You
Eden Kane: Forget Me Not, I don't Know Why
Susan Maughan: Bobby's Girl
Miki & Griff: Little Bitty Tear / Burl Ives: Little Bitty Tear
Nat King Cole: Rambling Rose, Let There be Love
Jimmie Rodgers: English Country Garden
Ray Charles: I can't Stop Loving You
Karl Denver: Wimoweh
Brian Hyland: Ginny Come Lately, Sealed With A Kiss


 
Recommended Music Blog: soundsandvision 
Beebopalula

28 August 2013

♪ Early 60s round up - ask your Gran if she remembers...

Perhaps not so well-known as British legends Cliff Richard, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, Joe Brown or Lonnie Donegan, we present...

John Leyton
actor/singer: successfully escaped in The Great Escape, Von Ryan's Express. UK hit records ♪♫ Johnny Remember Me & Wild Wind

Adam Faith
singer/actor: hit singles What Do You Want, Poor Me, Lonely Pup; several films; went on to star in TV series Budgie and Love Hurts with Zoe Wannamaker

Eden Kane 
singer, eldest of the Sarstedt brothers: hit records include Well I Ask You & Get Lost.

Craig Douglas
singer: Only Sixteen, When My Little Girl Is Smiling

Emile Ford
(originally from St. Lucia) hits include: What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For, Slow Boat To China, Counting Teardrops, Them There Eyes.

Tommy Steele
(actor/singer) The Duke Wore Jeans, Half A Sixpence, Little White Bull, What A Mouth, Flash Bang Wallop (What A Picture)

Frankie Vaughan
singer: Green Door, Garden of Eden, Tower of Strength, Don't Stop - Twist! Plus about a hundred other singles

Mike Sarne
actor/singer: several acting roles plus hit singles Come Outside (with Wendy Richard) & Just For Kicks

Female artists:
Kathy Kirby: Secret Love
Susan Maughan: Bobby's Girl
Helen Shapiro: Please Don't Treat Me Like A Child, Walking Back To Happiness  



Because They're Young - Duane Eddy.

Beebopalula

12 August 2013

Music Analysis 1960s & 50 years later

Why did songs from the 1960s convey feelings of unrequited love or of the hurt that follows rejection, whilst the trend today is more about sex or aggression? Discuss.

There was limited social acceptance of teenage boys and young men admitting to 'soft' feelings in real life during the 1960s therefore the rock-and-roll outlet was a credible alternative to release the angst and share with others who were secretly feeling the same way.

So many examples come to mind from Ben E King's 1961 hit Stand By Me, Go Now in 64/65, and a number of Lennon-McCartney songs, including: I'm A Loser, If I Fell, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, Don't Let Me Down (okay so they are mainly John Lennon's lyrics - he had a lot of angst).

These days, homosexual relationships are not illegal (it was a criminal offence in the 1960s) and it is more acceptable for boys to confess their 'soppy' feelings to sympathetic ears, male or female. It is less 'taboo' to harp on about sex (previously disguised in songs as 'making love') unlike in 1969, when Je T'Aime… Moi Non Plus was banned in several countries for being too explicit.

There are other frustrations for today's youth, leading to a growth in rap (ranting-to-a-beat) which, regretfully, I'm unable to comment on as I haven't listened to much of it, except some Run DMC which is the exception that proves the rule!

Agree or disagree? Please feel free to comment but keep it polite and keep it clean, thanks.
BP2

28 June 2013

Stars like Jewels on the Crown of a Queen

party crown
Celebrating over 50 years, Joe Brown and his Bruvvers are still gigging throughout the UK this year. The title of this blog is a line from one of his songs from the early '60s, A Picture of You.

This, and another song from the same era, That's What Love Will Do, are two of my favourites.

As a contrast, though, Joe Brown also sang silly songs, e.g. What a Crazy World We're Livin' In (from a film with Marty Wilde, father of Kim Wilde); the lyrics describe a typical lifestyle in parts of London (and probably elsewhere) at that time.

Another interesting piece of trivia is that Joe Brown's daughter, Sam, who also sings, had a song written about her: 'Mrs Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter' written by Trevor Peacock of 'Vicar of Dibley' fame and originally sung by Tom Courtney in a TV play. The song was later performed by Herman's Hermits and was also the title of a 60s Britcom film of the same name, starring Peter Noone.

If you've not heard Joe Brown (then or now) search for him on YouTube, maybe catch a live performance.

16 January 2013

♫ British Pop 1968. Amen.

1968 was a great year for British pop groups.

My friends at school each had their favourite pop groups: Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Love Affair, The Herd, Amen Corner - and our soon-to-retire English teacher liked Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch! Note the heavy emphasis on British groups in that list.

My personal favourite was Amen corner. Their first album, Round Amen Corner, included their first three singles: Gin House Blues and The World of Broken Hearts - both blues numbers with a jazz sound - plus their first pop song hit, Bend Me Shape Me. Every track was good! The seven strong group from Wales had a unique sound; featuring two saxophones and the falsetto voice of Andy Fairweather-Low.

Others British groups popular at that time included Traffic, Marmalade, The Equals, The BeeGees (sort-of British) and, of course, The Beatles were still together.

Top of the Pops: Bend Me Shape Me - Amen Corner



60s teen

12 January 2013

♫ British Pop on the Radio 1967

Before off-shore stations Radio Caroline and Radio London began broadcasting, Radio Luxembourg was the only Pop Music station but reception in the UK was generally terrible.

I was a dedicated Radio Caroline fan; listening to Keefer's Commotion while getting dressed for school, spending the evening with Robbie Dale (theme tune: I was Kaiser Bill's Batman) and going to bed with Johnnie Walker under my pillow - not the whisky. I even listened to Tony Prince on Radio Caroline North when visiting my grandparents during school holidays.

It was on Radio Caroline that I first heard "Last Train to Clarksville" by the Monkees. It was Radio Caroline that played "Ooh La La" and "Going Home" by Australian singer Normie Rowe.

The day that the Labour Party alienated a generation of future voters was 14 July 1967, when the Marine Broadcasting Offences Bill became an Act of Parliament.

Then, an iconic moment in time: BBC Radio 1 was launched on 30 September 1967, with ex Radio London DJ Tony Blackburn playing 'Flowers in the Rain' by The Move.

Did we all defect to 'the establishment'? No! We continued to listen to Pirate Radio Caroline as long as we possibly could.

For any other Radio Caroline 259 Fans, here is 'Caroline' by The Fortunes. Enjoy!


 
Recommended Music Blog: soundsandvision 
 
Beebopalula

06 September 2012

♫ Mailman - RTS - Postman - Pat

I can't remember the last time I sent or received a proper hand-written letter, 3 or 4 pages of news - probably in the 1990s.

Here is my selection of songs about postmen - and not one of them mentions dangerous dogs!

Mailman, bring me no more blues - Buddy Holly

Return to Sender - Elvis Presley
   youtube clip from the film: Girls! Girls! Girls!
   lyrics:
          Return to sender, return to sender
          I gave a letter to the post man, he put it his sack.
          Bright and early next morning, he brought my letter back.
          She wrote upon it:
               Return to sender, address unknown.
               No such number, no such zone.
               We had a quarrel, a lovers' spat,
               I'd write "I'm sorry" but my letter keeps coming back.
          So when I dropped it in the mailbox, I sent it 'Special D'
          Bright and early next morning, it came right back to me.
          She wrote upon it:
               Return to sender, address unknown.
               No such person, no such zone.
          This time I'm gonna take it myself
          And put it right in her hand
          And if it comes back the very next day
          Then I'll understand.
          The writing on it:
               Return to sender, address unknown.
               No such person, no such zone.
                   Return to sender, return to sender.
   written by Winfield Scott and Otis Blackwell
   guitar tabs

Mr Postman - The Beatles
'With the Beatles' album < youtube audio track with lyrics.

Originally written by William Garnet, apparently re-written by Georgia Dobbins of the Marvelettes, also recorded by The Carpenters.

And finally...
Postman Pat

sing along!
   Postman Pat. Postman Pat. Postman Pat and his black and white cat.
   Early in the morning, just as day is dawning, he picks up all the post bags in his van.
   Postman Pat. Postman Pat. Postman Pat and his black and white cat.
   All the birds are singing, and the day is just beginning. Pat feels he's a really happy man.
        Everybody knows his bright red van, all his friends will smile as he waves to greet them,
        Maybe, you can never be sure, there'll be knock, Ring, Letters through your door.
   Postman Pat. Postman Pat. Postman Pat and his black and white cat.
   All the birds are singing, and the day is just beginning. Pat feels he's a really happy man. 
        Pat feels he's a really happy man. Pat feels he's a really happy man.

19 July 2012

♫ Born to Run / Born to be Wild / Born Free / Born too late

Hard to believe that there is only a year between Born Free and Born to be Wild but this was the nineteen-sixties when there was a distinct line between middle-aged convention and an acceptance of youth culture, starting in the '50s with Teddy-boys and Rock-and-Roll and, by the mid-'60s, Mods, Rockers and Flower-Power!

Born to Run Bruce Springsteen 1975

Born to be Wild Steppenwolf 1967/68 (Easy Rider 1969)

Born Free (award winning soundtrack 1966) covers with lyrics

Born too late 1958

Personally, I can't decide whether my favourite is Born to Run or Born to be Wild. Both So Good!

Recommended Music Blog: soundsandvision

04 April 2012

♫ Let me tell you 'bout the Manfreds!

In the early-mid '60s, my favourite group after The Beatles was Manfred Mann.

In the late 1990s, I noticed that The Manfreds were performing locally (Manfred Mann, the keyboard player, was no longer in the band but the line up included both Paul Jones and Mike d'Abo, lead singers from both popular eras).  I enjoyed a fabulous evening of all the MM hits plus McGuinness Flint's 'When I'm Dead and Gone' plus 'Handbags and Gladrags' that Mike d'Abo wrote and a couple of Paul Jones solo hits - but not 'Bad Bad Boy' which was one of my all-time favourites.

Recently, I dragged the family out again to see the Manfreds with Paul Jones, who is now 70! Without Mike d'Abo, it was a different set, quite a lot of blues music, some 'B' sides plus a few hits, including 'When I'm Dead and Gone', 'Pretty Flamingo', 'Oh no, Not my baby', 'Mighty Quinn', '5 4 3 2 1', 'Do Wah Diddy' and ... yes! 'I've Been a Bad Bad Boy' (How did he know?)!


Tom McGuinness (guitar, was bass) was thoroughly relaxed and enjoying himself, Mike Hugg (keyboards, was drums) was totally absorbed in the music, 'new boys' were Rob Townsend (drums) who was clearly content on stage, singing all the songs to himself, Marcus Cliffe (5-string bass) who acted as an 'aide memoire' to the forgetful older band members and, last but not least, young Simon Currie (sax, flute, clarinet) who was enjoying his craft and delivering frequent solos.

Paul Jones, experienced front man and harmonica player, engaged the audience with a mix of charm and amusing banter. No wonder he's thin, he works so hard!

Manfreds Tour Dates
RIP Jack Bruce, former Manfred, October 2014

 

Recommended Music Blog: soundsandvision