Stars like Jewels on the Crown of a Queen

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.

♫ Moon River(s) Collection

A classic tune written by Henry Mancini for the film, Breakfast at Tiffany's, released in 1961 starring Audrey Hepburn with George Peppard (A-Team) and Buddy Ebson (Beverly Hill Billies). The song has been covered many times.


Audrey Hepburn singing in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Link: Original opening title sequence performed by Henry Mancini.

Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck live on stage London 2010 'Together & Apart'

Tom McFly posted this version by Mr & Mrs Fletcher.

Some others...
Danny Williams UK #1 61/62
Andy Williams TV performance
Frank Sinatra 'Best of...'
Elton John live - en France

♫ 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

♫ 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

Hurricane Sandy Relief Rock Concert

Woke up this morning to the news of Hurricane Sandy Relief Rock Concert being a huge success last night. Either it was the best kept secret ever or I've been in a coma recently - this was the first I'd heard of it!

Who wouldn't want to have been there (not that I had a chance)? I hope it will be televised in the UK - or did I already miss that too?

I don't know the full list of participants but some of the legends included:

• Bruce Springsteen
• Bon Jovi
• The Who
• The Rolling Stones
• Eric Clapton
• Paul McCartney

plus 'newer' artists

• Chris Martin
• Alicia Keys
• Kanye West

Wow! Now that's what I call Music.

Link to Bruce Springsteen rockin' for New Orleans - Go listen, it's Brilliant!

BP2

♫ Is She Really Going Out With Him?

One phrase links all ... ♫

The Shangri-las: Leader of the Pack (1965) link includes lyrics

The Damned. Ear defenders required.

Acapella Live version (1983) of Joe Jackson's Is She Really Going Out With Him?

♫ Dancing in the Dark Moonlight collection

Dancing in the Moonlight - Thin Lizzy (1977)
Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest (1973) & Top Loader (live)
Dancing in the Moonlight - Men Without Hats (synthetic pop)*
*Warning! Listen only if you need a migraine to pull a 'sickie' tomorrow

Dancing in the Dark (single) - Bruce Springsteen (live, Hyde Park, London, 2012)
'The Boss' is So Cool.

Dancing in the Dark - The Muppets

Recommended Music Blog: soundsandvision

♫ 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

•    excellent quality youtube post with lyrics
•    original sound
•    try it yourself: Mailman guitar chords

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.

♫ Advertising Jingles

Brutus Jeans (takes me back, my favourites were Falmers) used this song in the mid-70s, really catchy feel-good tune with the words "When I wake up in morning light, I put on my jeans and I feel alright. I pull Brutus Jeans on, I pull my Brutus Jeans on..."

David Dundas subsequently released the full song which reached number 3 in the UK singles chart.



Other memorable advertising jingles (none of which were written by Charlie Harper) included Coca Cola's "I'd like to teach the world to sing" subsequently recorded by the New Seekers, "I'm a secret lemonade drinker" written by and featuring Elvis Costello's dad and, to finish, the brilliant Courage Best ads by Chas n Dave.

♫ Radio On

Funny how one thing leads to another. I was listening to Roadrunner by Jonathan Richman (from the mid-1970s) and decided to share with Friends on Facebook.



My cousin commented that, coincidentally, he had also been listening Jonathan Richman as they are both playing at the same festival this weekend, so I looked it up.

I had never heard of the Green Man Festival even though it's massive and in its 10th year, held in the Brecon Beacons national park in Wales. Maybe if I had known about it earlier, I could have volunteered as a litter-picker ;)

They even have an on-line radio station, Green Man Radio and TV!

Recommended Music Blog: soundsandvision

♫ 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

beebopalula

♫ 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