Alone Again Or - Love

Yeah, said it's all right
I won't forget
All the times I've waited patiently for you
And you'll do just what you choose to do
And I will be alone again tonight my dear

Yeah, I heard a funny thing
Somebody said to me
You know that I could be in love with almost everyone
I think that people are
The greatest fun
And I will be alone again tonight my dear

Today Is Paloma Faith Day

I have decided to make today Paloma Faith Day. I cannot recall the last time the music of a new artist has left me quite as exhilarated. Thinking about it, probably my schoolboy days in the early seventies, as favourite acts released new singles and I waited for them expectedly. But Paloma is all about now as far as my music taste is concerned. It is too easy for anyone, and especially someone of my ripening years, to totally overlook current work. And far too many people quickly decide it 'all sounds the same'. Paloma is always being compared with her contemporaries. Which is altogether ridiculous. Because she is far far better than any other female performer for a long time. I have posted videos of all her singles to date. Watch them a few times. Listen to the lyrics. Enjoy the melancholy and the passion, mop up the mood. This lady is good.

Paloma Faith was born in Hackney, London in 1985. She co-writes most of her work. She is also an accomplished actress, having appeared on TV and the movie re-make of St. Trinians. If her early career is anything to go by she is going to be a superstar - and I have a feeling this girl is so talented she may even have a few choices to make as to where she concentrates her efforts. If her musical output can be maintained I say keep it coming kid.................it's absolutely brilliant.

Paloma Faith - Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful ?

Paloma Faith - New York

Paloma Faith - Stone Cold Sober

Paloma Faith - Upside Down

The Legend Of Xanadu - Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch.

This song went to number one in the UK charts in 1968. I was mesmerised by it. I remember watching it on Top Of The Pops week after week, much to the disgust of my Dad who thought it was awful. My older sister thought her young brother might grow up with a few emotional problems (but then she went on to be a Barry Manilow fan, so what can you say!). I don't think watching Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch at such a tender age has had any lasting negative effects on me - not even any whip fetishes. Looking back it was pure theatre .......................and just a few years later glamrock was to take over the UK music scene so possibly this act were slightly before their time.

Jake Thackray - I Stayed Off Work Today

I posted a few Jake Thackray videos on the original blog, but they were all lifted from You Tube shortly afterwards. So I try again. I was not aware of this song until a couple of years ago, when I requested a 'greatest hits' CD for Christmas. It's a fine example of the great man's work.

A tribute to Jake Thackray can be found on this blog by going to Jake Thackray - posted 3rd July 2007.

The Applejacks - Tell Me When

Tell me when you feel a little blue

Tell me then I'll see what I can do

Just say the word and I'll be there

Anywhere, with lots of love to share

So, tell me when your arms are really free

Free enough to kiss and cuddle me

I'll never fall in love again

As long as there's a chance that you tell me when

Your lips are sweet and if we ever get to meet

I know, I know, I'm never gonna let you go

So, tell me when you've got a little time

Tell me when you're ready to be mine

I'll never fall in love again

So, if you want my love, won't you tell me when

Your lips are sweet and if we ever get to meet

I know, I know, I'm never gonna let you go

So, tell me when you've got a little time

Tell me when you're ready to be mine

I'll never fall in love again

So, if you want my love, won't you tell me when

Won't you tell me when

Won't you tell me when

Won't you tell me when

The Animals

I came to the music of The Animals over twenty years after they took the UK pop charts by storm. They were, I must admit, slightly before my time, and my admiration only flourished when my interest for sixties music as a whole took off.

The Animals were formed in Newcastle during 1962 and 1963.

Originally called the Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, the original line-up comprised Eric Burdon (vocals), Alan Price (organ and keyboards), Hilton Valentine (guitar), John Steel (drums), and Bryan "Chas" Chandler (bass). The band changed their name to The Animals based on the reputation of their behaviour.

First UK hit was in 1964 with Baby Let Me Take You Home reaching No21 in the charts. A succession of hits followed, masterminded by producer Mickie Most (later a judge on New Faces), but internal wrangling led to a split in 1966, with Eric Burdon re-forming the group. Alan Price went on to a long and successful solo career. Chas Chandler moved into music management, significantly Jimi Hendrix and Slade.

UK chart history : 17 hits between 1964 and 1982 (15 of these were between 64-69).

Essential listening : House Of The Rising Sun (their only UK No1, it also topped the US charts), Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, San Franciscan Nights (credited to Eric Burdon & The Animals).

Andy Summers, more famously a member of The Police was originally a member of The Animals.

More information on The Animals can be found on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Animals

Videos appear on You Tube.

TV Poll - The Worst Hits Ever ?

A few years ago, 2004 to be exact, Channel 4 held a vote for the worst hit records ever. Whilst the result might be old news, I think it worthy to note the results. They may have been the viewers' choice when the poll was taken but it should be remembered that at their release, somebody bought them (though not me I hasten to add). Personally, I think there is a bit of brilliance in all of them - an inventiveness that caught the moment and somehow appealed to record buyers throughout the land. And it can be safely assumed that in a number of cases, the songwriters, producers and performers never set out to create a masterpiece. So we know who had the last laugh, and certainly the loudest, all the way to the bank !

1.The Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) - The Cheeky Girls
2.The Millennium Prayer - Cliff Richard
3.Agadoo - Black Lace
4.Candle In The Wind 1997 - Elton John
5.Fast Food Song - The Fast Food Rockers
6.Mr Blobby - Mr Blobby
7.Because We Want To - Billie
8.Barbie Girl - Aqua
9.Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus
10.Jenny From The Block - Jennifer Lopez
11.Orville's Song - Keith Harris and Orville
12.Look At Me - Gerri Halliwell
13. Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Bombalurina featuring Timmy Mallett
14.(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams
15.Sacred Trust - One True Voice
16.Against All Odds - Mariah Carey and Westlife
17.Who Let The Dogs Out? - Baha Men
18. 5,6,7,8 - Steps
19.Living Next Door To Alice (Who The F**k Is Alice) - Smokie featuring Roy 'Chubby' Brown
20.Anyone Can Fall In Love - Anita Dobson

I can't say any of the above give me a warm feeling. However, glancing further down the list there are some songs that are amongst the best ever of their genre such as Hello (Lionel Richie) 88, and I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston) 51. If there is a TV poll of the most loved hits ever, I suspect Channel 4 viewers may well have placed both in that list too. And as for I Should Be So Lucky (Kylie Minouge) 69 - surely just a very popular tune of its time, which is what pop music is meant to be. Ditto Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (Middle Of The Road) 59, and Y Viva Espana (Sylvia) 40 - worst ever? no I don't think so. Just as the dance song Macarena (Los Del Rio) 37, and novelties We All Stand Together (Paul McCartney And The Frog Chorus ) 63, and Back Home (England World Cup Squad) 56 are a long way off being the worst of their kind - in fact I like all three I must admit ! The biggest blunder of all from those mis-guided voters was We Built This City (Starship) 83, a brilliant song if ever I heard one (and which I shall now soon video vault if I can find a suitable clip in order to prove my point). And finally shame on those who chose Wannabe (Spice Girls) 27. Love them or hate them (and I have no feelings either way), this song launched a group , a phenomenon in fact, that was to have as big an impact on youth culture and pop music (and in particular British pop music) as any act before or since. Wannabe was a great pop song. Simple as that.

Luciano Pavarotti - RIP

Born : October 12 1935 Modena, Italy

Died : September 6 2007 Modena, Italy

Jake Thackray

Sometimes people slip out of your life for a lot of years. This happened with me and Jake Thackray. I remembered him from the early 70's with his appearances on That's Life, the bad company bashing, consumer help programme. The particular shows went out late on Saturday nights, after Match Of The Day, and Jake Thackray would have a three or four minute slot in which he sang a song. And Jake Thackray songs were like nothing else before or since.

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I have often mentioned Jake Thackray to other people of a similar age to me and drawn a complete blank. His fame, in truth, was more deeply rooted in places other than TV...........folk clubs, civic halls and pubs. As a man of Leeds, he was very popular and well known in Yorkshire and in the 60's this spread nationwide thanks to his appearances in shows such as The Frost Report, Braden's Beat (which I also remember watching late on Saturday nights so it might well have been here I first caught up with JT), and Beryl Reid Says Good Evening. His mix of satire, attitude and irreverence was not to everyone's taste. In fact, I think it safe to say you either loved him or hated him. He had the most unique delivery ; a truly down to earth bloke singing in a chanson style (that is, a song with French words and strong on lyrics) but in English. And most of his songs contained big dollops of innuendo and sometimes were simply rude and provocative. Class, sex, family relationships, religion, animals and observations of the odd world in which we live were his lyrical targets.

Jake Thackray was born in 1938, grew up as a Roman Catholic, and was a clever man who graduated from Durham University and looked destined for a teaching career. In fact, he used his musical talents on his kids in class as an aid to educating them. He subsequently spent four years living in France, hence the Gallic influence of his later work. He went on to make over 1000 TV and radio appearances and numerous albums. He had a significant following, though his style did go out of favour. In his later life he was disillusioned with 'showbiz', and crippling nerves disallowed performing in public. He moved to South Wales and became increasingly more religious. Jake died on Christmas Eve 2002, news of which led to a revival of interest in his work.

As I said, Jake Thackray disappeared from my life for a long time. But his clever wit and inimitable material is still funny and I am very pleased to have caught up with him again. A brilliant performer, of that I have no doubt.

An example of the great man's work can be found on the post Jake Thackray - I Stayed Off Work Today March 27th 2010.

Scrumpy And Western

1976 was a hot summer in England. And a novelty act, the likes of which had never been seen before (nor since) hit our charts. They were called The Wurzels. In May they had a number 1 with Combined Harvester, selling over 400,000 copies and the follow up record in September, I Am A Cider Drinker, reached No 3. Their trade-marks were anything Zummerzet ; cider (scrumpy), pitchforks, straw, farmyards, animals, tractors and West country locations. They brought the music genre, Scrumpy & Western to parts of the country that didn't even know it existed. And amid a raging heatwave they brought some new humour to our lives.

The Wurzels had been in existence many years before their national fame, formed in 1966 as the backing group to Adge Cutler , a much loved West country performer who wrote and sung humorous songs to local audiences, and had previously been road manager to Acker Bilk. They had a minor hit in '67 with Drink Up Thy Zider and were hugely popular. Ironically, their major successes came after Adge Cutler was tragically killed in a car crash in Chepstow on his way home from a gig in 1974. The Wurzels needed new material and turned therefore to re-writing other popular tunes, adding their own lyrics and country yokel accents. Melanie's 'Brand New Key' became Combined Harvester, and Jonathan King's 'Una Paloma Blanca' was turned into I Am A Cider Drinker.

Chart acclaim was short lived. The 1977 release Farmer Bill's Batman made it to No 32 and was to be their final hit. The group, Reg Quantrill (banjo), Tommy Banner (accordion) and Pete Budd (lead man with a great jovial smile), made various TV appearances around this time. Whilst they were heavily criticised by music purists, their act was truly original and refreshing and much enjoyed by those who took them for what they were - a bunch of guys having a bit of fun. After their time in the lime-light passed, they returned to performing live concerts and by the end of the 90's had achieved cult status once more, especially amongst students. To this day they remain regular favourites in the West Country and it was recently announced that I Am A Cider Drinker was to re-released for charity with Tony Blackburn sharing the singing duties.

With a discography which includes songs such as Champion Dung Spreader, The Wurple - Diddle - I - Doo - Song, Don't Tell I Tell 'Ee, and The Marrow Song ( Oh What A Beauty), The Wurzels are never going to be taken seriously, are they. But they have provided warm memories for me and no doubt countless others. Cheers lads.............here's to more scrumpy.

The Casuals - Jesamine

Sometimes I simply want to post a music clip...........not funny, just something I find seriously good. I need add nothing........other than to say I like it a great deal
Jesamine by The Casuals
What am I supposed to do
With a girl like Jesamine
Though my eyes are open wide
She's made my life a dream
(Chorus) When Jesamine goes
A part of me knows, I'm not really living
A butterfly child, so free and so wild
And so full of living
When Jesamine stays
Though time goes fast
This is my world at last
Beautiful days, lost in her eyes
But then the whole world dies

(Chorus) When Jesamine goes
A part of me knows, I'm not really living
A butterfly child
So free and so wild
And so full of living
What can you say
When a girl doesn't want to know
She's too far away
And she makes my life a dream
(Chorus) When Jesamine goes
A part of me knows, I'm not really living
A butterfly child
So free and so wild
And so full of living
When Jesamine stays
Though time goes fast
This is my world at last
Beautiful days, lost in her eyes
But then the whole world dies
What am I supposed to do
With a girl like Jesamine
Though my eyes are open wide
She makes my life a dream
(Chorus) When Jesamine goes
A part of me knows
I'm not really living......(fades)

Ernie - The Fastest Milkman In The West

Benny Hill - Fastest Milk Cart - video powered by Metacafe


The jury is always out whenever the question 'is Benny Hill funny?' is asked. His critics write him off as lewd and creepy. To his fans he was a comic genius, a master of sketch with great clowning and mime thrown in for good measure. And a chart topper. The number one single in the UK pop charts at Christmas 1971 was Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West). Hill , who had once been a milkman himself, wrote the song and first performed it on The Benny Hill Show in 1970. It was released as a single the following year and became a huge favourite that captured the imagination of the masses. It stayed in the charts for 17 weeks. It was in fact the fourth time Hill had made the charts. He had two hits in 1961, first with Gather In The Mushrooms ( 8 weeks highest position 12), then Transistor Radio ( 6 weeks highest position 24). His next hit came in 1963 with Harvest Of Love (8 weeks highest position 20).

Love him or hate him , Benny Hill was one of only a small number of comics who could truly claim world wide popularity. He had his first TV series as early as 1955 and the telly was to prove the perfect medium, especially during his Thames days in the 70's. With much of his humour being visual, it easily crossed international boundaries. And his ability to shock made him a constant talking point. He was a huge hit in America , where TV audiences were used to more conservative material. It is reputed that Charlie Chaplain, who died in 1977 and would therefore have seen most of Benny Hill's best work, was an avid fan.

The innuendo of Ernie is typical Benny Hill and it remains one of the funniest and most successful novelty records of all time.

You could hear the hoof beats pound as they raced across the ground,

And the clatter of the wheels as they spun 'round and 'round.

And he galloped into market street, his badge upon his chest,

His name was Ernie, and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

Now Ernie loved a widow, a lady known as Sue,

She lived all alone in Liddley Lane at number 22.

They said she was too good for him, she was haughty, proud and chic,

But Ernie got his cocoa there three times every week.

They called him Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)

And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

She said she'd like to bathe in milk, he said, "All right, sweetheart,"

And when he'd finished work one night he loaded up the cart.

He said, "D'you want it pasturized? 'Cause pasturized is best,

"She says, "Ernie, I'll be happy if it comes up to my chest.

"That tickled old Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)

And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

Now Ernie had a rival, an evil-looking man,

Called Two-Ton Ted from Teddington and he drove the baker's van.

He tempted her with his treacle tarts and his tasty wholemeal bread,

And when she seen the size of his hot meat pies it very near turned her head.

She nearly swooned at his macaroon and he said, "Now if you treat me right,

You'll have hot rolls every morning and crumpets every night.

"He knew once she sampled his layer cake he'd have his wicked way,

And all Ernie had to offer was a pint of milk a day.

Poor Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)

And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

One lunch time Ted saw Ernie's horse and cart outside her door,

It drove him mad to find it was still there at half past four.

And as he leapt down from his van hot blood through his veins did course,

And he went across to Ernie's cart and didn't half kick his 'orse.

Whose name was Trigger, (Triggerrrrrrrr)

And he pulled the fastest milk cart in the west.

Now Ernie rushed out into the street, his gold top in his hand,

He said, "If you wanna marry Susie you'll fight for her like a man.

""Oh why don't we play cards for her?" he sneeringly replied,

"And just to make it interesting we'll have a shilling on the side.

"Now Ernie dragged him from his van and beneath the blazing sun,

They stood there face to face, and Ted went for his bun.

But Ernie was too quick, things didn't go the way Ted planned,

And a strawberry-flavoured yogurt sent it spinning from his hand.

Now Sue ran between them and tried to keep them apart,

And Ernie, he pushed her aside and a rock cake caught him underneath his heart.

And he looked up in pained surprise and the concrete hardened crust,

Of a stale pork pie caught him in the eye and Ernie bit the dust.

Poor Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeeee)

And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.

Ernie was only 52, he didn't wanna die,

And now he's gone to make deliveries in that milk round in the sky.

Where the customers are angels and ferocious dogs are banned,

And the milkman's life is full of fun in that fairy, dairy land.

But a woman's needs are many fold and Sue she married Ted,

But strange things happened on their wedding night as they lay in their bed.

Was that the trees a-rustling? Or the hinges of the gate?

Or Ernie's ghostly gold tops a-rattling in their crate?

They won't forget Ernie, (Ernieeeeeeeeee)

And he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.