t.rextasy tickets sorted!

It's a hard job but somebody's got to do it. Just sorted out tickets for this upcoming T.Rextasy show at Darlington, for which l get for free and will be getting paid to attend.
Hurrah!

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more cds and books!

Had an excellent time recently CD and book wise. The Bob Dylan box set arrived, and l spent about £9 for all of the CDs at the bottom on a charity shop rummage. Now's the time to be buying them if (like me) you want to try out new stuff and replace downloaded copies with the originals. At 4 CD's for £1 it would be foolish not to do so. No doubt more shelf space will be needed soon.
Pretty chuffed to have got the pictured books as well, so now, as usual, l just need a load more free time to get stuck into them all.

The CD images keep appearing sideways every time l try to upload them, and l've lost patience trying to rectify it

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top hat - darlington hippodrome

Another night out a the theatre - this time for Irving Berlin's Musical 'Top Hat'. It was pretty good for me as l hadn't seen the musical or film before, so didn't know the story, even if it was obvious how it would pan out after the first few minutes. I did however, already know a lot of the songs, as most of them have become standards, so it turned out to be a most enjoyable evening, despite the fact l was one of the youngest people there (for a change).

Here's some of the songs







Plus an old favourite of mine - The Sensational Alex Harvey Band covering 'Cheek to Cheek.



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the passions - l'm in love with a german film star and hans albers

Currently my favourite record, which was playing a lot in the car on our return from Manchester Airport / Hamburg on Sunday.
The Passions - l'm in love with a German film star. We were wondering if it was about Hans Albers, who used to be (and l guess still is) a huge German movie and singing star, who was from Hamburg and is now buried there.
But it's not.

Here's The Passions



And here's Hans Albers - On the Reeperbahn at Half Past Midnight



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right said fred - bernard cribbins, plus david bowie connections

After the Scott Walker post below, here's something cheerful - Bernard Cribbins with 'Right Said Fred'. It always bugs me when l sing along to this that there is no part where the lyrics go 'Right said Fred - knock it on the head' as it would fit perfectly. So l just fit that bit in myself.
Also, to continue with the David Bowie part of the Scott Walker post, l reckon he appropriated the vocal mannerisms at the end of this for the speaking parts of The Laughing Gnome era songs (with some Anthony Newly thrown in for good measure). Probably plenty of more songs as well, especially Tommy Steele's 'l Puts The Lightie On'.
See what you think.









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scott walker's death

Despite Scott Walker becoming famous way before l got into music, l got to love his output later on, and went through a long period when l used to play his solo albums through earphones when falling asleep at night. Admittedly a lot of the songs take some getting used to, but it's well worth the effort. He certainly followed his own path, when he could have taken an easier route with lots more financial incentives and rewards, which is another reason l respected him.
For beginners, there's the marvelous Boy / Child best of, and his 'Sings Jacque Brel'  is another go to compilation. It also helps that one of my favourite songs of his is about one of my favourite films - 'The Seventh Seal'.
He'll be sadly missed in this household, as well as amongst the many he has inspired and influenced.
Here's a taster.









And here's how much he meant to David Bowie. Listen to Bowie's reaction after Scott calls him on Bowie's 50th Birthday.



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recent trips to the theatre

Some recent trips to the theatre - Darlington Hippodrome to be precise. 

The Travelling Wilburys was pretty good, but the worst one of them was 'Bob Dylan', the person l wanted to see the most. However, it was pretty surreal, and had many moving moments, especially watching 'George Harrison' singing My Sweet Lord. I must be getting sadder in my old age (if that's possible).

As for Aladdin - it was just what you would expect from such a show, some moments of hilarity, nothing particularly outstanding, but everyone went away happy, so job done.

I think the next visit there will be for The Meat Loaf Story, even if l will probably be hassled for autographs.

Stone me - what a life.

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the aliens - the happy song

A perfect time to stick this old favourite up again.
The Aliens - 'The Happy Song'



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the 1927 jasper tornado on lp covers

It was only recently that it was pointed out to me on another blog or tweet (I can't remember where), that the photograph of the 1927 Jasper Tornado, taken by Lucille Handberg and on one of my favourite albums, Deep Purple's Stormbringer, was the same one on used on Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, plus Siouxsie and The Banshees Tinderbox. It's blown my mind, as l'd never noticed before, and l have been looking at the Deep Purple and Miles Davis albums for years.
Sometimes l amaze myself at how stupid l can be.
Below is the famous photograph, captured 8th July 1927 in Jasper, Minnesota, plus drawings of the other two photographs she took before and after. There's also an article from The Milwaukee Sentinel about it, plus the album covers mentioned.
More information about the tornado and the photographs can be found here (and also here).
A large blow up of the news story in The Milwaukee Sentinel can be found here

Here's something from the albums







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albert finney, charlie bubbles and old trafford

So the great Albert Finney has passed away (last week). In all of the tributes to his great body of work, one that seems to have been forgotten is Charlie Bubbles, written by Shelagh Delaney and featuring some long forgotten Manchester sights, including what Manchester United's Old Trafford used to be like, before it evolved into the 'Theatre of Dreams', and kids could still afford to attend en mass.
Reminds me of when l was a lad, back in our day when it was all bomb sites etc blah blah blah blah blah blah......

                                                     
                                                     Shelagh Delaney on the Smiths covers

                                                         Excerpts from Charlie Bubbles



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off work with keef and the new mojo

I'm off work today, and have just been dossing about, trying to wake up while watching the latest episodes of Black Mirror, when this pops through my letterbox.
Get in!!
If l believed in a God of some kind, l'd be praising him (or her) at this moment

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listening to country music - it's great!!

While l've been off and cooking (see last post), l've also been listening to a fair amount of country music. But some of the less popular stuff (see screenshot below of the latest plays). It may well be that l'm getting older, but take it from me, l still love rowdy stuff. It's just good to have a change now and again and open your ears and mind to something different.
There's a couple of really good documentaries that feature this 'Outlaw / Outsider' country - Heartworn Highways and Heartworn Highways Revisited, sadly, not featuring a personal favourite of mine, Todd Snider.
Anyway, here's a clip l've put up more than once, the magnificent Townes Van Zant with 'Waiting around to die' (starts one minute in), plus some other corkers for you deification.



Larry Jon Wilson - Ohoopee River Bottomland (starts properly about 5.45)



John Prine and Bonnie Raitt - Angel from Montgomery



Guy Clark  -  LA Freeway



Todd Snider - Conservative Christian....



Here's an old classic that l grew up listening to - Marty Robbins - El Paso

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mick jagger is 75

It's Mick Jagger's 75th Birthday today. A thought that should make any rock fan feel old.
Rather sadly, when l saw them in 1982 l thought they were a bunch of old gits living on past glories.
He was 38 at the time, and looked like this....possibly on their last tour.
How wrong l was.

Remember him this way





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steve harley at tenants, leyburn

A new experience was had last night - myself and a friend went to see Steve Harley at Tenants Garden Rooms in Leyburn and it was the oldest and richest looking audience we've ever been part of. Apart from the rich bit, no wonder we fitted in.
Rather impressively, it was a charity event for Breast Cancer, and Steve and his band (plus all crew, support band etc) did the show for nothing, so l will let off the venue for having such lousy tickets and seats that aren't numbered. Let's hope Tenants waived the cost of hiring the room on the night to join in with the spirit of generosity.

And here's my favourite Steve Harley song - The Best Years Of Our Lives

European maids, hard to ignore
You, me and the boys, barred from the shore
Fresh-faced imbeciles laughing at me
I've been laughing myself, is that so hard to see ?
Do I have to spell each letter out, honestly ?
If there's no room for laughter, there's no room for me, for me
Try looking at you rather than me
No truth is in here, it's all fantasy
Since the last time we met I've been through
About seven hundred changes and that's just a few
And the changes all tend to be something to do
But you've got to believe that they're all done for you, for you
Oh you'll think it's tragic when that moment first arrives
Oh but it's magic, it's the best years of our lives
Lost now for the words to tell you the truth
Please banter with me the banter of youth
If I knew how to say it, I would say it for you
If I knew how to whisper, I'd whisper for you
If I knew how to waltz, I'd get up and dance for you
If I thought I could run, I'd come running to you, to you
I've discovered now how to be fair
This I could teach you if only I dare
The only conclusion that I've reached in my life
Is that if I should die, I should die by the knife
Since it's only a matter of courage, all right
Die a man or a martyr, the two would be nice, so nice
Oh you'll think it's tragic when that moment arrives
Oh, oh but it's magic, it's the best years of our lives
Oh you'll think it's tragic when that moment first arrives
Oh, oh but it's magic, it's the best years of our lives

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iggy's pants and his footwear choices

You have to have confidence to wear a pair of pants that Iggy Pop is sporting in this photograph.
It makes me admire him even more.
Despite the fact that l'm not too keen on the shoes and no socks look he is also sporting, he was ahead of his time not just with his music, but his footwear as well, as that's what the fashionista are wearing these days (Idiots).

Here's the trailer for the Jim Jarmusch documentary on Iggy and The Stooges - 'Gimme Danger'.  I'm biased as l'm besotted by them, but it's highly recommended!!



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marc bolan defends bob dylan

Back before he became famous, Marc Bolan defended Bob Dylan's 'Self Portrait' album in the pages of Melody Maker.

Here's the lyrics to the song Belle Isle that Bolan was on about (Bob based it on a traditional song)

As there's no video for that, here's one of my favourite Dylan songs, the live version of 'Hurricane'

To demonstrate how unknown Bolan when the letter was printed (Self Portrait was released June 8th 1970), they even printed his home address. How times were to suddenly change.
Bolan had been about for a few years on the underground scene, but in October 1970 T.Rex released this little beauty and his life was never the same.

Ride a White Swan - from 'Beat Club' German TV



And here's some more Bolan  - at the time, the biggest star since The Beatles.









And lastly, one that made me cry playing it after he died - one of his last songs - 'Soul of my Suit'
I loved him



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al perman found in a book plus david essex and the stray cats

It's funny what you can find stashed away in old books bought from charity shops. 

Here's a recent example - a photograph of a singer who looks a bit like David Essex in 'Stardust', but the back of the photo has 'Al Perman 1966' written on it. That could be the photographer or the singer, as l have no idea. I tried a quick Google search but with no success, so it is likely to remain a puzzle.

Here's David Essex playing Jim MacLain with The Stray Cats in 'Stardust'



Here's David Essex's 'Rock On' (a favourite of mine)



And here's the later day Stray Cats doing the 'Stray Cat Strut'



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alex james - bit of a blur - signed

Now this is how l end up with stuff that l had forgotten about.
As well as a load of other books and bits of crap, I bought Alex James' autobiography  'A Bit Of A Blur' in a charity shop recently, and it was only when l went to read it that l noticed it had been signed at Waterstone's by Alex himself.
In the past, this would then have been stashed away by me, unboxed years later, and then l would be left desperately trying to remember going to Waterstone's and meeting Alex.
No wonder l confuse myself

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priscilla queen of the desert

Had a gay old time last week at Darlington Hippodrome watching the 'Priscilla - Queen of the desert' musical. It was actually quite fast paced, loud, and pretty bright, and a lot better than l was anticipating. Often, I've often seen enough when it comes to the interval, but not in this case. Recommended, even if like me, you are not even bisexual (worst luck!).

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the datsuns and the polyphonic spree

Christ on a bike - time flies. I was looking at some old N.M.E's the other day and saw these adverts for a 2003 tour featuring The Datsuns, The Thrills, Interpol, and The Polyphonic Spree. I went to the Newcastle gig, but can't believe it was just over 15 years ago. I loved the rowdiness of The Datsuns, but prefered The Polyphonic Spree on the night. A mate said they sounded like Beatles psychedelic out-takes. He wasn't impressed.

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