Music of my life 38

 If you think music can't move you, think again.

I just played a record that I've not played for years and within 10 seconds of it starting, it took me back to a journey to Pevensey Bay on the day my Uncle Henry Turner died.

It's the only song I remember from that drive.

The song was 'Wouldn't Change A Thing' by Kylie Minogue. Why does it stay in my memory? Because I remember thinking when I heard it that day, if there was ever a man that you wouldn't change a thing about, that was

him.

As a child, he was always there, smiling away, full of fun.

He was someone you couldn't help but like. He was also someone who could stick up for himself and if he saw someone in trouble, he'd be the first to offer his help.

He was someone upon whom you could always depend.

My son Henry was named after him and I couldn't have named him better as he has so many of my Uncle Henry's ways.

And yes, as I did that day, I just got choked and teary again.

If the video doesn't play, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

Music of my Life 37

 I just heard The Tymes' 'Ms Grace' and had another musical flashback.

I was boarding at Prior Park College in Bath and each week my Mum would send me the pop charts in the UK, which she used to cut out of the 'Coin Slot' part of the 'World's Fair' newspaper.

On this particular day, I was in a science lesson, and I have to say, I really hated all of the sciences, so wasn't really paying much attention. We were supposed to be reading some text, but I had the piece of paper with the UK charts inside the book and I was reading down the list to see what was in that particular week's chart.

I obviously wasn't paying attention because my teacher walked behind me, saw the chart, took it off me and proceeded to say something along the lines of..."Mr Murphy, would you like to share with us the scientific properties of Ms Grace?"

Silence.

"No? In that case, this evening you can do detention and write an essay on the subject you are supposed to be learning about!"

It seems to me, music has always been more important to me than pretty much everything. It may account for why as I'm pushing 61, it's still at the forefront of my life and still playing such an important role in my thoughts.

It's also the major thing that brings me back these long lost memories. Without it, I'd probably not remember 98% of the things I do!

If the video doesn't play, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music of my Life 36

 

It's the Summer of 1965 and we've just moved to Burnham on Sea to take on this arcade on the seafront. I've just had my 5th birthday and it's the start of the 6 week's Summer Holidays.

In the back room of the arcade, Dad had a record player and a reel to reel tape recorder that he used to pipe music throughout the arcade.

This album was released at the beginning of the month, and I can still remember vividly the excitement I felt when Dad brought the album out of the bag and put it on the record player.

And almost 56 years later, I still get that feeling whenever I look at the cover of this album. I'm a little boy again!

If the video doesn't play, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

Music of my Life 35

My sister came to visit me recently. She's 12 years older than me and remembers where my love of music started.

She was telling me that as soon as I was able, I would get as close to my Dad's reel to reel tape recorder as I could, and as soon as I could, I'd start to play it (I'm surprised my Dad let me - I'd never have let my kids do it),

She said there was one song on a tape I would play over and over again. She said I must have managed to work out where it was on the tape because I could always seem to run the tape back or forth and find it.

I was 2 or 3 at the time.

The song?

Charlie Drake's cover of Bobby Darin's 'Splish Splash'

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

Music of my Life 34

Back in 1980, my Mum and Dad had a bingo on the South Pier at Lowestoft. It was where the pub is now.

At the time we were living near Great Yarmouth and a group of us used to go to an eatery called 'Zaks'. These days it's called 'The Yankee Traveller.'

The food in 'Zaks' was great and so we went there quite often. And that particular year, it seemed like this album was on constant play. Every time I went in there I'd hear it and I grew to love the album just because I'd heard it there so much. I bought the album and love it to this day. And every time I hear it, I think back to those days.

It also included Rickie Lee Jones' biggest hit, 'Chuck E's In Love'

If the video doesn't play, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music Of My Life 33

Most people will have first heard of Anita Baker through the TV show 'Moonlighting' when her song 'Sweet Love' was used in one of the programmes.

Over the years, she's become my favourite female singer. And this album was a constant play in my car during the the end of the 80s, alongside the 'Rapture' and 'Compositions' albums, which I feel are her three best albums.

Her voice is just gorgeous and I can't be the only one who thinks it with 5 platinum albums and a gold album to her name.

Just stunning.

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music Of My Life 32

 

I always liked this album, but when I hear it I always associate it with a cruise around Great Yarmouth in my mate Harry Parkin's Panther Lima on a beautiful sunny day back in 1980.

The roof was off, the sun was shining, and this album was playing in the car, the perfect album for a leisurely ride out.

The Eagles are the perfect 'ride out in the sun' group to sing along to!

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music Of My Life #31

This is an album I go back to on a regular basis. From the first time I heard New Frontier' I was hooked.

I'd always liked Steely Dan, but this album took it to another level for me. From 'I.G.Y. to 'Walk Between The Raindrops' it's jam-packed with great songs. There's even room for a cover of The Drifters' song 'Ruby Baby'

To me, it's just a 'must have' album.

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

If you can't see the video, click here

The Music Of My Life 30

 

This is a bittersweet one for me. I love Shakatak and a group of us went to see them in concert at Baileys in Watford.

This was their album at the time. I can remember them playing all their hits that night and being in my element.

Sadly, less than a fortnight later a friend who was with us that night died aged just 19. That night was the last time I saw him.

Whenever I think of Shakatak, I think of him and how he enjoyed that night.

R.I.P. Henry Manning

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music Of My Life 29

Another of those Guilty Pleasures of mine. My love of music started with the four reel-to-reel tapes in the photo. Full of hits of the late 50s and early 60s, they are the first music tracks I ever heard.

I can remember watching the tapes go round and hearing all this marvellous music. Even though these tapes contain hits by the likes of Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Billy Fury, Brenda Lee, Buddy Holly and more, the plinky plonk piano of Russ Conway is right up there with those favourites of mine too.

And one tune in particular, 'Lucky Five' sticks in my mind as a song that reminds me of being a little boy, listening to those tapes. Just hearing it raises my spirits and reminds me of my Mum and Dad. 

If the video doesn't play, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music Of My Life 28

I've chosen the Greatest Hits album, but it could have easily been one of the multitude of his albums.

I swear I'd never have had a love life without Al Green. His was the soundtrack to my days of 'courting' as it was called back then.

The perfect accompaniment to a kiss and a cuddle........

You know what I'm talkin' about!

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music Of My Life 27

 

In the mid-70s it seemed to me like everyone I knew had this album.

It's one of those albums that takes me back. I

'd go on a fairground and I'd hear it playing on a ride, if I went round one of my mates, you'd hear it playing. It was just one of those records that we all seemed to have.

It still holds up as a great album today. All covers of great songs and I suppose that's why it stands up - all great songs.

Standout song on the album for me? You Baby

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music Of My LIfe #26

 The last one was Donny Osmond, so it's only fair to balance it with his big rival at the time, David Cassidy.

Now I can't say I was any more enamoured by David Cassidy than I was with Donny Osmond, after all only girls and my mum liked them didn't they? Well that was until I heard this delight of a double 'A' sided single.

I make no bones about it, I'm a pop tart. And both these songs got me. 'Daydreamer' was a typical pop love song, I thought it was a good sing along song, I liked the melodies and it was good enough for me.

But 'The Puppy Song' was the one for my. I loved that it was quirky and was about a dog! And yes it was great to sing along to as well.

Even today, I think these two songs are as good an example of pop music as you'll find. And the fact that I only had to buy the one single was a bonus.

If you can't see the video, click here

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music of My Life 25

This one's an odd one because it's not one I liked until recently.

When this came out just before my 12th birthday, I can remember hating it because I thought he'd ruined Paul Anka's original (which I had).

On top of that, I hated that girls thought I looked like him. You have to remember I was only young and hadn't discovered the delights of girls properly yet, so didn't realise I could have taken advantage of it. I used to get so annoyed when I was told I looked like him. (Shame I don't look like him now. He's worn decidedly better than I have)

Fast forward to 1993. I'm doing a show on Hospital Radio in Weymouth. It was a hot summer's day and I'm in the studio. In between records, I'm looking through the record racks (no playlists back then, just pick and play.). As I'm flicking through the singles, I see this.

I hadn't heard it in 15-20 years and wondered whether I thought it sounded any better, so I put the record on the deck, cued it up and prepared to play it.

I started to talk about how I hated it when it was new and that I hadn't heard it in years, so thought I'd see how I felt about it today.

I think I lasted around 30 seconds before I stopped it, apologised for playing as I still thought it was awful, took the record off the deck and frisbeed it straight out of the open studio window whilst telling listeners that they'd never have to hear it again during their stay!

The funny thing is as the years have moved on, this little event has caused me to warm to the single. When I hear it, it never fails to make me laugh, and for that reason alone, it deserves to be part of the music of my life!

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music of My Life 24

 I was 9 when this came out at the end of 1969. I bought it with Christmas money soon after.

Having a brother who had loads of Motown singles, I'd been listening to these great artists for years.

This was my first foray into buying Motown Albums. I've bought loads since. But this is the one that kick-started it all for me.

The tracklist was just superb take a look at this: 

Side 1

1 Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine 2 Diana Ross & The Supremes & The Temptations - I'm Gonna Make You Love Me 3 Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour 4 Isley Brothers - This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) 5 Marv Johnson - I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose 6 Diana Ross & The Supremes - No Matter What Sign You Are 7 Four Tops - I'm In A Different World 8 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street Side 2

9 Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life 10 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - You're All I Need To Get By 11 The Temptations - Get Ready 12 Edwin Starr - Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.) 13 Diana Ross & The Supremes - Love Child 14 Isley Brothers - Behind A Painted Smile 15 Jr. Walker & The All Stars - Road Runner 16 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - The Tracks Of My Tears

And the cover was just brilliant!

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

Music of My Life 23

This is one of the albums my Dad had on his reel to reel tape recorder, that he'd play when there were too many teens in the arcade back in the 1960s.

The tape recorder (a grundig - pictured below) played both ways without having to turn the tape over. So on track one there was popular hits of the 60s and on the other track would be this album. As soon as there were too many listening to the pop stuff, he'd press the button, it'd play the other way and they'd get Max!

The funny thing is, I love this album. I bought it again about ten years ago, but

have lost it. Fortunately I digitised it and am still able to play it. These songs take me back, and I'm a little boy again and Mum and Dad are still in their late 40s.

Memories!

Go on have a listen to this one:

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music Of My Life 21

A favourite of mine, this record takes me back to when I used to go and stay with my sister after she'd got married.

My brother in law's dad used to travel a set of dodgems, and they used to open at Englefield Green, near Windsor.

I remember being there when this single was out, and it was the year actress Diana Dors (who lived close by) came on the ground one Saturday afternoon.

She had a ride on the dodgems and I spent the entire time bumping into her car and knocking her all around the track.

Being only 12 at the time, I didn't feel any embarrassment in going up to her and asking for her autograph afterwards,

I only wish I still had it, for I'll never forget what she wrote:

"To James who banged me 100 times! Love Diana Dors"

Happy days!

If video doesn't play, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music Of My Life 19

 

My Dad's music collection had an effect on my taste of that there is no doubt.

Even today, I love the likes of George Formby, The Andrews Sisters and Pearl Bailey. So much so I've hunted them down again.

It was like a treasure trove of songs for me as a kid and I can't hear any of the songs without being transported back to being a kid and hearing these great songs.

George Formby's comical songs, The Andrews Sisters (and my mum telling me of the war years) and Pearl Bailey's adult songs.

Join me on a trip back

If you can't see the video, click here

If you can't see this video, click here

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

The Music of My Life 18

 

My Dad had this LP when I was kid, and I've bought the album twice in the last 30 years, and each time it's magic'd its way out of my collection. There's a couple of people who've got an awesome album for free (bastards!).

It's not the typical soul album that you'd expect to hear from her, for the most part it's more laid-back, but it's quality all the way through

It must be because it's so good, Take a listen to the title track and you'll see why.

If you can't see the video, click here

Thanks for reading. If you like this blog and want to read more, sign up for the weekly newsletter and feel free to invite your friends along to check out and bookmark the blog, because after all, the more, the merrier!

Music of my Life 16

If James Taylor's Gorilla is my 2nd Favourite album, this is at the top of the list,

Stevie Wonder hadn't made an album for a couple of years. And when I knew this one was coming I pre-ordered it at Jotchams Record Shop.

On the day of it's release, I headed to the shop to pick it up, A double album and a bonus EP to! I can remember getting home and placing side one on my trusty old Dansette.

The first 10 seconds was all I needed, I fell in love with this album way before 'Love's In Need Of Love Today' finished.

I was 16 and this album was like a spiritual experience as it went from song to song.

On the first album there was also 'Have A Talk With God', 'Village Ghetto Land', 'Contusion', 'Sir Duke', 'I Wish', 'Knocks Me Off My Feet', 'Summer Soft' and 'Ordinary Pain', How could this album get any better?

I slipped on the second album. 'What a song to kick it off. 'Isn't She Lovely,' and on into 'Joy Inside my Tears.' 'Black Man' was unlike anything else I'd ever heard!

And then side 4. For me, the best song of the album 'Nigiculela, Es Una Historia, I am Singing' led into the wonderful 'If It's Magic.' Then two monster songs, 'As' and 'Another Star' What a finish!

But it wasn't - there was 'A Something's Extra'! The EP.

'Saturn, Ebony Eyes,' 'All Day Sucker' and 'Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)' to finish it all off.

The first time I heard the album it became my favourite album. And over the years, my love for 'Songs In The Key Of Life' has never dimmed. Just Stunning!

Just play this - my favourite song on the album;.

If the video won't play, click here

"If you like this post please share this post with ten friends you care about. We don't have to sit idly by while social media giants push us toward ad-filled noisy media."