All our yesterdays 2

 This week we're looking at the week of May 2-8 

On May 2nd, 1980, Pink Floyd's hit single, "Another Brick In The Wall" was banned by the South African government because rebellious black schoolchildren had adopted it as an anthem. The young protesters were chanting the lines: "We don't want no education, we don't want no thought control." Banning the song, however, didn't stop them from singing it!

On May 3rd, 1951, The South Bank of the River Thames was lit up as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth opened the Festival Of Britain. The five-month festival was designed to disperse the grey post-war cloud with a bright vision of Britain's future. Festival entertainments included a large fun-fair, sculptures, a railway and the Festival Pleasure Gardens.

On May 4th, 1970, US National Guardsmen shot and killed four students at Kent State University in Ohio. The dead students, two men and two women were taking part in a massed anti-war protest when the soldiers fired into the unarmed crowd. Nine students were wounded. Two more students were shot dead at Jackson State University, Mississippi. The killings followed three days of student rioting. The demonstrations erupted after President Richard Nixon sent US troops into Cambodia the week previously.

On May 5th, 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile on the remote British island of St Helena, He was 51. Apparently, his last word was, "Josephine" his empress who he'd rejected in 1810 because she hadn't given him a male heir.

On May 6th, 1954, Roger Bannister a 25-year-old medical student, broke an invisible barrier when he ran a mile in three-fifths of a second less than four minutes. He was running at the Iffley Road track in Oxford, representing the university against the Amateur Athletics Association, with two fellow students setting the pace. Experts had long held the opinion that it was impossible for a man to run a mile in less than four minutes. In doing so, he'd taken two seconds off the previous record, set by Swede, Gunder Hagg in 1945.

On May 7th, 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies and the War in Europe was ended. German Chief of staff, General Alfred Jodl signed the instrument od unconditional surrender at 2.40 am and delivered his nation "into the victor's hands, for better or worse." He was met by Britain's General Montgomery, US Chief of staff, General Bedell Smith and Soviet General, Suslapatov at General Eisenhower's headquarters, a small schoolhouse in Rheims, France.

And on May 8th, 1987, Democratic front-runner Gary Hart withdrew his bid for the presidency of the United States following allegations of marital infidelity. The Miami Herald reported HArt's alleged affair with Donna Rice, a 30-year-old model, with whom he was seen in Washington and onboard a yacht named 'Monkey Business.'

And finally in this week in 1969, The Beatles were having their second week at number one in the UK with, "Get Back." It stayed at number one for six weeks in all.

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 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!

It's time to move on.

I don’t know about you, but having gone through the first lockdown unscathed, I found that the second one that lasted from November through to March really pulled me down.

I’m not saying that it made me depressed because I wasn’t close to that, but it certainly drained me of some of my enthusiasm.

Apparently, it’s not been uncommon. Many people have gone through the same thing. It’s felt a bit like treading water, still trying to plod on but feeling as though you’re getting nowhere.

I was reading the other day that the feeling has a name. It’s called languishing. It’s apparently become the dominant emotional state of 2021. I have to say, it’s certainly pulled the motivation and focus out of me.

I’m a dreamer, I’ve always got things that I want to do and I’m always working toward something, and that’s why I’ve felt as though I’ve been walking around in a bit of a fog since the turn of the New Year.

The thing is, if you’re at this stage, you have to try and pull yourself out of it or find ways to alleviate the feelings because if you don’t it’s a possibility that that downward spiral can continue and drag you toward depression.

It’s safe to say that for many of us, each day had drifted into another and all that uncertainty has pulled us down. It's felt as though we're in a void and that we've suffered to maintain focus.

However, there is a way out of it. For many of us, going back to work will be the start. Mind you, that can pull us down too after being at home all the time. Lethargy can make it harder to get back into that groove.

Doing meaningful work is definitely a way out of it. It will give your mind something to focus on, to do. Trying to see the lighter side of life can help too. For me, turning off the news on the telly helped. Starting a new hobby can help as well, or finding a new challenge that will excite you.

If you’re thinking about a new challenge, don’t worry about failing. Often when we're trying to accomplish a new thing, our steps don’t always go right (and often they don’t).

If you’ve been following me or reading my posts, you’ll know that I’ve failed a fair few times at projects I’ve attempted. I always look back to my Mum’s advice over the years to help me and she would often tell me not to look back in regret, but to move on to the next thing.

And that’s so true because if you don’t fail, it really means that you’re not trying; stepping out of your comfort zone. Failure teaches you more than you realize.

And each time you fail something, however small, if you look at it the right way, it’s a stepping stone forward. You can learn from it and use that lesson to propel you onward.

And that’s how I feel at the moment. I’ve got one foot out of the fog of languishing and I’m working my way toward a project that I’d put by the wayside because of the pandemic and I’ve started making steps to see whether I can take it forward.

Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. It doesn’t matter which way it goes really, because the one thing I won’t be left with is regret.

And I’m pretty sure that I’d regret not trying more than I would by failing because at least in failing, you know you gave it a shot. Another lesson is learned. And who knows, success is also a possibility. 

The thing is, if you don't try, you'll never know, and you end up looking back wondering whether it would have worked. That gnaws away at you. I know that from experience.

I truly believe that the obstacles in life are what makes you. The overcoming of obstacles big and small give you an enormous sense of well-being.

You have the choice. You know which one is the right one for you. And no one else has the right to judge you for the choices you make.

For me, however, I’ve looked at starting up two new businesses over the last 5 years, neither of which has come to fruition. I’ve been down at times when I feel as though I’ve wasted so much time.

But is it really a waste? In doing the research for those two projects, I became more knowledgeable and picked up valuable hints and tips that can be applied in whatever I do in the future.

And even though I felt down when I decided I wouldn’t take the project further, it still made me feel good inside that I still have things I want to achieve.

And at this moment in time, I’m back on my path. I’m on my way out of that languishing phase that so many of us have had of late.

My hope is that if you’ve been there with me, that you find something or have something in mind that’s going to help you leave it behind and bring your feeling of enthusiasm and excitement back.

It could be getting a new hobby that does it. It could be planning your next holiday. Maybe, it’s finding a new job or even starting your own business.

Whatever it is, it’s time to try the next thing and leave that languishing feeling behind.

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!

 

Stock, AItken, Waterman and the twisty road to music niceness...

In the summer of 1987, I was 27. My son James had been born the previous December and we were living and working in St. Osyth near Clacton-on- Sea in Essex.

At the time, my wife was running a snack bar on the Seawick Holiday Camp and I was basically a relief manager on an amusement complex there. One day I could be in the bingo, the next in one of two amusement arcades and the next looking after a set of Dodgems.

It was a pretty varied working week for me but I most often spent my time in the bingo helping the manager and mixing with the bingo players.

It just so happens that one of the bingo ‘regulars’ owned a mobile home on the camp and would be at the camp every weekend and on all of the school holidays, which meant we saw her often and got to know her well.

She was a typical Eastender, friendly, outgoing and often with a story to tell.  Eventually, as is always the case with me, we got to talking about music and what we liked and didn’t like.

It was during one of those conversations, that she told me that her two nieces were pop stars and in the charts at the time.

Being me, I said to her, “I hope they’re not bloody one of those Stock, Aitken, Waterman groups!” because every other record on the radio seemed to one that originated from their studios.

At the time, I thought of them as formulaic pop rubbish, with the exception of Rick Astley, whose voice I quite liked.

It turned out that her nieces were Mel & Kim, who were indeed a Stock Aitken, Waterman group and were at the time riding high with their hit F.L.M in the top 10.

A week later, she turned up with a copy of their first CD and some signed photos for me and a white dress that one of them had worn in one of their videos for their singles, which she gave to the bingo manager’s daughter.

The reason I’m telling you this is because, this morning, I was taking Debz into town and Kylie Minogue’s, ‘Never too late’ came on and reminded me of this.

And as the song went on I was telling Debz how much I hated SAW at the time but how, over the years, I’d come to realise that it wasn’t actually as bad as I thought and how much I’d come to like pretty much all of their output with the exception of Jason Donovan who’s songs I thought were awful.

What I’ve come to realise is that instead of being the dross that I’d taken it for, it turns out to have been perfectly crafted pop; songs that were upbeat and cheered people up.

All those songs I couldn’t stand, I’ve found that I love now. I know all the words of them; they’ve become classic pop hits after all, and are part of British chart history. I sing along to them (even more out of tune than poor old Jason was) and they bring a smile to my face.

And as much as I was a snob about SAW, I’ve been on the opposite side of the fence when so many others have ridiculed my love of certain artists.

Here are a couple of examples for you.

Let’s start off with Village People. I loved them. Still do. I first came across them in the autumn of 1977 when I walked into a record shop in Ashford, Middlesex, and they were playing a disco 12” called, ‘San Francisco.’ It sounded a bit ‘camp’ but I liked it. After all, I was just getting into disco.

A couple of months later, they released, ‘Macho Man,’ which was even more so.

My friends started asking why I was playing that rubbish. They weren’t prepared for what was to come.

‘YMCA’ was next, followed by ‘In The Navy’ and then ‘Go West.’ All of a sudden they were big in the UK, but maligned by many of my friends.

I didn’t care. I loved them. Their songs were danceable, fun, very, very catchy and suddenly they were being played everywhere.

I bought the album ‘Crusin’ and to this day, I still have it, having bought it again a few years ago.

I couldn’t care less that disco was looked down on because it was ‘gay’ music. I loved it. Always will.

The next one couldn’t be more different.

It’s 1980 and I’ve got my first car. On the cassette you’d hear compilations of 12” singles, UB40’s ‘Signing Off’ album, the Diana Ross album that included, ‘Upside Down,’  ‘I’m Coming Out,’ and ‘My Old Piano’, The Crusaders album, ‘Streetlife,’ ‘Donna Summer’s, ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation and more of that ilk. After all, I’m a 20 year-old ‘cool cat’ with an image to uphold.

But what nobody knew, was that when I was on my own, I very often wouldn’t be listening to any of them, because, under my driver seat, sat a Barry Manilow cassette, called ‘Manilow Magic.’ I’d have been mortified if anyone had found out! After all, this was music my Mum liked.

12 unadulterated schmaltzy classic songs that at 20, I wasn’t going to tell anyone I loved. It was the most uncool, untrendy music on the planet.

But those songs... They grabbed me by the throat, shook me about and had me singing every time. Great songs, well performed (apart from my versions)... an audio treat for me.

I love a song with some soul in it, and his performances are from the heart.

‘Looks Like We Made It,’ ‘Ready To Take A Chance Again,’ Tryin’ To Get That Feeling Again,’ and the wonderful, ‘Weekend in New England,’ still, today, reach me in a way that many other songs don’t: and not in a bad way. And for a bit of fun, you’ve always got ‘Copacabana!’

So who am I to say what’s good and what’s not?

That’s the thing about music. There’s something for everyone. It doesn’t matter what you like because, at the end of the day, it’s yours to like.

There’s plenty of music I can’t stand. Rap (after Rapper’s Delight), Grime, Drum and Bass, anything by U2, Oasis and Abba all come to mind. I could go on.

But here’s the thing. Just because I can’t stand any of them, it doesn’t mean that they’re not any good. It just means that they’re not for me.

They weren’t written for people like me. They have their own audience. It doesn’t mean that I’m right and have superb music taste and that if you like them you don’t. Reading this, you’d probably think the opposite!

Music snobs get on my nerves. They think they know it all. They think that they’re better than the rest of us. It’s not true. And it never will be.

Music touches us all in different ways. Music means something different to all of us.

I’ve loved music all my life. I don’t remember a time when I’ve not collected it. My collection comprises of many genres and many artists, from George Formby and Max Bygraves to Led Zeppelin and The Arctic Monkeys.

I used to hate Stock Aitken and Waterman, I don’t anymore. And I’m glad about that.

I get as much joy from hearing, Kylie’s hits as I do from hearing The Kaiser Chiefs singing, ‘Ruby,’ or The Eagles, ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ and long may that continue.

I love oldies. I’m nostalgic about music. It reminds me of my life, good and bad. I love as much musical naffness as I do the virtuosity of others.

And I feel sorry for those that can’t feel the same; those that are enclosed in their little ‘my genre’ closet and aren’t open to listening to other stuff.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t go out of my way anymore to listen to what’s cool and trendy now. I don’t pretend to like something modern in order to keep a bit of ‘street cred.’ I honestly couldn’t care less anymore. After all, we all have our own journey on this road to musical niceness.

But I love it when I do hear something new that gives me that same feeling that those new singles did when I was growing up.

But somehow, I can’t see it happening too much. And it doesn’t matter, because it’s not been written with my demographic in mind.

But as Kylie Minogue sang this morning, “It’s never too late, we’ve still got time...”

 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!

All our yesterdays...a look back

 I had a reorganisation of my bookcases recently and in doing so, I came across some books I hadn't seen in ages.

Over the years, I've bought books such as Chronicle of the 20th Century, the NME Rock 'n' Roll Years and On This Day, three books that pinpoint different events from our past.

And it struck me that it might be good to take a look back at what's happened this week in years gone by.

So I thought I'd have a look back at history and see for happened during the week of 25th April - 1st of May across the years.

Here are 8 things that you may or may not remember or even know!

1) On 25th April 1939, actor, Al Pacino was born.

2) On 26th April 1994 South Africa went to the polls in its first-ever multi-racial elections. Millions of black South Africans voted for the first time after years of negotiations between FW de Klerks National Party and the African National Congress. Nelson Mandela became President on the 10th of May.

3) On 27th April 1984, The Philadelphia radio station W-WSH started a 'No Michae; Jackson' weekend in reaction to the pop stars overexposure during the past year

4) On 28th 1961 It was revealed that Britain had applied to join the Common Market. They were turned down. It eventually joined on the 1st January 1973. 

5) On 29th April 1987, the musical, Cabaret was performed in London without music when the orchestra went on strike!

6) On 30th April 1945, In a scene straight out of Wagner's epic music-drama The Ring of the Nibelungen, Adolf Hitler, ended his evil reign. After bidding farewell to the few aides remaining with him in his Berlin bunker hideaway, he retired to his suite and shot himself. His wife of just 48 hours, Eva Braun, took a cyanide potassium tablet. In accordance with Hitler's instructions,  both bodies were burnt.

7) On May 1st 1997, Labour leader Tony Blair was elected as Prime Minister of the UK

And finally, on the 26th April 1975, the Bay City Rollers started their 5th and final week as the UK number one with their cover of the Four Season's hit, 'Bye Bye Baby.' R.I.P. Les McKeowen.

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!

There has to be a better way

I’m a dinosaur.

I’m from a different time. I have different values. I feel like a square peg in a round hole.

I look around me and I see a world in which too many people are thinking only of themselves.

And I hate it.

Perhaps I’m wrong, but I feel as though there has to be a better way.

I come from a world of respect, of caring, of trusting, of discipline and I don’t recognize the way most people feel that it’s their divine right to do what they want, when they want, and if they don’t like it, start witch hunts against anyone who doesn’t fit their sensibilities.

I don’t like so much that I see going on.

Perhaps I’m naive, but there has to be a simpler, better way.

One in which we can respect people’s different opinions and not get bent out of shape. Where we can learn to be nicer to each other. Where we can conduct ourselves with greater decorum.

I may be called old-fashioned but I don’t think I’m alone. I think people, and not just my age group are thinking that the balance has gone too far in the other way.

That perhaps it’s time for a reset. But it starts with us.

I’m going to continue to live my life following those values I was brought up with. To treat people the way I want to be treated. To be nice. To work hard. To be of good charaacter.

I know I can rant and rave, and I do, but I don’t set out to upset people. I’m not underhanded. I try to conduct myself in a certain way.

I try to be open and honest in the way I portray myself. I’d like to think that what you see is what you get with me.

I’m not faultless, I know that.

I know I can be selfish. I know I have a certain way of doing things. I know I have strong opinions on what’s right is right.

But I’m also open-minded enough to be willing to learn from others. I know I’m not the finished article and never will be.

However, in saying that, there are ethics I live by and lines I will not cross.

And this is pretty much true of me. For me to fall out with you, it’s going to take something you’ve done to make it happen.

You see, I not only listen to what you say, but I watch your actions. And those actions tell me pretty much all I need to know. I watch and I take note.

I’m not going to like everyone, that’s only natural, but I’m not going to be the one undermine you. It’s not my style.  I'm also aware enough to realise that not everyone is going to like me.

I’m not going to get jealous if you move on in life. If you move on past me doing something I’ve been planning to do, I’m more likely to be mad at me for not getting on and doing it. But at the same time I’ll applaud you.

You see, if you move on, you become an example to others. You become a beacon to people like me. You become the inspiration to many people who hope. You can be the catalyst for the person who wants more out of life to say to themselves, “That’s it, I’m gonna do it! If they can, I can!”

I believe a rising tide raises all ships.

I believe we need that reset. I think that we can do better.

I believe we can be the guiding light. We’ve just got to go out there and be the example.

And to be honest, you don’t have to move mountains. Being nice, being caring and being thoughtful is just the start. I’m pretty sure that doing so will give people a whole new perspective about you.

And I believe it can be the foundations upon which we can all build a better life.

You see, at the end of the day, what you have isn’t important. We can all have. And to be honest, people couldn’t care less what you have.

But who you are...that’s what it’s about.

That’s the mark you leave in this world.

Yes, my thinking is old-fashioned and it’s naive. But I truly believe it’s better than wanting everything your own way and being bitter if you don’t get it.

And I expect I feel better about myself because of it too.

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!