The Fall - There's a Ghost in My House

 From 1987.  Kind of preposterous but also good fun. 

The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari (1920)

 Thought I should choose a horror film for Halloween. This is a good one. And it is silent so you can choose your own soundtrack.

Wiki

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (German: Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari) is a 1920 German silent horror film, directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer. Considered the quintessential work of German Expressionist cinema, it tells the story of an insane hypnotist (Werner Krauss) who uses a somnambulist (Conrad Veidt) to commit murders. The film features a dark and twisted visual style, with sharp-pointed forms, oblique and curving lines, structures and landscapes that lean and twist in unusual angles, and shadows and streaks of light painted directly onto the sets.

The Rattles - The Witch (1970)

 One for your Halloween playlist.

The Rattles are a German rock band, formed in Hamburg in 1960, most prominently known for their 1970 psychedelic hit single, "The Witch".

Screaming Lord Sutch - Jack The Ripper 1963

 Thanks to Adrian for this - I hadn't seen this until a few days ago. If you are American you might not have heard of Lord Sutch so here is his wiki.

Happy Halloween! Produced by Joe Meek and recorded in his Holloway Road studio in Islington, England. The song was banned by the BBC upon its release.

War and Peace BBC 1972

 While on the subject of the Napoleonic wars in the early 70s this series by the BBC was big news for my 12 year old self. See them here. I had a souvenir guide - a colour magazine that was brought out to accompany the series. I think it was this series that launched Anthony Hopkins' career. Wiki

My copy of the original book was a series tie-in 

This is the souvenir guide. Pinched this off eBay as mine is now long gone.

Girl from the North Country - Bob Dylan

 Nice old clip of a great song for this time of year. 

If you're travelin' in the North Country fair Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline Remember me to one who lives there For she once was a true love of mine

Leopold Beyer's depictions of the French army in 1813

 

These are invaluable studies of the appearance of the French army of 1813.  There were 12 in total. To see more and read about them go here.

Touch of Evil Opening Shot 1958

 Music by Henry Mancini. 

The famous crane shot from Orson Welles' 1958 film, 'Touch of Evil.'

Bow Wow Wow - The Man Mountain 1983

 BWW in a mellow mood. Worth watching.

Battle for Sevastopol Trailer (ENG) 2015

 Battle for Sevastopol (Russian: "Битва за Севастополь"; Ukrainian: "Незламна" "Indestructable") is a 2015 biographical film about Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a young Soviet woman who joined the Red Army to fight the Nazi invasion of the USSR and became one of the deadliest snipers in World War 2.

Graham Bond Organisation - Harmonica 1965

 From the film Gonks Go Beat. 

The Adventures of Gerard (1970)

 One film that I didn't see in 1970 that was about the Napoleonic wars is this one. I think I have seen it now and it's not that good. Based on a short story by Conan-Doyle.

The Years of Napoleon (1972) Almark publications

 Old book with artwork by Gerry Embleton

Mother of the regiment

 Article (French language) about the important female role in French regiments. 

Battleground - Waterloo part 1 (1978)

 Edward Woodward introduces a wargame between two of the pivotal figures in the growth of wargaming in the 1970s - Peter Gilder (as Napoleon - takes on John Braithwaite (Garrison Miniatures).

IMDB on the series which is up on Youtube. (Gettysburg Edgehill and Waterloo)

The Fall - The Frenz Experiment (1988) Expanded Edition

 Of course Mark E. Smith was a wargamer of the Napoleonic period. Steve Hanley mentioned it in his book the Big Midweek which is a great read. 

Newly reissued album by the Fall. Good starting point if you haven't heard the Fall before. 

Airfix Napoleonics

 

The film Waterloo came about the same time as this range of 1/72 figures of the most famous of the Waterloo protagonists. It also coincided with me actually painting the figures too although I wasn't so hot. The Waterloo farmhouse came out in 1971 by that time the range was well established. There was a boadgame from Airfix but I don't remember it.

Ralph Mitchard in about 1971

Saturday Night And Sunday Morning (1960)

 Trailer. 60 years old today. Watch it if you like good British films. Wiki

Gloria Jones Heartbeat 1966

 From "Where the Action Is"  originally aired 10/26/66. Written by Ed Cobb who also wrote Tainted Love. 

Airfix 54mm figures

 

Andy J was interested in this so I scanned a few pages of an old Airfix catalogue I have. 

Blucher meeting Wellington from the movie Waterloo

 

Andy J had this. It's an image from the souvenir booklet that wasn't in the cut released. Shame as the Germans have complained of their treatment in the film.

Filming in Radstock

 Currently in two locations. Info on Radstock Nub News

Waterloo 50th anniversary

 

Today the 26th is the 50th anniversary of this epic film. I was 10 and went with my Dad. He knew the projectionist and managed to blag me the poster (shown here) and I had it up on my bedroom wall for ages afterwards. If you fancy watching it there a number of versions on YouTube. The first half an hour you can skip in my humble opinion.

'When' Dave Clark Five

 Dinah (Barbara Ferris) and Steve (Dave Clark) wander with The Dave Clark Five's 'When' as a backdrop.

From the brilliant film 'Catch Us If You Can'.

Howlin Wolf - Shake for Me, I'll Be Back Someday, Love Me Darlin (Live)

 Not sure of the date. Mid 60s. Lovely guitar by Hubert Sumlin.

Alligator Wine by Screamin' Jay Hawkins 1957

There is a great biography of SJH and it was telling the story of this song. It was a big budget follow up to I Put a Spell on You. Guitar Mickey Baker, song by Leiber and Stoller what more do you need? It wasn't a hit. But it is great and ideal for Halloween so I thought I would.post it.

Lyrics by Leiber and Stoller.

Take the blood out of an alligator, heh
Take the left eye out a fish, heh-heh
Take the skin off of a frog, heh-heh
Heh, and mix it all up in a dish
Add a cup of green swamp water
And then count from one to nine
Spill over your left shoulder
You got alligator wine
Alligator wine, ha-ha, ha-ha
Your porcupine, ha
It's gonna make you mine
Oh yeah! It's gonna make you mine
It'll make your head bald, baby
I say, it'll make your toes freeze
It'll turn your blood turn into steam (FSHHH!)
It'll make you cough and sneeze
You gotta scream like an eagle

You gotta roar like a mountain lion
When you get finished drinkin'
Good old alligator wine
Alligator wine
Your porcupine
It's gonna make you mine
Meet me at the stroke of midnight
By the swamp down in the wood
I'm gonna make you love me, baby
Like you never thought you could
You gonna break my magic potion
And your bloodshot eye is gonna shine
You gonna be scared forever
Too much alligator wine
Alligator wine
Your porcupine
It's gonna make you mine
Alligator wine...

Season Of The Witch Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity

 This version of a Donovan song from 1968 is very good fun. Ideal for this time of year. 

Cheap street Frome

From the Frome museum archives,  a photo of a watercolour of Cheap Street by W.W. Wheatley dated 1830.

Co-op delivery bike

This is an exhibit at Radstock museum. My first after school job was using a bike like this for Frome Co-op in Palmer street. I remember they charged 5p a box for delivery and you could get two boxes in the front cage. Worst bit was it had very poor brakes and Frome is very hilly. I feared for my.life a number of times and several times had to crash it to stop it. Good times.
 

Baby Shakes - Sweet 'N' Sour Part 2

 Something new. Heard this on Mickey Bradley.  Wiki on the band

Released 60 years this week

 

Remember seeing this at the cinema sometime later.

Waterloo movie anniversary

 Everyone ready for Monday!? 26 October marks the 50th Anniversary of the release of the film Waterloo. 

Odessey & Oracle - Crocorama

 Something from this year. Heard on the radio,

AND THE BEAT GOES ON - The Sonny and Cher Story (1999) (Full movie)

 I like musical biopics - even the not so good ones. This is fun. A tv movie. 

Ralph and Susan's punk playlist

 Old school. 92 songs - over 4 hours. Enjoy. 

CBGB Theatrical Trailer #1 (2013) - Alan Rickman, Rupert Grint Movie HD

 I haven't seen this but I would probably watch it if it was on TV. Any of you seen it? Reviews are not favourable. Wiki on the film. 

asked on my Facebook page and people were complimentary about it.

Dead Boys - Live at CBGB's 1977

 For Stiv Bators birthday. This is great. First song is the best so if you only watch one....

About 28 minutes long,

01 | 00:46 | Sonic Reducer 02 | 03:37 | All This and More 03 | 06:23 | Not Anymore 04 | 09:44 | I Won't Look Back 05 | 12:24 | Flame Thrower Love 06 | 14:58 | I Need Lunch 07 | 18:33 | Ain't Nothin' to Do 08 | 21:14 | What Love Is 09 | 23:17 | High Tension Wire 10 | 25:21 | Search & Destroy

Big Joe Williams Highway 49

 Famous for writing Baby Please Don't Go he was a tough dude who used to play logging camps and all manner of tough gigs. Wiki

Midsomer Norton High Street

 Looking very halloweenie at the moment - come and visit Midsomer Norton - it's great. 

A few shops in the High Street. This is a really useful model shop 'Signals' that is mainly aimed at the railway modellers but they also have other things. Webpage here

This is the Savoy rooms - known locally as Bob's Palaise as it used to hold gigs and dances. Bands like the Swinging Blue Jeans, the Tornadoes and Vince Taylor played here back in the day. Now houses a number of businesses - a gym, a nightclub Fat Sams or Fatties as it is known. There is a late night fast food place called the Charcoal Grill or Charky gees.  let's not forget the comic book shop that is Celia's Place, and Magpie Vintage a great shop full of interesting things.

Midsomer Norton Town hall. They used to screen currentish films until the pandemic.

In the same building Magpie vintage who have a great window display as they organised a pumpkin trail of MSN shops and it has been successful. 

Wanda Jackson, "I Gotta Know", Collins Kids, "Sugar Time" (Western Ranch Party, 1958)

 Wanda Jackson's birthday today. 

Pere Ubu - Final Solution 1976

 One of the best punk rock singles ever!

The girls won't touch me

'Cause I've got a misdirection Living at night isn't helping my complexion The signs all saying it's a social infection A little bit of fun's never been an insurrection Mamma threw me out till I get some pants that fit She just won't approve of my strange kind of wit I get so excited, always gotta lose Man that send me off Let them take the cure Don't need a cure Need a final solution Buy me a ticket to a sonic reduction Guitars gonna sound like a nuclear destruction Seems I'm a victim of natural selection Meet me on the other side, another direction Don't need a cure Need a final solution

The Kinks - Autumn Almanac - T.O.T.P. 1967

 Seassonal! Lyrics here

Kleenex - "Nice" (1978)

 "Nice" from the Liliput/Kleenex ‎"Live Recordings, TV Clips & Road Movie" CD/DVD collection. On Kill Rock Stars.

We loved this band. Big influence on the Animals & Men concept. I think they were Swiss.

When I was on the front of the Somerset Standard

 

The occasion - a Road Safety Quiz. My parents kept the issue from July 1971. Ivan of the Bad Detectives is there (top 2nd from left) as well as Ellie who I knew through reenactment. I am on the right of the 2nd photo, and I was 11. Milk Street school is still there I believe.

Astrud Gilberto - AGUA DE BEBER - 1965

 I really love this track. Don't know what it's about - drinking water is the title other than that I know not but it's a great song. 

Jackie Wilson - You Got Me Walking (1971)

 I was super-pleased to find this on Youtube as I love the song, Great bass and lovely lyrics 'breakfast in the mornings right on time while you teach my little baby nursery rhymes'.

Louisiana Hannah The Larry Williams Show featuring Johnny 'Guitar' Watson with the Stormsville Shakers (1965)

 This album I have, well the 80s reissue anyway. Backing by the British band the Stormsville Shakers. It must have been an enjoyable live experience. Originally from 1965. https://www.discogs.com/The-Larry.../release/2273328

Nico Sings Chelsea Girls in the Chelsea Hotel 1981

 I remember when this was first broadcast. We had it on tape off the TV. Was an Arena documentary on the Chelsea Hotel. Some film from the film Chelsea girls and then a cool rendition in a bedroom. The full original documentary is on I player

Les Bof!

 French garage rock and roll band that sing in French. Very good. 

Me and the Devil 'Backscratchin'' 2018

 This Cornish Blues band are pretty damn good and I advise you to check them out. Nice harp, stand-up bass etc. All good. 

Cliff Richard & The Shadows - We Say Yeah (1961)

 For Cliff's 80th birthday. Very popular in the UK if you aren't a Brit. Sort of swept away when the Beatles appeared.

Let The Kids Dance - Bo Diddley

 from HAGG featuring Sam Riddle and Gazzarri Dancers

Ralph Mitchard in about 2002

Me in about 2002. This is at Westerham Kent, the boyhood home of General Wolfe. Photo by Dave Allen.

 

Sonny Boy Williamson II From The Bottom (Tks. 1, 3 & 6) (1954)

 Marvellous early track that I would love to do a version of - it's so good. BB King on guitar.

MARGARET NOLAN (1943 – 2020)

 

Born in Radstock. Biography

The Emperor of Paris / L'Empereur de Paris (2018) - Trailer (English Subs)

 Another French historical film this time in the era of Napoleon.

Wikipedia

Austin Champ

 

Watching a Quatermass film and there was a fleet of these. British jeeps. Dinky used to do a nice model. Wiki

The Guardians (2018)

  Watched this last night - was good - very picturesque and different. 

French film set in 1915. About a farm when all the men have gone to the front.

 On i player now

Gossip - Jealous Girls (2007)

 Who remembers? Pretty darned good. 

Gossip (or The Gossip) is an American indie rock band that was originally active from 1999 until 2016, formed in Olympia, Washington. For most of their career, the band consisted of singer Beth Ditto, multi-instrumentalist Brace Paine, and drummer Hannah Blilie. 

Sam Chatmon: Cold Blooded Murderer (1978)

Can't supply you with footage of Charley Patton but here'a contemporary and kin.

Sam Chatmon performs "Cold Blooded Murderer," vocal and guitar. Shot by Alan Lomax, John Bishop, and Worth Long at Sam Chatmon's home, Hollandale, Mississippi, August 1978.

Charley Patton by John Fahey

Reading John Fahey's book on Charley Patton. I first encountered this book in Frome library in the 70s and this is a reprint with extra text. It's a must have for fans of the man who influenced so many. Lyrics and those ads that inspired Robert Crumb. 

Illustration of a Siberian Evenki shaman from Nicolaas Witsen's Noord en Oost Tartarye (1705)

 

From an article on the Public Domain Review Fungi, Folklore and Fairyland. 

Heaven's Gate 1980 trailer

 This is a fine film. It's a Western but a very different one. Definitely recommend you watch this when you get the chance. Wiki

The Warriors (1979) Original trailer

 I loved this film. My kids also in time grew to love it and a really good console game came out which was fun. If you haven't seen it it's up on Youtube. Wiki

Based on this 1966 novel

Radstock Museum

 

Did my first stint as a volunteer at Radstock Museum. Took a couple of snaps. It opens Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday if you fancy a visit. 

John Lennon Rock'n'roll vocalist

 For John Lennon's 80th. Made this short playlist highlighting Lennon's vocals on  rock'n'roll covers that made up their early sets.  (One original thrown in). I think he was Britain's best rock and roll vocalist at that time. Check out my Pinterest page on the early Beatles.

The Beatles - The One After 909 #1 (Cavern Club Rehearsals)

 This is my contribution to the John Lennon 80th celebrations. This was one of the first Lennon-McCartney compositions. They were already playing it 60 years ago when they were beginning to make a name for themselves in Hamburg. I love this phase of the Beatles career.

Roxette Doctor Feelgood 1975

 One of the best songs of the 70s. I was at school at Bruton when this was current. I remember me and Charlie 'doing it' (ie imitating Wilko and Brilleaux) when we were supposed to be playing football. Never saw them live sadly.

Danny and the Nogoodniks 'Bike' 1982

 

In the early 80s we were involved with Adam Ant and his Antmusic publishing venture. The first band out the traps was this band, with Danny Kleinman a friend of Adam. They got a deal with Chrysalis and on tv - can't remember the name of the show it was one of those BBC2 6 o'clock youth shows. They did two songs. Also they got a mention in the Sun in the entertainment section. Discogs. But it flopped. The song has Adam and Marco on it as 'Marc Antony'- something they were going to do with us. We actually saw Danny and the Nogoodniks playing in a pub in London. I approached Danny Kleinman and introduced myself but he blanked me. Never mind. If you like this there are a few more songs up on Youtube. 

Jerry Lee Lewis - I'm On Fire 1964

 This is great. A current single at the time. Wiki. Granada TV (UK) show 'Don't knock the rock'

Brutus Jeans "Jeans On" Television Advert

 Who remembers this? From 1974. I had some Brutus jeans

Welcome to Bluurg TV!

 Dick from the Subhumanz. Broadcasted their first gig last night from Rockaway Park a place where we have been asked to playa  few times and we are keen to get out there. Here

Robb Johnson - Tony Skinner's Lad [Official Video]

 This single about former MP Dennis Skinner has topped the download chart. 

Buy the single now - all profits go to the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign: https://smarturl.it/dennisskinner

Music video for Tony Skinner's Lad by Robb Johnson & The Irregulars.

Trio - Sunday You Need Love Monday be alone

 This is good.

Mick Jagger in a Guards jacket

 Wore it on Ready Steady go while performing Paint it Black. In black and white.

First new deep mine for 30 years

 Here

It has been approved.

Bat in the Bedroom

Sue is making some decorations for Celia's Place for Halloween and we were reminded of the time when we had a bat in the house. When we lived at Whitelands we used to get a lot of animal interaction but this was the most memorable. It was about 1 o'clock at night - Sue and I were already in bed - Celia came rushing down (3 storeys, she had the top room) saying there's a bat in the bedroom. When she switched the light off it flew around the room but when she switched it on it stayed still. You aren't supposed to handle bats but we had to. The next day our neighbour said  'there was a commotion from you lot last night?' I said 'sorry we had a bat in the bedroom'. He totally understood,