Ralph and Susan's punk playlist

 4 hours and no crap ones - unless you count Young Parisians/

Eddie and the Hot Rods Horseplay

 Not sure of the date of this. Maybe 76. When Lew Lewis was with them. Used to do this with the Bad Detectives - quite a banger,

Bo Diddley "Bo Diddley" on The Ed Sullivan Show

 November 55. Bo Diddley is banned for doing this song instead of 16 tons.

Bo Diddley - Doin' the Jaguar

Today is Bo's birthday. I think this is 1962. I have it as a b-side to 'Bo Diddley is a  Lover' on the PYE RnB label. Vocal group is the Impalas I believe. Really good guitar solo on this. 

New York Dolls - Chatterbox (1973)

 This is at Club 82 in New York. Gotta love Johnny Thunders. A rock and roll legend. It's hard to rationalise his appeal

A short Johnny Thunders playlist (44 minutes)

HOWLIN WOLF - Live At Big Dukes In Chicago, IL. 1970

 I've only just found this so I haven't listened to all of it yet but it looks great. 3 hours!

Set1 01 Take You Downtown a

Set1 02 Highway 49 a Set1 03 Decoration Day a Set1 04 Bluebird Blues a Set1 05 Little Baby Set1 06 Set Closer Set2 01 Oh Baby Set2 02 Someday Baby Set2 03 Highway 49 Set2 04 I Got The Blues Set2 05 Set Closer Set3 03 All I Want Set3 04 Decoration Day Set3 04 What I Say Set3 05 Chicken Shack (set end) Set4 01 Highway 49 Set4 02 How Many More Years Set4 03 Love Me Darling Set4 04 Sitting On Top Of The World Set4 05 Highway 49 Set4 06 I Am The Wolf Set4 07 Howling For My Darling Set4 08 Set Closer Set5 01 Bad Bad Whiskey Set5 02 Hard Luck Set5 03 You Don't Know Set5 04 The Big House Set5 05 Set Closer Set6 01 Evil Set6 02 Honeydripper (I'll See You Again) Set6 03 Littlejohn intro & Tuning Set6 04 Dust My Broom Set6 05 Sliding Home

Sky Saxon & The Seeds - "Satisfy You"

 A compilation video featuring clips from all known Original Lineup Seeds videos - played to the obscure alternate take of the great "Satisfy You" from 1968.

Howlin' Wolf Playlist

 This playlist has his later recordings which I like.

Howlin' Wolf - Don't Laugh At Me

 Great clip

Terraplanes in an alley in Frome 1980/1

 

Don't remember the name of this alley. It runs from by St John's school down to Vicarage street.

Laurel & Hardy Laughing Gravy 1931

 Wiki. It's about 30 minutes.

Santa Claus - Sonny Boy Williamson

 My baby went shoppin' yesterday

Said "I'm gonna buy what you need for Santa Claus"

have a great Yule! Thanks for dropping by

Clarence Carter - Back Door Santa (1968)

 

the terraplanes first demo December 1980

 As I said we recorded this at Corsham at the Christmas holidays. Nigel helped out with the mixing and travelling out there (none of us could drive).

I wish you would. - The Terraplanes 1981

 Here is the evidence of my Billy Boy Arnold fan status. Here's us doing his 1955 hit I Wish You Would

Billie | Official Trailer

 IN THEATERS AND ON VIRTUAL CINEMA NOVEMBER 13!

Billie Holiday had one of the greatest voices of all time and changed the face of American music. She was a woman of breath-taking talent and global popularity while also stirring controversy. She started a notable rebellion singing “Strange Fruit” which exposed the realities of Black life in America and earned her powerful enemies. Raw, emotional and brutally honest, Billie is filled with never-before-heard interviews from musical greats like Charles Mingus, Tony Bennett, Sylvia Syms and Count Basie. Director: James Erskine

Billy Boy Arnold Playlist

 40 years ago I was listening a lot to Billy Boy Arnold trying to emulate his style. Here is a short playlist I made.

Photo of Susan myself about 40 years ago. Merry Christmas

 

MARVIN GAYE 'Can I Get a Witness

 'Oh listen everybody - especially you girls' My favourite Marvin Gaye record on Ready Steady Go.

Russian Napoleonic reenactors

 

Sorry don't know who took the photo.

Caravan Man Lew Lewis

 Not sure of the date of this. About 77. My favourite moment on the Stiff label. Lew Lewis wiki

Retreat from Moscow 1812 in 1/32 by Scott Lesch

 This is a pleasant set up in the snow.

New York Dolls - On Fire 1975

 From the Red Patent Leather era under McLaren's management. They had some great songs about this time most of them finishing up on splinter projects when the band had split. I have never heard this song being done and I don't know who wrote it but it's good. 

SEX Too fast to Live Too Young to Die

 Playlist based on the Jukebox from SEX boutique. Pic of the Jukebox here

The Beatles: Get Back - A Sneak Peek from Peter Jackson

 This is good. 

Dave Berry |Don't Gimme No Lip Child 1964

 This b-side (of The Crying Game) became famous when the Sex Pistols covered it. I think it was on the jukebox at SEX in the King's Road London. I like this version more than the Pistols version but I am liked that.

Planxty Johnny Of Brady's Lea 1980

 A great song about poaching the 'dun deer' and its consequences. Wiki on the album. 

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol 1971 Richard Williams Animation

 25 minutes. Winner of the 1972 Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.

Richard Williams did the animation for Charge of the Light Brigade. Here is his look at the Christmas favourite.

Adam & The Ants - Ant Rap 1981

 One from December 81 that we did buy was Ant Rap. We didn't particularly like it but bought for old time's sake. Good video. Didn't buy the album. B side was 'Friends'. Got to number 3. Wiki

The Human League - Don't You Want Me

 This was number 1 when we got married. We didn't like the new look Human League much and didn't buy it. One of our friends' sister was managing them so we used to hear all sorts of stories about them. Chart for December 81.

>

39 years ago

 

Yes our wedding anniversary. 1981. The Human League were number 1 and it had snowed. Here we are at Shepton Mallet registry office.

Howlin' Wolf - My Mind Is Ramblin' - 1966

 Not a song about dementia but a trip in a Rocket car 'hopping like a mountain goat'. Know this one well as we used to do this one in the Mud Dogs.

Mud Rocket 1974

Abigail Rocket Blast

Gene Vincent and the Shouts - You Are My Sunshine 1964

 Great clip from a UK tv special. 

I used to have this album which was a rerelease of the 64 album.  It was my first Gene Vincent LP and I really liked it. I am quite partial to Gene Vincent's 60s recordings.

1979 Bad Detectives on stage

C

Charlie dancing to the Bad Detectives at Newton Park Bath in 1979. We were the headline band you can see Geoff's kit behind. Very poorly attended gig. I seem to remember having to negotiate with the audience that had come from Frome to dance to us.

That was my PA.

The Terraplanes 'Evil Going On' 1981

 This is what we were like 40 years ago.  Filmed on an early video camera. I take full responsibility for this musical rabbit-hole we went down. 

40 years ago

 

40 years ago we were busy practising above the Pack horse pub. We booked a recording studio for over the Christmas holidays. We were hard taskmasters. Downstairs was a Space invaders and if Dave was having trouble learning a new riff we would leave him to it and go downstairs and play while listening out for the progress and when it was sounding right we would go back upstairs. So when you hear the bass on Evil Going On you can appreciate the struggle. In hindsight we would have been better off playing the same sort of stuff we had been doing in Animals & men but we didn't consider something as logical as that.

It's Bandcamp Friday! A good time to buy downloads.

https://animalsandmen.bandcamp.com

Rolling Stones Winter 1973

 Good song for this time of year. To these ears it sounds like the Stones are doing a Van Morrison here. 

Captain Beefheart & Magic Band - Sure 'nuff 'n Yes I do - Midem Festival Cannes, France 1-27-68

 10 years ago today Captain Beefheart died. Here's one of my favourites. 

Subway Sect - Out Of Touch

 This is from the film Punk in London and is ace. Subway sect are my favourite of the early 100 club bands. Here they are rehearsing in the Clash's rehearsal room. 

Wide Boy Awake 'Chicken Outlaw' 1982

 Wide Boy Awake performing on Oxford Road Show - 17 December 1982

I have not seen this before. WBA were led by Kevin Mooney who was an Ants bass player for a while. He married punk legend Jordan for a while who also was their manager. The music was sort of electro cajun which was fitting for the time. Apparently lives in Berlin now. Susan liked Wide Boy Awake and we have some of their 12 inch singles still. There is one that has a video by Derek Jarman.

Serge Clerc Tales from the Cramps

 

 

On the subject of Serge Clerc here are some bits of his Cramps comic. See more here

Carmel Bad Day (1983)

This single I bought. Had a really nice cover by Serge Clerc who used to be popular at the time.

Frenzy I See Red

 Frome rockabilly trio from the early 80s. This was their high water mark as it got played on Janice Long on daytime Radio 1. Not sure of the line-up or date. 

ZZ Top - Gimme All Your Lovin'

 Bit of nostalgia. Susan really liked this album (Eliminator) from 1983. I guess they were a band that took advantage of the demand for videos. 

Working in a toy shop

 10 years ago we took this photo. Daughter was working in Snooks a toy and nursery shop in Bath. She got these cheap. Eric Snook who was her boss was in his 90s and a former mayor of Bath. He wasn't frail for his She and was very sprightly for his age. She used to do a bit of everything but also Mr Snook's PA. She appeared on the programme Antiques Road show with him with a 30s teddy bear display. Sadly he passed away and the shop closed. She learnt a lot and enjoyed her time there. She made this video Gorilla in a toy shop which captures the place. From 2008

Jane Birkin Jane B 1969

 Lovely video. B-side of Je T'aime I believe.

JAN ANTHONIE LANGENDIJK (1780-1818) Württemberg Army. Privates, Infantry. drawn 1814

 Zoomable image here. I am enjoying Langendijk's work. 

The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song

 Music video by The Raveonettes performing The Christmas Song. Liked the Raveonettes

Saw them a few times. Always exciting, From Denmark I believe.

The Fall Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Live - John Peel Session #18 - 17/12/94)

 More Christmas from the Fall. 

Snatch All I Want 1978

 This was the second single by Snatch and it had this gold sleeve. Less minimal with Jerry Nolan on drums among others. B-side was good too. 

Snatch page at Discogs

Float Up CP - Joy's Address

 We have this. It's very good. Before Neneh Cherry got really big.

Spin-off group from Rip Rig + Panic, with members Bruce Smith and Neneh Cherry. Song from their 1983 album "Kill Me In The Morning"

Joy Division at the Hope and Anchor 27 Dec. 1978

 We were at Joy Division's first gig in London. Link. It was empty as was London at the time. Our bass player Nigel was a student and had a flat at Ladbroke Grove so all the others were back home so we had plenty of room but London was deserted. I wish that we had chatted to the band  - we could have as they were about but we didn't.  I remember noting that the bassplayer had a beard which seemed a little strange. 

Sonny Boy Nelson: How You Want Your Rolling Done? (1978)

 Sonny Boy Nelson (Eugene Powell), vocal and guitar, shot by Alan Lomax, John Bishop, and Worth Long in Greenville, Mississippi, August 31, 1978. For more information about the American Patchwork filmwork, Alan Lomax, and his collections, visit http://culturalequity.org.

SNATCH (Patti Palladin & Judy Nylon) - "IRT" 1977

 From Allmusic

We loved this record and its follow up which I will post soon.

Snatch was the duo of Patti Palladin and Judy Nylon, a pair of expatriates who recorded their punk scree at the former's flat in London, England. They recorded a demo with a number of songs in 1976; Bomp's Greg Shaw offered to release anything from it, and the I.R.T. single, featuring two of the demos, was released in February of 1977.

PJ Harvey - This is Love

 Sometime around 2001. Wiki

Susan dogsitting in Peasedown

 

Looking after our daughter's dog. 

Animals & Men Dragonfly 2010

 This is a film made by Susan of when the snow came to our house. The song is called Dragonfly. It started life as an instrumental and then we decided to put lyrics to it. Not easy. Dragonflies are important iconography for Radstock as a fossilised Dragonfly of huge proportions was dug up in a mine around 100 years ago. 

Napoleonic scene

′′ The Gathering ". Mal. Johann Voltz.

 I am tempted to start a Napoleonic blog but then I think why? I don't know what is to be gained by doing it. I am not an expert I haven't really read much on the subject for many years. But it is the newness which appeals. We shall see. 

DANCE CRAZES OF THE '60S (Compiled by Toni Basil)

 Rather a fun video. 

Terraplanes in 1983

 Some photos we had done at the Caxton Club Frome. This was a works club for Printers Butler and Tanner. My Dad was involved in setting it up. Good days. We had recently bought new clothes. The photographer was a B&Ts  man I think he was called Clive. We didn't use these photos. We thought them a bit rubbish. 

Anne Morrison

Geoff Norcott

Dave Mackay

Ralph Mitchard

Susan Wells

New Frome book of interest

 

ADAM & THE ANTS John Peel 23rd January 1978

 Deutscher Girls, It doesn't Matter, Puerto Rican, Lou (vocals by Jordan). This was about the time we saw them first. Great stuff.

The Earl Waldegrave's Radstock Collieries

 This is good. Shows what is still about for the mines around Radstock

Published on 1 Nov 2020

The journey on the Bristol and North Somerset Railway brings us to a the Earl Waldegrave's group of collieries. Thanks to everyone that allowed me to see some areas that the public don't always see.

This is a brief look at what is left of these coal mines more information can be found in books "Through Countryside and Coalfield" and "Collieries of the Somerset and Bristol".

Otis Blackwell on Letterman, January 10, 1984

 Otis Blackwell is one of the great rock'n'roll songwriters bar none. He wrote a lot for Elvis. Here he is talking about Presley and working with him. Lasts about 8 minutes.

Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Uncomplicated

 OGWT 1986. Saw them a couple of times.

Waterloo Blu-Ray

 No additional scenes though. Reviewed here

The Nerves - Hanging On The Telephone, Original version 45, 1976.

 I like this. 

The Nerves were a mid-'70s power pop trio based in Los Angeles, California, featuring guitarist Jack Lee, bassist Peter Case, and drummer Paul Collins. All three members composed songs and sang. They managed a national tour, including a few dates with The Ramones, but they lasted just a short time and self-released only one self-titled four-song EP in 1976, featuring the songs "Hanging on the Telephone" (Lee), "When You Find Out" (Case), "Give Me Some Time" (Lee), and "Working Too Hard" (Collins). The EP was distributed by independent Bomp! Records.

Dave Clark Five When 1965

 I think this is filmed on the Mendips. The film has sequences shot in Bath. Very watchable movie if you get the chance. 

The Beatles - Revolution

 As you probably know today is the 40th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. Remember it well. I was living at home at the time and my Dad woke me up with the news. Felt terrible.  Thought I would pick this as this used to be one of about a half dozen decent songs on the Pack Horse jukebox (b-aide of Hey Jude) so we played it rather a lot. The Pack Horse was our haunt in those days 40 years ago. 

Belton Sutherland: Blues #2 (1978)

 Belton Sutherland (vocal and guitar) performs an improvised blues on Clyde Maxwell's porch. Shot by Alan Lomax, John Bishop, and Worth Long at Maxwell's farm near Canton, Mississippi, September 3, 1978.

Execution of Marshal Ney

Soldiers, when I give the command to fire, fire straight at my heart. Wait for the order. It will be my last to you. I protest against my condemnation. I have fought a hundred battles for France, and not one against her ... Soldiers, fire![18]

 

Today's anniversary. Wiki

Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch 2011

 We liked this band. Wiki

Avanpost Napoleonic artillery

 

Avanpost are Russian and make some of the nicest miniatures I have seen. They produce most of their figures in resin. They have just posted this set of British artillery. 

Tommy Brown and his combo - Southern Women

 Great harp from Big Walter Horton. First encountered this on the compilation Blues in D Natural.

ALPHAVILLE de Jean-Luc Godard - Official trailer - 1965

 Science fiction meets film noir/ Unmissable.

Pierrot Le Fou 1965 trailer (subs)

 Recently it was Jean-Luc Godard's 90th birthday so I will for a while have a few clips and trailers . This one I have seen a lot but it still remains an enigma. Wiki on the movie. 

Cavaleriesoldaat en een radijsverkoopster, Jan Anthonie Langendijk 1790 - 1880 - Rijksmuseum

 

Jefferson Airplane rooftop concert 1968

 Before the Beatles did it Jefferson Airplane were asked by Jean-Luc Godard to play on a hotel roof in Manhattan. November 68. Not a huge fan of JA but my brother is. This film has the footage with a short introduction.

Crock of Gold - A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan - Official Trailer

 This is doing the rounds at the moment. 

Dr. Syn, alias The Scarecrow (1963) [FULL MOVIE]

 I saw this at the cinema when I was young. At the Classic. It is a Disney film. It scared me to death but I was only about 5. Apparently it was on a double bill with Sword in the Stone. Wiki

PJ Harvey - Angelene

Born Bad Paris

 Another pic from 2011 in Paris. This was a really cool record shop which sadly isn't going any more. 

Pinball at the Bar St Malo 2011

 This is us Animals & Men (photo by Susan) playing pinball. When I was a teenager all the bars and cafes in France had pinball or Flipper as I believe they called it. Subsequently whenever we went to France for a gig we would look for pinball. This is us after the gig on the Sunday drinking beer and shooting balls.

Sonny Boy on the radio

Today is probably Sonny Boy Williamson's birthday today so to celebrate here are 13 minutes of loveliness as Sonny Boy is recorded on the radio doing his show in the 60s. It's very good. I have it on vinyl. The little comments and asides are wonderful. 

 KFFA Radio Program: V-8 Ford / Stormy Monday / Right Now / Come Go With Me · Sonny Boy Williamson II

King Biscuit Time (Hd Remastered Edition, Doxy Collection)

Little Richard - Long Tall Sally, in color! (1955)

 It's Little Richard day! Birthday today. Here is a colourized version.

The Cortinas Perform at The Roxy London 1977, Punk

 This was Bristol's punk band. Used to see them about Bristol when I was at printing college. They were once on Points West our local news programme and I would love to one day see it again. They got signed to CBS but didn't do well and split up. They had two great singles though and were important in the local area.

Toot Toot Tootsie by Al Jolson 1927

 From the Jazz Singer. My Dad had this on wax 78. Flip was Back in your own backyard. Story was my mum worked in a record shop when my folks first got married and in her lunch hour would go through the old records and was told to help herself. So they had a lot of 78s. They didn't mind me playing them and I knew this really well. I can do the whistling solo. Sadly they stored the 78s in the loft when they got into cds and they all melted. Was quite a shame. Inkspots and all sorts.

La Chinoise - 'Mao Mao' Claude Channes 1967

 The flick is a bit hard going as Jean Luc Godard films are but this song is brilliant.

BFI have just published an article about JLG in the US promoting this film -  read it here.>

T REX - RIDE A WHITE SWAN HQ 1970

 Released October 50 years ago. Didn't become a hit until January 71 when it got to the number 2 slot. Kept off the top slot by Grandad by Clive Dunn. First release using the abbreviated name T Rex. The wiki on the song is worth reading. Doesn't have any drums on it. I didn't like this at the time - I only got to liking Bolan when I got to know Sue as she was a fan and played me the stuff. December 18 is the 50th anniversary of the so-called brown album (above).

Blues Theme Davie Allan and the Arrows 1966

 Just in case you missed this the other week when I posted the whole movie here is the theme. Gloriously fuzzy lead line, it's a classic.

Wednesday night radio

 If it's Wednesday it means the Wednesday night rocking party with Steve Stack of wax Jepson 8-10pm on Forest fm. We have listened for years and if you like rocking music 'hillbilly or r&b it's a great show.

Two Songs by Bukka White

 Delta blues slide guitar master Bukka White plays "Aberdeen Mississippi Blues" and "Poor Boy."

Austerlitz 2019 – official video

 This day 1805 was the day of the great victory for Napoleon. Here is last year's reenactment. 

Marvin Gaye (Hitch Hike) on Hollywood A Go Go

 Think this is 1965 but I am not sure. I used to do a lot of hitching in the old days. 

The Strangeloves - Cara Lin (Shindig 1965)

 An interesting musical project. A strong beat was a characteristic.

Jimmy Reed with Eddie Taylor - Big Boss Man

 Only known footage of Jimmy Reed and Eddie Taylor together.

Tony Joe White Polk Salad Annie

 later covered by Presley,

This blog

 

Ralph and Sue in about 1988

Discovered today I have been doing this blog for fifteen years! Yes such a long time. 

Soldiers Refreshing John Augustus Atkinson (1775–1833) Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery

 10th Light Dragoons 1807. More info here

The Monochrome Set - The Lighter Side of Dating

1980. Loved this band at the time. Saw them at Bath Uni and went backstage. 

Midsomer Norton's new chip shop

 

We visited this today. Very good. Check out the menus. Not sure if the opening hours but the chips tasted very good indeed. Look forward to trying other things. 

Death to the French C S Forester

 

This book I enjoyed when I was a lad. Wiki I remember when the Sharpe books came out I thought 'rip off of Death to the French'. Read it here (out of copyright in Canada)

Popioły (1965): Battle of Somosierra, 1808 ~ Polish Cavalry Charge

 The Ashes (Polish: Popioły) is a 1965 Polish drama film directed by Andrzej Wajda, referencing the classic Stefan Żeromski epic novel of Polish Literature of the same name. It was entered into the 1966 Cannes Film Festival.

The Battle of Somosierra took place on November 30, 1808, during the Peninsular War, when a French army under Napoleon I forced a passage through the Sierra de Guadarrama shielding Madrid.

Battle wiki

Shocking Blue - Inkpot 1972

 I like this. Sounds very of its time which is good. Crazy lyrics but fun. They sort of are like a real life Carrie Nations but Dutch. 

Inkpot album wiki

THE LEGEND OF EL CID Official Trailer (2020)

 Might be good. 

Me walking Leroy in 2006

 

Whitelands in the background. This is on the footpath that follows the old Somerset and Dorset railway line.

Seven Day Fool Etta James 1961

 This is excellent. 

1/32 Napoleonics

 

Since the 50th anniversary of the Waterloo movie I have had a revived interest in this period. So I have been looking at what is out there. A Call to Arms (pictured) have some useful sets which  are reasonably priced. This set is French line infantry 16 figs in 4 poses for less than a tenner. 

The Last Load from Kilmersdon

 A lot of this is Lower Writhlington but basically Radstock. Watch for free at the BFI

HOUND DOG TAYLOR let's get funky 1974

 This is great. Give it a spin, if you don't know it

Interesting book Napoleon's Waterloo Army uniforms and equipment

 

This book looks good. Amazon link

Victrix 1/32 Napoleonics

 

I think I would do Napoleonic in this scale. Here is what Victrix do. 

Denis Dighton Portuguese army 1812 pictures

10th Cavalry

Militia

4th Cacadores

I haven't been interested in the Napoleonic period for some time but am getting drawn to it, but I am a novice. Found these and thought they were good. More Denis Dighton

Serge Gainsbourg - Requiem Pour Un Con

 Scene from Georges Lautner's film Le Pacha, 1968.

This is brilliant. I think I have posted this before but here we go. Requiem for a Jerk.

Robbie Robertson Talks About Sonny Boy Williamson (Language Warning)

 Robbie Robertson talks on The House of Blues Radio Hour about heading into Helena, Arkansas with bandmate Levon Helm to meet and spend time with Sonny Boy Williamson. In telling the story, Robertson uses language (in context) that may be offensive to some.

Top 10 Russian War Movies

 

The Last Frontier | Russian war movie trailer 2020

 New Russian WW2 movie set at the time of the battle of Moscow. 

Disappearing pubs of Frome

 Here for some old pubs of our youth including this one of the Pack Horse.

40 years ago. The terraplanes

 

So in the realm of 40 years ago the end of October 80 we formed the terraplanes. On bass and drums was Dave Mackay who was a fellow apprentice at the Frome printers Butlers and Tanners and Andy Payne. They were very young and had been in the band Radioactive Bodies. We drank at the Pack Horse pub though I think Dave and Andy weren't 18. I was only 20. We got on well with the Landlord Arthur and family so we're able to practice for free and store equipment upstairs. On Sundays we would have a roast dinner there so we would practice all weekend.   We made our first demo on 28 December so you can imagine we had our noses to the grindstone. It never occurred to us to maybe do some Animals & men songs at that time as we thought we were going to be better. See more Terraplanes pics here