Ronnie Hawkins "Forty Days" 1959

 A spirited performance from Ronnie Hawkins. Cousin of Dale Hawkins. 

Buses over Mendip

 

NEW BOOK IN THE Radstock MUSEUM SHOPBUSES OVER MENDIP £15 mail order: shop@radstockmuseum.co.uk - specify book name, your name and contact details and our shop manager will get back to you.

ALL FUNDS RAISED GO TO THE MUSEUM Charity no: 1151573

Radtock Museum would like to thank John Hitchings for donating a copy of his new book to their Local History Library. It is an excellent book, thoroughly recommended by our librarian, and we are also pleased to say that copies are now on sale in our shop.

Little Richard - Long Tall Sally, colourised (1955)

 

God Save the Queen Sex Pistols 1977

 'My favourite Queen song' Mickey Bradley. Tonight is the screening of the series Pistol (trailer here) so it will remain to be seen if it's good or bad. 

Daniel Defoe describing Frome in the 1720s

"So prodigiously increased within these last 20-30 years, that they have built a new church, and so many new streets of houses, and those houses are so full of inhabitants, that Frome is now reckoned to have more people in it than the city of Bath, and some say, than even Salisbury itself, and if their trade continues to increase for a few years more ... it is likely to be one of the greatest and wealthiest towns in England".

The Orb UFOrb 30th anniversary

 So the Orb are coming to Frome on their 30th anniversary tour. We had this album and saw them do it at Glastonbury festival about that time. I remember it well with the kids staying up late and it being very loud. Wiki on the album here.

Liliput - "Die Matronsen" (1980)

 A great band. This isn't Die Matrosen though. The songs are Turk/Split according to the YouTube comments.

Ashton, Gardner & Dyke - Resurrection Shuffle (1971)

 When I was in the last year at Junior school we used to be allowed to bring records in on Fridays and I remember someone bringing this in. I thought it strange. 

Gossip - Jealous Girls 2007

 Remember Gossip? We liked them.

You Excite Me Baby - the Terraplanes (Animals & Men) 1982

 Song from 40 years ago. 

Terraplanes portraits by Malcolm Wells

 40 years ago we got Susan's dad to take some photos. See more Terraplanes photos here

Susan

Ralph

Geoff

Dave

Brenda

Andy

Elmore James Look on Yonder Wall 1961

 Sammy Myers on harmonica. I had this song as a teenager and I loved it. 

Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) trailer

 Wiki on the film

blurb

In the acclaimed performance that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, Sissy Spacek stars as legendary Loretta Lynn, the dirt poor Appalachian Mountains girl who rose from humble beginnings to become the "Queen of Country Music." At eighteen, the mother of four children and busy housewife still finds time to write and sing songs at small fairs and local honky-tonks. Recognizing her raw talent and huge potential, her ambitious husband Mooney (Tommy Lee Jones) prods her into making a record and going to Nashville. After a performance at the Grand Ole Opry, the record becomes a smash hit, launching her career to super stardom and changing the sound and style of country music forever.

Loretta Lynn "Coal Miner's Daughter" on The Ed Sullivan Show

 

Loretta Lynn - One's On the Way

 I didn't use to like Country but the Ichiban stream persuaded me by playing great records like this one. Of course you can hear the ichiban sounds on Boss Radio 66.

1936 by Frank Newbould

 

Blitzkrieg 1939-41 blog

 Don't forget if you are interested in the opening campaigns of WW2 my new blog is the place to be.

Pixies - Monkey Gone to Heaven [1989]

 First appearance on US TV. My kids loved this song and in time got to love the band. I think they still like them.

CELIA AND THE MUTATIONS - 'Discography' 1977

 Less a band than an entertaining sideline, Celia & the Mutations were actually the union of the Stranglers with London torch singer Celia Gollin. First sighted by the band performing in a London club with former Kilburn & the High Roads keyboard player Rod Melvin , Gollin could scarcely have looked or sounded further away from the Stranglers ' then much maligned image as misogynist hard men. ALL MUSIC

Van Morrison - Wavelength - 2/1/1979 - Belfast (OFFICIAL)

 This is one of my favourite Van Morrison clips. It's from the Van Morrison in Ireland film which I used to have on VHS. It was probably one of the first of his solo songs I liked.

New Van Morrison lp

 Review here. I have heard it and it's good

Johnny Cash - Jackson (Live at San Quentin, 1969)

 Great song done well. 

New shop in Midsomer Norton - a place for 78s

 Run by the Lilley's vinyl revival people. They said last night

Tomorrow we open our 78’s shop, just 3 doors away, at 1 Somer House with museum quality wind up gramophones dating back to 1903 and some economical turntables and speakers to help the youngsters get into vinyl (or shellac).

If the door’s locked, pop into no 4 and we’ll be there to show you around.

In my tenement Clyde McPhatter

 Woke up with this song in my head. 

Baby The Detroit Cobras 2004

 Hard to pick a favourite album by this band. This is as good as any of them. 

Slippin' Around · Clarence Carter 1968

 A song about infidelity which I first heard when the Detroit Cobras covered it.  Clarence Carter wiki

Talk Talk Music Machine 1966

Magic Sam - She Belongs To Me 1966

 I was into this 40 years ago. Trying to learn how to play it and so on. Still like it. 

Cheggers Plays Pop The Polecats Rockabilly Guy

 Exhuberant performance. 

Make a Circuit with me - the Polecats 1982

 We bought this. Great single. 

Started in 2005

I started this blog in 2005. I would write quite long pieces that rambled somewhat. My daughter set me up tracking so I could see where my visitors came from but nowadays I don't have a clue. Don't forget my latest blog https://blitzkrieg1939-41.blogspot.com/?m=1 today I put up some movie bits from Finland.

The Boy From New York City - Ad Libs 1965

 The Boy From New York City (Taylor) by The Ad Libs, arranged by Artie Butler, produced by Leiber-Stoller. You have to admire this song. Was a hit for the Darts in the 70s.

The terraplanes 40 years ago

 

This is what we looked like 40 years ago. We didn't send any demos to Peel as Adam wanted us to be a secret so we made demos but kept them in a small circle which was a mistake probably. That guitar (a Firebird copy) was quite expensive and my brother accidentally kicked it over and broke the neck. I was gutted. I was paying in instalments on a worthless guitar. More Terraplanes photos here

Demos and so forth here

Adam and the ants - Nietzsche Baby - Newport Stowaway club, Wales, UK January 28th 1979

 Great song. We saw the Ants at Newport Stowaways but I am not sure if it was this gig.

The Detroit Cobras Rachel Nagy Bad Girl

 Band interview followed by a song. 

The Unknown Soldier-The Doors

 

Teresa Ann Savoy

 An English actress who made her career in Italian films of the 70s. Mostly famous for the Tinto Brass movies Salon Kitty and Caligula. Wiki

Radstock Records

 

artwork by Paul Boswell Mutartis

We had 4 releases on this label which we set up in 2013. See what they are on the Discogs page

There are a few left of this 10 inch vinyl record. Get in touch if you want one. 

3 Year Old Boy Climbs 100ft Chimney! (1966)

 This is Radstock. The chimney is no longer there. I run a Facebook group called Old Radstock which has 3.9K people and this was posted in that group.  I started it in 2016 and it was just me and Susan to start with. 

Hold on to your hats, as 3 year old Ian Dawson from Clutton, Somerset, climbs 100ft with no safety ropes. Rather refreshing, if not terrifying in this age of health and safety. Ian still works as a steeplejack in Somerset and his three year old grandson, Oscar has just had his first climb on a church spire.

Elvis Presley : Hard Luck (1965 )

 Harmonica : Charlie McCoy

The Pretty Things - Don't Bring Me Down - Beat uit Blokker • TopPop

 one of the best RnB groups from the 60s.

Elvis Presley "Love Me" on The Ed Sullivan Show 1956

 Elvis sings Leiber and Stoller. They wrote some of his best material. 

The Last Poets 'Hey Now' live 1971 on a NYC roof

 wiki

The Road Dance (Official UK Trailer)

 Life in the Scottish Hebrides is harsh - the edge of the world some call it. For the beautiful Kirsty, her love for Murdo and their shared dreams of America promise escape from the scrape of the land and a stifled destiny. But the Great War changes all when Murdo is conscripted. The night before the young men go off to battle, tragedy is set in motion as villagers swirl and sup at a “road dance.” Based on the acclaimed novel by John MacKay, The Road Dance is adapted for the screen and directed by Richie Adams.

THE ROAD DANCE is out in UK & Ireland cinemas on 20 May.

The Detroit Cobras - Village of Love (Peel Session) 2003

 Lovely stuff from the DCs. 

JAMES BROWN The Famous Flames 1964

 

The Gories "Nitroglycerine" 1990

 She's volatile. 

The Ronettes "Walking In The Rain" LIVE on U.S. TV 1973

 Not bad version. 

Davie Allan & The Arrows — “Blues Theme” 1966

 Classic instro.  Watch them do this song in 2005 

Link Wray - I'm Branded

 Classic Link Wray for you. 

Dersu Uzala | DRAMA | FULL MOVIE

 This is a brilliant film. Set in 1910 by Akira Kurosawa. 

Based on the work of the scientist and writer, famous traveler and explorer of the Far East

V. Arseniev. The story of his friendship with the guide Dersu Uzala with extraordinary personal qualities. Their journey through the taiga-forest, full of dangerous adventures, is the plot of the film, but the meaning of the story goes far beyond the plot: it's a story about the brotherhood of people, that we are all children of the same land. Year of production: 1975

Directed by: Kurosawa Akira Screenwriters: Yuri Nagibin, Akira Kurosawa Composer: Schwartz Isaac Cinematographers: Gantman Yuri, Dobronravov Fedor, Nakai Asakazu Production Designer: Raksha Yuri Cast: Yuri Solomin, Alexander Pyatkov, Maxim Munzuk, Vladimir Kremena, Svetlana Danilchenko, Suymenkul Chokmorov, Mikhail Bychkov, Dima Korshikov, Nikolay Volkov, Igor Sykhra, Janis Yakobson, Alexander Baranov

THE PHANTOM love me 1958

 The Phantom aka Jerry Lott. He was tragically paralyzed in a car accident in 1966.

Cannibal & The Headhunters Land Of 1000 Dances 1965

 They covered it and added the na-na-na-na hook which originally came about when the singer forgot the words. 

Land of 1,000 Dances by Chris Kenner 1962

 "Land of a Thousand Dances" (or "Land of 1000 Dances") is a song written and first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1962. It later became a bigger hit in versions by Cannibal & the Headhunters and Wilson Pickett.

The song references a number of dance styles/moves including the Twist, the Alligator, the Mashed Potato, the Watusi and the Pony.

"Soul To Soul" Live 1971, feat IKE & TINA TURNER/WILSON PICKETT/Santana/ROBERTA FLACK/STAPLE SINGERS

Famous concert movie for your enjoyment. 

 IIKE & TINA TURNER:

P1-1. Soul To Soul 0:00-2:50 P4-1.Ooh Poo Pah Doo 70:25 2.River Deep-Mountain High 71:50 3.I Smell Trouble 75:50-77:20. WILSON PICKETT: P1-2. In The Midnight Hour 19:18-22:12. P4-4. Land of 1000 Dances 77:20-82:53. The Voices of East Harlem: P2-1. Sit Yourself Down-Jolinkomo/ Run, Shaker Life 26:10. Santana and Gypsy Queen featuring Willie Bobo: P2-2. Jungle Strut 31:40/ Black Magic Woman 36:50-40:08. Les McCann & Eddie Harris ft Amoah Azangeo: P2-3. Price You Gotta Pay to Be Free 40:08/ Hey Jorler 43:00/ Untitled 46:45-52:48. ROBERTA FLACK: P3-1.Gone Away 52:48/ Untitled 56:52-62:30. STAPLE SINGERS: P3-2. When Will We Be Paid 62:30/Are You Sure 65:30/ Untitled 68:50-70:25. "Soul To Soul" Live 1971 Ghana, Africa. feat IKE & TINA TURNER/WILSON PICKETT/Santana/Les McCann/ROBERTA FLACK/STAPLE SINGERS. revised DVDR060206. "Soul To Soul" Live 1971 Ghana, Africa.

Nat Couty and the Braves - Woodpecker Rock

 Also love this one. 

Dale Hawkins - Little Pig 1958

 I like this. Have a listen if you don't know it. Fun.

Dale Hawkins bio

Various Artists Windy City Bop: Chicago Rockabilly (1945-58)

 Interesting album. 

Apple Tree Inn at Shoscombe near Radstock in 2010

 Pics by Susan. A lovely pub that is within walking distance of Radstock. We used to go often in the summer walking along the cycle track that used to a railway line. They serve a good selection of ciders and do great meals. Opening times

SHAKEY JAKE - Roll Your Money Maker [Artistic 1502] 1958

 Shakey Jake's debut single with Magic Sam (his nephew) on guitar. According to the wiki Shakey Jake wasn't paid for this session  but he won $700 shooting craps with label owner Eli Toscano.^[5]

T Bone Walker & Shaky Jake Harris Call me when you need me

 This is good. Very good in fact. Shakey Jack wiki.

SLIM HARPO Wonderin' and Worryin' 1958

 Perfection in a record. 

Need some good music? Listen to Fats

 This album is rarely off my album choices. It is so good - all of it - high quality rock and roll and rhythm and blues. 

Magic Sam and friend

 Read about him here

This collection has his best recordings. Give him a listen - you won't be disappointed. 

Tina Turner 1964 Goodbye so long

 Tina without Ike. 

Rock Dreams Guy Peellaert 1976

 Who remembers this book? I had a copy. It's hard to describe but it was an art book of portraits of icons in situ, playing with their images. Co-written by Nik Cohn whose book Awopbopaloobop I had treasured.

Bo Diddley

Gene Vincent

Cilla Black

Pete Townshend

Who is your main man?

 In the rock and roll fraternity they have this thing - who is your main artist? Is it Elvis or Gene maybe Fats? I suppose for rockin' it is Little Richard followed by Gene and Eddie. Blues it is Sonny Boy closely followed by the Wolf. Who do you love?

The Coasters Dance 1958

 Time to have this brilliant song by Leiber and Stoller,

The Grand. Frome's grindhouse

This I wrote a few years ago when the Grindhouse movie came out but I didn't have a decent photo but now I have. 

There has been some debate about Grindhouse cinema and whether it existed in this country - I think it did and one was certainly the Grand Cinema in Frome. 

The Grand Cinema by Jonathan Joyce

It was the town's second cinema and off the town centre up out of the way by the West Side Stop - a notorious hang-out for young hoodlums - and was a World war 1 memorial hall which meant cheap rent to keep it in its memorial use, that of a theatre. After a brief time hosting dances which usually ended in extreme violence it doubled as a bingo hall for a while before settling into a less troublesome groove of sleazy movies. Every now and again strip shows were organised for members of a special club called 'Frank's Delight' which wasn't cockney rhyming slang. There were always lurid double features on there - whether martial arts, horror, porno, Confessions of a window cleaner type comedy, Peckinpah or spaghetti westerns or some other drastic bill of exploitation. Every now and then they'd show an old classic musical to appease the operatic fraternity like Sound of Music or My Fair Lady and then it was back to films like 'Percy', 'If....' or some Vincent Price shocker. I can remember clearly every few days being mindblown by the posters alone being too young to go but I passed the billboard every day and these images etched themselves onto my young mind. Double features - I had to sit through Born to Boogie in order to watch Let it Be I think. One of our friends worked there doing the Bingo and we kidnapped him. We turned up and asked to speak to him and then bundled him into a car and sped off - laughing wildly.

  Nowadays its back to being a theatre specialising in what seems like entertainment aimed at the old folks - the West Side Stop is now no longer there - even the Hexagon Suite, Frome's very own Studio-54-with-violence-disco tacked onto the back is now an old people's day centre most of the time. I do have fond memories of seeing all sorts of films there though - my dad knew the projectionist and he gave me a poster of the film Waterloo - but I suppose I'll always remember the Grand for films like Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia or some such nonsense. Of course you could smoke in a cinema in those days - can't really imagine that nowadays but there was a time... I think it added a nice sleazy touch but I know you non smokers don't appreciate our efforts to bring an extra dimension to going out - coughing - but anyway I think my abiding memory of the cinema was walking home afterwards - it would always be raining - 'that was crap' 'which one?' 'Both of them'. 

Close To Me (Stereo Version) · Sonny Boy Williamson II

 I believe this is a Willie Dixon song. Muddy Waters also did it but I prefer Sonny Boy's.

List of songs written by Willie Dixon

Slaughter and The Dogs - Cranked Up Really High live 1977

 A classic. Saw these in Yate Stars and Stripes club. 

Ike and Tina Turner-I Can't Believe What You Say-1964

 Something good to start the day. 

Wells, Ernest Cecil Claude (Captain) OBE

 Susan's Grandfather. A professional soldier. In the Hampshire regiment. Later in the Guards.  Awarded his OBE in 1944 for his work during the defence of Malta. Record card here Served all over, places like India etc. Was part of the garrison of the Tower of London for a while. Susan remembers him as a keen gardener.  He was a modest man who refused a big British Legion funeral. 

Fats Domino I'm In Love Again

 Time for some Fats I reckon. 

Cliff Richard - In the Country 1968

 I had this in my head when I woke up. 

Little Richard Send Me Some Lovin'

 It was two years the other day when Little Richard died. 

Primal Scream - Damaged 1991

 This is another band we quite liked in the 90s. This album was September 91. Never saw them live though. We did have a VHS of Screamadelica (as well as the album) which had videos like this one on it. Came with a free badge.

YMR | The Ants | "It Doesn't Matter" 1978

 Song they did when I first saw them in 78. 

Buzzcocks - What Do I Get? 1978

 Such a good record. I remember buying it. I was at printing college in Bristol at the time. 

Big Joe Williams Highway 49 SD

 Big Joe Williams was one of my teenage blues loves. 

The Courettes - "Trash Can Honey"

 NEW!

The Courettes' SMASH HIT SINGLE! "Trash Can Honey"! From the album "Back in Mono", a release by @Damgoodrecords The Courettes:

Exile on Main Street Rolling Stones 1972

 This is coming up to being 50 years old. Wiki

ELMORE JAMES - The Sun Is Shining [Chess 1756] 1960 Chicago Blues

 Classic Elmore James. 

Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm King Cobras - Chicago sessions

 This is a great collection that is part blues, part soul, part pop it's very good. 

Elastica Waking Up 1995

 'Make a cup of tea. Put a record on.' Remember them? We liked them, well our eldest daughter liked them as a teen and we just caught on a bit. On Peel quite a bit. I suppose they were our Britpop band. We certainly didn't like Oasis. 

Lamb & Fountain article from CAMRA magazine

 Frome 's finest pub.

1957 HITS ARCHIVE: Without Love (There Is Nothing) - Clyde McPhatter (45 single version)

 I first heard this song covered by Little Richard in the 60s. It's a cracker. 

Jimmy Thomas - Shake A Tail Feather 1963

 See below. 

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Let's Get This Straight From The Start - TOTP - 1982

 One of the backing singers Jimmy Thomas passed away in April of this year. 

Dexy´s Midnight Runners - Celtic Soul Brothers 1983

 The album Too Rye-Ay came out in 82 in July. We bought it. 

https://blitzkrieg1939-41.blogspot.com/

 Blitzkrieg 1939-41 - Don't forget to visit my new blog on the opening campaigns of the Second World War. Today I put a new mini documentary on the fortress of Eben-Emael in Belgium by History hit.

Ralph, Susan and Leroy 12 years ago

 

Photo by Red. In front of our old house, a miner's cottage, Lower Whitelands.

In The Meantime · Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames 1965

 Pleasant tune. 

Harlem Nocturne · Earl Bostic & his Orchestra 1956

 Another 45 I have but I bought this one. Very good instrumental. Earl Bostic wiki

Earl Bostic Swing Low Sweet Boogie

 Bob Stanley was talking about Earl Bostic on radio6 last night saying he occupied the place between jazz and r and b. This was the b-side on one of my Dad's records that I liked. Alto sax instrumental. Wiki

Give Me Just A Little More Time - The Chairmen of the Board 1970

 Wiki

Heard this on the radio. Great singing.

The Liverbirds - Diddley Daddy (1965)

 Here for a for a great performance. Pronounced Liver rhymes with Fiver.

The Liverbirds were a British all-female beat group, based in Liverpool, active between 1963 and 1968. The hard-rocking quartet, consisting of vocalist-guitarist Valerie Gell, guitarist-vocalist Pamela Birch, bassist-vocalist Mary McGlory and drummer Sylvia Saunders, was one of the very few female bands on the Merseybeat scene. Indeed, they were one of the few self-contained all-woman rock and roll bands anywhere in the world at the time. The band took their name from the liver bird, a fictional creature which is the symbol of their native Liverpool.

Hound Dog Taylor - Christine 1962

 One by the great Hound Dog Taylor

Hound Dog Taylor Playlist by me

 My favourites all gathered under one roof. Rough and ready but very listenable.

See my post about my Hound Dog Taylor t-shirt. 

Lightnin' Slim - I'm Grown 1957

 Time for this again. On paper it is simply an I'm a Man cover but there is something great going on here - the female interjections are lovely and the harp is on point. An hypnotic swamp groove. 

Cilla Black - Liverpool Lullaby

 Who remembers this one? I think its from 1969 but I am not sure.

'Oh you are a mucky kid. Dirty as a dustbin lid. When he hears the things that you did. You'll get a belt from yer dad.'

Liverpool used to have a reputation for being rough and songs like this probably contributed. (I am not saying the song is bad). Written by folk musician Stan Kelly-Bootle. Our son and Grandson live in Liverpool and they have a pretty good life.

'The Jackdaw King in his Realm' Los Mutartis

 Another bass player from Frome is an artist - Bos known as Los Mutartis. He has just posted this lovely artwork. You can buy A3 prints here. We had pet jackdaws who were reared by us and when they rejoined the wild we would often see them about. 

Tony Valla And The Alamos - Maria Christina 1961

 Just heard on Boss Radio 66. Excellent. The Detroit Cobras covered this well. 

Soft Cell - Torch 7" Single Version (TOTP) 1982

 This was a hit 40 years ago. We didn't buy it but we liked it. Susan especially. Torch wiki

Animals & Men t-shirt

 

Pic of our daughter Celia in one of the Animals& men t-shirts. We had two runs of this design - one done in Frome and one done by Alex in the US. I think there is about one left. 

Really In The Wrong Town, The Monochrome Set, The New Adelphi Club, Hull, 05/02/22

 Our bass player Dave and his wife Jane B are part of the crew for the Monochrome set doing the merchandise mostly. They have travelled the world doing it - Japan, the U.S. all over Europe. This weekend was Edinburgh and Glasgow. Here is a song that Jane filmed earlier this month. Bass player Andy Warren used to be an Ant and he had the same bass and stood the same way all those years ago. Also here is the new album for your enjoyment. 

The Leaves - Too Many People 1966

 Classic 60s garage. Audio here

Robert Johnson \ King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. I, 1961 [Full Album]

 Happy birthday Robert Johnson. Had his music as a teen but I had volume 2 before volume 1. I ordered it from Woodmansey's record shop when it was on the bridge at Frome. In those days the shops would have a big thick book which you could order from and they would come in about a week later.

Timmy Shaw I'm gonna send you back to Georgia 1964

 Just heard this on Boss Radio 66. Hound Dog Taylor did a version. It isn't really a cover as he has redone it but I guess it was inspired by the Shaw version.

Bristol Rovers win 7-0

 Got an email from my sister telling me Rovers had beat Scunthorpe 7 nothing.

My Dad was a big Rovers fan and used to take me to Eastville as a lad.

The Chocolate Watchband Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love-In) - (Film - 1967) (From The movie The Love-Ins - 1967)

 This is good. You probably know the song. The whole film the Love-ins (1967) is here