Electric Eels Agitated recorded 1973

 Wiki. This is great proto punk from Cleveland Ohio. Not released until 1978. Listen here

6 years ago The Bad Detectives in Bath

 Pic by Shane who bought a ten inch ep. 

Dave's Comics Brighton

 My daughter CJ has been to Brighton for the weekend for a Beer and comics event which they enjoyed. They also visited this shop and were most impressed. 

Boss Radio 66 The Best of Tom Hanks

 On tune in radio. Tom Hanks is a great and knowledgeable deejay. He also has great taste. 

The Lurkers - Shadow 1977

 This band we liked. (This clip is dubbed but you get the idea.) Particularly like the first single both sides (Shadow/Love Story). The first LP is good too. We saw them at the Brillig Arts Centre in Bath. It was taken over by skinheads who were a thing at that time. We threw stink bombs into the throng of I remember.

Flying Lizards Move on Up 1980

 Bought this. Patti Palladin on vocals. Didn't like subsequent Flying Lizards stuff though.

ESG You're No Good Live at the Haçienda opening night May 1982

 This is fantastic. Never saw this before. We bought this when it came out but we didn't see them live. 

Lightnin' Slim I'm grown

 Saturday 🌙night selection from 1957. In essence a reworking of I'm a Man but Lightnin' Slim transcends this with some  wonderful added female interjections from an unidentified lady and a really swampy groove. Illustrated Lightnin' Slim discography

Black Leather Rock (from These are the Damned film 1963)

. Stars Oliver Reed and Shirley Ann-Field. Weymouth. 

My winter playlist

 Remember if you don't like it skip it!

Somerset Coalfields

 Slideshow of images.

'Let Yourself Go' Elvis Presley (Speedway) 1968

  Read the wiki on the movie.

The Crystals (Let's Dance) The Screw part 1 1963

 Just heard this on Boss Radio 66. It's a great one. Listen

Notes on YouTube say: How rare can you get? This is the first part of the notorious Philles single (Let's Dance) The Screw - Parts 1 and 2. This is just 4:30 of the nearly 10:00 both parts take up. Notice the high soprano done by Dee Dee Kenniebrew. Released in 1963 as a single then withdrawn. This was taken from a 1970's bootleg of the record. Part 2 also available (if you can stand this one!) Enjoy!

The Crystals wiki

Heaven's Gate (1980) trailer

 I was so chuffed to find this epic western in my local charity shop. Restored 2-disc DVD. Trailer. It flopped badly but we saw it at the cinema and were most taken by it. Wiki.

Had a great cast including the talented Isabelle Huppert (pictured) who was a favourite from French movies. Probably what made me want to see it at the cinema as I was a fan.

Talk in Norton

 🖤MINING AND THE SOMERSET COALFIELD🖤 -LOCAL HISTORY TALK BY SHANE GOULD.

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the closure of the last colliery in Somerset and with it the end of a long history of coal mining in the Somerset area. Shane Gould has carried out in depth research into the local industry discovering the lost remains of some of the older collieries along the way. His illustrated talk takes you through the story of local coal from the Roman times to 1973 with recent photos of some of the remains of the colliery sites that can still be seen today. This fascinating, revealing talk is one not to be missed for anyone who wants to learn about how coal mining shaped the area in which we live today, it will also be of great interest to former colliery workers and their descendants and anyone interested in history generally.

Tuesday 4th April 7:30pm Somer Centre, Midsomer Norton. £5 admission and raffle with all proceeds going to Radstock Museum.

Sparks - The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte (Official Video) - Starring Cate Blanchett

This is a great video. Song is good too.  

Laura I love onions 1966

 Just heard this.

Living for the City Stevie Wonder 1973

 

Another record the young (13 years old) me bought. wiki. I don't know when I heard it first but it made an impression on me. 

Listen

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) George Harrison 1973

 

Here is a song I had as a 13 year old.  I also had the Living in the Material World l.p. from which it came. Wiki

Dinky Simon Snorkel

 I had this for my sixth birthday in June 1966. My brother was born the day before. I remember I lost the removable firemen figures in the grass and the visiting nurse helped me find them. Not my pic. Off an auction site. Mine is long gone.

Corgi model from the Major Packs Emergency Vehicle range of toys. The Simon Snorkel fire engine was made between 1964-74, with a Bedford cab, 6 firemen, water cannon, extending and rotating boom. From here

Timmy Shaw Gonna send you back to Georgia 1964

 Great rhythm and blues toe-tapper. Here

Lightnin' Slim Rooster Blues 1960

 Not the most original of bluesmen but his stuff is enjoyable and that counts for a lot. 

I just don't understand Ann-Margret

 I love this record from 1961. Listen here

T. Rex 20th century boy 1973

 On the tv show Musik laden.Came out March 2 50 years ago. Wasn't on the Tanx album for some reason. 

Tanx T. Rex 1973

 This album is nearly 50 years old. Spotify deluxe edition here. Didn't like it at the time but I like it now. Give it a whirl. Some well made songs on there. Not a good cover I feel.

1883 trailer

Western series that looks good. 

20 years in the making: Slim Harpo documentary debuts next week

 Article on the movie here

Devo farewell gig

 Tickets went on sale this morning. My daughter and her partner have got tickets. 

Life Stinks Pere Ubu 1977

 

Here. It's an old Rocket from the Tombs song from the Modern Dance l.p. Which is a classic. On Spotify here

More Real Folk Blues Sonny Boy Williamson II

 This is a great album which I have on vinyl. Not an album as such more a compilation of sides. But very good. A lot of different styles by Sonny Boy - he was definitely not a one-trick pony!

Fromers

 The popular Frome FM music show was back last night for the first time in 6 weeks as co-presenter Ivan passed away in mud January. You can hear it on Mixcloud

Johnny Cash Ring of Fire 1968

  One of my favourites of his.

Jesus and Mary Chain compilation

 This is a pleasing comp. Their singles in chronological order. Starts off pretty bad in my opinion but they soon get better. JAMC came along after Susan and I had stopped listening to bands though our friends saw them and enjoyed their early gigs but I was unimpressed though as I said they did improve. 

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Snakedriver (Official Video) 1993

 One of their best in my opinion. We bought this e.p.

Todd-o-phonic Todd meets Toni Basil

 This WFMU show was very interesting. If you have an interest in dancing and choreography of things like TAMI and Shindig and much more give it a listen. Obviously interspersed with music that is relevant. Toni Basil has a YouTube channel which has a lot of clips that are mentioned in the show. She has had an amazing career that saw her meeting Sinatra and working with Presley and being in the movie Head and Easy Rider. Of course she is also famous for her single Mickey. I think Quentin Tarantino dubbed her the goddess of Go-Go.

Roxy Music All I want is you 1974

Bryan Ferry in jeans and t-shirt. 

Johnny Thunders & the Courettes You Can't Put Your Arms around a memory

 New!

Brix Smith Changing

 Brand new song. Daughter Celia is a fan and got notified about this.

The fourth single from the album 'Valley of the Dolls', Changing is written and produced by Brix Smith and Martin 'Youth' Glover. Brix, a former member of The Fall in which she performed with Mark E Smith has teamed up with the legendary producer and bass player of Killing Joke to create this amazing album and latest single. Check out the new video produced by Funky Doodle.

I wish you would. - The Terraplanes (Animals & Men) 1981

 Playing a battle of the bands at the Granary in Bristol we were required to play one cover - this was our choice Billy Boy Arnold's hit from 1955. The line up was Susan Wells vocals Ralph Mitchard Harp Dave Mackay bass Andy Payne drums

Terraplanes Evil Going On art

 I found this art about 10 years ago but I have since lost track of who did it. If you know let me know. Listen to the song here

Knowledge N Numbers · Screaming Target 1991

 We bought this. Don Letts project. Artist on Spotify

The Heartbreakers Pirate Love 1975

 Classic clip of one of their best songs. When Richard Hell was on bass. They were so great then.

Both ends Burning Roxy Music 1975

 Marc Riley just played this. Classic. Didn't like it at the time though. Susan was a fan. Wiki

Fred Conyngham & Peggy Cochrane sing "No Excusin' Susan" Radio Parade of 1935 (film)

 I watched this movie earlier today. Has some great acts in it.This has early colour. It was on Talking Pictures. It was on a themed show presented by Melvin Hayes where they showcase 30s movies. This one starred Will Hay.

The Clash London Calling 1979

 I saw the Clash three times though I am not a huge fan. They were very popular in the music press which put us off a little. I think we wrote a letter to the NME shagging them off but they didn't print it. I quite like them now. I think we had a love/hate relationship with them. They were the establishment of the age. This one is their best moments in my opinion. I remember it being on the radio a lot when we were getting our first single out. 

Schleich dinosaurs

 My daughter bought me a Schleicher dinosaur advent calendar so I have been interested in their range of dinosaurs and so no hunters. See range here

Loop Guru

 

A band we liked in the 90s bought records and saw live were Loop Guru. I think we heard them on John Peel. We saw them in a club in Bath. 

On Spotify

Glitch Studio Bristol

 

Celia is a stylist at this hip place in Bristol. They also do tatoos and piercings.

Olga Kurylenko in Centurion (2010)

 Today I watched Centurion - a British movie from 2010.  An attempt to do a Gladiator it was a gritty and bloody film with lots of dead Romans and forts. The budget was 12 million. Set in Scotland in 117AD. Best bit was the character played by Olga Kurylenko a Ukrainian actress. She played a mute Pictish warrior. A whiff of Princess Mononoke. Trailer here

Article on her hair in the movie here

Just found this on the wiki

• Olga Kurylenko as Etain, a warrior, scout, hunter and tracker from the Brigantes tribe. After seeing her family raped and murdered by the Romans, Etain was raped herself and had her tongue cut out. She fled north and was taken in by the Britons, who trained her and sent her back to the Romans as a spy. Marshall said of the character, "Etain is kind of revenge incarnate. Her family were butchered by the Romans, she had her tongue cut out by the Romans, she's had a hell of a time and she's out for Roman blood ... She's quite furious because one sense is not there – she can’t speak – all the others are more developed. She sees very well and hears very well: she is an animal!"^[3]

Sleaford Mods feat. Florence Shaw (Dry Cleaning) Force 10 from Navarone

 My daughter chose this. She likes Dry Cleaning a lot. This is fresh. 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps 2003

 Remember this? 

Animals & Men Lyon France

 pic by Jane Barnes.

Little Dave & The Sun Sessions • Take It As It Comes (Rocker's Reunion 2023, Aldershot)

 

Take it as it comes Little Dave and the Sun Sessions

 The new CD. We saw them a couple of weeks ago and won this album in the raffle so I thought I would write a bit about it. First thing I noticed is the authenticity of the sound - the lead guitar has the right amount of echo and the bass and drums carry it along nicely. The sound is fifties Sun records rockabilly. Little Dave also does a good harmonica sound too so that also is in there making a great mix. So if you like the roots of rock'n'roll in the Memphis style get along and see them or buy the cd. 

Mickey and Sylvia Love is Strange

 On the Steve Allen show.  Was not a hit in the UK as it was banned by the BBC for the line "they think love is money in the hand". Bizarre. 

Close to you the Carpenters 1970

 Mike Reynolds on his excellent show Winchcombe Calling just played this.

We had a signed copy of their debut album. Susan's father worked with the Carpenters uncle.

Post-Roman Kingdoms

This is good. Check out my new blog on the period here

Meticulously researched, this book examines the evidence for the post-Roman military forces of France and Britain during the 'Dark Ages', reconstructing their way of life and the battles they fought in compelling detail.

The collapse of the former Western Roman Empire during the so called 'Dark Ages' c. AD 410 was gradual and piecemeal. Out of this vacuum arose regional tribes and leaders determined to take back kingdoms that were theirs and oust any Roman presence for good. However, the Roman guard was tenacious and survived in small pockets that emerged in both Gaul and Britain. These areas of Romano-Celtic resistance held out against the Saxons until at least the mid 6th century in Britain and against the Visigoths and the Merovingian Franks until the late 8th century in France.

Drawing on archaeological finds, contemporary sculpture and manuscript illuminations, Dr Raffaele D’Amato presents contemporary evidence for 5th to 9th-century Gallic and British 'Dark Age' armies and reconstructs their way of life and the battles they fought. The text, accompanied by photographs and colour illustrations, paints an intricate picture of how these disparate groups of Roman soldiers survived and adapted on the fringes of the Roman Empire.

The Bell at Buckland Dinham.

 TGIF 🍺 🔔

We are open this weekend from 6pm, and serving our Sunday Lunches 12:30-3pm 🥕

Our Quiz is on Wednesday Night! 22nd of Feb 🙋🏼‍♀️ 50 General Knowledge questions plus Bonus Rounds! All Pen and Paper 📝

And Cocktail Night continues on Saturday Night 🍹 

#Pub #Ale #Lager #Somerset #Frome #BucklandDinham #Butcombe #LikeforLike #FollowforFollow #BellInn #GradeII #ListedBuilding #West #SouthWest #Bath #Warminster #Trowbridge #LongLeat #Campsite #CocktailNight #PizzaNight #Curries #Pies #HomemadeFood #PubGrub #FromeBrewery #SundayRoasts

Dionne WARWICK - Walk on By (Scopitone de 1964)

Lovely bit of film

Sonny Boy Williamson with Brian Auger & The Trinity - Walking (1964)

 This is a great groove full of spontaneity and style. Check it out!

• Recorded at Pye Studio, London, April 1964

• Written by Sonny Boy Williamson — Sonny Boy Williamson II (Aleck "Rice" Miller): vocals, harmonica — Brian Auger: organ — Jimmy Page: guitar — Joe Harriot: alto saxophone — Alan Skidmore: tenor saxophone — Ricky Brown: bass — Mick Waller: drums

Memphis Jug Band - On The Road Again 1929

 Wiki. I love Jug bands. Give it a whirl.

Little bitty pretty one Thurston Harris 1957

 Classic song. Wiki on the song here

Roma Federico Fellini trailer 1972

When I was growing up I used to watch a lot of foreign movies. Saw this one. Very strange. Wiki

Harlequin Duke by House of All

This band of old Fall members' single is getting pretty good airplay on Marc Riley which isn't a surprise. Good bass riff. Check it out.

Sometimes Always Jesus and Mary Chain 1994

 

Featuring Hope Sandoval. Marc Riley just played this song on 6 music. Seems appropriate from Valentines day. Video.

Live performance from MTV 

I remember we had this on a cassette single which we used to play in the car as we had a vehicle then. 

Annabella interview from 1983

 Interesting look in at the time for Bow wow wow

Extended version of Love, Peace and Harmony here. I have to admit I didn't buy this 12 inch. 

Charlie Patton - Mississippi Boweavil Blues 1929

 Genius. If you want to know what a Boll Weevil is and its impact on cotton producing areas here's the wiki.

Junior Wells Hoodoo Man

 With Otis Rush on guitar

Betty Boop I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You 1932 HD Fleischer

 

Louis Armstrong in this animation.

Koko and Bimbo take Betty Boop on a jungle safari, where they run afoul of a cannibal tribe caricaturing Louis Armstrong and his band members (they play the title song, partly in live-action). Directed by Dave Fleischer

Lilley's Vinyl Revival Midsomer Norton High Street

 Nice Valentine's display. 

Downliners Sect with Jimmy Reed

 Thanks to Anthony Lennane for this. Tony runs the Jimmy Reed Appreciation society on Facebook and was friends with him. Hear the Downliners Sect covering Jimmy Reed on Baby What's Wrong here

Uptown Top Ranking

 Got a request played on the WFMU reggae show Ranking Full Stop. We listen every week it's really good.

Watch Althea and Donna on Top of the Pops 1978 here

Memories of Radstock

My son lives in Liverpool and his job is answering the phone for a bank. The other day he was talking to a chap who said 'what's that accent?' So he explained he was from near Bath. 'Oh that's funny I was evacuated from London to Radstock, specifically Clandown'. He asked if the trains were still in the centre. Is the market on every Saturday? No it's now a museum. But they had a good chat (he is 91) and he remembered workers cycling to Purnell's from Radstock. Funny that as my dad later on cycled to Purnell's. It's how he met my mother.

Interview with 80s Matchbox b-line disaster (NME)

 On the NME.See their video here

Little Dave and the Sun Sessions by Owen Davies

 It was a great night at Somer Valley Rocking in Radstock last Saturday. These photos are ace.

"Salisbury Plain. First 'All Tanks' Manoeuvres. 250 tanks of all sizes take part in great 'battle' of Salisbury Plain."

1930.

Fritz The Cat (1972) - Full Movie [HD]

 This adult animation I saw at the cinema when I was young. Wiki

Lord of the Rings (1978) trailer

 

This Ralph Bakshi animated version was good I thought. (Bakshi was mostly known for Fritz the Cat). Trailer here. 

Wiki here

Bow Wow Wow - Do You Wanna Hold Me 1983

 

40 years old. Didn't do too well but I liked it. A last blast for the group. 

From the album "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going".

Talking 'Bout Soul ~ Little Richard 1971

 Great track. 

You Got Me Walking LP Jackie Wilson 1971

 

Van Morrison - Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile) 1972

 Funeral of an old friend yesterday. Very good service and eulogy. This song was played. Was moved. 

I wanna be your lover Bob Dylan 1966 Take 6 complete

 Just heard this on the radio (Gideon Coe 6music). Not heard it before. Great.

Jayne Mansfield Hot Water Bottle 1957

 I don't have this. Looks great though.

Tucker's Grave photos

 Stopped off for a couple of pints of Mother Tucker's cider on the way to Semington.  

Iggy and the Stooges Raw Power 50th anniversary

 Spotify for the legacy edition. Wiki

The Bandwagon - Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache 1968

 Here. Big hit in the U.K. Not too good in the States. Wiki. Covered by Dexy's.

Daphne du Maurier's Cornwall

 My son's partner is a DdM fan. So I have ordered a book from my library called DdM's Cornwall. This is a postcard of the same name.

Gig in Frome

 We saw the Altermoderns. They are very good.

Ain't no Beatle Gary Sanders 1965

 The song that was in my head when I woke up. Listen here

Little Dave and the Sun Sessions

 Great night at Radstock with Somer Valley Rockin'. We all had fun and the band were outstanding. Won a CD of them that is just out in the raffle.

The Swimmer (1968) trailer

 I watched this film today. I had seen it many years ago and half-remembered it. I really enjoyed it. Wiki

Buddy Holly & The Crickets "Peggy Sue" on The Ed Sullivan Show 1957

 So today is the day the music died so I thought we could have this.

Davy Crockett soap

 We had this. I remember when we eventually used it. 

Yo la Tengo Aselestine 2023

 New song off the forthcoming album. Very good  Touring soon. Dates

The Fall You're not up to much

 

Song from the L.P. Middle Class Revolt.(1994)

Ex-Fall members band get told off by the Smith estate

 There is a new band of ex-Fall members called House of All who have a new single Harlequin Duke. But the MES estate are not happy and posted a statement recently. Article here

Bandcamp

Today is Candlemas

 Candlemas

"If Candlemas be fair and bright,

Winter has another flight.

If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,

Winter will not come again."

My new blog

 Arthur and the early wars of Wessex

Marlowe (2023) trailer

In late 1930's Bay City, a brooding, down on his luck detective is hired to find the ex-lover of a glamorous heiress. MARLOWE Official Trailer (2023) Liam Neeson