50 yers ago.
Ralphadeus. Music movies comics feature in this look at life from Somerset.
Tuesday, March 03, 2026
At the Cheese and Grain
Somerset's finest sons The Wurzels will return for their annual scrumpy Easter special on Saturday, 4th April.
Presented by The Wurzels - Cheese and Grain, Frome
Presented by SNG Live
The Wurzels have paved the way for Scrumpy n’ Western – a genre packed full of double entendre, mainstream parody and a comical folk style. The perfect accompaniment to cinking.
Performing a career spanning set consisting of all the hits, stories and jokes from a career lasting more than 50 years, The Wurzels continue to play over 100 sell-out shows and festivals every year.
Their quintessentially West Country cover of Kaiser Chiefs’ ‘Ruby’ has been a massive show favourite of late, as well as their hip hop version of the ubiquitous hit ‘Combine Harvester’.
The Wurzels are regularly asked how long they will keep going. The band always respond that they intend to keep going whilst they enjoy performing – and that suits the rest of us just fine.
Jesus Is A Dying-Bed Maker Charley Patton 1930
This is the basic melody used in Canned Heat's Poor Moon.
He might be a prophet
He might be a prophet
He might be a prophet
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
Midsomer Norton High Street by Susan
Quite a prominent moon tonight.
Those distinctive looking black-and-white beamed houses you see in front of you were originally built as almshouses. Almshouses first appeared in Britain a thousand years ago, offering poor, old and distressed people somewhere to live. A charity would own the building and charge low rent to residents. These ones were built in 1895 by the Beauchamp family.
Somerset Industrial Heritage
Henry Buckton will be signing copies of his book in the Museum on Saturday 7th March between 11am and 1pm
Somerset is one of the most varied counties in the country. People come here for hill walking, cycling, birdwatching and many other leisure activities. Invariably while exploring this rich and diverse countryside you will stumble across the remains of industrial activity, such as ruined buildings, ivy-clad walls, the paths of bygone railways or roads seemingly going nowhere, all of which indicate that the lonely spot in which you are standing was once thronged with people going about their business. Here these lost industrial landscapes of Somerset are uncovered to reveal the great variety of industry and employment that existed in the county. They show how England has changed from the days when every corner of the land was home to some sort of manufacturing and the country was regarded as the workshop of the world. Henry Buckton details this rich tapestry, from iron-ore mining on the Brendon Hills and Exmoor to lead mining on the Mendip Hills, from quarrying at places such as Ham Hill to peat extraction on the Somerset Levels, as well as the Somerset coalfield and the isolated mills that dot the banks of rivers in the county.
Mother's Pride | Official Trailer | Only in Cinemas March 2026
A movie partly filmed in Norton St Philip (near here where there was a battle in 1685).
Monday, March 02, 2026
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! INTRO HANNA-BARBERA 1971
Probably our fave Hanna-Barbera cartoon.
Help! ... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! is an American animated television series created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears and produced by Hanna-Barbera, which originally aired for one season on CBS from September 11, 1971, to January 8, 1972. Daws Butler, Paul Winchell and William Callaway voice the three bears that comprise the Hair Bear Bunch, while John Stephenson and Joe E. Ross voice Mr. Peevly and Botch, respectively, the two individuals who patrol the zoo in which the bears live. The series' producer was Charles A. Nichols, with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera directing, and Hoyt Curtin serving as the composer
Canned Heat Time Was 1969
I am a Blind Owl Al Wilson fan. Great musician that was a sensitive soul that comes over in his fragile vocals.
Canned Heat Human Condition Live 1970
I would love to have seen Canned Heat. They played Shepton Mallet I think.
Sunday, March 01, 2026
Radstock Railway Accident
Radstock rail accident - Wikipedia
Marco Pirroni of Adam & The Ants on Adam Ant, Prince Charming, Punk & more
Posted 23 Feb 2026
Marco Pirroni joins me for episode 156 of the podcast! We spoke about how Marco first got into music, hanging around the punk scene & at Malcolm McLaren’s ‘Sex’ shop, how he joined Adam & The Ants, Adam & The Ants’ ‘Ant Invasion’ tour, songwriting, touring around the world, hating touring & music videos, Kings Of The Wild Frontier & Prince Charming, success & fame, the end of Adam & The Ants, Adam’s solo career, Sinead O’Connor, Shakespeares Sister & loads more!
Ivor the Engine E01 | The Railway
For St David's Day. Ivor the Engine - Wikipedia
"The Railway": This episode introduces us to Ivor the Engine and his adventures on the Merioneth and Llantisilly Railway Traction Company Limited. Ivor is a little Welsh steam engine who lives in the top left-hand corner of Wales. We meet his driver, Jones the Steam, and get to know the charming world they inhabit. The episode sets the stage for the whimsical and heartwarming tales that follow.
"Tipitina" Professor Longhair & The Meters 1974
The 1954 45 version here. The Tom Hanks show on Boss Radio 66 was on a New Orleans theme this week which was good and had this song. From the 1970s PBS series "Soundstage" Professor Longhair - Wikipedia
THEM - I Can Only Give You Everything 1966
A garage anthem. Them Again - Wikipedia A contender for best song of 66.
Cat People (1982) tv Spot
I thought we had this on DVD but I can't find it. We saw it at the pictures - was a little disappointed but it's OK. Famous now for the Bowie song. Cat People (1982 film) - Wikipedia
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Clarks Factory
This novel we picked up today. It is set in the Clarks shoe factory in Street Somerset. There also used to be one in Radstock.
Brian Jones era Playlist
Made this for the 50th anniversary of his death. Got most of my favourites on here.
Nancy Sinatra "These Boots Are Made For Walkin" on The Ed Sullivan Show
Nancy Sinatra "These Boots Are Made For Walkin" on The Ed Sullivan Show, February 27, 1966
The Fall - Hit The North, England 1987
I understand our newest MP Hannah Spencer used this as her victory song yesterday.
Friday, February 27, 2026
Chad and Jeremy "A Teenage Failure" on Batman 1966
Chad and Jeremy weren't big in the UK but in the States they were well known.
Generation X - Wild Youth (Official Music Video) Nov 1977
We liked Gen X. Saw them twice. Not so keen on his solo stuff but I read and enjoyed his autobiography which I got in a charity shop. Generation X (band) - Wikipedia
Billy Idol - Billy Idol Should Be Dead (Official Trailer)
Update - this is on Sky arts on 26 March. Official Trailer for Billy Idol Should Be Dead, the definitive feature length documentary, directed by Jonas Akerlund
Find a cinema near you and get your tickets at https://billyidolshouldbedead.com
Manfred Mann - Semi-Detached Suburban Mr. James [1966]
Do you remember this one? I do. Played on WFMU's Atlantic Tunnel.
Claude Channes - Mao Mao (from Jean-Luc Godard's "La Chinoise", 1967)
Claude Channes's song Mao Mao from Jean-Luc Godard's 1967 movie "La Chinoise".
The Mamas & The Papas "Dedicated To The One I Love" on The Ed Sullivan Show, June 11, 1967.
I have a policy of playing the original but I make an exception for the M&Ps.
Newt by Paulton Toad Patrol (photo Virginia Lake)
Well done to the PTP. They have been assisting wildlife and the drivers have been slowing down.
Hope for cider makers with new parliamentary group
From Hope for Somerset cider makers with new parliamentary group - BBC News
Cider makers say they are hopeful a new parliamentary group will help their industry thrive and survive.
Sarah Dyke, MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, has been made chair of the new All Party Parliamentary Group for Cider.
Cider in the UK contributes £2.7bn to the economy, supporting more than 65,000 jobs. However, Dyke said cider makers currently face "a perfect storm" of rising energy and labour costs.
George Scott, master cider maker and grandson of Gordon Rich, the founder of Rich's Cider in Watchfield, Somerset, said: "Minimum wage is going up, it's a real hard industry at the moment. A lot of people are not as drinking as much as before."
Happy Mondays - Hallelujah (Official Music Video) 1989
Congrats to the Greens. Hallelujah (EP) - Wikipedia
Thursday, February 26, 2026
I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) - The Electric Prunes {Stereo} 1966
I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) - Wikipedia
1966-67......#11 U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #12 U.S. Cash Box Top 100, #49 UK Singles Chart, #8 Canada
Original video edited and remastered with HQ stereo sound. "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" is a song written by Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz which was recorded in late 1966 by the American garage rock band the Electric Prunes. Released as the band's second single in November of that year, it reached number 49 in the UK and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending February 11, 1967. It was also the lead track of the band' 1967s debut album, and became more widely known as the opening track on the 1972 Nuggets compilation of 1960s garage rock and psychedelic rock. The song's title is a pun on the phrase "too much [alcohol] to drink": its lyrics describe how the singer has woken from dreaming about an ex-lover.
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
The Pirates - I Can Tell (Rockpalast 1979)
Wonderful memories of seeing this band. So good they were.
Here we Go Round the Mulberry Bush, Clive Donner 1968,
The Spencer Davis Group, "Pictures of her", "Every Little Thing"
I remember seeing this film on the telly. Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (film) - Wikipedia
70 Gwen Party - The Power Elite
John Peel (and me and Susan) were big fans. Of course we don't really have a power elite as recent events have shown.
The Power Elite by 70 Gwen Party, originally recorded for Mark E Smith's Cog Sinister label in 1989 but unreleased. Later included on the John Peel Sessions 1, 2, 3, 4 album released on Snape Records in 1995.
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