Ralphadeus. Music movies comics feature in this look at life from Somerset.
Monday, March 30, 2026
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Vocantus - Mirie it is while sumer ilast
England / XIII century. Mirie it is while sumer ilast - Wikipedia
"Mirie it is while sumer ilast" ("Merry it is while summer lasts") is a Middle English song from the first half of the 13th century. It is about the longing for summer in the face of the approaching cold weather. It is one of the oldest songs in the English language, and one of the few examples of non-liturgical music from medieval England.[1] The manuscript was found together with two old French songs in a book of Psalms in the Bodleian Library. It was rediscovered at the end of the 19th century and made accessible to experts in 1901. It was arranged and published in a modern form for the first time by Frank Llewellyn Harrison.[2]
The Seeds - The Seeds (1966) SIDE-A
Some truly great music around in 1966 but this debut is one of my faves. Give side 1 a spin and see if you like it.
The Seeds is the debut album by American garage rock band the Seeds. It was released in April 1966 through GNP Crescendo Records and produced by Sky Saxon. After the release of two singles in 1965, "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" and "Pushin' Too Hard", the album was released and charted in the United States where it peaked at No. 132 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart.
Garrett Martin of Paste Magazine said: "With 'Can’t Seem to Make You Mine' and 'Pushin’ Too Hard,' songwriter Sky Saxon turns the tension and frustration of teenage lust and rebellion into two [...] pop songs. The first is a slow burn of unrequited desire, the second a manic, twitchy screed against everything pressuring the then-18-year-old Saxon to grow up. These songs, and the rest of The Seeds’ first self-titled album, foreshadow the rise of punk as much as the Sonics or the Monks or anything else in the garage canon."[8]
Music Machine - 'Talk Talk' (1966)
The Music Machine performing their garage punk anthem 'Talk Talk' on Where The Action Is...
Talk Talk (The Music Machine song) - Wikipedia
The Chocolate Watch Band "Don't Need Your Lovin'"
The Chocolate Watch Band : Don't Need Your Lovin'. From the film "Riot on sunset strip" (1967).
The Chocolate Watchband - I'm Not Like Everybody Else
60's Garage from Los Altos (San Jose), California (1968) (The Kinks cover). I think this is a great version and I probably heard it before the Kinks' original.
Van Morrison Wild Night Live The Rainbow, London 1973
THE CALEDONIA SOUL ORCHESTRA:
Jeff Labes – piano & organ Dave Shaw – drums John Platania – guitar David Hayes – bass guitar Jack Schroer – alto, tenor, baritone saxophones Bill Atwood – trumpet Nathan Rubin, Tim Kovatch & Tom Halpin – violin Nancy Ellis – viola Terry Adams – cello
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black 2006
I asked Susan what was her fave Amy W. tune and she chose this. Back to Black - Wikipedia
Little Walter book
"Blues with a Feeling" is a biography of Little Walter, a legendary blues harmonica player whose music and life continue to resonate in the blues genre.
Overview of the Book
"Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story" is authored by Tony Glover, Scott Dirks, and Ward Gaines. The book chronicles the life and career of Little Walter (born Marion Walter Jacobs), who is considered one of the finest Chicago-style blues harmonica players. He was known for his innovative playing style and was a key figure in the Chicago blues scene, collaborating with notable artists like Muddy Waters and B.B. King.
Key Themes and Content
Ferret armoured car
Frequently we would get things from Cheddar car boot sale as gifts - a diecast cannon or similar. Happy days.
George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn, Glastonbury
When she lived here our daughter's Sunday routine was going to the Cheddar Car boot sale and then on to Glastonbury for a meal at the George and a mooch around town. George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn, Glastonbury - Wikipedia
Elvis Costello & The Attractions (Rockpalast 15/6/78) - Pump It Up
Susan played this one today. It's good.
The Singing Postman 'Have You Got A Light, Boy?' promo video 1967
We had this 45. From when we lived in Beccles Suffolk.
Ella Fitzgerald - Summertime (1968)
Clocks have gone forward,
Ella Fitzgerald & the Tee Carson trio - Summertime (from Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin).
Secret Lives of Frogs in My Garden Pond 🐸| Discover Wildlife | Robert E Fuller
Susan likes to watch Robert E Fuller films. She got me to watch this one.
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Rural discos in the mid 70s
When I wass going to school in Bruton I went at weekends to various discos. They would be in a village hall or British Legion or similar and they wouldn't play disco like in Frome but stuff like Alright Now by Free or Bachman Turner Overdrive and Status Quo. They usually involved a fight at some point. The Batcombe boys were a nuisance in that area. There also was someone called Rocky Stone but I don't think I ever encountered him just heard about him and remembered the name.
Elvis Costello And The Attractions - Psycho (Leon Payne, Eddie Noack Cover) 1981
This is good. Hear the original from 1968 here
Domino - Van Morrison | The Midnight Special 1977
This is my Saturday night selection. Of course we didn't like this at the time oh no. More recently we liked his non-Them stuff.
Lead Belly (Huddie William Ledbetter ) - Midnight Special (1934)
Midnight Special (song) - Wikipedia I think this was the first song I played on a guitar.
Tri-ang Railways R.358 Old Time Locomotive "Davy Crockett" with Smoking Cars & Caboose
This set I did have. Had some fluid that if you dropped it in the funnel it would smoke. I didn't have the caboose though. I think my parents got it on discount as it was old stock. It was great.
Soundies: Black Music from the 1940s
A soundie is a short American film displaying both the audio and video of a musical performance. Over 1,850 soundies were produced between 1939 to 1947,[1] regarded today as "precursors to music videos".[2] Soundies exhibited a variety of musical genres in an effort to draw a broad audience.
The shorts were originally viewed in public places on some 5,000 "Panorams",[3] coin-operated, 16mm rear-projection machines built by the Mills Novelty Company of Chicago. Panorams offered multiple selections of a constantly changing rotation of soundies, and were typically located in public venues like nightclubs, bars, amusement centers, and restaurants. As World War II progressed, soundies also featured patriotic messages and advertisements for war bonds. Hollywood films were censored but soundies weren't, so the films occasionally had daring content like burlesque acts; these were produced to appeal to soldiers on leave.[2]
0:12:13 Delta Rhythm Boys in "Take the 'A' Train" (1941). 0:14:46 Fats Waller in "Your Feet's Too Big (1941). 0:17:45 Count Basie Orchestra in "Take Me Back, Baby" (with vocal by Jimmy Rushing) (1941). 0:20:19 "Preacher and the Bear" featuring The Jubalaires (vocal quartet) 0:23:23 "Ring Those Bells" (Black children vocal quintet, unidentified; Possibly The Cabin Kids.) 0:24:22 The Ali Baba Trio in "Patience and Fortitude" (1946) (featuring Valaida Snow singing and playing jazz trumpet - with trio of guitar, bass and accordion!) 0:27:06 "Rocco Blues" featuring Maurice Rocco (piano and vocal) 0:30:00 Gloria Grey sings "Oh By Jingo" (looks later, circa 1950 or so) 0:32:42 "I Want A Man", sung by Annisteen Allen and accompanied by Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra (huge big band)(1943). 0:35:36 Woman jazz harpist (LaVilla Tulos) playing "Swanee River" (a title list of Soundies has this entry as"Swanee Swing").
Radstock Quoits colourised
This game was very big in Radstock. More than one pub had quoits beds which were of clay. In the Museum there is a quoit you can handle and they are pretty weighty. Descendants of the big stars of quoits still live in the town.
Heads or Tails - Official Trailer (2026) John C. Reilly
After a deadly rodeo and a stolen kiss, Rosa and her cowboy lover flee across the Italian wilderness, pursued by Buffalo Bill himself — on a hunt for the legends he helped create.
Friday, March 27, 2026
Thin Lizzy - Boys are Back in Town (original HD Sound) 1976
The Boys Are Back in Town - Wikipedia Nearly its 50th anniversary. Can't say I liked it but it was popular in the rock discos of the West Country as I attended.
Abergavenny · Marty Wilde
Released on: 1968-01-01. I have memories of singing this with my sis in thee back of the car.
Nine days in May The General Strike 1926
I picked this book up a couple of years ago. Mostly a pictorial study Pick a copy up on ebay. The armoured car depicted is a Peerless. They used them in Ireland too. The book was printed at Butler & Tanner Frome in 75 which was before my time.
The Fall - Touch Sensitive music video
Fall Friday. The Marshall Suite - Wikipedia
You said: What about the meek? I said: They've got a bloody cheek
Orgreave Inquiry
Battle of Orgreave - Wikipedia
Miners and campaigners will finally get the answers they deserve as the government launches an inquiry into the violent events at Orgreave in 1984.Truth for victims and families as Orgreave Inquiry launches - GOV.UK
We will see.
Former president of miners' union Arthur Scargill warns Orgreave Inquiry may be a 'travesty'
Arthur Scargill warns Orgreave Inquiry may be a 'travesty'
The Fall - Touch Sensitive (Channel 5, UKTV, 1999)
Lineup: Mark E Smith - Vocals Julia Nagle - Guitar Karen Leatham - Bass Tom Head - Drums
The Fall - Vauxhall Corsa ad
I think it is 2006. The Fall got a nice wad but it was followed by litigation and so forth into the origins of the song. Filmed in Budapest.
Explaining Biba: The rise and fall of the greatest 60s & 70s department store
I visited Biba on a school trip to London.
The Kinks Dedicated Follower of Fashion A Whole Scene Going 16 March 1966 (dir John Crome)
I remember this one from my childhood.
Thursday, March 26, 2026
1st RECORDING OF: Georgia On My Mind - Hoagy Carmichael (1930)
I noticed next week's Tom Hanks show on Boss Radio 66 is on the theme of Georgia. I wonder if they will play this or more likely the Ray Charles version. Apparently the lyricist was referring to Hoagy's sister Georgia.
This original version of Hoagy’s ode to the Peach State was recorded at the final session to feature jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke, who died less than a year later. Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Jimmy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden, and Bud Freeman were among the other players that day at Victor’s 24th St. studio. Most familiar to later generations was the song’s best-selling 1960 treatment by Ray Charles (listen here: 
• 1960 HITS ARCHIVE: Georgia On My Mind - Ra... )
Visit to the White Hart
Lovely, friendly pub in the up and coming area of Midsomer Norton, the Island. They do good cider and there is plenty of space. We like going when its quiet. If you like your pub to have character then this is for you. They have a shove ha'penny slate (not pictured). \here is their Facebook
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Man's best friend for 15,000 years!
Man's best friend for 15,000 years!
The bone found in Cheddar belonged to one of the earliest known domesticated dogs 
https://bbc.in/4dISdmE
https://bbc.in/4dISdmEThe discovery pushes back the time that the first dogs evolved from their wolf ancestors by around 5,000 years.
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