I run a Facebook group Historical Battle Epics and two of the people who have seen this enjoyed it. It is a fun film apparently not a serious historical treatment. To read an analysis of the history read this piece from the New Yorker.
Released 40 years ago today. wiki. A band from nearby Bath. We didn't like it and used to take the piss out of it. We actually saw them supporting the Thompson Twins and didn't like that either. Watch the video here.
Had a good time watching the funeral at our daughter's place at Peasedown. Son and grandson were there too. Grandson who is just over 2 said 'soldiers marching' which pleased me greatly.
Released about now 40 years ago. I certainly didn't like it at the time I hardly remember anything about it but I like it now. Read about the recording of it and so forth here
I had a really vivid dream once about an Andean Condor
The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is a giant South American Cathartidvulture and is the only member of the genusVultur. Found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, the Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. It has a maximum wingspan of 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in) and weight of 15 kg (33 lb). It is generally considered as the largest bird of prey in the world.
From the Archive page. The Punk Rock Movie (from England)☆ Don Letts ☆ 1978
The Punk Rock Movie (also known as The Punk Rock Movie from England) is a British 1978 film that was assembled from Super 8 camera footage shot by Don Letts, the disc jockey at The Roxy club during the early days of the UK punk rock movement, principally during the 100 days in 1977 in which punk acts were featured at The Roxy club in London.
The spikiest home movie of the Seventies captured an embryonic rock revolution. ...Verité rock had become verité celluloid almost by accident.
Roxy club disc jockey Don Letts was given a Super 8 camera as a present by fashion editor Caroline Baker. When Letts started to film the acts at The Roxy, it was soon reported that he was making a movie, so Letts determined to film continuously for three months. He needed to sell his possessions in order to continue to purchase film.
A preliminary, 60-minute version of the film was shown in autumn of 1977 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. This resulted in the cover story, "Punk Home Movies" in Time Out magazine.
The film features live footage of The Clash, Sex Pistols, Wayne County & the Electric Chairs, Generation X, Slaughter and the Dogs, The Slits, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Eater, Subway Sect, X-Ray Spex, Alternative TV and Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers. Backstage footage of certain bands, such as Generation X, The Slits and Siouxsie and the Banshees, is also included.
All live footage was shot at the Roxy, except that of the Sex Pistols, who were filmed at The Screen On The Green cinema in London on 3 April 1977. The performance was Sid Vicious' first public concert with the band.
The film was subject to limited theatrical release in 1978. It was also subject to limited video release at that time by Sun Video (1978) and Danton Video (1980). It was also released on video in 1992 by Studio K7. Versions of the film were released on DVD between 2006 and 2008, though these releases were subject to criticism for sound reproduction and digital transfers that were considered to be inferior to the original. In addition, concerns were expressed that the soundtrack now included overdubbed material, as opposed to the original live recordings.
Directed by Don Letts Starring: John Lydon, Sid Vicious, Soo Catwoman Cinematography: Don Letts Release date: 1978 Country: United Kingdom
'' On this date in 1972, IN A BROKEN DREAM by PYTHON LEE JACKSON was resissued and would go on to reach #3 on the UK singles chart in October (Sep 16, 1972)
DJ John Peel had signed this Australian studio group to his Dandelion record label, but they were having problems with the vocals so they drafted in Rod Stewart to sing a guide vocal.
They were so pleased they kept his vocals on the final version.
Although it flopped upon its initial 1970 release, it was re-released two years later after the success of "Maggie May" and became a worldwide hit.
Rod Stewart was paid in an unusual manner for his demo. He recalled to Uncut: "When I did it, I hadn't broken through with 'Maggie May.' I did it for a set of carpets for me car. It was my mate who convinced me to do it. He ran a car showroom, and he said, 'I've got this group come from Australia, but the singer's not very good. Can you do a demo for me?' I said, 'What do I get?' He said, 'Well, I don't have any money. I'll give you a set of carpets.' That was 1969."
The song was written in the 1960s by the group's keyboard player and singer, Dave Bentley.
Issued in October 1970, it did not make the charts. Re-released in 1972 following the rise to stardom by Stewart, the song reached number 56 in the US charts before greater success in the UK later that year.''
Batch is a local word describing coal spoil heaps that have trees and greenery grown on them. There are a lot of them locally. In the old days miners would meet there when the pubs closed to gamble but nowadays they are used by children to play in or people walking their dogs. Countless generations of locals played in them. Both Midsomer Norton and Radstock have many of them. They are part of the landscape.
One of my earliest memories is me sitting in the back seat of our Ford Consul banging the seat singing "All my pieces bits and pieces". Watch the colour film of them doing it. Atlantic Tunnel and WFMU did an interview today with one DC5's key songwriters Ron Ryan who wrote this song, here. Very interesting. Wiki on the song
I remember this. I was 6. My Mum and big sister are in this photo. Peeping in the middle. My little brother was born a week later so my Mum was heavily pregnant. She was on the council that's why she was there. Me and my Dad were on the other side of the road. My Mum was later in life a Magistrate (Justice of the Peace). Pic from Frome Museum.
Bought an Audrey Hepburn box set today. Second hand but irresistible. Watching Roman Holiday a story about a princess who takes up with a newspaper man (Gregory Peck). Wiki Apparently the film that launched scooters to the world. Apparently was popular in the UK where Princess Margaret was involved with a commoner giving the film a timely boost. Trailer here.
Since Indian influences in popular music are primarily limited to the 1960s, most raga rock recordings originate from that decade, although there are examples of Indian-derived sounds in post-1960s rock and pop music"
Listen to one of the earliest examples - the Yardbirds Heart Full of Soul here
Norwegian Wood (this bird has flown) by the Beatles here
I have a new hobby. Buying DVDs from charity shops (thrift shops). Where I live doesn't have many interesting shops but there is something like 6 charity shops so if you feel like shopping they are on the list of places to visit. Nobody seems to want DVDs anymore. This 2 disc special edition of the 1969 classic Battle of Britain was a mere 50p. My son was likening it to the time when suddenly no-one wanted VHS and there were some great films to get on video. Watch the full movie Battle of Britain here
I had this LP 50 years ago bought from Frome Woolworths. Wiki. Note the wiki states that contrary to popular belief Hendrix doesn't play on this album. I am not a Hendrix fan so that doesn't bother me. Great album though.
I have been using a mobile phone the last month or so - previously I didn't bother. I am trying to get my photography skills better - this is Susan's bus arriving passing an outgoing one. As a bus user it's always a happy sight to see a bus arrive.
From roughly the same era as the below song this shreds but you know I am biased. I was a big Little Richard fan 50 years ago. Never saw him live. He did play Chippenham once which is about 25 miles away but I didn't go.
Well I certainly didn't like this at the time - 1980 - but I have come to like it over the years. My brother got me into Van Morrison's solo stuff in the late 80s. I remember when I used to work nights playing this song and my workmates all complaining saying 'why why why!' Anyway give it a spin - you might like it!
Picked up this on DVD second hand at the weekend. A great film. Not keen on the musical version they did has to be the original for me. A family favourite of ours. Great cast too.
Another purchase. Very influential film among my reenactment mates. We all saw it on the big screen and loved it
I don't suppose I would have started a reenactment society of this period if this film wasn't so popular. It's not perfect but its worth watching if you haven't seen it.
Another cheap dvd from a charity shop. Didn't have a copy of this film to hand so was interested. The extra bits are of the sergeant's life on the mainland and of course Gently Johnny.
My internet has been down for a while so I caught up with a few DVDs I have bought mostly from Charity shops. One I enjoyed was Ken Russell's adaptation of the notorious novel by D H Lawrence. Stars Sean Bean and Joely Richardson. It was very good. The mining scenes handled well. Three and a half hours. Worth watching. Wiki
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