Un homme et une femme (1966) trailer

Back in the old days we used to do a cover of this song - the movie and the soundtrack are excellent but our version was a little ropey.

What's the Point?

Went to the Railway in Radstock to see this punk band (What's the Point) - they were great - lots of uptempo singalong compositions that went down very well with all present. Pub was friendly too so all in all a good evening.

Russian Civil war battle Tachanka vs White Cossacks

Haven't had much from the Russian Civil War recently on this blog - hopefully this Tachanka action will make up for it. The blurb says
'A scene from Soviet-Yugoslav 1958 movie "Aleksa Dundić" which shows a battle between Red Cavalry Tachankas and White Cossacks.'

Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920)

It's relatively easy to be a film buff these days. You have the IMDB and accessible greats like this one online for your perusal. In the old days before videos it wasn't so easy. You'd have to go to late night screenings to watch unusual films abd if you wanted information you had to buy film books - my shelves are full of them - I don't consult them anymore as there is no need but they're there as a reminder of the days when information wasn't so easily come by. Anyway here's an early expressionist classic - I expect you have seen it but Conrad Veidt is one of my favourite actors (he plays the sleepwalker Cesar).

M.I.A 'Born Free'

It's very rare for me to see anything I like on Later with Jools Holland but I saw this last night and was much impressed. Of course it samples one of music's best riffs (I won't tell you - you can listen)and there is a nice feel to it.

Animals and Men on Facebook

We've started a Facebook page - hopefully we'll get some visitors. See ya there?

Gene Vincent 'Bluejean Bop'

Interesting early clip with the man wearing an all leather ensemble - maybe the first time a rocker graced the stage in leather strides if I am not mistaken.

The Fall in Bath

At the Komedia, 30 November

Ari Up of the Slits has passed on

Sad news indeed. The 48 year old had a long and serious illness apparently. Rest in Peace.

'Working in a coal mine' Lee Dorsey

I love this clip. This is for the Chilean miners...

Postcard from Radstock 1914

Guss and Crook

Picture is of Foxcote Carting Boys in 1904 - I wonder if my Grandfather Jack Mitchard is one of them? He was a carting boy at Foxcote at that time. Started aged 12. Got taken to the Co-op to join the society and buy his pit boots after his first day. The lads in the photo (from 'History of the Somerset Coalfield' by Down and Warrington) are protesting about the Guss and Crook - a horrible device that went around the waist and below the groin that turned boys into beasts of burden and always resulted in blue scarring around the mid region. Only Somerset miners used this device because of the narrow seams.

Shannon 'Abergavenny' (1969)

It's funny isn't it when you hear a song that you haven't heard for some 40 years and it acts as a strange time capsule - this one did that - I heard it on WFMU of all places Irwin's show - the same show played one of our records and we get a kick out of hearing the whole show and whoomph this one took me right back to rainy holidays in Wales, feeling carsick driving through bleak mining villages and just trying to pass the time and singing this song when the town's name appeared on a signpost. It's easy to feel nostalgic for the easy listening songs of the 1960s isn't it? Do you know the way to San Jose?

Van Morrison and the Chieftains 'Star of the County Down'

'Trouble of the World' Mahalia Jackson

Scene from Douglas Sirk's 'Imitation of Life'.

bitwa warszawska 1920 film

So Polish filmmaker Jerzy Hoffman - known for his 'Fire and Sword' epic is about to release a film about the battle of Warsaw - when the Red army was defeated by the Poles - known as the miracle on the Vistula. Not much on this film yet as it's not released til 2011 but if you are interested search 'bitwa warszawska 1920 film' and you'll find some production stills like this one of Red soldiers.

Javan Rhinoceros

Possibly the rarest large animal on earth with only a small population of less than 50 left. Wiki here. Join the Facebook group save the Javan Rhino here

Battle reenactment satire from Armstrong and Miller

Faithful re-enactment of the famous Civil War battle between the armies of Elvis Presley and Gordon Jackson.

Gene Vincent 'Baby Blue'

I hope you like this - I do anyhoo

Dave Clark Five Everybody Knows

Vintage footage of Bath and Salisbury Plain are in this clip from 'Catch us if you can'