IT'S CUDDLE SATURDAY - TWO - #48 - 2004 - Streets - Dry Your Eyes

This morning I went out for the papers, shocked at the news coming in from Paris , knowing that the right wing media will turn this to stir up hate against refugees when it's their paymasters who are the initial instigators of this supplying weapons to anyone anyone who will play and top up their hedge funds . Simplistic view I know.

Anyway when I went out this morning it was bloody freezing , thank god it wasnt raining. A great way to combat this is is to cuddle someone and share body heat. Cuddles and hugs should really be the norm everyday. Some people may not be able to do this for one reason or another. Never think you don't deserve it. You deserve to feel wanted , loved and cared for and hugged. Someone will be there for you. Reach out to people , pick up a phone , communicate , text , meet for coffee or tea or a meal.. We all need me time , but we need us time even more, and it could be someone next door , in the same town , city , country and thanks to the internet the world. It can be lover , friend , family , neighbour , casual acquaintance , do it and put a smile on your face.

Tears of Sorrow and Joy

The Odyssey hits number forty eight and only two more posts til I hit my thousandth post on this blog. According to the stats there have been 97,000 page views so I think it's on course for 100K by the end of the year. The song hit me like a freight train one of the greatest break up songs ever , and it's white charver rap , still makes me cry. Mike Skinner is a genius , it's similar to the Wyclef Jean post I shared in post #42 last Sunday , shows what a sentiment wimp I really am. Anyway I've listened to "Dry Your Eyes" by The Streets about six times while writing this. I am welling up, and really need a hug.

So go out there , find someone to cuddle , you will feel much much better for it , you both will.

Lost In A Dream - Three - #47 - 2003 - Lemon Jelly - Nice Weather For Ducks

Just woke from a strange dream through half an hour of snooze alarms that were part of the dream though I kept snoozing the alarm. I can't remember any details but it was pleasant . We have hit Friday have the weekend to look forward to but I was woken up by the rain during the night.

It's Friday the 13th and I have posted before about superstitions and the Number 13 . Don't take it too seriously , but be careful

Nice Weather For Ducks

Anyway the musical trip hits year 47 , 2003 and the singles charts were again full of rubbish . My own mantra is that 95% is always rubbish and found that Nice Weather For Ducks by Lemon Jelly was in the charts then and it's pretty appropriate given todays weather

Keep dry and have a great day. The weekend is nearly here

Thursday Is Here - FOUR - #46 - 2002 - Feeder - Just The Way I'm Feeling

Dragon

Thursday is here . Had a potential disaster in that my phone battery seems to be draining rather too
quickly , so that means a trip into town to get a new one today . The thing is I had a slight panic because not having your phone cuts you off from things you want to have access to , as well as making things inconvenient because things aren't immediately to hand . Still all will be fine and by lunchtime I should be back to normal.

A friend sent me the image , absolutely amazing . I love it










That was a slight blip and I am going to have a wonderful day today , there will be a lot of hard work, but I have a great circle of friends all over the world who I can talk to , chat with and meet and it's always a good thing to contact people for any reason , to make sure they are ok and look out for them

Anyway the Odyssey reaches year 46 and the singles charts in 2002 are particularly awful , so bad I almost chose an Oasis song, but checked out the albums chart, and saw Comfort In Sound by Feeder was released in 2002 , so "Just The Way I'm Feeling" was an obvious choice.

Have a brilliant Thursday everyone.

BIG HUG WEDNESDAY: Keep On Smiling with a small Starbucks Rant - FIVE - #45 - 2001 - OPM - Heaven Is A Halfpipe

Real Coffee

I know I keep on about putting on a smile , being happy and hugging and kissing each other , but was tempted to write about this idiot  situation about the colour of Starbuck's Cups . Someone once said that once the threat of starvation had been eradicated then people's main hobby becomes being offended. Starbuck's are guilty of far worse things that the colour of their cups , but they still do good Frappacinos and I have no problem with the staff , just the company. But anyway that's by the by. Today let's make it a BIG HUG Wednesday , grab a friend and hug them and go for a coffee at an independent coffee place like Bar Loco or Pink Lane Coffee in Newcastle.




The Odyssey hits 2001 and for 2000 I had hoped for Heaven Is A Halfpipe by OPM , so it was a no brainer to choose for 2001 , despite competition from Gorillaz and other worthy choices

So go on make it a BIG HUG WEDNESDAY

Put A Smile On Your Face - SIX - #44 - 2000 - Len - Steal My Sunshine

Well Monday is over and Tuesday is here and the week has started better than expected and is going to keep getting better. No major events but after The Wedding Present gig on Saturday finishing last week , this week has a lot to live up to and I think it will be great , I am sure but I will have to do lots of good things and I will. Watch the video and this song will put a big smile on your face.

The Odyssey reached the year of The Millennium , and there was the huge panic about the Millennium bug and how the world would come to a halt. This confused me apart from being a ploy to rip people off. I started programming in 1980 for Littlewoods and the first line of the program I wrote checked whether it was the 20th or 21st Century . If I was doing that then why weren't Microsoft , Intel , IBM and Apple doing it in the run up to 2000?

Go On Smile

Well the Odyssey reaches year 44 , the year of the Millennium and good music was sparse , but good music is always there. I could have chosen Beautiful Day by U2  , and Who Let The Dogs Out by The Baha Men was number one (as I say not a classic year) but have decided to go for Len with Steal My Sunshine which always brings a smile to my face , and anything that makes me smile is a great way to start your day.

Put a smile on your face and have a brilliant day.

Lying In Bed - SEVEN - #43 - 1999 - Bran Van 3000 - Drinking In LA

I do like lying in bed warm , being awake enough to appreciate it and still knowing you have another hour left before the alarm goes off, then five minutes before the alarm goes off switching the damned thing off and getting up because you want to . And this is a Monday morning and there is a hell of a lot to do at work over the next three days (and probably the rest of the week), so no early finishes , but that's fine because I work with a great supportive team. So that's my thoughts for this morning. I hope you who have already had your Monday have had a good one , and you who are yet to have it have a brilliant one. That's what I intend to do.

BV3000

Well the Odyssey hit's 1999 and I wish I could choose Prince's 1999 but that was quite a bit older, so it was a toss up between "Tequila" by Terrorvision and "Drinkin' In LA" by Bran Van 3000, I've gone for that latter , but there was a lot of songs I could have gone for.


Have a great day and a great week.

Sunday Morning - EIGHT - #42 - 1998 - Wyclef Jean - Gone Til November

Bridges

Well it's the middle of the night after an amazing night seeing the Wedding Present. Amazing band and I am so pleased I saw them. Was there with two great friends we all loved it apart from an idiot numpty trying to pick a fight .I am quite tired so straight into the music now..

The Odyssey has hit year 42 and I am going for Wyclef Jean's heartbreakingly beautiful Gone Til November.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone.

The Rain Is Here - NINE - #41 - 1997 - Dario G - Sunchyme / DJ Quicksilver - Bellisima

It's Saturday , It's Grey , It's Raining and tonight I am going to see The Wedding Present , so lots of incredible positives. Problem with rain is that you need umbrellas and because it's winter you need to wrap up well. I just checked my power statement from the totally brilliant OVO and that's £500 overpaid giving me 3% interest (about a pound a month hee hee ) , but OVO are a brilliant energy supplier , been with em nearly two years so my fixed rate is nearly up.

Rave Boys and Girls

 Year 41 was the first year I had choosing a song from the top 100 of that year , some was OK some was rubbish and then this euphoric take on Dream Academy's "Life In A Northern Town" stood out , I do love Dario G , even I want to get up and dance when there music comes on , but obviously that would be a very bad thing. , but then Bellissima by DJ Quicksilver came on , that was 1997 so I am having both. The Dario G album also reference the refrain from David Bowie's Memory of A Free Festival from Space Oddity.

Enjoy and have a brilliant day my totally wonderful friends.

Countdown - TEN - #40 - 1996 - Donna Lewis - I Love You Always Forever

Counting Down

Well it's Friday and who knows what will happen today . I am ten posts away from my thousandth post on this blog so counting down, and need four thousand page views to hit my 100K target by New Year's Eve . Guy Fawkes is gone and the weekend beckons . Fog and smoke has permeated the atmosphere and it's been wet and not exactly sunny.






I've hit year 40 in the Odyssey and there were a lot of fine records in 1996 but  I Love You Always Forever  by Donna Lewis has such a gorgeous chorus , and it shows what a soppy soul I really am. I had completely forgotten about this song , but now it's remembered.

Enjoy and have a brilliant Friday everyone

Burn The Goverment - #39 - 1995 - McAlmont & Butler - Yes

V

Idon't think too many tears would be shed if Cameron , Osborne , May and IDS were dispatched is Guy Fawkes failed attempt to do something about government corruption. I wonder where we would be had he succeeded? The pain that they have spitefully inflicted on on the population of this realm , especially those unable to look out for themselves , the poor , the sick , those bombed out of their homes by weapons sold and promoted my this government to line their own pockets. But really we will have fireworks and bonfires and straw guys commemorating bonfire night and






Ok we are 39 years into the Odyssey and I've chosen the excellent McAlmont and Butler song "Yes". This is an amazing song and this Odyssey has proved that there is always great music around at any given time.

Have a wonderful Guy Fawkes Night.

Betcha By Golly Wow - #38 - 1994 - Stiltskin - Inside

Mind Twister

This is just an update on my betting which I started tracking on the 24th of March when I paid £100 for a tips subscription. Details of that are here. Most days I get around my money back , often I win nothing. Anyway the last two days I have cleared nearly £500 from Betfair for £40 outlay. This put my initial pot of £500 up to £1200 since I started and it's all thanks to Free Racing Tips and may be a little Lady Luck.  I am judicious with the information I'm given and don't bother with wild outsiders but the six horses I went with over the last two days all won. You can try them out here , I pay £9 a month with more than pays it's way. It won't replace my day job but it does my life a little better.




They are really nice people to deal with and don't cost you a fortune. Here's a couple of images taken from my Betfair account , It's only £400 in credit because I got a new card and also I sometimes bet in a shop.

Anyway we hit 1994 and year 38 of The Odyssey and it was getting a bit Ravey , so I've gone for Inside by Stiltskin , a song we splayed in the early days with Spoon. A great riff and little reminiscent of Nirvana's - Smells Like Teen Spirit .

Have a brilliant evening my friends.

Foggy Morning - #37 - 1993 - House of Pain - Jump Around

We are into November , heading towards Guy Fawkes Night and wishing that maybe this year he could succeed. Outside the fog is making it look cold and grey and unwelcoming unlike yesterdays eventual sun. There is a Music Quiz Tonight that I am wandering out to which is bonfire night related and I was just thinking of how relatively civilized  that night has become. In the seventies idiots would think nothing of chucking lighted fireworks , bangers and worse through people's letter boxes. I was guilty of the odd gate swapping and pinching as well as playing knock-a-door run. So anyway it's over for this year and we can sleep without fear of door knocks with small people asking for sweets until we get the Christmas Carol singers round. Oh dear , it's only November and I have already mentioned the 'C' word.

Horse Race

Oh and Australia's Melbourne Cup ran a few hours back and I lost a few pennies as the favourite came in a out tenth and Pride of Penzance won , the first win by a lady rider in that race.









The Odyssey continues into year 37 and the 1993 charts contained a lot of rubbish , but Jump Around by House of Pain is a great record and was one of half a dozen possibilities , though as I write this the Jam's Eton Rifles is playing on Radio 6 so this morning is jammed full of amazing music.

Have a totally amazing Tuesday everyone.

My Phone Is A Vampire - #36 - 1992 - Shamen - Boss Drum

My Phone is a Time Vampire

I looked at the clock when I took my Samsung Note 4 out of my pocket, waited while it did it's stuff , updating again , downloading , waiting finally pressed the first app and 3 minutes had elapsed.

I do like my phone , watch iPlayer programs and TED talks and read the odd book , plus check news , though I am thinking of ditching Twitter as I virtually never use it. But it's in the long list of apps on the phone that I never use.

Anyway be wary of how much time your phone actually takes.
Luckily I was boiling the kettle and making tea  while that was happening but I was thinking how many people just wait for their phone and lose that time completely ? 


Though I still use Facebook and Instagram is probably my most used social media app.

Anyway we're up to year 36 in the Odyssey and this was the year that KLF's Amerika - What Time is Love hit the charts , though I used it two posts ago , so I missed stuff from the Shamen's En-Tact , one of the greatest albums ever but have taken Boss Drum by the Shamen for this year's choice.

Enjoy the rest your Monday , this afternoon I go for some unspecified minor surgery .......

It's Raining Leaves - #35 - 1991 - Oceanic - Insanity

Raining Leaves

What a beautiful morning , just the sort of day you want to be with your friends and enjoying this gorgeous winter sunny day. The leaves are falling , the colours are incredible , an American friend told me her daughter said "it was raining leaves" , I thought that was a beautiful analogy. When the sun shines it does put you in a very upbeat mood. So today ring someone , meet someone , kiss them , hug them and connect with them . Make them feel loved and wanted.





I hit year 35 in my musical Odyssey , so well over half way way though it , and I am thinking of merging this with my book so I can finally publish it. It will be very freeform by it;s nature (like this blog) but , I think this could work. Iwas looking through the top 100 for 1991 and Insanity by Oceanic jumped out and grabbed me by the throat . Yes there was a lot of  of KLF but I had them for my last post and this still sounds brilliant today.

So go out , watch the leaves fall , hug someone and kiss someone

Trick or Treat? I'd Rather Celebrate Samhain - #34 - 1990 - KLF - What Time Is Love?

Celebrate Samhain

It's Saturday and it's been a good week, but today is Halloween or Samhain depending on yuor viewpoint or religious or non religious religious. I do detest the commercialisation of the whole thing where plastic bats and witches costumes seem to be the norm , and the whole American  idea of threatening somebody is little more that preparatory gangsterism , Give me something or I will do something bad to you. Tonight I will get teenagers not even dressed up coming demanding stuff, and of course I will have tubs of sweets because I don't really want to find out what the malicious little imps will do. The reality is that is it's an excuse to dress up and collect free sweets , although about ten years back we were burgled on Halloween.

Samhain means Summers End so is probably the most appropriate description for today , and the best
way to celebrate.

Anyway enjoy the night in whatever way you see fit . I will be watching Preston North End play Bolton and jump into Australia versus the All Blacks for the Rugby World Cup Final, so that's my night sorted , though I would welcome any Pagan's or Druids round for a drink if you are reading this and know where I live.

Anyway into year 34 of the Musical Odyssey and we hit 1990. The year the KLF released the awesome White Room. This is an excuse to play the excellent "What Time Is Love? Amerika" which was a thunderous revamp of the already amazing version on the album.

So enjoy Saturday , Samhain, Halloween and the Rugby World Cup Final. It promises to be an amazing day my friends.

Some people have asked who Lee his (Good Evening Lee) . Lee is a great friend who live in Japan doing translating stuff I believe , and lives near to Mount Fuji . We worked together at the PPA in the early 90s around the time of the KLF and reconnected of Facebook a feww months back. Facebook does sometimes throw up good things.

Colouring Outside The Lines - #33 - 1989 - Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning

Colour

I don't know what brought this phrase to mind , but it seems that lots of people are enjoying colouring in some fairly complex and difficult colouring books. It's a great way of relaxing , but I would not be able to do it at all. I would stray outside the lines , not be able to match colours and eventually get bored. It's just that we are all different and different things stimulate and relax us. Free form drawing and playing is incredibly relaxing, but in 60 years I have never been able to find any non musicians to jam with . Of course as soon as you start then you learn to play better and I can play bit's of stuff , but sometimes I am naturally collaborative and other times I have to be on my own. Maybe something will happen maybe it wont, but we never know what tomorrow might bring.


Anyway the musical journey continues into year 33 , 1989 and although Guns 'n' Roses hit the charts with some fine songs and an idiot frontman , the vote has to go to Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil great music , a political conscience and a great frontman. Could Peter Garrett front  Guns 'n' Roses , now there's a thought.

Anyway enjoy your Friday , the weekend is coming and great things await us all.

Style and Fashion In The Grainger Market - #32 - 1988 - Primitives - Crash

I know nothing about fashion . If you have ever seen me I know you will agree whole heartedly, but today after dropping by The Little Bazaar and Pet Lamb I lunched at Olivers and enjoyed

'FASHION SHOW ' Grainger Market 180 Years in Fashion' which involved several of my friends and was extremely professionally executed and well recieved by the many people watching there. The models and their dress looked amazing . As I said I am not the one to be offering opinions on this but I enjoyed it and took a short Instagram Video. You should visit the link if you are any way interested in fashion , history and the Grainger Market , all combined to make a gloriously entertaining afternoon.

Cat Walking Grainger Style

And the musical Odyssey winds on hitting year 32 and though the charts were awash with Kylie Minogue when she wasn't good , I chose this absolute gem "Crash" by The Primitives.

Have a good night (or morning Lee) , the weekend is coming closer.

Thursday 7:30 - #31 - 1987 - Mental As Anything - Live It Up

Well were getting towards the end of the week and all those things we need to do are getting done. There's some great gigs coming up Star Spangled Chestwigs this Friday and The Wedding Present a week on Saturday , with Halloween falling this Saturday so need to stock up on tubs of stuff for the knocking witches.

Knife?

The musical Odyssey hits 1987 year 31 m and I chose Live It Up by Mental as Anything because 1987 was my first year in Newcastle and I remember in the first week I went to the Odeon (since fallen into decay and disrepair) and saw Crocodile Dundee , a film I still love.

So all have a wonderful time , I am on my way to work.

Another Day Another Software Update - #30 - 1986 - Hollywood Beyond - What's The Color Of Money

Another day and software update on the iPad. I mean these are getting weekly and I spend more time updating the damned thing than actually using the damned thing. And it still asks you for passwords after it has updated , though Windows isn't much better. I've been waiting for Windows 10 on the tower for three months , yet Windows 8 is still updating , while my laptop went Windows 10 a month back. I'm sure it will come at some point.

Money Go Round

The musical Odyssey reaches year 30 and I've chosen Hollywood Beyond's The Color of Money , I could have chosen The Damned's Eloise but this edged it.just because it's original and a one hit wonder.

So have a brilliant day , apart from Lee , you have a great night .

Alarmed - #29 - 1985 - The Cult - Sanctuary

   

Go Goth

Todays post is short because the binary part of my brain managed to set my alarm off rather than on last night. Still there will be lots of fun to be had today I am sure . Weather is forecast for everything from Sunshine to Showers.

1985 was not the greatest of years for chart music but there was still Sanctuary by The Cult which is a great record , and gives me an excuse to play the Spoon version as well which I still thinks sounds great despite my vocals,

Have a total wonderful day my friends.

Here Be Dragons ...A Little More Bazaar #28 - 1984 - Kirsty MacColl - A New England

Georgie.....

I've loved the Grainger Market for years , and in my last post I gushed about the Little Bazaar. and I dropped by to today to ask Georgie for a photograph , she is a lovely lady and obliged . I love chatting with her as she is so positive and is perfect for the surroundings of the shop. It doesn't have an online presence so you have got to go and see it yourself. You couldn't create the atmosphere online, you have to visit and experience it. It's a great place to visit as I go into the Grainger Market for something to eat , fruit , veg and other stuff. So I had to write this so you can see her in her wonderful hat......

..and her Dragons

Anyway the musical Odyssey continues and I originally chose "When Doves Cry" by Prince but it isnt on Youtube, but more importantly my youngest daughter was born in 1984 and her name was influenced by one of my favourite singers of the time the sadly missed Kirsty MaColl who hit the charts that year with A New England but I had loved her since her first single "They Don't Know" . So you get a song written by Billy Bragg and sung by Kirsty MacColl , what's not to get euphoric about?

Enjoy your Monday Night and get yourself to the Grainger Market tomorrow , it is a veritable cornucopia

A Little Bazaar #27- 1983 - The Cure - Love Cats

At the weekend I was in the Grainger Market and dropped into this gem of a shop the Little Bazaar in the Grainger Market presided over by a lovely lady called Georgie who wears a wonderful green steampunk style top hat. It has lots on incense , scarves , candles m stones and things , and you could lose yourself in the intoxication of it's welcoming atmosphere. The Grainger Market is a brilliant place to be these days and this is one of the many reasons why it is so good. You should really take a look and buy something. I love it.

A Little Bazaar

The Odyssey hits year 27 , 1983 . Lots of people complain about how rubbish music was in the 80s . Well was it. 95% is always rubbish and among lots of others The Cure were a major fixture of the 80s and they are without doubt one of the greatest bands ever and I love "The Love Cats" , how could I not choose that , a good start to what will be a great week.

Happy Monday everyone.

Clocks Gone Back #26- 1982 - Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling

Today is the day of the Sunderland vs Newcastle United Derby . Sunderland have won the last 5 and not lost in the last 7 that's like every match this decade almost. This is the only match that seems to matter to Sunderland supports , mainly because they seem to get tonked by everyone else. Can't say Newcastle are that much better , but what do I know , I'm a Preston supporter, and we also have Australia vs Argentina in the Rugby World Cup today which may match the excitement of of yesterdays close match between the All Blacks and South Africa. I wouldn't be surprised by an Argentinean victory as they are well organized and are not there as cannon fodder. The fact they are semi finalists says it all.

Jerome Kaino's second try of the tournament gave New Zealand an early lead

Anyway I've just finished putting all my analog clocks right , and just rememberd I need to do the same for my heating I think. I will check this after I post this.

So my musical Odyssey , I hit year 26 and have chosen the excellent Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling , a brilliant duo who's music has a great cutting edge and they still tour today.

Have a great Sunday everyone , the sun is shining and you did get that extra hour in bed.

Coincidentally #25- 1981 - Dire Straits - Romeo And Juliet

Today has been a bit weird, but incredibly interesting , so much so that I need to write about it, just so I remember about this day. Today isn't special but it's the birthday of a friend at work, nothing strange about that but I have have another friend with the same name who's birthday was on Wednesday, so that was one coincidence.

Then it's my neighbours' twins birthday today. I went into town and went into a shop , picked up a The Core , so I thought I would check it out , It is The Key the first fabric structure to be used as a working space in the UK.

The Key

book went to pay and realised I hadn't picked up my wallet on the way out. So had to walk back to a bus stop but my friend had pointed out an unusual structure next to

This meant I walked past The People's Kitchen who do a great job supporting those who can't support themselves thanks to the heartless selfish government we let into power.

Anyway got home came out and was waiting at the bus stop and heard a noise behind me, turned round and say to gorgeous smiling faces in a sensibly sized push chair under mops of black hair. Their mum told me that it was their first birthday ! . So that's two sets of twins withing walking distance of each other and my friend from work who have the same birthday! Now that is a coincidence of the highest order and wouldn't have warranted a mention if I hadn't forgot my wallet!.

Anyway into town and got off the bus at Gallowgate straight into the middle of an bunch of EDL neanderthals desecrating the Bobby Robson Garden with there sub primate yelpings. I walked over to the Palestinean Support Meeting stayed for ten minutes to show my support then walked through Chinatown , running into another work colleague.

So that was a lot of my day.

On to year 25 of my musical journey , and in 1981 my first daughter was born and the song that I have chosen had a definite influence on her name. Hope me writing this is not too traumatic for her , Romeo and Juliet is a brilliant Dire Straits song but a far too wordy Shakespeare play.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Ignore Boundaries #24 - 1980 - Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers

Very often people , especially in work , and especially when things aren't going perfectly will tell you to "Think Outside The Box"  , use "Agile Methodologies" and any other buzzwords that happen to be flavour of the day. I remember of the manager who asked to see if we could get training and courses on JFDI as it seemed to often get good results . The same manager after after a training course told me when I suggested a soloutin that at the the time he though I was a f*cking idiot as my idea was so off course, but he then said he realised that mine was the only solution that would actually work , and it wasn't the solution the course runners had in mind.

It's just when things seem impossible , or the odds are stacked against you , you probably have it in yourself to find an answer however unexpected it may be , just never give up . Giving up is the killer, believe that success , and what you are looking for will come to you.

Speak No Evil

Love Peter Gabriel , who walked out of Genesis when they had just produced what was their most ambitious album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and struck out on his own , starting WOMAD and Real World nearly going bankrupt and now doing alright for himself producing incredible music and commanding respect, so that''s why I chose "Games Without Frontiers" , and this was one of the most difficult choices I've made so far and I#m hardly half way through my musical journey.



Anyway have a wonderful Saturday everyone , Good Things are About To Happen

Mind vs Machine ! #23 - 1979 - Driver 67 - Car 67

Phone Home

Was thinking today about how we are more and more reliant on technology. One of the main areas is , how many phone numbers do you know? I know my own mobile number , maybe my home phone number and that's about it. I used to have loads of numbers stored in my head but now just two. I suppose it;s a case of need to know , but recently when my phone died , there was only one number I could remember. My phone remembers all my numbers, but it is reliant on power , and if it doesn't have power then I am at a bit of a loss. I use computers to remember the things that I can't , to store things I can't , to do things i can't and remember they are ultimately binary based and dependent on electricity.
mobile phones

Anyway just over a third through my musical life Odyssey and I know there's a plethora of decent stuff in the chart from 1979 , but the Sex Pistols had well and truly crash landed with The Great Rock and Roll Swindle , but I always had a soft spot for Car 67 by Driver 67 , so that gets my vote.

You all have a great day now

Just Amazed - Do It Now - #22 - 1978 - Darts - It's Raining

I'm constantly amazed by how much good stuff in general there is and how we have the ability to do so many things with a lot less effort that we did ten or fifteen years ago. We can do so much on the move get in touch with our loved ones and our not so loved ones whenever we want , we have the opportunity to gather , have fun socialise , and have a good time . But always do things as soon as you get the opportunity , because putting off things to next week or next month may mean putting of things so long you may lose the opportunity to do it.

Raining

Las night I missed a quiz raising money for Oxfam , I feel bad about it but I was just far too tired to
attend . Also I know I will have the opportunity to make amends.

Anyway in my 22nd Year I remember seeing the Darts , and this song "It's Raining" still gives me goose bumps.

So if you can do that good thing now , have fun , enjoy yourself and life will be wonderful.

That Year - #21 - 1977 - Jonathan Richman - Egyption Reggae

1977 was a seminal year for music . You all know why so I won't elucidate. I'm choosing Jonathan Richman's Egyptian Reggae because I can actually make a decent stab at this on any guitar.

Have a brilliant day my friends

Keep On Keeping On - #20 - 1976 - Four Season - Silver Star

You gotta keep on going and things are getting better by the day I belive, I can't sleep but thought I would post this entry, short and sweet.

Etoile Argent

Well into my 20th year  and I've chosen what I consider to be the finest record the Four Seasons ever produced , "Silver Star" clocking at six minutes on the album , but you get the short version , it's one of those records that doesn't fit any mould at all and is totally brilliant, yeah it's short post but you know these were gonna happen, just play the record and enjoy the music.

If you think my choice is sacrilegious , listen before you judge,

It May Be Monday But Good Things Are Coming - #19 - 1975 - Susan Cadogan - Hurt So Good

Yesterday I had Apple Pie at The Magic Hat Pop Up Cafe  who operate a pay what you an afford and use food past it's sell by date. I left a reasonable about to hopefully ad a little to their coffers but it is a very laudable enterprise as it does mean people who can't afford to eat because of this governments "austerity" policy , can actually eat.

Reggae

Last week was intense at work but I actually wrote a song , well it sort of fell out of me because it was just an idea so you can here the rawest of demos here but have a feeling this is the start of a very special week

Well up to 1975 in the songs of my life , and again I'm going for the less obvious, in this case "Hurt So Good" by Susan Cadogan . I liked it then , and still like it now.

Have a great week everybody

Hold Someones Hand This Sunday - #18 - 1974 - Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us

This Sunday Hold somebody's hand and make them feel loved and wanted. It may seem like a little gesture but human contact is actually a very good thing. I know we all need personal space and if you walked up to a stranger and took their hand it may not be wanted , but then again it could be just what that person needs. We should all be closer , and care for each other , and look out for each other and be there for each other. That should be what we are aiming for . Compassion , Love and the enjoyment of life that those qualities bring. So try and take someone's hand today.

If I get arrested today you know why

Anyway 1974  was my eighteenth year and I celebrated my 17th birthday . I think my mum bought me a car , a mini for £50. I had my first real girlfriend Anne , and the music was still very good although there was quite a lot of dross in the charts for that year but when you had Sparks release This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us , with its operatic melodrama and surely an influence on Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody , but Sparks is my choice.:

Stampede

"Zoo time is she and you time
The mammals are your favourite type, and you want her tonight
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers
This town ain't big enough for both of us
And it ain't me who's gonna leave"



Sohave a great Sunday , Hold someone's hand .. for me ... my friend

Here Comes The Weekend - #17 - 1973 - Ringo Starr - Photograph

Me at the beach

The weekend is here after a fairly intense week , and I know there may be more but I am feeling very
good , very positive and very upbeat about things , and that is my default life position. I wont let anything keep me in a dark place or knock me down . I need to be there for me and anyone else who needs me. The only slight downer is Preston are bottom of the Championship this morning but I have every confidence in Simon Grayson and he has my eternal gratitude from the play off final that got us here. It's one of those things , those memories are now saved for ever both digitally and in my mind.


The song I've chosen from 1973 , in my 17th year is Photograph by Ringo Starr , I have always loved this , and yes he is an ex Beatle but for me is a fine fine song that always has stayed with me . Hope you enjoty it , I always do.

Better Daze - #16 - 1972 - The Move - California Man

Rock and Roll

Today will be intense at work , But I at the end of today all the pressure stuff will be finished. Then after that I have the weekend to look forward to. You too have the weekend to look forward to , so allis good here.

It's 1972 and have chosen The Move's California Man one of the finest slabs of Rock and Roll you will ever hear.

Have a great day.

Feeling Fine - #15 - 1971 - Curved Air - Back Street Luv

Yeah I am just really tired and things seem a bit both non stop and empty at the moment, I know that sounds weird but rust feel as though I'm running to keep still . I know this will pass , you can't feel top of the world everyday.

Air Conditioning

Anyway 1971 was another stunning year and I remember Curved Air on Top of the Pops performing Back Street Luv with Darryl Way's perspex violin and fronted by the lovely Sonja Kristina, There first album was one of the first picture discs and the second with it's cut out cover was straight into my collection.

HAve a great day everyone it's nearly Friday

Getting Better - #14 - 1970 - The Witch - The Rattles

Halloween is Coming

Another rushed post , so , as I said , some would just be about the song that I'm posting. This is one of those. 1970 was my 14th year , I'd never thought of it in that way be for. I've been surprised by how much good music inhabited the charts and this was probably when my core music opinions took shape. Any appreciation of classical music was destroyed by my school (I  regained it in later years) , but despite the plethory of incredible music , I've chosen The Witch by The Rattles , a German Group , which I loved at the time and still sounds as fresh today. And I suppose with Halloween on it's way is sort of appropriate

Time for work now

13th Post 13th Year and it the 13th Should I Worry? - #13 - 1969 - Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' Crazy Elephant

Well I forgot to set the alarm so that my be my "bad" luck. Let's face it it's like horoscopes you can always make things fit, that's the fun of astrology and the like. Like the prophesies of Nostradamus and horoscopes and other superstitions. Though I still have it ingrained into me that 13 is unlucky , but it's a baker's dozen which meant you got a free cake or loaf just in case something might be duff , so isn't that good luck.

Be Happy

I agree with the premise that your musical tastes are formed when you are 14-18 and certainly somemusic from then has stuck with me , but I think that 95% is always rubbish and it's just finding that 5% and it is usually easy to find. There are lots of great bands at this moment it time , just look.

So from 1969 , my 13th year comes Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' by Crazy Elephant , I'm sure an English band covered this , but that year was amazing for music and I could have chosen lots of classics , but this is the one I chose.




I have a wonderful day everyone ,  and don't walk under ladders !

Another Monday Morning - #12 - 1968 - White Horses - Jacky

It's another Monday morning and I'm in a rush again so this is a shorty. 1968 was full of amazing music , but in a completely coincidence I posted White Horses to my daughter's Facebook wall as it's her birthday today, then found it was in the charts in 1968 !!

So there is nothing special in this except:

Skeleton

It's going to be an amazing week , but I haven't a clue what is going to happen . I had a great weekend and it is going to continue on , I will make sure that happens.

Also looking for this video , I got sidetracked as usually with some films for my Facebook group here.

Have a great day every day.