A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
MENTION the name Bernard Manning these days, particularly to those of the Leftie persuasion, and the response will be: ‘Vile old racist homophobe’. Yet while he did tell racial jokes … Continue readingIn defence of Bernard Manning
Written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, this was recorded on July 10, 1958 and released 18 days later as the B-side of Bird Dog. What on earth were they thinking? It is … Continue readingEverly Brothers: Devoted to You
Concluding our little season of songs about flying, here’s Jimmy’s version of the Jesse Winchester song.
I must admit I always felt a bit uneasy about this one. It was released in August 1966, two months after Orbison’s wife Claudette died in a motorbike accident on … Continue readingRoy Orbison: Too Soon to Know
Near-20-minute workout recorded in 1967 as the first track of the Mirror Man album. It takes its title from the Robert Johnson song Terraplane Blues and quotes extensively from it … Continue readingCaptain Beefheart: Tarotplane
Rockin’ cover of the song from Joni Mitchell’s album Blue.
Plenty of dalmatian action in this vid.
This was written by group members Felix Cavaliere (keyboard and lead vocals on this track) and Eddie Brigati (percussion and vocals). It was released in 1967 and topped the US … Continue readingYoung Rascals: Groovin’
WE have lived in Lancashire near the Ribble for about eight years (the move from London was an awful protracted business which I may recount some time if I can … Continue readingEgrets, I’ve had a few
This was written as a Latin soul instrumental by Rodgers Grant and Pat Patrick, and first recorded by Mongo Santamaría for his 1963 album Watermelon Man! Soon afterwards lyrics were written … Continue readingGeorgie Fame and the Blue Flames: Yeh, Yeh