A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
Apparently the melody is based on Plaisir d’Amour, a French love song composed in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini. The King’s version was written in 1961 for the film Blue Hawaii … Continue readingElvis Presley: Can’t Help Falling in Love
Although this is from the 1970s glam rock era, it could easily be from the 60s (a plus in my book). It’s got a great driving beat. It was written … Continue readingMud: Tiger Feet
I was walking the dog on Waddington Fell when this suddenly came into my mind. Used to have the Slug Line album on vinyl but got rid years ago. Now … Continue readingJohn Hiatt: Slug Line
This was written by Brian Wilson and frequent collaborator Gary Usher, and released on the Beach Boys’ 1963 album Surfer Girl. Later that year it was the B-side of their Be True … Continue readingThe Beach Boys: In My Room
WE are now in Lent, when Christians commemorate the time Jesus spent in the wilderness before beginning his ministry. He ate nothing for 40 days and 40 nights and had … Continue readingForty Days and Forty Nights
Title track of his 1971 album. The guitarist is Ray Russell. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Russell_(musician)
This was Bobby Vee’s first single, which he wrote himself. It was released in 1959 but did not make the charts. His backing group, The Shadows, included for a while … Continue readingBobby Vee: Suzie Baby
A great Goffin and King number which the Cookies, Little Eva’s backing group, took to No 17 in America in 1962. The Beatles had a go at it on their … Continue readingThe Cookies: Chains
A live performance which typifies the Unthanks – great singing but too much going on instrumentally. Contrast it with the beautifully understated Nic Jones on The Noah’s Ark Trap, my … Continue readingThe Unthanks: Annachie Gordon
A FRIEND of mine likes to describe the Blind Beggar in Whitechapel as the biggest pub in the world – ‘It must be because there are at least 30,000 Cockneys … Continue readingJudas! When Dylan went electric