Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
THIS week’s choice, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, has involved me in a little detective work into a widely repeated legend. It’s been tricky as details are scarce and contradictory, … Continue readingTurn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Recent Posts
Dick Barton – Special Agent
WITH these words: ‘Six years of battle, murder and sudden death just spoil you completely for a nice, peaceful office job. Don’t you agree, Snowey?’ Captain Richard Barton MC, ex-wartime … Continue readingDick Barton – Special Agent
Jerusalem
IF a vote were held on a national anthem for England, as opposed to God Save the Queen for the whole of Britain (not that I am wishing a vote … Continue readingJerusalem
David Bowie: Low and behold
IT IS often the case that a personal life in crisis can result in some of a musician’s finest work; Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks and Joni Mitchell’s Blue … Continue readingDavid Bowie: Low and behold
Two-Way Family Favourites
I’M sure that for quite a few readers, nothing will bring back memories of Sunday lunchtimes with the smell of the roast in the oven more than these words: ‘The … Continue readingTwo-Way Family Favourites
O Perfect Love
SOME hymns have taken a circuitous route to their present destination. One such is the wedding favourite O Perfect Love. The words were written by Dorothy Blomfield in 1883. She … Continue readingO Perfect Love
Randy Newman, master craftsman
THIS week, a long-overdue salute to that most enduring of songwriters, Randy Newman. For more than half a century he has been making us smile and sob, sometimes simultaneously, with … Continue readingRandy Newman, master craftsman
Take It From Here
ONE of many radio shows which emerged after the war combining the talents of performers who had either served in the forces or had entertained the troops was Take it … Continue readingTake It From Here
How Great Thou Art
A FEW weeks ago in this series I noted a sort of ‘hymn snobbery’, with cathedral and other leading choirs almost exclusively using the New English Hymnal, originally published as … Continue readingHow Great Thou Art
Bill the conqueror
IF HE had listened to his music teacher’s advice, we wouldn’t be listening to Bill Dalton now. At 16 his school report read: ‘William is musically incompetent.’ Discouraged, he went … Continue readingBill the conqueror