A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
WRAPPING a bale of newly cut grass in black plastic and leaving it out in the sun sounds like a recipe for something unspeakable, if not explosive. However this is … Continue readingMaking silage while the sun shines
This was written by Billy Page and performed by Dobie Gray on his 19464 album Dobie Gray Sings for ‘In’ Crowders That Go ‘Go-Go’ (good candidate for Worst Album Title of All Time). In … Continue readingDobie Gray: The ‘In’ Crowd
This was written by the group’s founder and lead vocalist Pete Ham. Here is the demo version with Ham singing and playing acoustic guitar. It was re-recorded at a faster … Continue readingBadfinger: No Matter What
One minute 33 seconds of energy from Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy. This is a live performance from 1978.
This was written by the group’s drummer Chris Curtis under his real name Chris Crummey (mis-spelled Crummy on the record label) and released as the B-side of their debut single Sweets … Continue readingThe Searchers: It’s All Been a Dream
Opening a season of songs about going crackers, Neko Case, kd lang and Laura Veirs with one of the best tracks from their eponymous 2016 album.
Lovely, dreamy song from the 1970 album Magnetic South. RIP Michael. And here’s an interesting live version from 2018 when his voice had nearly gone. Start at the three-minute mark.
This was written by Alex North and Hy Zaret for the 1955 film Unchained. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack. The wonderful Sam Cooke recorded it for his … Continue readingRighteous Brothers: Unchained Melody
IT WAS a hot Greek night in mid-July and my friend Bob decided after a surfeit of ouzo that he fancied a swim. He climbed on to a railing and … Continue readingBob’s midnight swim
This was written by all four members of the Shadows (Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, John Rostill and Brian Bennett) who had been commissioned to write the score for the 1964 … Continue readingCliff Richard and the Shadows: I Could Easily Fall (In Love with You)