Comments on: Van Morrison’s Other Voices: Cleaning Windows

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:31:13 +0000

Fascinating stuff, Brit. As well as blues and jazz, Morrison was also influenced by Celtic rhythms and gospel music from the likes of Mahalia Jackson. Oh, and country music too... like Tupelo Honey.

By: John Halliwell

John Halliwell — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 08:36:50 +0000

You had me all misty-eyed there, Malty; at that age it’s a long way down from the top of a piano stool.

By: malty

malty — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 23:40:44 +0000

Digging deep here John, my mothers name Was Kathleen, Josef Locke singing I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen had her all misty eyed and my father rolling his. There was always a piano in the corner and the height of musical accomplishment in the house was anyone who could finish Claire de Lune without falling off the piano stool, grade six we weren’t. The only one capable of this was my uncle Albert, a night club pianist whom she detested but included in her circle because of his prowess at I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen. Christmas eve, the stale end, cigarette smoke, half empty glasses of flat beer, the smell of brandy and mince pies, the mater sitting next to the hated brother in law on the piano stool, breaking into the accompanying lyrics.

Eventually this way of life was shattered by Bill Haley, thank goodness.

By: John Halliwell

John Halliwell — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:54:38 +0000

You’re right, Malty, 1957 was quite a year: along with those you mention, Elvis, pre-army, was at his peak; even stuffy announcers on the BBC’s Light Programme were moved: “That was a gramophone recording of Mr Elvis Presley performing his latest song paralysed at 45 revolutions per minute, and jolly good it was too. And let me tell you it takes some doing to revolve 45 times per minute when one is paralytic (restrained chuckle).”

I remember the Jackie Wilson song with great affection, but the Jimmie Rodgers is, for me, the outstanding clip here. I bet Slim Whitman was massively influenced by Rodgers. In 1957 Slim had a big hit with I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen, and as the chap at the BBC possibly said: “And jolly good it is too.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guna_d_pLdk

By: malty

malty — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:44:20 +0000

Good piece of cultural archeology John, Paul Anka, all dark hair, mohair suit and teeth, more lyrics hanging unwanted on the walls of memory hall. As is Delilah, sat next to a man in an office in darkest Hertfordshire, he from Norfolk, all sodding day he sang….. “moi, moi, moi Deloilah.”
Take that one to me grave.

1957, what a year to be alive, Peggie Sue, That’ll Be The Day and Oh boy, Jailhouse Rock and Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin On, man there certainly was, saw Gerry Lee Lewis live, in 1958, he broke his piano, and the stage. This was the era of audience innocence, pre knicker throwing one want might say and is that one coming back to haunt the recipients.

By: Brit

Brit — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:30:54 +0000

The stories of these old bluegrass types are well worth reading. Many were way more rock n’ roll than anything in the 60s and 70s.

By: Mr Slang

Mr Slang — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:25:45 +0000

Is it me or is it to be noted that long-gone Victoria Spivey gets two name checks on a site outside a dedicated blues blog within 4 days?

By: John Halliwell

John Halliwell — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 15:33:59 +0000

I came across Reet Petite as we entered school assembly in 1957 when Dennis noisily announced its existence and rendered the first few bars in a sort of strangulated falsetto (his voice still hadn’t broken at a time when most of us sounded like James Mason). At the time I was struggling to get a grip on Paul Anka’s Diana, almost a grasp too far, so when Dennis said it was by a Jackie Wilson I immediately thought she must be a Lancashire lass singing in dialect. Well my old dad, who came from Chorley, regularly used the word ‘reet’. Once we’d got over this early confusion, I ditched Diana and embraced Jackie. I’ve never looked back; it is a classic. And as you state, Brit, that dancing is quite brilliant.

By: Worm

Worm — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 13:22:16 +0000

Great selection of tunes Brit, I particularly liked the Jimmie Rodgers

By: malty

malty — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 11:53:09 +0000

The more I listen to Winehouse the more I realise how like Shapiro she was, great shame.

You know how, as you go through life, your receptors disseminate the incoming data , analise it and bung it in the appropriate pigeonhole, occasionally a glitch occurs and the multi-channel sorting gadget sticks, like the needle in a record, the data becomes looped. Reet Petite is that data, rotating around my noggin, echoing, ringing, reverberating. I had thought that, through carefully applied medication and an understanding spouse, I had the thing under control and could lead a reasonable contented life.

Thanks Brit, nice selection though but.