Music!

 

The first really enjoyable music I can remember is Little Richard!  My sister, being 11 year older than me, and my brother, being 10 years older, developed the habit of buying 'Rock 'n Roll' records, almost all '78s.'  So we had all the good ones, Elvis, Tommy Steel and the like, and on one occasion, before 1958 when we obtain a 'Ferranti TV' we saw 'Wee Willy Harris' at the Edinburgh Empire Theatre.  Willy was famous for his carrot coloured 'DA' style hair, quite something in the dull mid 1950s.  I mind him on the stage, red hair, emerald green Edwardian 'Teddy Boy' jacket, and guitar.   I loved it!

There was, and I think I may still have, a Little Richard EP.  A fabulous device that played not one but four tracks!  Wow, that was progress.  The arrival of the TV set meant we no longer went to an occasional variety show, though these were killed off by tv anyway, so instead of red haired stars we had 'Wagon Train' and 'Popeye' instead.  The noise of rock and roll was good however, whether primary school kids get the same feeling from Tasmin Swift I doubt.

The Beatles were the next major step in my musical education.

When you get to that age, between leaving primary school and beginning secondary, that is when music becomes important.  Now some always have music, but for most of us at that time music speaks to 'our generation' in a way it will never do again.  

I was lucky.  My generation had the 'BBC Home Service,' from and for England, and also the 'BBC Light Programme' which played music.  Luck regarding music was considerably less than the luck for the many genuinely funny comedy programmes of that time.  Music was of a ballad type, Scots music appeared to be Kenneth McKellar and Moira Anderson alone, which was not good for adolescents discovering the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and seemingly masses of Blues music of one sort or another.

I mind standing at our stair door with a neighbour when one of his mates arrived.  He asked if we had heard 'She Loves You,' by the Beatles, which of course we had, usually via Radio Luxemburg rather than the unwilling BBC.  This record was really the one in my mind that made the Beatles.  Two minor hits had come before this, but here they touched a nerve, something new, exciting and speaking to a generation sick of banal musical offerings on TV and Radio.  This was the beginning of the musical revolution we hungered for. 

 

   

One of the leading lights in the revolution was of course Bob Dylan. 

The Beatles released something that was lying in the ether, and Bob, and much of the US music scene brought it out, whatever it was.  In Vietnam war raged, a war few comprehended, a war that the US appeared to be losing.  Worse, even the middle classes were being asked to send their son there, so opposition grew.  Poor whites, Blacks and Indians could go, but not the middle class Americans who did not volunteer surely!  The US mental outlook, hardened against the 'Commie threat' since 1947 was not appreciated by all the young during the late 60s.  This generation had like us, grown up on winning the war against the Nazis, now the young sought a peaceful life, Vietnam, far away and unknown, especially to Americans, made no sense.   'Stop the War,' 'Get out of Vietnam,' 'Make Love not War,' became the cry in the US, UK and elsewhere.  Protests abounded, but the war continued.  Politicians and the people never do appear to be on the same side.

The music however, was good.  US West Coast music abounded, 'Canned Heat' became a favourite of mine, 'Moody Blues,' 'Chicken Shack,' so many good groups available, though who could afford 6/8d for a single or 36/8d (£1 16 shilling and 8 pence) for an LP?  So much music, so little money!

    

Then one day, when I was 20 or so years of age, a long time ago now, I chanced upon my brothers boxed set of classic records.  You know the type of thing, 'Readers Digest Favourites' or some such.  I played one of these boring old things and discovered 'Peer Gynt 'Morning Mood,'' and I was won over!

This is not the same recording, I do not know who that was, but it gives an idea of what I heard for the first time.  From then on classical music was not the fuddy-duddy boring stuff forced upon us so often, instead it became something to enjoy.  Like so many who thought classic music was for snobs I found it enjoyable, at least the nice bits, just as many were to do later with 'Classic FM.  Now, I am more inclined to Radio 3 than to anything else.  

Especially if cheap...

The Beatles, Hunter Davies

 

In spite of the end to end coverage of the world cup, I have managed to finish a book.  This one, as you know, was published back in the 60s when the group were at the top of their game.  It has been reprinted and this one came out in 2017 so it covers, at the end, what happened at the end.

A big thick book, divided into sections  on each of the 'Fab Four,' both as they grew as a group and as they developed later, once 'Beatlemania faltered.

Now I appreciate my reader is too young to have known what is was to sit at the rear of a cinema while 'A Hard Days Night' was the film on show, watching both the film itself and the screaming wee girls who rose up every time Pauls face appeared on screen.  My objection to their hysteria was lost in the distance between them and I and the noise from the 'teenyboppers' themselves.

Males preferred John anyway.

We begin in Liverpool where the 'Quarrymen' began.  'The Cavern,' the 'Casbah,' and then the time spent in Hamburg are all offered in detail, detail according to the four themselves.  This included interviews with their families, who on the whole were supportive but soon fed up with the fans.  The tales appear quite open and as honest as possible considering the situation.  A situation in which every word uttered was interpreted and misrepresented by the media.  It was no surprise they hid away from the crowds at concerts, for many years.  It is no surprise they avoided interviews and if they allowed them refused to take them seriously.  The realisation that all questions were the same as last time, limited regarding what they did, wore, ate, and 'How long will it last,' brought a cynicism regarding the world outside these four.  

The touring years, from Transit vans to aircraft, hotel to hotel, did not allow for enjoyment much.  The cost of fame is not something most of us could endure.  It is too their credit they treated it all as a game, refusing to take anyone seriously, and distrusted all outsiders who wished to use them.

After the years of struggle and learning they progressed to an unwilling London.  Once however, they became big London was very welcoming.  London and the world and eventually the realisation touring had to stop.  They were tired, not writing new music, and needed to hide away in a recording studio.

New tracks, no directions, and the death of Brian Epstein, probably accidental, and then the trip to India with the Maharishi.  I think the same about him now as I did then.  George was already into Indian music, his mother loved it, and Paul and John influenced to some extent.  Ringo less so.

The 1968 book ends with them all in large houses (costing £20 - 40,000 at the time, around £2 -5 million today) appearing happy with their lot, at a distance from the fans, though the fans had also grown up by this time, and I thought a wee bit bored with life.  Having pots lots of money (don't mention 'pot.') does not make you happy if you have little purpose in life.  At the time they were still together and working on music.

Soon after things changed.

Yoko appeared, her outlandish Avant Garde style spoke to something in John.  His wife soon disappeared, John went into a new life, as indeed all were doing, and the 'Apple' concept went off its head!  Soon arguments, falling out, court cases and the results of bad management took their toll.  A split was required and the 'Beatles' came to an inglorious end.  

As time passed of course John was shot dead in New York,  George died, and Paul and Ringo survive, but must be about 80 now.   They continue, somewhere, money in the bank, living still the life of Reilly, but always considered a 'Beatle first, though this may not be how they consider themselves.

I liked this book, easy to read, very simple in places for the fans sake.  Good pictures, good interviews, but a sad feeling is left at the end.  Not only the break up of  a group of lads who were only being themselves playing music, but the wealth did not bring peace and love.  Even those we never knew around them, loyal and true, did not always end happily.  Some became successful one got himself shot dead in Los Angles.  And all who remained either died in due course or are old, like most of the fans.

The music remains however, music that opened up changes that may not have come without their innovations.  Music which attempted to change the world, but in the end offered just another failed enterprise.  We can now pick and choose which music to like to suit ourselves, the early 60s or the late, the music at the end of the Beatles or the individual tracks and groups that followed from them.  So much good music, much teenage angst, much outlandish and often written in a jumble of thoughts that needed more time.  

I will now go to my room with Beatles wallpaper, turn off the side light with the Beatles lampshade, get into my Beatles sheets under the Beatles duvet cover, and watch the football while listening to 'Rubber Soul,' or 'Sergeant Peppers.'

This books is good for all Beatles fans, well worth a long read. 

Mean Mr Mustard

I always wondered what on earth McCartney was going on about in 'Mean Mr Mustard,' as part of the 'Abbey Road' album.  Now I know!  I came across this on Twitter, this is the story of the real man, who actually existed.
Mean Mr Mustard was a Glasgow Civil Servant who was indeed Mean!
His meanness was such that he would switch of the light when listening to the radio as "Because it was not necessary to see in order to listen."  He also did indeed 'Shave in the dark,'  This I can tell you having tried it, this is not a good idea!
Claiming he "Came from north of the border," he lived with his wife in Enfield, north London, but for some reason she, a deputy headmistress, found his behaviour unreasonable.  I see no reason why!
The judge granted his wife a divorce.

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Now we know why the song was written but not why he put it on the album.  'She came in through the bathroom window' referred to a couple of girls who broke into Paul's house in St John's Wood next door to 'Lords Cricket Ground,' where they did indeed come in though the bathroom window and were arrested and fined.  Quite right!  These girls made the neighbours life a misery, here and at Abbey Road itself.  I often saw them when delivering round that way.     

Argos Beatles...

I met a friend for coffee this morning, thus avoiding the continuation of last years Spring clean, and walked by the 'Argos' shop and collected a new catalogue of priceless merchandise which I don't want.  
And why are they named after a long forgotten Greek city anyway?
I noticed they retain the cover blurb from before, 'You're Good to Go' and began to ask myself what that is supposed to mean?  The previous one had the word 'WOW' upon it if I remember correctly, and 'wow' was found on most pages leaving me asking if anyone in this cynical nation was impressed by this?  Marketing people do not in my understanding live in the real world, yet earn vast sums of cash for such as this!   Long years ago a friend earned £40,000 a year, his main work was designing an advert for a 'Findus' fish product which may or may not still exist, I doubt it does, as from what I recall there was not much to it.  He also had his own Audi from the company.  I was not jealous even though in those days I could not get a bus pass.  I did not go out of my way to buy his product however...

Standard

It appears the Beatles still produce a reaction these days.  50 years after they crossed the road in what I thought then, and still think now, was a rather poor cover photo people have rushed to commemorate that picture.  
Now not only did I work just up the road in what was then a somewhat run down hospital passing this corner day after day.  At that time we worked Monday to Saturday early shift, then Sunday to Friday late shift, we then got a weekend off.  How the rich lived!  
Even then, 1980-81, the 'Abbey Road' street sign was covered in scribbles from little girls informing Paul or whoever of their thoughts.  He was of course not there.  He did have a house not far from here, a nuisance to his neighbours, while he himself sat around in New York or Scotland avoiding the fans and counting his money.
Not long after leaving the hospital I was delivering in this area, 1983 on I think, and three times a week we would visit Abbey Road, knock down one or two foreigners crossing the road while being photographed and receiving instructions from the driver on how to behave.  Today would have led to mass murder US style had we been there.  Actually I have just thought it would not, we did Arsenal and that area on Thursdays, lucky for them!

It Was a Long Time Ago

TNB

On the fourth of April 1964, long before my readers were born, the world's greatest rock group found they had not only records (ask your parents kids) taking the top five places in the US 'Billboard Top 100' but they had twelve records there in the singles chart.  

The top five works of genius were:-  

"Can't Buy Me Love"
"Twist and Shout"
"She Loves You"
"I Want to Hold Your Hand"
"Please Please Me"

I'm sure we all agree this was 'pop music' at its best.  Not just 'pop' but poetic insight revealing the heart of the adolescent teenage trauma.  

"I Saw Her Standing There"
"You Can't Do That"
"All My Loving"
"Roll Over Beethoven"
"From Me To You"
"Do You Want To Know A Secret"
"Thank You Girl"

The musical influences on the Beatles as they grew up were often American.  From the ships docking in Liverpool many men brought home records bought in New York and other ports, often black music ignored by the white dominated radio and television of the time.  These records featuring John Lee Hooker, B.B. King and Howling Wolf soon left their mark on the youth in Liverpool who found such discs falling into their hands.  The young musicians of the time slowly developed their own style and once under the guidance of Brian Epstein the clean, friendly, humorous and talented act that was the Beatles emerged to change the world.

Their influence was total and not just in music.  The changing world of the sixties enabled them to indulge their musical experiments while the death of Epstein left them somewhat alone in the recording world but also able to develop new lines in music.  It is interesting to note how different were their individual musical influences, the variety of opinions amongst them and how in the end a break up was inevitable.  George has long since died, John was shot amazingly 35 years ago!  Yet his influence, not always an intelligent influence, continues today.  Paul the girlies favourite managed to remain alive even though many feel the wrong Beatle got shot and Ringo continues his 'Peace and Love' lifestyle in Los Angeles, far from the two up two down wee house he grew up in.  

1964 is Fifty two years away!  52 years!  Alas poor Yorik....

A Miscellany

I have spent time attempting to clear up all the stuff abandoned in the last few weeks.  This was not helped by having to work yesterday afternoon when 60 charming kids came into the shop.  All well behaved and keen but having to deal with so many takes two of us.  This only lasted an hour or so but left us worn out and mentally drained, and that is dangerous when there is little to start with.
Still the kids spent nearly £3 each and that helps the museum remain open.  This is good as the Magna Carta exhibit brings in so many but we really require things local folks can identify with.  I spent some time today typing up paperwork left by a get together of folks who once worked in one of our past industries.  Some began work  in 1934 at ten shillings and sixpence a week, and they only worked every second week!  In those days women who married left work, or were forced to leave work, and single girls took their place.  It made for a turnover of staff but appears a bit daft to me.  Understandable if they have kids and should look after them but as a matter of rule it is a bit daft.

Would you believe I stopped there last night and then watched Scotland's latest debacle against Poland and forgot all about this.  Mind it was getting late and there was less to write about than I had already written which says something.

I am desperate to get out and practice some photography as I realise I need practice!   Looking at others pictures makes mine look inadequate therefore I need to get out and about but this has not been possible lately.  However I am away for a few days next week and have purchased a cheap android to see if I can put stuff up.  So far it works in many things but not Blogger, typical!  We shall see later if it works.  I may be amongst the wealthy, where the lifeboat poses the houses now cost several million a go, but I doubt I will be invited in for tea.  I did get an invite to a wedding, black tie and rich folks abounding, but have turned it down as I would look like Jeremy Corbyn amongst them and I would not upset the bride.  The twenty mile walk home late at night puts me off also.

One thing I hate is people posting pictures of their lunch!  At breakfast, lunch, in a coffee shop or watching the innumerable bloody awful rigged baking shows these folks have to post pictures of what is in front of them.  I thought about this as I looked into the stew that gurgles away on the stove.  It's food, nothing else, it either feeds you or doesn't, why post pictures every five minutes of what you eat?  There are those who every night reveal their tea to us, I refuse to look or indeed answer, whether on facebook or Twitter as I may say something offensive.  
The things people post on those 'social sites' sometimes appear strange to me.  One lass often posts one or two words as if she is answering a question.  Her 2000 may be as confused as I when she posts 'Tuesday!'  Especially when it is Sunday.   If not pictures of lunch one posts those absurd posters telling people to 'Be kind to one another,' or 'Be happy and accept others, they are just like you' yet when someone lets their dogs leavings remain on the street or doesn't say 'Thank you' she screams blue murder.  Maybe she doesn't read her posts.  Christians are just as bad, ten posting saying different things all of which go over the head or clash.  
I should say at this point that everything I post is suitable for use by each and everyone, all is relevant and never do |I repeat myself, never do I repeat myself.  Some nasty grouch may of course disagree but it is best to ignore such as they.

As I chopped up the veg for the stew, wiping away the blood that follows from actually using a sharp knife, I played a 'YouTube' Beatles miscellany.  This struck me as quieter than the 'Who' track, 'Won't get fooled again,' that I played earlier.  Both revealed a problem with YouTube and Win 10, the sound here is not as good as it was on Win 7.  Quite why this ought to be I know not but clearly it 'rasps' periodically through the song with can disturb the teenage angst that fills Beatles earlier work.  
At Tynecastle Park one day long ago as we waited the beginning of the reserve match against somebody or other the Tannoy played the Beatles 'Eight Days a Week.'  This upset Mattie Chambers the head groundsman.  He muttered about the music and offered his opinion in a full and frank manner and raced inside to fix it.  Montgomery, the assistant groundsman and others objected as this they thought was the music folks wished to hear.  A scratching sound was soon replaced with a ballad type song and a happier head groundsman.  How I identify with him when I hear the drivel that passes for music today.  Surely there is a deep crevasse somewhere suitable for Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift?


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The sun shone all day today, it is almost possible to believe Spring is Sprung, well almost.

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Proper Music Friday

THE BEATLES

Those amongst you daft enough to read Fishawks blog will notice that he is going through one of those music less periods.  The time when all musical taste flies out the window and a surfeit of cowboy movies that he was reared on begin to bear fruit with the softening of his brain.  Therefore I decided to fill my head with proper music for a change and via YouTube I have brightened and enlightened the world by listening to the worlds greatest rock band - The Beatles!  Only a sad wretch would be unable to comprehend the talent shown by these men.  Only a tone deaf individual could fail to be stimulated by such marvels.  Note that no cowboy hats were worn during the making of this music!

Isn't that just fabulous?

Eric Clapton on guitar here.

Now who could fail to enjoy these great musical moments?

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