Music

Over the last week we have gone back to work, and I have become 57 years old rather suddenly. 

On Friday evening after dinner, we spent a nice and quiet few hours, and then decided to watch some television, as there was a 1970's music reminder show on. It was excellent, and took us both down memory lane. The next program was much of the same, but of 1980's music, which just reminded us both of how much dross there was around then, except of course for the Two Tone bands making a name for themselves. let's face it though, apart from these, and the good old stalwarts such as Bowie, the Stones, Elton John etc, there wasn't much around with any real chutzpah. Then there was a music documentary on the English bands that made it big in the USA.

It had passed our usual bedtime, and yet there was more to keep us locked in. A documentary on David Bowie which was superb, and then more blasts from the past, until 1am came. We were tired, and we were all music and dance moved out, but then a documentary on the Northern Soul scene, something that Amanda knows well, and has a collection of records that we regularly play. 

My wonderful wife has always been the much better groover than me. She can move endlessly to just about any beat

That was it, the whisky came out and we settled in for the duration, and it was almost morning when we finally went to bed, tired but feeling groovy. 

Hobie had been asleep on our bed all day and night, and when we awoke at about 10.30am like a couple of students, he was still there. He is very old now, according to the vet about 105 years in human terms. He doesn't walk well, he has to struggle and heave to pull himself onto the bed, and rather than attack intruder cats, just pees everywhere to try and deter them. He is a wonderful old friend though.

Staying up into the early hours doesn't mean that we can't eat though, and we needed some food for today (Sunday), and so headed to Wimborne, and a rather good veg shop, where we stocked up on all sorts of fare. As you may notice, there is a record shop next door, and so how could we resist? We have a huge music cd collection, but have only recently been given a new record player, and so are keen to add to our vinyl collection, as we haven't really played records for a while now. 

I suppose that it's Two Tone artists and Ska that have always been most influential to me. I was introduced to it many, many years ago by a young apprentice that worked alongside me at work. He dressed Two Tone, and always carried a cassette played and tapes of the stuff, and we would hear the music in the van for at least a couple of hours a day. The Specials, Selector, Bad Manners, are among some favourites (although Amanda positively hates 'Lip Up Fatty' sung by Buster Bloodvessel.

My all time favourite though is 'Mirror In The Bathroom' by The Beat.

The Beat - Mirror In The Bathroom

There is something way more satisfying shopping for vinyl records than cd's. They have substance, texture, have to be looked after carefully, sort of nurtured in a way. There are pictures, sometimes biographies, lyrics. We chose two albums each, as they are somewhat more expensive now. Amanda found, not surprisingly for her, Aretha Franklin 'Greatest Hits' and Paul Weller 'Stanley Road'. The latter is to keep her satisfied for a few weeks until we see Mr.Weller perform live in February. 

Me?.....'ChangesOneBowie' by Davis Bowie, and a special edition 'Purple Rain' picture album by Prince, a nice little catch that has already been played far too loudly.

The man is a skilled artist, song writer, guitarist, AND he rides a motorbike! Probably my all time favourite song......or perhaps it's Wonderwall.......or.......oh who knows, maybe there are too many eh?

Prince - Purple Rain