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Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Mar 10, 2015 9:13:27 GMT
Hi John, The Tremeloes song "Me and My Life" brings back good memories to me could you elaborate on that clip please? The drummer appeared to be singing the main vocal whilst grinning, Dave Clark style. I recall a schoolfriend laughing at it at the time possibly as the miming was a bit ridiculous. The clip exists - it's not on youtube, unfortunately.
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Post by johnstewart on Mar 10, 2015 9:30:01 GMT
A fragment from the start of 'me and my life' along with parts of the Xmas 1969 Xmas show rehearsal and parts of what looked like a 1970 edition were posted a few years ago now. This comprised of just the start double tracked guitar riff. Kenny Everett was the DJ for 1970. The audience were seen on the end credits dancing to 'the witch'. Don't know what the source was but guess the clip has been taken down now.
I hear that the whole song exists on a compilation possibly made by Bob Pratt along with Family 'the weavers answer' amongst other tracks and I think Tony Jo White ( ? ). Also Andy Fairweather Low's rare group the Fairweathers. Don't know if there are any DJ links. Odd choices but maybe a case of personal taste.
The drummer sang the choruses, almost shouted in the background. When the camera cut to his face my friend at the time was pointing at it on the screen laughing. Could have been at the expression he was pulling. As I mainly hung about with this school friend around spring 1971; it may have been a repeat clip of the song on 'Ask Aspel'. My Mother was friends with his so we would go round just after school so would have been tea time. I used to get the song mixed up with 'reflections of my life' Marmalade also in the same charts period. Recall kids at school taking the rise out of that one as it was repetitive; i.e. singing the line 'I'm changing, changing, changing, changing'; over and over like a tape loop.
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Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Mar 10, 2015 9:38:39 GMT
Clips of Family, Tony Joe White and Fairweather do exist because of Bob Pratt. Tony Joe White performs completely live, just him and a drummer.
Me and My Life is from 03/09/1970.
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Post by johnstewart on Mar 10, 2015 9:45:06 GMT
Have another 70s memory forgot to mention. Around the age of 10 I was quite cynical about music and pop music and my interest was only really in the odd record that amused me for novelty value. Things were still getting quietly digested, for example 'sleepy shores' the Owen M.D. series theme. In January 1973 it seemed the charts suddenly were becoming exciting again. You had Roy Woods new band with 'Ball Park incident', Sweet with their new sound in 'Blockbuster' and the rise of David Bowie. I'd been following him since 'Starman' which sort of rekindled my earlier excitement about pop music. A friends older brother had also been listening to the band Roxy music and I went out and bought their second single 'Pajamarama'. Also bought their second L.P. which didn't include the single. I recall an exciting appearance for the single on Top of the Pops; which began with the camera very high in the studio at the level of the lights; and turned to show the image at a diagonal. It was like a shot from the 'Batman TV series.
The band remained frozen like statues as the first chords were played. Recall Andy Mackay had what looked like a foil lined top and trousers with a wide opened collar and silver platform boots. He stood with his body twisted at an angle. I think he and Bryan ferry had their heads looking down and one arm raise. When the jaunty main verse part and drums began, they sprang into life. The camera did a slow pan down and round until level with the band. Bryan ferry had adapted his earlier long hair into a new nineteen fifties hairdo like that worn by Andy Mackay. He had a wide shouldered suit top on. I think it might be the one that appears on the centrefold of the album cover. In colour a dark blue/black affair. Tassels on the arms and military straps on the shoulders. I think also he had almost definitely dropped the lip gloss and eye shadow he wore in some existing earlier clips.
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Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Mar 10, 2015 9:57:15 GMT
Have another 70s memory forgot to mention. Around the age of 10 I was quite cynical about music and pop music and my interest was only really in the odd record that amused me for novelty value. Things were still getting quietly digested, for example 'sleepy shores' the Owen M.D. series theme. In January 1973 it seemed the charts suddenly were becoming exciting again. You had Roy Woods new band with 'Ball Park incident', Sweet with their new sound in 'Blockbuster' and the rise of David Bowie. I'd been following him since 'Starman' which sort of rekindled my earlier excitement about pop music. A friends older brother had also been listening to the band Roxy music and I went out and bought their second single 'Pajamarama'. Also bought their second L.P. which didn't include the single. I recall an exciting appearance for the single on Top of the Pops; which began with the camera very high in the studio at the level of the lights; and turned to show the image at a diagonal. It was like a shot from the 'Batman TV series. The band remained frozen like statues as the first chords were played. Recall Andy Mackay had what looked like a foil lined top and trousers with a wide opened collar and silver platform boots. He stood with his body twisted at an angle. I think he and Bryan ferry had their heads looking down and one arm raise. When the jaunty main verse part and drums began, they sprang into life. The camera did a slow pan down and round until level with the band. Bryan ferry had adapted his earlier long hair into a new nineteen fifties hairdo like that worn by Andy Mackay. He had a wide shouldered suit top on. I think it might be the one that appears on the centrefold of the album cover. In colour a dark blue/black affair. Tassels on the arms and military straps on the shoulders. I think also he had almost definitely dropped the lip gloss and eye shadow he wore in some existing earlier clips. Sounds like a 1973 clip. And sounds exciting!
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Post by johnstewart on Mar 10, 2015 10:01:38 GMT
I also have a clear memory of Billy Fury on TV in the period 1964-65. Fury had a blond teddy boy haircut with the top brylcreemed up quite high, and a suit jacket with white shirt but no tie. Can't remember what song but this is one of a few TV pop memories of mine at the time. My sister was a big fan and fury was one of the more striking looking pinups at that time.
It's most likely ready steady go though. For some reason I recall RSG being on more in our house than TOTP pre 1966. My exposure to many records like Millies 'my boy lollipop' and various motown girl groups like the supremes was through RSG with its 'jailhouse rock' type multi level backdrop.
Probably the predominant reason I can't place visuals to a number of pop records I recall is due to the fact my parents generation still saw the radio as a main centrepiece much of the time rather than radio. It had carried them through the war years and in the early sixties many houses still used the radio a lot. TV began later so families would catch the news at breakfast before leaving the house; or put music on to cheer them up before going out. My Dad would have radio 4 on at lunch breaks when he came home 'The world at one' and panel game 'just a minute' with Renee Houston Clement Freud and Kenneth Williams.
Radio of 1964 was still playing releases from 1960 by Adam Faith and Elvis in his army period. My sister had some of these 'His latest Flame' being one. It also played a number of the 1962 Motown hits and girl groups. 'You've lost that lovin feelin' was a big and talked about record at the time for its booming production quality. that really resonated when we played it on a big mono radiogram like we had. But I do also recall the appearance on TOTP sandwiched between countless appearances by Pinky and Perky and the Barron Knights who I hated at the time. They never seemed to be off TV.
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Post by johnstewart on Mar 10, 2015 10:04:56 GMT
Clips of Family, Tony Joe White and Fairweather do exist because of Bob Pratt. Tony Joe White performs completely live, just him and a drummer. Me and My Life is from 03/09/1970. This schoolfriend was in that years class with me from that time. I think we were watching a repeat of the clip though c. 1971. It's feasible that Bob Pratt might have shelved it for general reuse at that time, unless of course it was taken privately to save it from a wiping batch.
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Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Mar 10, 2015 10:08:14 GMT
Clips of Family, Tony Joe White and Fairweather do exist because of Bob Pratt. Tony Joe White performs completely live, just him and a drummer. Me and My Life is from 03/09/1970. This schoolfriend was in that years class with me from that time. I think we were watching a repeat of the clip though c. 1971. It's feasible that Bob Pratt might have shelved it for general reuse at that time, unless of course it was taken privately to save it from a wiping batch. It could have been either. I have reason to believe it was reshown once, at least.
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Post by johnstewart on Mar 10, 2015 10:24:52 GMT
And yes, I would like to be able to offer memories of Hendrix and more cult stuff like Julie Driscoll from the time; but it depended on your age as to what your interests would be. people 12-16 at the time may have better memories of that stuff. For me I tended to recall the sillier or weirder records that would appeal to small children. Records like 'happy jack' the Who; 'hole in my shoe' traffic; 'yummy yummy yummy' ohio express; 'jennifer Eccles' by the Hollies. What was repeated in the 1980s reviews seemed to be a mix of what were considered pretty heavy underground records or obscure at the time. 'Pictures of matchstick men' by Status Quo I'd never heard of. Did recall Judy Driscoll but from the Monkees TV special on BBC2; also the play 'Season of the witch'.
I recall Hendrix 'Hey Joe' but again, on the radio. So too for 'Itchycoo Park small faces (which disturbed me); and 'what a wonderful world' by Louie Armstrong when it was riding high. This was on dads car radio as he was driving from our place somewhere. Possibly up town where he would visit a tailors, then pop by one of the department or toy stores like 'Gamages' and bring me back a 'Husky' die cast car.
Again Radio - an incident where my older brother and his friend had a picnic on the grass out of the back of our place. On a blanket. The radio was one of those fat cream plastic fronted ones they do retro copies of now. With the large gold and transparent circular dial on the front. I clearly recall '54321' Manfred Mann which I liked but thought was by the Rolling Stones. Apart from its use on 'Ready Steady go' as theme have no TV memory of that. Also 'out in the country' by Cliff Richard. It was sunny day too. Around that time there was a version of 'Michelle' high in the charts but not by the Beatles. I was later told the band was 'The overlanders', It was a similar band to the Seekers in sound. Mums favourite along with Kenn Dodd ('tears'). Careful study of the time reveals much of the underground stuff was seen as a one off novelty to most in Britain with the charts dominated by more easy listening or cabaret artists peoples parents would approve of. the Beatles were probably the first crossover that appealed across the generations and class divide. They could woo listeners with their catchy tunes but often be extremely dark and dangerous (i.e. 'Eleanor Rigby, 'I am the walrus').
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Post by jerryg on Mar 10, 2015 15:37:58 GMT
Hi John ,thanks for your memories on all these pop performances ,do you happen to have any memories of the dancing ladies the gojos or pans people that did a great job of covering the current singles on totp ,or any memories of lift off etc.
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Kev Hunter
Member
The only difference between a rut and a groove is the depth
Posts: 615
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Post by Kev Hunter on Mar 10, 2015 21:08:18 GMT
Apologies if this one's already been mentioned, but I remember seeing Frankie Howerd performing "Up Pompeii" on TOTP, and each time the chorus came around, he would make a V-sign with an upward movement to accompany the "Uuuuuup.." bit. My dad thought it was hilarious for some reason unknown to me at the time.
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Post by markjhaley on Mar 10, 2015 21:53:57 GMT
Apologies if this one's already been mentioned, but I remember seeing Frankie Howerd performing "Up Pompeii" on TOTP, and each time the chorus came around, he would make a V-sign with an upward movement to accompany the "Uuuuuup.." bit. My dad thought it was hilarious for some reason unknown to me at the time. Yes I remember that very clearly. I also remember being annoyed with Howerd waffling on for about 4 minutes before actually singing the song thinking they could have had another act on during that time.
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Post by johnstewart on Mar 10, 2015 22:56:14 GMT
Apologies if this one's already been mentioned, but I remember seeing Frankie Howerd performing "Up Pompeii" on TOTP, and each time the chorus came around, he would make a V-sign with an upward movement to accompany the "Uuuuuup.." bit. My dad thought it was hilarious for some reason unknown to me at the time. I seem to remember that on 'Parkinson' didn't know the song made it to TOTP?
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Post by markg on Mar 11, 2015 1:23:56 GMT
Yeah I do remember it on some chat show, only saw it once and I'm sure it wasn't TOTP.
That doesn't mean it was never on TOTP, obviously, just that I didn't see it there.
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Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Mar 11, 2015 12:09:48 GMT
Apologies if this one's already been mentioned, but I remember seeing Frankie Howerd performing "Up Pompeii" on TOTP, and each time the chorus came around, he would make a V-sign with an upward movement to accompany the "Uuuuuup.." bit. My dad thought it was hilarious for some reason unknown to me at the time. I seem to remember that on 'Parkinson' didn't know the song made it to TOTP? "" 4-3-71: Presenter: Tony Blackburn (Wiped) (Exists as audio) (27) NEW WORLD – Rose Garden (4) PAUL McCARTNEY – Another Day (video) (NEW) FRANKIE HOWERD – Up Pompeii (33) BARBRA STREISAND – Stoney End (crowd dancing) (NEW) DESMOND DEKKER – The Song We Used To Sing (26) FRANK SINATRA – I Will Drink The Wine (video) (17) T-REX – Hot Love (crowd dancing) (and charts) (NEW) EARLY MUSIC CONSORT – Allemande/Wedding March (video) (danced to by Pan’s People) (ALBUM TRACK) THE HOLLIES – Too Young To Be Married (ALBUM TRACK) THE HOLLIES – Survival Of The Fittest (1) MUNGO JERRY – Baby Jump (and credits) "" It did! Aside from the regular chart artists who had BBC shows who appeared on TOTP with regularity (Cliff, Cilla, Dusty, Sandie, Petula, Lulu as big examples), also light entertainment stars such as Dick Emery, Brucie, Frankie Howerd and many others who had BBC series appeared on the show. Interestingly, if I recall Cilla and Petula appeared 8 times with songs that weren't hits, making a nonsense of the rule that one only appeared on the show if the record was going up the charts (exceptions being 'the album slot' and 'Tip for the Top', in addition to Number Ones, of course....)
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