Bill Withers: Lean on Me
Withers wrote this and released it as a single from his album Still Bill in April 1972. It reached No 1 in America and No 18 in Britain. I have to say … Continue readingBill Withers: Lean on Me
Author: Margaret Ashworth
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An unwelcome house guest
LAST week I wrote about horsetail, possibly the hardest weed to eradicate on the planet. To me it looks evil. But pests can sometimes look very cute, and an example is the edible … Continue readingAn unwelcome house guest
Ben E King: Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)
With more than a passing resemblance to Stand By Me (1961), this was written by Ahmet Ertegun and King’s wife Betty Nelson. It was the title track on his third album Don’t Play … Continue readingBen E King: Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)
Cliff Richard and the Shadows: Theme For a Dream
This was written by Mort Garson and Earl Shuman. It was recorded on January 28, 1961 and released the next month, on February 24. The rather cheesy chorus is performed … Continue readingCliff Richard and the Shadows: Theme For a Dream
The Police: Every Breath You Take
I know everyone calls this the stalker’s anthem, but I think it is a good tune and performance. It was written by Gordon Sumner, aka Sting, for the 1983 Police … Continue readingThe Police: Every Breath You Take
The candle-shaped vandal
WALKING by a stream this week, minding my own business, I suddenly saw something that made my blood run cold. (You might think Jaws music here.) This is the scene: The villains … Continue readingThe candle-shaped vandal
Billy Connolly’s signalman joke
In around 1980 I was a researcher at London Weekend TV when I was assigned to a pilot for a possible series starring Billy Connolly. It was a pretty lame … Continue readingBilly Connolly’s signalman joke
The taming of a hawthorn hedge
ABOUT this time last year I was disappointed to come across a newly laid hedge and find I had missed seeing it done by a couple of weeks. My luck … Continue readingThe taming of a hawthorn hedge
Dionne Warwick: Do You Know the Way to San Jose
This was written for Dionne Warwick by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was released in April 1968 and reached No 10 in the States and No 8 in Britain. … Continue readingDionne Warwick: Do You Know the Way to San Jose
Elvis Presley: Anyway You Want Me (That’s How I Will Be)
This was the B-side of the immortal Love Me Tender. It reached No 1 on US Billboard‘s Most Played in Jukeboxes chart. It was written by Aaron Schroeder and Cliff Owens and … Continue readingElvis Presley: Anyway You Want Me (That’s How I Will Be)