Dave Edmunds: I Hear You Knocking
This is entering the glam rock days but it is a good beaty number. It was written by Dave Bartholomew and first recorded by Smiley Lewis in 1955, reaching No 2 on … Continue readingDave Edmunds: I Hear You Knocking
Author: Margaret Ashworth
Square
Angels from the Realms of Glory
THE writer of this carol was considered in his day to be the equal of Charles Wesley, but of his 400 hymns and carols this is just about the sole … Continue readingAngels from the Realms of Glory
Martha & the Vandellas: Heatwave
This was written by the leading Motown team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. It was released in July 1963 and made No 8 in America, but entirely missed the British charts. Here they … Continue readingMartha & the Vandellas: Heatwave
Gene Vincent: Be-Bop-A-Lula
The song is credited to Vincent and his manager Bill Davis but there is a story that the words were by Donald Graves and that Davis bought out his rights … Continue readingGene Vincent: Be-Bop-A-Lula
O Holy Night
THIS much-loved Christian song has an unusual background: the words were by an atheist and the music by a man from a Jewish background. The verses were written in 1847 … Continue readingO Holy Night
The Who: So Sad About Us
I like this song, but I wish it didn’t start with ‘La la la.’ Just seems a bit unimaginative. It was written by Pete Townshend for the Merseys, who released … Continue readingThe Who: So Sad About Us
You’ll be itching to read this
A LONG time ago I went to view a house for sale. It had been empty for months but still had the carpets and curtains. After a few minutes I … Continue readingYou’ll be itching to read this
The Shirelles: Will You Love Me Tomorrow
The quintessential one-night stand song, and one of my very favourites. (Although the title is a question it never has a question mark, and many versions give it as ‘Will … Continue readingThe Shirelles: Will You Love Me Tomorrow
Adam Faith and the Roulettes: We Are in Love
This was written by Chris Andrews, who had several hits as a performer. It reached No 11 in Britain in 1963. It was Faith’s second record with the Roulettes, the … Continue readingAdam Faith and the Roulettes: We Are in Love
Marvellous murmurations
I THINK our spirits need lifting this week – mine certainly do. So here is one of the most incredible sights in nature, and one of the most inexplicable. Everyone … Continue readingMarvellous murmurations