A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
This was written by Les Reed and Geoff Stephens and first recorded by Stephens’s group, the New Vaudeville Band, in 1966 for their album Winchester Cathedral. The first single version was … Continue readingHerman’s Hermits: There’s a Kind of Hush
I was reminded of this while rewatching the brilliant Dr Feelgood documentary Oil City Confidential. Roadrunner was the late Lee Brilleaux’s favourite song and a template for his lifestyle.
I have a personal interest in this because the group came from Beckenham, south London (though the postal address is Kent) where I grew up. One of the members was … Continue readingThe Herd: I Don’t Want Our Loving To Die
IN MY piece on skylarks last week I said that they are in decline and that the RSPB and British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) attribute this to changes in farming … Continue readingThe great badger debate
This was written by Les Vandyke, a regular collaborator with Adam Faith. It went to No 4 in 1961. It also featured in the film What a Whopper: I cannot pin … Continue readingAdam Faith: The Time Has Come
Sheer class from 1969.
This was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and produced by Jagger. It was released in October 1966. Despite its pedigree it got to only No 31 in Britain … Continue readingChris Farlowe: Ride on Baby
Recommended by reader John Lewis, for which many thanks.
I HAVE written a few times about the shameful closure of churches at the very moment when they were most needed, so I was pleased to see this article in … Continue readingThrough the Night of Doubt and Sorrow
Live version of the country-soul classic from the Eighties.