Wednesday, 25 October 2023

Celebrity Jukebox#112: Dwight & Burt & Bobby

US Power Pop star Dwight Twilley left us last week, at the age of just 72. I reckon I first came across Dwight's music through our old pal Brian. Yes, here he is to tell us more. And here's a classic slice of Dwight...


And here's a modern band who were clearly influenced by Dwight's sound...

Hey Sammy
Do you wanna go for a ride
Get Shitty
Can you feel it on a Saturday night
Dwight Twilley
Blowin' up your mama's hi-fi
No really
I'm so glad we're in it tonight



Actor Burt Young also passed last week. No mentions in the jukebox, but I couldn't let Rocky's brother-in-law go without at least a mention...



For fans of the inexplicably popular ball kicking activity, this week's biggest celebrity death will be that of Sir Bobby Charlton, of whom the most I can honestly say is that I've heard of him. And so has the jukebox...

There was a short-lived band from Bradford in the early 90s called The Bobby Charltons. Sadly, their music appears to have never founds its was onto the interweb. Herman's Hermits have though... and here they are with an ode to the team for whom Sir Bobby played most of his football...

United's ground where the champions score
A hundred goals to the reds stand's roar
And Bobby Charlton, Best and Law
It's a most fantastic day
When they play


Here's a rather patriotic (I'm hoping sarcastically so, but no quite sure) anthem from Staffordshire rock band Demon. Worth including because it's the first time I've seen Morecambe & Wise mentioned in song...

Drake he sank the Spanish ships
Her majesty reigns over it
Remember world cup sixty six
And dear Bobby Charlton
The Rockers and the Mods
Blackpool and its Tower
Morecambe and the Wise
Sir Lawrence Olivier


Even more worrying is Elton John's version of Give Peace A Chance. I'm all for a bit of Elton, but the whole Spike Milligan / Frankie Howerd routine gets a bit much...

Everybody in the Soviet Union, unite
Go down to the shops and talk about John and Yoko
Timothy Leary, Barbara Windsor, Yoko Ono, Madonna
Bobby Dylan, Bobby Charlton, Eddie Charlton
Tommy Cooper and the Amazing Horseradish Dancers
Derek Baker, Norman Mailer, Alan Ginsberg and the Hare Krishna Three


Since the New Order detente detailed on Monday, I feel a little more charitable towards the following track... though New Order + Football is still a tough ask in this house.

A beauty scored by Bobby Charlton


Miki Pannell is from Italy. According to his bandcamp page, he's been in the following bands... Demented Are Go. Aaron Memphis, Spectacular Band, The Hugs, Soulteros, 33 Revolucciones, Showdown, Stressless Rockin' Band, Zak Washington and the Boogiemen, Rose Tinted Spectacles, Something Shocking, The Court Jesters, Rhythm Bound and The Royal Scumbag Orchestra. He remembers Bobby for that famous comb-over...

Remember bald is beautiful, Yul Brinner could be you
So if you start to lose it, here's what you've got to do
Don't do a Bobby Charlton, accept it with some grace!
Go and shave your head... And put a smile upon your face


It was, of course, inevitable that Nigel would have a contribution to make today...

God gave us life, Hallelujah...
PONTIUS PILATE!
God gave us life
BOBBY CHARLTON!
God gave us life
GORDON JACKSON!
God gave us life


The tune that made the most impact on me today though was this one from Jenner Fox, who is American (so please excuse his use of the word "soccer"), but still tells an emotive tale about a young British football fan who grows up to coach an American soccer team. Bobby gets a mention, alongside a number of other footballing greats, but the reason this song resonated with me is that the young lad's dad was clearly not a football fan, and that's something he remembers from his youth.

Kick the ball with me
One more time
Kick the ball Daddy

Note to self: try harder.



2 comments:

  1. Dwight and his confidant Phil Seymour are both gone now. Power-pop legends that won’t soon be forgotten.

    I recently watched the episode of the Sopranos that featured Burt Young as a cancer-stricken assassin. Genius at work there. He seemed so old, and that had to have been 20-plus years ago. - Brian

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    1. It catches up with us all in the end, Brian. I'm trying to make the most of what's left.

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