Celebrity Jukebox #86: Esther Rantzen

When I was a kid, my mum allowed me to stay up and watch That's Life on Sunday nights. It was the strangest show on TV, an uncomfortable mix between social justice campaigning and vegetables shaped like penises. Although I was young, I felt a little better when Cyril Fletcher retired and took his awful innuendos with him - the blokes who replaced him were a little less cringe. I suspect I enjoyed staying up late more than I actually enjoyed watching That's Life.

I won't have a word said against Esther Rantzen though. I know she was the butt of many a comedy routine, but she did a lot of good, or tried to anyway. She didn't always succeed, but it's the trying that matters.

Here are some songs in tribute...   

Whispering grass, don't tell Therese

Sister Rantzen or Her Majesty's police

Carter USM - Re-Educating Rita

I turned on a T.V. station and

Lip-read with the sound turned down

It was Pro-Celeb mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

With Esther Rantzen

Playing the one who's drowned

Del Amitri - You're Gone

Another Day #20: October

If I've timed this right, John Medd should be unveiling lots of lovely Autumn photos today on his monthly photo challenge. (Or perhaps he's gone a bit early as he sometimes does.) Anyway, in lieu of writing anything meaningful on this blog anymore, here are a few October songs from the hard drive of plenty...

Rosie Thomas - October

American Aquarium - Bible Black October

Tim Gilbert - Early October

Chris & Cosey - October (Love Song)

Listening Post #55: Another Light That Never Goes Out

Another recommendation from my old friend Adrian, who reckons that this 2012 single from London indie band Veronica Falls is basically There Is A Light That Never Goes Out rewritten from the point of view of the driver rather than the passenger...

And here's that other song, because it's still the best thing the Smiths ever did...

Namesakes #208: The Bluetones

Are you feeling Blue, Tone? Shouldn't have lied about those WMDs, I guess.

("Hey, Rol - 2003 is calling. They want their joke back.)

Here are some more Blue Tones...

THE BLUETONES #1

We start today in the mid-50s with four very clean cut young men who made up the Seattle Bluetones, led by one Joey Gee.

Joey Gee & The Bluetones – Little Searcher

THE BLUETONES #2

To Canada next, in 1957, for some Blue (gap) Tones, with added Fred Coupland.

The Blue Tones featuring Fred Coupland – Shake Shake

THE BLUE TONES #3

And a couple of years later, we were asked to mind the gap again by New Yorker Blue Tones… 

The Blue Tones – Big Mean Blues

THE BLUETONES #4

Also known as The Royal Teens, these Bluetones were doing and wopping in the mid-60s… and till the end of time.

The Bluetones - I'll Love You (Till The End Of Time)

THE BLUETONES #5

 

Bluesy Bluetones from Rhode Island circa 1989, led by one Raymond Alan Norcia – Sugar Ray to his mates. Still in the go, it seems.

Sugar Ray & The Bluetones – Seeing Is Believing

THE BLUETONES #6

 

Seen as Britpop also-rans by people who still think Oasis have any value beyond their comedy Viz Northern lunkhead stereotypes… although they were the band that knocked (What’s The Story) Morning Glory off the top of the album chart, so history should thank them for that. (Though their biggest hit, Slight Return, was denied a Number One on the singles chart by… Babylon Zoo.) 

I always like Mark Morris and his Hounslow Bluetones. A lot. Saw them live quite a few times back in my gigging heyday and they always put on a good show. More than can be said for the Millionaire Manchester Muppets.

The Bluetones – Marblehead Johnson

ZE BLUETONES #7

 

French Bluetones, active about 20 years ago. Or between 2003 and 2009 for those of us who still think the 80s were about 20 years ago.

The Bluetones – When You Want Some Love

THE BLUE TONES #8

 

And we finish today in Akron, Pennsylvania, with brothers Brian & Chris Harris… two pictures of each of them, I’m guessing to make them look like a four-piece band.

The Blue Tones – Sail Away

Which ones enhance your audio experience... and which ones just leave you blue?

Another Day #19: Ask A Stupid Question Day

"Ask a Stupid Question Day is celebrated annually on September 28 to help students overcome their fear of speaking up in class."

There's no such thing as a stupid question. But here are a few good attempts...

Shirley Ellis - Ever See A Diver Kiss His Wife While The Bubbles Bounce About Above The Water?

Victim - Why Are Fire Engines Red?

Eric Von Schmidt - Who Knocked The Brains Out Of The Sky?

Wallop - When Is Your Dream?

The Haywains - Why Do I Get the Feeling Your Mother Hates Me?

Cornershop - What Did The Hippie Have In His Bag?