My apologies for being so tardy in replying, Resurgam. Yes. I do know of Joe Webb but not too well. You have reminded me what a talented jazz pianist he is. A particular favourite of mine is "Errolesque", some super jazz piano playing by Joe with this rendering: Guess this is being performed by the "Joe Webb Trio"? (4) Errolesque - YouTube
Just been to India on a business trip and watched a couple of nice films on the flight. Firstly, Martin Scorsese's latest masterpiece, Killers of the Flower Moon. Despite its length, the film magically holds your interest as the shocking story unfolds. Great performances from Di Caprio and Lily Gladstone and a very atmospheric score that were surely worthy of an Oscar or two. Then I watched the Ken Loach film The Old Oak where Dave Turner stole the show as TJ, a landlord caught between Syrian refugees and racist bigots. At times funny, at times sad and depressing it is nevertheless a very uplifting film,
i think that’s ken loach’s last film , he will be greatly missed imo, a film creator who is held in high esteem throughout europe , but strangely is marginalised in the uk ...........funny old world
Sad to hear that the singer/songwriter, Françoise Hardy, had died at the age of 80. One of my favourites from her that she composed and sang was a very simple but still beautiful song, "Tous les garcons", which must have been one of her first compositions/renderings? Hope you can find it, it's the second one down on the YT site below (3.5 m. views): francoise hardy tous les garcons - YouTube R.I.P. Françoise
Have you seen his son, Jim’s film, Oranges and Sunshine? A tremendous expose of the cruelty and shame on young, unwanted or illegitimate children by the English and Australian governments. Strange that the British media have shied away from it.
Hi there. Yes, the film will shock and surprise you that the UK government was still shipping children to Australia up to 1996.
Recently watched a repeat of the excellent mystery thriller film,"Gorky Park" (1983) on Amazon Prime (free to subscribers). Really did enjoy seeing it again. Super cast, with great performances by William Hurt (perfect for the part of Arkady Renzo, a senior investigator of the state militia (police), Lee Marvin (as Jack Osborne), Brian Dennehy (as the American detective, William Kirwill), Ian Bannen, and a host of other fine actors. Top marks for this fine movie! (Did notice what elegant and smart uniforms the Russian state militia wore, especially early-on in the film) Note: Filmed in Helsinki, as Moscow would not give permission for it to be done there. Can understand that!
Read the book Swanny, can recommend all the Renko series of books, especially the 2nd one Polar Star - brilliant description of life on board a Russian trawler in the Arctic circle. You can almost feel the cold creeping into your soul when you read it.
"Gentle On My Mind" Just love this wonderful song, written by John Hartford and sung here by the one-and-only Glen Campbell:
I can't say I haver ever been a Tom Jones fan but on a recent 2 day visit to Italy with Amanda and her husband, we stayed in a buzzing little town and sat and watched a little outdoor concert. Romantic French/Italian songs, some old rock'n roll. Watching all the people on the dance floor took me back to the good times - no headbanging or flailing arms etc - just romancing. Anyway, one of the singers did a really good version of this Tom Jones song and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since. So here is a live Tom Jones rendering. Hope somebody enjoys it
He was certainly popular in the sixties, especially with women. And every singer in working men’s clubs would sing Delilah.
I think it was easy to write Tom Jones off when he went from an R&B singer to the mainstream. I suppose it's not unusual. But what I like about Tom was that he never lost his soul despite all the glitzy Las Vegas period. He was a fine R&B singer, more a shouter I suppose, and they tried to make him a smoothie cabaret singer. But even in '69/70 on his own TV show he talked Crosy, Stills, Nash and Young to appear live and to do a live version of The Crosby song 'Long Time Gone' from the C S and N album. Tom gives an impassioned Raucous version of the song with Stills matching him with his soulfulness. It's a much better version than the CS and N version. Apparently Stills was impressed but Young was against doing the whole thing. Which goes to show even greats can be pratts. Flashback: Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young and Tom Jones in 1969 (rollingstone.com) He's an amazing singer and his legacy would have been even greater if he'd done even more of this.
Inthe early 60s I used to finish work and then drive for a private taxi firm until around midnight (and walk home as I didn't have a car ). One lady customer got chatting and said there was a young Welsh singer I would hear a lot more of by the name of Tom Jones. I had never heard of him at the time
BBC used to play some clips from the early '60s for infills between programmes about 20 years ago. Often it included a young fresh faced Tom belting out Blues and R&B. First time I saw him I thought 'Christ who's that' and then realised it was early Tom.
Here's an interesting clip on Glen Campbell and daughter.with other family members, appearing on the Wogan Weekend show in 2010. Enjoyed the crack about his golf handicap. Worth a watch.
