Sir Peter O'Sullevan - Obituary from The Independent. with due acknowledgement.

Peter O'Sullevan was one of my father's favourite racing commentators and writers. Dad poured over O'Sullevan's column in the Daily Express  religiously looking for Tips !!
We watched his BBC broadcasts together often. Dad was not a book lover, but he had Peter 's books & autobiography on his bedside table always.
Similarly, Dad always favoured Lester Piggott's mount. A truly great rider who needs to be rehabilitated in the public canon. He was railroaded. I love the Queen's comment on the case.

Sir Peter O'Sullevan's voice provided the soundtrack to horse racing for more than six decades. (My emphasis.) His commentaries, whether at the Grand National, the Derby, or during wet afternoons at the gaff tracks, had a distinct air of hard-earned authority as he called home the greats such as Arkle, Red Rum, Desert Orchid, Sea Bird, Nijinsky, Dancing Brave. He became a legend himself and led an extraordinary life, both on the Turf and beyond.

Another broadsheet writer remarked that the voice had a mellifluous beauty, and mused: "The sound of Sir Peter calling the horses should be one of our exports into outer space to signify the depth of our civilisation." That last bit gets somewhat carried away, something that O'Sullevan himself would never do, at least not on air. His style – perhaps best once characterised as a "hectic drawl" – remained grounded, focused on the specifics of the action.

When working on BBC radio or TV broadcasts (51 years), or writing for the Daily Express for 35 years (a time of that paper's heyday), O'Sullevan never showed a trace of conceit, was invariably frank, had friends from all walks of life (the Etonian, horse-breeding high Tory Jakie Astor called him "Peter O'Socialist"), and built a formidable array of contacts to help inform followers of his Express copy and tips, and his own wagers.
{ Sir Lester Piggott, considered the greatest English jockey of the post war generation was found guilty of tax evasion, he was stripped of his peerage and sent to prison. Peter O'Sullevan was a great supported of Lester. My parenthetical observation.}

While sitting next to the Queen at Windsor sometime later, O'Sullevan decided to express his feelings on the matter. Recounting the occasion to a Daily Telegraph interviewer in 2014, he said: "So I thought this was an opportune moment, and launched into my Lester spiel to Her Majesty, who put down her knife and fork, and looked at me quite seriously for a moment.
"She put down her knife and fork, as I say, and said: 'I Iike the way you put it, but he was rather naughty, you know. He was not only rather naughty, but he was very stupid, because he paid it [his tax bill] on a bank that hadn't come up in the case, and hadn't been investigated.' "

{The Queen is a horse lover, too, and loves the Races. She is also, obviously, well informed of the country's peccadillos!}

Horses, though, were the first priority. Knowledge of racing was proven in a trial following a job interview with the Press Association's Fleet Street racing department, where he began working in October 1944. He started working for the BBC in 1946, with his first Grand National radio commentary in 1947.
In 1950 he joined the Express, and a year later married Canadian-born Pat.
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Sir Peter O'Sullevan, broadcaster and journalist: born Kenmare, Co Kerry 3 March 1918; Kt 1997; married Patricia Jones (died 2009); died 29 July 2015.

 

 

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Annoying phone calls cont'd

I wrote the following two years ago : -

I am sure that there are many other people/households who are being taunted by annoying phone calls. What I would like to know, is how can a company get away with using # s such as 000 000 0000? And more annoyingly, today 613-704-0070 called me, of course it was a scam and I was not willing to listen all the way through -- yet, I could not hang up the phone, nor disconnect from that number. I pressed Off. Then, talk again, and the female voice was still rabbiting on !! Three  attempts to disconnect did not work.

How can they get away with this?
I have blocked the number now... but it still disturbs me that the phone company permits some business to have a number that is a permanent link.

OK,WHY is this still happening. We have an election coming up; Let's all remember to quiz the politician begging for our attention to pay attention to our needs. How come companies carrying out fraudulent practices get non-functioning telephone numbers. Let us make this illegal and fine the phone company along with the perpetrators.

(yes, yes, there are lots of other things for the politicians to address too. I have not forgotten.)

Miksworld Play list -- Oldies

Welcome, I am Michael Lavalette and this is When  The Lights Come On Again.

 SONGS
You Are My Sunshine 2:36 Bing Crosby

That was Bing Crosby's version of You Are my Sunshine. A hit from 1939 that has become one of the State Songs of Louisiana because it was a hit for country singer Jimmie Davis who also served as Governor of that State ,twice. This wonderful song has been covered by many others in different genres.

Another beautiful song that has been a hit for many others is Love Letters In the Sand. Here is Pat Boone's 1957 hit. Then a Satisfied Mind by Porter Wagoner followed by Moonglow by Morris Stoloff.

SONGS

Love Letters in the Sand 2:14 Pat Boone 
A Satisfied Mind 2:43 Porter Wagoner
Moonglow & Theme from 'Picnic' 2:51 Morris Stoloff & His Orchestra
This version of Moonglow is actually a medley of the older hit with the Love theme from the 1955 movie Picnic. It was a pop hit too for Morris Stoloff & the Columbia Pictures Orchestra.

 Now, Jo Stafford with another of her hits from this era -- Make Love to Me, followed by Shine on Harvest Moon by Vera Lynn, The UK forces favourite, and Patsy Cline with He Called me Baby.

 SONGS

Make Love to Me 2:42 Jo Stafford
Shine On Harvest Moon 3:32 Vera Lynn 
He Called Me Baby 2:39 Patsy Cline

That Patsy Cline song was re-done as an RnB hit in 1969 for Ella Washington. I love both versions.

 One of my mother's favourites songs was Amapola.  Yet again, I remember trying to get this song  for her in the record store at the height of the Rock and Roll and Beatlemania to no avail. Now, I found it easily on the internet from home !

Amapola  is by Helen O'Connell & Bob Eberly they  were featured vocalists with Jimmy Dorsey at one time.  Helen O'Connell was described as the darling of the G.I.s in WWII.
And the fabulous Half As Much by the Great Hank Williams. Then, You Always Hurt the One you Love by the Mills Brothers, another perennial hit.

SONGS
Amapola 3:26 Helen O'Connell & Bob Eberly
Half As Much 2:45 Hank Williams 
You Always Hurt the One You Love 3:25 The Mills Brothers
Coming up are 2 country songs and one from the American Standard songbook.

Keep a Knockin' But You Can't Come In by Bob Willis & The Texas Playboys. Very much in the Western Swing tradition. However, a similar song was also a rock n roll hit for Little Richard & others covered it too. While they sound similar, I found nothing linking them on many music web pages. Maybe I should write a book about this song!

 Deep In The Heart Of Texas, a rousing version by Bill Schallen and Skeets Herfut.

followed by a swinging Mr. Sinatra doing You Make Me Feel So Young.

.

SONGS
Keep a Knockin' But You Can't Come In 2:34 Bob Willis & The Texas Playboys
Deep In The Heart Of Texas 2:42 Bill Schallen & Skeets Herfurt with Alvino Rey Orch.
You Make Me Feel So Young 2:58 Frank Sinatra

A tune from the 1930's, Fascination , here a 1957 version from Nat King Cole. Then I'll Walk Alone, a No.1 hit for Dinah Shore in 1944.  This obviously resonated with an audience affected by the separation of the war. However, it remains popular into the Sixties as both country and Pop genres recorded it.

After, Stormy Weather by the lovely Lena Horne, and the vivacious Rosemary Clooney and the unique Come-on-a my-house.

SONGS

Fascination 2:29 Nat "King" Cole 
I'll Walk Alone 2:46 Dinah Shore 
Stormy Weather 3:24 Lena Horne 
Come On-a My House 1:58 Rosemary Clooney

That was Rosemary Clooney a big star and aunt to George Clooney who went on to have many more hits in the 1950's.

Coming up is one-hit wonder, Harold Dorman with Mountain of Love. Harold had not other hits but this song was covered successfully by others in the Sixties.  A classic do-wop tune from the early 50's. Earth Angel by the Penguins. As a youth in London reading the music papers, the Letters' Pages were filled with people's opinions on the first "true rock & Roll" hit. This was one contender.

Finally tonight, the ever mellow Platters with Twilight Time.

 SONGS

Mountain Of Love 2:25 Harold Dorman
Earth Angel 2:58 Penguins
Twilight Time 2:48 The Platters
 

You have been listening to When the Lights Come On Again with Michael Lavalette on 97.5CIOE-FM. Obviously, you can connect with me by tuning in, or alternatively, go to our web page at 97.5Communityradio.ca  the show streams Live on Mondays at 9pm Atlantic Summer Time.

 

If you had tuned in on July 15th, this is the show you would have heard.

 

Playlist for Miksworld

 

I host a show on  CIOE-FM  called  The Beatles Remembered.

 

Here is a recent Beatles Remembered  playlist:

it focussed on the epitome of Sixties Beatle culture -- Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever.

This 45 was a double A sided single in most of the world, save for America. Penny Lane was the big hit.

 

SONGS

Penny Lane 3:01 The Beatles 

Strawberry Fields Forever [Take 26] 3:25 The Beatles 

That is the hit version of Penny Lane with  Strawberry Fields Forever. (Take 26) not the version on the 45RPM disc.

Much was made of the fact that this Beatles single never made Number 1 in Britain. It stopped at No.2 in the charts.

Is Beatlemania finished the newspapers wondered.

The single was released in February 1967.

By February 1968 the Beatles were in India with the Marharashi and I was in North London teaching economics 3 days a week & regularly walking along Abbey Road to get to the school. I was still doing that in June & July when they were back at Abbey road studios working on "The Beatles" LP.

 

June 68, Paul was working on Blackbird. If only I had stopped & looked into the parking lot. I'm sad

I missed so many opportunities to see him then, but I was fortunate to meet him another time .

Here is Blackbird from The Beatles LP.

 

 

SONGS

Blackbird 3:24 The Beatles
From Me To You 1:58 The Beatles
From Us To You (BBC Radio) 0:33 The Beatles 

 

 

We are back with The Beatles Remembered.
After Blackbird, we heard their early hit "From Me To You"  followed by a twist on the same tune called 'From Us to You', done on their radio show in 1963.

 

A lot is made of the craziness of the period  dubbed as Beatlemania, but in the UK there was an immense awakening of  youthful energy in clubs with groups not simply copying Beatles material, but more significantly, covering the US groups that spurred their original popularity.

 

Here are 3 songs the Beatles themselves covered. Shout, an Isley Brothers original, recorded on  a TV show, later a hit for Lulu; 

I just don't understand a top 10 hit for Ann-Margaret, here the Beatles  do it on their BBC radio show;  Then Chains done originally by the Cookies. A girl  group.

 

SONGS

Shout! - From "Around The Beatles" TV Special [Redifusion-TV] 2:05
I Just Don't Understand (Live at the BBC For "Pop Go The Beatles" 20th August, 1963) 2:48
Chains 2:25 The Beatles 

 

Here are 3 Beatles tunes ranging from the early days to the later days --

A Taste of Honey, Things We Said Today and Maxwell's Silver Hammer.

 

SONGS

A Taste of Honey 2:03 The Beatles 

Things we said Today 2:38 The Beatles
Maxwell's  Silver Hammer 3:30 The Beatles
   

The first serious pop album from a Beatle as a solo artist was McCartney's self titled release in early 1970.  However, I have chosen  Another Day for the Playlist,  which wasn't released till 1971 but Paul had in fact recorded it before his first solo LP.  

Then follows songs from the others solo material , George Harrison's huge hit,  My Sweet Lord;   Ringo Starr's Photograph and Mind Games from John Lennon.

 

SONGS

Another Day 3:45 Paul McCartney
My Sweet Lord 4:41 George Harrison
Photograph 3:58 Ringo Starr
Mind Games 4:16 John Lennon   

 

In early '63, when their popularity  in Britain & Europe was erupting-- Brian Epstein wanted them to write songs for others in his stable.  Here is the Demo for How Do You Do It, a big hit for Gerry & the Pacemakers. The Beatles demo wasn't officially released till the 1990's. Do You Want to Know a Secret, from their first LP; It was a UK No.1 hit for Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas. 

The Beatles version  was never a single in Britain, but was released as a single in the US after their Ed Sullivan show exposure & made the top 40 there.

Finally two classics, Norwegian Wood, from Revolver LP that shows their development with the use of Indian instruments,  ending this playlist with the Long & winding road.

 

 

SONGS

How Do You Do It [Artist-Test] 1:58 The Beatles 

Do You Want to Know a Secret 1:57 The Beatles
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Take 1) 2:02 The Beatles
The Long And Winding Road 3:38 The Beatles 

  

 Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

July 10

As the phrase goes -- "people of a certain age", normally code for aging Baby Boomers, -- you eagerly went to the record store {Huh, what's that?} on Friday in England to listen and possibly, buy, the latest music release.
However, 50  years ago, the Beatles & Rolling Stones berated the industry that released their material on different days around the world, sometimes with different covers. (Great for dedicated memorabilia collectors now,  but not then, because it just added to confusion of what you were purchasing.)
That was one reason they started their own labels, not simply to get a larger share of the pie; there was a definite creativity link.
In Canada, for years, we have been getting new music -- and videos, of course for this Century, on Tuesday.
Well, it all changes on July 10th. Not only has the World's many countries talked to each other, whoa, they even agreed on something.
All digital material will have the same release date around the world -- Friday.
Beginning with this Friday, July 10th.
Ok, Apple, how about some freebies to emphasize this fact-- & not 3 months free streaming for an otherwise expensive streaming music "radio" to compete with the other worldwide ones.

Come on Mick, how about a free copy of Beggar's Banquet that Decca wouldn't let you use, or Paul & Ringo -- the Beatles For Sale free with the gross bloody dolls cover. Just a thought..

movies about music

I feel fortunate to have seen some great movies or documentaries about music and musicians lately. (Well, within the last 10 months.)
 I would like to recommend them to you, especially if you want to learn what drives particular artists; and where some of the new stuff is coming from.

First -- the Jersey Boys, about the rise of the Four Seasons in the sixties. An unusual American group that  survived  the Beatles invasion of North America. They had hits, some number 1s, before and AFTER the so-called English invasion. They also toured successfully through out those years. That is very unusual, many of the pre-Beatles American groups could no longer get bookings anymore. It is also interesting because in an industry known for its corruption and back biting, Frankie Valli and Bob Crewe never had anything more than a  handshake to bind them. In the film they somewhat jokingly call it a 'Jersey Contract'. [Of course, in Britain, that is known as a Gentleman's Agreement and is legally binding.] It has a wonderful soundtrack from mine, and many other's youth.

Get On Up. Is a dramatic presentation of the life of James Brown. Again, a huge star with so many interesting social  and cultural touchstones. See it !

Of course, there is also the Mr. Dynamite/James Brown documentary from HBO that is closer to the true story of James Brown, with interviews with the Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger was the producer behind this project. Clearly shows how Jagger developed his idiosyncratic moves after James Brown, especially when the two groups met at the taping of the seminal T.A.M.I. show in 1965. That show was long talked about. I remember reading about it in the sixties; But it was not till much later -- Eighties I  think, that a good tape of the show surfaced and was released. Now it regularly features on PBS fund raising weeks !!

The two part Eagles documentary on HBO is a fascinating look at a group that are a classic example of Too Much, Too Soon. Immature Southern Californian types who felt they knew how the world worked... or should work... and why isn't the world listening to me. I am taking my ball and I'm out of here !
They fought internally a lot; Partied a little too much to their own detriment. In some fashion, though, they re-invented themselves, cleaning up their back story; depending on which current or past group member one listens to, or whose autobiography one reads. It is definitely worth watching for the music.

Sonic Highways, also on HBO, is a documentary following Dave Grohl as he and the Foo Fighters record their last album at different recording studios around America and looks into what made each studio famous. A terrific documentary  and the Foo Fighters have not been any better than this. Highly recommended.

Last and no means least is Muscle Shoals a documentary on the Documentary Channel (what a co-incidence!) about the Alabama town of the same name that contained Rick Hall's  FAME recording studio.  So many fabulous songs came from there. It is also a story about the meanness and pettiness that permeated the business back in the sixties and seventies. It is also a story about friendship and how talent will out. Good to see great musicians, the Swampers, decide that world wide touring was not for them. They loved their little town of 8,000 people where their family lived and preferred that lifestyle.  They produced great music, and instead, the world -- well known artists, singers and bands, came to them; readily and happily. Watch it.

Books I have loved - narrative part two

6 -- Frannie and Zooey by J.D. Salinger. Yes, I read Catcher in the Rye and liked it; However, this "book", really 2 stories about the Glass family, sucked me in as a student learning about the world at large. This was unlike anything English that I had lived . At that time, all the friends I associated with were voracious readers and we shared what we liked. I was given this book by a friend and it has been everywhere with me ; I  read it again every couple of years. It is multi-layered liked its author.

7 -- By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept by Elizabeth Smart. Actually a Canadian authoress. A beautiful novel full of metaphors. Love lived, and lost. I bought it in central London as a student, by the time I had arrived home in north west London I had finished it; Could not stop reading as I rode the tube and bus and even as I walked ! Gave it to my great friend Dee that night. She loved it. Bought myself another copy the next day. It is still with me.

8 -- Lives of Girls and Women by Alice Munro : This is the only novel by this Canadian Nobel Laureate of Literature. (Her speciality is short stories.) It came out in paperback just as I fell for my first "born and raised in Toronto" girl! (Woman, of course, as we were both in our mid-20's.) Our frames of reference were clearly different and this book helped me understand hers.

9 -- Winter: A Berlin Family by Len Deighton. I loved all his spy novels and his eye for detail in cold-war Berlin. This novel takes in the whole sweep of C20th Germany through the lens of one family - the Winters. The book is a terrific primer for any person interested in how Germany came to be embroiled in WWII.

10 - If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Cavino. A book for book lovers. Each chapter is a different story linked by the search for a special edition of a famous radical's book. The first line of each story, when read as a chapter heading, describes the novel's outline. Ingenious.

11 - Dune by Frank Herbert. A great novel, sweeping in scope, vivid characterisation that has lead to a whole series of Sci-fi novels, inter-linked by characters and planter descriptions. 40 + years since its publication but it is  recognised now as fostering an environmental awareness.
I was lucky enough to meet Frank Herbert in Toronto the day Queen Elizabeth II was signing our constitution in Ottawa It was ironic that only a handful of us turned up for Herbert's book-signing. We had an engaging chat as he had time on his hands and no customers !