Life in the 1950's London

Not surprisingly as a child of 8, going on 9, I had no pre-conceived notion of what to expect when we arrived in London. All I knew is that Queen Elizabeth II 's coronation had occurred 4 days before we arrived. The city was still decked out in bunting and Union Jacks and all manner of fancy decorations. It looked lovely to a young child's eye.
However, six months after arriving we moved into our first (and only,) home in London.
It was about 900 square feet; no basement, no attic as  livable floor space. It was exciting nonetheless.
Outside, on the pavement, (sidewalk,) beside a street lamp stood the garbage can for "pigs swill" as the neighbours told us. In 1953, a war measures attempt for the UK to be more self-reliant, lots of communities still had this productivity item. A truck came along and emptied it regularly for distribution to Farmers to supplement live stock feed.

Summer of 1967

There has been a lot written about the summer of love in 1967. It seemed as if young people were trying to create a peaceful and more loving life style. It is particularly associated with Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco and very significantly, The Beatles Sgt.  Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, followed by Scott Mackenzie's If you're going to San Francisco, (wear some flowers in your hair.)
It was about trying a new social-ethos of sharing.
However, it is not surprising, but the summer of love in Haight-Ashbury turned into a dismal autumn.
By 1969, the same mass of youth were the Woodstock generation.
We tried to keep the spirit going up until late 69, but many factors formed road blocks for the crowds to move forward.
The peace & love & music culture was happening before the Human Be-In that occurred in San Francisco in January 1967.
I was in New York in the summer of 1966. I hung around Greenwich Village, Washington Square, all the places I heard mentioned in songs. The place was full of young people (yes, just like I was,) who were sleeping rough and simply bonding.
The big societal changes were already underway; The "anniversary" shows gloss over how many young people were hitch-hiking away from their safe suburban communities to the big cities on the coast; New York and California primarily.
There was a lot of segregation still that summer. I witnessed it on my Greyhound Bus ride from New York to Florida.
The summer of 1967 is also remembered as the time America's big cities were a cauldron of unrest. Riots, primarily in Detroit and New Jersey, set the black community on fire. The Detroit riot is the basis on a forthcoming movie, called, simply Detroit.
I recall the events vividly. I arrived in Windsor, Ontario in 1976 and people were still talking about that year when they stood on Riverside Drive and could see the flames and hear the police sirens and gunshots.
LBJ's "Great Society" took a little longer to foster real change.

Quarry Men + Dylan from Beatles & Beyond show on Wednesday July 12th

Because of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band LP along with the summer of love blossoming around the world, 1967 appeared to be an auspicious year and of course, it is 50 years ago, so the media frenzy is in overdrive doing anniversary shows.

One small anniversary that got little attention is: the 60th anniversary of Paul & John's first meeting. It happened  on Saturday 6 July 1957. The Quarry Men played at St. Peter's Church Rose Queen garden fête in Woolton. This was John's group and Paul attended the fete and was introduced to John. Paul joined the Quarry Men in October of that year.

SONGS

That'll be the day - The Beatles

How Do You Do it  - The Beatles

After "That'll be the day." we heard  How Do You Do it  from The Beatles which is also from their Anthologies & Artifacts series of releases. 

Other groups that were part of the British invasion or "Liverpool Sound" were   Billy J. Kramer and Gerry & the Pacemakers. All of them played the cavern and were signed up by Brian Epstein. However, they did not have a sustained  career as the Beatles did. Here are Bad to Me by Billy J. Kramer then, Do You want to know a secret from  The Beatles followed by I Like it from Gerry & the Pacemakers.

SONGS

Bad to Me - Billy J. Kramer

Do You want to know a secret - - The Beatles

I Like it - Gerry & the Pacemakers

Before the British invasion dominated the american charts, the 60's began with the so-called folk & Hootenanny styles of music. The artist that began quietly with a largely ignored first album, suddenly erupted on to the world's music scene, and grew along with the Beatles. That person was Bob Dylan. Coming up is the decidedly pop style of the Beatles and I Feel Fine then two landmark Dylan tunes, the astoundingly prescient Times They are A-Changing and Subterranean Homesick Blues.

SONGS

I Feel Fine - The Beatles

Times They are a changing - Bob Dylan

Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan

George Harrison was an early friend of Bob Dylan that lasted his whole life. He & Dylan & others became the travelling Wilbury's. A mock band in the manner of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Here he is with Dylan's If Not For You, which is from George's solo career, then another pop hit from the Boys, A Hard Day's Night. 

SONGS

If Not For You - George Harrison

Hard Days Night  - The Beatles

Just as Lennon-McCartney compositions overtook the singles and album charts, Dylan's songwriting output in the mid-60's was prodigious. Many performers had hits with his material. Here are two, one very famous, the other less so. Peter, Paul & Mary's chart topping version of Blowing in the wind is followed by Manfred Mann and If you got to go, go now.

SONGS

Blowing in the Wind - Peter, Paul & Mary

If you got to go, go now - Manfred Mann

This is  In the Bad, Bad Old Days from The Foundations a British group. This was a minor hit but they had a huge world wide hit with Baby, Now that I found you, in 1970.

SONG

In the Bad, Bad Old Days - The Foundations

Of course, the other prominent British hit makers were the Rolling Stones. This is their signature  tune, Satisfaction, and Joe Cocker doing a Bob Dylan composition, Just like a woman.

SONGS

Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones

Just Like a Woman - Joe Cocker

When Bob Dylan moved from the austere sounds of folk to the electric sounds of folk-rock or even outright rock, he was backed by a group called, simply, the Band. They were a mixture of Canadian & American boys. Depending on whose biography you read, the leader was Canadian Robbie Robertson or American Levon Helms. Both wonderful musicians. The Band were big in their own right, without Dylan at the mic. This is their Up on Cripple Creek followed by Irishman Gilbert O'Sullivan (real name Raymond O'Sullivan) and the charming Claire.

SONGS

Up on Cripple Creek - The Band

Claire - Gilbert O'Sullivan

Closing today's show  with Ob-la-di, Ob-la- da from the Beatles' White Album, and a perennial favorite of people and especially party goers for decades. Definitely a pop song and not a protest or hippie song. Just fun loving sing-a-long material.

SONGS

 Obla- di, Obla- da - The Beatles

When the Lights Come On Again celebrates Canada's 150th birthday

PLAYLIST for June 28th Show

This show is going to celebrate Canada's 150th Birthday. All the selections have a Canadian connection. Some are Sung by Canadians, others are written by Canadians, and a couple are performed by Canadian singer/songwriters. Beginning with the great sound of Guy Lombardo and his band telling us to Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. A song I remember my grandmother playing on the piano in Calcutta. So, I feel a special link to this great Canadian. Followed by Gisele McKenzie, from Winnipeg doing Answer me, my love.

SONGS

Enjoy Yourself - Guy Lombardo
Answer me, my love   - Gisele McKenzie

The next song was written by Toronto born Ruth Lowe. I'll never smile again. Written in the 1930's when her first husband died, in the war years, Frank Sinatra recorded it, and while numerous other artists have recorded it, Frank's is the definitive version. It is credited as launching his career with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. After Frank, is one of the biggest hit of the 1950's Theme from A Summer Place from Canadian Percy Faith.

 SONGS

I'll never smile again -  - Frank Sinatra

Theme from A Summer Place - Percy Faith

In my early days in Toronto in the 1970's, Moe Kaufman was on the television frequently. Moe is known for his 1958 hit Swinging Shepherd Blues. It was a hit everywhere, I remember hearing it on the BBC. After Moe's instrumental, is a vocal version from  Ella Fitzgerald. 

SONGS

Swinging Shepherd Blues - Moe Kaufman

Swinging Shepherd Blues - Ella Fitzgerald  

Here is My True Love from Ontario born Jack Scott.

SONGS

My True Love - Jack Scott

Coming up is american heart throb from the early 1950's, Johnnie Ray with his big hit Cry. However, Johnnie is assisted on the vocals by the Canadian harmony group  the Four Lads. I have mentioned before that the Four Lads grew up together in Toronto, Ontario, and were members of St. Michael's Choir School. After Cry, there is country hit Slow Poke  by  Gisele McKenzie

 

SONGS

Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads - Cry

Slow Poke   - Gisele McKenzie

 

another song from my  childhood is Earth Angel by The Crew cuts. We had the 78 RPM and I loved it. However, my dad was less than fond of it and complained when I played it as he did not understand  what a the noise was.  Followed by Paul Anka and Put Your Head on My Shoulder..

 

SONGS 

The Crew cuts - Earth Angel

Put Your Head on My Shoulder - Paul Anka

 

Now another favorites of Michael's , and definitely annoying to my Dad, Little Darlin'  by  The Diamonds and Another tune from Jack Scott, the sad Goodbye Baby.

SONGS

Little Darlin'  - The Diamonds 

Goodbye Baby  - Jack Scott

For a long time, the biggest selling single in the world, even according to the Guinness Book of Records, was Diana by Paul Anka. Another, Ottawa born performer. It is coming up now followed by New Zealand born,but raised in Canada, Gale Garnett. We'll sing in the Sunshine. In 1970, when I arrived in Toronto, I found that she was also a writer, and her articles appeared in the Toronto weekend papers.

SONGS

Diana - Paul Anka -

We'll Sing in the Sunshine - Gale Garnett

Seasons of the Sun - Terry Jacks was one of the biggest hits in North America in the early 70's. When I traveled to America to see my family I was proud to tell them "He's a Canadian, you know."

SONG

Seasons of the Sun - Terry Jacks

Ending with 2 classic Canadian icons  and one with a special Nova Scotia connection. When I heard Elvis' version in the summer of 1959, I fell in love with A Fool Such as I. Here is Liverpool NS' Hank Snow with his version, also great. He wrote it.

47 years ago, I arrived in my now adopted country, one of the first Canadian singles I recall was Mashmakan's As years go by. A fitting title to include in an oldies show! A big hit for them; almost half a century ago.

SONGS

A Fool Such as I - Hank Snow

As the years go by - Mashmakan

Lord Mountbatten

• 1948 Lord Mountbatten resigns as Governor General of India (formerly the last Viceroy) on June 21st.

One of my earliest memories. He came to our house (because it was the vicarage,) and was given a tour of the church ( the oldest Church of England church in the British Empire, outside of Britain, that is.)

With a historic graveyard featuring Job Charnok's grave. The founder of Calcutta.

RETIREMENT: A Plan

     Most of my life I have had jobs that engaged some type of planning: Land Use, or Transportation Corridors or budgets. I encouraged friends and youthful family members to always try and have a 5 year plan. It helps in making decisions when we face choices. Will it lead me to where I want to be in 5 years? Or at least on the path to achieving it.

Naturally, the Universe has its own plan and events occur that we could not foresee but have to deal with when they come along. 

     So: I planned what I wanted to study, where I wanted to travel, when to have a family, the usual Timeline for a careerist!!  I am very happy with how the bulk of things turned out.

 

     However, in a ridiculously dumb act for a supposed "planner" I did not plan for Retirement. Not many people actually think they "need to plan for retirement". It is simply something that comes along. We look out for a pension plan to provide money to live during retirement, but what on earth was I going to do during the day. No commuting, healthy lunches to pack,  memos to write... I also was one of the lucky ones from the turn of the Century that had an opportunity to retire early. Then children left home and I began to think -- Now What? I hoped to have decades left of life - what should I do with it?  Clearly the Nobel Prize or Pulitzer Prize will not be on the horizon. 

     From my early childhood, I have loved music. Listening to it; reading about it  and going to concerts. I had accumulated this collection of grey cells in my skull that held info that was not being used ; nor likely to be used.

     Then, I saw a write-up in the local paper about a new Local Radio station who were looking for volunteers. I applied and managed to secure a position doing TWO radio shows a week. I absolutely adore it. Searching through my huge digital library for appropriate tunes to either create a theme or celebrate a singer/song's anniversary.

     I came to Canada long before Y2K was a threat, and had a "Plan" to quietly become a prominent Geographer, drool over maps, study communities in the daytime and at night be disc-jockey playing rock and roll music. Well, none of that happened 50  years ago, but at the tail end of my so-called working life, I have in fact achieved what I planned 50 years ago!! Guess my 5 year plan seems to be written on a very elastic medium.  I love my retirement now. Doing something I have wanted to do all my life and share my love of music with others.

     If you get a moment, listen to me on 97.5CIOE-FM over the airwaves or 97.5Community Radio on the Internet. Wednesday at 1pm (AST), I play oldies;  Perry Como, Patti Page, Al Jolson and Do-wop groups. (You know, those singers that pop up twice a year on the PBS Fund raising shows!!) It is called, When the Lights Come On Again.  Then in the evening at 7pm, (AST) also on Wednesday, it is the Beatles and Beyond show. Obviously featuring the Fab Four, but also what music in the sixties evolved into after the youth boom took over the world's developed economies.

 

So, I guess, some five year plans take a bit longer to achieve.  

CMHC + Canadian Housing Market

A recent article in Maclean's had an interview with Evan Siddall who is the CEO of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

 

While it was very interesting, I feel it is much too narrow in its perspective. No acknowledgement of the history of homes in Canada. It solely looks at mortgages, banking and how money flow works in an economy.

Mortgages and Mortgage Insurance were only PART of what CMHC delivered and administered.

However, as he points out in one sentence, then never returns to the issue -- postwar Canada's housing was in poor shape.  Furthermore, the apparatus for delivering housing for a growing 1950s economy did not exist in Canada at that time. Both Canada and major Municipalities sought out Professionals from Britain to shore up the need for the processing the supply of homes for the booming demand.

CMHC built it all up,  dollars and bricks -- the non-mortgage side of housing is what made us significant... and Pierre Elliot Trudeau's  belief that Housing was important as the engine of economic growth and change  within (and between,) the Provinces; therefore, outside the Constitution's clauses that said housing & planning were Provincial jurisdictions. Economic Growth is a federal responsibility in the Constitution. (Siddall acknowledges that housing is an engine of growth but only views it from the monetary side. Because he is a money man by "trade".)

The planning and infrastructure and social housing aspects of CMHC were huge in the 70s up to late 90s as the impact of the Baby Boomers moved through society.

 

Even now, the social aspects of housing (i.e. subsidies for the poor) gets ignored. Everyone comments on the need for assistance --but nobody provides it; save for the government.

Look up the earlier Maclean's article on CMHC, written in 2011. All the doom and gloom never happened,  because it was about bankers and their worries... the Banking sector which Canada has managed better than the United States. ONE PERCENTERS do not buy the average house -- it is a different market and requires different controls.

Do not blame CMHC for Mortgage-backed securities -- those happened because of changes the IMF made that permitted banks to securitize mortgages (MBS,) and remove the liability from the books;  Lending Institutions pressured the Government to allow MBS. The availability of these "extra" mortgage funds was supposed to facilitate growth. Of course, when MBS proved popular,  the sharks dove into the tank and created havoc with the "extra" dollars.

Canada is beautiful and its cities are great BECAUSE of everything CMHC did from 1947 right up to early C21st. It is too simplistic to look at the housing market in Vancouver or Toronto and think it was caused by CMHC and its insured mortgages.