The Animals

It was summer 63. My friends and I heard of a new group from Newcastle upon Tyne that were up and coming. We went to The Scene Club, one of the  trendy clubs just off Piccadilly Circus. Not our usual haunt. It was a small, stuffy basement club, but the animals were on and they were fantastic. Following the Beatles success on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964, the next British band with an American No.1 was the Animals with this classic, House of the Rising Sun.
I helped book them into the Polytechnic for a Saturday Dance, too. They were amazing; again. Another member of the Social Committee sold the television rights to the BBC for 8GBP ! The whole evening  was an amazing success.

Movies and Rock - a Playlist from Daddy Cool

This playlist is shining a spotlight on the Beatles and other artists of their era whose material was featured in movies.

Hollywood had made musical films for half a century almost. The great Bugsby Berkley extravaganzas, Broadway shows turned into great movies, such as my favourite, South Pacific. Cheap fad movies that played on new cultural norms, Like Don't Knock the Rock and Don't Knock the Twist. I admit that I saw them all. However, The Beatles and the growing post-war youth market, was not captured very well until the Beatles first film, Hard Days Night. London-based, American director Richard Lester hit the nail right on the head; It truly captured Beatlemania. Many other movies followed that were aimed at teenagers, not  Hollywood's idea of a "teenager" which was a 30-year old Doris Day saying "Golly Gee". This playlist featuring films of the Beatles era & Beyond has to begin with  Hard Day's Night. The Beatles first film.

Hard Day's Night, is followed by Ko Ko Mo from The Beach Boys. It is not the title of a film but is from the soundtrack of a young Tom Cruise movie, Cocktail. It was released as a single and topped the charts. Their first big hit for a decade.

SONGS

Hard Day's Night .- The Beatles

Ko Ko Mo - The Beach Boys

Probably the defining rock festival for my generation was Woodstock. The promoters knew they had something special and planned to film it, as it happened. They commissioned Joni Mitchell to write a song to play over the credits. A month before I emigrated to Canada, I saw Joni perform at the Royal Festival Hall on London's South  Bank art institutions. She premiered it there. Her version is a simple piano driven song. She put it out on her Ladies of the Canyon LP. Before she played it, she mentioned that the producers did not feel her version fitted the wild rock atmosphere of the event so were having it re-recorded. Of course, when I arrived in Toronto, and the film Woodstock came out that spring, I could see their point. Here is CSN & Y's version from the film followed by the Rolling Stones' Gimmie Shelter. It is the title song from their film Gimmie Shelter by The Mayles, which captured the disastrous Altamont concert in California where a spectator is killed by the security crew. It is a haunting film, and this tune fits it well, too.

Then,  Help!  the title song from the Beatles second film.

SONGS

Woodstock - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Gimmie Shelter - Rolling Stones.

Help! -The Beatles

Riding on the wave of the British invasion were Anglo-Australian group The Seekers. This was their big hit, which was the theme  from the film Georgy Girl which starred British actress Lynn Redgrave. Some film producers saw the extra bucks to be made from movies with a hit song included which could lead to a popular soundtrack LP. One huge movie in winter of 1969-70 was Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. Producer John Foreman and Director Roy George Hill commissioned Burt Bacharach & Hal David to compose a song that is incorporated into the movies' narrative as an idyllic sequence that foreshadows the 2 protagonists need to move on and get back to their old lifestyle.  Raindrops Keeping Falling on my Head by B.J. Thomas is the resulting tune.

SONGS

Georgy Girl - The Seekers

Raindrops Keeping Falling on my Head - B.J. Thomas

Windmills of your Mind is the tune from Canadian Director Norman Jewison's  blockbuster film The Thomas Crown Affair.  Dusty Springfield had a hit with it. She is followed by the theme song, Mrs. Robinson from Simon & Garfunkel which is in the iconic 1960's movie, The Graduate ; One of the defining cultural events of the baby boomers' life.

SONGS

Windmills of your Mind - Dusty Springfield

Mrs. Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel

The movie hit of summer 1967 was an odd British one, To Sir with Love starring American actor Sidney Poitier. The theme song was sung by Scots gal Lulu. It was released as a  single and it topped the charts. The Beatles 3rd film was a weird animated one based on the 1966 hit song Yellow Submarine from the Revolver LP. The film  and its soundtrack were released in 1968. It was panned at the time but is now loved, as  the Boomers tend to hold memories that are tinged with rose-tinted nostalgia.

SONGS

To Sir with Love - Lulu

Yellow Submarine - The Beatles

The following are movies that  tried to cash-in on the British invasion and featuring other popular bands playing themselves on a journey to musical success. All have hit songs in their title. Mrs. Brown You've got a Lovely Daughter by Herman's Hermits. I saw it recently on Turner Classic Movies channel. I assure you this film is not a classic. Ah, well, then Catch Us if You Can from the Dave Clark 5 and  Ferry Across the Mersey featuring Gerry & the Pacemakers. Both from movies with those titles.

SONGS

Mrs. Brown You've got a Lovely Daughter - Herman's Hermits

Catch Us if You Can - Dave Clark 5

 Ferry Across the Mersey - Gerry & the Pacemakers

What's New Pussy Cat was a 1965 film cashing in on the world's, but especially America's, curiosity for all things British, and over the top action of James Bond movies The hit song is by Tom Jones. In their early days, the Beatles featured film tunes in their live sets and 2 were on their first LP, Please, Please Me. One tune is Taste of Honey from the British film of the same name, and Til There was You from the 1962 film The Music Man. 

SONGS

What's New Pussy Cat - Tom Jones

Taste of Honey - the Beatles

Til There was You - The Beatles

The 4th film the Beatles owed  the studio  was planned as a movie about reading for a live concert and the concert itself. However, internal group strife resulted in a cut-and-paste movie from the hours of  recording in the studio instead and the previous  movie idea was aborted. However, the idea of a concert film resurrects itself  towards the end, where the Beatles perform 5 songs Live on the rooftop of their Saville Row HQ of Apple Corp. The film was  called Let it be, which was also a single released in March 1970 before the movie came out. While the Beatles did win an Oscar for the soundtrack, in 1973, Paul McCartney, now with his band Wings wanted an Oscar for himself and produced the Theme song for the James Bond film, Live and Let Die. He lost out in the Oscar stakes to The Way We Were (Evergreen.)    

SONGS

Live & Let Die - Wings

Let it Be - The  Beatles

Enjoy this playlist from Mik & Daddy Cool

Love of Poetry

I grew up with a mother who loved literature and would often quote lines of famous poems,(and Shakespeare,too.) As a school boy, it just did not excite me; English Literature was a dreaded class especially if it was an afternoon one. I struggled to stay awake as we ploughed through Silas Marner or an equally tedious novel. Or a poem that simply had little to link it to the real world in my limited experience. Then one day, our sweet English teacher, Miss Wyatt, with her shock of grey hair tied up in a french bun, the epitome of an "old-school Ma'm " made us read Rupert Brook's The Great Lover.

"I have been so great a lover: filled my days
So proudly with the splendour of Love’s praise,"

Those opening lines that get your attention, then go on to a list of wonderful everyday things described with love. It is not about romantic love but seeing the wonders of the world around you. It ends as follows - 

"This one last gift I give: that after men
Shall know, and later lovers, far-removed,
Praise you, ‘All these were lovely’; say, ‘He loved.'"
Rupert Brooke's existence on Earth will be remembered by future "Lovers" who notice the things he named and remember that he, too, loved them.
It struck me as an amazing way to be remembered. Not by inventing great things or creating Art, but by loving the ordinary and viewing those things rapturously.
I had a new appreciation for poetry. It became a life long love that I shared with my mother. She opened up many great poems for me. That specific poem also led to one of the greatest friendships of my life, when a friend's girlfriend, later his wife, saw me reading it one day, and squealed how much she loved it too. It became a bond with us for the rest of our lives. And so many more wonderful poems, books, art and other creative endeavors.
Rupert Brooke's sentiment remains a touchstone of all that I have done and experienced later. I keep hoping that others, following on after me, will see a frozen waterfall in winter or open a forgotten space and see a beautiful, but dusty, Blue Willow china plate and think "Oh, Michael would have loved this."
Thank you, Miss Wyatt.

Basic Chicken Curry

Daddy cool's basic curry recipe --

1 lb (approx.) Chicken Breast

1 jar of Patek's Mild curry paste

1 Tbs of Olive oil

1 (white) Onion

2 cloves of garlic

teaspoon of tomato paste

1 cup of chicken (or vegetable) broth

2 bay leaves

1 cinnamon stick

2 chili's 

Put oil into saucepan (or as Margo would say -- "It's a POT micha!!"  Anyway, I call it a saucepan, usually a 2 quart size,  at medium heat. Dice the onions up small and add to oil Cook till onions become translucent.

Smash the garlic cloves and chop them up. Add to translucent onions. Cover pan on low heat for about 5 mins, you'll smell the great oil onions & garlic aromas. You do not want to over cook or burn ingredients here.

I have been using 1 lb of breasts, will be 2 full breasts I think. Either cut the breasts into small pieces. or as when  Andy & I usually make it we cut  2 breasts into 4 pieces.

Add the curry paste to the onion mixture,  stir, add about 1/3 of broth, stir again, cover and cook on low for about 10 minutes. Keep checking because you do not want mixture to burn or stick to bottom of pan. Then add chopped chicken, stir. Cover and cook for about 5 mins. low to medium heat.

Now add rest of broth. Stir, throw in bay leaves, chili's. I suggest you leave them whole, not diced. If someone wants "hot" they can add a splash of sriracha sauce to curry on their plate.

Stir, add cinnamon and tomato paste cook for about 10 to 15 mins. Just poke chicken bits to ensure they are cooking and softening.

It should be ready.

Take out Bay leaves & cinnamon before serving.

Serve with rice... although, I've been taking to just putting the curry into a wrap lately; or with a piece of Nan bread. I find this will serve 3 people easy.  Usually with sauce left over for a late night sandwich!!

I would guess you just double up everything as your needs to cook for more people occurs.

Micha

More about Music and My Life (from one of my shows.)

Welcome. to  When  the lights come on again. on Community Radio 97.5  I am Michael Lavalette.  

Starting with Irving Berlin's great "There's No Business Like show Business". There was a  film of the same name, but it was  based on this song which is featured  in Annie Get your gun. It is sung by Ethel Merman and an ensemble cast  The first few songs today are all from shows or movies. After the show business ditty, we have the very popular Jeanette McDonald & Nelson Eddy singing "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life". It is from the film Naughty Marietta which was based on a 1910 Operetta. My mum loved this film and I saw it in the late 50's when the BBC showed old movies on Sunday afternoons.

More songs from Broadway or film productions. First, Shirley Jones & Jack Cassidy doing "Almost Like Being in Love" from Brigadoon. I saw the film as a child in Calcutta. Hated it !! Even as a child I usually loved musicals, this one was a yawnfest for me! Then, "Love Me or Leave Me" by Doris Day; it is from the film of the same name.

Here are 2 tunes I never tire of, I hope you enjoy them as much. They are the epitome of 40's & 50's music. "Nancy (with the Laughing Face)" from  Frank Sinatra and the lilting "Mockingbird Hill" from Les Paul & Mary Ford.

Once again, artists that represent the best of that period - Miss Peggy Lee with "You Gotta Have Heart". Miss  Patti Page's "I Went to your Wedding" and then the fabulous harmonies and sophisticated word play of "Glow Worm" by The Mills Brothers.

A favourite of mine, "Carolina Moon" from  Connie Francis and one of the many versions of  "I Remember You" a hit from 1941 done here by Brit  Max Bygraves

Coming up is a classic Doo-wop from the  Dubs, "Could This Be Magic." Followed by the amazing "Twilight Time" from  The Platters, and the magic of Carl Perkins' Rockabilly tune "Matchbox."  Carl also recorded a live version with Ringo and friends that I have played previously when as Daddy Cool,  my alter-ego, I host the Beatles and Beyond  at 6 pm Atlantic time. 

The early 60's saw Folk music becoming popular with the American record buying public. Here is "Michael (Row the Boat ashore)"  from the Highwaymen. It was a No.1 chart hit  in the US and UK.

Some hits from the early 60's showing off amazing girl & boy groups, "Be My Baby" from The Ronnettes and "Heart and Soul" from The Cleftones. Two 45RPM's I played constantly back then.

The last song on the show is "Hey Baby" from Bruce Channel. The legendary hit that brought him to tour the UK, with the Beatles opening for him; Although, in Liverpool, they had equal Billing. The great harmonica intro by Delbert McClinton was admired by John Lennon, but it is a myth that Delbert taught John that playing style. He was already using it in Germany. Great song though. 

SONGS

There's no Business Like show Business - Ethel Merman

Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life - Jeanette McDonald & Nelson Eddy

Almost Like Being in Love - Shirley Jones & Jack Cassidy

Love Me or Leave Me - Doris Day 

Nancy (with the Laughing Face) -  Frank Sinatra

Mockingbird Hill - Les Paul & Mary Ford

You Gotta Have Heart - Peggy Lee

I Went to your Wedding - Patti Page 

Glow Worm - The Mills Brothers

Carolina Moon - Connie Francis

I Remember You - Max Bygraves

 Could This Be Magic - The Dubs

Twilight Time -  The Platters

Matchbox - Carl Perkins

Michael (Row the Boat ashore) - The Highwaymen

To Know him is to Love Him - The Teddy Bears

Be My Baby - The Ronnettes

Heart and Soul - The Cleftones

 Hey Baby - Bruce Channel 

Cars & winters in Canada

Something that may be helpful if you own a car and live in Canada (or the northern regions of the U.S.A.) is to know what the automaker suggests as the optimum starting procedures. I know, I know, first, the fancier new ones merely require you to put your foot on the break pedal and press the "Start" button; however, a second option for us plebs with cars that require an ignition key and the twisting thereof, may need different associated procedures.
My current Dodge, is best if you keep your foot off all pedals, and as I twist the ignition key to initiate  the ignition process, I press the accelerator pedal twice.
My 1978 Ford, preferred it if you pressed the accelerator to the floor before turning the ignition key on and holding it down until the firing process kicked in.
If you do not know what is best for your car, might I suggest  you open the Owner's Handbook and see what it says. (!) One upon a time, it used to tell you handy tips like that. Or, you could ask "Siri" or "Alex"  or perhaps simply your "Car Guy" ---  who of course, may very easily be a "Car Gal".

Bah humbug

Most of my life I have been accused of being a bah-humbug person. Not a Scrooge, mean-spirited character, merely one who did not "get into the spirit of the season" I was definitely a bit like that when it came to discussions or fighting crowds in a Mall or down Oxford Street; However, I never minded buying gifts nor wrapping them and love the look of a lit up Christmas tree. I just get sick of hearing 'Santa's Coming to Town' sung everyday, 20 times a day, from November 1st on the radio TV or even the Supermarket!!
I have great memories of childhood Christmases, and prefer Christmas Carols to the pop songs of the season. (Although, 'Grandma Got Run Over  by a Reindeer' is a classic.) Somewhere in my twenties, when I thought science and religion were opposite sides of a universal coin, I thought going to church at Christmas meant I was being a hypocrite.
Then, I realized that going to a Christmas service and singing those carols were a ritual sharing of a  celebration with my family. One that we all would remember for decades. Especially, as I am much older now and many of those family members are not sitting in the pew beside me, the happy memories remain.
So forgive me wincing at the radio's choice of music, but let me smile inwardly when 'Hark, the Herald Angels Sing' comes on and I shed an inward tear for my beloved family.