Final part of The Shadows connect-four.
Originally broadcast in 1991 'Postcard from London' by the wonderfully witty Clive James, reflecting on his experiences during the 1960s, was re-run by the BBC not so long ago. Capturing the times it naturally features the music of The Shadows.

As the credits roll at the end it plays 'London Kid' by Jean Michel Jarre - a track I go on to discover was composed with and featuring Hank Marvin. Hank was living in Perth, Australia at the time and he and Jean-Michel composed the song with each other over the phone.

It was performed in Paris as part of the 100 Eiffel Tower birthday festivities in 1989. 

So enjoy the fireworks and the weird keyboard guitar of Jean Michel Jarre with (in French pronunciation) 'Honk' Marvin ! playing his signature red Stratocaster >

There's an even more explosive version from London's Docklands in 1988. Worth a bash > www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKgjGX7SwqA

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary. Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out ! Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

A 1973 version of 'Apache' by Michael Viner and a funk group called The Incredible Bongo Band added a bongo drum introduction and included more percussion. Although this version was not a hit on its initial release, it became heavily sampled in early hip hop music, many artists citing its influence. 
Who'd have thought with a cover version of The Shadows, we witnessed the birth of hip-hop! All rise for the National Anthem of Hip-Hop! 

For your edification here's the full Bongo track >

Playing their part on last week's song, Cliff Richard's backing band and credited on 'Please Don't Tease' were The Shadows. And remarkably their single released that summer would be the one to knock Cliff's record off the top of the charts in August 1960 - and remain at No.1 for six weeks. Instrumental tracks enjoyed huge success in the early 60s, pre Beatles era. I was a big Shads fan.
'Apache' was that Shadows record. Written by Jerry Lordan, the title "Apache" reflects the source of Lordan's inspiration: the 1954 American western film of that name. 
Lead guitarist Hank Marvin developed a distinctive sound using an echo chamber and the tremolo arm of his Fender Stratocaster. Bruce Welch played rhythm guitar, Jet Harris bass and Tony Meehan on drums, completing the original line-up of The Shadows in this very cool black and white video >

My father bought this record, presumably for the same 6s 3d (32p) as I paid for my first single. I have inherited this record - here I am clutching the Columbia multi coloured circled sleeve tightly in my hands.




Just for fun here's a version of 'Apache' from a 1961 TV show, with Cliff (wearing Hank's glasses) trying his luck at playing the track:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbYXqPIqHsE

August 1960. During the summer holidays and some months short of my 8th birthday I bought my first record using my own money. The particular shop in Wimbledon Broadway I had selected for this historic moment shall remain nameless, primarily because I have no memory of the record shop whatsoever. No matter because the important part is I do remember the 45 disc I purchased for 6s 3d with pocket money I'd been saving up for ages. Assistance was required by my mother to complete the exchange of money for goods and I scurried off home clutching the Columbia multi coloured circled sleeve tightly in my hands. In the next days, weeks and months that followed I played and played both sides of this single (why a single I wondered when it had two sides). Over and over again, the patience of my parents tested at hearing the same songs all the time, as it spun around the turntable, never once pausing in it's toe tapping beat and its rock 'n' roll.
No.1 on the UK Hit Parade for 3 weeks into August 1960 Cliff Richard and The Shadows 'Please Don't Tease' was also my number one record buy.

This marks the beginning of a four-part connected Music Spot - because, not by chance, the very record that knocked Cliff Richard off the top spot is up next week. 

> There's a 'live' video performance of 'Please Don't Tease', if you want to see them in action, but the sound is not that great. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOf2PCAL_0g

Last weeks Star Track 'Man of the World' peaked at No.2 on the UK singles chart on 28th May 1969. The weeks following this I was taking my exams at school and then Thunderclap Newman came out with 'Something in the Air'.
But this Summer of '69 was not like many others. It was my last before starting work, doing a job I'd love, for the best part of the next 48 years. Getting radio plays and rave reviews was The Moody Blues 'On the Threshold of a Dream'. I don't recall when I bought this LP but I did and it must have accompanied this summer. 
The album closes with a four part sequence: 'The Dream', 'Have You Heard - part 1', 'The Voyage' and 'Have You Heard - part 2': (most vinyl pressings of the album continue the atmospheric play-out sound into the album's run-out groove, causing it to play continuously until the record player's tonearm was lifted - mine does this).
When I first 'heard' this track I was 16 years old - now older and hopefully wiser, I love the sentiment just as much.
Here's a great video someone has put together.

 > Is it me or coincidence that the girl who appears (7.30) resembles Sweden's Greta Thunberg ?
NB: hopefully your video is not interrupted by a YouTube ad mid-play.