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30th September 1972

[Click this link]

Sitting in a favourite pub in St. Leonards on Sea just the other month ('The Tower' or "proper boozer"), a track came on their well-stocked jukebox that immediately took me back a number of years. Hence the revisit invite above. 

Accompanying a pint of IPA ('Life & Death' from the Vocation Brewery), which was going down rather well, the unmistakable slow building intro to 'The King Will Come' by Wishbone Ash could be heard.

Therefore the 50th anniversary of their album 'Argus' is celebrated today. Side Two, track one > 

There are plenty of 'live' videos - but I've gone with the original album version recording. 

  

The Old Grey Whistle Test - part two - as promised... Is of a performance that went out in March 1973 and involves one of my favourite songs.

I've long been a fan of today's artist but I confess I was slow to get into John Martyn. I even had his 'Solid Air' album to review in 1973 yet somehow it didn't register. Three years later I rediscovered him, as it were, and I was hooked. 

My favourite memory was seeing him at the Half Moon pub in Putney performing 'May You Never'. The audience were almost unconsciously singing along, when sudden John stopped singing himself, and with a huge smile on his face he watched the crowd continue without him. Great moment.   

Early days of the OGWT conjure memories of a fluctuating start time, I think once it even missed midnight and so became the first Wednesday show. While the studio was only 32 by 22 feet, and due to the lack of technology that accommodated live performances, bands often mimed to a back track. No mining here, just John Martyn singing 'May You Never' >

Did you? John Martyn was born in New Malden, Surrey. Grew up in Glasgow and lived in 1975 in Hastings

  

Much like all the rescheduling by TV channels since the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - there is a change to the advertised programme for this week's Music Spot. (The OGWT - Part 2 - will return soon).

Seeing all the various tributes and newsreel footage of her reign I heard a piece of music I recognised and it seems that Handel's 'Zadok the Priest' written in 1727 for the Coronation of George III has been played at all coronations since, including the Queen's in 1953. 

Some of you will also recognise it as Tony Britten rearranged 'Zadok the Priest' in 1992 as the basis for the UEFA Champions League anthem. 

    

  

This coming Monday marks 50 years since Bob Harris first appeared on the 'Old Grey Whistle Test' on the Beeb.

He is probably the presenter most associated with the show. Launched on 21st September 1971 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' was the BBC's main outlet for non-chart music and went out late Tuesday nights. A brief history being Richard Williams presented that first season. Bob Harris was in the chair from 1972 to 1979 when Anne Nightingale took over. In 1983 it was renamed the 'Whistle Test' and various presenters were used during the 1980s until the show came off the air in 1988. 

Series Two with 'Whispering Bob' also came with a new theme, with the 'Star Kicker' visuals to Area Code 615 "Stone Fox Chase" music. [here].

Bob's first show on 12th Sept 1972 featured Frampton's Camel and John Prine. There's a fan website listing all the artists who appeared week by week, if you fancy a who's who of the show click here [link] 

We have featured some OGWT clips from YouTube on the Friday Music Spot over the years, here's another from October 1973, this is some virtuoso 12 string guitar playing from Leo Kottke with a track called 'The Driving of the Year Nail'.

We catch a brief glimpse of Whispering Bob (once called a broadcaster "laid-back to the point of narcolepsy") at the very start of this clip.

If you liked that Leo Kottke's full performance is recorded here as 'The Driving of the Year Nail' is followed by a piece called 'Stealing'. Click On ➤ 

As a result of this week's blog and the knowledge from all the research, the next few weeks may have a distinct 'Old Grey' 70s feel about them. He whispered 😏  

  

Time for some New music, that sounds like old music... 

I occasionally get email-outs from 'LOOSE Records', an independent company who I have bought CDs from in the past. They have a roster of up and coming artists and The Hanging Stars have caught my attention on a few occasions.   

They have been described as "Blending folk pastoralism with swampy 60s Americana, The Hanging Stars sound like the missing link between the California desert sun and the grey skies of London Town".

"Their new album 'Hollow Heart' cements their repute as masters of captivating blissful psychedelic folk and harmony-laden cosmic country" - says one review.

See what you make of this track 'Black Light Night', the playout sounds like Ultrasound on 'Floodlit World' while the black and white video features a VW camper (model not unlike my old van). Summer easing into September > 

Another track off the album. This is 'I Don't Want To Feel So Bad Anymore' >click The Hanging Stars   

Filmed in May 2022 at LePub, Newport, Wales. Jangle guitar, harmonies, great pedal steel, very west coast.