IMAGINE...

Thanks to Noel Cunningham for reminding me that it is 29 years ago on this day that Mark Chapman brought the life of John Lennon to an abrupt and bloody end. I am sure many of you reading this will have memories of the news breaking all those years ago - I was a student then and we were all shocked at the news. So, here is one of John's great songs released just before the end came outside the Dakota..

SATURDAY NIGHT ATW JUKEBOX ...

Another little gem from Manchester's finest..

ATW SATURDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX

Here's a song that has a lyric that I relate to - politically.

LIAM CLANCY DIES

Sorry to read that Irish folk singer Liam Clancy has died aged 74. I liked some of his music and think this is a great performance of a marvellous song...

ATW SATURDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX

And one from long ago - worth a listen and there IS a connection to my musical hero! 

ATW SATURDAY JUKEBOX

Here's a song with a political message for those who use the MSM for their information. I was inspired by this nonsense.

ATW FRIDAY JUKEBOX

Ok, so Friday night arrives and time for another spin of the jukebox...I was doing the title of this song just over a month ago! A dance gem from my favourite....

ATW SATURDAY DELUGE JUKEBOX...

The amount of rain that has fallen in recent days here has been shocking so here is a tune to give us a little hope!

ATW FRIDAY JUKEBOX 2

Here is the sister song to Pete's offering...

ATW SUNDAY JUKEBOX

Here is a lovely ballad which never got the attention it deserved. It dates back to 1976 and believe it or not, I had a hairstyle like Mr Miles back in those haylcon days of my youth. Years of having to endure liberalism, rap music and of course global warming/cooling have taken their toll.....!! 

ATW FRIDAY JUKEBOX

Here is a charming video and a touching love song...Carrack has one of the great white soul voices in my view and this is just another example of it.

ATW FRIDAY JUKEBOX 2

Been out all night - at a soiree in Stormont.

So, before the witching hour, a song from me to finish my first week back!

ATW THURSDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX!

Well, my bags are packed, I'm ready to go......! So here's my parting song until I return to be with you all on 4th November. Hope you all take care and wish you well 'till we meet again. The ATW Gotham Supper Club will be in session on Saturday and I am sure the locals can update you on our night of debauchery. Be good and pray for a weak dollar....

IS VIC THERE?

Well, he lived to a ripe old age! I refer to Vic Mizzy who has finally shuffled off this mortal coil aged 93 years. Who was he?

Well, if I say the immortal lines " They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, they're altogether ooky.." - do you get Vic's musical heritage?

You see Mr Mizzy was the man who came up with the words and music to "The Addams Family" theme.

"I sat down; I went 'buh-buh-buh-bump [snap-snap], buh-buh-buh-bump," he recalled in a 2008 interview on CBS' "Sunday Morning" show. "That's why I'm living in Bel-Air: Two finger snaps and you live in Bel-Air."   

ATW SUNDAY MORNING JUKEBOX..

An obvious choice. Debbie was a real beauty of her time, not my preference per se, but GREAT pop music...

ATW SATURDAY JUKEBOX....

Here's my favourite female singer, long gone now (God, almost ten years) but always close to my musical DNA. This is a jolly number with a real Cuban feel to it, happily Castro is not in the video! Kirsty looks ravishing in this, she was 32 when this was released. Such a loss.

ATW FRIDAY JUKEBOX 2

And then here is a great cover of an old song by the sublime Don McLean. The original dates back to the doo-wop era of the late 1950's and I think McLean carries a faithful resonance to the original by the Skyliners. 

ATW FRIDAY JUKEBOX

Here's a rollicking tune from '74 (1974, that is to say, I may be old but not THAT old) - crazy fashion. This lot were Canadians as I recall, and so along with another Canadian, Terry Jacks, this was a great year for those from the more Northern clime...

THIRD OBSCURITY

A final musical goodnight from me. This is a wonderful melody and brings back fond memories of Shane and the gang when they still in their prime. Give it three minutes, you will be enriched. It's not quite "Fairytale" (How could it be without Kirsty?) but is anthemic!

INDOOR FIREWORKS

This is one of my wife's favourite songs from the Costello canon. I think it has the most amazing lyrics, intense and private yet public and soul-baring. 

"I'll build a bonfire of my dreams and burn a broken effigy of you and me..."

The bittersweet at it's most magnificent.