The more you know, the more you realise you don’t know

A big shout to Your Host of the excellent shortwave radio programme This is a Music Show for earlier this year turning us on to a cracker of tune Night Owl by Lee & The Clarendonians with a wonderful version on the B side.

Today whilst going through a couple of shows we missed over the festive period another version of the rhythm by Roy Richards called Dead and Wake was played. Another firecracker of a track!

And as if by magic we found another version on youtube by the great Dennis Alcapone called Fine Style.

And here’s the original doo-wop version by Tony Allen & The Champs.

And talking of This is a Music Show here’s the last two episodes featuring the best of Your Host’s thrift show finds from 2020. These shows will definitely cheer you up especially after tonight’s rubbish news of another bloomin’ lockdown a loomin’ (until mid February) here in the UK. #anotherlockdownaloomin #thisisamusicshow #shortwavesnotdead

https://soundcloud.com/thisisamusicshow/this-is-a-music-show-095

https://soundcloud.com/thisisamusicshow/this-is-a-music-show-096

 

Hot You’re Hot

My gosh it’s baking today so this makes it “classic lockdown” weather like what we had at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. A time when the only habit to worry about was taking single teabags down to the compost heap a few times daily. That was long before the daily trip down with a garden fork to give the dalek bin a mix took hold. Those were the days my friends…

And talking of friends we had one visit us yesterday evening (above) who perched on the bamboo cane supporting a tomato plant while we were sitting in the Dad corner giving it a bit of a Henry David Thoreau with a mug of tea.

Oh yeah, the erratically sown poppies (below) don’t half appreciate being out in this heat unlike us at Weeds who prefer a bit of shade!

So to all those gardeners (and non-gardeners) in lockdown wherever you are in the world, hang on in there, do keep in the shade and enjoy the current spate of classic lockdown weather with a few reggae tunes.

And while we’re on the Keith Hudson production thing.

A taste of things to come

Matumbi – Man Sized Rocker (Instrumental) – Matumbi Music Corp

A couple of good things to look forward to if you’re down the big smoke over the next few weeks. The great Dennis “Blackbeard” Bovell will be playing some tunes upstairs at The Ritzy Cinema, Brixton for nothing (how good is that!) as part of David Katz’ Dub Me Always on Wednesday 9th July. More details here at their Facebook page.

dennis bovellBefore then as part of James Lavelle’s Meltdown on Sunday 22nd June there’s a free event down the Southbank called “Sunday Come Down” featuring Don Letts (Not Monty Don), James Lavelle and other top stuff as the day goes on. Let’s hope the weather keeps up. Here’s the line up cribbed from here. I’m sure it’ll change but it gives you clue what to expect.
12 noon – 1.30pm Don Letts
1.30pm – 2.30pm James Lavelle
2.30pm – 3pm Voicelab
3pm – 3.30pm JP Duncan
3.30pm – 4.15pm Jeremy Deller Acid Brass
4.15pm – 5.45pm Horsemeat Disco
5.45pm – 6.45pm James Priestley (Secretsundaze)
6.45pm – 7.15pm James Lavelle

Johnny Clarke – Hold on/King Tubby’s – The Baddest Version – Attack

This Saturday coming (June 14th) there’s a special screening of the Bunny Lee Film “I am the Gorgon” at the BFI, Southbank plus after a Q and A session with the director Diggory Kenrick and the narrator of the film and the legend that is Dennis Alcapone. There’s still a couple of tickets left for £6.50 here. I’m going and if I get a chance I’ll ask Dennis if he’s into gardening!