Before we start, a quick service announcement. The announcement is that there isn't going to be much service round here for the next month or so.
On Sunday I am off to Athens for a few days' working, although I have cleared a space in my busy schedule to visit my favourite record shop there (and one of my favourites anywhere). Then I come back for a week before jetting off to South Africa for a fortnight to visit all the local branches of the Goggins clan. What passes for normal service will resume towards the end of February.
Now on with the show. Unlike some of those silvery-tongued devils who manage to produce interesting posts every day seemingly with ease, for me it is normally a case of 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. In the case of today's post replace 'inspiration' with 'lack of coordination'.
Yesterday afternoon I accidentally knocked over a stack of CDs while clumsily attempting a simple household chore. When I bent over to pick them up the one nearest my feet was "Something Extra Special: The Complete Volt Recordings 1968-1971" by Jimmy Hughes. I took it as a sign.
Mr Hughes is one of the innumerable number of fine soul singers to emerge in the 1960s who never quite received their due. Hailing from Leighton, Alabama like his cousin Percy Sledge, he had a Top 20 hit in 1964 with "Steal Away". But just seven years later he packed in music entirely, tired of the touring and the lack of promotion, and got gainful employment making parts for nuclear power plants. As you do.
"I'm So Glad" - Jimmy Hughes
"I'm Not Ashamed To Beg Or Plead" - Jimmy Hughes
Enjoy your trips
ReplyDeleteI have nothing by Jimmy Hughes and didn't know Melanie's surname until today.
A great public service!
You are most kind. I will be popping in between the trips - and may even squeeze in a visit to another part of Africa before I head to SA
DeleteI hope you stop whatever nefarious activity SPECTRE are up to in Athens. Enjoy your break.
ReplyDeleteI would have preferred the duet if Miley's dad had shown up.
If there is no interesting news from Athens next week then I will have met my objectives. I can say no more than that.
DeleteOh My! How I loved Melanie, admittedly based on a mere handful of late 60s/early 70s albs culminating in Candles In The Rain which remains one of my favourite albums of all time. What a voice.
ReplyDeleteHappy travels, Ernie.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same as CC in not knowing Melanie's surname until now so thank you! Enduring memories though of hearing 'Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma' when I was quite small as my big sis bought 'Ruby Tuesday'; I was intrigued and rather mesmerised by the lyrics (tied it up in a plastic bag, etc). She looked great in that last clip with Miley too.
If I haven’t missed you already, Ernie, have a great time… the non-work bit at the very least.
ReplyDeleteAnd sad news about Melanie. Despite retrospectively discovering her music “thanks” to local heroes The Wurzels’ combine harvester-themed homage (fromage?), she really was doing her own special thing. I’ve got the 2003 Best Of CD which is great but I hadn’t realised that she’d posted so much stuff, old & new, on Bandcamp. Must take a look. Farewell, Melanie x