Dave Williams - The Blog

EVEN MORE GOLDEN MEMORIES

2012-01-03T12:52:00.006Z

I am happy to announce that as from Sunday, 8th January 2012, my show on Surf Radio is to be extended from one, to two hours duration.

It's a great honour and priviledge to be part of the Surf Radio family, and I'd like to thank Peter Ford, and Webtek for all their help and support thus far, and for having confidence in me as I appoach this new milestone in my radio career. But the biggest thank-you must be reserved for the wonderful army of loyal and enthusiastic Surf Radio listeners. It's your encouragement and support that makes it all worthwhile.

So please, "Let me entertain you" - Sunday evenings between 20 and 22hrs, CET (7pm - 9pm, UK), with two hours of Golden Memories. I look forward to the pleasure of your company.

LISTEN AGAIN: Sundays show is now repeated the following Friday between 5.00pm & 7.00pm (18hr - 20hr CET)

Requests and dedications to: dave@surfradio.nl

Listen to the show, and join me in the chatroom, via the website: www.surfradio.nl

The Bill Elder Interview

2011-12-27T00:20:00.006Z

For BillTv Macon fans everywhere, here's parts ONE and TWO of an airchecked audio of the interview I did with the man himself, Mr Bill Elder.

The interview is split into two parts, and the music has been edited out

The interview was broadcast as part of my special Christmas shows for Radio NorthSea International and Surf Radio International, on 26th December 2011.

ORIGINAL CONTENT (C) 2011 DAVE WILLIAMS & BILL ELDER

PART ONE

PART TWO

Christmas radio shows

2011-12-11T03:57:00.003Z

Christmas will soon be upon us, and I'll be presenting extra shows on both stations over the holidays. Although I'm doing different shows for Surf Radio, and RNI, both programmes will feature an interview I recorded this week, with vetran American radio presenter Bill Elder.

Bill is a facinating guy to talk to, and brings with him a wealth of stories and anecdotes that give an entertaining insight into life behind the scenes at the various radio stations he has worked for. I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to the interview. Both Bill and I had a great time recording it.

BILL ELDER

RNI will be broadcasting the Christmas "Williams On The Wireless" show, on Monday, 26th December, at 02.00am, UK time. It will be repeated on Monday 2nd January, at the same time. As soon as I know the broadcast time for my Christmas "Golden Memories" show on Surf Radio, I'll post the details here.

New Promotional Videos

2011-12-02T04:51:00.002Z

Arfa B's RNI 633 Promo

Surf Radio - British Invasion Promo

Studio Make-Over

2011-10-05T21:09:00.016+01:00

UPDATED 10th NOVEMBER 2011

Hereby, a few photos of the latest incarnation of the studio.

I have just installed a new audio mixer, which is more suitable for making radio, and a record deck.

The new mixer unit is a Behringer VMX1000usb. While it was the same width as the old mixer, the panel is about half as much again, deeper. Consequently, some of the other bits of kit had to be re-located to make room for the new mixer. So, best part of the day had been taken up carrying out the work. Nobody told me that in order to play music on the wireless, you have to become an electrician and a carpenter!!

The most recent, and hopefully the last addition to the equipment is a direct-drive turntable for playing vinyl media. The unit is a Stanton model T62.

Finally, the last four you probably won't want to bother with, just a few snaps I took for the Surf Radio Gallery. Had the tee shirt made up special myself, it's a one off.

Go Now - featured on Dutch Radio

2011-10-02T23:32:00.011+01:00

Radio 80 is the local commercial radio station in Egmond aan Zee, north Holland. Aris Brandaris presents a live two hour show; "De Rond van de B.E.S.", every Sunday morning, which is a mixture of music, and topical items of interest to the communities of Bergen, Egmond and Schoorl.

Here, Aris features a recent demo track of mine on his show. It's an English version I made, of a song well known to the Dutch audience. Originally, called "Ga Dan" and recorded by Jannes - my version is called "Go Now"

The records played during the show are mainly in the Dutch language, so I'd like to thank Aris Brandaris, and everyone at Radio80 for playing my music on the station. Also, I extend sincere thanks to my good friend Klaas Vaak, for all his help and support.

Radio80 Website: http://www.rtv80.nl

Soundtrack and photos used in the video, courtesy of Radio80.

Radio Interview

2011-09-17T06:11:00.012+01:00

Well, the live radio interview took place last night, (Friday), on Surf Radio International.

Delightful Dutch lady dj Annoeska had invited me onto her show for an interview. I must confess, in the build up to the actual interview, I was feeling extremely nervous. After some forty years in the entertainment business, I overcame stage fright a long time ago. But this was something else.

And five minutes before going to air, I was in a cold sweat!! Butterflies in the stomach, mouth gone dry. I'd never experienced nerves like that before. Not even when I first got up to sing "Paper Roses" with the band, some forty years ago.

The hook up was done via a Skype conference call set up by the station manager, Peter Ford, and our conversation would be fed directly into the audio mixer in the Surf Radio studio, over in Holland. Listening to a recording of the interview it sounded as though we were both in the same room. Technology these days is just amazing.

In the moments before the interview started, Peter did his best to assure me that everything was going to be ok. Anyway, the moment came, and suddenly we were on the air. After a few seconds I somehow managed to relax, and just threw myself into it. Annoeska is such a fun person anyway, she turned what I thought was going to quite an ordeal into a great deal of fun. We chatted over a period of 25 minutes, which included pauses to play a couple of records. And before I knew it, we'd covered from how I got into the entertainment business, some forty odd years ago, through to how I came to be presenting regular shows on both Radio NorthSea International, and Surf Radio.

It was great fun to do, and if I'm honest, I can't understand why I got so tensed up about doing it. The whole thing was just so much fun.

Anyway, I'd like to thank Annoeska for inviting me onto her show, Peter Ford and Webtek, the two guys behind the scenes, who's technical expertise made it all possible. And a special thank you to all the Surf Radio listeners who were listening in from all over the world.

FOOTNOTE:

I've since learned that I wasn't the only one doing something they had never done before. It seems that this was the first time Annoeska had conducted an interview, "live", as apposed to recording it. It was also the first time she had done an interview in English.
So - congratulations Annoeska!!

And here is the interview:

Never Again . . . Never Again . . .

2011-09-14T14:38:00.012+01:00

Those who know me personally, or perhaps even some veteran followers of my website, may remember that way back in the year 2000, as a seriously overweight person, I had a gastric band fitted to my stomach. For those who don't know what that is - it's a sort of clamp, with a tube attached, that is fitted around the stomach drawing it in to a sort of egg-timer shape. The idea being to restrict the amount of food one can eat at any one sitting, and to control the rate of discharge into the lower part of the stomach. Thereby inducing rapid and considerable permanent weight-loss.

For me it worked fine. Given the state I was in, physically, and mentally, I genuinely believe I owe my life to this wonderful device. I'm convinced that I wouldn't be here now, if it wasn't for having had this done. I will be forever grateful to the surgeon back in Hull, Mr Christopher Royston who carried out the procedure.

Well, 11 years on, and suddenly, without explanation, without dieting, or exercising, I begin to loose weight again. Probably as much as 25 pounds, (11kg) or more. For a guy of my age, (59), that sets off all kinds of alarm bells in the head.

(Just Google "unexplained weight loss", and read some of the possible causes, it's scary!!).

Anyway, after having blood tests done, my GP referred me to the local hospital, where I was to have a Gastroscopy procedure. They wanted to take a look inside my stomach, to see what was going on. My appointment was last night.

I have to say; Undergoing this procedure was, without a shadow of a doubt, the most traumatic and unpleasant thing I have ever experienced in my entire life!!

Everything was explained to me beforehand, I was offered the option of sedation, should I not be able to cope with just having the throat spray. I have nothing but praise for the people at the Royal Hospital Liverpool, for the way I was dealt with and looked after.

But dear reader, absolutley NOTHING could have prepared me for the ordeal I was about to endure.

Photo: http://www.gastroscopy.org.uk/

I was gagging, wretching, choking, coughing, puking, and couldn't breathe. I think at some stage, I started to cry from the ordeal. I wouldn't say it was particularly painful, but boy, was it damned unpleasant, and extremely uncomforable. At one point, I started to feel as though I wasn't going to come through it, and I remember starting to worry about what was going to happen to my poor little cat.

One of the things I do remember was seeing this tube thing coming towards my face. There were brilliant pin-points of multi coloured light shining from the end of it, like tiny car head-lights.

Photo: http://www.gastroscopy.org.uk/

It put me in mind of might happen to these people who claim that they have been abducted by aliens.

I guess the whole thing was over in 7 or 8 minutes, but at the time it seemed like forever, I remember pleading with the guy to "hurry up, hurry up take it it out". God knows what sort of an exhibition I was making of myself, but they were very nice about it, and gave me a cup of tea when it was finally over.

Apparently, I have a hiatus hernia. Which means that part of the stomach has encroached through the diaphragm, but they don't think it's serious enough to worry about. Sorry guys, but it sounds serious enough to me.

I still have to wait for the results of the biopsy tests on the samples they took, and I'm waiting to have a CAT scan done before they decide what to to with me. At the moment, they are saying the most likely outcome is that the gastric band will need adjusting down a little.

After living with a gastric band for over 11 years now, I think I can safely say I could have told them that myself, if they'd have asked me.

And with regard to last night's ordeal, all I can say is:

"Never again . . . Never Again . . ."

September Song

2011-09-10T21:40:00.010+01:00

Well, I finally emerged from my sabatical from singing, following my retirement from the concert stage, at the end of last year.

I hope you will enjoy this, and I dedicate it to all those who have continued to send me messages of support over the past few months.

Live Interview on Surf Radio - Friday, 16th September, 2011

ANNOESKA, in the Surf Radio studio

I'm not sure how I let myself get talked into doing this, but through the wonders of modern technology, I'm going to be interviewed "Live, On Air" by Surf Radio's delightful lady dj Annoeska. She host's a two hour "live" show, "Vrijdagavond, Sterrenavond, (Friday Night, Stars Night", every Friday evening between 7.00pm and 9.00pm, Uk time. (20hr - 22hr CET).

Needless to say, I feel very flattered to have been asked to do this, but the fact that it will be broadcast "live, as it happens", makes me feel rather nervous. I just hope it all goes ok. Hopefully, it will. Should be fun, if nothing else.

If you want to hear the interview, you'll need to go to the Surf Radio website, and click the Live Radio button on the home page, on the next page click either the Windows Media Player, Real Audio, or Winamp icon. At least one of those players will work for just about everyone.

Test Results

2011-09-02T01:42:00.007+01:00

Man in hospital bed wearing a oxygen mask over his mouth . . .

"Nurse" he mumbles, "Are my testicles black?"

The nurse raises his gown, holds his penis in one hand and his testicles in the other..

She takes a close look and says "There is nothing wrong with them sir".

Man pulls off the oxygen mask, smiles at her, and says very slowly:

"Thanks for that, it was lovely, but listen very very carefully . . . .

Are - my - test - re - sults - back ?

The Green Thing . . .

2011-08-23T20:44:00.003+01:00

In the line at the store, the cashier told an old lady that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right - our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store.   The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts. Wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always   brand-new clothing.

But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of Yorkshire!   In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.

When we packaged a fragile item to send in the post, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a tap or drinking fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the tram or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest takeaway.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were -

Just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

The Golden Memories Show

2011-08-01T08:49:00.033+01:00

I am pleased to announce that I have now joined the team at Surf Radio International.

Surf Radio Website

From 31st July they broadcast my "Golden Memories" show. It can be heard on Sundays at 7.00pm UK time, 20.00hrs Central European time.

The programme consists of an eclectic mix of music drawn from the past 40 to 50 years, but from a pan-european playlist. Features of the show include the "Touch Of Dutch" spots, where I'll play some of my favourite songs in the Dutch language, and "De Luister Liedje" - or "Listening Song", a song that tells a story, or contains a message.

Comments, requests and dedications, can be emailed to me via the station:

dave at surfradio dot nl
(Anti-Spam precaution: Close up the gaps, replace at with @ and dot with .)

Surf Radio was one of Holland's first internet radio stations, and they have been broadcasting for many years. Programmes with English presenters is a relatively new development for the station, and I'm proud to be joined at Surf by fellow countrymen Brian Scott and Tony David.

As ever, my good friend Bill Elder has done a superb job in providing me with customised voice-overs for the new show.

I'd like to thank Peter Ford, Annoeska and WebTek, and everyone else at Surf Radio for their warm and friendly welcome, and for all their help and encouragement.

TRANSLATION:

" Hi. I'm Dave Williams. Don't forget to listen to my English programme "The Golden Memories Show" every Sunday evening at 8pm, (7pm, UK) here on Surf Radio International.

Come with me on a musical mystery tour. You'll hear the golden hits from now and the years ago. And also, my special presentations, A Touch Of Dutch, and the Listening Song.

The Golden Memories Show, with me, Dave Williams, every Sunday at 8pm (7pm, UK) here on Surf Radio International".

Surf Radio International - Website

Just to dispell any rumours, my " Williams On The Wireless " show on Radio NorthSea International continues every Friday and Sunday, and there are no plans for this to change.

Well, there is one small change to mention, from Friday 5th August, my RNI show will go out one hour later, at 12 noon, UK time, (13.00hrs CET) The Sunday broadcast remains at 5.00pm, UK time, (18.00hrs CET).

RADIO NORTHSEA INTERNATIONAL WEBSITE

And for all you anorak types out there, here's the view from my side of the microphone:

CLICK THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE

See also the radio page on my website: CLICK HERE

Building Bridges . . .

2011-07-05T11:24:00.009+01:00

I saw on the news recently that China's Jiaozhou Bay Bridge had opened.

Well, whatever you might think about China as a country, you have to hand it to them: Whatever they decide they need, they get off their backsides and go for it. They get their priorities right and they get things done.

I think the politicians in a lot of countries, including my own, would do well to learn one simple lesson from this:

Stop wasting money going to war, and trying to solve other counties problems.

That would free up an awful lot of money to provide job security, decent health care, and pensions for your own people.
Not to mention bringing our own transportation infrastructure into the 21st century.

And, you wouldn't need to be robbing the ordinary working man in the street to pay for it all, or bail out the bankers.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is located in eastern China's Shandong province. It transects Jiaozhou Bay, connecting Huangdao District, the city of Qingdao and Hongdao Island (the bridge has 3 entry/exit points. Opened on 30 June 2011, it reduces the road distance between Qingdao and Huangdao.It is 42.5 kilometres (26.4 miles) long, making it the world's longest bridge over water as of July 2011. The bridge opened at the same time as the nearby Qing-Huang Tunnel, both part of the Jiaozhou Bay Connection Project. The bridge took four years to build, and employed at least 10,000 people. 450,000 tons of steel and 2.3 million cubic metres of concrete were used in the construction of the bridge. It is designed to be able to withstand severe earthquakes, typhoons, and collisions with ships. The bridge is supported by more than 5,000 pillars, 35 metres (115 ft) wide, carrying six lanes and two shoulders, and cost more than 10 billion yuan (US$1.5 billion).

Better than sex . . .

2011-07-01T00:18:00.005+01:00

Thought I'd share a guilty secret with you.

These things are so nice, there ought to be a law against them.

One of life's guilty pleasures . . .

Funny TV Commercial

2011-06-07T23:12:00.003+01:00

Thanks are due to my good friend Nick for giving me the "heads-up" on this really funny TV ad from down under.

Well, I though it was funny, anyway . . .

Shaving Cream

2011-05-24T12:00:00.019+01:00

A rare clip from 1969 featuring a band from Vollendam, Holland - The Cats

I know nothing about the song, other than it's title - SHAVING CREAM

and the fact that it made me smile.

Enjoy . . .

In Memory Of My Father

2011-04-23T13:53:00.003+01:00

April 23rd.

Had he still been alive, my father would have been 88 years of age today. Sadly he passed away fourteen years ago this coming December.

I recorded this song last year. Probably not the best version you'll ever hear. I make no apologies for that. It was just something I needed to do. The song has a deeply personal significance to me. The words say it all, and the song is an anthem to how I feel about the relationship I had with my dad.

May he rest in peace.

Can you believe this . . . ?

2011-03-26T01:54:00.000Z

Ok, like many people I am rather partial to a bit of chocolate. In fact, I've been variously described as a bit of a chocoholic from time to time.

I'm also rather fond of bacon, but this concoction for me certainly has the "euuuuwww" factor.

Would you believe - Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies ?

You can find the recipie for this and several other bizzare
concontions on the BuzzFeed website, HERE

Just to let you know . . .

2011-01-23T21:00:00.017Z

I've been rather quiet these past couple of weeks, even maybe a little bit lazy.
No blog entries, no new songs or YT videos.
But, I'm still around . . .

The fact is, after my new year's eve gig, I've been taking a kind of self-imposed sabatical from the vocal aspects of being creative. As regular readers may recall, I picked up a rather nasty cold just as the holiday season began, and as a result, I really struggled to get through my final club appearence on the 31st December.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE A LARGER VIEW

The cold has since subsided, but has left me with a lingering chesty cough and croaky throat, which is still hanging on a bit even now. So, I've been resting my voice so-to-speak, and hopefully as this week progresses, I plan to find out if my voice has recovered.

I have a few projects in the pipeline, and hopefully will get down to some trial recording later in the week.

Just before the holidays I took delivery of a new keyboard, the new Yamaha Tyros-4.

I have to say this is one truly amazing instrument. It's going to take me quite a while to get to grips with it. I've never pretended to be an expert, and would be the first to admit there are far better musicians out there than I'll ever be, but nevertheless, it is the most awesome bit of kit I've ever come across. So I'm really hopeful of being to expand my musical horizons with this instrument.

Some years ago I had a Roland VA7 keyboard, which at the time I was very impressed with. I know keyboard technology has moved on, but in my opinion the Tyros-4 just leaves the VA7 standing, both in terms of what it can do, and ease of operation.

It is a formidable, and somewhat daunting instrument when you sit down in front of it for the first time, but within a few short moments, I'd figured out a few basics and was away!! Whatever the style, whatever the voice setting, it just makes you want to play. And in the last couple of weeks, I've been doing a bit of that and, learning a little more about the instrument each time I switch it on.
I've always been a fan of the German "Schlager" genre of music, and one of the things that particularly pleases me about the Tyros-4, is the fact that it does feature some excellent schlager styles

It looks as though this could be the start of a beautiful friendship . . .

I bought the Tyros-4 hoping it would see me into my retirement years, and give me a musical alternative to basket-weaving. I'm sure it will, and I look forward to sharing some of the results with you in the years to come.

The Final Curtain

2011-01-01T02:39:00.011Z

Last night, I came within inches of having to do something I have never yet done in almost forty years as a club entertainer - cancel an engagement. As regular readers to this blog will know, it was only last week that I was struck down with what turned out to be one of the worst colds I've had in years. As yesterday dawned the cold, it seemed was back, with a vengence.

However, given that last night's appearence at the Padgate Conservative Club, Warrington was to be my final gig before retiring from the concert stage, I was determined to see it through.

Although the club it'self is quite small, it was already quite full as I arrived at 7:30pm. There was no stage, so basically it was a case of set up best I could. By the time I was ready to start, my breathing was getting quite difficult, since my nose wouldn't stop running!! Any other night I might well have reported in "sick" and called this one off.

But not tonight. Not my final night.

Well, I did my best, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I had some nice compliments paid to me after the first set was over, and again at the end of the night. And the boss came over and thanked me, shaking my hand. So I guess the only one who was not really happy with my performance was ME!!

Accoustically the venue was not a very good one, and I had to work far too close to the speaker cabinet on my right for comfort. I was plagued with feedback problems as a result. The radio mic was having reception problems, probably because another radio mic was in use nearby. I have a Shure SM58 wired microphone which I fall back on when there are reception problems, but even that cut out for a few seconds, mid-song, without explanation at one point.

To round everything off, about three songs from the end of the second set, I lost the high frequency horn on the right-hand speaker, and had to soldier on without it, sounding decidedly wooley on one side. I've possibly blown the horn, or crossover unit, inside the cabinet, but if I'm lucky, it might just be one of the feed wires to the horn itself that has come adrift. Well, there's no great panic to get that fixed for now.

By the end of the night, I'd developed a blinding headache, and felt really quite ill, but somehow, despite the gremlins, and the flu bugs, I managed to get through it.

Well, as they say - That's Show Business!!

My sincere thanks to everyone at the Padgate Conservative Club. I did my best. I don't think I disgraced myself, but I know I could have done better.

Finally, I'd like to say thanks to my good friend and agent Ken Rose for booking me into this lovely little club, and for all his help and support over the years.

So, what's next for me? Well, at this stage I really don't know - we'll have to see.

Happy New Year everyone.

New Year Wishes

2010-12-31T14:28:00.009Z

As 2010 draws to a close, may I wish you all a peaceful and happy new year.

The year just past has, for many people, been a difficult one. We've had the continuing downturn in the economic climate, and in recent weeks, a real downturn in the actual climate resulting in some real crappy weather to add to our misery!!

Things, as they say, can only get better. Well, I certainly hope so.

For me personally, 2010 marks the end of an era, having recently announced my decision to retire from working the club circuit. At this point, it is perhaps fitting to express my gratitude to a few people who, over the years have supported me.

When I first moved over to the north-west, it was Neil and Richard of Garston Entertainments who were kind enough to give me my first audition, closely followed by Jim and Sue of Goldstar Entertainments. Sadly Jim passed away in September, 2008. Jim was a lovely guy, who is still sadly misssed by all who knew him. At one time, Goldstar were filling over 80% of my available dates.

KenRose is an agent, whom I also came to regard as a friend, and I'd like to particularly thank Ken for all his support and guidance over the years.

In addition, I like to acknowledge the support and help of all the good folks at Ricky McCabe, Riverside, LeeJay Leisure, Anfield, and Riverside Entertainments. It's been a pleasure working with you all.

I'd also like to say a special "thank-you", to all the lovely people who I have met over the last ten years, when I appeared at the many social clubs around Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire, the Wirral and North Wales. The warm welcome I received and your kind support made it all worthwhile.

Finally, I'd like to thank all those who have supported me, and expressed an interest in the music I put out on my YouTube channels. Although I am stepping down from the concert stage, the music lives on, and the YouTube output will continue.

FOOTNOTE TO SINK SAGA

Yesterday I took delivery of a new washing machine, to replace the rather ancient one that I may have inadvertantly killed off in my efforts to unblock the kitchen sink.

Apart from the fact that it's not much fun with no washing machine, I decided to get another one straight away because our beloved government here is raising the rate of sales tax (VAT) to 20%, as from the 1st January. Happy New Year, Mr Taxman!!

Anyway, no sooner had the new machine been connected up, the boss of the Williams household decided to investigate.

Pictured here on his tour of inspection, after studying the machine very closely for three or four minutes, Mushy duly gave the equipment his approval, and went back to bed for the rest of the day.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-24T17:52:00.013Z

Although personally, I don't make a big thing of it, I know that this time of year has a special importance to my family. And of course many of my friends around the world will be celebrating too.

So, I would like to wish each and everyone of you out there, all that you wish for yourself and your loved ones. May your days be filled with happiness and love, and may the coming year bring you the best of health, peace, and prosperity.

Thank you for all the support and interest you have so kindly given me. I hope that, perhaps in some small way, I have been able to make a difference, or brighten to your day through my music and songs. If somehow, I managed to acheive that, even if only once - then surely, my time was not wasted.

Love & Best Wishes -
Dave Williams

Of LemSips, Sink Plungers & Covonia

2010-12-24T01:37:00.008Z

It started last Monday. Dry throat, feeling tired.

On the Monday night, I noticed that the kitchen sink appeared to be blocked. Tried to unblock it using a wire coathanger. That didn't work. Gave up, had a Lemsip and went to bed.

By Tuesday - add runny nose, sneezy and bouts of sweating / shivering and loss of appetite.

On the Tueday morning, I washed the dishes in a bowl of water - away from the still blocked sink.

By Wednesday, having just coughed myself dizzy, a feeling of exhaustion has over taken me, and all I want to do is sleep. I dream of foul smelling waters rising up from out of the loo!!

Thursday morning 08:00am - I buy a bottle of chemical sink-unblocker from Tesco, costing £3.99. It says it unblocks sinks in 15 minutes, (may take up to two hours). By lunchtime, my sink is still blocked. But at least the generous mouthfuls of Covonia I've been swigging down lately have calmed the cough.

Thursday afternoon - Off to the local DIY store where I buy a "proffessional" sink and drain unblocker for £7.99. At first, it doesn't appear to work. Then, after about ten or twelve strokes of the gadget's plunger. The sink appears to clear.

Success?
Not exactly.

The contents of my sink appear to have been forced into the tub of my automatic washing machine.

Easily sorted?
Not exactly.

Turn the washer control to the pump out setting, switch on.
All the lights and power to the whole house goes out.

So as the festive season begins:
I've still got a blockage somewhere.
I've got a mounting pile of dirty laundry, and a washing machine that blows the main house fuses everytine I switch it on.

But at least the cold is getting better, and I'm starting to feel hungry again.

New Simplified Website Address

2010-12-15T11:58:00.011Z

In an effort to keep things simple, well - at my age, you have to . . . ,
I have set up some new website addresses that are much easier to remember:

www.davewilliams.tk

www.davewilliams.net.ms

www.davewilliams.vze.com

The original one is still there, and it still works. In fact, it's where all the stuff that has to do with the website actually is anyway. It's just that all that densdave blue wp wunder business is a bit of a mouthful, and it always was a lot to remember:

www.davesden.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

The other thing is of course, if for any reason I was to change my internet service provider, I'd have to re-locate the site and end up with a different website address.

These new website addresses, or URLs simply re-direct you to my website, regardless of where in the world it actually is.
Plus - it's a whole lot easier to remember.

So, please add one, or all of these links to your favourites or bookmarks:

www.davewilliams.tk

www.davewilliams.net.ms

www.davewilliams.vze.com

Go on missus, click it. You know you want to. Trust me, I'm a doctor . . .

Seriously, it's quite safe. It's called "Domain Forwarding". I guess it's the internet's answer to "passing the parcel".

But you know what the best thing was about doing this ?

It never cost a penny !! So, as a Yorkshireman - I'm happy!!

The Show Is Over . . .

2010-12-01T23:23:00.026Z

Dear Friends,

I've wrote about the steady decline in club work on a couple of occasions in this blog. Year on year, I've seen a reduction in the amount of work I've been offered since it peaked for me, about six years ago.

I've agonised over what could be the underlying reason for this. In countless conversations with the various agent friends that I take work from, I've asked:

"Is it me, have I upset someone?"
"Am I past my sell-by date?"
"Have I let anyone down?"
"Should I change my act?"
"Do I need a new image or a name change?"

In every conversation, the agents reply has been along the lines of:

"No, it's not you, everyone is in the same situation. A lot of artistes are asking the same questions. It's just the way it is lately. The smoking ban. The price of drinks. Cheap supermarket booze. Hundreds of TV channels, DVDs. Internet. People just aren't going out to clubs like they used to".

Well, sadly the writing has been on the wall for a while now. I've lost count of the number of lovely little venues that have been forced to close. Lost count too of the number of clubs that have had to stop booking entertainment, simply because there wasn't enough people coming through the doors. Lost count of the cancellations, too.

And all too often, in recent times, I've found myself singing to just a handful people, in a club that could perhaps seat up to a couple of hundred or more. I think the lowest number was about six. It's heartbreaking.

And in conversation at a lot of venues, people have said to me:

"No lad, it's not just you, it's like this every week these days. I can remember this place when, if you weren't in the queue to get in at seven o'clock, you couldn't get a seat. A lot of folk can't afford the prices, and the young 'uns aren't interested in places like this".

I remember those days too.

But as an entertainer, even if there is only one person sitting there, you owe it to them to go out there, and do your best.

Anyway, I've been thinking about all this over the past couple of years or so. This week, after thirty-seven years of treading the boards, I am announcing my retirement from club work. New Year's Eve seems an appropriate time to face the final curtain, and hopefully go out on something of a high note.

Earlier this week I wrote to all the agents I've worked with, to inform them of my decision, thanking each one for all the help and encouragement they have given me over the years.

Finally, to all the lovely people I've met on my travels in clubland, your kindness and support has been much appreciated. May I thank you all.

So, what of the future ?

Well, I can't imagine a life without music. I have built up quite a following on my YouTube Channels, so I intend to continue with those. Certainly, the website and this blog will carry on as well.

I plan to treat myself to a new keyboard soon, (see previous blog entry), so that will certainly keep me busy.

As for anything else; Well - we'll just have to see what happens.

Grandma always used to say:

"It's always the unexpected what happens. You never know what's round the corner".

Love & Best Wishes - Dave Williams

1st December 2010

New Video On YouTube

Heard this catchy little number the other week on a certain "internet radio station", the name of which has been well documented elsewhere on this blog in recent times. While listening to the record being broadcast, I thought:
"Hmm, I could do that . . ."

So anyway, I hope you enjoy my version.

Words & Music by Henk van Broekhoven, this was a 1980 hit for Nick Mackenzie.
Music from a midi file, re-voiced using Cakewalk ProAudio7 to suit my Yamaha e413k keyboard.

HELLO, GOOD MORNING, HOW ARE YOU?
WORDS & MUSIC © 1980 HENK VAN BROEKHOVEN

(INTRO)

Your eyes are blue, your kiss is true,
I never knew - what they could do.
You're telling every-one I know,
I'm on your mind each place you go.

Hello, good morning, how are you?
How is - your weather today?
Hello, good morning, how are you?
Have your moody clouds passed away?

The night was so lovely - but soon it went by,
You're still in my arms, dear, although you are shy.

Hello, good morning, how are you?
Have your moody clouds passed away?

(SHORT BREAK)

Your kiss is soft - as summer rain,
Your side of fame - is our refrain.
When you are there - the grass is green,
You're meant for only me, it seems

Hello, good morning, how are you?
How is - your weather today?
Hello, good morning, how are you?
Have your moody clouds passed away?

The night was so lovely - but soon it went by
You're still in my arms, dear, although you are shy

Hello, good morning, how are you?
Have your moody clouds passed away?

(LONG BREAK)

The night was so lovely - but soon it went by,
You're still in my arms, dear, although you are shy.

Hello, good morning, how are you?
Have your moody clouds - passed away?
Have your moody clouds - passed away?
Have your moody clouds - passed away?

(OUTRO)

DOWNLOAD THIS TRACK AS A HIGH QUALITY MP3 (320 kbps)

Please note, the mp3's are hosted at MediaFire.com, a free file-hosting site,

sponsored by advertising. ( Don't say you weren't warned !! )

FOOTNOTE:

For anyone who has made it this far, here's a lovely version of this song, but this time, sung in Danish. I thank fellow YouTuber Qantico for sending me this one.

The band is called: Bjørn & Okay - The song title: Hallo Godmorgen

Oh, I so want one of these . . . . .

2010-11-28T01:25:00.008Z

Meeting An Old Friend

2010-11-12T16:18:00.025Z

Just got back from a few days over in Hull. On Wednesday I met up with an old friend from my cinema days whom I haven't seen for about 38 years. When I left school at 15 back in 1967, my first job was as a trainee projectionist at the Regent Cinema on Hull's Anlaby Road. The chief projectionist was a lovely old chap called Percy Ramsdale. Sadly, Percy passed away many years ago. He was close to retiring in in 1967, but the Second Projectionist was a guy called John Holmes, who was largely responsible for my learning the ropes and the tricks of the trade.

Some years later, Percy had retired, and I was offered the position of Second Projectionist, with John as my Chief. We became good friends. But, as so often happens, life had other plans for us. John left the industry, and not long afterwards I too went off in search of pastures new, inevitably, we lost touch.

On the left, a photo of John and myself.

In the photo on the right, below we are joined by mutual friend, David Alexander, who I must thank for arranging this reunion.

So it was really nice to learn from a mutual friend, Hull's local cinema historian David Alexander, that not only was John still alive, but he was keen to meet up again.

Well, David and I drove through to visit John, and his lovely wife Pauline at their Hornsea home on Wednesday.

We spent a very enjoyable afternoon caching up and reminiscing about old times.

In addition to this, on Thursday I was invited to meet two very sweet dear ladies who were closely invloved with the running and management of the Tower and Regent Cinemas. Myself and David were entertained with tea and chocolate biscuits and enjoyed another afternoon of reminiscenses.

All in all, a very hectic few days. It was nice to see mum again, and my dear friend Paul. Also met up with John Baxter, with whom I worked at the Cecil Cinema. Also spent an evening with Nick, a fellow YouTuber, and good friend from way back. Finally, I must thank Auntie June for looking after me, even though she was nursing a bad cold.

On the way back, I made a detour into Hull's city centre to take these photographs of the Tower, which is sadly closed yet again, and up for sale.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING THE TOWER

Who'd Be A Cat ?

2010-11-02T20:31:00.026Z

I once heard a joke about Percy Shaw, the guy from Halifax who, way back in 1933, had invented those reflective glass safety things can be seen on pretty much every road there is.

To summarise, back in the seventies, this guy had been invited by the local tv channel to be interviewed for the news.

The interviewer asks:
"So, how did you come up with such a wonderful invention, that makes night-time driving so much safer ?"

The old guy replies modestly:
"Well, it was simple really. I happened to be driving home from work one night, and the eyes of a cat were caught in the beam of my cars' headlights."

The interviewer, never at loss for a quick retort, replied:
"It's a good thing the cat didn't have his back to you."

"Why's that ? " old Percy asked.

"Well, otherwise you'd have invented the pencil-sharpener!"

Being basically one of these people who buys silly things on an impulse.

Guess what I've just ordered off of Amazon . . . . . .

Since we're talking "cats", I just thought I'd post a few photos of my dear little cat, as it's been a while since he's been seen on here.

( Click on photos to see full-size. )

In case anyone doesn't know already, his name is Mushroom.

Mushy-Puss, to his friends.

"Get out in that kitchen and fix my dinner!!

"Oh, I hate it when he picks me up . . . ."

Every Little Helps . . . .

2010-10-17T04:12:00.014+01:00

I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of the X-Factor, and usually find myself reaching for the remote pretty quickly, whenever it comes on.

Last night however, I just happened to catch the last few minutes of the programme, and have to say; I was completely blown away by this contestant.

Yesterday, The Daily Mail wrote:

"Mary Byrne sings like there's a lifetime of broken dreams in her amazing voice".

For me, this 50 year-old check-out lady at TESCO just stole the show. I hope she does well, and I wish her every success.

I Went To Your Wedding . . .

2010-09-19T17:01:00.009+01:00

Travelled over to Lincolnshire Friday night, to join in the celebrations on the occasion of the wedding of my nephew Daniel, to his fiancée Haley. Saturday, the big day, was a great success and everything went according to plan.

It was nice to spend time with family and friends, and what better occasion to do so than when there's a wedding in the family.

I'd like to wish them both a long and happy life together,
and every success in the the future.

Here's my September Video Blog, which includes highlights from the wedding:

CLICK HERE TO WATCH IN HD QUALITY

Croce di Oro

2010-09-16T20:55:00.012+01:00

This is the first song I've been able to sing in almost a week. Been nursing a cold, that rendered me almost unable to speak, let alone sing. (Some might say that wasn't such a bad thing, but hey . . .)

Anyway, hope you like this one. It holds many memories for me of when I first started out in the business almost forty years ago. The band I was working with played a weeknight residency in a very well known Hull pub, called "Rayners", situated in the heart of Hull's then thriving fishing industry . We used to call up volunteers to sing their favourite songs, (pre-karaoke days, back then). Clarice, our boss there, was known back then as "Hull's singing Landlady", and she would invariably finish the night off with this song, dedicating it to the many fishermen who frequented the pub in those days.

One particularly fond memory I have about this song concerns the time when we tried to up-stage Clarice over this song. Of course we didn't have the record or sheet music, and Laurie our organist just used to busk his way through whatever song she sang. For some reason we didn't feel we could ask her to write down the lyrics for us, so one Friday night, we secretly recorded her as she sang it. When I got home that night, I transcribed the words from the cassette onto paper, and having worked out what key would be suitable, set about trying to learn the song myself. We did the song the following week, un-announced.

The look on Clarice's face was priceless. We weren't sure how she would react, and wondered if we'd still have a job by the end of the night, but she took it all in good spirit, and complimented us later. We never did tell her about the cassette tape.

Clarice, seen on the left in this picture was the landlady of two pubs on Hull's Hessle Road in the seventies and eighties; The Vauxhall Tavern, and The Star & Garter (Rayners). She later went on to run The George Hotel, in St Georges Road, Hull.

Croce di Oro, meaning Cross of Gold, was written by James Kimble Gannon. It was recorded in 1955 by American singer Patti Page. Here in the UK, Joan Reagan also enjoyed success with the song.

For those of you who may be techically minded, the music was created using my Yamaha PSR e413 keyboard, utilising an imported accompaniment style. The complete, track including harmony voices, was mixed using CoolEdit ProAudio2.

Special Request For My Mum

2010-09-10T13:15:00.004+01:00

This is one of those songs that I must have sung hundreds of times at gigs over the years, but somehow never got around to actually recording it.

Anyway - by special request of my dear mum, here it is, "The Last Waltz".

Long may her dancing years continue.

Apologies for the adverts, but that's YouTube these days . . .

Please Watch This Video

2010-09-09T12:37:00.024+01:00

I am concious that all too often this blog is about me. Every once in a while, I like to include something NOT about me.

When I first set this blog up, in the side panel, I wrote:

"This blog isn't going to be about anything in particular. It could be about me, or it could be about something that's going on in my life or in the world, that has made me: think, happy, sad, angry, laugh, or cry".

So here is something very different. Something that touched me very deeply.

Kevin Johnson is an Australian singer/songwriter, best known for his song:

"Rock & Roll - I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life".

But here, Kevin sings passionately about something that he cares very deeply about.

Please take a few minutes to watch, and listen.

And please spare a thought for these most beautiful creatures, and what mankind in his greed and arrogance is doing to them.

"Melancholy, beautiful, unforgettable, and accompanied by a chorus of singing whales" - GSM

All earnings from "A Whaler's Lament" will go towards the protection of whales.

At the request of European leading marine biologist and whale crusader, Petra Deimer, Kevin wrote and recorded "A Whaler's Lament" a song about a remorseful whaler who has come to realise the terrible mistakes he has made. The song is included on Kevins CD "Songs from a Troubled World". which is available through his website.

CHECK OUT KEVIN JOHNSON'S WEBSITE

VIEW THIS VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

200 Subcribers

2010-09-04T12:58:00.014+01:00

My YouTube Channel has just reached 200 Subcribers !!

Not many by YouTube standards I know, but for me something of a personal milestone. When I first set the channel up, I had no idea how it would be received, nor did I have any delusions of becoming a YouTube "star", or anything like that.

YouTube works in a strange way though, I have to say. To the un-enlightened, you'd think that every video would, within a relatively short period of time, recieve at least 200 views. But of course, in reality, it doesn't work like that.

Nevertheless, I would like to thank all the lovely folks out there for taking an interest in my music, and taking time to leave their kind comments and words of encouragement.

It means a lot to me personally, and I am very grateful for your support.

Best Wishes - Dave

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY MAIN CHANNEL - Music Videos

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY OTHER CHANNEL - Vlogs, previews and anything else

Video Blog

2010-09-01T09:53:00.009+01:00

Not sure why I did this, but last night I posted a Vlog on my "other" YouTube channel.

"Another occasional vlog posting.
Just an old fart drinking tea, waffling on about video capture cards,
and generally making an HD fool of himself."

Another Translated Song

2010-08-30T20:03:00.005+01:00

This is a German song, originally called "So Bist Du", that was a hit for Schlager singer Peter Maffay, back in 1979. Some years later, my favourite Dutch singer, Benny Neyman found success with his cover version, "Zo Ben Jij".

As with previous songs of this genre, I have based my adaptive translation on a composite of the German and Dutch lyrics, and have tried to get as close to the original meanings as possible.

Similarly, as before, the music was "engineered" by me using Cakewalk ProAudio 7 to drive my Yamaha e413 keyboard.

I hope you like my interpretation.

You Alone

INTRO

You give all that - you can give,
You are the reason - that I live.
Boy girl man woman or - even child,
That is you. Yes you. You Alone.

You reach out - You're touching me,
I feel a spark - Electricity.
Thunder lightning - sun or wind - hot and cold,
Because of you. Yes you. You alone.

CHORUS 1:

And if I leave - a part of me stays, with you,
Part of you, is with me now it's true.
And if you cry for me I'll be - crying for you,
Then you'll laugh, so what must - I do?

You ask nothing - much of me,
All your love - you give for free.
You want no more than just what - has to be.
That’s your wish. For you. You Alone.

You say always - what you feel,
You always try - to keep it, real.
And all my pain you try so hard - to heal,
Only you. Just you. You Alone.

CHORUS 2:

And if I go - a part of me stays, with you,
Part of you with me - Whatever I do.
And when I dream, my dreams are always - of you,
In my dreams it’s just we two.

SAX SOLO

CHORUS 3:

And if I die - A part of you dies - I know,
Part of me, will die if you should go.
We'll be together now - and forever more,
I love you. Yes you. You Alone.

SAX PLAYOUT

English adaptive translation © 2010 Dave Williams
German / Dutch words & music © 1979 - Peter Maffay / Bernd Meinunger / Benny Neyman

Every Day The World Keeps Turning

2010-08-28T01:33:00.003+01:00

This beautiful Italian song was originally called "Parappa-Pa", ad was written by Vito Pallavicini and Pino Massara.

In 1975, Pierre Delanoë and Claude Lemesle gave the world a French version: "Ça va pas changer le monde". It was an international hit for the late Joe Dassin.

In 1990, Dutch singer / songwriter Benny Neyman released the song as: "Het Leven Blijft Gewoon Z’n Gang Gaan". He enjoyed great sucess with his version, and it soon became a great favourite with his fans.

My version, in adaptive translation, combines both the French and the Dutch lyrics.

The music for this track is again, from a midi file, re-voiced in Cakewalk Pro Audio7, driving my Yamaha e413 keyboard to provide the audio. Gentle harmonies were added underneath the main voice track along with the music of the keyboard, using CoolEdit Pro2 to produce the final audio mix.

I hope you like my interpretation.

Is This The Real Thing . . . .

2010-08-27T11:35:00.006+01:00

Is this just fantasy . . .

Well whatever it is, in my opinion it represents one of the best

"cover" versions of this classic Queen tracks ever !!

English "Schlager Music" - Is that possible?

2010-08-22T23:16:00.006+01:00

Schlager Music, as a genre, is relatively unknown here in the UK.

Some would even say it's a little dated nowadays. Well, be that as it may, it still commands a wide audience over many parts of the European mainland, especially with the older members of the family.

Schlager has it's roots in Germany, and was often described as "peoples music". Its' popularity spread rapidly into Scandanavia, and the low countries in the late sixties, and the genre probably reached its peak in the late seventies - early eighties.

Of course, the kids there dismiss Schlager as "granny music" - They'd much rather let themselves be brainwashed by American (c)rap. After all, it's not cool to like what your parents listen to.

Well, I'd be the last person to be bothered about being cool. All I have to say is - If this is "granny music" - Bring it on!!

Of course, there's the language barrier to get over, but these days, with the help of search engines like Google - it's easy to find the lyrics, run them through the on-line translator, and you're almost there.

This song started out as a hit for the German Schlager band "Die Flippers", and was covered by a number of other artistes, including Belgiums' Paul Severs. Originally titled "Auf Rote Rosen Fallen Tränen" (On Red Roses Falling Tears), it was written by Karlheinz Rupprich and Uwe Busse , members of the band. They had a huge hit with it.

Anyway, this is my interpretation of a very catchy number. The only thing that puzzles me is, why such a sad lyric for such a cheerful sounding melody? - Oh well, that's Schlager Music!

I hope you like it.

My Tears Are Falling On Your Roses
(Auf Rote Rosen Fallen Tränen)

The dream began for us - in late last summer,
As the sun began to set - way out to sea.
This dream is about to end, I have to leave my friend,
And tomorrow - what has to be, will be.

CHORUS:

My tears are falling on the roses,
I gave to you to say "goodbye".
A thousand things I want to tell you,
I’ll love you till the day I die.
My tears are falling on your roses,
And though I have to go away,
My heart is breaking ‘cause I’m leaving,
I’ll think of you each day.

You’re here in my arms tonight - we are together.
Tomorrow I’ll be far away - but not forever.
I’ll dream of you every night, longing to hold you tight,
I’ll be counting the days till I’m with you.

CHORUS:

My tears are falling on the roses,
I gave to you to say "goodbye".
A thousand things I want to tell you,
I’ll love you till the day I die.
My tears are falling on your roses,
And though I have to go away,
My heart is breaking ‘cause I’m leaving,
I’ll think of you each day.

INSTRUMENTAL

SHORT CHORUS:

My tears are falling on your roses,
And though I have to go away,
My heart is breaking ‘cause I’m leaving
I’ll think of you each day.

My heart is breaking ‘cause I’m leaving,
I’ll think of you each day.

© 1985 Karlheinz Rupprich / Uwe Busse
English translation & Lyric © 2010 Dave Williams

Forever And Ever

2010-08-22T03:32:00.017+01:00

A lovely "summery song" immortalised by Demis Roussos back in 1973. I hope you will enjoy my rendition, albeit in a slightly lower register!!

The music is a midi file, re-voiced using Cakewalk ProAudio7, and driving my Yamaha e413 keyboard via the USB connection to produce the audio.

It's amazing what you can do with a home keyboard from Toys R Us, when you put your mind to it . . .

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO IN HD on my YouTube Channel

Don't forget to click where it says 360p, and select either 1080p HD or 720p HD
The picture below shows you what to expect.

The quiet beach scene is a Royalty-Free video clip provided by YTGRAPHY.

Please check out his channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ytgraphy

A Single Man

2010-08-18T00:25:00.020+01:00

In 1981, one of my favourite Dutch singer / songwriters, Benny Neyman released his version of a Robert Frank Jacobi song.

Benny called his song "Vrijgezel" - Which translates to "Bachelor".

It was to bring him success in the early stages of his career. It was a toungue-in-cheek commentary about the life of a guy who had emerged from an un-successful relationship, and was determined to have a good time, come what may.

Here, I present my attempt to re-create that song with an adaptive translation from Bennys' original Dutch lyrics.

The music was provided by a re-voiced midi file loaded into my Yamaha e413 keyboard.

I plan to release a full video featuring this song on my main YouTube channel in the near future.

In the meantime, I hope you like this "preview" featuring just the song.

A Single Man (Vrijgezel)

Intro: La La La etc

It looks so sad for him all alone,
He takes his meals there on his own.
The loneliness that drives him on,
Is something that I can speak on.

He has no wife. No Children too.
His bed is cold. The whole night through.
His home is bare. He doesn’t care.
When he gets back, there’s no-one ever there.

CHORUS

A single man enjoys his freedom,
Beneath the stars he comes alive.
But when he’s taken all his pleasures:
"That’s it. Thank you. Good night. Good-bye"
A single man sleeps when the birds sing,
He shuns the naked light of day.
And when at last the party’s over,
He’ll just be on his way.

Marriage only once he tried,
To do the right thing, and not lie.
But from this he has learned a lot,
Commit himself now - He will not.

Never again. Not like before.
Now that he’s finally closed the door.
He’ll have to pay. Most every day.
But now he’s free. And free he’ll always stay.

CHORUS:

A single man enjoys his freedom,
Beneath the stars he comes alive.
But when he’s taken all his pleasures:
"That’s it. Thank you. Good night. Good-bye"
A single man sleeps when the birds sing,
He shuns the naked light of day.
And when at last the party’s over,
He’ll just be on his way.

AD LIB CHORUS:

La la la, etc

He’ll just be on his way.

Original music & lyrics by Robert Frank Jacobi / Benny Neyman
Adaptive translated English lyrics © 2010 Dave Williams

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE OFFICIAL BENNY NEYMAN WEBSITE (In Dutch)

CLICK HERE TO READ MY BENNY NEYMAN TRIBUTE PAGES (In English)

Email Scam Doing The Rounds

2010-08-14T01:42:00.013+01:00

Got this email last night from a good friend, and at least one other person who we both know, got exactly the same email as I did. It appeared in my Yahoo in-box once, and twice in my Hotmail in-box.

It was sent from my friends Yahoo account.

I know for a fact it's a scam.

After I made contact with the friend by SMS text messaging, my friend tried to access their email account, only to find the password had been changed.

A quick Google search on the words "email scam gunpoint" revealed that apparently this email is turning up all over the place, there's even a "chat" version going around on Facebook.

The Subject line is: URGENT HELP NEEDED!!!

Hello there
I'm sorry for this odd request because it might get to you too urgent but it's because of the situation of things right now,I'm stuck London with family right now, we came down here on family vacation, we were robbed, worse of it is that bags, cash and cards and our cell phone were stolen at GUN POINT,and it's hard to get hold of a phone here in London it's such a crazy experience for us, we need help flying back home, the authorities are not being 100% supportive but the good thing is we still have our passport but don't have enough money to get our flight ticket back home, please i need you to loan us some money, will refund you as soon as we are back home

Hull Daily Mail Article

2010-08-12T11:34:00.027+01:00

A good friend of mine, and fellow YouTuber, Stephen Meara-Bount hits out at a recent government announcement that road safety budgets are to be cut. Here, I reproduce the article that appears today, in Hulls' local paper, the Hull Daily Mail:

Victim of crash that killed brother 'appalled' by government road safety cash cuts

By Joanna Hunter

Stephen Meara-Blount was in an accident in which his brother Tony died. Their car was struck by a speeding driver.

A MAN left disabled after an accident that killed his brother claims cuts to the road safety budget will lead to more deaths.

Stephen Meara-Blount's brother Tony, 42, was killed when they were struck by a speeding driver as they crossed Beverley Road, city centre, in January 2006.

Driver Ian Atkinson, who was 19 at the time of the crash, was jailed for three-and-a-half years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving while over the drink-drive limit. Mr Meara-Blount, who lives off Beverley Road, has spoken out against the decision by the Government to cut its road safety budget. As reported in the Mail last month, Safer Roads Humber, the regional road safety partnership working to reduce casualties, has learnt it will lose about £385,000 – 27 per cent from its budget.

It is still not known exactly how these cuts will affect the organisation, but Mr Meara-Blount says he is worried any reduction in funding leading to cuts in the service will lead to more deaths. He said:

"I know just how important road safety is, and the terrible pain that families and friends suffer when someone loses their life on our roads. Making sure that drivers stay within speed limits is crucial to preventing these needless tragedies. I see speeding drivers everywhere I go and it makes me sick. Unless you have been through something like I have you just don't realise the devastating effects speeding drivers have. I'm appalled money is being taken away from road safety."

Although there are currently no firm plans for the best way to deal with the cuts, Mr Meara-Blount has urged the organisation and Humberside Police not to turn off speed cameras, as has been done in other parts of the country.

Mr Meara-Blount, who is also a member of the anti-speeding organisation Brake, said:

"Cameras shouldn't be abandoned because of funding constraints. The council should listen to the public, who want the right to walk safely in their communities without fear of being mown down by speeding drivers. By saving lives, they also save our economy money because each road death costs society almost £1.7 million."

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE

CLICK HERE TO VISIT STEVES' YOU TUBE CHANNEL

A Warm Welcome In Wales

2010-08-08T12:15:00.017+01:00

It was a great pleasure to be invited back to the Air Products Sports & Social Club last night.

This lovely little club situated at Acrefair, between Wrexham and Llangollen has a warm and very friendly atmosphere. I've lost count of the times I have been there over the last ten years, yet I am always made to feel very welcome. I wish there were more clubs like this one, because for me its not work, it's just a pleasure to be there.

I'm pleased to be able to say that somehow, this club seems to be surviving the current ecconomic climate, and continues to be well supported. It is also perhaps worth mentioning that the Air Products Club seems to have proved that its possible to run a successful venue, without bingo, or any of the other "costs members money to participate" activities usually found in such places.

Thanks to my agent Ken Rose for booking me back there once again, and also thanks to Ron Palmer, and all at the club for such an enjoyable evening.

Laurie and Mike at A1 Piano Service, Hull have been good friends of mine for a great many years. I am pleased to have been supported by them as a supplier of various items of musical and stage equipment over the years.

As a business, they specialise in tuning, repair and renovation, and are able to tackle just about any piano ever made.

What is particularly unique about A1 is that they also have the expertise necessary to be able to restore a player piano, or Pianola as they are often called. There are plenty of tuners and repairers around, but few posess the courage, or the knowledge to take on a Pianola. Inside they are a hornets nest of pipes, pumps and paraphanalia. And, often because of the instruments' age, all extremely fragile.

During a recent visit to Hull, I spent a couple of hours at their Hessle Road shop. Laurie had just finished some repair and restoration work on this Pianola's "plumbing" The instrument is a STECK / Aeolian "Duo Art" electric powered pianola, not sure just how old it is, but the tune it was playing here dates back to 1926 - "Meadow Lark" - written by Ted Fiorito & Hal Keidel.

Here's the video I made of this wonderful instrument:

Hello Again

2010-07-31T21:28:00.035+01:00

This song must have been in my "to-do" for the best part of twenty years!

Originally recorded by Howard Carpendale, it had a German lyric.

Although I've always loved the song, and wanted to do something with it, I had a feeling that somewhere there was an English lyric already. It's a bit pointless writing a cover lyric if one already exists. As soon as it gets out onto the World Wide Wobble, some bright spark is bound to come along and tell you you're singing the wrong words!

Anyway, I recently discovered (on Amazon, of all places), that Howard had indeed recorded an English version, and it appears on this compilation:

Anthologie Vol. 12: Carpendale '90 / The English Collection (Special Edition)

So I was able to purchase the track, and transcribe the lyrics.

The backing track for this one is from a midi file, which I re-voiced in Cakewalk Pro Audio to suit my Yamaha e413 keyboard. Once the keyboard was producing the right noises, I made an audio recording of the keyboard performance using CoolEdit Pro2, then was able to lay down the voice and harmony tracks. Hope you enjoy the results

FOOTNOTE

Many people who use YouTube have expressed opinions about advertising being placed on their postings. For what it's worth I'd like to throw some of my own thoughts into the debate:

Everyone will be familiar with the expression: "There's no such thing as a free meal ticket".

In that, YouTube is no different to any other commercial enterprise. The massive infrastructure required to run something on the scale of YouTube obviously costs a lot of money to acquire and maintain. Just to keep pace with the millions of uploads and downloads that take place every day must require constant re-investment.

YouTube is free to the hundreds of millions of end-users worldwide. Both viewer and contributor are charged nothing for their subscription. Yet in the midst of all this, running costs have to be met, employees have to be paid. This is where advertising hopefully generates the income necessary to fund the website.

But what of the artistic people who create much of the material that people constantly upload to YouTube ? It is only right and proper that they should be rewarded too.

Previously, the website had simply removed the disputed content, much to the annoyance of the audience who, quite rightly, saw no harm in sharing a clip for their favourite tv show, or artiste. Clearly there had to be a better way forward. After all, you should never bite the hand that feeds you, and in YouTubes' case, that is the people who watch the videos. It is these people who the advertisers hope will buy their products or services.

Obviously on such a scale, it is impossible to track every possible use of copyrighted material, but YouTube now seems to be taking a more sensible approach to this issue. Amid threats of litigation on a massive scale from the music and film industry, YouTube sought to reach agreement, whereby revenue could be generated, and shared, with the major stakeholders representing the interests of copyright owners. As a result, advertising would be placed against identifiable use of copyright material.

Now, we have a situation where even some of my own videos have attracted advertising.

Since 99% of my creative output is an interpretation of someone else's existing song, I have to say that I don't feel agreived by the inclusion of advertising against my work. My own experience has been that some of my own "cover" versions of songs have been picked up by YouTubes' copyright spotter, even though I might have created everything you see or hear, apart from the actual sheet music & lyrics I am performing.

My latest posting on my "other" channel is a clear case in point. I spent a whole day creating the soundtrack for the song "Hello Again", as soon as I was able to view the resultant video, it had advertising embedded on the sidebar.

Looking at the information relevant to this video while logged in, YouTube tell me that the audio content may attract third party copyright interest, it will remain available worldwide, advertising may appear against it, but no action is required on my part. So that's alright then.

In all honesty, I think I'd rather put up with an advert box, than have my work deleted, or be threatened with legal consequences, before anyone had even had the chance to see it.

The irony in all this is of course, I've never received a penny for anything I've placed on YouTube, but, it's a relief to know that I'm unlikely to receive a bill for royalties either . . .

Fragancia

2010-07-24T17:57:00.021+01:00

Evert Axel Taube, (12 Mar 1890 - 31 Jan 1976), was born in Gothenburg, and brought up on the island of Vinga, Västergötland, where his father, Carl Gunnar Taube, a ship's captain, was the lighthouse keeper. His mother was Julia Sofia Jacobsdotter.

According to Evert Taube: "I was supposed to be stillborn at my birth, and put away, but when doctor Petter Silfverskiöld was called to certify my death, he brought me back to life".

In 1925, he married Astri Linnéa Mathilda Bergman, a painter and sculptress. He died in Stockholm and is buried on the graveyard of Maria Magdalena Church on Södermalm.

Having spent two years (1907-1909) sailing around the Red Sea, Ceylon and South Africa, Taube began his career as a singer-songwriter and collector of sailors' songs, and on Christmas Eve 1908, on board the Norwegian ship SS Bergen headed for Spain, he performed "Turalleri, piken fra Hamburg".

Following a five-year stay (1910-1915) in Argentina, he developed an interest in Latin American music and introduced the Argentinian tango to Sweden in the twenties. Contrary to widespread perceptions, Taube did not work as a gaucho (cowboy) on the Pampas but as a foreman supervising workers who were digging canals designed to prevent flooding on the vast plains.

He is perhaps best known as a depictor of the idyllic, with motifs from the Swedish archipelagoes and from the Mediterranean, from a perspective every Swedish four-week holiday tourist could recognize.

But he also wrote the most hitting anti-fascist anti-war poem in the Swedish language, "Målaren och Maria Pia", about the Italian war in Abyssinia, from the late 30s, as well as the anthem of the budding environmental movement in the 70s, "Änglamark" (originally written for the successful 1971 "Hasseåtage"-film The Apple War).

On his 60th birthday in 1950, Taube received the Bellman Award from the Swedish Academy and in 1960 he received an honorary doctorate from Gothenburg University. He was elected as a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1970.

Among Taube's most famous songs are "Calle Schewens vals", "Min älskling (du är som en ros)", "Dans på Sunnanö", "Flickan i Havanna", "Änglamark'", "Så skimrande var aldrig havet" and "Så länge skutan kan gå".

Evert Taube is regarded as one of the finest troubadours in Sweden. There is a complete pavilion, opened in 2008, dedicated to him at Liseberg Theme Park in Gothenburg.

SOURCE: Wikepedia

I've tried to create a translation from the original Swedish lyric that stays as close as possible to the original. I hope I've come somewhere close. My sincerest thanks go to my good friend Lisa, for all the help she gave me in trying to gain a better understanding of the song. I couldn't have done it without her help.

The music for this piece was created by me, using the Yamaha e413 keyboard.
(No guitars were harmed in the making of this song).

On a technical note, the orchestral style used on the Yamaha to create the backing track, is not one of the pre-installed styles list. So, if you have an e413, you won't find it on the styles list.

The style, called "Langsamer Waltzer" was actually downloaded from Heidruns Musikerseiten and loaded in to the instrument as a user file. The file is really designed for the Yamaha PSR 9000, which as keyboards go, is quite a different animal to the one I have. So, it was a nice surprise to find that the style file worked just fine on my e413 keyboard. And the best part - it was a free download.

All images used in this video found with Google image search, and believed to be in the public domain.

Serenade In Havana (Fragancia)
In Cuban nights, a voice from home, Estancia.
In rose-filled air, your sweet memory, speaks unto me.
Softly warm breezes carry your scent, Fragancia.
Whispering words of love, that you used to, say to me.

Loneliness is a way of life, for me, my dear.
Though you are gone, the scent of you, still lingers here.
Here in my heart I'll hold the love that we, once knew.
Fragrance of flowers remind me always, of you . . .

Oh, my darling I . . .
Try to forget, but still my tears are falling,
Hiding away I hear your sweet voice calling.
Heaven knows how, the flowers hold your memory,
Moon going down . . . there's nothing more left for me.

English Translation (C) 2010 -- Dave Williams
Original Swedish text: Evert Taube

Mini Videos

2010-07-01T12:29:00.018+01:00

I've just launched a new project on my "other" YouTube channel.

A lot of people have suggested they'd like to hear more of my songs,
but If you've ever tried to make a video for YouTube, you'll know it can
be a very time consuming activity. I've spent hours, whole days even,
on one three minute video only to have people say to me:

"I liked the song, but can't remember much about the video itself . . . "

So in an effort to make more of my music available, I've launched a series of "No-Frills" videos.

No wandering along deserted beaches, no meandering through leafy woods.
Just a caption - and of course, the song.

As they say over at YT - Comment - Rate - Subscribe.

Please let me know what you think.

Here's the channel URL: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrNeelix2009

As a sample of what you can expect, here's a few of my all-time favourite songs:

The song that nearly put me in hospital . . .

2010-06-28T21:17:00.010+01:00

There's a song that until this weekend had been sitting in my "to-do" list for several years. When my good friend Lisa, who lives in Sweden, suggested it, I soon realised that I'd probably need surgery if I was to reach the highest notes!!

Looking through the "to-do" list on Saturday, I decided to dust it off and give it one last try. Since surgery was not an option I really wanted to consider, I decided to see what modern technology could do to lower the song so it came within my vocal range. Well, this is the outcome, and I hope I've managed to do the song justice.

Swedish singer Jan Johansen sang the original version of this song under the title: "Se På Mig" back in 1995, representing his country in the Eurovision Song Contest of that year. He also recorded an English cover version which had different lyrics which was called "Another Night".

What I have tried to do here is to translate and adapt the original Swedish lyrics to suit the melody.
I hope you enjoy what I've come up with.

Lyrics

Look For Me (Se På Mig)

When the road is long - and you're feeling low,
Somehow you have to carry on, mmm ....
And when the shadows grow, and seem to come alive,

And when the dark night scares you so - oh-woe.
I am with you - And I will follow every step you take
And I am with you - And here I'll stay.

So look for me, oh woe - I'm like a port in a storm.
Like a wave - that is born to carry you.
Yes, look for me, oh woe - in the light and dark,
I'll be there - and I'll always be with you.

At the crossroads there you ask - which way to go in life,
Feeling lost just like a little child - oh woe
I am here for you – And I’ll follow every step you take.
I am here. And with you I will go.

So look for me, oh woe - I'm like a port in a storm.
Like a wave - that is born to carry you.
Yes, look for me, oh woe - in the light and dark,
I'll be there - and I'll always be with you.

I’ll go with you wherever you go.
And I'll never leave you side.

So look for me, oh woe - I'm like a port in a storm.
Like a wave - that is born to carry you.
Yes, look for me, oh woe - in the light and dark,
I'll be there - and I'll always be with you.

I’ll be there for you.

English translation and adaptation: © 2010 Dave Williams
Original Version: © Ingela Forsman, Bobby Ljunggren & Håkan Almqvist

You can see this video on my main YouTube Channel, in HD quality, HERE

Just click on where it says 360p, (bottom right), and select 720p HD or 1080p HD from the pop up menu.

You will need a pretty good broadband connection for this.

A Day To Remember . . .

2010-06-24T22:03:00.017+01:00

Just got back from a day trip over to Hull. My Aunt Hazel sadly passed away 13th June.
She was 71 and had been suffering from cancer. Today was her special day.

It was a sad day, but it was my aunts' express wish that it was not to be a mournful or tearful one.

It was to be a day to celebrate her life, and remember the good times.

During the service the minister gave a beautiful tribute, talking about her life, and how, over the years, she had touched so many other people's lives in so many ways. His tribute was by turn both moving and uplifting.

The little chapel was overflowing with friends and family, over 200 people turned up to say their goodbye, each with their own special memories of this lovely lady.

There were some tears, but in many ways, although it was a sad occasion, it was a lovely day, which was exactly how my aunt had wanted it to be.

And Now For Something Completely Different . . .

2010-06-23T13:20:00.005+01:00

Here's a couple of videos that made me smile today.

First up, here's the Reverand Dixon blowing a few cobwebs out of the church organ.

I think this young man has a great future.

Ok, so his dad, Jan Mulder is already a well-known concert artiste,

but there's no reason why Simeone should not follow in his fathers footsteps.

Seeing this just makes me wish I'd made more of an effort with my own

piano lessons when I was a kid.

THAT video - Again . . . .

2010-06-19T14:25:00.036+01:00

First of all, I'd like to mention once again that the lyrics to this parody version were NOT written by me.

In fact I really have no idea who came up with them.

But in an effort to set the record straight yet again, here is the exact web page where I found it:

http://www.mudcat.org/detail.cfm?messages__Message_ID=1060200

It's still there, exactly how I copy-pasted it. Keep in mind however that I left out the fifth verse, as the backing track only ran to five.

Now, I've written on more than one occasion, (and spoke of this to friends several times already), but this is one video and song posted on my YouTube channel that I really feel uncomfortable about. If you really must watch it, here's the link to it: "Are You Lonesome Tonight".

I suppose I should be grateful, (which of course I am), for the 1,483,281 views this video has attracted to date, but it still embarrasses me. Indeed, I keep asking myself -

Do I really want the following conversation as my epitaph ?

"Dave Williams, who was he ?"
"Oh you remember, the guy who sang about
prostrates and false teeth!!"

Well anyway, a guy named Jeff Haebig now has me featured on his blog, Body Brain Boogie,
so it's likely the video is gonna receive yet another boost to it's viewing figures.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Guess I'm just gonna have to live with it.

Now then, has anyone seen my glasses? And where in the world did I put my memory pills . . . ?

Funny How Time Slips Away

Still on a voyage of discovery with this Sony Vegas MovieMaker software.

I decided to see what could be done with some footage I shot last week of a June sunrise over Liverpool city centre. Each shot has been speeded up between four and eight times normal speed.

Anyway, hope you like the results, and I hope you enjoy my rendition of this classic Willie Nelson song, which was featured on his debut album way back in 1962.

You can see this video on my main YouTube Channel, in HD quality, HERE

Just click on where it says 360p, (bottom right), and select 720pHD from the pop up menu.

In Praise Of The Pattie . . . .

2010-06-10T17:56:00.012+01:00

It's almost ten years that I left my hometown of Hull, in search of fame and fortune.

So far, I've found little of either, but over the years I guess I've had my share of good days and better days. I have a lot to be grateful for.

I have a decent day-job, made a few friends along the way, and generally life is pretty good.

BUT . . . . There's a few things I miss.

My Mum
My best mate Paul
My pals at the piano shop
Decent Fish & Chips
The Hull accent.

And - Patties.

What in the world are Patties? - I hear you ask.

Well dear reader, patties are a local delicacy - available at pretty much every chippy in the city of Hull. (But nowhere else). In fact, they are almost unheard of outside of Hull. Therefore, you'll be greeted with a blank look should you ask for one at a chippy in Leeds, Liverpool, or pretty much anywhere beyond Hull's boundaries.

Here in Liverpool, some chippys offer what they call a Savoury Cake. While these aren't too bad - They are definately NOT Patties.

REAL patties are basically mashed potato, seasoned with sage, and perhaps a dash of salt & pepper. This is then formed into a circular shape, about 3 1/2 inches (85mm) across, and about an inch (25mm) thick. Just prior to being served up, the pattie will be dipped in batter, and deep fried until golden brown. There are subtle differences in the taste of patties from one chippy to another. Each chippy claims to have their own closely guarded "secret" recipe. Some even offer variations on the pattie, for example the Corned Beef Pattie, or even a Fish Pattie. These variations are sometimes rectangle or even "fish" shaped.

But in my opinion, the original round pattie reigns supreme.

In Hull, the ultimate in fast-food is a Pattie Butty. A newly baked white breadcake, sliced like a clam shell, both halves generously buttered, containing a freshly cooked pattie, garnished with salt & vinegar. Food fit for a king!!

Or for a filling and satisfying meal - Try Pattie, Chips & Gravy

Over the years on trips back to Hull, I've been known to purchase large quantities of this glorious foodstuff, and on my return, place them in the deep freezer, for consumption over the ensuing months. I've found that thawing them out in the microwave first, then placing them in a pre-warmed medium oven will crispen up the batter, producing quite a palatable result.

CULTURAL NOTE: Young ladies who are employed in the preparation of this fine food are sometimes affectionately, (never offensively), referred to as Pattie Slappers.

I'm not going to recommend one Hull chippy over another, all have their good points and bad points, but I will say that next time I'm in Hull and happen to be driving down Beverley Road, there's a certain white painted place of purveyance that had better be stocked up!!

One Way Wind

2010-06-09T23:41:00.009+01:00

My interpetation of a classic 1972 song, originally recorded by Dutch band "The Cats"

Video shot on location at Crosby and Formby, with grateful thanks to: TheFunkeymonkey38

for his work and assistance behind the camera.

I recently purchased Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum-8.

This is my first serious attempt with this truly amazing piece of video editing software. There is so much to learn, and so far I've only scratched the surface, so it's like first day at school. I've been using Windows MovieMaker for quite a while - it's simple to use, but prone to freezing up when pushed to it's limits. So more and more, I've been feeling that I'd out-grown the program, and was ready to move on to something with a bit more scope.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video, and the song.

Click HERE to view this video in HD on my YouTube Channel

A Good Helping Of Songs

2010-06-06T12:04:00.017+01:00

I've already written in this blog on several occasions about how quiet things have been, for me at least, on the club scene.

So I was pleased when Ken Rose, one of my agents rang last month to offer me a night's work at Our Lady Of Good Help Parish Centre, in Wavertree.

It's affiliated to Our Lady's church, seen here on the right.

This lovely little club is tucked away in a side street behind Wavertree High Street, and easy to miss, if you don't know the area.

Look for the church first, was the advice I was given a long time ago.

It's a venue I have played many times, and know well.In the past I have always played there on Sunday evenings in the concert room, however last night they wanted me to work the lounge, which as it turned out is much smaller, and has a much more intimate atmosphere.

Judging by the amount of people I could hear singing along, and the nice comments I received, I think it's safe to say that everyone had a good night. I certainly enjoyed myself.

So to all the good folks at Our Lady's, I would like to say thank you for inviting me to your club, yet again, and for giving me such a warm and friendly welcome.

PHOTO CREDITS: Church - Sue Adair. Club - Google Street View.

New Videos On The Tube

2010-06-01T10:47:00.032+01:00

Alan Jackson is little known outside country music circles here in the UK, but across the pond he is a major player.
Here is a song which was suggested by my dear friend Lisa, a fan of Alan Jackson, and Buick cars.

This is a song that's been in my "to-do" list for about five years!!

Originally recorded by Dana Winner, from Belgium - under the title: "Ik Hou van Jou",
I hope you like my interpretation of the Engish version - "In Love With You."

And for my friends in Belgium and The Netherlands . . . .

You can see these videos on my main YouTube Channel, in HD quality, HERE

Just click on where it says 360p, (bottom right), and select 720pHD from the pop up menu.

I would like to give a quick mention to Rick Clarke, (RickVanMan on YouTube). Rick is a very generous chap who, as well as selling a couple of excellent CDs/DVDs featuring his own original royalty-free music, also makes available as free downloads, a lot of his music and video footage for fellow YouTubers to use in their own productions. I used his cloud sequence in the "In Love With You" video, featured on this page. The CamCorderBandits channel has all the details, and it is on this channel you'll find Rick and his good friend Kev sharing the "tricks of the trade" they have discovered, and offering all manner of help and advice on how to make better videos without spending a fortune.

Having purchased one of Ricks' CD/DVD compilations, and used his material in several of my videos, I can confirm his stuff is every bit as good as he claims it to be.

Please take a few moments to watch this sampler video. Everything you see and hear is available from Rick, completely free of charge. And, if you want to support someone who has helped so many of us in their quest to make better videos, why not buy one of his products yourself?

Rick, and Kev - thank you for making a difference.

CAMCORDER BANDITS WEBSITE

CAMCORDER BANDITS YouTube CHANNEL

Annual Birthday Gathering

2010-05-22T23:37:00.005+01:00

My Mum recently celebrated her 85th birthday.
This morning I drove over to Yorkshire for the day, joining close family for a pub lunch in Mum's honour.

Here's a picture of your's truly, and his Mum, taken this afternoon.

One Swallow Doesn't Make A Summer . . . but . . .

2010-05-21T12:13:00.007+01:00

So far, 2010 has been without doubt, the quietest year for clubwork that I can ever remember.

With absolutely nothing in the diary since March, I was begining to wonder if it was time to call it day, or if I'd upset someone.

Over the past few months I've been talking to agents, who did their best to reassure me that I hadn't upset anyone, everyone was in the same boat, and it was just the way things were at the moment.

So I was particulary pleased to hear from Ken Rose, an agent friend of mine, not once but twice in as many days. As a result of those calls, I can now confirm forthcoming appearences at Our Lady's Club, Wavertree on Saturday, 5th June, and at the Air Products Social Club, Acrefair, Wrexham on Saturday 7th August.

Thanks Ken.

And thanks to all the other agents for their reassurance and support these past few months. Although two bookings aren't much in terms of available dates, it is a start. I just hope these bookings are the first green shoots of a long awaited recovery.

KEN ROSE THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT AGENCY

As Usual

2010-05-16T21:42:00.011+01:00

A classic song from the repetoire of Brenda Lee, and a great favourite of mine. Hope you like my rendition.

You can see this video on my main YouTube Channel, in HD quality, HERE

Just click on where it says 360p, (bottom right), and select 720pHD from the pop up menu.

Live at The Albion, Hull

2010-05-10T03:00:00.018+01:00

Went over to Hull last week for a few days. Tuesday night saw me singing for my supper yet again at the Albion pub.

There are several videos which I will be posting here, in the course of the next few days. The sound quality is not as good as I had hoped for, but I hope you enjoy them, nevertheless.

You can see these videos on my "other" YouTube Channel, in HD quality, HERE

Just click on where it says 360p, (bottom right), and select 720pHD from the pop up menu.

Shirt on the screen - Check out BillTV HERE

Les Bicyclettes de Belsize

2010-05-02T11:23:00.004+01:00

In 1968, I was 16 years old, and working as a projectionist at a local cinema back in Hull.

One particular week, as part of the programme, we screened a delightful little short film starring Judy Huxtable and Anthony May. It told the story of a young man cycling around the Hampstead area of London on a Raleigh RSW16 bicycle. After crashing into a billboard, he falls in love with a fashion model depicted on it.

There is almost no spoken dialogue, and the soundtrack to the film is musical virtually throughout. The title song from the film was a hit for Engelbert Humperdinck and Mireille Mathieu , however a relatively unknown session-singer by the name of Johnny Worth was actually heard on the film soundtrack.

Anyway, here's my interpretation of the song. Hope you like it.

If only I'd sung the theme song . . .

. . . I might have been famous by now . . .

It's a bit naughty to do this sort of thing, I know but hey - everyone's at it on YouTube these days. It's not as though I've tried to hide any of the credits.

Hope you like this "alternative" version of "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize"

Vintage Elvis song

2010-04-30T21:45:00.010+01:00

Contrary to what you you might think, I do have quite a few lively numbers in my reptoire, and this is one I've recently added.

Elvis Presley originally recorded this Otis Blackmore song in September 1956, when I was just four years old!!

Strangely enough I only came accross it a couple of weeks ago.

Anyway, hope you like my interpretation . . .

In Memory Of My Father

2010-04-23T05:51:00.012+01:00

Today, April 23rd was my late fathers' birthday.

He would have been 87 today.

Dad passed away October 26th 1997, his health deteriorating due to a series of diabetic related illnesses. He had lost his sight some years earlier as a result of his condition.

Ours was never an easy relationship, there were many issues between us that were never resolved. But I want him to know that in spite of our many differences, I always loved him, miss him terribly, even to this day, and it is to my eternal regret that, for whatever reason, we never were never able to sort things out between us.

I think the following words, part a song by B.A. Robertson and Mike Rutherford, says it all:

"I wasn't there that morning, When my father passed away
I didn't get to tell him all the things I had to say . . . .

. . . . I just wish I could have told him in the living years"

Rest in peace Dad, you are not forgotten.

Above Us - Only Sky . . .

2010-04-17T18:47:00.006+01:00

The recent erruption of the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano in Iceland has brought international air travel to a stand-still here in the UK, and around the world.

I wouldn't want to detract from the seriousness of the situation, but . . .

There's an old saying: "Every cloud has a silver lining".

Whilst I have every sympathy for the countless millions who's travel plans have been ruined, I cannot help but notice how much quieter it is here in Liverpool. I never realised just how much aircraft contribute to the overall ambient noise levels.

Of course, we have the John Lennon International airport right on our doorstep, and Manchester airport a short drive away, so over the years that I've been living here, I have gotten used to jets passing over head, and for the most part don't even notice them anymore.

So, if like me, you are a city-dweller that longs for a quieter life, I suspect you might have also noticed how much more peaceful it has seemed these past few days.

"Live" at The International Social Club . . .

2010-04-10T20:48:00.009+01:00

Recorded "live" during a recent appearence at the International Social Club, Liverpool, 21st March 2010.

These are some of my most favourite songs. I hope you enjoy them.

My special thanks go to a special friend, Jon, who did a great job behind the camera, and to all the lovely people at the International.

"Live" at The Walton Social Club . . .

2010-04-10T20:25:00.005+01:00

These clips were recorded "live" at the Walton Social Club, in Liverpool, 20th March 2010.

The club is one of my favourite venues, and one that I have been invited back to countless times.
I'd like to thank all the lovely people at The Walton for making me feel so welcome yet again, and for joining in with the "Hello YouTube" shout-out at the begining of the first clip.

The song is dedicated to my dear Gran, who sadly passed away some years ago. It was one of her favourites.

Vintage Home Video - from 1983

2010-04-05T13:40:00.016+01:00

Hound Dog - Pianola

Here's a vintage clip taken around 1983 by Laurie, a good friend of mine, testing out a Volkner Pianola he had just restored and tuned. It was taken in the piano workshop of Gough & Davey, Hull, where he worked at the time. At the peddles for this clip, was workmate Graham Middleton, who went on to be a very successful drummer.

These days, Laurie run his own specialist business - A1 Piano Service on Hull's Hessle Road, where he still undertakes such work some twenty-seven years later.

WATCH THIS VIDEO ON MY (Other) YOUTUBE CHANNEL

The Sheik Of Araby - Pianola

Here's a vintage clip taken around 1983. It features Laurie, a good friend of mine, testing out a Volkner Pianola he had just restored and tuned. It was taken in the piano workshop of Gough & Davey, Hull, where he worked at the time.

These days, Laurie run his own specialist business - A1 Piano Service on Hull's Hessle Road, where he still undertakes such work some twenty-seven years later.

WATCH THIS VIDEO ON MY (Other) YOUTUBE CHANNEL

More Vintage Home Movies

2010-04-03T14:29:00.009+01:00

The Regent Cinema, Hull

Leaving school at 15, I started my working life as a trainee projectionist at this Hull cinema in September 1967. By the early 1970s I was 2nd projectionist there.

Here is a montage of 8mm home-movies I took over a period of time.

The wages were low, the hours were long, and I loved every minute of it. Oh, the stories I could tell . . .

The Kinemacolour Palace, as it was known then, opened on Christmas Eve, 1910. It became known as the Regent Cinema in 1919. The cinema was run by successive generations of the Freeman family until it's closure in 1978. The building was eventually sold to local boxing legend Wally Mays who turned it into a Roller Disco in 1980. Several years later the entire builing was demolished except for the frontage, which still remains, and was rebuilt as a pub-restaurant.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON MY (Other) YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Old Home Movies & Videos

2010-03-31T01:14:00.029+01:00

As someone who's hobbies have, at various times included photography, 8mm home movies and then home video, I was grateful to Mike, of A1 Piano Service, over in Hull, a good friend of many years for kindly lending me his 25 year-old BETAMAX video player.

My old Sony C7 machine bit the dust a long time ago, leaving me with a box full of Betamax cassettes for which I had no means of playing. Among those tapes were several home movies, and videos I'd done some 20 - 30 years ago.

Using Mike's video player hooked up to the PC through a USB video capture device, I was able to create a copy of this video I made in 1983 while driving over the Humber Bridge.

This particular clip was taken using a friend's Sony BETAMOVIE camera, mounted on a tripod standing on the passenger seat of the van I was driving. The tripod was tied down using the passenger seatbelt.

At the time of it's release, the camera represented "state-of-the-art" technology, and was the first camera available to the consumer market that used the Betamax format.

The camera cost around £1,000 back in 1983, and recorded direct to a standard BETAMAX tape cassette. The cassettes could cost you between five and ten pounds each. That was a lot of money back then!

As far as I know, the camera still works, although I don't think it has been used in a long time.

Incidentally, the song featured on the video is called "Humber Bridge" and was performed by two local singers; Christopher Rowe and Ian Clark, well known at one time on the Hull and East Yorkshire folk-music scene. The song was first recorded over 40 years ago and appeared on several albums the duo recorded It's a collectors item these days.

Sadly, Christopher died about nine years ago. As far as I know, Ian is still alive, and lives in the Merseyside area.

You can read a related article HERE, where I found this delightful postscript to the original song:

In nineteen eighty one when at last the bridge was done
It was opened by Her Majesty the Queen
It was suspended by steel cables spun by spinning wheel
The longest that the world had ever seen.

But it was financed by a debt and so we had to pay
At first it was a pound to go across each way each day
But now it's two pounds seventy with increases on the way
And we can't afford to cross the Humber Bridge.

Will they ever pay the loan off? will it ever be free?
Is it always an exception to the rule?
Is it such a privilege just to drive across a bridge
Not to have to keep on going round by Goole?

- Enjoy the video!!

WATCH THIS VIDEO ON MY (Other) YOUTUBE CHANNEL

HULL FAIR - 1968

WATCH THIS VIDEO ON MY (Other)YOUTUBE CHANNEL

THE JOURNEY OF AN OLD HOME-MOVIE

From Regular (Standard) 8mm camera -> Projected film re-recorded, using Betamax Camera ->
Betamax VCR playback -> thru USB video capture device -> into desktop PC -> Uploaded to YouTube

Total timeline = Aprox 42 Years

Explanation Time

2010-03-22T16:41:00.004Z

Visitors to my website will perhaps have noticed that there is currently no information listed with regard to forthcoming appearences or availablity.

This is due to circumstances entirely beyond my control, and hopefully the situation will be resolved shortly.

In recent times, the ecconomic climate has forced many social clubs to review their entertainment budgets, which has resulted in quite a lot of work being cancelled. In addition to that, imminent changes at the day job have meant that I have been unable to provide my agents with enough advance information about my availability. Since bookings are usually made several months ahead, I now find myself in a state of limbo, having to take an enforced "sabatical" from entertaining for a few weeks.

As soon as bookings are confirmed, and availabilty can be ascertained, I will post information on my Gig Guide and Availabilty pages on the main website.

Live Video Page Updated

2010-03-21T17:26:00.002Z

Made a return visit to Hull last week. In between visiting family and friends, I enjoyed another Tuesday night at the Albion.

Paul, my best mate and trusty cameraman was on hand to record my contribution to the night's proceedings. In addition to the lovely RUTH, and regular volunteers, old friends J.J. McCall, Dave, Mike and Veronica entertained us royally, making it a very enjoyable way to spend an evening.

Also along for a night out were my dear friends June and Gillian, and once again, I must thank my old mate Paul for rounding of the night with yet another amazing chicken curry!!

The new videos are being added to the previous page, over the course of the next few days.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

A Nice Surprise At The Legion

2010-03-14T23:01:00.012Z

Regular readers of this blog may recall my aricle of 31st May 2009, concerning the Royal British Legion Club in Neston.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE

Well, it was my pleasure to be invited back there again, last night. And to my surprise I met up with Rod, a very talented musician who I hadn't seen for a while.

Rod was at the Bronze Club in Wallasey for over 24 years.

Now resident at the Legion, in my opinion, this guy is one of the best organists on the north west club circuit, and the performance he gave last night was probably the best I'd heard him give.

In particular, his freestyle jive medley of Beatles songs, included "I saw her standing there", and "Hard days night", which was absolutely amazing.

Rod was certainly able to off some of the terrific sounds that the Yamaha AR80 organ is capable of producing, in the right hands.

Anyway, good to see him again, and I wish him much success at this lovely club.

Must also mention the resident drummer Tony, who turned in a superb performance, despite playing with two broken ribs.

What is it they say ? "The Show Must Go On . . . "

If I had one suggestion to make to Rod, it would be this:

Get yourself a CamCorder, and put some videos of your music on YouTube. You'd put a lot of them to shame.

A Letter Makes All The Difference

2010-03-13T01:23:00.004Z

In 1966, Swedish singer songwriter Thore Skogman recorded one of his own compositions, a gentle pop ballad called "Ett Brev Betyder Så Mycket", (A Letter Means So Much). The Swedish dance band Vikingarna also added it to their repetoire some years later. Recently I heard Vikingarna's version, and decided to see what I could come up with.

Anyway, complete with translated and adapted English lyrics, here is:

A Letter Makes All The Difference.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

Life Before The Computer . . .

2010-02-23T16:38:00.001Z

The FOUR Wise Monkeys ???

2010-02-21T18:16:00.005Z

Found this picture on a blog called: Blurrypages.

As I recall, the original three monkeys advised us to:

Hear no evil
Speak no evil
See no evil

So whats the deal with number four ??

Singing For My Supper

2010-02-20T22:23:00.073Z

UPDATED: 21st & 26th MARCH 2010

** Please scroll down the page to watch the videos **

Just got back from a few days over in Yorkshire. Spent the week catching up with family and old friends. Had a great time, relaxing at mums', then chasing around the city looking up old friends. Lots to catch up on.

Managed to get my eyes tested after three years, and found out I need some new glasses.

During the course of the week, I met up with two fellow YouTube'rs Nickladey and SteveMB1959

On Tuesday night, together with friends Paul and June, I visited The Albion pub just off the Hull city center. The pub is now run by two old friends of mine. Many club-goers in the Hull area will have fond memories of a band called The Rudens.

Ruth, (pictured on the left), the vocalist with the band is now to be found entertaining the regulars in her own pub - The Albion.

A new website has just been set up to promote the pub, which can be found HERE

Tuesday night was a kind of "open-mic" night, and several singers, myself included, did about a half-hour each on stage. Friday night was a karaoke evening.

My good friend Paul kindly acted as cameraman, so I was able to bring home a record of my contribution to both evenings.

Thanks Paul, and thanks also for supper - yet another excellent chicken-curry!!

These clips are hosted on one of my YouTube channels - CLICK HERE TO GO THERE

** Please scroll down the page to watch the videos here **

TUESDAY 16th MARCH 2010

TUESDAY & FRIDAY 16th & 18th FEBRUARY 2010

Here's the first clip, from my Tuesday session. Hope you like it.

Here's a clip from Friday's karaoke night:

Another clip from Tuesday night . . .

Another clip from Friday's karoke night . . .

Hello Again

2010-02-14T06:10:00.003Z

A classic Neil Diamond song which featured in the movie "The Jazz Singer".

WATCH THIS VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

Tea & Sympathy ??

2010-02-13T06:26:00.003Z

Apparently, 'Viagra' is now available in powder form for your tea.

It doesn't enhance your sexual performance,

but it does stop your biscuit going soft . . .

Comments

2010-02-11T17:33:00.006Z

I welcome comments from readers of my blog, subject to approval, but recently I've had to reject two comments. The reason being that they were submitted in an non-compatible font or typeface, which my computer just displayed as little boxes with numbers in them. So I had no idea what the author was saying.

It's perhaps worth remembering that if you wish to leave feedback, please write in English, and choose a font or typeface that a UK computer can display.

I'm sorry but I cannot approve comments that I can't read.

UPDATE 2nd March 2010:

In this example from a screen grab of the email notification I receieve, the dotted line after the boxes contained links to numerous Japanese porn sites. I will not accept this on my site.

How Strange . . . .

2010-01-31T04:07:00.004Z

Just finished work on my version of an old Patsy Cline song. Hope you like it.

WATCH THIS VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

Hulls' New Singing Landlady ?

2010-01-29T17:13:00.014Z

Way back in the 1970's when I first started singing, we worked in residency at Hull's famous Rayners pub on the Hessle Road. It was a traditional working-mans pub, in the heart of the fishing community.

Clarice Bevan, (seen on the right), ran Rayners back then, and had acquired a reputation as Hulls' "Singing Landlady". Her rendition of the Pattie Page song "Croce de Oro" was legendary, and a great favourite of many. We always encouraged volunteers to give a song or two, and before long we had built up a pool of regulars. Some were just ordinary folk, others were artistes in their own right. Most notable of course was Joe Longthorne, who went on to become an international cabaret artiste.

One of my particular favourites was a lady known as Ruth. She had already built up quite a following, and was well known on Hulls' club and pub circuit. Many Hull club goers will remember Ruth & The Rudens.

So I was particularly pleased that fellow YouTuber, Stephen Meara-Blount recently posted a video of Ruth on his channel. Steve tells me that nowadays, Ruth runs a pub herself, The Albion, which is situated in Caroline Street, just off the city center in Hull, where she often delights regulars with her songs. I can well imagine Ruth becoming known as Hull's new "Singing Landlady"

In my opinion, Ruth sounds as good as ever, and I hope she agrees to have more videos of her posted on YouTube. Next time I go over to Hull, I shall definitely have to try to pop into the Albion, and say hello. But for the moment, here's the video that Steve posted:

Watch the video at YouTube

Enjoyable Weekend

2010-01-25T01:19:00.011Z

It's always a pleasure to return to the two clubs I was fortunate enough to be booked into this weekend. Saturday night saw me setting up on the tiny stage at the Royal British Legion Club, over in Tuebrook. It's not the smallest stage I've ever had to work on, but then it's a rather cosy little place too, so it's ok. The club is set in two converted old Victorian houses, in fact being there is just like being in someones front room for a family gathering. Lovely atmosphere, and very friendly members who made me feel very welcome. There was some sort of family re-union going on, and a couple of birthdays to celebrate, so everyone was up for a party.

The place has a lot of character, even the artistes' dressing room is upstairs, converted from what used to be the bathroom. And there's a loo right along the landing - very convenient!

I think everyone enjoyed themselves, and most were singing along to all the old songs I was churning out. So, thank you to all the good folks at the East Liverpool Legion Club, for such an enjoyable night.

By comparison to Saturdays' venue, St Francis de Sales Parochial Club, over in Walton is huge!! And the stage is massive. But I received a warm welcome there on Sunday night.

This was one of the very first clubs I ever worked, when I moved over to the North-West, back in 2000. So the place will always be a bit special to me. I was due to audition for a local agent, and at the time hadn't really got much work on at that point. Well, the phone rang, and it was this agent, and he was looking for someone to cover for another act that couldn't make it that night, and could I help them out? Of course, I was delighted to accept the work, but I did point out that the agency had yet to see my act. "Oh, I'm sure you'll be alright," the guy said, "they'll soon let you know if they don't like you!"

As things turned out, it was a great night, even though I was rather nervous at first, and that was the first of many successful nights I've enjoyed there over the past nine years. Thanks to "mine host", the lovely Trish, and all the folks at the Francis de Sales for yet another enjoyable evening.

One thing I would like to add about both of the clubs I visited this weekend:

In these gloomy days of credit crunch, and economic downturn, it make a refreshing change to see that some clubs are still managing to pull the members in. As my photo, taken from the stage shows. Lets hope the trend continues.

New Song & Video

2010-01-22T17:45:00.014Z

Yesterday I wrote that I was working on a new project. Well, I had the day off today, so I was up at 07:00am, and decided to resume work where I'd left off. I'd finished the backing track by lunch-time, and spent most of the afternoon recording the vocals.

It's another song written by Nikos Ignatiadis. I just love this guy's music.

Originally called "Kokkino Garifallo", but also known as "The Red Carnation", the song was a Benelux hit for the late Benny Neyman, under the title: "Zolang Jij Bij Mij Bent".

I have taken Benny's Dutch lyric as the basis of my English version.

The music was created by me in CoolEdit Pro, using my Yamaha PSR e413 keyboard, and a Yamaha YDP131 digital piano.

The image above shows the various component parts of the backing track as assembled in CoolEdit. At this stage, the vocal track had yet to be added.

Click on the image to see it full size.

As I suggested yesterday, I'm not a qualified musician. I can't read music fast enough to be able to play it off the page either. But I can be quite analytcal when it comes to figuring out how a piece of music is put together. I try to identify the key elements, and will try to visualise how it would look in a CoolEdit screen, before I start. The piano comes in here, the strings go there, the choir vocalises an "Aahh" sound in the middle of it. By which time, I already have a picture in my head of what I am trying to achieve. The great thing about CoolEdit, is the way it shows events in a set of parallel timelines, enabling me to see where each component part should be placed in relation to everything else.

For me, a project like this is rather like making a jigsaw puzzle from scratch. Each piece has to be cut and shaped first, before it can offered up to the next piece to see if it will fit together. And of course, there's only me, working alone. No one here to say "this is how it's done". So a project like this represents a challenge and offers a great learning oportunity for someone like me. While the end product might not technically perfect, the music might not be to everyone's taste, and more often than not I'm left thinking - "this bit, or that could be better", hearing the final result, after many hours of work, does bring it's own reward.

Anyway, here's the finished article - hope you like it.

WATCH THIS ON YOUTUBE

Fame At Last ???

2010-01-21T18:39:00.027Z

Regular visitors to this blog will no doubt recall the name of Bill Elder.

BillTv Macon is one of my favourite YouTubers, but beware dear reader,
telling the world that you bought a BillTv teeshirt can bring unexpected
consequences . . .

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Working on a new song

Just started working on a new project. I'm not particularly a good musician, so this is quite an ambitious one for me, involving a creating a rather complex backing track. I say complex because the verses of the song are in a "Colla-Voce", or "free-flow" style, while the chorus flows "in-tempo". So it has to be pieced together little by little. So far, I've spent about four hours, and have about twenty seconds of the introduction. And I haven't sung a word yet!!

I just hope I have picked the right key . . .

No Win - No Fee - No Brain

2010-01-20T16:06:00.010Z

As a Hull lad, living elsewhere, I regularly check out the website of Hull's local newspaper, the Hull Daily Mail, to keep up with whats going on back home.

We hear a lot abut the so-called "compensation culture" these days. Judging by the endless stream of "No Win - No Fee" commercials that are shown on tv, clearly it's big-business.

But while there are some benefits to be had in genuine cases, the whole thing is getting out of hand.

Recently there was a case of a a guy sent to prison for taking a cricket bat to one of three intruders after he, and his family, had been tied up and robbed in their own home. Some years ago, there was the case of a farmer who shot at a burglar he discovered in his living room. Things have reached a sorry state when the criminal gets better protection than those who fall victim to crime.

But just when you think things couldn't any sillier, along comes a pair of stupid 12 year old girls, who you'd really think should know better. They are on their way to their posh suburban high school, standing in a luggage rack, in a moving school bus. When the bus begins to turn, they are thrown against the window, which gives way, and they fall out!!

One of the girls, according to the report:

" . . . has instructed a personal injury claims solicitor to prepare a claim for damages".

Oh come on now!!

If the girl is clever enough to "instruct a personal injury solicitor" - surely she should be able to figure out that standing in a luggage rack in a moving bus is not a good idea. As the bus-cam image shows, it wasn't exactly "standing-room only".

What are parents teaching their kids these days, anyway??

My support lies entirely with the bus company Ellie Rose Travel Limited, and their driver Catherine Brown.

They should counter-sue the girls parents for damage to their bus, and putting the safety of others in danger. Not to mention the stress and trauma the poor driver must have gone through.

This country has become compensation barmy - and it's about time the Government put a stop to all these No Win - No Fee vultures. And the ambulance-chasing lawyers who encourage them.

Thats what I think.

READ THE STORY HERE

Hessle Road

2010-01-16T08:28:00.027Z

Just posted a new video on my YouTube channel.

This is one I used to sing with the band when I first started out thirty-odd years ago.

It was written by a guy called Pete Smith. Pete was a policeman in Hull, who, in his spare time wrote folk songs about Hessle Road, the area in which he grew up. Locally, he became something of a cult-figure, and had quite a following. Sadly, Pete passed away a few years ago, but his memory lives on in his music.

I remember during our time at Hessle Roads' Rayners pub, people started asking if we could do this song. Apparently Pete had recorded it. Clarice the landlady had her copy put in the pubs' jukebox. So, armed with a sheet of paper, and a handful of coins, I sat down by the jukebox one afternoon and set about scribbling down the lyrics, and trying to work out the chords for our organist.

That was way back in the seventies . . .

Thirty-something years later, and I finally got round to recording the song myself. Hope you like it.
The music in this version was created by me using my Yamaha PSR e413 keyboard.

Although the images are all believed to be in the public domain, I would like to thank my old pal Nick Cox for all his help. Nick has a great website full of OLD HULL PHOTOGRAPHS Please take a look, and also check out his YouTube Channel.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

HESSLE ROAD Lyrics:

CHORUS:

Hessle Road, Hessle Road, I am proud of Hessle Road.
When folks ask where I come from, my head it is not bowed.
I say I come from good old Hessle Road.

I miss the bonfires in the street. I even miss the bullies,
Sat'day trips round Boyess and the prams outside of Woolie's.
I miss those bobbers' clogs at two, that very fishy smell,
Langham and Eureka, and Picky Park as well.

I miss those little gardens with sooty coloured roses,
Little kids with wellies on, with yellow snotty noses.
I miss those shotgun weddings, those little corner shops,
Playing football in the street and getting chased by cops.

I miss those brave young fisher kids, coming home to shore,
Spending all their money, then going back for more.
I even miss Criterion—a very quiet pub—
And a little lass from Subway Street our kid put in the club.

I miss Sat'days at the Boulevard. we always used to win,
With the Drake twins, Tommy Harris, Mick Scott and Tommy Finn,
Loose forward Johnny Whiteley—the finest in the land—
And the best-behaved supporters, we were there on Three-penny Stand.

There was Havelock and Gillett Street, West Dock and Boulevard.
They're pulling them all down now. It's hitting people hard.
They've left it all behind them, and on to Bransholme strode,
But I bet they don't forget the laughs, the tears on Hessle Road.

I remember what me dad said, when I was leaving home
To fend for meself and start a family of my own.
He said, "I brought you up, son, but nowt to me is owed.
Just remember where you come from. You're a kid from Hessle Road."

UPDATE MAY 25th 2010

Here's a couple of scans I've made, relevant to the song.

Click on the photo for a full size view

Photo: Hull Daily Mail Jan 9th 2003

IN OTHER NEWS . . .

I'm a great fan of fellow YouTuber BillTVMacon, and always look foward to his very entertaining video blogs. He's also got a facinating website, (where I "borrowed" the photo on the left, hope he doesn't mind). There's a link below.

I recently saw on Bills' channel that he had made available a range of teeshirts, featuring his rather striking BillTV logo.

Now, I know some people will call me a sad old git, but I thought -

"I'm treat myself to one of those teeshirts".

So, at the risk of loosing all credibilty, here's a photo of me showing off the latest addition to my wardrobe.

Heres the links to Bills YouTube Channels:

BillTvMacon

BillTVMacon2

Here's one of my favourite Bill Moments:

Heres a link to Bills Website:

Bill Elder VoiceOvers

And here's the link should you want to find out more about the teeshirts.

UK: BillTVMacon Spreadshirt

USA: BillTvMaconSpreadshirt