| I suppose my first realisation that music was | | | | the giant video screens of today. To say we |
| something more relevant than learning the | | | | were spoilt for choice is not to overwork a |
| words to carols for the school Christmas | | | | phrase.I haven't even mentioned the many folk |
| concert was appreciating my Dad's collection | | | | clubs sprinkled about which I visited with my |
| of 78s'. He was a man with unusual tastes in | | | | friend Lucy as a guest singing duo, where we |
| music. My contemporys' parents listened to | | | | shared stages with the likes of Bert Jantz, |
| American crooners, like Bing Crosby, Dean | | | | Duster Bennett, Cat Stevens . . We would |
| Martin and the like, or the big band sounds | | | | travel to isolated venues in the heart of the |
| of the day.But my Dad had individual tastes | | | | Berkshire countryside and find ourselves in a |
| which included Eastern European folk music, | | | | barn somewhere, with people sitting on hay |
| Scottish bagpipe ballads and Welsh miners | | | | bales and listening to the stirring voices |
| choirs; plus my first introduction to | | | | and lyrics of Sandy Denny, Davy Graham and |
| classical such as exciting pieces like Aram | | | | John Remborne, or even the Wurzels (bring |
| Khachaturian's "Sabre Dance".My Mother, a | | | | your own cider!).If you wanted to dance, but |
| dedicated Crosby fan, disliked these strange | | | | strictly not ballroom, you could stomp the |
| sounds to the extent that she banished any | | | | night away at a selection of 'trad jazz' |
| playing of the 'caterwauling' to our barn, a | | | | clubs. Bands of various styles were always on |
| large wooden structure at the back of the | | | | tap; Dick Morrisey, the aforementioned Ken |
| house. This suited my Dad, and me, just | | | | Collier, Acker Bilk; It really was a golden |
| fine.He would mend bikes and tinker with | | | | age for live music of every kind. And it |
| machinery in one corner, while I would curl | | | | didn't cost an arm and a leg to indulge |
| up on a battered leather sofa looking at | | | | yourself. If we paid more than a couple of |
| pictures in old movie magazines, giggling at | | | | quid to get in we felt hard done by. Even |
| jokes in back copies of Lilliput and reading | | | | special occasions, like seeing the Who or |
| girlie type books (Little Women, Black Beauty | | | | Cream at the Hammersmith Odeon were cheap at |
| etc.) while the haunting strains of Bulgarian | | | | the price.Wherever we hung out with our mates |
| womens' voices, Highland airs or the | | | | there was music. This was the age of the |
| overwhelming sound of Welshmen giving it | | | | coffee bar, always with a juke box in the |
| their all emanated from the old wind up | | | | corner belting out such classics as 'Dock on |
| gramaphone; memories are made of | | | | the Bay', or Buddy Holly's latest or Aretha |
| this.Musically I've come full circle. With | | | | Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Biaz; where to |
| the increasing popularity of 'world music' I | | | | stop! Before the fashion for 'personalised |
| am, once again, enjoying Bulgarian women's | | | | music' (catered for firstly by the Walkman |
| harmonies and Welsh folk songs along with the | | | | and now in it's newest incarnation, the ipod) |
| exciting newcomers from African and Latin | | | | the latest tunes brought like minds together. |
| American roots.Every generation, mostly, | | | | A normal Saturday outing was to the local |
| think that they have experienced the 'best' | | | | record shop where friends would crowd into a |
| period of topical music, but I do feel that | | | | booth together to hear the latest in the |
| the sixties were a special case. Consider | | | | 'charts'.Maybe it was all just 'fashion' but, |
| this; any weekend my friends and I had a | | | | as the years race by, that sixties music has |
| difficult decision to make. Did we go 'up | | | | stood the test of time. Many of our heroes |
| town' to Ken Colliers to see American blues | | | | are still household names. Our children still |
| stars like Big Bill Broonzy or jazz giants | | | | appreciate such giants as Bob Marley, Jimi |
| like Dizzy Gillespie; or perhaps to the | | | | Hendrix and Otis Redding. The likes of Paul |
| Marquee or 100 Club to listen to the up and | | | | Weller, Rod Stewart, the Rolling Stones still |
| coming Britishers like Paul Weller in the | | | | tour all over the world. Am I showing my age |
| Jam, Eric Clapton and the Yardbirds and | | | | when I find it hard to appreciate modern day |
| Georgie Fame with the All Stars.Or did we | | | | offerings? Of course I am but no more than |
| stay closer to home and go to the Riki Tik in | | | | any other person who has let music into their |
| Windsor and risk asphyxiation in the tiny | | | | life.From the moment the first cave man (or |
| room listening to an exciting new group | | | | woman) discovered how to make musical |
| called the Rolling Stones. And that was only | | | | 'sounds' from reeds or rocks, water or wood, |
| the start; what about Osterley where you | | | | we have enjoyed the privilege of a great |
| could hear John Lee Hooker, Sonny Terry and | | | | gift. How to explain the catch at the back of |
| Brownie McGee and any number of other | | | | the throat when we hear a familiar song or |
| Southern American blues stars; or Windsor | | | | melody? How to describe the pure feeling of |
| Drill hall where, on a Friday night you could | | | | exhilaration and joy as many human voices |
| enjoy the best of Cyril Davies and the All | | | | come together to sing some particularly |
| Stars, which usually featured one of my | | | | uplifting work. I dare anyone to say they |
| favourites, Long John Baldry.And, if you were | | | | have never felt that. And if some hardened |
| willing to risk parental wrath, it had to be | | | | souls insist that is the case; well I feel |
| Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, a den of | | | | very sorry for them.Fabio whiles away the |
| iniquity where you could hear the best of new | | | | hours in his Tuscan villa writing and enjoys |
| rhythm and blues; smell strange substances | | | | plying his trade especially on the Internet. |
| burning in the air and where I first | | | | He enjoys his music and often visits Quality |
| encountered psychadelia in the shape of Pink | | | | Original Recordings where you can find a fine |
| Floyd whose innovative light shows of | | | | selection of rare imports. You can reach him |
| coloured lava lamp blobs popping and forming | | | | here: Internet Traffic and Brand Building. |
| ever different shapes were the precursor of | | | | |