Namesakes #112: A-ha!
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Aha - good to see you. Here are a-ha...ndful of bands called aha (or some
variation thereon).
I doubt Alan Partridge would approve of many of the tunes ...
19 hours ago
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Choo-choon!
So, did you see the 1976 edition of Top of the Pops on BBC4 this week? It was the usual mix of the good (The Andrea True Connection), the bad (The Wurzels) and the ugly (DLT was presenting). But the thing that really stood out for me - sent shivers down my spine in fact - was this performance of Midnight Train To Georgia by Gladys Knight and the Pips, sung - and danced! - live. If I could sum it up in one three words, thatose words would be: absolutely chuffing sublime.
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6 comments:
You can see why I've always wanted to be a Pip. If only I had a sense of rhythm. Or could sing. Or was a man. So close to living the dream!
The woman with the New Zealand Gladys Knight tribute act franchise is backed by three small dogs, weirdly. You should try and catch them some day. Gladys Knight & the Pups.
The movements of the Pips led to laugh out loud guffaws in my lounge.
The Wurzels (and the dreadful Ruby Flipper) helped underline that it was a Light Entertainment Show at that time.
I thought Andrea had a True Connection with her unfeasibly tight trousers.
The Pips kick arse!
People on Twitter keep saying how they can't wait for punk to come along re 1976 totp. Bollocks to that; I already know all about punk. This light entertainment gubbins is TV gold!
BTW I even found myself marvelling at the musicianship and stage presence of Peter Frampton and chums the other day. Should I be worried?
I agree. It's the suprise of the not seen since, half-forgotten, what the .. of that time's smorgasbordy broad church of mainstream variety which really shocks.
The live vocals help bring it home.
Plus the context of life at that time. The politics, the state of the country, the fashion, the endless summer, the new-found holidays to Spain, the football hooliganism, the whole punctured ball of confusion.
And I always thought Peter Frampton would be an ideal friend when syphoning petrol from cars.
And did the Bellamy Brothers have different fathers? In a William and Harry kinda way.
I think it's the fact that one of them's clearly about twenty years older than the other, that makes the Bellamy Bros such an unlikely pair of siblings!
Actually I've been surprised at just how many of the acts on '76 totp have been singing their vocals live. Hardly anyone did in the 80s. I still remember seeing New Order performing True Faith live (instruments & all) on there in '87 & how unusual that seemed.
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