My Life in 10 Objects (#8)

I've been a tad distracted of late, so the latest instalment of MLITO (catchy, huh?) got temporarily jammed in the works while I was busy in the back putting out a few fires.

Today's object comes as part of a twofer, simply because the first object - when it's not in use - resides in the second. Let me explain:

Since James was old enough to throw, and catch, a ball, he's been throwing a frisbee with his old man - usually on beaches (and usually beaches in Devon).

When packing for holidays our Discraft Ultra-Star 175 (175 grams - weight is everything when it comes to frisbees) was every bit as important as a toothbrush or a clean pair of socks.

The action shot below shows perfectly the frisbee in mid-flight.



This was Slapton Sands in South Devon about ten years ago. (Looking at the clear blue sky I don't think thermals would have been an issue that day!)

James is coming up to Scotland with me in a couple of weeks - so no prizes for guessing what we'll be taking away with us.

And that second object? Like the frisbee, I've just remembered, it was bought in the same town (Totnes) and probably around the same time (c.1997). My rucksack - to be found in the bottom of my wardrobe - has been all over the world with me and, as I said above, it gives board and lodging to the frisbee in the close season. Today's object(s).

Still in Love With Hayley Mills

In what could be a race to the bottom (yes, first Brexit, then Covid and now Blogger), I need to get a few thoughts down before August 24th; not least the remaining three objects in my groundbreaking series(!), and a rather lovely Be-Bop Friday with a real life pop star. So I make that four (at least) in just over ten days. In which case I think brevity, more than ever, must be the watch word.

I make no apologies for having written about this song before; however, this is the sumptuous acoustic version. If I tried to play these chords the fingers on my left hand would fall off, I just know they would. And if its links your after then look no further - yesterday's offering was performed by the son of the actress name-checked here in Paddy McAloon's finest hour; OK, his second finest hour - When Love Breaks Down must, I know, occupy that particular mantle.

Prefab Sprout - Johnny Johnny (1985)

Hurry on Sundown

It's a Neil Diamond kind of night and no mistake: 27 degrees & 69% humidity at 10.30pm is practically unheard of in this neck of the woods. And as I sit here typing this in just my pj bottoms with a USB desk fan plugged into my Mac, I know I won't be able to sleep for hours yet.

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Hawkwind's Hurry on Sundown came up rather unexpectedly on my playlist this evening - the folky version from their eponymous 1970 album, not the psychedelic 'space rock' version they released as a single.
Nearly 30 years later and the short-lived Kula Shaker rolled both into one and made a pretty decent fist of it. Crispian Mills' eclectic combo seemed to rub a lot of people up the wrong way back then, but this cover version may have converted a few doubters had it not been hidden away on a B side. I'd certainly have given it an 8/10 if they'd done what they did with Deep Purple's Hush and flipped it over. In fact I still would. And chuck another half in for ignoring it at the time.

Kula Shaker - Hurry on Sundown (1998) 8½/10

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I've spent much of the last week or so reading about what Blogger are doing to 'upgrade' their platform. And it sucks. I mean, it really sucks. This blogger has put into words almost exactly how I feel. Come August 24th what they have in mind is pretty much a Scorched Earth policy. I think me and my blog are drinking in the last chance saloon. Are We There Yet? Yes, it looks like we are.

Shting-Shtang

Arnold Stang (1918-2009)

I'm indebted to Twitter for pointing me in the direction of this charming vinyl oddity from the late 50s. Released on the Fontana label it featured the vocal stylings of Arthur Stang, best known as the guy who voiced Top Cat; albeit Stang doing an impersonation of Phil Silvers doing a wisecracking alley cat who lived in a dustbin. Sorry, trash can.

Arnold Stang - Where Ya Callin' From, Charlie? (1959)

Hard to believe Hanna Barbera only ever made 30 episodes of Top Cat (originally airing between September 1961 & April 1962). It was a ratings failure - forcing HB, after less than a year, to consign it to the, er, trash can; all the episodes we saw when we were growing up (in the 70s and beyond), would have been at least ten years old - reruns that were syndicated around the world again (and again).

The Green Fan

I've spoken to so many lads of my age over the years who remember watching this the night it went out on the Old Grey Whistle Test; like a rite of passage. Led Zeppelin, unsurprisingly, weren't unavailable. And as no oven ready promo film of them playing Trampled Underfoot existed, it was left to the boffins at the BBC to come up with something. Anything. They didn't disappoint. 

Led Zeppelin - Trampled Underfoot (1975)