Missing Link

Sadly, it's not my memory - it's Dave Thorley's from an earlier thread. Living in Southampton, at the time, I went reasonably regularly - certainly for the first two incarnations and remember a lot of the DJs but there's no way I could have written a list like Dave's. It's too long ago and I've done so much since!

Here's a listing of DJs that Dave Thorley posted in a thread from 2007: Some a bit confused by all that went on there, and that's no great suprised. Three/four different promoters, two venues, lots of dj's so here's a bit of a breakdown (best I can remember, with a few spelling mistakes) and I might have missed the odd dj. Inter-City Soul Club-John 'Kojak' Harvey Started at Stars & Strips (Two rooms, main room northern, upstairs funk) finished at The Baths as a one room event. Dj's Kojak Pep Blue Max Steve Smith Marc Mouise Dave Thorley Mac Soul Twins Brian S Dave Godin (Twice) Bob Mean Smokey Richard Marsh Southern Soul Club-Dinks Stars & Strips, Sterling Suite DJ's Ian Clark Tony Ellis Paul Guntrip & Jacko Roch & Bob Dave Greet Hippo Mac Dave Thorley Shay Soul Sam (Guest) Tony Warrott South West Soul Club-Nick Mcavoy Stars & Strips, Sterling Suite DJ's Nick Mcavoy Ian Clark Tony Ellis Dave Thorley Hippo Dave Greet Ady Pountain Dave Withers Gary Rushbrooke Paul Guntrip & Jacko (I think) Andy Golding Stars & Strips Management (last few) Stars & Strips, Sterling Suite DJ's Ian Clark Tony Ellis Dave Thorley Hippo Dave Greet Ady Pountain Dave Withers Gary Rushbrooke

Here's the flyer from the Facebook page:

I occasionally have a sparrowhawk land on my back fence but I've never managed to get a picture because as soon as I make the slightest movement it's off.

Sorry - I wasn't trying to outdo you. Shame you never got to see it with your Dad.

Here's some snowdrops at Attingham Park in Shropshire.

Formby is one of the, all too sadly, few remaining outposts of the Red so I wouldn't expect to see any Greys there at all. When I saw the Black one in Stevenage I thought it was a cat at first (it was a long way away). Then it moved and it definitely moved like a squirrel. Unfortunately I was too far away to get a picture and I'm not even sure whether I had my camera with me. Here's a link to a web site about it: http://www.blacksquirrelproject.org

I think they turn very dark during the Winter though I'm not 100% sure about that. A few years ago I was staying near Stevenage in a hotel that backed on to some woodlands and actually saw a Black Squirrel. When I returned home I looked it up and discovered that they are a variation of the Grey Squirrel and are prevalent in East Anglia and parts of Hertfordshire.

Here's a picture I took of one in 2007 at Formby. I remember seeing loads the first time I went there in 1983 but their numbers have diminished since then.

It's that man again - another one from the Master, Sam Dees.

A slab of soul from Syl Johnson.

Another heartfelt song about the despair of drug addiction by the great man, Gil Scott-Heron. This one was made her own by Esther Phillips who, sadly, knew about it only too well:

You're right - it was about his brother Harry according to Wikipedia: "Harry Hippie" is a 1972 song written by Jim Ford, who wrote it for singer Bobby Womack as a dedication to his brother, bass guitarist Harry Womack, that became a top ten R&B hit for Womack when issued as a single in 1973 reaching number eight on the chart. The song was loosely based on Bobby's brother's carefree behavior and was originally recorded as a funny tribute to his brother, that turned tragic when Harry Womack was killed by his girlfriend during a fight in 1974. Ever since, Bobby Womack has sung the song as a dedication to his fallen late brother. Womack explains the story behind the song and its aftermath: "Harry was the bass player and tenor for the brothers when we were the Valentinos. He lived a very carefree life. As a child he always said he wanted to live on an Indian reservation. We used to joke about it, but when we got older he was the same way. He always thought I wanted the materialistic things and I said, 'I just want to do my music. My music put me into that comfortable territory.' He didn't want the pressure. We used to laugh and joke about the song when I'd sing it. When he was brutally killed in my home, it was by a jealous girlfriend who he'd lived with for five years. She fought a lot, violence. And in our home it was considered to be worth less than a man to fight a woman, so he didn't fight back and she stabbed him to death. At the time I was in Seattle doing a gig and he was going to join me when we got back. Previously I had hired a new bass player because I felt it would help Harry's relationship with his spouse if he wasn't on the road. And that turned out to be very sour. He ended up losing his life behind it. At that time, "Harry Hippie" wasn't a joke anymore; I had lost a brother. I still do that song in his honor today." –Bobby Womack

Bobby Womack has made some brilliant records. This is one of my favourites:

It's very interesting to compare the two versions. Production is obviously going to be more sophisticated on the later recording but I think the main difference is the phrasing of the song which shows how much he had matured as a singer. He's one of my favourite singers of all time and it was such a tragedy that he died in his prime over 30 years ago at the age of 45.

I was lucky enough to see Randy Crawford performing it live with the Crusaders back in 1979 - a truly beautiful song.

A 'Antiguan Anole Lizard' also seen in Bermuda.

Here's a picture of a 'Spiny Orb Weaver Spider' I saw on a recent holiday in Bermuda. Thankfully it's only as big as a fingernail.

Another superb one from Sam Dees:

Another of my favourites from Walter Jackson:

The original from Sam Dees from (imo) one of the best soul albums ever - 'The Show Must Go On':

One from the under-rated Jimmy Holiday:

Fantastic tune but Walter's version edges it for me: