The last days of the Summer Vacation play out

A matter of a couple of weekdays before school resumes so you might as well enjoy the weather and perish the thought the sun before the long slog and sorting things to take with you although school supplies are a certainty as is today a mobile phone of some description as much as I recall the red or later grey phone boxes and the pay phone in our boarding school for phoning home once a week.

I'd never say I was or even today am anything like a great artist, but I do like to draw a bit when I'm physically up to it and the ability to take a few reference pictures on your phone and work with them at hand certainly saves waiting a day or to get your prints back and painting at home.

Unexpected things that happened this week included the stylus suspension sagging that works with the cartridge in my stereo's turntable so I needed to order up another which don't come cheap and fit that while I wait on a audiophile lp to come in the post.

Something else that was ordered but has arrived is this Japanese promotional single with a four sided promotional postcard cover for Yesterday Hero, the Vander/Young composition back on this copy by Rock 'N' Roller where the U.S and Canadian had My Lisa as the b side

Strangely enough here in the U.K. we didn't get this as a single in 1976 only the non album Love Me Like I Love You and cover of Dusty Springfield's I Only Want To Be With You  that peaked at numbers 4 and 8 respectively in the U.K. singles charts.

The Skater's Waltz

 Some aspects of your life are influenced by your disabilities and how they run across your childhood and for me using a wheelchair some of the time did influence those things you remember and wheelchair dancing was one thing I did every week 

That could factor into other things such as school plays and performances for Christmas's of which apart from the difficulties of learning your lines when you're dyslexic  but I had to dance in my wheelchair to Waldtuefel's Skater's Waltz during it in front of everyone which was nerve-wracking  but fun.

There are of course many recordings of that work but this was the one I had and still have bought as kid used but in lovely condition that has many of his waltzes played by a shorter selection from the Philharmonia Orchestra in the mid 1950's originally issued in mono only and this stereo edition dates from April 1965.

The playing fully realizes the sweeping movement leaving one in awe.

The Rioting - a few thoughts

 Having mulled this other I thought I would just add my 6d at this point.

This rioting following the deaths of three children, serious injuries to others including two adult helpers at Holiday Club in Southport, Lancs has been some of the most worrying in recent years even if for extent and total damage they are not as extensive as say the '81 Summer Riots, The "Poll Tax" riots of 1990 or the disturbances in 2011.

While I hold that there is no excuse for criminal damage, assault and murder, we know from our country's history that sometimes there reaches a point where Civil Society says "enough" and this can spill over, the thing here was there was no connection what so ever with what those people were gathered for, burning buildings, looting and assaulting people...for just being of a different ethnicity and religion.

The person responsible for what happened in Southport as tragic as it is was neither a Immigrant nor a Muslim, a person British born of Christian parents. Little different than me actually.

Some who were around the disturbances did have concerns around overall migration such as the impact on host communities and I will say as a West Midlander, I know that is shared at least in part with previous generations of immigrants too.

People who added much to our region who understand the need for  immigration control and support to aid integration so they become an asset to us all.

The bigger majority however were racially motivated attacking black and asian businesses, people and mosques when really what had happened had NOTHING to do with it and had they of looked more into things it was obvious false information was being circulated by people with a race hate agenda.

Justice has been sped up - as it should to deter others and provided needed reassurance such behaviour and the attitudes that lie behind it have no place in our society - but we need to address misunderstandings about religious belief, perhaps opening our doors to those of other faiths in our communities literally and ensure politician do listen to the concerns of many so any issues may be nipped in the bud.

Social media has a lot to answer for on the moderation front around the spreading of such vile incitements and slurs, just as many of are concerned about how the needs of teenagers are managed and perhaps it is time to introduce some in real time post approval to bring such misuse across the board under control.

As adults I'm all sure we've seen things that we should never expect on social media on our smartphones and tablets. It needs to end. It's damaging our children too.

Hollies: Evolution revisited.

We are back but given current affairs the first choice for an entry is too fast moving we'll go with a short  update to a series of entries from 2011 where the contents have been very stable over some thirteen odd years.

The Hollies are passion, less for the longevity, genre expanding nature of label mates The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the Who but more for their vocal harmonizing and the way their past tells a cautionary tale around the dangers of getting stereotyped and the the dangers in trying to change that.

Not withstanding some fine albums, in the main the Hollies ouvre was the two and a half minute pop 45 even though 1966's For Certain Because and Would You Believe showed maturity, sophistication and social commentary.

1967 was a massive year in popular music and indeed Youth Culture with The Summer of Love, Hippies, lsd taking and psychedelia generally and having seen close hand at Abbey Road studios the beatles experimenting, they too wanted to raise the "Oh Wow" feel feeling left out.

That also can be understood as until the continued sales of the Beatles first two UK albums (and A Hard Day's Night)  in 1964 the albums market was for adults and by 1967 that had changed with albums such as Dylan's Blonde On Blonde introducing the double pop album and lyrics, Pet Sounds exploring the studio as an instrument itself and of couse Sgt Pepper was only just around the corner. and recording had commenced in late December 1966.

Not wishing to look out of place Graham Nash with the other Hollies upped their game, while keeping a beat sound introduced warbling vocals on Lullaby To Tim, Stop Right There expanded the commentary previously unleashed on songs like Fifi The Flea.

Nostalgia for the past was shown on The Olde Toffee Shoppe and You Need Love really pushed that generation belief love was all. 

The Cover borrowed much with the colour stylized Evolution and Hollies to The Fool, who gave us the original Sgt Pepper inner sleeve producing the rear  design.

It was a album very much of and for the Summer of Love.

My original copy was a 2011 Spanish reissue from digital files that had some issues with over use of noise reduction and I was able to get this the August 1978 stereo reissue in minute condition that other than having the two box Parlophone lable rather than the originals Yellow & Black and a change in catalogue number from PCS 7022 to PCS 7175 is the same right down to using the same stampers cut for the 1967 stereo release.

The mono has a dedicated mono mix.

This was a brave move given Hollies albums generally didn't sell well but this did get to No. 22 in the UK chart and in a modified form higher in  the U.S. and Canada.

The strategy didn't ultimately work out and split Graham Nash from the group by late 1968 as it appeared they couldn't move with the times and yet by 1969 and He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother they had got past that pop single barrier.

Taking a break me style

 I'm not here this week as the other part of my life requires quality time with others who share similar lives  and unlike some I don't do social media and lots of time online as the who point is the face to face and tactile engagement just letting time go backwards, playing with friends rather than running a online office remotely.

Really it would take you away from what you actually need.

We did two jigsaws, made up some themed lego kits and made houses from cardboard that we decorated plus a spot of baking too making lots of cupcakes which we had with an evening meal.

I just love doing more arts and craft things like you were at a Summer Club for children really as it helps me relax more in tune with how some of my developmental issues have left me even if I do manage some "adulting".

I mean I even played rounders and took part in out school like games just like many of us recall doing and it felt good to be doing all of that, not least with some of serious stuff that was happening in the news this week.

Really this is the best kind of break for someone like me.

That said there were a few trips out included like to Whalley Abbey in that village near Lancaster, the ruins of which are shown in this picture I took before strolling in the café for cake and coffee in my blouse and tartan kilt with white tights on like I belonged.