Spam – 80 years old – who remembers having it?

Dennis Torrance… Had spam growing up quite liked it think it was the yanks during the war that brought it over here

Tim Moose Bruce… I thought it was those bloody vikings…

Martin Curcher… Heart Attack in a Tin !

Anne Gower… Happy birthday spam

Andre Martin… Saved this country during WW2 could be used for all roles not just food, used in trench walls, bomb shelters etc – Hah Hah. But its more modern produce in the 90s was great in ration packs.And many that were brought up on spam fritters are still here today and in reasonable health !!

Peter Fairless… Spam fritters were on the menu well into the ’70s. I may buy a tin, later, just to reminisce…

Andre Martin… I used to love spam and tomato sandwiches for lunch. And of course the ultimate would be span fritters, baked beans, chips and fried egg for tea.

Mark Gilham… Spam song Monty Python still funny.

Dave Nattress… I used to have SPAM as a kid. We knew how to live. I had heard long ago that SPAM was an acronym for something so I’ve looked it up. Apparently SPAM is an acronym for Special Processed American Meat.

Judie Struys… My worst nightmare. Especially spam fritters 😰

Jim Breeds… Wot we bought in New York a few years ago. BBE Jan 2008, but we were never going to open it.

Happy Birthday to Denny Laine – 29th October from Colin Bell.

denny-laine-colin-1

1024px-denny_laine_-_wings_-_1976  denny-laine-colin-2 denny-laine-the-masters

wings 1976 photo: http://www.jimsummariaphoto.com other photos supplied by Colin Bell

Colin Bell… I’d like to wish a big Happy Birthday today (29th) to Denny! Earlier in the week I wrote in the SMART Sounds review that 1967 was/is my favourite year for music. It was hearing Denny’s ‘Say You Don’t Mind’ played 5 times on the trot! by Johnnie Walker on Radio Caroline in April ’67 that made me want to get in the music business. It remains my all time favourite record. I always wanted to meet/work with him and in 1996 I finally got to interview him on the radio. We got on very well and shortly afterwards I was asked to supply the artistes for a festival in Tunbridge Wells. I duly organised Suzi Quatro, Peter Sarstedt and Denny to appear (amongst others). Denny put a band together (including some Rubettes members) and did a great gig. These photo’s were taken at the sound check where I attempted (and I do mean attempted!) to sing a few lines of ‘Say You Don’t Mind’ thus finally fulfilling a lifetimes wish. He’s a great guy and an amazing musician and still going strong in the States. Here’s to many more birthdays.

Alan Esdaile… Now if we could only find a recording of Colin’s version!

Mick O’Dowd… By the sound of things I reckon Colin might pay a king’s ransom to suppress it.

Colin Fox… I had a friend who was rewiring the Eastbourne Hippadrome when Wings were rehearsing there for their next tour, and Denny and other members weren’t slow in coming forward about what they thought of Paul McCartney.

Neil Steadman… I’ve got this track on a K tel compilation! It’s either on 20 or 22 dynamic hits.

 

Happy Birthday to Ry Cooder. 15th March 1947

post suggested by Peter Pursglove

ry cooder

Mark Gilham.. Always loved Cooder and adopted his unique tuning many years ago.

Peter Howard… Guitar God

Gary Kinch… A favourite Nelson track was his version of He’ll have to go. A great arrangement IMO. The addition of the squeeze box thingy was inspirational. This song was originally made famous by Jim Reeves…..My Dad had a reel to reel with a collection of country tracks on, if memory serves the Jim Reeves version was one of them.

Will Cornell… One of the most embarrassing moments in my music biz career–for someone other than me but I was there–was meeting a fellow named Billy Brown in the 70s while I worked at WWVA’s Jamboree USA (like the Opry, live C&W show on Sat. nights). He recorded “He’ll Have to Go” first. Reeves learned the song from Brown’s version. Difference; Reeves went an octave lower on the line “way down low”, which Brown failed to do. Brown sang his version live some 15 yrs later, on the air that night in front of the Jamboree crowd. Then he went into the studio after the show and had an interview on the air with my friend who was the late night DJ. He was claiming true greatness by singing the song the way the writers intended, and said Reeves’ version strayed. Well, Brown didn’t die in a plane crash so Brown could’ve at least quit his jealousy over Reeves’ success. Pretty sad to go thru life with that your biggest accomplishment. After the interview, Brown left the offices and my friend turned to me without saying a word, just shaking his head clicking his tongue.

Jeanette Steve Jones… Ry also did a lot of work in Cuba to show case the unique sound of Beuno Vista Social Club which caused him real problems in the US of A