After the traumas of the weekends football I need to open up the tubes to get the blood flowing a bit better.
What better way to relax than a piece from Francis, young Richard and the rest of those awfully nice lads from Status Quo.
This was the set opener for the ‘Pictures’ tour at Montreux back in 2009. If you look hard enough you might just see some strange old geezers shuffling about who really should have known better. Would not have missed it though. 
Ahh, such a great band, Quo.
Helen, that was certainly a trip to remember. A surprise from the lads as a bit of rehab. The only problem was Henry’s motor expiring almost next to the Miles Davis Convention Centre.
That said, we were well looked after by one of the local motor dealers.
While we were there I found out what really happened to the Who.
Hi Hammer,
I saw Quo at the Hammersmith Odeon many moons ago. A friend worked for their record company and had two tickets she couldn’t use. It was a great atmosphere. Francis and Rick always come across as very nice people on TV. I’ve met them both a couple of times. My friends and I were often hanging out around Nomis Studios waiting for Spandau Ballet and Quo were there, too.
On the evening of the big storm of October 1987, we were invited into the studio. Robert Plant was there. Later on, he, Gary Kemp (Spandau) and two of Spandau’s road crew did an impromptu jam session of Chuck Berry songs. It was so cool.
I notice that Mrs Zimmerman’s son Robert has been busy putting together his thirty fifth studio album: Tempest, which is due for release in the UK 10/11 September.
Many of the old boys have sidestepped Bob saying that his forever suspect voice had long gone. They may be right but his 2006 album, Modern Times, was superb and he croaked all the way through that. It was just different is all.
This is one of the new tracks, have a listen, or not.
Time to relax on this Friday evening in preparation for the weekends trauma that has become the Asda obstacle course or the crate dodging trials which surely must be soon an olympic event.
This is a soothing track from ‘Windows of the Soul’, a 2009 album by Patrick Kelly.
An aria from the third act of Verdi’s Rigoletto.
In this version we hear the incomparable Joan Sutherland who at 61 could still knock out a good tune, Luciano Pavarotti, Leo Nucci and the err, very well defined Isola Jones.
[URL=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5NEOh-XhyA”] Bella Figlia Dell’Amore (Sweet daughter of love)
The musician known as Gandalf or Mehdi and aka Heinz Strobl, has produced well over 40 very interesting albums. I think one of his best is the 2006 album: Sacred River.
It is a very peaceful collection and will give the listener if he or she desires, the time and space to tuck those day to day problems into their proper compartments, if only for a little while.
This track is the last one one the CD and marks the ending of the life of the river in its current form, only to be reborn again, tranquil yet stirring at the same time, if that does not seem too much of a contradiction in terms.
A lovely piece of music George, thanks.
I’d not noticed your previous post of Sutherland and Pavarotti and the ‘buxom wench’ 
Boy, can Joan Sutherland still hit those notes!
Just the man… Hammer can you recall a song called Leaning. Its about a man leaning on a gate looking at the fields and dreaming, and at the end he says his old dog is buried there, sang by a Bass.We used to have an Harvest supper and a concert in SCorton and one of the choir men sang it. I had to be taken out of the hall as my sobbing drowned out the singer!
Annie,
Was it this one? sung by the Baritone Harold Williams.
I am still trying to track down a version of it.
LEANIN
Sowin’s pretty good
Reapin’ ain’t so bad
Scarin’ off the crows
Suits a farmer’s lad
But if you ask’es me
The thing that suits a fellow
Is a little bit of straw to suck
To keep your fancies mellow
When you’re leanin’ on the gate beside
The pond that lies beside the side
Of farmer’s stacks of new mown hay
It’s just atwix the ricks
Beside the barn where farmers sticks inside
The chicks he only hatch’d today
Leanin’, leanin’
I’m champion down our way, they say
At leanin’ on the gate beside the pond that lies beside
The side of farmer’s stacks of new mown hay
That he’s been gleanin’
While I’ve been leanin’ … all day
Had a lurcher once
Better than a gal
Poacher? Well, a bit
But 'e was a pal
Now there’s just a mound
Underneath the el-lum
Reckon folks would laugh at I
If I was to tell 'em…
Why I’m leanin’ on the gate beside the pond that lies beside
The side the hedge where my old dog would play
It’s just a’cos from there I see the sunlight
Glintin’ through the tree
Upon the grave where ‘e do lie
Sleepin’, sleepin’
Goodbye is hard to say
That’s why
I’m leanin’ on the gate beside the pond that lies beside
The side of farmer’s stacks of new-mown hay
And at the gleanin’
He’ll find me leanin’ … all day
you are a star George,yes thats it Brilliant.Thankyou.
Well here I am with tears rolling down my face after all these years.You see a dog treats you with love and understanding.I have three dogs ashes waiting to be scattered with me when I go.
You are more than welcome Annie,
I have found a couple of references to it.
The Harold Williams recording was very early but I believe it can be found on a CD entitled : ‘25 Great Singers in Popular Ballads.’
There is a CD called 'Alan Titchmarsh: ‘Radio 2 Melodies For You’. and Owen Brannigan should have a version on there. It is also thought that Ian Wallace may have recorded it.
I can imagine Ian Wallace singing it George, thank you.
Glad I could help but hope the memories were not too upsetting.
George.
I like to watch the remembrance parade on remembrance sunday but I end up weeping buckets, its the military bands set me off.
I have a lot of albums by David Arkenstone both as solo and in collaboration with Diane Arkenstone. This is track five from of his best albums: Atlantis.
It is a 2006 import on the Narada label and still worth a punt if you can find it.
Might be worth a listen, if you have a mind to
A lovely peaceful piece, George.
I can understand annie shedding tears, reading the words of Leaning, good of you to find the words for her.
