I make a distinction between Doo-wop and male vocal groups. I’ll deal with Doo-wop separately.
These vocal groups had a huge impact on the British Beat Groups. I loved their stuff
The Contours
The Drifters
The Coasters
The Platters
The Dominoes
The Midnighters
The Clovers
The Miracles
Isley Brothers
Four Tops
Argyles
Cadillacs
Hollywood Argyles
I need feedback from an objective source:
What needs developing
What needs taking out
What works
What doesn’t work
What character needs fleshing out
Where there needs to be more description
Where does it require more action
All the general stuff about the plot before I start to edit it properly.
Any volunteers????
Fabulous day in Yorkshire. The sun has been shining all day – though the air is still cold. We took off for a long walk up over the wolds with stunning views. I should have taken my camera. It was a four hour jaunt and my legs felt it. Doing so much uphill was an effort! Above us three buzzards soared in circles. I’m sure they were waiting for one of us to drop dead.
All around us the birds were chirping away. It sounded fantastic but I know they were all really shouting out – ‘Fuck off – this is my territory!!! Come on love – I’m the best!!! Come and see my wonderful nest!!’ Sounded good anyway.
The sunshine certainly brings everything out. There were butterflies – mainly tortoiseshells but an occasional peacock and red admiral. There were lots of bright flowers and huge bumble bees – no honey bees though!
Back home I was working on my Sci-fi novel – The Pornography Wars. I completed my first rewrite!! Yippee!!! I’ve now got to reread it to see if it all works. Then I’ll start editing!! What fun!!
Today, while editing, I’ve been playing a bit of Beatles. They were so good!!
Lockdown certainly is productive.
I’ve got this new circular saw and a pile of old pallets and fencing. I spent two hours cutting it all up into chunks for the wood burner. It’s knackering!! I(‘ve now got a huge job in cutting everything up for kindling! Tomorrow’s task!
Meanwhile, out in Coronaland the sleaze and corruption deepens. Doesn’t anybody go into politics in order to govern the country and make it work better? Are they all just greedy swines trying to line their own pockets with millions??
Certainly seems that way.
Cameron and Green swill. Jenrick, Osborne and all of the 44 walking into lucrative jobs. It all stinks. Sleaze and corruption should feature in some Tory emblem! Then the cronyism and nepotism. They are a selfish, callous lot who arrogantly think they are so much more deserving than the rest of us!!
There is still no news of our second jab. It is due this week so here’s hoping!!
A quick snapshot of what is happening around the world:
| Country | New cases yesterday | Deaths yesterday |
| The USA | 77,358 | 940 |
| The UK | 2,756 | 34 |
| Brazil | 85,774 | 3,305 |
| New Zealand | 0 | 0 |
| Vietnam | 14 | 0 |
| India | 234,692 | ????? |
The States are remaining pretty steady. Still far too high though. They re rolling out the vaccine. Things should improve.
The UK continues to get better and better. The vaccine rollout is really working.
Brazil is looking dire with lots of young people and babies dying and the health service overrun. Bolsonaro’s little flu is killing people in droves and spawning lethal variants.
New Zealand and Vietnam have next to no cases, no deaths and life is back to normal. They know how to deal with it.
In India it is going berserk! The virus is out of control. Modi let everybody mix for their Hindu festivals. Huge crowds gathered and it became superspreaders!! When you have a lunatic in charge you’ve got no chance.
The Indian variant is causing huge concern. Not only has Modi allowed it to flourish but Johnson hasn’t put a stop on immigration from India and they are bringing it in. It could put a stop to our roadmap out of lockdown. The variant is highly contagious and lethal.
The Indian health service is already overwhelmed – no beds, no ventilators, no medicine, no oxygen – no hope!
Modi is a moron.
Another populist fool.
Johnson is failing to act yet again!! The man is an idiot!! Why aren’t all people coming from India put in quarantine???? Don’t we learn anything????
Stay safe!! It’s hard – the morons are in charge!!!
On their fourth album the Beatles were still treading the same boards as on their first album. There was a mixture of covers (Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins,Dr Feelgood) plus their own material. There was less of the R&B and to me it sounded less raw than that superb first album. This was their teeny bop years but the quality of the material was far better than teeny bop.
Today I’m going to revisit my youth. I’ll go back in my mind to that day I came rushing home with the album to put it on the record player on the morning it came out. From Please Please Me on I bought every Beatles single and album on the day it came out and still remember the buzz of hearing it for the first time. I was never disappointed.
Freedom
Freedom is a concept that is compromise
An idea of amorality
That is even a landmine for the wise.
One man’s freedom impinges on us all
When without restraint,
Limits or bounds
It could result in making
Others crawl.
For the main we learn to rub along quite well
To find our ways through the twists
Without plunging others into hell.
When I speak of freedom
I mean equality,
Fairness, justice and space
For all humanity.
Others speak not of freedom
But selfishness;
Wanting it all for themselves
Without a thought for the rest.
My freedom is of the loving kind.
Opher 1.5.2016
Freedom
I am always reminded of Donovan when I hear the word freedom. Back when I was a boy I remember sitting in my room playing that Donovan track – Catch the Wind – and taking in that line – Freedom is a word I rarely use without thinking of the times when I’ve been loved.
Freedom is relative and can never be complete. There are too many strictures. If we choose to live within a social setting then we need to be aware of the feelings and needs of those around us. That is a limitation on our freedom, a compromise of our actions.
We are all different and yet we find a way of rubbing along together. That is life. We accommodate each other; we assist, help and look after each other. In return we get warmth, friendship and reciprocal help when we need it. We create society.
What stands out are the ones who refuse to be part of that society, who are greedily exploiting and grabbing everything they can for themselves. For them their freedom to do what they want becomes the abuse of others.
I strive for a fair world where the compromise between personal freedom and social equality is based on empathy and compassion.
How can we agree?
How can we possibly agree?
Me with you and you with me?
We live in universes far apart
That shapes our minds
Our thoughts and heart.
Yet reach and talk
Is the only way
To bring universes closer
Every day.
We will never agree
You and me
But we can still laugh
And set our minds free.
Opher 1.5.2016
How can we agree?
There are a multitude of things that create divisions, and divisions create distrust and hatred. People become entrenched in the views they adhere to. We all do. Yet people are people. On their own they are mainly caring and compassionate, friendly and helpful. It is only when they collect into groups that reinforce those differences that the feelings become magnified, the crowd become rabid and we find we have made enemies out of mere variations in perspectives.
Emotions are the fuel that generates the heat. Talk is the only way to cool the flames. Talk is good. Exchange of ideas is good. Listening and understanding are good.
We may not agree but we are human, family, we can understand a different point of view, share our fears and dreams and tolerate the views that are different.
We do not need painful divisions. We need understanding. We need love and dialogue.
We need more poems!
