S&C contributor and Pompey Politics Podcast host Ian Morris shares his experience of the lockdown, as someone with diabetes. It’s Day 85, and as we get ever closer to the end of our Not Out series, Ian is inspired by, but definitely not copying, a well known radio favourite…
Tuesday 9th June, Day 85 of 89.
Is it copyright?
There is a long-running show on Radio 4 where someone chooses the eight musical tracks they would take with them if they were alone on a piece of land, surrounded by water, and there was no-one else there.
I have always fancied trying to compile my list, and well, it’s my blog, so lets give it a go.
This might take a couple of segments.
There was plenty of music played in our house when I grew up, principally on a Sunday morning whilst housework was being done. I can still picture some of the iconic album sleeves: the The Best of The Beach Boys, The Shadows Greatest Hits, and the Very Best of The Everly Brothers. Bear in mind that this was the end of the 1970s and my parents’ taste was decidedly ‘Easy Listening’.
One record does stand out though. Mum was a great lover of Country and Western. I’ve never been sure when ‘Country’ music lost the ‘Western’, as it has today, but back then it had its full title. Her favourite lad was Don Williams. The album sleeve was a close-up of the man himself, who sported sideburns like you can’t imagine and an obligatory cowboy hat, and her favourite track was I Recall a Gypsy Woman.
My own musical journey is not an especially auspicious one. At school in the first half of the 1980s, punk was all but over and thank goodness, for I never got that at all. There was a bit of a mod revival with the Ska movement and The Jam belting out tunes around the dysfunctional nature of society, but my first record purchase was in the niche genre of rockabilly. Looking back this was a strange choice and perhaps speaks to my comfort with not conforming to the fashion or expression of the time, but instead being happy to plough my own furrow. I remember evenings out with Mum and Dad at the RAOB Club (Royal Antideluvian Order of Buffaloes), proudly sporting my white shirt and bootlace tie look. It wasn’t great…but here it is, the first record I ever purchased: Stray Cats – Stray Cat Strut.
After A levels, I started working in a laboratory as a Science Technician; we had just entered the age of the CD. The CD everyone owned at the time was the iconic Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits and I was no different. It induced in me a love of really good guitarists and Mark Knopfler is one of the very best, IMHO.
I have always wanted to learn to play and picked up the ukulele a few years ago. The lie that it would be a lovely little instrument, nice and easy to play still irks me. I was going to pick it up again during lockdown, I haven’t yet.
I have seen a video of the next track being played on the ukulele so I know it can be done…just not by me.
Here it is, Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits.
To be continued tomorrow…
Don’t miss Ian’s diary each day, keep an eye out for new entries here, along with past editions of the Pompey Politics Podcast. How are you managing the lockdown at the moment? Get in touch with us over on Facebook or Twitter and let us know your experiences and any hints and tips you’re finding helpful right now.
