Updating The Nows - Now Yearbook 1974

Into May and the Now Yearbook return to the past gets back to those pages we favour on vinyl going back to a year that has some parallels, extreme economic and social disruption plus a general election (if you were around you might recall we had two) and while the grown ups were getting worried about the "State of the Nation" we were playing, reading our comics, playing our records and enjoying Vision On.

Getting back to this, we have a record with some 48 tracks, all but one a substantial hit almost the equivalent of four of those cheesy cover girl Top Of The Pops albums that had remakes of all the hits, pressed on three lumps of green vinyl but sadly lacking the informative booklet of the cd version

 

Record One opens with  ‘Killer Queen’ that was first Top 5 single for Queen, and followed by the classic ‘Jet’ by Paul McCartney & Wings the second second from his latest album, and the still breathtakingly original, and hugely influential ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us’ from Sparks. This is followed up by run of ‘glam rock" from Sweet and Roxy Music, and including #1s from Suzi Quatro, and the years’ biggest seller ‘Tiger Feet’ from Mud, before closing with Slade’s ‘Far Far Away’. 

Flipping over to side two we start with Elton John with ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’, before some of the years biggest Rock hits, including ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’, ‘Radar Love’, ‘Dance With The Devil’ and the Faces ‘Pool Hall Richard’ before concluding with ‘Mike Oldfield’s Single’ – the ‘theme’ from his iconic album ‘Tubular Bells’. 

Record Two's first side is packed with huge hits including 6 #1’s - with chart-toppers from David Essex, The Rubettes, Alvin Stardust and Paper Lace, plus a huge hit from Pilot the Scottish group that promised much and the first Top 3 single for the Bay City Rollers with ‘Shang-A-Lang’. 

To my delight 1974’s biggest selling singles act were The Wombles, and their debut ‘The Wombling Song’ is up next along with the #1 global smash ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ from Carl Douglas inspired by the cult films and sport, before ending with the Reggae-Pop #1 ‘Everything I Own’ from Ken Boothe. 

1974 was a landmark year for Soul music, and it included the first global ‘Disco’ smashes and fittingly this is given a side to itself kicking off with with Barry White’s #1 ‘You’re The First, The Last, My Everything’ before a run of iconic floor-fillers from The Hues Corporation, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and a further #1 ‘Rock Your Baby’ from George McCrae. 

We conclude this side with four of the greatest Soul ballads of all-time from The Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye and ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ from The Stylistics. 

Record Three kicks off with the title track from the year’s biggest selling album, ‘Band On The Run’ from Paul McCartney & Wings – followed by the iconic ‘Candle In The Wind’ from Elton John, ‘I Honestly Love You’ by Olivia Newton-John which was her first US #1, and the amazing ‘The Air That I Breathe’ from The Hollies, before a run of four songs: John Denver’s ‘Annie’s Song’, ‘She’ from Charles Aznavour’, ‘The Three Degrees with ‘When Will I See You Again’ and ‘Sad Sweet Dreamer’ from Sweet Sensation – all of which hit #1 in 1974. 

The final side of Record Three is an eclectic line-up of pure Pop heaven led by the number ones ‘Seasons In The Sun’ from Terry Jacks and ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’ from The New Seekers that charted in December of 1973, and including Stephanie De Sykes, 10cc, and Lulu with ‘The Man Who Sold The World’, featuring David Bowie on backing vocals, before a second appearance from Sparks with ‘Amateur Hour’, plus Cockney Rebel’s ‘Mr Soft’, and Leo Sayer closing out this collection with his debut hit ‘The Show Must Go On’.

As you can see this is a very comprehensive selection of hits, many of which I certainly recall gathered up from the original recordings in the media we were brought up on.

Recommended.

Refreshing the look

Even if it's not much above six degrees as I type this on Saturday morning between the chores thoughts usually come around spring/summer wear.

With more than a nod to last weeks entry, I decided to return to pink with a short sleeve polo shirt which is a bit warmer than  a regular t shirt and does come in jersey which helps.

That can easily mix and matched to what I have to spruce things up easily as some pinks are the very devil to get to work with others.

Thinking a bit about cold, this matching fleecy top also fits the bill although my arms being thin float a little in the cuffed sleeves.

Now to get on to brewing a pot of tea....

New old -annuals

Things are a bit better this week although the oldish Windows machine's being a little erratic in its operations so I'm doing a bit a pre-planning like posting any images when it feels like co-operating and finishing things off on the reliable Chromebook.

This week I found an old school photograph which would of been when I was thirteen and a bit taken with just a hint of the then popular diffusion with a soft wide apertured background that's noticeable for the short bob girlish style hair and baby pink v neck sweater with tie which clearly showed how I saw thinks back then, uniform style but not rigidly stereotypical.

Back then the gender divide was of almost Berlin Wall proportions not least in school so you might make your own arrangements for getting "in" with things the other sex alone officially were supposed to do be them sports, games you play or comics you'd rather read although because most of my sports were disability sports at least they were co-ed unlike most.

Even if you were lucky to acquire the comics or figure you wanted, chances are many may of gone by now so I was pleased to get this compilation of classic girls  annuals of the 1970's - the sort of thing some of us read - with stories we remember presented as annual.

Although this came out in 2014, I'd been looking for a copy for ages when I found a store with a copy in and got it.

Given the heavy rain of late, it's just the thing to cheer me up.

Flat week

 

A bit more of a rollercoaster week emotionally with somethings and some folks who who are just focused on their own things even to the point they don't ask how you are even if you might by  most people come over as somewhat subdued and others that just add to it.

So you just get on with sorting through your emotions, what's solvable and what's not, being in most respects other peoples problems even if they're directed towards you, switching off.

Looking more to the positive, I'm looking around looks such cardigans which isn't something I've had much to do with from the days Gran knitted me them a number of decades ago and cleaning up a few 12" singles  from a round the same era that came to light recently

It seems to have brightened up after yesterdays gloom and heavy rain so I'll most likely nip out shortly for a stroll as that may well help too. 

Easter Party 2024

 This is coming a bit later than scheduled because it is written immediately after the event and anyway I'm actually a bit tired and sneezing probably due to pollen but anyway I did after an awful lot of mither and faff get to the LG Easter Event.

Trains were removed and this year I had to travel a day late and get a cab of the taxi rank to the venue with sets my anxieties off around being understood and being bad at remembering routes in areas I don't spend most of my time in (and then I can get lost).

Thankfully it did work out all right so changing from train to cab was seamless and even going in a less usually way but more direct in some respects didn't fox me so I got dropped at point I was very familiar with to walk with case to the venue.

It wasn't long before ringing the doorbell before half nine and moewing I was greeted by this welcoming sign, changing into something more comfortable before catching up with people while our host was setting things up.

The cans were set up to see armed with bean bags who could knock the most over and surprisingly I didn't do too badly at that but was it the strong wind which was preferable to anticipated rain?

The Egg Hunt was underway, hidden in all manner of weird and wonderful places and everybody found at least a few which as you went around you put into your colourful box.

We had a buffet evening meal with thing provided by our host and things we bought of which one had to be cooked - Faggots from the delightful town of Penkridge which I did have and enjoy on top of salad, various pies and Andi's excellent trifle with cream.

We had an Easter themed bingo which was different having surprisingly enough never played it and by the time I got four lines we were on full cards! 

Much talking and yarn sharing followed until one by one people either left or for those staying overnight, went to bed so I fell asleep to the glow of the coal fire before waking up around 8 o clock getting wash and changed for the next morning where we talked over a Bacon sandwich before heading to lunch.

It was around this point I was getting a bit concerned cos while the rails strikes had stopped it's not unknown for drivers on Sundays just not to turn in for work and there seemed to be a dirth of services showing on one site.

I consumed a turkey roast, sticky toffee pudding with cream and a half pint of orange which was very tasty and would keep me going until I got home.

People said their goodbyes and I left aided by a lift from Andi on something of a high from the events to catch the 16:32 Preston service that  stopped at one of the two stations nearby before catching can home.

Thanks to Jennifer for hosting, the event, Andi for the lift to the station and everyone for what they brought to the event both by way of physical and personal contributions.

Easter 2024

This is being typed on Sunday as we had a number of issues with the bigger Windows machine and a browser getting corrupted as an update became a no-date so the carefully laid plans fell rather like a certain planned trip out.

Being Sunday of course we're in the middle of that period so after meeting various Aunts there is a number of Easter Cards and Chocolate of various kinds here which I'll try to keep off of pink gingham dress which I'm wearing typing this out with some matching cute girlish socks.

That's very bunny although the lesser spotted Grump did bring me an egg too shockingly which was something Mom always did when she was around being more clued in to this more littles side of me and with various things altering things like shopping needed to be reworked.

Anyway I'll have some more egg and get on with more comic reading.

HAPPY EASTER!

Now Millennium series revisited Pt.II

The Now Millennium series continues advancing from the original 1999 volume issued in 2000 and in most respects this series continues on from that and on March 1st the next volume was issued following on from 2002/3.

As with all of this series each volume covers two years with one year per two discs and in the book form version I bought you get some background notes on each song and act included not that in the passing years I've forgotten Crazy Frog!

CD1 is the first of two taht cover 2004 and begins with George Michael's top-5 smash ‘Amazing’, before Pop queens Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue feature with the sensational ‘Toxic’ and ‘I Believe In You’. As well as co-writing the Kylie smash, Jake Shears along with his band The Scissor Sisters had a fantastic year in 2004 with their self-titled album, showcased on this release with their massive hit ‘Laura’. Robbie Williams continued to enjoy massive success, Duran Duran returned and further cemented their legacy with ‘(Reach Up For The) Sunrise’, plus Anastacia and Natasha Beddingfield both enjoyed huge hits with ‘Left Outside Alone’ and ‘These Words’. Will Young’s phenomenal achievements in 2003 spilled over into 2004 with the release of ‘Your Game’ and Maroon 5’s ‘This Love’ ended up at number 3 after their 2002 sleeper-hit album ‘Songs About Jane’ was re-released. Dancefloor favourites come in the form of legendary Hip-Hop / Pop from Outkast and Kelis, plus the Pop-Dance of The Shapeshifters, ‘Call On Me’ from Eric Prydz, and the fusion of LMC and U2. The disc cools down with the #1 from Eamon and the soulful vocals of Lemar.

CD2 kicks off with the undisputed classic ‘Mr. Brightside’ from The Killers before featuring other fantastic bands; Keane, Snow Patrol, R.E.M. and The Streets - all here. 2004 was a stellar year for Pop singles, and included here - Sugababes, Girls Aloud, band rivals Busted and McFly, plus Ashlee Simpson and Avril Lavigne all experienced Chart success.

CD3 begins by highlighting amazing song writing, including ‘Speed Of Sound’ from Coldplay, James Blunt’s ‘You're Beautiful’, ‘Bad Day’ from Daniel Powter and the electrifying ‘Dakota’ from Stereophonics. New singles from New Order and Eurythmics come before Duran Duran, Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams all make their second appearance. KT Tunstall’s massive ‘Suddenly I See’ leads to Chart favourites from Natalie Imbruglia and Simon Webbe. The huge ‘Caught Up’ from Usher and ‘1 Thing’ from Amerie come before the heavy beat of The Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Don't Phunk With My Heart’, and the disc closes with Akon’s flagship  number one smash ‘Lonely’.

CD4 leads with the irresistible ‘I Predict A Riot’ from the Kaiser Chiefs, followed by more great bands – The Bravery, Doves, Oasis and Bon Jovi all released unforgettable tracks in 2005. It was also the year that Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since U Been Gone’ dominated the Charts, as did the R&B / Hip-Hop / Pop hits of ‘Don't Cha’ from The Pussycat Dolls and ‘Candy Shop’ from 50 Cent and Olivia. Mario and John Legend proved that romance wasn’t dead, and Elton John and Westlife released uplifting songs ‘Electricity’ and ‘You Raise Me Up’. ‘(Is This The Way To) Amarillo’ from Tony Christie charted in 2005 as the years Comic Relief track and the album ends with an early viral sensation – the undeniably catchy ‘Axel F’ from Crazy Frog.

This era was one i bought albums by artists I liked so a general resume of this period is really helpful in putting titles to songs heard on the radio or being played in HMV when buying Oasis albums.