Now that I'm older, lost all my hair many years ago, Will you still be sending me a valentine, Birthday greeting, bottle of wine? If I nod off at a quarter three, slippers on the floor, Will you still need me, will you still feed me, Now I'm sixty four? If the Beatles idea of old…Read more When I’m Sixty Four
pop
Bob Dylan
When it comes to Bob Dylan, Crotchety Man came late to the party. He had raved about House of the Rising Sun (by the Animals), adored Blowin' In The Wind (by Peter, Paul and Mary) and swooned over Mr. Tambourine Man (by the Byrds). He was moved by The Times They Are A-Changin', With God on Our Side and Just Like a…Read more Bob Dylan
Don’t You Wait
Ambiguous: adjective (Of language) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning. Unclear or inexact because a choice between alternatives has not been made. Cloves - Don't You Wait (live) Last month something in my inbox announced that Peter Green had released a new album. Intrigued, I clicked through to see what the ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist has been up to recently. It wasn't…Read more Don’t You Wait
Waterloo Sunset
Between school and university I had a temporary job. It was the best vacation job a student could wish for: Assistant Scientific Officer (or some such title) at the Laboratory of the Government Chemist. It was the lowest and lowliest grade of scientific officer but I was paid the same as the permanent staff, which I believe…Read more Waterloo Sunset
Imagine
As I write this the death toll from the jihadist attacks in Paris on Friday night stands at 129. Another 99 people are critically ill and 350 altogether were injured. As I read the news bulletins the following morning my first reaction was anger. Then came a deep sorrow: for those who lost their lives, for their…Read more Imagine
Black Horse & Cherry
In 2005 (in the UK) a song called Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall was getting a lot of play on the radio. It's been variously described as pop, folk, blues and indie rock. Needless to say, none of those tags capture the essence of the song, not even taken together. It's short…Read more Black Horse & Cherry
Nights In White Satin
There was a special offer on the Web: all six of the books shortlisted for the Man Booker prize 2015 for just £30 (in hardback). Mrs. Crotchety and I agreed that this was too good to miss and soon a courier delivered them to our humble home. Choosing the smallest and shortest of them, Satin…Read more Nights In White Satin
The Rising Sun
This time, for my Track Of The Week, I'm going to do something a bit different. Instead of focusing on a specific recording I'm going to explore about a dozen different versions of the same song: The House of the Rising Sun. The link is to a Spotify playlist containing recordings from 1941 to 2001…Read more The Rising Sun
That’s Entertainment
We have the Radcliffe and Maconie radio show to thank (again) for my next Track of the Week. There was the usual stuff coming over the air waves a few days ago: some news from "Alcopops"; snippets of amusing banter; an eclectic mix of music. Not all to my taste but generally speaking very entertaining. I…Read more That’s Entertainment
The Beatles
First I want to make it clear that The Beatles isn't one of my favourite bands. They made some terrific singles in the sixties but, overall, I think they have always been overrated. That said, they were the best pop band around in the mid-sixties and She Loves You was the song that prompted me to take…Read more The Beatles
Crotchety Man 