Simon Mayo's R2 stand-in (an Irish fella) introduced John Lennon's "Mind Games" as a song that reminds him of the Muppets' "Am I a Man or a Puppet" - I couldn't quite see the connection. 

YESTERDAY: I was touching up the paintwork on my summerhouse when I heard Paul McCartney singing "Every Day" (or is it "Every Night") on the "Sounds of the 70s" R2 programme. Nice song, haven't heard it in ages.

TODAY: Terry Jones is campaigning to restore the fortunes of his hometown, Colwyn Bay.  He recalled the acts that played at the local theatre in its heyday including a "singing troupe featuring Jack Lennon, John Lennon's grandfather".  Sometimes, even I can't believe the  places you stumble across a Beatle (Times, p21).

Twist and Shout - is the title of an article in Pat's Total Film mag (p14).  Nothing to do with the Beatles - in fact it's about a disaster movie - but it does bring to mind a certain song.

Mike Hawker, songwriter with many hits to his name, recently died.  The Times obituary (p54) mentions Dusty Springfield's success with his song "I only want to be with you" ... "She also became the second UK artist after the Beatles to chart in America as part of the British Invasion"

I did watch the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony - but had the sound off for some of it (because I was on the phone).  So I missed, what was reported into today's paper that, Susan Boyle sung "Mull of Kintyre"

"A pine tree planted in LA 10 years ago in memory of George Harrison has died after an insect infestation" (Times, p13). 

I'm pleased to say that the tree, Mike's mum (Rachel) planted at their home on 12 Castle Street to celebrate his birth, is alive and well.  I made a point of checking it today because it's the eve of his birthday - so the tree will be 68 years old.  It was only when I got back home that I read about George's. 

A little piece in Times2 (p2) about the health impact of loneliness and isolation extols the virtues of shared human experiences ..."It is not just the thrill of seeing, say, Paul McCartney in the flesh; it is also that indescribable, but very human sense of sharing the beat with thousands of others". Hear! Hear!

No Beatle references today - yet!  But I did have a couple at the weekend - I just forgot to post them.



Blue Meanie from Yellow Submarine (1968)

On Saturday in PDSA charity shop I found a Beatles T-shirt (my size too) and on Sunday whilst re-arranging my summer house and listening to the radio I heard Johnny Walker play "Imagine" and the last few bars of a Wings number which I didn't recognise.

STOP PRESS: At this precise moment I'm watching "The Guard" movie on Film4.  One of the characters called another, a "blue meanie" - not sure if they were referring to the Beatle film character but that's certainly what came to my mind.

Chris Evans guests today were invited to ask each other questions.  Someone from Dragon's Den asked "who would you like to be 50 years ago - 1964.  Chris helpfully suggested that the Beatles were around by then!
 
And tonight my paper tells me there's a John Lennon double bill on Sky Arts 1.  But I'll be watching "The joy of the guitar riff" on BBC4.  Mike would have loved it. When I turned on the TV a few minutes early I caught the end of the previous programme - "Sounds of the 80s".  In the credits a montage of memorabilia included a poster for "John Lennon's Forest of Peace" (whatever that was).

Beatles at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

I'm in bed reading the news. "The film director Ron Howard is to made a documentary about the Beatles' touring years, up to their last paid-for concert at Candlestick Park ... in 1969" (The Times, p16).

Earlier in the day, helping Pat & friends, at Whitemoors Antiques Centre his son (Paul) asked why a mutual acquaintance's middle name was Harrison - "is it after George Harrison?", he asked. I think he might be right.

First day of summer holidays.  No need to get up at 6.30 am today so set my alarm for about 8.00 am and caught a trailer for "Sounds of the Sixties - from the Beatles to Bowie" with Brian Matthews.  Mike and I always listened to this show, but it's rare that I catch it now - too sad. 

A few minutes later I had one of those coincidences that keep happening since Mike died.  I was thinking about the day ahead and going to the cemetery; a few seconds later Chris Evans played "My Sweet Lord".  The congregation sung along to this (with George ) at Mike's funeral - a special moment.

I generated my own Beatles reference today.  I used the phrase "Help I need somebody" in a quiz I created for next year's new students on our VLE.

On my way home a stranger passed me in the street wearing a Beatles T-shirt  - black sleeveless.  A Google search failed to find the exact one.  I can't believe how many t-shirts the band has inspired.  I don't own a single one.

I decided to checkout out Gumtree for furniture tonight - someone in Burbage is offering this DVD for £5

Another double Beatles hit on R2 today - See it my Way (which I remember being impossible to dance to) and Twist and Shout (which is impossible not to dance to).

But my best reference was when I got to work and my colleague told me the Principal played a few minutes of a Beatles song, especially for me, at Friday's end of term meeting (which I missed - as I went to a funeral).  But it wasn't a song she recognised so I'm going to have to track down a college music fan to discover what it was.

I watched BBC4's "Dangerous Songs" tonight, not expecting to see The Beatles.  I'd forgotten that "A day in the life" was banned because of the "turn you on" line and the anarchy of the final few bars. 

I stumbled across this whilst browsing websites for a wedding present. The happy couple may not be receiving this but I think it'll certainly make a good gift for a friend or two (or me!)

 

"Sgt Pepper"
from Lakeland Plastics

I got home a little earlier today so it was pure chance that I heard Simon Mayo announce "Twist and Shout" at about 17.55pm.  He'd invited his listeners to suggest the"shoutiest" songs - and this Beatles track was nominated by quite a few.

And a couple of hours later, Dawn O'Porter in "This Old Thing" (a C4 programme about vintage clothes), tried to convince a reluctant fashionista that a 1960s top was cool because it was designed by the person who dressed Margaret Thatcher and The Beatles - but didn't name him/her. 

Lots of Beatle songs today.  Chris Evans may be off poorly but his stand-in, Liz Kershaw, still played two tracks this morning: "Good day sunshine" and a rare offering by Ringo "Octopus' Garden".

And in the evening I watched the remaking of "Please, please me" again.  As before I enjoyed Mark Hucknell's version of "Anna", Beverly Knight's "Twist and Shout" and the Beatles Liverpool contemporaries doing "Boys".  I did skip through one or two of the others though!

Mary Wells appeared at No.14 on ITV's "The Nation's Favourite Motown Song"... her popularity was such that she was asked to join the Beatles on tour.

BBC4 at 10.45pm: "The Beatles' Please Please Me: Remaking a Classic" which I may watch later in the week - a repeat, of course, but I did enjoy it the last two times I watched it!

My weekend often begins with reading Caitlin Moran's "Celebrity Watch" in Times2 (p3).  Tonight at No.4 on her chart she bemoans Amy Childs naming her dog Leonardo Charles after Leonardo DiCaprio: "Is this how naming things suddenly works now? Can CW now claim to have been named after ... the Black Watch? Is The Times named after The Beatles? Gosh - just the use of "The" is now enough to evoke them!

Not much on choice on telly tonight - so I opted for an ITV programme about Aspreys.  One of the employees talked about their famous customers including Paul McCartney, who wanted two dozen wine glasses one Christmas. How the other half live!

I read a review of last night's programme "Rebels of Oz" (which I intend to watch on Catch-Up). "The subtitle Germaine, Clive, Barry and Bob, made a Beatles out of the quartet ..." (Times2, p10).  A very novel use of the name!

A very unexpected Beatle reference today - in a report of the Rolf Harris sex abuse trial!  The writer, in describing, Harris' many "lives"  comments "it's still hard to believe that the Beatles sang backing vocals on a specially composed version on Harris' smash hit Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport in 1963" (Times2, p2).