By Charlie McGroarty
The title might lead you to think I've been at the Guinness, well nothing could be further from the truth.
I've been wallowing in nostalgia by listening to this superb new greatest hits album from a singer from the seventies.
This gentleman, from Waterford in Ireland, burst on to the scene in late 1970 with a song called Nothing Rhymed that reached no.8 in November of that year.
His appearance could only be described at striking. His initial appearance on Top of the Pops saw him dressed in flat cap, tank top sweater and short trousers.
His hair cut was called a pudding bowl cut. Ill leave that vision of sartorial excellence to your own imagination.
I'd love to see the look on Simon Cowell’s face if anyone was to walk into a Pop Idol audition dressed like that.
His piano playing consisted of proper piano playing in the right hand, however his left hand was cupped into a claw-like hand thumping out the accompaniment in style that you would never see in any tuition books.
However his song writing skills produced some classics of their kind and they still sound good some 30 odd years on.
This however, makes me wonder what kind of audience will want to buy this disc.
I don't think any of his music has been used in advertisements or anything like that. He hasn’t written any theme tunes for successful TV series.
It will be people who will be thinking “Heavens I’ve not heard him in ages” or words to that effect, or younger people who watch TOTP 2 that will spend the hard earned cash here.
The big question is just how good is the disc. Well I have to say songs like Matrimony.
I guarantee if you play Get Down at any party you will get people rushing on to the floor like they just heard last orders being shouted at the pub.
He had a knack of writing lyrics that people could identify with, nothing fancy and people of all ages could identify with this well loved Irishman.
Lines like told you once before and I wont tell u no more (Get Down) also I don't wish to hurry you love but have you seen the time (Matrimony).
He used to be managed by Gordon Mills who also managed Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdinck.
These were two difficult acts to try and follow but unlike the others his songwriting ability stood head and shoulders over most of his contemporaries.
He was voted best British male singer back in 1972 and anyone who buys the Berry Vest of will not be disappointed.
I mean, how can you not admire any man who can come up with the titles Ooh Wakka Doo Wakka Day and I don't love you but I think I like you.
The album is thoroughly recommended, go check it out
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The OtherWurks Published by Irnwurks Media Contributors Frank McGroarty Gordon Newlands Charlie McGroarty |
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