Hark, now hear the sailors cry. Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic.

70’s Song of the week

“Into The Mystic” by Van Morrison (1970)

My friend Jim from Belfast knew who the brown-eyed girl was. She ended up marrying a bartender and they ran a pub. Jim also used to see Van Morrison on the street corners of Belfast many years ago. He would perform on street corners when he was not performing his duties as a window cleaner.  He is maybe not the friendliest guys in the world but he can sure write and sing a song!

Who's to say the way a man should spend his days. Do you let them smolder like paper in fire?

Quick Hit

“Paper In Fire” by John Cougar Mellencamp (1987)

I remember the first time I saw the “American Fool” album. It was in the form of an ‘8-track’ tape kicking around on the floor of this guy’s truck who was giving me a ride. He was a self professed country music nut so I was curious why he had John Cougar. I asked him and he said “Because it is country music”. I thought “ Huh, I didn’t really think so....well, wait a minute, definitely influenced.”

John Mellencamp a.k.a. John Cougar Mellencamp a.k.a. John Cougar came straight out of the heartland of America with a dream and an attitude – sort of a rebel, ...I guess.

All wet hey you might need a raincoat. Shakedown dreams walking in broad daylight. Three hun-dred six-ty five de-grees - burning down the house!

Quick Hit

“Burning Down the House” by Tom Jones and the Cardigans (2008)

Now in his seventies it is hard to believe that women used to throw undergarments at Tom Jones as he ripped it up in the swingin’ sixties. Such classics as “It’s Not Unusual”, “The Green, Green Grass of Home”, “She’s a Lady”. “Delilah”, “Daughter of Darkness”, “Help Yourself” and my favourite “What’s New Pussycat” topped the charts in the 60's and early 70's.. Elvis was said to have been very moved by “The Green, Green Grass of Home” and played it over and over when it first came out.