A few months after we'd moved in together, Mrs PM and I bought a soft top 'Jeep' - not a real Jeep you understand - no, no a Romanian version - the Dacia Duster 'Roadster'. Sleek as breezeblock, and tough as a Tonka Toy. Spring and summer weekends were spent spinning around country lanes with the roof off, and pitching a tent somewhere rural. Although the Roadster could be hopelessly unreliable to the point of near fatality, and any sunny fun was always tempered by moments like: screaming down a hillside in the Brecon Beacons, a lead-foot on the brakes, the smell of steaming brake pads,and no slow down as a high altitude hairpin bend blurs towards you.
A handful of top-off tunes soundtracking our Duster days came from Corduroy's debut album Dad Man Cat, and if there's any track completely that captures the swing of spring it's.....
Corduroy - Skirt Alert
Or this from the first Frank album I picked up - Sinatra at the Sands. Arrangments by Quincy Jones, and backed by The Count Basie Orchestra.. it is for me, still the definitive Sinatra performance..
Frank Sinatra - You Make Me Feel So Young (live at the Sands)
17 comments:
OMG! the dacia! i still have the bruises on my arse from sitting in it stationary let alone when it was moving ....
There's nothing quite like Sinatra at the Sands. I've never taken a ride in any of those cars. Heard of it though. I'm glad spring is finally here. Cheers!
Love it PM!
(Think I’ll have a Frank Sinatra day?)
Spring is my 2nd favourite time of the year; Halloween pips it at the post…
Yes that'll be the Duster Bleech was a bit of a blockmobile. Did you ever try parking it - blooming thing was like driving a tanker?
The 'Sands' album's a stormer from start to finish Keith, but Fly Me To The Moon and I've Got A Crush On You are other stand out tracks..
Autumn's my fave as well Lil - if you haven't got it check out Frank's obsure classic Cycles - another swinging winner.
(Funnily enough Ben from Corduroy/Boys Wonder is involved in a band I'm doing some writing for. Keep your eyes on my pages for further news a little nearer to the summer....)
Love the Sinatra!
xoxox,
CC
What sort of writing Simon - music, lyrics, promo pieces???? Last I heard Ben was busy as a Postman...
Hello CC - I've seen you at Keith's place - thanks for popping over..
Promo pieces. Ben's in Germany these days working as a inhouse musician/engineer for a record label based out there.
haha! I remember you bombing around in that PM! Thought it was the soundtrack to a ride in that was more the theme tune to 'It's a Knockout'!!!
The ol Corduroy stuff has aged well hasn't it?? Sounds as fresh as ever.
P
there are times not being able to drive is definately a blessing but gee i bet those tunes sounded fine with the roof down
x
Top work Simon - was a big Boys Wonder and Corduroy fan so will watching your cyberspace.
And perhaps Tijuana Taxi or the Steptoe theme P..
Everything sounds better with your top off Ally :}
My first born son was born on the same day as FAS so I gave him the middle name Francis. I was weaned on the music of FAS and have collected all his albums on original vinyl. The definitive 'live' is the Paris Olympia show. Check it out. Amazing.
I remember where I was when Frank died - on my way to a training course in Telford (there's no glam in that is there) - I have got the Olympia gig great version of Night and Day on it.. have you got Ring-A-Ding
I've just realised how Frank's popped up at Key Points for me ...when me and Mrs PM started going out our Frank album was songs for Swinging Lovers - when we got married Frank was back with Ring-A-Ding as my 'getting ready' music on the wedding day - and our first dance was Witchcraft..
One of my first record buying excursions was with my Dad when he bought My Way, (it was also played at his funeral)
Corduroy!! That brings it back. Wasn't there a track called 'Ponytail' on that 1st LP? 'Look at that, look at that- PONYTAIL!'. Maybe not. Nice post.
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