Web Page No 2654

21st January 2020

1st Picture. Sound of Music poster

 2nd Picture. Grandad knitting

 3rd Picture. Where to put the dentures

4th Picture. Crumpets for tea

The Sound of Music!

(To be sung to the tune of “Raindrops on Roses” from the “Sound of Music”)

The original first verse goes like this:-

Raindrops on roses
And whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favourite things

But I really do think that at our age we should be singing the version below.

Botox and nose drops  and needles for knitting,                                               Walkers and handrails  and new dental fittings,                                      Bundles of magazines tied up in string,                                                           These are a few of my favourite things. 

Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,                                             Polident and Fixodent                                                                                     and false teeth in glasses,                                                                             Pacemakers, golf carts                                                                                       and porches with swings,                                                                         These are a few of my favourite things.

When the pipe leaks,                                                                                        When the bones creak,                                                                            When the knees go bad,                                                                                     I simply remember my favourite things,                                                           And then I don’t feel so bad.                                                                       Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,                                       No spicy hot food or food cooked in onions,                                  Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,                                These are a few of my favourite things.                                                

Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin’,                                      Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin’,                                             And we won’t mention our short shrunken frames,                                 When we remember our favourite things.

When the joints ache,                                                                               When the hips break,                                                                                   When the eyes grow dim,                                                                           Then I remember the great life I’ve had,                                                           And then I don’t feel so bad.

(recognise any of this???? Ed

                                                                

In 2005 these lyrics are frequently included in an email that has been circulating for several years under the title "Fwd: Favorite Things.” The text in the email reads:

"To commemorate her 69th birthday on 1^st October,) actress/vocalist Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP ( this is   a United States-based interest group whose stated mission is "to empower people to choose how they live as they age). One of the musical numbers she performed was "My Favourite Things" from the legendary movie "Sound of Music." However, the lyrics of the song were deliberately changed for the entertainment of her "blue hair" audience....

It is also claimed that Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and she did repeated encores.

Unfortunately, this story is a total hoax. Ms. Andrews (she was born on 1^st October 1935 so her 69^th birthday was the previous year) never sang this song.

However, for those of us who are experiencing some of the aches and pains described in these lyrics, this version of the song provides a moment or two of smiles, especially when we affirm the truth of the last two lines.

Then I remember the great life I’ve had,                                                               And then I don’t feel so bad.

Too true!

 Stay in touch

Peter

You Write:

Griff writes:-

Peter putting up a picture of the top Portsmouth group "The Rivals" brought back some good memories for me. The Rivals were fronted by their lead singer Ricky Dean and to give this group their full billboard name it was "Ricky Dean & The Rivals". Ricky Deans real name was Ron Rickwood and he was a personal friend of mine from the early 1960's. He is still performing in the Northern night clubs and working mans clubs or at least he was the last time I spoke to him a few years back.

The Rivals were nearly always the supporting group at the Savoy Ballroom & Kimberly's in Southsea to the top acts appearing there like Freddie & The Dreamers and other top acts of the time. Ron (Ricky) use to give me free entrance tickets when they were appearing at these venues.  I can see now where my schoolwork suffered... My apologies to Miss Blitz.  lol

                To the best of my knowledge there are only 2 perhaps 3 pictures of  Ricky & The Rivals and Peter has put up the one that is well known on the historical references of the Portsmouth Pop Scene from the early to mid 1960's and I have another rarer one which I shall try and recover for Peter to put up on the website.

Regards & A Happy New Year to Everyone.

Melvyn ( Griff ) Griffiths.

News and Views:

On this day 21^st January 1960-1965

On 21/01/1960 the number one single was Why - Anthony Newley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was not listed and the box office smash was North by Northwest. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 21/01/1961 the number one single was Poetry in Motion - Johnny Tillotson and the number one album was GI Blues - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 21/01/1962 the number one single was The Young Ones - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was The Young Ones - Cliff Richard. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 21/01/1963 the number one single was The Next Time/Bachelor Boy - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was Out of the Shadows - Shadows. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 21/01/1964 the number one single was Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Steptoe & Son (BBC) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 21/01/1965 the number one single was Yeh Yeh - Georgie Fame and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.