Sultan of Swing – Dire Straits lead man and impresario guitarist Mark Knopfler knows how to bang out a catchy tune or two. But another aspect to his musician life is collecting classic motorcycles; here proudly leaning on a legendary HRD Vincent. That would be a perfect ride to take along the seafront between Cullercoats and Whitley Bay.
Brother in Arms
Vincent Black Lightning 1952
Said Red Molly to James that’s a fine motorbike
A girl could feel special on any such like
Said James to Red Molly, my hat’s off to you
It’s a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952
And I’ve seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme
And he pulled her on behind
And down to Boxhill they did ride
Said James to Red Molly, here’s a ring for your right hand
But I’ll tell you in earnest I’m a dangerous man
I’ve fought with the law since I was seventeen
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine
Now I’m 21 years, I might make 22
And I don’t mind dying, but for the love of you
And if fate should break my stride
Then I’ll give you my Vincent to ride
Come down, come down, Red Molly, called Sergeant McRae
For they’ve taken young James Adie for armed robbery
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside
Oh, come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside
When she came to the hospital, there wasn’t much left
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
But he smiled to see her cry
And said I’ll give you my Vincent to ride
Says James, in my opinion, there’s nothing in this world
Beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeveses won’t do
They don’t have a soul like a Vincent 52
He reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys
He said I’ve got no further use for these
I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home
And he gave her one last kiss and died
And he gave her his Vincent to ride
The Cursed Earth
Back to Basics – we recently had the opportunity to see a performance by the undoubtable Billy Bragg. Oh he of proletariat song and socialist chant. Folk punk poet with a rock beat. This photo of him in the early 80’s has him wearing a 2000ad cover t-shirt. Prog 61 to be exact, and my favorite, illustrating Judge Dredd exploding out of the page on his Lawmaster.
Drive Fast Take Chances
Learn to Fly
Wham!
A Day in the Life
I read the news today oh boy – alas another day of infamy. December 8th 1980. John Lennon was shot dead and the world lost a force of creation. He was a complex chap, possibly hypocritical on his stance of world peace versus his personal life, but, either solo or with Paul, could write a damn good tune.
Duck Soup and 128 candles
Suzanne – RIP Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)
Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever
And you know that she’s half-crazy but that’s why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her that you have no love to give her
Then he gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer that you’ve always been her lover
And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you’ve touched her perfect body with your mind
And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him
He said all men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them
But he himself was broken, long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human, he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him, and you want to travel blind
And you think you maybe you’ll trust him
For he’s touched your perfect body with her mind
Now, Suzanne takes your hand and she leads you to the river
She’s wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbor
And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love and they wil lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds her mirror
And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her
For she’s touched your perfect body with her mind
They Don’t Own Me
Verve- The aforementioned 90’s group frontman Richard Ashcroft has a freshly released album. One piece is supported by a cool video of this troubled troubadour alternately crooning and riding across a windswept British countryside. It’s a beautiful Triumph Cub in trials form that he scoots across meadow, through wood, and along lane on.
Urban Hymns by The Verve is quintessential 90’s music.
Fender Triumphcaster
Noble Nobel
Wandering Troubadour – Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature earlier today. “The unwashed phenomenon – The original vagabond” as Joan Baez sang. Of course we know the story of his Triumph Tiger crash in ’66 which allowed him to change direction reflectivly.
Great songwriter with words that can pierce your soul.
Here we are now, entertain us
Nevermind – the seminal album from the Seattle band that broke the mold and ushered in an angst ridden style and desensibility for the end years of a tired Twentieth Century. It turns 25 today. Kurt, Krist and Dave became a voice for the disenfranchised Gen X. I would turn it up to ’10’ and lie on the floor when getting home from my first ‘real’ job after collage.
1966 Chrysler Newport in the garage of this ‘grunge’ band.
The Boss
Shangri Las
Mm–“Is she really going out with him?
“Well, there she is, Let’s ask her”
“Betty, is that Jimmy’s ring you’re wearing?”
“Mm-hm”
“Gee, it must be great riding with him”
“Is he picking you up after school today?”
“Mm-mm”
“By the way, where did you meet him?”

Bad Girl band composed of two pairs of New York sisters who in the sixties recorded this hit about teenage love and tragedy. The revving engine is some kind of English racer and the album cover has a biker aboard a big Matchless single.










