Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon.
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Who doesn't love a good dose of poetry?
I don't.
Because I'm a Philistine.
However, even I know who Sir John Betjeman was and, thanks to Wikipedia, I know this was the week, fifty years ago, in which his reign as Poet Laureate began.
I do believe the works of Sir John Betjeman were a huge influence on the lyrics of the band Lieutenant Pigeon. How appropriate, then, that in the very week he attained Laureate status, that band was at Number One on the UK singles chart, with its platter that mattered Mouldy Old Dough.
Over on the UK album chart, however, it was 20 All-Time Greats of The '50s by Various Artists that held sway.
Among the tracks I approved of on that week's singles chart were:
In a Broken Dream - Python Lee Jackson
Mama Weer All Crazee Now - Slade
Back Stabbers - the O'jays
The Guitar Man - Bread
Virginia Plain - Roxy Music
You Wear It Well - Rod Stewart
America - Simon and Garfunkel
And we're honoured indeed, as no less a talent than Judo Jim Starlin delivers the front cover.
Granted, this is before Jim becomes the superstar we'll all know and love, and he's clearly still finding his feet but it's always exciting to see him involved in a project.
As for the Hulk, barely does he have the time to get his bearings and threaten Rick Jones and Betty Ross than he's kidnapped by the Gargoyle who promptly betrays Russia for the chance to be a normal man again.
Interestingly, it would appear that Nikita Khrushchev's portrait in this reprint is given a moustache in an attempt to hide his identity from the reader. All part of Marvel UK's attempts to eradicate the Red Menace angle that was so prevalent in early 1960s Marvel stories.
Elsewhere, the Fantastic Four don't have to worry about commies. They're too busy having their first meeting with the Mole Man who's been stealing the Earth's nuclear power plants.
And, finally, Spider-Man saves astronaut John Jameson from certain death but discovers that even that will earn him no gratitude from the man's father, a newspaper publisher called J Jonah Jameson.
And, of course, we get another coupon towards the mystery free gift that we can send off for at some point.
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25 comments:
‘Black Stabbers’ by the mighty O’Jays is far and away my favorite of those chart-busting’ hits. ‘House of the Rising Sun’ is a distant number 2. There was a time that I enjoyed listening to ‘Layla’ when it came on the radio but those days are long gone. I still consider it a good song, mind you, with some killer riffs and all that, but I’ve just heard it too many times (and that repetitive instrumental thing at the end just goes on and on and on….)
Yep, Judo Jim is still figuring things out on that MWOM cover, but he’s definitely getting there. I recently bought a collection of the ‘Dr. Weird’ fanzine stories he did with George R R Martin in 69-71, and it was interesting to compare to his later stuff on Capt. Marvel and Warlock (where I think he hit his peak). This particular MWOM cover shows him right at that stage between ‘Exuberant but Unpolished Fan’ and ‘Slick but Electrifying Pro’.
b.t.
Yeah, I go with the O'Jays as best single too b.t.
Steve, did you not approve of 'Children of the Revolution' then? I'm not the biggest Marc Bolan fan in the world, but it is one of the better records ones here.
At least so far as I'm aware - admittedly that pigeon record was a complete mystery to me. And I had no idea that Michael Jackson did a version of 'Ain't No Sunshine', let alone had a hit with it (giving it a listen, its competent enough... but a kid singing it just seems weird to me).
A lot of regrettable vinyl in the albums chart - Yes, ELP, Andy Williams, 'The Edward Woodward Album'... and yes, that is THE Edward Woodward. I know, because I just tried a bit of it, and listened to him singing 'Windmills of Your Mind'.
He's no Dusty Springfield, thats for sure.
-sean
The only thing I can add about Marvel UK at this point is that besides Judo Jim Starlin being a newbie at the House of Ideas (see this month's Lucky Bag), so was Tony Isabella.
I read a bit of an interview once where he said his first job at Marvel was editing reprints for the new British line; mainly catching and changing references to the Soviets. Seriously - years later in the twenty-first century he spent part of an interview complaining about Brits being soft on commies in the 70s...
-sean
Steve, you omitted some classics from your list such as:
Children Of The Revolution - T.Rex
Wig Wam Bam - The Sweet
Burning Love - Elvis
Donna - 10cc
Goodbye To Love - Carpenters
I Get The Sweetest Feeling - Jackie Wilson
Popcorn - Hot Butter
Leader Of The Pack - Shangri-Las
Let's Dance - Chris Montez
I've never forgiven Lynsey De Paul for singing "Maggie's The One For Me" during the 1983 general election but I admit that "Sugar Me" is very catchy!
The only John Betjeman poems I'm familiar with are the one about the night mail from 1936 and the one about Christmas from 1954:
The holly in the windy hedge
And round the manor house the yew
Are stripped to decorate the ledge
And alter, font and arch and pew
So the villagers can say
The church looks nice on Christmas Day
(obviously the poem is much longer but that's the verse I always remember)
But my all-time favourite poem is "The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" - what an epic!
I fear thee Ancient Mariner
I fear thy skinny hand
Thou art long and lank and brown
As is the ribbed sea sand
I fear thee Ancient Mariner
And thy skinny hand so brown
Fear not, fear not, O wedding guest
This body dropped not down!
(the Mariner is explaining that he didn't become an undead zombie like the rest of the doomed crew. I said it was an epic poem and I'm amazed that nobody has ever considered making a movie based on it).
Never mind those singles Colin - especially the Carpenters (I think we can forget about them completely) - what we all want to know is...
Does Steve rate 'X in Search of Space' by Hawkwind?
-sean
On the subject of Betjeman's Christmas poem - my local Tesco has started selling festive food so now Christmas cake, mince pies and Stollen can be enjoyed in mid-October if so desired!
Has anyone else seen the clip of King Charles meeting Liz Truss where he says "Are you here again...oh dear, dear". Apparently poor Liz's approval ratings have crashed to just 9% and even the King doesn't want to be seen with her.
You could almost feel sorry for Liz Truss...almost.
Good heavens! How can their not be a Wings' song on the charts? Oh my!
Well, as there is a consensus building here about "Backstabbers", I may as well join it! Great song. Fine example of the "Sound of Philadelphia ". However, I must make a confession. My favorite song from the list, at the time, was "Popcorn". This new 'electronic music' was fascinating. A few years later I moved up to Kraftwerk...
My favourite song in that list will come as no surprise to many its , "All the young dudes" by Mott the Hoople and written by the mighty Bowie. "Back Stabbers" is a classic as well. Python Lee Jacksons "In a Broken Dream" is one if my favourites from this time with early Rod Stewart vocals when he sang "properly".
Steve, issue 2 of MWOM also came with a lovely Spider-Man transfer as well.
Charlie hasn't read these Marvel UK works but did listen to the radio at the time so...
BACK STABBERS was good stuff! I've heard it a few times these past few weeks on MeTV FM out of Chicago. It really is a much appreciated blast from the past! It makes me wonder if MeTV's play list synchs up with what was #1 that month on the charts "X" number of years ago...
Like RED says, "POPCORN" was a hit too, over here. But I can't say I've heard it in several decades now. If it pops up on MeTV FM, I'll assume I've cracked the algorithm LOL.
Other song observations...
"Let's Dance" is # 50 by Chris Montez. Hmmm... was Bowie subtly inspired?
Harley Quinne is at #40 with "New Orleans." Was DC subtly inspired?
I think all the Wings records were being banned in 1972.
-sean
"Popcorn" was BBC testcard (no tv shows being broadcast) music, along with 'Love is Blue', & a couple of others!
Colin - As regards Betjeman, people recall memorable lines, like: "Come friendly bombs & fall on Slough".
I like 'Backstabbers', too!
Phillip
I bought an old 1970s Arcade records "20 Fantastic Hits" LP jn a charity shop (£1) today that gas several of these racks including New Orleans song, and Python Lee Jackson .
Oh, I think I might have a copy of that somewhere Paul - does it also have 'Hocus Pocus' by Focus on it?
-sean
That's the very one Sean.
McScotty, thanks for the Spider-Man transfer info.
Colin, I've just seen that Chuck and Liz video. It does almost makes me sympathize with her.
Sean, I'm totally unfamiliar with X in Search of Space. I shall give it a listen on YouTube and report back later. As for Children of the Revolution, I'm afraid all Marc Bolan songs sound the same to me.
Colin, my nearest Poundland is well stocked up with Christmas fare.
Then again, it's also well stocked up with Halloween fare.
It's making me feel positively schizophrenic.
Bt, McScotty and Red, I would say In a Broken Dream is my favourite track on this week's chart.
Charlie and Phillip, thanks for your comments as well. :)
I know what you mean about Marc Bolan's stuff being a bit samey Steve, but thats the one that stands out imo. Mind you, that could just be because it was the first I can remember hearing.
Paul, like the rest of those old compilations, that one's a strange mix - Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes don't really sit easily alongside er... Jimmy Osmond.
Btw, I see that following the womens Ireland/Scotland game the other day - and inevitable Twitter storm - the latest oldie to be a hit is 'Celtic Symphony'.
Seems the Wolfe Tones of all people are currently at #2 in the UK...
-sean
Phil, Betjeman's "Slough" line is indeed a famous one!
I forgot to say that "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" is by Samuel Taylor Coleridge!
Suddenly the song 'Popcorn' is very timely as we'll need plenty of popcorn in the next few days while we sit back and watch this Tory government implode.
Sean, An even stranger track from that LP was "Nice one Cyril" by Cockeral Chorus celebrating Spurs being in the F A. Cup final that year. One of the good things about these types of LPs was the range of songs from classics, pop tunes and daft songs like the Spurs one .
Theres nothing good about about celebrating Spurs, Paul. Not even ironically.
-sean
Welp, now I'm going to HAVE to go look up "Windmills of Your Mind" as performed by Edward Woodward, just on general principal. Thanks for the bee in my bonnet, Sean.
I used to have a copy of Rime of the Ancient Mariner, as illustrated by Gustave Dore. It was sort of packaged like a graphic novel, a cheap copy. I dunno what happened to it but I wish I still had it. I recommend checking out that art, though, on the internet.
I think Dore also illustrated Dante's Inferno.
And talking about spooky:
"Like one, that on a lonesome road doth walk in fear and dread
and having once turned round walks on, and turns no more his head
Because he knows a frightful fiend doth close behind him tread."
Yikes. I think about that line every time I find myself walking at night, or even dusk.
M.P.
M.P., just be relieved that at least Woodward didn't have a go at 'Son of a Preacher Man'.
-sean
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