[Roger Slater]

Matt, I think worry about spambots is misplaced. The bots will find you, and have found you, no matter what you do. You just need to have a good email program that filters that kind of stuff out. Gmail is pretty good.

I like the idea of people being able to contact me to shower me with undeserved praise. I think it's happened to me only twice, however, with poems that I have posted on my website. But it's nice when it does.

[David Callin]

Cameron, I couldn't detect any politics in Susan Jarvis Bryant's poem. What am I doing wrong?

Ah John. I prefer ...

When the world in which you live in,
Gets a bit too much to bear,
And you need someone to lean on,
When you look, there's no one there

You're gonna find me, out in the country,
Yeah, you're gonna find me, way out in the country,
Where the air is good, and the day is fine,
And the pretty girl, has a hand in mine,
And the silver stream, is a poor man's wine,
In the country, in the country

It's the only Cliff song I know that has a bit of life to it. Well, that and Move It.

Thanks Fliss. And Sarah-Jane.

And thanks Joe. I'm trying to remember that Man U debutant myself. It wasn't Rashford, or Greenwood, or anyone like that. I'm wondering now whether he actually made the grade. I hope he did.

And thanks Matt. I have got emails on a few occasions - more than once, but less than 10. Maybe 6? One of those turned into a friendship that is still flourishing online, and another - from the excellent Davina (D A) Prince - has become an occasional friendly correspondence. (We have exchanged books.)

I have sent a few myself, too, if something has particularly tickled me.

I know what you mean about the spambots. My Yahoo address was caught up in their dreadful breach of security a few years ago, with the embarrassing result that it still churns out the occasional spam message to friends.

Thank'ee kindly all.

David

P.S. September's Snakeskin is a Short Poem special. Think on, now.

[John Isbell]

Hi David,

What I love about "Summer Holiday" is that Cliff has seen such a land in the movies but can't be sure such a land in fact exists. That I think is splendid. I also think his mediocre voice is the perfect vehicle to express that aspirational moment, rather as Phil Oakey has a not very gifted backup singer saying she was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar - Aretha she ain't, and that rings true. Charming moments in rock history 101. :-)
Or as they also say, "I'll take charming moments in rock history for $600, Phil." And just to add one more: "No handsome face can ever take the place of my guy..."

Cheers,
John

[Joe Crocker]

It's funny how many of these threads end up in swapping youtube music links. But it may be worth remembering that Cliff did sometimes have some killer company -- Van the Man for one. Here with a comb-over before he started wearing a hat. And, if you really can't bear Cliff and his mugging to camera how about this?

Mary Wells' "My Guy" was pretty good too. (Possibly the first soul record I can remember singing along to)

[John Isbell]

Hi Joe,

Well, Van is hard for me to say no to. Tnx for posting.

No musclebound man will ever take my hand from my guy ...

Cheers,
John

[David Callin]

Originally Posted by Joe Crocker

It's funny how many of these threads end up in swapping youtube music links.

I really don't mind that. But for some reason I can't open the first link. And the second one - forgive me - I've always thought is Van at some of his dreariest.

Nothing wrong with Mary Wells, though. That, in my memory, is contemporaneous with "My Boy Lollipop". My memory could be wrong, though.

[Joe Crocker]

Hi David. Yes I agree. It's not my favourite Van Morrison track. But it may be favourite Cliff Richard one. (I have corrected the link)

Yes I remember Millie. She make my heart go giddyup!

[David Callin]

Originally Posted by Joe Crocker

Yes I remember Millie. She make my heart go giddyup!

Ah Joe. If I could come up with a line like that I wouldn't stop grinning for days.

[John Isbell]

It's true, Van can get sludgy when he's going for that growl. Still, I've got no singer I prefer, not Sam Cooke, not Aretha. I saw Van in concert and he spent some time stepping out of the spotlight. I can't stand myself, he sings somewhere on I think St Dominic's Preview.

Anyway, thanks for the two duets, Joe! I think Millie has the better song this time, though.

Here are Al Green and Lyle Lovett randomly dueting. The studio version's great too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TSf2zxRqkw

Cheers,
John

[David Callin]

Originally Posted by John Isbell

Here are Al Green and Lyle Lovett randomly dueting.

There's something I never thought I'd read. Nice, though.