My last offering was over a month ago now and back then it was clear I was feeling a bit sad, and none too optimistic about what this new decade might bring. Since then however: the days have been getting longer (I celebrated Imbolc last weekend, the start of Spring according the pagan calendar); the St John’s Wort has kicked in (try it); the ongoing division over Brexit is in effect behind us, as Boris did eventually “get it done”; we now have a plan as to how we’re going to earn our living until the pensions kick in; and joy of joys, DD is at home for the weekend. She’s heading off shortly to meet friends for lunch so it gives me some time to bash away on the computer for a wee while.
Also, since last time, I received one of these badges from the WordPress people as it was my blog’s 4th birthday. Because I pay an annual fee to keep this place going, and I don’t want to lose everything I’ve posted over the last few years, I’ve just paid my dues for another 12 months. My output seems to be reducing year on year but I’m not ready to call it a day yet.
I’ve really enjoyed my digital detox over the last few weeks, but I live in the real world so it can’t continue for much longer. If you ever get the chance however, give it a whirl – I’ve read several books, knitted three (small) garments and not had to experience Facebook envy at all!
But what is it I usually say at this point? Ah yes, this is supposed to be a music blog so where is the song? About that. Heading into my fifth year of blogging I just want to remind everyone that I am by no means a muso and just enjoy revisiting the chart music of my youth, and being able to find out so much more about the song/singer than was available at the time. I used to pride myself on being a Pop Quiz Queen but have often never heard of the artists shared by many of the music bloggers on my sidebar. I thank them in return for adding me to their sidebars and can only apologise that my featured songs are perhaps not always of the “cool” persuasion.
So, which “uncool” song will be featured this time? Exactly 50 years ago this week, the song at the top of the UK Singles Chart was Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse, a one-hit wonder put together from a group of session musicians. Tony Burrows was the lead singer and I have only just discovered that he has appeared in this blog before as one of The Flower Pot Men who recorded Let’s Go To San Francisco.
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse:
I have fond memories of this song as it would have been in the charts when I was aged around 10, and really into catchy pop tunes. Along with the Archies’ Sugar Sugar and Christie’s Yellow River (also one-hit wonders), this was one of the songs we sang on our way to school and in the back seat of the car when going on long journeys with my cousins. Oh how we loved to slide around the shiny leather seats of my grandad’s car way before anyone thought having seatbelts might be a good idea.
But getting back to Tony Burrows of Edison Lighthouse fame, he is the only artist to have appeared in four different episodes of TOTP twice, with different bands. Back in 1970, many, many bands were made up of session singers who changed personnel regularly. Just at the same time Love Grows was a massive hit, Tony sang on the White Plains’ song My Baby Loves Lovin’, The Brotherhood of Man’s United We Stand and The Pipkins’ novelty song Gimme Dat Ding (less said about that one the better). Later on he sang lead on The First Class hit Beach Baby. Tony is the only artist to have been a “one-hit wonder” 5 times. As I often say around here, every day’s a school day.
Well, that’s me broken the back of this, my fifth year of blogging. I seem to be getting less prolific year on year and can’t promise to visit all the other blogs as frequently as I used to as earning my living really has to take priority, but putting this effort together wasn’t too hard in the end. It certainly can be fun revisiting the “tracks of our years” and nothing wrong with a bit of pure pop to raise the spirits from time to time.
Until next time….
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) Lyrics
(Song by Tony Macaulay/Barry Mason/Sylvan Mason)
She ain’t got no money
Her clothes are kinda funny
Her hair is kinda wild and free
Oh, but Love grows where my Rosemary goes
And nobody knows like me
She talks kinda lazy
And people say she she’s crazy
And her life’s a mystery
Oh, but Love grows where my Rosemary goes
And nobody knows like me
There’s something about her hand holding mine
It’s a feeling that’s fine
And I just gotta say
She’s really got a magical spell
And it’s working so well
That I can’t get away
I’m a lucky fella
And I’ve just got to tell her
That I love her endlessly
Because Love grows where my Rosemary goes
And nobody knows like me
There’s something about her hand holding mine
It’s a feeling that’s fine
And I just gotta say
She’s really got a magical spell
And it’s working so well
That I can’t get away
I’m a lucky fella
And I’ve just got to tell her
That I love her endlessly
Because Love grows where my Rosemary goes
And nobody knows like me
What's It All About? 
I loathed “Let’s Go To San Francisco.” and wasn’t at all keen about Scott Mackenzie’s “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)”, although the B side “What’s the Difference” was very good and I enjoyed annoying people by playing that on the jukebox of the cafe where we used to hang out before we were old enough (or nearly old enough) to go to the pub.
“Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” is a great pop song and I was unashamed to say so back in the day. As far as I’m concerned The Archies’ “Sugar Sugar” is the finest POP song ever written but “Yellow River” gets the big thumbs down.
Good to hear your year is picking up and belated congratulations on your blog’s 4th birthday badge.
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Ha ha – Yes, back then you just had to be “nearly old enough” to go to the pub as no ID was needed. Glad you approve of the featured song and you just might be right – Sugar Sugar could be the finest POP song ever written. Scarily I could remember practically every scene in that cartoon shown weekly on TOTP.
I promise to stop being such a moaning Minnie this year and cross fingers it will run a bit more smoothly than the last few!
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Hi Alyson. Welcome back.
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Thanks Neil – I doubt very much if you’ve ever heard of Tony Burrows but hopefully something of interest in there.
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Good to see you back Alyson
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Thanks CC – I’ll never be a daily blogger but hope to keep on adding something of interest.
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I sang along to all those songs as a kid too and just thinking about them takes me back. That litttle mini-documentary on Tony Burrows was interesting. I wonder if he has a 1970s themed house or if the interview was carried out in the retro section of a design museum – the decor looks much like my family’s place did circa 1971!
Good to have you back Alyson and happy 4th blogday!
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These were definitely the songs of our junior school years – We thought nothing of singing pop songs as we skipped along the pavement on our way to school. Such carefree days!
As for the house in the interview I noticed that too – I doubt very much if it was Tony’s actual house as he doesn’t seem like a chap who lives in the past, but it no doubt took place in a vintage early ’70s abode. I couldn’t remember where I’d seen that wallpaper and have just remembered and checked – It’s at the back of my linen cupboard (it’s a ’70s house). The people before us must have used that pattern for the room then installed some built-in cupboards that we’ve never thought of gutting. We also have a retro sideboard in our office like the one in the clip which came from Mr WIAA’s dad’s house when it was cleared. Crikey, I keep returning to that decade in my blog and now I know why – I still live in the 1970s on a day to day basis!
Thanks for dropping by.
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Lovely to see you back Alyson and happy 4th birthday to WIAA. I too loved those songs as a kid, particularly the Archies, and probably slid around the back seat of my dad’s car too when the radio was playing during a long drive too (great description!) And I adored that cartoon. They just don’t make ’em like they used to… ha!
Glad the digital detox was worthwhile. We had an enforced one from late afternoon yesterday until lunchtime today – lost our broadband connection (but thankfully nothing else) due to the stormy weather, but I beat Mr SDS to several hands of Gin Rummy played with actual cards (!) so it wasn’t all bad! Hope all’s okay up at your end of the country and that you had a lovely weekend with DD too.
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Hi C – Sorry about the confusion over posting comments. I got them ok but had to approve them before they would appear – All because of me taking my blog down last month for a short while and you having to set up a new identity. Hopefully all fine now.
Yes, 4 years of blogging and it’s passed like a flash – Each year has been so different because of what’s been going in my life (and I always seemed to over-share). I definitely feel the better for my absence from all things computer/internet-related. I was being a bit whingey, moany and miserable and it was reflected in my blogging. Hopefully (after listening to the Archies again!) I am back on track. Got our businesses in hand and have really enjoyed reading & knitting. The Gin Rummy sounds fun too – might have to challenge Mr WIAA some evening. We got off lightly in terms of the weather in the end which was good as DD was travelling back south in the evening (she got back safely).
Was thinking of you and your sore tooth – Hope all well again on that front?
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Forgot to ask whether you watched the film clip for Love Grows. If you did what did you think of the dancers? Some very bendy girls wearing impossibly short dresses and interesting camera angles. Much worse goes on in certain venues nowadays of course, but in those days I think it would have just been seen as totally acceptable on prime time telly.
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Good to have you back, Alyson.
Ah, the Archies!
I watched the short film and…what a nice guy. A great voice (I always loved Beach Baby) and a life lived – though not so sure about his taste in decor.
I’m glad you’ve found your mojo again – I often mislay mine. You know what I’m going to say, don’t you? Keep on writing. Let the words flood the page. Better out than in. You’ve crammed a lot into the last four years – lesser people would have axed the writing and moved on; not you. Even if you only go to print once a week, or even once a fortnight, DON’T STOP!
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Thanks – Yes Tony does seem like a nice guy and has had a happy life by the sound of it. Probably happier than those who did indeed become household names. Think we’ve decided (see above) that the interview took place in a retro ’70s abode though, which was fitting.
Thanks also for sharing your Archies post – I’ll head over and have a proper look shortly.
Yes, that pesky writing mojo does go MIA every now and again but it always seems to come back – Must have a homing instinct. Funny how a proper break from it all sometimes works wonders though.
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Welcome back, Alyson. You need to stop apologising for posting great pop songs. I never knew it was the same singer on all those tracks. I thought I had a fondness for Pipkins until I listened to it again. It works better as a memory.
Happy 4th – many more to come, I hope.
(You pay for your blog? Since when does WordPress charge money? They never did when I was on WP a few years back.)
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Thanks – As for apologising for the songs, it’s just that I appear on you guys sidebars and my choices are not always the “coolest”. I have to edit my titles sometimes so as not to have your other followers raise an eyebrow. We keep saying there’s no such thing as a guilty pleasure, but there kind of is.
As for paying for my blog I had to sign up to a monthly subscription in order to upload the music clips. It means I have loads of GBs of space but so far I’ve only used a quarter of it. I’ll be able to keep on blogging for another 15 to 20 years at least (won’t state the obvious).
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I doubt any of the blogs who are proud to have you in their sidebar would want you to self-edit in that way… and if they did, they don’t deserve to have you in their sidebar.
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Kind of you to say. You realise this has given me the green flag to share Charlene and “I’ve Never Been To Me” at some point! Been holding off on that one.
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I love that song. So melodramatic!
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Welcome back, Alyson. I’ve been posting less in recent months too. Luckily, indie bloggers don’t have anyone breathing down their necks. I love this song and “My Baby Loves Loving” two of the great songs that informed my early teen years. I’m glad that Tony Burrows has been getting more recognition in recent years, a great singer that had to stay undercover back then!
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A few of us have been posting less – Not sure if it’s been the January Blues or something else. Anyway, I intend to keep going but try to control time spent a bit more.
I didn’t realise you would have heard of these songs as thought they were bands put together for the UK market. Tony did have a great voice though and as you say, good to see he’s got more recognition of late – He sounds as if he’s had a pretty good life.
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“Rosemary” went to #5 in America!
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I like that phrase “digital detox” which I’d never stumbled upon before. As you know, I can relate.
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So many people were having a “dry January” by giving up alcohol. My plan was to give up social media and blogging for a month – think it did me good. Just do whatever is right for you though Chris – It will become apparent but yes definitely don’t neglect the real world and get the priorities right.
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