The Turning Tide by P.P. Arnold.

Saturday morning. It has rained constantly for hours. I won’t be going anywhere today. I have only left the house twice in the last 10 days. Once to go to the shops and once for a bike ride. Social media has been my only contact with the outside world apart from a couple of phone calls. At least there is no danger of getting COVID-19 whilst banged up in here. I quite like it in a way because I have saved loads of money and not drinking has done me good. I feel better for it. I have treated myself to a couple of CDs. The first one arrived yesterday, and I am listening to it at this very moment. It is called The Turning Tide by P.P. Arnold. I came across this album the night Joe Biden was projected as the next American President. After four years of the Trump nightmare it seemed like a brand-new day. I wanted to share the Van Morrison song of that title with my Facebook friends. On YouTube I stumbled across a version of Brand New Day by PP Arnold which I listened to and thought was great. As well as her soulful voice I thought the backing musicians were excellent, so that was the version I shared. I wanted to hear more of the album from whence it came and when looking on eBay found an unplayed promotional copy for sale and bought it.

I will just tell you a little bit about P.P. Arnold in case you have not heard of her. She was born in 1946 in Los Angeles. In 1965 she joined The Ikettes who were the backing singers for Ike & Tina Turner. In 1966 while in London on tour with the Rolling Stones she quit the Ikettes and stayed in London to establish a solo career. She liked the way that black musicians were treated in London as opposed to the USA. Mick Jagger was a friend and helped her get a recording contract with Immediate Records which was owned by the Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham. The Small Faces were also on Immediate and they worked with her and she had a brief love affair with Steve Marriott the Faces singer and guitarist. Her first backing band were The Nice who featured Keith Emerson on keyboards. This is when I first heard of P.P. Arnold because she recorded some classic singles on Immediate. My favourite was her version of Cat Stevens’s The First Cut Is The Deepest. Angel Of The Morning was another great song.

With The Small Faces.

Sadly, Immediate Records went bust in the late 60’s. P.P. Arnold signed a deal with Robert Stigwood who was also the manager of The Bee Gees and Eric Clapton. She went into the studio with Barry Gibb as producer to record an album. Two singles were released, but the album never saw the light of day until incredibly it was released 46 years later in 2017. That is the album that popped through my letterbox yesterday. When I looked at the sleeve notes I realised why the backing musicians on Brand New Day sounded so good. This album is packed with talented musicians. They include Eric Clapton, Jim Gordon, Bobby Whitlock, Bobby Keys, Rita Coolidge and Doris Troy. A lot of these musicians would become members of Derek And The Dominos. There are also beautiful arrangements by Bill Shepherd. Six of the songs called, Born To Be Free’, ‘Bury Me Down By The River’, ‘Give A Hand, Take A Hand’, ‘Happiness’, ‘The Turning Tide and High and Windy Mountain are written by Barry Gibb. I have never been a great fan of his, but her powerful singing and the great musicians make the songs something special. 

There is a great cover of Steve Winwood’s Medicated Goo, Spinning Wheel, which was originally by Blood, Sweat & Tears, as was You’ve Made Me So Very Happy. There is also a splendid version of The Stones You Can’t Always Get What You Want. There are two songs which P.P. Arnold co-wrote with Caleb Quaye called If This Were My World’ and Children Of The Last War. It would be hard to pick a favourite song after two listens, but It is probably Brand New Day because I’m biased. What this album tells me is that P.P. Arnold is one of the great soul singers with a spiritually and emotionally uplifting voice and sadly underrated. I might be wrong, but I bet in her native USA hardly anyone has heard of her. Listening to this CD on a dark and rainy Saturday in the middle of a pandemic has lifted my spirits, so I am pleased I stumbled across The Turning Tide by P.P Arnold. PS,While I was writing this story the post lady delivered another CD which I’ll tell you about later.

The Bicycle Diaries, Chapter 1.

 

I had not ventured out of the house for six long days. We have been back in lockdown since last Thursday. I went to the pub last Wednesday evening for two pints of cider and did not go out again until today. I haven’t seen another living soul or had a drink since. I am going to see if I can get through until December without alcohol. It will do me good and It is no fun drinking on your own indoors is it? Also, it might help get rid of my fat belly. Another reason I haven’t been out is because although the weather has been mild it has been quite rainy.

Chalford or bust!

This afternoon however, the sun came out and I motivated myself to go out for a bike ride as I desperately needed some fresh air and exercise. I gave my tyres some air and off I went. I headed up Alfred Street, crossed the main road and went up Newtown heading for the White Horse. By the time I got to the countryside I was sweating and tired. I am really out of shape. I couldn’t face the uphill struggle to the White Horse, so had a sit down on a bench and reassessed the situation. Just before the equestrian centre there is a lane to the right. I had never been along there but decided to explore it and see where I ended up. It was very muddy in places after the recent rain but quite pleasant. I said hello to a few dog walkers and people on horse back and the trees looked great in all their autumnal glory.

I eventually emerged on the main road at Chalford. I could have freewheeled back down into Westbury, but I had only been out for about half an hour, so I crossed the road and headed for Old Dilton. I had been this way a few weeks ago, so when I got to a turn off for Upton Scudamore I headed up there. It became too much like hard work though, going uphill. “I’ll save that for another day”, I thought to myself, and turned back. At a place called Hisomley I turned right and hurtled downhill to Westbury Leigh. I noticed that the church clock said it was nearly 3.00. I had been out for 90 minutes. “That will do for today”, I told myself and headed home for a well-deserved cup of tea. I felt quite pleased with myself for making the effort to get out and about. I'll try and go a bit further next time.