The Who At Charlton On Saturday May 18th 1974

On this very day, Saturday May 18^th, 1974 I was living in a little village called Summerhill, near Wrexham in North Wales. I was 22 years old. I was sharing a house with my brother Paul and a friend called Dave. They were both 18. We had been up all-night partying and had been waiting until the village shop opened to buy cigarettes and milk. Finally, about 7.00 in the morning the shop opened, and I went in and bought cigs, milk and the Daily Mirror. I got back to the house which was strewn with album covers and all sorts of garbage from the night before and put the kettle on. In the Daily Mirror something caught my eye.

"Hey, guess what? The Who are playing in London today". It was a huge concert at Charlton Athletic Football Stadium. Also playing were Lou Reed, Humble Pie, Bad Company, Stone The Crows, Lindisfarne and Montrose.

 "Right, let’s go," said Dave and Paul immediately. "Don't be stupid”, I replied, "We haven’t got any money".

 "You boring old bastard, you're no better than Dobbin.” (Dobbin was the name we gave to an old horse who lived in a field nearby) “We are going, you stay here if you want, you old git".

We added up all our money and we had about £3 between us and set off down the lane in the general direction of London which was 191 miles away. At Wrexham railway station we got on the train and kept a wary eye out for the ticket collector. I had quite a lot of experience of travelling on trains without paying. Finally, I spotted him coming along the next carriage. "Here comes the clippie”, I said to the others, “Get in the bog". We casually left our seats and all 3 of us got in the toilet with our boots wedged against the door and the sign saying VACANT .We stayed in there for several minutes until we were sure the clippie had walked past and then nonchalantly returned to our seats. In this fashion we travelled to London. When we got to the venue, Charlton’s stadium called The Valley we used another skill I had learned from getting into football matches for free. Without hesitating we quickly clambered over the top of the turnstiles and ran into the crowd before the stewards could grab us. I couldn't believe it had gone so smoothly. There were about 74,000 people there. It was packed, even on the pitch. It was also a really hot day and I took my shirt off. I was also thirsty.

 "I'm going to get some ice lollies", I said to the others and strolled off to an ice cream van. I queued up for about 30 minutes and bought three ice lollies and started walking back. Then I looked up and all I could see were 74,000 faces. I had forgotten where we were. I was seized with panic and had a vision of me wandering around London in the middle of the night dressed only in jeans and with no money.  Luckily by some miracle I managed to find my comrades. We had missed Bad Company and Montrose. Lindisfarne were on when we arrived. I was a big fan of theirs. We heard some great music that day, Humble Pie featuring the late great Steve Marriott were nearly as good as The Who. Lou Reed fell a bit flat I thought, but he sang Sweet Jane which was my favourite song of his at the time. I also enjoyed Stone The Crows featuring Maggie Bell.

The Who were sublime, playing for nearly two hours. An internet friend kindly sent me a bootleg recording of the show a few years ago. This was the setlist. I Can't Explain, Summertime Blues, Young Man Blues, Baba O'Riley, Behind Blue Eyes, Substitute, I'm a Boy, Tattoo, Boris the Spider, Drowned, Bell Boy, Doctor Jimmy, Won't Get Fooled Again, Pinball Wizard, See Me, Feel Me, 5:15, Magic Bus, Naked Eye, Let's See Action, My Generation. The energy and power of the band in those days was awesome. I didn’t see The Who again for 42 years until they headlined at Glastonbury. They were ok but Roger Daltrey’s voice isn’t as good these days and they have lost the powerhouse provided by Keith Moon and John Entwhistle. Also, I think I have changed as well. I’m not so keen on loud music played live anymore. That’s probably because I’m 67 now and not 22. That night at Charlton though was one of the best performances by a rock band I have ever witnessed.

We spent the night in Euston Station and got some free food and cups of tea from a van outside. We found out later that it was owned by a notorious sex criminal, the self-styled ‘Bishop’ Of Medway Roger Gleaves. He used the free food van as a cover to lure runaways into a life of degradation. I’m glad we never met him. On Sunday morning we bunked the train back to North Wales after a brilliant unforgettable adventure in those far flung halcyon days of yesteryear.

PS, I found the photos on Google images. Thank you very much to whoever put them there.

Gentleman's Relish.

Just a short little blog today because I’m going to the pub in a little while. I hadn’t been out since Tuesday, but I had to venture out today to get some provisions because I had run out of nearly everything. I couldn’t walk past the High Street without looking in the charity shops. I found a first edition by Buce Chatwin called The Viceroy Of Ouidah. It was published in 1980 and in a very nice condition so I should make a nice profit on that. I might even read it as well. I also found a book by Ronnie Barker called Gentleman’s Relish. I shouldn’t have bought it really because it’s quite smutty, full of saucy postcards from the 1920’s. It was published in 1979 and I think attitudes have changed a bit since then. I thought it might be quite rare and collectible but when I looked on eBay there are lots of copies of it for sale. Thirdly, found a signed autobiography of horse race trainer Paul Nicholls which should fetch a few quid. Finally, I found a 2cd set by The Everly Brothers recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in 1983. I am listening to it now and it's great. I think it is the first album of their's that I have ever bought. It has taken me a lifetime to realise how great the Everly Brothers are.

After I got my groceries in Morrison’s I walked home past Andrea’s flower shop and bought a coreopsis plant. I wasn’t going to buy any more plants, but there is always room for just one more. Anyway, that’s my blog for today. Sorry it is so short, but tomorrows should be a good one. I’m going to write a story about what I did exactly 45 years ago to the day. I’ll start writing that tonight.

Bein' Green.

Pet Sounds.

This blog page is called Quiet Days and it has certainly been quiet here again today. I spent most of the day outside again. I didn’t want to hear any words today so it was quite a jazz day. I listened to Miles Davis & John Coltrane. It was a concert recorded in Stockholm in 1960. I got so lost in the music that I actually fell asleep. There is nothing wrong with that. I have got to be careful though because I can feel that the last couple of days I have got sunburned on the top of my head where I've got a bald spot.. I also listened to an album by Keith Jarrett called Mysteries / Shades. It was a Spanish friend of mine who first told me about Keith Jarrett. I enjoyed listening to it. When you really get into music it is like meditation. I'm getting quite jazzy in my old age. I’m sure the congregation of birds in the nearby trees enjoyed it as well because they were singing along.

For lunch I had this salad dish that I bought in Tesco’s last night. It tasted ok but I’m determined that I won’t buy anything similar ever again. It was ridiculously expensive for what it was, and I bet most of the cost was in the packaging. It was in a plastic container and even had a plastic fork to go with it. It is just more plastic pollution. I feel quite ashamed of myself for buying it. Never again.

When I looked on Facebook, I discovered that Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys was released on this day 53 years ago. As it is possibly my favourite album of all time, I had to listen to it again today. I must say it sounds just as fresh and wonderful now as it did in 1966. I’m sure it is one of the pieces of music from the 20^th century that people will still listen to in hundreds of years’ time.

Caroline Lucas, Green Party.

I watched the News at 6.00 and they were talking about the up-coming European elections. I have voted for the Labour Party ever since I was first allowed to vote.I could never imagine voting differently but I am tempted to vote for The Green Party in this election as a protest vote. I am a Remainer and want to stay in Europe. The Labour Party doesn't seem to have a clear policy on this issue, but the Greens are completely pro-Europe. Also, Brexit isn’t the biggest issue facing us. We are on the verge of catastrophe from climate change. The Greens have been warning us about the danger for decades, so I think I might vote for them on this occasion. I think I would like our next government to be a coalition of Labour & Greens.

It is going to rain tomorrow which means I won’t be sitting in the yard all day. I’ll have to think of something else to do. I don’t know what that will be, but it’s bound to be interesting. Watch this space.

The Gloaming - Samhradh Samhradh (Live in Cork)

The Necklace Of Wrens

The Gloaming.

The weather has been wonderful the last few days. I have spent most of the time sitting in the yard, soaking up the sun listening to music and reading. My soundtrack yesterday was Judy Collins, Bob Dylan Highway 61, Handel’s Water Music and The Gloaming. In case you haven’t heard of The Gloaming they are an Irish Folk group. This album was released in 2014 to critical acclaim. Although the music is hundreds of years old, they make it sound very modern. I find it very spiritual, refined and sophisticated music. I highly recommend you listen to it. One of the tracks is called The Necklace Of Wrens. I liked that title so much I think I’ll call this blog by that name.

Not sure of the name but I like it.

A friend of mine called yesterday evening, so I opened a bottle of wine. Then we went for a drink. It was a nice evening and I think I had four pints of cider. When I got home, I polished off the last of the wine. Consequently, I didn’t get up today till 11.00. I spent the afternoon outside again. Today I listened to Norma Waterson. It is an album from 1996 and has some great songs on it such as Black Muddy River and St Swithin’s Day. I also listened to L’Atlantic by Moussa Kouyate. He is a Kora player from Senegal. I bought the cd from him when I saw him busking in Bath quite a few years ago. I bumped into him again a couple of years ago in Bristol, looking a bit older but still busking. The Kora is a beautiful sounding instrument. The other cd I played this afternoon was It’s Too Late To Stop Now, Vol 1V by Van Morrison. It is 78 minutes of brilliance.

I planted a few dahlias as well. I think I have enough plants now for this year. I don’t think I have room for anymore. I have just got to sit back and watch it all grow now. Anyway, I finally came inside at about 7.30 after doing a bit of watering. I think tomorrow is also forecast to be nice, so better make the most of tomorrow as well. See you later.

Sunny Tuesday.

Another fine Spring morning, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and all is well in the world. Well, actually all is not well in the world, far from it, but at least all is well in my tiny little bit of it. I was up and about early today. I had sold my Bruce Springsteen, Born To Run book and a book about cricket, so I took them to the post office. On the way back I walked past Andrea’s plant shop and bought a Salvia and a geranium plant. Andrea said the salvia is really good for attracting bees which is good. If we lose the bees we lose everything. Those two plants are having a good soak in a bowl of water at the moment. I’ll plant them a bit later on.

I went over to Warminster again yesterday. I found a book signed by Peter Ustinov. 

Geranium & Salvia.

That might be worth a few bob. I’ll put it in my shop today. At the moment I am listening to an album by Judy Collins called Fires Of Eden. I don’t think it is one of her best albums but very pleasant. My plan for the rest of the day is to do a bit of gardening, then sit in the sun, read a book and listen to music. That’s not a bad plan. See you later.

I Set Out One May Morning.

It has been a very nice sunny, warm Sunday. When I got up this morning, I found I had won £30 for getting three numbers on the lottery. It’s not much but it all helps to ward off the evil day. Also, I sold my Roger Moore signed book, I’ll post that in the morning. Brilliant, I was £60 up on the day and only just got out of bed! After breakfast I decided to go for a long walk to start my Get Fit For Glastonbury campaign. I put my camera in my pocket and a Picnic Bar in case I reached the energy gap. One of the nice things about Westbury is that you only have to walk for a few minutes, and you are in the countryside.

My original intention was to walk up to the White Horse but when I reached the top of Alfred Street, I was already getting hot and the walk looked a bit steep, so I changed my mind and decided to walk along the Lower Westbury Road to Bratton. I was going to have a pint in the Duke pub and walk back. When I reached the golf course, I changed my mind again because I thought I could have a pint in the club house before continuing. I walked around the edge of the course and reached the club house bar and ordered a pint of cider. It tasted great, really refreshing and I ate my Picnic as well. 

I sat outside, enjoying the sunshine and the nice view. I was tempted to have another one but was sensible and had a slow walk home via the lakeside. I stopped to say hello to some horses and cows on the way. Eventually I reached Lidl and they had a nice display of plants for sale, so I treated myself to a Hosta for £3.99.

I had a nice snooze when I got home. Then I went to The Crown for one drink. I came home and planted my Hosta and watered my garden and communed with my fishes. What a nice Sunday it had been.