2010 election in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Fringe-Westminster-Elections-1970-2010/dp/0956272576
SCOTLAND
Labour’s two ‘gains’ were merely a case of re-capturing two seats that they had lost in recent by-elections to the Liberal Democrats and the SNP. For all their woes south of the border, Labour performed well in Scotland.
The Liberal Democrats had a bizarre election. Nick Clegg won a lot of plaudits, but his party underperformed in Scotland, and yet they were sufficiently successful to enter a coalition government.
The Conservatives improved their vote in Scotland, though this leap of progress didn’t translate into extra seats. The SNP’s vote share was 19.9%.
WALES
This was a record-breaking night for the Welsh Conservatives. Only two candidates in Wales exceeded twenty thousand votes. They were both from the Conservative Party. One of them, David Davies, became the first Conservative MP to win the most votes at a general election in Wales for many decades. On top of that, there was the small matter of a recovery of five seats. Plaid Cymru’s vote share fell to 11.3% while UKIP polled better.

2005 election in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Fringe-Westminster-Elections-1970-2010/dp/0956272576
SCOTLAND
Ordinarily, a loss of fifteen parliamentary seats would be perceived as a catastrophe, but Labour’s representation was drastically cut on account of a boundary review which confiscated many former Labour seats. The Labour Party frequently suffered during the boundary modifications as they had a knack of winning the inner-city constituencies, but as there was a migratory shift away from the inner cities, then such Labour constituencies dwindled in population size, rendering them ripe for abolition.

The Labour government had now won its third consecutive national election, but Tony Blair was beginning to outstay his welcome at the top of the party, as Gordon Brown itched for his turn as the Prime Minister.

As for the Conservatives, they were struggling to land a blow on a far from popular Labour government. It soon became apparent that the party that once looked upon itself as the natural party of government would need another changing of the guard at its highest echelon in order to capitalise on a growing weariness of (new) Labour and facilitate a return to power.

The Liberal Democrats again made much progress, but their leader was obliged to stand down several months later. As a consequence, Menzies Campbell succeeded Charles Kennedy in early 2006 as the party supremo. Scotland had been the main supplier of the leaders of Britain’s third party. The hall of fame had included Jo Grimond and David Steel, while Robert Maclennan was the ‘caretaker manager’ when the Liberals and the SDP merged into the Liberal Democrats.

The Scottish Socialists failed to build upon the foundations of their 2001 efforts, while the SNP’s overall vote share slipped to 17.7%, but they were more than mere extras on the Scottish political scene.

WALES
The Welsh constituency contests were probably becoming much more competitive than was the case in the past. Fewer and fewer seats were a one-party state. This is demonstrated by the fact that only six MPs polled more than twenty thousand votes, and even these select few only just exceeded this amount.

It could be argued that a lower turnout was partially a consequence of Wales possessing its own Assembly, thus diminishing the former importance of Westminster elections. Secondly, with the people of Scotland and Wales required to vote in council elections, European elections, and local parliament elections, as well as the national election, then the populace were election-weary. In the context of 2005, a third explanation for low voter turnout and the absence of a huge endorsement for any particular party or candidate is that people were progressively becoming disillusioned with the Labour government, but were equally wary of the Conservative opposition who did not yet present themselves as a credible alternative.

Having said that, the Conservatives had just accumulated three seats in Wales which was three more than in 2001 or 1997, so clearly progress was being made.

By contrast, Plaid Cymru appeared to go into reverse in this election. Their vote share had decreased from 14.3% in 2001 to 12.6% in 2005.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats doubled their House of Commons representation in Wales. Gone were the days when Britain’s third largest party were also-rans who sometimes didn’t have the confidence or the resources to contest every constituency election.

2001 election in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Fringe-Westminster-Elections-1970-2010/dp/0956272576
 Remarkably, only one constituency changed hands in Scotland, as the Conservatives narrowly secured Galloway & Upper Nithsdale, thereby breathing some semblance of life into Scotland’s Conservative Party, which had borne the brunt of public disaffection with the harsh economic medicine of Mrs Thatcher and Mr Major.
Admittedly starting from a low base, the Liberal Democrats produced the most improved performance, while the Scottish Socialists plucked up the courage (or sheer folly?) to field a candidate in all seventy-two seats. It was clearly felt by the latter that the Labour Party had jettisoned its left-wing roots under Tony Blair’s new Labour project, and therefore the Scottish Socialist Party sought to fill what they perceived as the vacuum left by the Labour Party’s move to the centre ground.
There was a considerable drop in voter turnout. This allied with the relative success of the two afore-mentioned parties suggests that the age-old frontrunners of Labour and the Conservatives had to an extent fallen out of favour with the Scottish electorate. Having said that, in spite of the drop in their vote, fifty-six Labour Members of Parliament was a formidable return for a party that was ‘out of favour’.
The SNP experienced a less than impressive election, polling 20.1%, compared to 22.1% in 1997, but better times lay ahead for a party whose electoral performances represented the proverbial see-saw.
By the time of the next general election, Scotland’s Westminster contingent was reduced to only fifty-nine. With the recent, belated advent of devolution and the creation of a Scottish Parliament, it seemed prudent to trim the number of MPs, now that MSPs were starting to function.
In Wales just two seats changed hands: Carmarthen East & Dinefwr and Ynys Mon.

1997 election in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Fringe-Westminster-Elections-1970-2010/dp/0956272576
After a staggering eighteen years in government, the Conservative Party had outstayed its welcome. As well as taking a ferocious hit south of the border, the Conservatives were wiped off the Scottish map, at least in terms of Westminster representation.
The Scottish National Party doubled its Westminster parliamentary party, while the Liberal Democrats moved into double figures.
The biggest winners were undoubtedly Labour. Tony Blair had steered the party towards the centre ground, rendering it more electable than hitherto. Consequently, the new Labour project finally conquered the likes of Ayr and Stirling, after a few frustrating failures.
One of the most notable successes of this Labour landslide was actually recorded by a Liberal Democrat. Donald Gorrie had been a losing candidate in Edinburgh West since as far back as 1970. After almost three decades, he finally earned a seat in the House of Commons.
This election marked a sharp rise in the number of ‘contestants’, as such also-rans as the Green Party, Natural Law and the Referendum candidates were foolishly resolved to pursue their deposit-losing wild goose chases.
The Conservatives were wiped out in Wales, which now had forty seats. Two Cardiff MPs were husband and wife: Julie and Rhodri Morgan.

1992 election in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Fringe-Westminster-Elections-1970-2010/dp/0956272576
SCOTLAND
The gains and losses included Labour retrieving Glasgow Govan, which they had conceded to the SNP in a by-election and the Conservative Party re-capturing Kincardine & Deeside from the Liberal Democrats, after a by-election success for the latter proved to be very short-lived.
Technically, the Liberal Democrats were a brand new party, but their results still merit comparison with the efforts of the Liberal-SDP Alliance of 1987. This was a particularly poor performance from Britain’s third party, but in their defence, they had undergone the transformation from Liberals to an Alliance with the SDP, and recently the SDP and the Liberals had agreed to permanently coalesce as the re-invented Liberal Democrats. The lack lustre showing of this reconstructed party is illustrated by the fact that it came last of the four main contenders in fifty-seven out of seventy-two Scottish constituencies.
The SNP by contrast enjoyed a strong revival, even if this comeback did not translate into extra seats won. It finished as runners-up in no fewer than 36 constituencies with a vote share of 21.5%, which amounted to progress.
One of the quirks of this election occurred in the Monklands area where the two victorious Labour MPs each ended up with an almost identical vote share. One of those elected parliamentarians, John Smith, would soon be winning another election, as he was chosen to succeed Neil Kinnock as the leader of the Labour Party. Regrettably for Labour, Mr Smith did not live long enough to contest the next general election.
Meanwhile on planet Conservative, the party emulated its triumph of 1970 by winning the national election when the opinion polls were suggesting otherwise. The party more than held its own in Scotland.
WALES
With all the upheaval of the last decade, the reconstructed Liberal Democrats had a bad election, although they could argue that as they were setting out with a brand new moniker, then they were starting from a low base. Either way, they finished a lamentable third in 23 of the 38 seats, while Plaid Cymru ended up fourth in 27 of the 38 constituencies, although they had successfully maximised their votes in a handful of target seats.
The party of Welsh nationalism had at least witnessed their vote share recover from 7.3% in 1987 to a more encouraging nine per cent in 1992.
As the national election was expected to be a close-run contest, this may have galvanised voters in Wales to cast their vote, in a desperate attempt to get the Conservatives out of government or to keep Labour out of power. This may explain the large turnout in the constituencies of the principality.
The Ceredigion & Pembroke North result was something of a collector’s item, as neither of the perennial top dogs of Conservative and Labour were able to finish in the top two positions.
It has been a measure of Labour’s perpetual domination of Welsh politics that in this publication there has been at least one Labour candidate elected as the MP on each and every page of the election contests in Wales.

1987 election in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Fringe-Westminster-Elections-1970-2010/dp/0956272576
The Scottish Conservatives paid a heavy price for Mrs Thatcher’s no-nonsense approach to what her government regarded as failing heavy industries. The Liberal/SDP Alliance may have gained a seat but their 1983 bubble had well and truly burst. This was a better performance in Scotland at least for Labour as well as a partial recovery for the SNP.
Plaid Cymru were popular in pockets of Wales, but apparently irrelevant in others. In the two Newport constituencies, the party polled a combined total of 835 votes. As in Scotland, this election witnessed a Labour revival after the 1983 débacle. Correspondingly, the Conservatives and the SDP-Liberal Alliance suffered a reversal of fortunes.

1983 election in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

 

Scotland's representation at Westminster increased from 71 to seventy-two seats. Many old seats were laid to rest while new ones were born in the recent boundary review. The new SDP contested 35 constituencies while their partners the Liberals competed in 37 constituencies. Meanwhile of the four main parties, the SNP finished last in no fewer than 58 constituencies.

 

 

Two extra seats were allocated to Wales in the recent boundary review. Of the 38 Welsh constituencies, the Liberals and their Alliance partners, the recently-formed SDP each competed in nineteen seats. Plaid Cymru trailed in behind the other three main, national parties in thirty-three of the 38 seats, and their overall vote share was now reduced to 7.8%.

1979 election in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

 

While the Liberals absconded from a lot of the constituency contests again, this election reversed the swing that characterised the October 1974 election. This time there was a surge in support for the Conservatives, and the SNP suffered a large collapse both in terms of votes obtained and in terms of parliamentary representation. The SNP's vote share had fluctuated from 11.4% to 21.9% and then a staggering 30.4% in the two elections of 1974 before sliding back to 17.3% in this national poll. For the SNP, this setback suggested that the previous success four and a half years earlier was but a false dawn. This electoral reverse also came on the heels of a disappointment for the cause of Scottish nationalism at a recent devolution referendum when an insufficient number of the populace endorsed the proposal for devolved government in Scotland.

Labour won back a few Scottish seats, but went into retreat south of the border. As for the Conservatives, they found themselves returning to national government.

 

In Wales, the Liberals and Plaid Cymru were still very much a 'work in progress'. The latter polled 8.1% in all the constituencies which represented their lowest return since 1966.

The duopoly of the Conservatives and Labour was demonstrated by the fact that in the 35 constituencies where the two main parties competed, they both finished in the top two positions in 29 of those seats.

The Liberals declined to compete in eight of the 36 constituencies. This was probably a case of deciding not to spread their resources too thin everywhere, but only to concentrate on contests where they felt confident of a reasonable vote. Sometimes this confidence was a little misplaced.

The only constituencies to change hands in this election were: Anglesey, Brecon & Radnor, and Montgomery, all of which were gains for the Conservatives, as they ousted Labour from the national government.

One interesting piece of trivia is that two cousins contested the general election in two different Welsh constituencies and experienced mixed fortunes.. Whilst Tom Hooson won election to Westminster at Brecon & Radnor, Emlyn Hooson's tenure as the MP for Montgomery was ended. Remarkably, Tom was a Conservative while Emlyn was a Liberal.

October 1974 in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

In this general election, the Scottish Liberal Party fielded far more candidates than it had done in recent elections. There were now only three constituencies where the Liberal Party absented themselves: Argyll, Fife Central, and Glasgow Provan.

Was it any coincidence that Glasgow Central possessed the smallest turnout figure for the second successive election but which supplied the MP with the largest vote share? Probably not. The inference is that the election of the Labour MP, Thomas McMillan, was perceived as a foregone conclusion, and this could easily have prompted some would-be voters of the other parties to abstain in the belief that their vote would have been effectively obsolete.

Scotland had a knack of providing many close contests. In this election, no fewer than nine seats yielded a victory margin of less than one thousand votes, including Dunbartonshire East where 429 votes separated the first three candidates. Many other constituencies would also have been viewed as key marginals, and the fact that only a few thousand votes decided many of the seats suggests that they were hotly-contested.

Given the delicate balance between the Conservative and Labour parties at the two 1974 general elections, the campaign battleground of Scotland would have assumed perhaps even greater significance than in other times. Each and every constituency now played a massive role in determining not just who would win the national election but how strong the subsequent parliamentary majority would be.

Carmarthen was the only constituency to change hands during what must clearly have seemed like a rather futile election campaign in Wales.

Unlike north of the border, Wales continued to have many hugely one-sided constituency election contests where the MP, to coin a phrase, only had to turn up to win.

Of the four major political parties, Plaid Cymru came last in 24 of the 36 constituencies which suggests that the people of Wales had yet to warm to the cause of Welsh nationalism. Ironically, Plaid Cymru accumulated a vote share of 10.8% for each of the two general elections of 1974 which was less than in 1970 when they obtained 11.5%. However, they won two, then three seats in 1974, and none in 1970. This confirms the fact that a party can achieve seats by maximising its vote in a few target seats yet remain way off the pace in many other constituencies. This does explain Plaid Cymru's performances in Wales throughout the period in this book.

 

February 1974 in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

 

At the risk of stating the obvious, it is no coincidence that those constituencies with the largest turnout tended to be the ones which were liable to produce the closest results. Put another way, key marginals were the seats which usually provoked most attention from the competing parties, and this then translated itself into higher than average voter turnout figures. Carmarthen in February 1974 emphatically confirms this.

By the same token, it is frequently the case that so-called 'safe seats' in which the result is anticipated as being a walkover for one of the candidates are the constituencies where voter turnout is likely to be less high. After all, some voters will take the view that why bother voting when Candidate A is going to be elected anyway.

On the subject of 'safe seats', what constitutes a safe seat? Let me throw the following suggestion out there. First of all, it is not enough to state that a seat is safe if the MP possesses more than half of the vote. At Glasgow Kelvingrove in 1970, Maurice Miller achieved almost fifty-four per cent of the votes cast, but his majority was a measly eight hundred. This may be an extreme example, but it does illustrate that just because Candidate A has more votes than all the other candidates added together, this does not automatically render he or she the custodian of a safe seat.

I would argue that a seat is safe (indeed ultra-safe) if the MP's majority is greater than the total votes polled by the other candidates. I've not yet tested this theory throughout this epic tome (sic), but I am guessing that one will struggle to find too many occasions when this safe seat scenario has not been valid. One occasion when such a safe seat is indeed unsafe is at a by-election. Glasgow East in 2008 illustrates this exception.

1970 election in 'The Celtic Fringe' by Grant Toway

 

 Back in the relatively unenlightened time of 1970, women Members of Parliament were few and far between. In Wales, there were none at all, while Scotland merely supplied a couple of ladies to Westminster, namely Betty Anderson (Renfrewshire East) and Judith Hart (Lanark). Clearly, it was felt that a woman's role at political meetings was to make the tea. However, before the end of the decade, a lady from the Conservative Party would become Prime Minister to wield power alongside a female monarch. Through time, more women picked up the gauntlet, but it is worth remembering that out of a total of 107 MPs from Scotland and Wales elected in 1970, a figure of two ladies was decidedly disproportionate, not to mention scandalous.

Speaking of scandalous, eleven of Glasgow's sixteen constituencies had a population of less than fifty thousand, and in some notorious instances, a lot less than fifty thousand. The subsequent boundary review did at least reduce Glasgow's constituencies to a slightly more realistic thirteen.

It seemed rather unfair that the city's declining inner city should be allocated so many seats. What the people really needed was good housing, not more Members of Parliament!

 

Remarkably, the next three leaders of the Labour Party were all elected to south Wales constituencies in this general election, namely James Callaghan (leader from 1976 to 1980), Michael Foot (leader from 1980 to 1983), and Neil Kinnock (leader from 1983 to 1992). Not one of these three Labour leaders managed to win a general election whilst party leader. Their nemesis was a certain lady called Margaret Thatcher.

December tunes in the book 'The Song For Today'

                                 DECEMBER 1ST

                        Riders On The Storm by The Doors (1971)

                        from the album L.A. Woman

'L.A. Woman' was the last project that Jim Morrison and his Doors completed before the lizard king's mysterious death in Paris several months later. The album has many items that deserve attention. The title track is clearly a highlight of the group's entire catalogue, while the blues of 'Been Down So Long' is equally impressive. However, the show is stolen by the final two items: 'The WASP (Texas Radio And The Big Beat)' and the marvel that is 'Riders On The Storm'. The latter includes the lashing of rainfall as a sound effect along with thunder to complement the awesome music. It was entirely fitting that the final piece on the last product of the brief but eventful career of Jim Morrison should be 'Riders On The Storm'. One witness and willing accomplice in the storm that was Morrison was an LA man, John Densmore, who drummed for one of the west coast's greatest acts. Densmore was born this day back in 1944.

{Also on this day, the people of Ukraine vote for independence from the USSR in 1991}

                                                 DECEMBER 2ND

                        Night Fever by The Bee Gees (1977)

                        from the album Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Soundtrack

I have just been privileged enough to hear this song on the radio a few hours prior to writing this. The Gibb brothers emerged from a relatively barren spell with the hits, 'How Deep Is Your Love' and 'Jive Talkin', and it was their presence on the 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack that catapulted them to new heights. 'Night Fever' is one of the outstanding dance-floor tunes of pop history. Reinforced by an excellent orchestral accompaniment, this single occupied the highest perch on the Billboard chart for a mere eight weeks. British record buyers were no less impressed and helped the group return to Number One for the first time in ten years. It is the kind of item that ought to be played alone behind closed doors, whereupon the listener takes to the living room floor and moves their body accordingly. On this day in 1976, the Bee Gees played a gig at Madison Square Garden and then donated the proceeds to a fund for New York police officers.

{Also on this date, in 1988 Benazir Bhutto takes office as Pakistan's Prime Minister}

                                                 DECEMBER 3RD

                        Running Away by Bob Marley And The Wailers (1978)

                        from the album Kaya

On this date in 1976, gunmen entered the home of Bob Marley at 56 Hope Road, Kingston, in Jamaica and attempted to assassinate the reggae superstar. The singer's apparent allegiance to one of the two rival political parties may have resulted in representatives from the other warring faction trying to silence him. Rumours persisted thereafter about the identity of the culprits and their motives, but Marley escaped with minor injuries and soon appeared defiantly at the Smile Jamaica concert. Nevertheless, Marley was obliged to flee into temporary exile in London and Miami until the 'heat' of the Jamaican political climate had cooled down. Whilst abroad, the legend recorded the popular 'Exodus' and 'Kaya' albums. The latter yielded the track 'Running Away' in which the composer mocks himself for abandoning his native land. The words of this song remain powerful for any listener who is running away instead of confronting personal demons. Marley eventually returned in April 1978 in triumph, when he united Jamaica's two rival political leaders at the One Love peace concert.

{Also on this day, war erupts as India invades East Pakistan in 1971}

                                                 DECEMBER 4TH

                        Please Let Me Wonder by The Beach Boys (1965)

                        from the album The Beach Boys Today

Born this day in 1944, Dennis Wilson was the only genuine 'beach boy' in that he was the only member of America's most famous singing family who actually negotiated the waves as a surfer. 20 years later and the group were starting to slowly withdraw from their surfing sound in favour of more moody and sensitive pop songs. One example is the superb 'Please Let Me Wonder', which could have sat very comfortably amongst the assembled brilliance that was the 'Pet Sounds' album of the following year. The oldest of the Wilson brothers was Brian. He was socially gauche but musically gifted, the polar opposite of Dennis. The gift that was Brian's voice is a major blessing on this obscure gem.

{Also on this date, in 1991 the US hostage Terry Anderson is freed after 7 years in Beirut}

                                                 DECEMBER 5TH

                        Seven O' Clock News/Silent Night by Simon And Garfunkel (1966)

                        from the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme

Few recordings in popular music can attain jaw-dropping status, but this powerful piece does precisely that. Whilst the duo plough through a semi-silent version of 'Silent Night', a news announcer reveals the bad happenings that afflicted that particular day (believed to be August 3rd 1966). Mention is made of the death of the comedian Lenny Bruce from an overdose of narcotics, whilst the listener's attention is drawn to the running sore of the Vietnam War, with the yet to be disgraced Richard Nixon reportedly claiming that opposition to the conflict was the greatest single weapon working against the United States. The standout news item refers to the indictment of the serial nurse killer, Richard Speck in Chicago. Whilst Simon and Garfunkel sing "sleep in heavenly peace", the contrast with the turbulent news bulletin is very noticeable. On this day in 1991, the notorious Speck died, one day shy of his fiftieth birthday.

[Also on this day, the Argentinian military junta is dissolved in 1983}

                                                 DECEMBER 6TH

                        It's Over by Roy Orbison (1964)

                        from the album More Of Roy Orbison's Greatest Hits

Today's tune is highly appropriate, given that the life of the Big O, Roy Orbison, ended on this date in 1988 in Tennessee after a massive heart attack. 'It's Over' was the second and arguably the best of Orbison's three British Number Ones of the 'sixties. The song's theme of the end of a love affair was characteristic of Orbison's subject matter from other such sad tunes as 'Crying' and 'Only The Lonely'. Orbison had been previously engaged in the Traveling Wilburys supergroup, but now at the age of fifty-two, it was indeed over for this particular Wilbury.

{Also on this date, the Altamont music festival descends into chaos in 1969]

                                                 DECEMBER 7TH

                        Time by Tom Waits (1985)

                        from the album Raindogs

The singer and songwriter Tom Waits is very much an acquired taste. Take for instance one of his major albums, 'Raindogs'. The items are an exercise in gritty realism, based on low-life characters for whom there is no happy ending. Such was the lack of sunshine in his output that he would never be regarded as 'easy listening'. For a man whose commercial appeal appeared to rest between nil and zero, Waits reaped the royalties when Rod Stewart converted 'Downtown Train' into a smash hit. A particular favourite of mine from the aforementioned long player is 'Time'. I recently chanced upon another cover of a Waits tune when the blonde chanteuse Xanda Howe completed a decent attempt at 'Time'. This day in 1949 was the 'time' when young Thomas Alan Waits appeared on planet earth for the first time, in California.

{Also on this day, in 1997 the Scottish footballer Billy Bremner dies, aged 54}

                                                 DECEMBER 8TH

                        Love by John Lennon (1970)

                        from the album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band

If December 7th is a date of infamy in American history, then December 8th 1980 has a notoriety of its own. Late on that winter's evening when John and Yoko Lennon returned to the Dakota building in New York from the recording studio, Mark Chapman stepped forth and shot dead his hero from whom he had obtained an autograph earlier in the day. Although Lennon was no saint by any stretch of the imagination, it was incredibly ironic that the author of such anthems as 'All You Need Is Love' and 'Give Peace A Chance' should be violently gunned down. A decade earlier, John's solo debut album with his Plastic Ono Band contained memorable pieces, such as 'Working Class Hero', 'Mother', and 'God'. It is the project in which the ex-Beatle, under the influence of primal therapy, bares his soul to the world. The long player also yielded the supremely beautiful 'Love'. Armed merely with a piano and simple but effective lyrics, Lennon touches the soul. Sometimes the best songs are simple ones. Ten years later and one of the greatest icons of the 20th century was dead at the age of forty.

{Also on this date, Greek voters in 1974 choose to abolish their monarchy}

                                                 DECEMBER 9TH

                        I'm The Urban Spaceman by The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (1968)

                        from the album Tadpoles

Their oddball repertoire and explorations of English eccentricity meant that it was always going to be an uphill struggle to take the Bonzos too seriously, but the outfit did have the last laugh when the Paul McCartney-produced 'I'm The Urban Spaceman' landed in the Top Five towards the end of the 'sixties. One such urban spaceman, Neil Innes, was born on this date in 1944 in Essex. Innes went on to deliver musical contributions for his buddies in Monty Python's Flying Circus, culminating in the establishment of a mock Beatles group, called the Rutles, in which Innes and Eric Idle offered their own take on Beatlemania (with George Harrison's blessing), producing such spoof efforts as 'All You Need Is Cash'. Cash was temporarily plentiful after the success of the 'urban spaceman' one-hit wonder.

{Also on this day, in 1990 Lech Walesa won the Polish Presidential election}

                                                 DECEMBER 10TH

                        (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding (1968)

                        from the album The Dock Of The Bay

Here is another dark day in which 'the music died', this time for the premier soul artist, Otis Redding. Redding followed the likes of Buddy Holly, Patsy Cline, and Jim Reeves in having his life terminated by an aeroplane catastrophe, when he crashed into Lake Monona in Wisconsin, aged only 26. For those who subscribe to the theory that death can be a very good career move, evidence is apparent from this tale, as Redding's posthumous single, '(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay' sat on the summit of the American hit parade for four weeks, a feat that Redding could not achieve whilst alive, in spite of many admirable recordings.

{Also on this date, Raul Alfonsin becomes Argentina's President in 1983}

                                                 DECEMBER 11TH

                        Wonderful World by Sam Cooke (1960)

                        available on the album The Best Of Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke was yet another rock 'n' roll fatality, when he was shot dead on this day in 1964, at the age of thirty-three, in Los Angeles. Cooke's violent death is a grim reminder of the shadowy undercurrent that lurks beyond the silky songs and glitter of the music business. Whatever the soul singer's private life amounted to, he at least bequeathed music listeners with the simple love song, 'Wonderful World', which was later covered by Otis Redding on 'Otis Blue'. Cooke's version made a belated appearance in the British Top Three in early 1986.

{Also on this day, in 1994 Boris Yeltsin orders Russian troops into Chechnya}

                                                 DECEMBER 12TH

                        Nutbush City Limits by Ike & Tina Turner (1973)

                        from the album Nutbush City Limits

On this day in 2007 it was Ike Turner's 'turn' to breathe his last, at the ripe old age of seventy-six. Ike was himself no stranger to controversy, and it would be a diplomatic understatement to record that Ike and Tina Turner had a tempestuous and turbulent love affair. However, there were a couple of notable occasions when their chemistry in the recording studio produced musical fireworks. Firstly in the mid-'sixties, the couple recorded 'River Deep - Mountain High' which its producer Phil Spector regarded as his ultimate 'wall of sound' effort. From the spectre of Spector, the Turners bounced back in 1973 with the majestic rocker, 'Nutbush City Limits', written by Tina about her home town. It is clearly one of the highlights of the 1970s and if you don't yet own a copy, it's time that you did.

{Also on this date, Rhodesia is to be re-named as Zimbabwe in 1979}

                                                 DECEMBER 13TH

                        Marquee Moon by Television (1977)

                        from the album Marquee Moon

We remain on the other side of the 'big pond' for the fourth successive day and pay homage to one of the great punk (or 'new wave') classics, 'Marquee Moon'. Assisted by a fine introduction, this track appears rather repetitive, but when you have a good riff, then why wander off on another direction? The composer of this work of art was Tom Verlaine, who was born on this date back in 1949 in the state of New Jersey. Originally called Thomas Miller, the guitarist and singer re-named himself in honour of the French poet, Paul Verlaine.

{Also on this day, in 1981 General Jaruzelski declares martial law in Poland}

                                                 DECEMBER 14TH

                        Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus by Jane Birkin And Serge Gainsbourg (1969)

                        from the album Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg 

1969 had its fair share of novelty records, with the success of 'Sugar Sugar' by the Archies (a non-existent group), 'In The Year 2525' by Zager And Evans, 'Two Little Boys' by that ultimate rock 'n' roller Rolf Harris which was the Christmas chart-topper, and not forgetting the brilliant one-hit wonder, 'Something In The Air' by Thunderclap Newman. However, surpassing all of these offerings was the autumnal smash, 'Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus', written by Serge Gainsbourg. For the liberated 'yoof', this song with its heavy breathing (which left little to the imagination) was an amusing giggle, whilst to the older generation (and particularly the broadcasting censors) this tune was an outrage, incurring the wrath of the Vatican! Few recordings appeared to create such a generation gap as this hugely listenable declaration of love. One of the two love birds (or culprits) Jane Birkin (an actress by profession) was born this day in 1946 in London.

{Also on this date, 12 states, including fascist Spain, join the United Nations in 1955}

                                                 DECEMBER 15TH

                        Guns Of Brixton by The Clash (1979)

                        from the album London Calling

Johnny Rotten may have scorned the Clash for attempting reggae tunes, but many others admired arguably the greatest punk and new wave band for demonstrating that reggae was something which not only could be appreciated by whites, but which could be performed by young white men. The rebellious Clash after all empathised with the Jamaican 'rude boys' who were defying the system, and the feeling was mutual. One such Clash composition was bass player Paul Simonon's 'Guns Of Brixton' from the highly regarded 'London Calling' double album. Simonon himself a gun (or should I say son) of Brixton was born on this date in 1955. It is Simonon's on-stage histrionics which are captured on photograph for the famous front cover of 'London Calling'.

{Also on this day, in 1961 Adolf Eichmann is sentenced to death in Jerusalem}

                                                 DECEMBER 16TH

                        I Have A Dream by Abba (1979)

                        available on the album The Singles: The First Ten Years

Abba could scarcely be further removed from the outlaws of the Clash, yet Sweden's greatest quartet achieved some semblance of street credibility when they invited their apparent polar opposites Led Zeppelin to record their new album, 'In Through The Out Door', at their Polar Studios in Scandinavia in 1978. Abba meanwhile could do no wrong in the British charts even if a few of their releases in 1979 stalled just short of the coveted top position. One of these was 'I Have A Dream' which brought the curtain down on the 1970s. This Christmas hit is a beautiful composition from the 'Voulez-Vous' album, and one of its authors, the bearded pianist Benny Andersson, was born on this day in 1946 in Stockholm. In tandem with Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny was a master at creating a commercial tune without compromising on quality. Perhaps the word genius should spring to mind.

{Also on this date, British and American air forces bomb Iraq in 1998}

                                                 DECEMBER 17TH

                        Cruel Summer by Bananarama (1983)

                        from the album Bananarama

The eye-catching trio of Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward first made a name for themselves with their collaborations with the Funboy Three which yielded hit singles, based on cover versions scarcely worthy of mention. They then deteriorated by joining the Stock/Aitken/Waterman assembly line of hits which guaranteed regular forays into the charts with even more fairly forgettable releases. However, there was one absolute treasure item in their time together, namely 'Cruel Summer', which appeared in 'The Karate Kid' movie. Blessed with a delicious jangling guitar, half-decent lyrics, and a magnificent rhythm, I would be bold enough to state here and now that 'Cruel Summer' ought to be short-listed for the accolade of the best pop song of all time, narrowly ahead of Cyndi Lauper's 'All Through The Night'. One of the banana ladies, Sara Dallin, came to life in Bristol on this date in 1961.

{Also on this day, in 1989 the first episode of The Simpsons is broadcast}

                                                 DECEMBER 18TH

                        Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones (1969)

                        from the album Let It Bleed

The opening track of 'Let It Bleed' is a truly stunning piece of work. 'Gimme Shelter' emerges with a menacing guitar intro from Keith Richards that can lay claim to be the greatest intro in popular music. Keef's opening contribution sets the tone for this brooding composition, during which Jagger sings that "rape is just a kiss away." The rest of 'Let It Bleed' is largely dark too, as the bad boys of pop unveil a sense of cynicism and negativity that demonstrates their disillusionment with the love and peace ideals of 'flower power'. Richards, who was born this day in 1943 in Dartford, was certainly not full of the joys of spring, having learned of his best friend's sexual conquest of his lover, Anita Pallenberg. Richards and Jagger recovered from this, as well as absorbing such blows as the death of Brian Jones, the near-fatal overdose of Marianne Faithfull, and the disastrous Altamont concert to confront the 'seventies with their defiant swagger. 'Let It Bleed' may not have many happy memories for the group, but with the likes of 'Gimme Shelter', it was a landmark album.

{Also on this date, the UK parliament votes in 1969 to permanently ban the death penalty}

                                                 DECEMBER 19TH

                        Draft Morning by The Byrds (1968)

                        from the album The Notorious Byrd Brothers

'The Notorious Byrd Brothers' is one of the very best long players of the 1960s. Its thirty-minute duration contains a box of delights, such as 'Tribal Gathering', 'Dolphin Smile', and 'Get To You'. Another fairly obscure track from the album is 'Draft Morning', which ought to be regarded as arguably the greatest anti-war song in pop history. Against the sound effects of machine gunfire, the Byrds sing of a reluctant soldier who is obliged to leave his "bed to kill instead/ Why should it happen?" The composition is simple but effective. You will not find it on the playlist of any recruiting officer. Before you naively fall for dreams of pretty uniforms and seeing the world, take a listen to this slice of brutal honesty. One of the Byrds, the drummer Michael Clarke, died of liver failure in Florida on this date in 1993, at the age of forty-seven.

{Also on this day, in 1983 the soccer Jules Rimet Trophy is stolen in Rio de Janeiro}

                                                 DECEMBER 20TH

                        Mack The Knife by Bobby Darin (1959)

                        available on the album Darin: 1936-1973

'Mack The Knife' was one of two British Number Ones for the American cabaret singer, Bobby Darin. This fabulous recording also received its just desserts from Uncle Sam, who appointed it to the top of the United States chart for a staggering nine weeks. It is easy to hear why, as this murderous tale is unquestionably one of the finest tunes from the 1950s. Bobby Darin (whose other UK chart-topper was the admirable 'Dream Lover') died at the age of only 37, on this day in 1973 in Los Angeles, after health problems arising out of a bad heart condition. Darin had no funeral as his body was donated to medical research.

{Also on this date, Spain's Prime Minister, Luis Carrero Blanco, is murdered by ETA in 1973}

                                                 DECEMBER 21ST

                        I Can Hear Music by The Beach Boys (1969)

                        from the album 20/20

Today is the anniversary of the birth in 1946 of the late Carl Dean Wilson. Carl was the youngest and almost certainly the most sensible of the three Wilson brothers, who were the very heartbeat of the Beach Boys. Carl (like oldest brother Brian) possessed the gift of a beautiful voice. He was after all entrusted with the lead vocal on the unforgettable 'God Only Knows' hit single from the 'Pet Sounds' album. As the wayward genius Brian became more erratic, Carl was required to fill this considerable void. One such impressive result was Carl's vocals on the Beach Boys' version of 'I Can Hear Music'. Needless to say but Carl and the rest of the 'boys' do tremendous justice to this Phil Spector pop song, which had been previously recorded by the Ronettes and later covered by a young Freddie Mercury.

{Also on this day, in 1988 a bomb on board a Pan Am flight explodes over Lockerbie}

                                                 DECEMBER 22ND

                        Bankrobber by The Clash (1980)

                        from the album Sandinista

'Bankrobber' was another reggae effort from the Clash. This hit single was one of the highlights of the group's triple album, 'Sandinista'. Joe Strummer and the gang were no lovers of what they perceived as a capitalist-dominated legal system, so it came as little surprise that the band should sing "Daddy was a bankrobber who never hurt nobody." After the Clash called time on their rebel rock, Strummer went on to have an association with the Pogues. However, this is a black day in the history of rock and pop, because Joe Strummer, the likeable rogue, died at the age of fifty, on this date in 2002, in Somerset, as a consequence of heart complications. Strummer's partner in crime, Mick Jones, once appropriately described Joe as the "salt of the earth."

{Also on this date, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate re-opens in 1989}

                                                 DECEMBER 23RD

                        Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter by Iron Maiden (1990)

                        from the album No Prayer For The Dying

The notorious heavy metal outfit Iron Maiden proved unlikely chart-toppers when their charming piece, 'Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter' hit Number One in the British chart in early 1991. It can hardly be regarded as the world's most commercial pop song, but these senior citizens of hard rock richly deserved their success after a plethora of recordings that spanned more than a decade. One of the combo, Dave Murray (the guitarist and songwriter), was born on this day back in 1958 in Edmonton, north-east London.

{Also on this day, the first human kidney transplant is performed in 1954 in the USA}

                                                 DECEMBER 24TH

                        Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues (featuring Kirsty MacColl) (1987)

                        from the album If I Should Fall From Grace With God

On this special day in the calendar, it is hard to ignore the memorable Christmas tune that opens with the line: "It was Christmas Eve, babe, in the drunk tank." The vocalist Shane MacGowan was no stranger to drunk tanks. Whilst his merry men offer their customary musical excellence, MacGowan stays sufficiently sober to swap lines with Kirsty MacColl, as the two take on the role of young lovers hoping for "a better time when all our dreams come true." Regrettably, the song had no fairytale ending, as Kirsty MacColl was killed in a boating accident thirteen years later, at the age of only forty-one.

{Also on this date, in 1951 Libya achieves its independence from Italy}

                                                 DECEMBER 25TH

                        Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid (1984)

                        available on the album The Best Christmas Album In The World...Ever!

Until the death of Princess Diana in August 1997, this colossus of a single was the United Kingdom's biggest-ever selling 45. I have to raise my hat to the celtic composers, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. The song actually sounds quite festive, yet the lyrics are arguably the most thought-provoking words to be translated into music. Assembling a cast of current pop favourites, including Bono, Boy George, Duran Duran, Sting, Wham, and Paul Young was also a masterstroke. Forget all the forgettable stuff about Santa Claus is coming to town. Here is the ultimate Christmas track in which the world of pop reminds the listener of a less fortunate world where Santa Claus was most certainly not coming. There is a legion of legends, myths, and true stories about the excesses and downright shameful behaviour of the agents of rock and pop, but 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' was one glorious occasion when the artists of pop world did themselves proud. For Christians, today is the Saviour's Day. Not even the Messiah, Jesus Christ, could fail to be impressed by Band Aid's well-intentioned response to the famine catastrophe in east Africa.

{Also on this day, the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu is executed in 1989}

                                                 DECEMBER 26TH

                        The Fool On The Hill by The Beatles (1967)

                        available on the album The Beatles' Ballads

On this day in 1967 a new Beatles hour-long film was screened for the first time on television. Entitled 'Magical Mystery Tour', the movie was certainly something of a mystery, even if the music remained magical. The reception to this premiere was so critical that Paul McCartney appeared on the box the following day to defend this apparent flop. One item that was totally devoid of criticism was McCartney's composition, ' The Fool On The Hill'. Has Macca ever penned anything better than this highlight from the 'Magical Mystery Tour EP'? Well, possibly 'The Long And Winding Road' is a close second. Ironically, Sir Paul loathed the fact that the famed American producer Phil Spector gave this acoustic number a wall of sound makeover, featuring an orchestra and a 'heavenly choir'. Paul may have resented the end product, but the rest of us beg to differ. Today also happens to be the date of birth of Spector in 1939 in New York.

{Also on this date, in 1999 soul singer Curtis Mayfield dies, aged fifty-seven}

                                                 DECEMBER 27TH

                        I Want To Know What Love Is by Foreigner (1984)

                        from the album Agent Provocateur

Today is the anniversary of the birth of Foreigner's frontman Mick Jones in 1944 in Surrey. Not to be confused with the guitarist from the Clash, Jones and his group had made some ripples with the singles, 'Cold As Ice' and 'Waiting For A Girl Like You', but their biggest splash came courtesy of the marvellous ballad, 'I Want To Know What Love Is'. Undoubtedly one of the greatest sad songs in pop history, this 45 deservedly occupied No.1 in the British hit parade in early 1985.

{Also on this day, the Ulster loyalist Billy Wright is killed by the INLA in 1997}

                                                 DECEMBER 28TH

                        Surf's Up by The Beach Boys (1971)

                        from the album Surf's Up

'Surf's Up' was originally recorded for inclusion on the ill-fated 'Smile' project, but it was one of the few items that was salvaged from the wreckage of that aborted venture and placed in the public domain several years later. Back in the fall of 1966 when Brian Wilson seemingly had the world at his feet, he performed a solo version of this opus for American television, with sand from the beach at his feet. The eventual release possesses a stunning outro of harmonies that brings the curtain down on this Van Dyke Parks collaboration with Brian. The end result is a  clear candidate for the best album track in popular music. Meanwhile on this day in 1983, the group's wayward drummer, Dennis Wilson, dived off his boat at the Marina del Rey in California. He never surfaced again. He was only 39.

{Also on this date, in 1950 the Peak District is named as Britain's first National Park}

                                                 DECEMBER 29TH

                        Dance With The Devil by Cozy Powell (1973)

                        available on the album The Best Of Cozy Powell

Colin Flooks was born on this date back in 1947 in Gloucestershire. Colin who? Alternatively known as Cozy Powell, Mr.Flooks scored a most unlikely smash with the instrumental, 'Dance With The Devil'. Featuring a typically virtuoso drums performance from Powell, this Mickie Most-produced single contains a riff that sounds remarkably similar to Jimi Hendrix's 'Third Stone From The Sun'. Nevertheless, Cozy Powell gave service to a whole host of rock acts such as Rainbow, which confirmed that this Top Three single was no 'fluke' for Mr. Flooks.

{Also on this day, Vaclav Havel is elected as President of Czechoslovakia in 1989}

                                                 DECEMBER 30TH

                        Mr.Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra (1977)

                        from the album Out Of The Blue

The hugely talented Jeff Lynne was born in Birmingham a day after Cozy Powell. Lynne was the main songwriter for the Electric Light Orchestra. The group's greatest song, even surpassing 'Telephone Line', is almost certainly 'Mr.Blue Sky', a Jeff Lynne composition. This is one of those rare tunes that can prompt the listener to stop in their tracks and drink in this wondrous recording. It is quite remarkable that the mundane subject of the weather could form the background to this grandiose effort. I cannot help but feel that this item would have sat comfortably in the midst of the 'Sergeant Pepper' album, given this impressive fusion of rock group and orchestra. Lynne went on to 'travel' a decade later with the Wilburys: Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. He was also hired to act as a producer when the three remaining Beatles re-convened in the mid-1990s. Having cultivated one of the finest pieces from the 1970s, Jeff Lynne was very much in demand. 'Mr.Blue Sky' was the integral part of a suite entitled, 'Concerto For A Rainy Day'.

{Also on this date, in 1965 Ferdinand Marcos becomes the President of the Philippines}

                                                 DECEMBER 31ST

                        I Feel Love by Donna Summer (1977)

                        from the album I Remember Yesterday

Of all the romantic songs and syrupy tunes that have populated pop world, the greatest love anthem is perhaps Donna Summer's chart-topper from the summer of 1977. Ably assisted by the Euro-disco dance rhythms generated by Giorgio Moroder's rumbling synthesizer sound, Summer (born on New Year's Eve in 1948) produces a near-orgasmic vocal performance. Without any doubt, this single represents not only one of the best disco tracks of all time, but it is one of the great British Number Ones of the much-maligned 'seventies. 

{Also on this day, Boris Yeltsin resigns as the President of Russia in 1999