I did it my way

I think this final selection has caused me more anxiety than the previous 364 put together.  I want to end with a bang, not a whimper.

I’ve considered Glen Miller, The Young Ones and Cliff Richard, Wild Cherry, Kylie, Half Man Half Biscuit, Squeeze, Average White Band, The Clash, The Jam and The Who among so many others.  I’ve even considered Liberty X (yes, really… I have a bit of a soft spot for their hit from 2002), not to mention The Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers and The Troggs.

After fifty two weeks, I’m at the end.  Hardly seems possible.  As one Bill Bragg put it: “Whoops, there goes another year.
Whoops, there goes another pint of beer”, except for the beer bit.  I’ll have to wait several weeks before I can enjoy a decent pint at Oswestry Cricket Club.

After much deliberation, then, I had to go with this.  I think I was in a pretty deep rut several years ago.  Thankfully, I did get out of it.

Tomorrow, I’ll cobble together a list of all 365 selections.  If I can be arsed.  After all, it’s me birthday, don’t you know?  Again.  #old

You better bet your life

Although not a huge fan of The Who, they do have a number of classic recordings and I cannot get through this year without featuring one or two.  This isn’t my favourite, and it’s probably seen as one of their less ‘credible’ songs by the pop music police, but it always gives me a warm feeling for some reason.  I do have the album, although I forget what it’s called.  The cover featured painted portraits of the band members.

I may be right in thinking that this was the first hit not to feature Keith Moon, following his untimely death a few years earlier.  (The Who fans feel free to correct me.)  Townshend seems on top form in the video and Entwistle always looked so cool on the bass.  I recall taking a renewed interest in The Who around this time as I had seen Daltrey playing (John) McVicar at the cinema and he seemed like a decent ordinary bloke (albeit playing a villain), rather than a rock God.

I’ve not heard much music today and have not been reminded of anything on particular, so tomorrow’s choice is just going to be a long-time summer favourite from some brothers.  At least, I think they were brothers.

Punk rock electric guitar

Again, I forget what it was that brought this back to mind yesterday, but having watched and listened this morning, this record takes me straight back to the 6th form.  Was there ever a better time than the mid to late seventies for brilliant pop?  This was 1979: punk, post-punk, new wave, whatever you want to call it.  Good times, innovative bands, bonkers clothes, unpredictable haircuts, made-up names.

I really know nothing about this lot (apart from the front man being called Nicky Tesco), but I still have the single in my meagre collection and I rate it as one of the best tunes of its time.  Listen out for the guitar chord progression bit (I think that’s the correct term) from about 1:42 – not really what you’d expect in a song by this lot.

Earlier today I heard a tune from The Who.  Time I added one of theirs to my choices.