Shades Of A Blue Orphanage

Well here I sit listening to Thin Lizzy, ‘Shades Of A Blue Orphanage’ no less.  Yes I have a copy on CD digitally re-mastered and all sorts of bonus tracks that disturb me. So the question you are asking did I sell my Soul and whats the story with Eddie Prevost? And shame on you who are wondering what I am talking about, do you know nothing ? Did you not read THE FUNKY NOMAD provisos, its what it all about. Now click the link and catch up will you, goodness gracious me unbelievable. ( Yes I know I asked you to subscribe and thanks) So now we are on the same page did I sell my soul, well I don’t think so but it had me a bit worried, had I accidentally made a deal at the crossroads. Does making an offer on the interweb constitute a contract with unknown arcane powers? Probably not, or maybe yes, its hard to tell at this point. In truth I found out a while ago 2010 that this had been re-released, I bought a copy a few months back but have not admitted to it for various reasons. Will the journey now be over for riseanddeardemise.ca has the purchase of Shades killed the whole premise? And of course what of Eddie Prevost. Nothing is straight forward in the world of the Funky Nomad, if it was what would I have to blog about, what would keep me up at night. Question, why didn’t I just go buy it when it came out if it was so important to me, walk over to HMV place an order and just buy it. To be honest it seemed a bit like cheating. In theory I could take the whole list of missing albums pay the price and there they would be. But its not the same, I went to the record store the first time round, both new and second hand (Impulse in this case, that’s where I found Shades. (Of course I did not buy it new, it came out in 1972.) So for those of you sinners asking who the hell is Thin Lizzy? I feel truly sorry. I can say this. Thin Lizzy played their last gig 28th August 1983 at Redding Festival (Well at least for me) Phil Lynott died...

Charlie Don’t Surf, West Street.

Well Charlie Don’t actually surf on West Street but were playing Live at the West Street in Sheffield. On my recent trip home to the good old Steel City I get the opportunity to use my camera for more than taking pictures of beers. Its been a while since I photographed Live Bands not since my student days. To get the opportunity to see my good buddy Mark (who has had the pleasure of knowing me since before infant school ) and Charlie Don’t Surf in action was something I was looking forward to, It seemed only reasonable to offer my services to take some photos. Having been a Professional Photographer for 12 years+ it seemed like the perfect idea. And to be totally honest as ideas go one of my better ones, however this now requires me to actually put my money where my mouth is. How is this going to turn out? I had been hearing rumors of West Street its changed they say, we better warn you, you might be shocked. Well this was certainly a turn up for the books, I had spent many a year ploughing up and down West Street crawling from pub to pub. I moved in just off West Street ate at the Bombay 3 times a week ( Still don’t know what was in their curry) worked at the Job Center it was everything I knew. How crazy could it be? I remember Pajama Jumps  and other very dubious happenings. I also remember early mornings walking down to the bakery and getting fresh Parkin in November, buying cheap Bavarian larger at the corner store, lunchtimes drinking in the “Frog and Parrot” just because. On a hot summer night just returned from Europe a case of Alsace white in my hands, being collected from the station by the usual suspects. That night it was hot,we went to see “Haze” upstairs at the Hallamshire, oh what glorious days. What ever happened to Gabadon?( Don’t trust my spelling) I have photos of it all, hang around a bit follow my blog, I am not as big an ass as you think. Well probably not. Turns out they were warning me about the girls! Girls on West Street, I knew about meeting girls on West Street, well the ones hanging around the Hoover shop...

Jasper 2012 (journeys end)

Here is our last adventure of the 2012 Father and Daughter trip to Jasper. Still excitedly talking about our  night out at the Jasper Heritage Rodeo from the  day before. We saddle up the Blazer and set off to Pyramid Lake to hire ourselves a canoe for the morning, we have our picnic packed and the sun is out. So we leave Lothlorien our Lembas securely packed away in our reusable Walmart bag……… ? (well Black-forest ham, Havarti cheese and cucumber rolls, Juice boxes and granola bars) and head out on a great adventure to find the end of Pyramid Lake via the fabled picnic beach on its far distant shore. I have always been partial to Lord Of The Rings at times insanely so. To find the giving of gifts missing in  the  film      ( obviously not the only thing missing ) unhinged my delicate sensibilities. ( I was only told this by a second party as I had flatly refused to have anything to do with the watching of these movies.) Which any of you that know the version of me that lives in Canada that never seems to have them out of the DVD player may come as a bit of a surprise. Why is that you ask? and its a good question. We are now in 2001 I am no longer what can be considered young and my life no longer is firmly attached to L.O.R , D&D and other youthful passions. I stopped re reading L.O.R through every summer back in 1989 when I joined the RAF now 12 years later coming out the other side I have some distance between said tome. And I hear that an extended edition is on its way with at least that bit back in ( even if they are the wrong gifts ! My kids must be tired of me mentioning Sam’s Elven rope, and its beyond counting the number of times I have told them it has the wrong ending. But if I focus on the small things and ignore the wider sweep I have come to love it.) So long story short :- Christmas 2002 under the Christmas tree “The Fellowship of the Ring” extended boxed set. Christmas 2003 under the Christmas tree  ” The Two Towers” And Christmas 2004 ” The Return of...

Thin Lizzy ” Live And Dangerous”...

No surprise with this one sitting here this morning blogging to Thin Lizzy. This was the first Album I bought back in 1979 ( which got scratched the replacement vinyl sold and now I have a CD) and I am still crazy about it today. Awesome cover (Has to be because of the Bass). This undoubtedly was why I eventually bought a Bass and proceeded to play it very badly. (I still play it badly today it hangs in my sons room with my Marshall which he completely ignores! don’t figure.) Favorite track has to be “Rosalie”, but slower numbers like ” Southbound” & “Dancing in the Moonlight” also get my vote. In case you missed them also released in 1978 were Van Halen :Van Halen , Dire Straits:Dire Straits , The Cars :The Cars and Magazines Real Life.   In 1979 listing my interests as Thin Lizzy, Hiking and D&D, reading  “Lord of the Rings” again ( I actually did this every summer right up to the summer of 1989). The favorite Wrangler shirt I am wearing was the one I went to my first Thin Lizzy concert in. Lined up twice round the City Hall from early morning with my friend Peter to get tickets. Awesome concert....