Four on the floor – Gary Moore.

It’s been a while and music has been overflowing of late, I was going to do some of his early work (maybe another time) but I have gotten snarled up in albums that I dismissed at the time of release, but I have since gone back to relisten and see if the opinions of them stayed the same.

 

Gary Moore – Dark Days in Paradise 7/10.

Actually I’m disappointed with my score for the album, but I do have good reason, there are some fab moments on here, which I hated simply because it was so different (at the time to what he had been doing) I will be honest I like most of his stuff, and the fact that he chopped and changed so much is probably why I like him so much, but why the low score, well simply down to his vocal performance, there’s a couple of bits where its like he’s auditioning for Oasis,  it simply doesn’t suit, he was never the best singer but when he tries to sing softer vocals he warbles a bit (I’m not a fan of his vibrato) but there are some lovely Beatles drop ins, in style not as in rip off and the strings are fantastic they really do lift the tracks that they are on, there some longer songs and some lovely guitar playing however the vocals on  this album do leave a little bit to be desired.

Gary Moore – A Different Beat – 8.5/10.

I hated this when I heard this on release, my fault not his as the album is that bit more experimental, but so good with it, loops and drum machines that were massive at the time, again the vocals don’t suit all of the songs but it’s a much better attempt than the last album, it’s the ballad style material where he suffers, he’s trying to hard to be a “proper” singer just do what you do best and belt it out, The track Fat boy seems to be more of a B-side than an album track, but his playing is simply sublime on it, there’s even a Jimi Hendrix cover and I quite like it, he suits the song, all in all pretty damn good, if only I’d been mature enough to understand it at the time of release.

Scars – Scars – 8/10.

Yes a Gary Moore album, and an album that although I liked at the time, he himself wasn’t sure about as when he played the monsters of rock tour he only played two songs and a boat load of covers, he didn’t know what he wanted to do, rock out or play the blues, well we all know that he went back to the blues, but this is well worth a listen, yes there is a few longer tracks (13 minutes the longest) but there is some great playing by all of the band, it’s a shame he didn’t last it out a little longer, he always did go down some wonderful paths, this is definitely one of those, it won’t please everybody, but give it a try you might just like it.

Gary Moore – Power of the Blues – 8.5/10.

I knocked points of this because he could do albums like this in his sleep, and although its very good, it almost feels like he thought he needed to pay the rent, now I don’t mind him playing stuff like this, but he was just starting to get interesting, he had moved as far away as he could as a rock guitarist, but he was still playing like a dervish, this was a wonderful return to (Blues) form, with decent vocals (belting it out) and a great band once again including Bob Daisley on bass, there’s nothing obscure here the album is just over 40 minutes long, back to his bluesy best, this feels like a master of profession putting on his work clothes and saying “right I’ll show them” and boy does he!

So, there we a quick blog whipped up on the bus home while finishing listening to the last album reviewed, in all honest I got a feeling of Francis Dunnery on some of the way out there tracks, only just. It was said he was going back to doing a “Black Rose “type of album now that really would have been something, shame he died when he did, I have just realised that he died at the age of 58 on holiday, hang on I’m 58 and about to go om holiday YIKES! This is the last blog in a while because by the time the next blog is due we should be (fingers crossed) on our way on holiday, so gird your loins as there will be a couple of monstrous blogs ready for when I come back, and when I come back ho ho lets wait and see! And no, I’m not saying here where I’m off to (all will be revealed) I have been advised not to say (fair enough)lets just say its not Bognor Regis, enjoy stay safe, stay alive and I will see you all soon enough, until the next time……………..Toodles!

"Not Bitter Just a Little Disappointed”

Not a problem simply a pause, the last two blogs have out stripped the previous twelve, and I’m happy with the content for once, as I sat compiling some thoughts for this blog, I realised I was yet again running on empty, my holiday simply can’t come soon enough.

Now I don’t want anybody thinking I’m in a bad place, because I’m not, at least I don’t think I am,  but the amount of crap (real and imagined) is wearing me out, I can’t wait until we head out into the bright blue yonder to cut the umbilical cord of home, so we can be alone with just our own thoughts for once. As the week has progressed I am generally just pissed off with life and any nuggets that are in it, so just a typical week really, but when you are running on empty it’s a little harder to be generous to, well anyone who will piss me off!

The cunning plan is gathering pace, we sorted out our holiday money last night, and bought a few bits and pieces (no credit card was harmed in the making of this blog). I treated myself to a music magazine (Rock Candy in case anyone is interested)to read on the plane and a nice new writing journal for the notes about the upcoming holiday, I am simply praying for it not to be Restrooms of the strip part 2, admittedly even in my weakened state, that was still the best holiday ever, I simply wish to be of sound mind and body so I can at least ingest food and alcohol this time around!

The mask has slipped as the days have moved from me being happy to being kind of grumpy (more to do with my diabetes than anything else), and I seem to head up the wooden hill a lot earlier than the wife, I don’t see why she should suffer because of my medical condition, a condition that makes me tired and even more irritable! My knees are causing me some grief so much so that I am considering to reach for the extra powerful painkillers, simply to take the edge off the gruelling grinding feeling that emits permanently from my knees, actually I might wait another night and just get pished (yes you read that correctly)  tonight, it’s been a while!

The only thing it would appear that I am motivated about is the blog, a holiday, some sleep, and a better diet is what I am praying for, (as you get older you will try anything including prayer). I have been scribbling away on various thoughts, but all of them were dark too dark, That’s not where I feel that I am at, nothing wrong with them, but I would prefer to be in a better place to air them, so they might arise in the coming weeks, however if they don’t gain any traction they will be gone, I have been swearing a lot this week, mainly at myself, the main thing I’m grumpy about is myself, I have become more insular than normal, but the language (thankfully in my head  as it would make a nun blush) has been rather blue!  I will give the wife permission to kick me in the seat of my pants if I don’t improve before we set off for the airport!

And that’s where I’m going to stop today, my aches and pains are worse as the day goes on, and I have a busy weekend ahead of me, then a ton of work to finish up, before starting the first of my three weeks of leave, yes the first week is at home, but then we fly to……….I will save that for next week……………maybes! Yes the name game is in play, I believe the artist is one of the most underrated songwriters of his generation! it kind of tells me where my head is today, I have been better, I also know I have been a damn sight worse off! Once finished I will spend the next few hours proof reading time and time again, as there have been significant gaps once they have posted to the page, the next one will appear sooner rather than later than this one did, simply as I will want refresh with something humorous as soon as I possibly can, so stay safe, stay alive and please don’t hold your breath for another blog, it is going arrive sooner or later however even Superman’s lung couldn’t  hold out that long! Don’t panic “Bob” isn’t stalking me, I’m simply a tad disappointed with the world in general, weary I believe is the word, so onwards as always I will return a lot sooner than you will probably realise, so until then……………….Toodles!

Murder on the Dance Floor.

I don’t know if many of you remember what the blog was like when I started all those years ago, hell even I struggle from time to time (but that could be my early onset dementia). Well it used to be about social interactions, when we actually got them, they were a damn site more frequent then they are now, and it was all in code, so I didn’t offend anybody, well kind of, well guess what me and the wife did last night, yes we went out for the second time in three years, I know us, we are just mental, anyway as always I digress, lets start at the beginning shall we?

The past week had been pretty mental at work, long days a lot of mileage on my knees, the wife wasn’t exactly in the best place, so I thought I had better lay some cunning plans into operation, its time to book a holiday, and no I wasn’t going to tell her! What could possibly go wrong? We had the Hurricane staying with us, simply trying to lighten the load for him and his family as he can be a bit of a handful, medication helps, from time to time but he still has “moments” I don’t think he’s a bad kid but I think him and the family need more support than they actually get, we do as much as we can, but I can see the wife was sinking with the weight of the world on her shoulders, we had to manoeuvre through the week, we did thankfully manage and then the weekend arrived and it was time for the Hurricane to go home and for us to try and live that thing called LIFE!

Saturday once we were alone we got ready and headed to the place that shall not be named, just as we were about to leave home, I found out a friend, and mentor had passed through throat cancer, I definitely was going to book something nothing was stopping us now, we drove down in silence and had a hit list of what was intended, with only a few curve balls thrown in, one was again seeing an ex work mate, who I enjoyed his company, similar sense of humour, with a couldn’t give a shit attitude and in reality an all round good person, we hadn’t seen each other in three years and a lot of water had flowed under that bridge, it was so good to see him and it did indeed brighten the day, a detour to Primarni got the melting of the credit card under way (just slightly), then to pick up some stuff ordered and delivered at the shops, the knees took another battering but I enjoyed the time alone with my other half, and we didn’t fall out once!

Holiday booked ( all will be revealed  later) the Mrs seemed a little bit happier we headed to Gimpsville but I wanted something at Matalani (we shop in all the top end shops) I wanted some socks and they do some that are good for diabetics a loose fit, two packs bought and it came to a grand total of £196.00, ok so I bought two brand new suitcases some t-shirts and some shirts and a blanket for the fur baby, everybody gets something when I splurge and yes the wife got some socks as well!

Home for some food, a bath and then to primp myself as tonight me and the wife were going to be hitting the town and hitting  it hard (well maybe a bit mild) a state of confusion occurred when the wife didn’t understand English, when I asked her to put the food on, ooops nearly was a gunboat incident but it was smoothed over until 5 minutes before going out, as the wife decided she was way to hot (well I think she is) and needed to change her full ensemble, Thankfully she was like a women possessed and we only left the house 6 minutes later than planned and we arrived in sunny South Shields only three minutes later than we thought we might get there, our partner in crime (see I’m still talking in code) picked up we went on a sight seeing trip as the ladies nattered instead of listening to the sat nav, it all worked out as we parked directly outside the bar! So what was the occasion of our second night out in the three years, actually it was the same reason as the first night out, if you remember a friend had joined a band doing 80’s electronica pop music and we went to support his first tentative steps in the world of being in a band, he was good if a little shy, we were sure we needn’t of worried, however there was the small matter of getting into the bar as the wife thought she was a rock star and I had to go back and change her glasses (sunglasses in doors I think not) oh how we laughed, ok it was only but I did laugh!

There was minor detail that I hadn’t been made aware of and that there was a fire eater on as a support act (WT Actual F) I was a little concerned (me with my reputation) and would love to have seen a fire risk assessment, the amount of Paraffin left on the floor after the act, was more of a slip hazard for the rest of the evening and I’m not really sure what the “fun” value was, what was funny as he left for his next gig he nearly broke his neck on the slippery dance floor but recovered like a true professional, the opening act out of the way, it  was the time for 80’s option (with a still slippery dance floor) and what a difference, they were good before but now they blow you away, a few more gigs under their belt does for you, the kinks ironed out, and what a set they delivered, flashing lights dry ice and me singing along ( cough splutter) to every single track, a swift intermission and then back for the second act now to be truthful we overstayed our welcome (because I wanted to see a certain song) its not my type of music, although they did play hit after hit and didn't dislike any of the tunes played! Yes I do know the singer (what a handsome chap), but they really are a class act and I would recommend anybody to go out and see them if they play near you, remember that name 80’s Option.

A quiet drive home more cunning plans, a late night maccy d’s , some cuddling of the fur baby, but I suffered with eating something so big late at night, this morning i was lethargic to say the least, so the chores I wanted to complete I didn’t, I tinkered, but never gave it my full attention, we went shopping (for food) this afternoon and I have discovered a million things that I should have done but spent the weekend melting my credit card! so an old style blog we loved it, felt a little guilty but had a fab timed with fab people (we must try and do it again but sooner than the last time) this one has typed itself, it was glorious to see so many people (not me) up on the dance floor, a grand evening, and something everybody should do sooner rather than later! Yes the name game is in play and more cunning plans will be revealed in the days to come, now I’m off to do the million things I should have done all weekend, there definitely should be a day between Saturday and Sunday! So until the next thrilling episode of “Walks With Broken Hoop” stay safe stay alive and TOODLES!

Man Plans, God Laughs!

 

Honestly this is a Bob free zone!

Do you ever get the feeling that we are just a joke for the amusement for the man upstairs with the big beard, just when you think its all good in the hood, he takes another swing at you, let me explain!

My mother went through some traumatic pregnancies, we found out later although me and my brother were born under strained circumstances, she lost three girls in-between us, she picked herself back up and he laughed!

I was a sickly child for the first five years of my life, lots of medicine for little things and a couple of surgeries, I got back up and he laughed!

My parents got divorced 42 years ago, at a time when it was virtually unheard of, me and my brother took some shit for it (kids can be cruel) we went with the flow then had our revenge when the same kids who gave us shit, got it back in spades and we were the bad people (I still hold a grudge) , I got back up and he laughed!

School was a shit show some people (teachers and pupils alike) liked me some didn’t , I wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box but I wasn’t the dumbest either it might have helped if some of the teachers taught, I was slow (I still am) at maths but the teachers were crap until I got a new teacher in the third year and from being 26^th out of 30^th (I was consistent) this teacher got me to be 5^th out of 30, simply because he took the time to teach me and point me in the right direction, the next year back to the original teacher and straight back to my previous position, , I got back up and he laughed!

I wanted to join the army from the age of five, my whole life it’s what I wanted they were the best days of my life, yes you can see what was coming, medically discharged, with no plan B to fall back on,  , I got back up and he laughed!

I then stumbled by fluke into music, and I had four good years before someone threw in a curve ball, I know if I had been a tad more mature I might have survived this, however I wasn’t so I crapped out again, , I got back up and he laughed!

I got married at the age of 19, this one I don’t blame anybody but myself, I was trying to be a knight in shinning armour, more like a muppet, it was going great until we got it blessed in a church (its out there in the blogs……I think) she wasn’t honest, if she had of been we could have parted as easily as we came together, maybe god did have a hand in it, I got back up and he laughed!

My mother had a run of bad luck health wise, a stroke, and in reality her life dragged on for another 18 years, she never complained, I got bitter towards the church, a blog all in itself , a one for when I wish to vent my spleen, , I got back up and he laughed!

Then for the next five years there seems to have been a kind of truce, it would appear he was picking on somebody else for a change, but I still kept on my toes , just waiting for the shit to happen, maybe that was his plan all along, , I got back up and he laughed!

I got  a job at a shopping centre and I had to put up with a bully, to be honest nothing he did made me mad, I won every time simply because he was stupid, as all bullies are I suppose, I waited 19 years and I nailed him solidly when I became a senior manager and made him work for a living, to be truthful most of the things he did were down right criminal, so again maybe just maybe, I got back up and he laughed!

I met the wife and over the years there were multiple curveballs, which we batted away and kept fighting our way up the hill, far too many to mention in this small missive, some of them have been mentioned in some of the earlier blogs, , I got back up and he laughed!

I discovered blogging and I finally discovered something (and I have no idea why) that made me kind of happy, then I had the redneck infestation, I thought it was all over, death threats and the FBI getting involved, anyhoo we finally got it sorted without me going into witness protection, I got back up and he laughed!

The wife has always had pets, I haven’t, but I have enjoyed the babies we have had over the years, but they have all been cruelly snatched away, , I got back up and he laughed!

I turned 40 and then my body started to drop to bits, and it’s the longest amount of suffering,  I was reasonably fit, were as now I’m reasonably fat (whoops) I’m not as big as I was but I seem to be stuck at 17 stone, no wonder my knees are goosed, , I got back up and he laughed!

Friends have come and gone I rarely and I mean rarely see any of the people who were a big part of the first 26  years of my life, no falling out just we drifted, but on the plus side I have some lovely new (well for the past 32 years) friends and we both do miss them all dearly, but we have cunning plans going forward, , I got back up and he laughed!

Bad luck does seem to habit of following me around, I know there’s a song in there somewhere, as I get older I seem to be taking it in my stride, sometimes, but things seem to be consistently going wrong, I got back up and he laughed!

We lost a grandson to cancer that was a shit time, again religious nuts who I worked with avoided me as they knew how bad I would have raged at them, “its gods way” bollocks he’s up there with Rolf and Jimmy then , I got back up and he laughed!

My walking is suffering, today I have walked 21000 steps, tomorrow I will suffer, even  the little task of trying to catch a bus, something when I was fit wasn’t an issue, now I shake my head and sometimes I want to be angry, but I do my best to simply go with the flow, , I got back up and he laughed!

This isn’t about being mad at the world and everything, I was simply sat on the bus this morning and I didn’t want to lose the thread, and the thought popped into my brain, and it percolated all day so much that I simply couldn’t wait to put pen to paper, yes I still do put pen to paper simply so that what flowed through my brain that seems to be fun, I hope this hasn’t been to bad, it was better in my head this morning, I have no idea how it has translated I simply hope its better than how I am reading it now, I’m still standing, I’m not giving up neither is the wife who is still having some weepy moments but she’s getting better with each passing day! Cunning plans are abound, I have booked us a holiday, that’s the new credit card melted, more news on that in the coming weeks, it’s a big holiday, we are getting on the big silver bird, more to come soon!

 The name  game is in play and yes I am in a good place my knees aren’t, but hey ho worse things happen sea, more to come so stay safe, stay alive and spread the word, until the next one ………….Toodles!