I had better explain. I may have mentioned this before but I have some strange habits in bed at night - no, no, not that sort, behave! I sleep with an ear-piece with talk radio, usually BBC Radio5, burbling gently in my ear. I developed this habit a few years ago when sleepless nights and chasing the thought circle became irritating. Now, I sleep blissfully through most of it but from time to time I wake and catch part of whatever is going on before I fade away again. The other night I came to when Dotun Adebayo, the overnight presenter, was asking listeners for tracks to go into his 'Jukebox 100'. Someone mentioned Lou Reed and my first thought was 'Lou who?' The name of the track was Walk on the Wild Side but already I was sinking back into the arms of Morpheus, however, as soon as that bass line started up and Reed's lived-in voice began I was awake again in an instant but, dammit, they only played an extract and ever since I have had it going round and round in what passes for my mind. Anyway, today I found myself in Yeovil and remembered that there was an HMV shop. Upon entering I asked the young man assistant, whilst trying to ignore his extraordinary haircut and the sundry bits of metal embedded in his ears, whether he had ever heard of some singer called Lou Reed? He was about to roll his eyes in that irritating manner the young have developed solely for the purpose of putting down middle-aged elderly fogies like me, when he remembered his training and assured me that indeed he had heard of him and took me to a rack of CDs most of which were Lou Reed's output. "Crikey," I stammered, "is he well known?" Once again his training kicked in although I suspect the entire staff will be howling with laughter in the tearoom during their break. Anyway, with as much dignity as I could muster I paid for a double album and left.
I must say that Walk on the Wild Side is a terrific number and I can't think what has kept me so busy and occupied since 1972!!! when it was first issued that meant I had never heard of it. I like Reed's style but I don't rate him as one of the great singers, not least because he rarely if ever sings! He tends to narrate his lines but as his deep baritone voice has an enormous amount of character in it I can listen to it for a long time. I am not sure how much he has to do with the backing to his songs but whether it is him or someone else, they are nearly always first-rate.
Best of all, I have achieved a new first in my marriage. I played one of the CDs to the 'Memsahib' and she has been smiling ever since; reckons it's the best music album I have ever bought. (Dinner should be good tonight!) Anyway, it is a truth universally acknowledged, and proven yet again, that you never stop learning.
Blimey! You do know that the lyrics deal with particularly risque activities that the elderly are normally unfamiliar with?
On second thoughts, I would be surprised if you were older than Lou Reed.
And on third thoughts, you used to be a para, so have probably known some rather strange comrades in your time!
Posted by: Whyaxye | Friday, 18 November 2011 at 16:34
Jesus, Mary and all the saints: David Duff meets Lou Reed? And enjoys himself?
For once, I am speechless.
Posted by: Mrs Angry, Broken Barnet blog | Friday, 18 November 2011 at 18:13
I think Mr. Reed was suitably impressed as well, Mrs 'A', and as for you being speechless, well, one must thank the Lord for small mercies!
Just teasing, you're always welcome at D&N.
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 18 November 2011 at 18:47
How quaint.
Actually going into a record shop and buying a record.
I'm an old fogey of 53 but I can't remember when I last did that.
But I do remember the release of Transformer in 1972.
Posted by: ed | Friday, 18 November 2011 at 20:41
'W', sorry, I was so excited by Mrs'A's appearence I forgot you! Yes, being a bit deaf in one ear it took me a while to pick up on some of the 'lyrics'. Personally I was shocked, shocked, I tell you, but the 'Memsahib' told me turn up the sound - I worry about her sometimes! And "strange comrades" doesn't tell the half of it.
Ed, welcome to D&N, and you're quite right, of course, it is only the inexorable changes of technologies that forces me change with them but, my God, I put up a stiff resistance. It stems from my almost terminal lethargy!
Posted by: David Duff | Friday, 18 November 2011 at 21:42
If you really want to make the memsahib happy, get her a Lou RAWLS CD.
She'll instantly become putty in your hands, er, or something sappy like that.
Posted by: Andra | Friday, 18 November 2011 at 22:32
You want to try some of that marryjuana next, Duffer.
(Gosh, I feel somehow vulgar and brutish coming over here to traipse about on an elderly man's blog, particulaly one who is sensitive enough to enjoy 'Perfect Day'. You did enjoy 'Perfect Day', didn't you?)
Posted by: Vicki | Friday, 18 November 2011 at 22:52
To be honest, Andra, I treated your recommendation with all the suspicion of a squaddie coming across a tin can in an Afghani street, knowing the Australian sense of humour to be esoteric, shall we say? But I checked him on Wiki, and lo, the 'King' himself gave him a big bow - that's 'King' Sinatra, of course, than which etc, etc. So I will try him out and let you know exactly how putty-like the 'Memsahib' becomes - Ding-Dong!
Vicki, what's this, an invasion from Barnet? First, Mrs 'A', then you! Anyway, what's this "marryjuana" stuff, is it anything like a Wills Woodbine? I used to enjoy those. The 'Memsahib' reckoned that 'Perfect Day' was used in an advert but she couldn't remember which - do let me know if you know and I can come over all superior - for once! Yes, I quite liked it but 'Walk on the Wild Side' is 'numero uno' for me.
To my other readers who might have strayed down here, Vicki's blog is an excellent read. She has no desire to improve the universe, unlike some of her more dreamier comrades, she just wants to make Barnet in 'Norf' London a bit better. She sinks her teeth into her local council, a practice always to be encouraged, even if her 'cures' are likely to be worse than the existing ills. She provides an insight into the world of the decent middle-class activist attempting to bring about a 'working-class' nirvana. It's very easy to sneer at it - and I do - but even so, I rather admire her. Visit her blog and you old curmudgeons who come here will see a whole new world!
http://citizenbarnet.blogspot.com/
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 19 November 2011 at 09:34