As you may have noticed, this blog has taken many a turn over the couple of years or so it has been in existence. So many turns in fact, I and everyone else probably have no idea where it is going.
It has been used as a vehicle for my daily racing selections, a general entertainment blog and for me to vent my feelings about sports related (and other newsy) matters.
Obviously this is not particularly helpful to you dear reader, not knowing what subject I am going to be writing about next. I am sure there are those of you who enjoy the entertainment aspects, but have no interest in sports and vice-versa.
To this end and as of now “The Thoughts of Uncle Tatty” (found here at www.uncletatty.co.uk) will continue as a news and entertainment journal.
The sports aspect will now be covered on a new blog, to be entitled “Blog-Sport”. This will be found at http://blog-sport.co.uk There will be no restriction as to the sports that will be covered, although it will mainly concentrate on football, horse racing, boxing and cricket (along with a smattering of rugby league here and there).
So if sport is your bag (as Austin Powers probably wouldn't say), please bookmark the new webpage (http://blog-sport.co.uk) and continue to hear my thoughts on the latest news in the world of sport (I will endeavour to continue posting links that I think you may find interesting).
You can be assured that it will continue to be as contentious as ever!
Tatty
Finally, a note to all bloggers everywhere – I am always on the lookout for and would welcome guest bloggers to contribute to my sites. Obviously you would be credited with your own work and will be able to create a link back to your own site should you desire.
The only stipulation however is that I would like to be able to make reciprocal guest postings on your blog with similar backlinks etc.
Saturday morning radio here in the UK has taken a turn for the better in my humble opinion, especially if you are bordering on “old codgery” like me.
The recently launched Smooth70s DAB radio station (also available on the internet and more than likely on Digital TV platforms – I haven’t checked as yet) has started playing editions of Casey Kasem’s “American Top 40” radio show, which has been syndicated across the world ever since 1970 (there have been a few different hosts across the years).
Casey Kasem
Now my British readers may well be asking Casey – who? (our friends across the pond will probably be amazed that us “backward limeys” are totally unaware as to his identity). A good comparison is that he could be classed as the US equivalent of the late Alan “Fluff” Freeman, who hosted the UK’s “”Pick of the Pops” for more years than I care to remember.
American radio personality Kasem, (also known for voicing the character of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo cartoons), has done voice-overs on many TV commercials over the years along with putting the voices to many of the Sesame Street favourites.
Casey (born Kemal Amin Kasem) is of Lebanese-Druze heritage and is still actively working in the broadcasting industry at the age of 79. In 1985, he was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame radio division and is well known for his signature sign-off: "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."
AT40 is aired on Smooth70s every Saturday morning between 9 and 12 and is repeated on the following day (Sunday evening) between 9 and midnight.
This week edition (first broadcast in 1973), included such varied content that ranged from the sublime of Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man”, to the slightly dodgy “Photograph” by Ringo Starr, ending up with the truly appalling “Do You Wanna Dance?” by Bette Midler. No1 that week was Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock”. The show certainly brings back memories, good and bad!
So if you were a child of the 70’s or are just interested in hearing the originals of many cover versions of later years, please give it a listen. You’ll love it!
Lee Clark has today been sacked as manager of Huddersfield Town.
Lee Clark in his playing days at Fulham
The Terriers from Huddersfield are currently lying in 4th place in League 1, only 4 points away from automatic promotion. It is being reported that Clark was apparently relieved of his duties in a 2 minute phone call from club chairman Dean Hoyle.
The Galpharm Stadium based club have released the following statement concerning their decision,
"This was a very difficult decision; one not taken lightly or in response to one result. Concerns have been raised over recent weeks. Lee and his coaching staff have put their all into the job over the past three seasons and he has made a huge contribution to the Club."
"However with 16 matches to go we still have an opportunity to achieve promotion and we have made this change with this in mind."
It can only be described as a crazy decision, delivered in an abhorrent way. What on earth is the football world coming to?
It was an inevitable parting of the ways? Surely a club doesn’t end a dismal run of results by losing at home 5-1 to their biggest rivals, plunging them into the relegation mire of the Premier League and not oust their under pressure manager?
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Molineux
And so it was – after a tenure of 5½ years, being the 7th longest serving manager in English football, Mick McCarthy lost his job at Wolverhampton Wanderers, to be replaced by..... who?
Mick McCarthy
Wolves have already stated that they are looking for an experienced manager to take the helm and try to guide the club away from the lower reaches of the league to stave off relegation and to build for the future, but who are the possible candidates they will be looking at?
Steve Bruce
Initially installed as the favourite for the post, Bruce would bring a wealth of Premier League experience with him after previous spells in charge at Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City. The former Manchester United and England centre-back is currently out of work after being dismissed from Sunderland in November 2011.
Steve Bruce
It would be questionable as to whether the Molineux faithful would warm to the idea of Bruce taking over. Like McCarthy, being a former manager at the Stadium of Light, would Wolves want to gain a reputation for employing Sunderland cast-offs?
Neil Warnock
Former lower league winger Warnock left his post at Queen’s Park Rangers in January, after leading the club to promotion the previous season. He has had a distinguished managerial career at numerous clubs both at league and non-league level and at age 63 would possibly be the steadying influence the club would be looking for.
Neil Warnock
A fully qualified referee, Warnock is renowned for his controversial outbursts, ironically often aimed at the match officials - this may not suit the powers that be at the West Midlands giant.
He does hold a reputation for leading clubs to promotion however, as opposed to success in the Premier League. Useful maybe if the club were to slip out of the top flight, but surely not for short-term survival hopes.
Alan Curbishley
The former Charlton Athletic and West Ham manager has been away from the game for over 3 years and has been linked with many high-profile managerial positions during that time.
After leaving West Ham he spent time taking the club to court, winning his claim for constructive dismissal and it is thought that he is now ready to take on another top job.
Alan Curbishley
A Londoner through and through, Curbishley spent some of his playing career at both Aston Villa and Birmingham City, so moving to the West Midlands would not pose any re-location or geographical problems for him.
He has stated that he would be very interested in the position, whilst Wolves Chairman Steve Morgan is thought to be keen on an imminent move for the 54-year-old. It's no surprise that Curbishley is the bookmakers new favourite to take the position.
Other names in the frame
Other possible candidates for the Molineux hotseat would have to include John Barnes, Paul Ince, Rafa Benitez, Sven Goran Eriksson, Billy Davies, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Ian Holloway.
So who will it be? The club wishes to make a quick appointment before their next Premier League fixture on 25th February away at Newcastle.
With the sad news of Whitney Houston's passing that broke over the last weekend, it got me thinking as to other female artists who have prematurely left the world, leaving a lasting legacy.
The following 5 are a purely personal choice of some of my all-time favourite lady singers, all of which are sadly no-longer with us.
Tammy Wynette (May 1942 - April 1998)
Justified and Ancient - The KLF featuring Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh became one of country music's best known artists and was termed the First Lady of Country Music. With such worldwide hits as "Stand By Your Man" and "D.I.V.O.R.C.E", she became a major singing star throughout the globe.
In 1991 she returned to the public eye, guesting on British electronica group the KLF's "Justified and Ancient", which zoomed to No.1 in 18 countries and reached No.11 on the US Billboard chart, giving her a whole new, wider fan base.
Over the years she had many medical problems, spending much time in hospital, She underwent at least 25 major operations and suffered from an acute addiction to pain-killers.
She died in her sleep aged 55 from a blood clot in her lung.
Mama Cass Elliott (September 1941 - July 1974)
Dream a Little Dream of Me - Mama Cass Elliott
Born Ellen Naomi Cohen, she is best remembered as a singer with "The Mamas and the Papas" in the 60's and early 70's.
After the group's break-up, she embarked upon a solo career. Here she completed a further 5 albums, extensively toured the world and appeared in numerous TV variety and chat shows.
After completing a 2-week set of sell-out dates at the London Palladium, she died from a heart attack at a flat she had been borrowing which belonged to singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson. Eerily, four years later, the legendary drummer from the Who, Keith Moon died in the very same flat, at the same young age of 32.
Minnie Riperton (November 1947 - July 1979)
Loving You - Minnie Riperton
A native of Chicago's south side, Minnie Riperton is best remembered for her amazing five -and-a-half octave vocal range and her mega hit "Loving You".
Early in 1976 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. At the time, even though she was given only 6 months to live, she continued to tour and record. After surviving another 3 - 1/2 years, she passed away at age 31 on July 12, 1979.
Kirsty MacColl (October 1959 - December 2000)
Days - Kirsty MacColl
I must admit to Kirsty being my all-time favourite female vocalist and I have outlined her story in a previous article which contains 4 further samples of her work. Please click on the following link to read, watch and listen:
Back in 2000, when on holiday at an island off the Mexican coast, Kirsty was hit by a motor cruiser whilst she was trying to save her son from the path of the same vessel. She was killed instantly.
Kirsty was a prolific songwriter as well as a singer. She had the uncanny knack of making you feel happy and sad in the same verse, whilst at the same time making you want to scream and shout in the next chorus.
Her vocal style was unique and her delivery sublime.
Karen Carpenter (March 1950 - February 1983)
Superstar - The Carpenters
No list such as this would be complete without the inclusion of the amazingly talented Karen Carpenter.
One half of the mega-successful brother-sister duo "The Carpenters" who were known for their romantic ballads, they became the No.1 selling American music act of the 1970's.
She is best remembered for her velvety, clear, rich voice , but she always considered herself to be primarily a drummer who sang. To this end her drumming was greatly admired by contemporaries Hal Blaine, Cubby O'Brien and Buddy Rich.
For years she suffered from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa and, due to the excessive damage it had caused her body, she died from a heart attack whilst staying at her parents home in California, less than a month before her 33rd birthday.
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Others of whom I could have quite easily added to this list include the following:
Aaliyah, Billie Holliday, Celia Cruz, Dusty Springfield, Dinah Shore, Dinah Washington, Etta Baker, Eva Cassidy, Laura Brannigan, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Patsy Cline, Phillis Hyman, Janis Joplin and Sandy Denny.
Your Shout:
Who were your favourites? Who have I forgotten? I'm sure I must have made a few glaring omissions.
