Sunday Mercury - Bev Bevan

Bev's big pop quiz - week two!

2009-07-14T10:00:42Z

Week two of the quiz is here folks - have a go and see how well you do!

http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2009/07/10/can-you-beat-bev-bevan-in-his-weekly-pop-quiz-66331-24123724/

Bev Bevan's Pop Quiz: This week's answers!

2009-07-09T13:10:03Z

How did you get on folks? here's the answers...

New quiz tomorrow!

1 THE TORNADOES ( 1962 WITH "TELSTAR" )
2 PETE TOWSHEND / ROGER DALTREY / JOHN ENTWHISTLE / KEITH MOON
3 "THE BODYGUARD"
4 FRIDA ( LYNGSTAD ) , BORN IN NORWAY.
5 1 ELO, 2 The Monkees, 3 Johnny Duncan and the Blue Grass Boys, 4 KLF,
6 ANNIE MAE BULLOCK
7 WESTLIFE
8 RICHIE VALENS AND THE BIG BOPPER
9 NORWEGIAN
10 27.

The Bev Bevan weekly pop quiz

2009-07-03T11:50:03Z

Every week on my radio show, ( BBC WM, Sunday afternoons 2 'til 4, and repeated for 7 days on BBC Iplayer ) I have a quiz - and it's proving to be incredibly popular.

So, are YOU really into your music - do you consider yourself a bit of an expert on rock, pop, soul, blues, rock'n'roll, country, etc ? If so, you are going to love my brand new weekly blog.

Every week, beginning today, there will be a "BEV BEVAN'S POP QUIZ" - 10 very varied questions that might cover any genre of popular music spanning the past 50 years or so - from Fifties pop and rock'n'roll right up to the present day.

No prizes to be won - it's just for fun and guaranteed to test those brain cells ! If you're stuck on a few of the answers , ask your pals or family - or take the list of questions down to your local pub .

Right - here's this week's 10 questions. The answers - and a brand new set of new questions will be right here on "BEV BEVAN'S POP QUIZ". this time next week.
Go on - have a go ! Good luck !

QUESTIONS

1 --- Who were the first British group to have a number one hit single in the USA ?
2--- Name all four original members of The Who.
3--- "I will always love you" by Whitney Houston featured in which movie ?
4--- Which member of Abba was not born in Sweden ?
5--- Who recorded
"Last train to London"
"Last train to Clarksville"
"Last train to San Fernando"
"Last train to Trancentral"
6--- What is Tina Turner's real name ?
7--- Which "Boy Band" accompanied Mariah Carey on her 2000 number one hit "Against all odds" ?
8--- Name the two other singers who died along with Buddy Holly in a plane crash in February, 1959.
9--- What nationality are the band A-HA ?
10-- How old was Jimi Hendrix when he died from a drug overdose in 1970 ?

Bev Bevan : the day I met Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T11:20:49Z

I recall the day I met Michael Jackson backstage in America.

He came to see ELO when we played in Los Angeles back in 1978.

He was ushered backstage and came to shake hands with us all.

He seemed cheerful but rather shy, and there wasn't any conversation between us.

But I was told that he liked our music, and that was quite a compliment.

The news of his death came as a great shock, even though he had looked frail in recent times.

I was a huge fan of his music during the late 1970s and 1980s. He was brilliant then.

I went to see him in concert at Wembley Stadium - I think it was on the Bad tour - and it was one of the best shows I had ever seen.

As a live performer he was fantastic. He was the best dancer on the planet, too.

It's best that we all remember him that way than for all the personal problems he faced.

Bev Bevan reviews the latest music

2009-06-12T13:03:54Z

LEVEL 42 Guaranteed and Forever Now ( Edsel)

ORIGINALY from the lovely Isle of Wight, Brit jazz/funk/rockers Level 42 racked up a total of 230 weeks on the album charts throughout the 80s and early 90s.

With core members Mike Lindup on keyboards and brilliant bass player and vocalist Mark King, the band also had several big hit singles with their distinctive mix of funky work outs and plaintive ballads.

After nine albums on the Polydor label the band moved to RCA for Guaranteed, which was released in September 1991 and peaked at number 3 in the British album charts.

"Forever now" was the group's second album for RCA, and it too made the top ten. Both of these albums have an accompanying, bonus CD full of B sides and 12" mixes.

Level 42 recently played the O2 in London and are set to announce more concerts later in the year.

Instrumentals with Strings and Things ( Ace)

THE moment commercial rock'n'roll reared it's fearsome and welcome head in the late 50s, the major labels lost their grip on the market.

The one segment they were able to retain their dominance and dignity, was the easy listening, middle of the road, orchestral format

And here are some of those orchestral, instrumental hits from that golden age of American popular music, spanning 1956 to 1967.

Makes me realise what a fabulously eclectic mix of music we had to choose from back then - rock, pop, folk, country, skiffle, soul, blues, novelty 45's and the instrumentals too - all managing to find places in the charts. How different from the bland and boring charts of today !

Bev Bevan Diaries - Tony Iommi, the Troggs, the Wolves and Batley Variety Club

2009-06-04T16:14:40Z

Saturday May 9th 2009

Got a text message from my old mate and former Black Sabbath colleague Tony Iommi, who's touring with his band Heaven and Hell in South America.

Sunday May 10th

Drove to a near deserted BBC at the Mailbox in Birminghham for my live two-hour radio show on WM 95.6, along with my co-host Jimmy Franks. Went well.

Tuesday May 12th

Set off to Batley in Yorkshire for charity benefit night at the famous old Batley Variety Club (now called The Frontier Club), to commemorate the one year anniversary of the sudden death of agent and manager Derek Franks.

He was an old friend of mine and put together many tours for ELO Part 2 in the Nineties. Place packed out and a lot of money raised for a local children's hospice - enough to buy one of those wonderful Variety Club Sunshine coaches.

Great show it was, too - a real Sixties pop extravaganza. There was Dave Berry, Brian Poole, Journey South, Maggie Bell, Vanity Fare, Chris Farlowe, The Manfreds, The Searchers' Mike Pinder and PJ Proby.

Comedian Martin Gold did a good job as the compere. Former soap star Frazer Hines and myself did the 21-prize raffle draw - something else for my CV, I'm a raffle drawer! Few drinks afterwards with Derek's widow Debra, Brian Poole and Dave Berry.

Sunday May 17th

Along with the rest of the band, drove to Salisbury and no trouble finding the Civic Hall (with the invaluable help of our Sat Nav, Doris).

Quick soundcheck, then a stroll around the very pleasant, but closed, city of Salisbury before the show.

Good crowd of about 800. Love Affair opened, then Bev Bevan / Trevor Burton's Move, then The Troggs.

I always prefer that middle slot and our one-hour set went down a storm. Set off home before Reg Presley and his band had even set foot on stage, and back in Warwickshire by midnight.

Sunday May 24th

Drove into Birmingham for another of my afternoon radio shows.

Good programme and Jimmy and I interviewed over the phone Paul Jones from the Manfreds, who has a fine new solo album just released titled "Starting All Over Again".

Home to watch on TV the last day of the Premiership season. So, amazingly it's Newcastle and Middlesborough going down along with West Brom. More importantly, my team the Wolves are in the Prem next season along with Birmingham, who most of my mates support.

Thursday May 28th

Into the BBC to pick up my post (write to me at BBC WM, The Mailbox, Birmingham B11RF) and print off my emails (reach me at bev.bevan@bbc.co.uk).

Looked in on the TV news section, too, and said hello to my old friends Kay Alexander, Suzanne Virdee and Nick Owen.

Sunday May 31st

Another glorious sunny day and drove with the top down to the Mailbox, avoiding the motorways.

Keith Middleton acted as my anchorman because Jimmy was working up in Edinburgh at the Jamhouse club.

Good show - with me having freedom of choice what to play, the musical content is always fab.

Here's what I played:

DANCING IN THE DARK - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE - MARMALADE
SUPERSTAR - CARPENTERS
MIDNIGHT BLUE - CARL WAYNE
YOU WON'T SEE ME - ANNE MURRAY
HIT AND MISS - JOHN BARRY SEVEN
MY GIRL - TEMPTATIONS
WICKED GAME - CHRIS ISAAK
JUMPING JACK FLASH - ROLLING STONES
NO REPLY - THE BEATLES
GET OVER IT - THE EAGLES
FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE - STEREOPHONICS
SOMETHING STUPID - CARSON AND GAILLE
RECONSIDER BABY and SUCH A NIGHT - ELVIS PRESLEY
THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT - LITTLE RICHARD
SORROW - THE MERSEYS
ONE WAY LOVE - CLIFF BENNETT AND THE REBEL ROUSERS.

You should tune in to BBC WM 95.6 on Sundays from 2pm until 4pm.

Or fire up your computer, go to 95.6 bbc wm, click on "listen again", find my show - and there it is on BBC iPlayer .

Bev Bevan's CD review

2009-05-23T15:29:41Z

VARIOUS ARTISTS: Honey And Wine (Ace)

THIS is the second foray by the Ace record label into the huge folio of Goffin and King compositions, celebrating one of the most lauded songwriting partnerships of all time.

As a youngster Gerry Goffin developed a taste for Broadway musicals and began creating songs in his head.

He enrolled at college to study chemistry and it was there he met 17 year-old Carole King, a keen amateur songwriter in search of a lyricist. They hit it off straight away, penned a few songs together and dropped out of college to get married.

In 1960 they joined Carole's friend Neil Sedaka at New York's Aldon Music as staff songwriters, and within two years became the most successful songsmiths in the country.

Amongst original versions of songs included here are Bobby Vee's Go Away Little Girl (before Steve Lawrence got his hands on it), and The Rising Sons' Take A Giant Step (later covered by The Monkees).

Not to be missed is Nancy Wilson's No Easy Way Down, which Dusty Springfield included on her brilliant Dusty In Memphis album.

There's also the US hits Oh No Not My Baby by Maxine Brown, Gene McDaniel's Point Of No Return, and Gene Pitney's Every Breath You Take.

Over this side of the pond there are UK successes Pleasant Valley Sunday by The Monkees and Up On The Roof by The Drifters.

There are also overlooked gems such as Chuck Jackson's I Need You, Freddie Scott's Brand New World and Jody Miller's very non-politically correct He Hit Me And It Felt Like A Kiss.

Bev Bevan diaries : April 2009 - my new radio show, Wolves get into the Premiership and dinner with Tony Iommi

2009-05-06T14:12:25Z

Friday April 3, 2009

Up early to drive to The Mailbox in Birmingham to be on Phil Upton's BBC WM Breakfast Show, to publicise my new radio show, beginning on Sunday.
Whilst on the show I offered to donate a Gold Disc to raffle in aid of WM's Kidney Kids Appeal for Birmingham Childrens Hospital.

Saturday April 4

Phone interview on Jimmy Frank' BBC WM Saturday afternoon show to plug start of our new show, starting tomorrow.

Sunday April 5th

Another phone interview on WM, this time on Carl Chinn's programme. Carl, like me, a former pupil of Moseley Grammar School.

Drove to The Mailbox, getting there about 1pm for the first of my new weekly radio shows. Unlike all of the shows I did on Saga and Smooth radio, this programme goes out LIVE, which is a whole new kettle of fish.

Near disaster when my co-host Jimmy Franks managed to press a mystery button on the sound desk and completely took the station off air for a couple of minutes! Soon rectified, though, and the show started straight after the 2 o'clock news.

I felt a little nervous to begin, but all nerves disappeared as soon as I got on mic, announcing: "the boy is back in town" and we launched into Thin Lizzy's classic The Boys Are Back In Town.

I have known Jimmy for several years, ever since he used to introduce my band at our residency at the Jamhouse in St Paul's Square in Birmingham.

The show went well but we had to finish half an hour early, at 3.30pm, to make way for the sports team (including my old friend Ron Atkinson) and their coverage of the Manchester United v Aston Villa game.

Wednesday April 8th

Into WM again to get post and e-mails, and recorded some "Sat Nav" voiceovers for Paul Franks' afternoon drivetime show.

Friday April 10th

On the evening over to Tony and Maria Iommi's house for dinner. Tony is off on tour of South America next week with his band Heaven and Hell. That's Tony on guitar, Geezer Butler on bass, Ronnie Dio on vocals and Vinnie Appice on drums. They are a terrific band and the new album is excellent.

Sunday April 12th

Easter Sunday and the roads and streets near deserted as I drove into Birmingham to do the second of my new radio shows. Did the full two hours this week and felt more relaxed.

Went well again and I am really enjoying it. Lots of feedback from the listeners via e-mails, texts, phone calls and letters.

Monday April 13th

Easter Monday. Sat outside in the afternoon sun and listened to BBC WM's live football coverage. Great away win for Wolves at Derby County.

Promotion to the Premiership so close now - so near yet so far!

Saturday April 18th

Hallelujah! Wolves beat QPR to clinch promotion to the Premiership! Old Trafford, Anfield, Villa Park here we come!

Wild scenes and pitch invasion at Molineux. Sent a congratulatory text message to manager Mick McCarthy and he even found time to send me one back - a top man. Champagne corks a-popping on the evening.

Wednesday April 22nd

Went to see West Side Story at Birmingham Hippodome. Excellent. Definitely my favourite musical ever.

Just one great song after another - Something's Coming, Tonight, I Feel Pretty, Somewhere etc etc.

Sunday April 26th

Drove into Birmingham once more for the third of my new radio shows at the BBC WM studios at the Mailbox.

Feeling better all the time and getting a nice rapport going with my co-host Jimmy Franks.

What's really brilliant is that I am given the freedom to play whatever I want and the music content is just superb.

To give you an example, here's the running order of today's show:

2pm until 3pm
CAROLINE - STATUS QUO
I WANNA BE YOUR MAN - BEATLES
MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - MARIA MULDAUR
SOMEWHERE - P J PROBY
ARTHUR'S THEME - CHRISTOPHER CROSS
I CAN'T STAND THE RAIN - ANN PEEBLES
BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX - GLEN CAMPBELL
RELEASE ME - ESTHER PHILLIPS
THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES - BOBBY VEE
PETER GUNN - DUANE EDDY

3pm until 4pm
UP WHERE WE BELONG - JOE COCKER AND JENNIFER WARNES
COME RAIN OR COME SHINE - DON HENLEY
FEEL LIKE MAKING LOVE - BAD COMPANY
SHE'S LEAVING HOME - NILSSON
MISS YOU NIGHTS - CLIFF RICHARD
GIRL OF MY BEST FRIEND and WAY DOWN - ELVIS PRESLEY
BOTH SIDES NOW - JUDY COLLINS
TELSTAR - THE TORNADOS
ALWAYS ON MY MIND - WILLIE NELSON
ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN - ELO

Do please tune in if you can on Sunday afternoons to 95.6 BBC Radio WM (West Midlands).

From May 10 you can also listen to the show again, any time at all, 24 hours a day for the following seven days, by Googling or clicking on to 95.6 BBC WM and clicking on 'Listen again' then the 'Bev Bevan / Jimmy Franks' show.

Also , if you have a request, you can e-mail bev.bevan@bbc.co.uk

The postal address is Bev Bevan, BBC Radio WM, The Mailbox, Birmingham B1 1RF. During the show you can text 07786 202956 or phone 08453 009956

Would be great to hear from you! Have a good May and I'll be in touch again soon.

Cheers

BEV

Bev Bevan reviews the latest CD's

2009-05-02T15:41:47Z

MIDGE URE - Pure + Breathe (Edsel)

IN September 1991, Ultravox frontman and Band Aid co-founder Midge Ure released Pure, his third solo album.He waited until 1995 to release his fourth, Breathe.

Both albums featured an eclectic mix of guest musicians, including Robert Fripp from King Crimson, Paddy Moloney of the Cheiftans, Mark Brzezicki of Big Country and Liam O'Maonlai from Hothouse Flowers.

This expanded CD release of both albums boasts 13 bonus tracks too, including Ure's version of Peter Green's Man Of The World.

There's a live version, too, of Tom Rush's No Regrets, originally a solo hit for Midge in 1982.

MAXINE BROWN - Best Of The Wand Years (Ace)

SOME sophisticated New York City soul from the splendid Maxine Brown, who was one of the late, great Dusty Springfield's influences. Dusty, Rod Stewart, Cher and Manfred Mann all recorded versions of Goffin and King's Oh No Not My Baby but Maxine Brown's original remains the best. That recording was one of just three major American hits for her, along with All In My Mind and Funny.

She also sang several duets with Chuck Jackson, and one of these, Something You Got was a song I used to sing with The Move.

Bev Bevan's CD reviews

2009-04-28T09:44:06Z

ELVIS PRESLEY

I Believe (RCA / Legacy)

THIS is an impressive 4-CD boxset and a fitting tribute to all of Elvis Presley's Grammy award-winning gospel and inspirational recordings.

It features the multi-platinum selling original albums Peace In The Valley, His Hand In Mine, How Great Thou Art and He Touched Me.

Also included are movie tracks such as Down By The Riverside from Frankie And Johnny, Swing Low Sweet Chariot from The Trouble With Girls, Sing You Children from Easy Come Easy Go and Let Us Pray from Change Of Habit.

It is interesting and surprising to note that throughout his distinguished career, Elvis Presley only ever received three Grammy awards and none of those were for his classic hits or groundbreaking rock'n'roll records, but all for his recordings of church music.

JOHN PHILLIPS

Pussycat (SPV Yellow Label)

JOHN Phillips was born in Paris Island, South Carolina in 1935 and is best remembered for creating folk-rock quartet the Mamas and Papas, who went on to enjoy several hit singles and albums during the mid-Sixties.

This shelved solo album, now on CD, was recorded in 1976 along with Rolling Stones Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood, and was produced by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Amongst the 10 original album tracks and the five bonus ones, you'll find Phillips' material from the movie The Man Who Fell To Earth, which starred David Bowie in the lead role.

This album was the last creative effort by John Phillips before his drug arrest in 1980. Sadly, he died in 2001.

Bev Bevan - the rock star and the UFO landings

2009-04-25T22:07:46Z

Been listening to this album ...

VINCE TAYLOR
Jet Black Leather Machine
(Ace)

Lionised by David Bowie and covered by The Clash, Vince Taylor was one of the most remarkable rock and roll stars to emerge from late 1950s Britain.

For David Bowie, the rise and fall of Taylor was the inspiration for Ziggy Stardust.

In 1996, Bowie told the BBC's Alan Yentob that Taylor was "out of his gourd, totally flipped.

He came out on stage in white robes and said he was Jesus Christ.

"It was the end of Vince - his career and everything else".

Bowie recalled meeting Taylor in mid-60s London, outside Charing Cross Station.

Opening a map on the pavement, Taylor got a magnifying glass out and showed the aspiring rock star the sites where UFOs would land.

Jet Black Leather Machine is the first compilation to tell the Vince Taylor story.

He composed Brand New Cadillac, along with Cliff Richard's Move It and Johnny Kidd's Shakin' All Over - the only three British-made rock'n'roll records of the late Fifties to stand alongside their American influences.

As well as that classic , there are Vince Taylor and the Playboys' powerful renditions of My Baby Left Me, My Babe, Sweet Little 16, Twenty Flight Rock, Memphis Tennessee, Hi-Heel Sneakers and Long Tall Sally.

Tune in to my show from 2pm to 4pm Sundays on BBC WM 95.6FM

Bev Bevan Diaries - The Move, Jasper Carrott's birthday party, organic spuds and radio rock

2009-04-03T13:05:22Z

MARCH 2009

March 2nd

Drove to the imposing Mailbox building in downtown Birmingham for a meeting at the BBC with assistant MD Jeremy Pollock and my old friend Jimmy Franks, who will be helping me host my new Sunday afternoon radio show (BBC WM 95.6 , 2pm 'til 4pm).

A live two-hour show will be a new experience for me , but one that I am really looking forward to. I spent about five years with "SAGA FM" and around two years with "SMOOTH RADIO", but joining the BBC feels like being signed up by Manchester United!

March 7th

My old friend Phil Ackrill's birthday today (Phil was with me back in the mid-60s in Denny Laine and the Diplomats). We celebrated it at my local pub / restaurant along with other old friends, the Carrotts, Iommis, Givens, Trees, Hileys, Mayers - and Ackrills, of course.

A good mix of professions for the men there - a drummer, a comedian, a guitarist, a football manager, a bass guitarist, a craft centre owner and two accountants!

March 8th

Drove to the organic garden centre in Ryton on Dunsmore to stock up on potatoes, parsnips, onions, carrots, tomatoes, etc to plant in our chemical free organic garden at home.

I'm turning into Richard Briers from The Good Life!

March 10th

Back to the Mailbox in Birmingham to pick up my picture ID BBC pass - most impressive it is too - never needed one of those with commercial radio.

Checked out the studio we'll be using. First show confirmed as starting on Sunday April 5th.

March 11th

Drove into Solihull to get my hair cut at the Graham Lovsey salon opposite John Lewis. Graham has been looking after my hair for about 30 years now.

My hair was bleached blonde in the 60s, then dyed black, permed dozens of times in the 70s and generally messed about with ever since, yet so so luckily I still have a terrific mop of hair - much to the envy and annoyance of most of my old friends!

March 13th

Friday the 13th. No-one seems to superstitious anymore. Drove into Solihull to finally change my eight year-old mobile phone. Incredulous young salesman at O2 told me I could have had five annual free upgrades by now! Home to work out how to use my new toy.

Red nose day, or whatever it's called, is on TV all night, which I find boring and tedious beyond belief.

March 14th

Along with my old pal Don Givens (manager of the Irish under 21s team), went to the Wolves v Charlton Athletic match at Molineux, sitting in the Director's box. Delighted and relieved at Wolves 2-1 victory.

On the evening it was all around to the Carrott residence to celebrate my old friend (of 50 years plus), Jasper's birthday. Masses of people there and a really fabulous evening.

So lucky to have so many fine friends.

March 25th

Meeting at village hall, near Bassetts Pole, along with Danny King, Trevor Burton, Raymond Froggatt and his guitarist / manager Hartley Cain plus promoters Brian and Ashley Yeates to talk about ideas for the new-look Brum Rocks Live series of concerts that begins in October.

March 28th

My band The Move (Trevor Burton, Phil Tree, Neil Lockwood , Gordon Healer and me), set off about 2pm in our Mercedes mini-bus to drive to Bognor Regis for our gig at the Butlins 60s weekend. Made remarkably good time, getting there by 5.30pm and we checked into our seafront hotel.

Picked up a copy of the official local holiday guide for Bognor Regis - "Where fun meets sun". Unfortunately there was no sun. I went a walk along the sea front, but soon got too cold. The tide was out and the sea barely visible.

Our entire road crew joined us for dinner at the hotel - all two of them, Roy and Mick. On to Butlins about 10pm. Union Gap and The Swinging Blue Jeans had already been on. Original member of the Swinging Blue Jeans, Ray Ennis came to our dressing room to say hello. Ray is 67 now and still out there rockin' and a rollin'.

We eventually got on stage about 11.30pm. Place was packed and we had a great night. We are a lot heavier than most 60s bands and the crowd really got off on our renditions of Purple Haze, A Little Bit Of Love, Back In The USSR, Somethin' Else etc.

Plus the Move hits of course - Flowers In The Rain, Fire Brigade, I Can Hear The Grass Grow, California Man, Night Of Fear and Blackberry Way. An encore of Gimme Some Lovin' and it was back to the hotel bar.

What with the clocks going forward an hour, it was a long old day for musicians of a (how can I put it?) "mature" age.

So there you have it. Here comes April and with it my new radio show on BBC WM on Sunday afternoons 2pm onwards - do please tune in.

Text me on 07786 202956, e-mail bev.bevan@bbc.co.uk or phone 08453 009956.

And please tell your friends to spread the word.

Cheers, Bev.

Bev Bevan : they've given me a new radio show on the BBC

2009-03-15T08:00:00Z

Exciting news on the radio front!

After being off he air waves for some months now, I am beginning a brand new radio series on April 5th.

From then on, each Sunday The Bev Bevan Show will be on 2pm 'til 4pm, LIVE, on BBC WM 95.6 and then be available on BBC i Player throughout the following week.

Of course, being the Beeb, there will be none of those irritating commercial breaks.

Extra brilliant is the fact that, unlike about 90% of radio presenters in the UK, I get to choose all of the music for the programme too.

Luxury!

To help me I have my old friend Jimmy Franks to do a bit of co-hosting and take care of the difficult stuff like looking after incoming (hopefully), emails, texts and phone calls.

Talking of which, here are the relevant numbers to get in touch with me!

From April 5th, each Sunday , between 2pm and 4pm you can telephone 08453 009956 or text 07786 202956 and you can reach me anytime by email at bev.bevan@bbc.co.uk

I'd love to hear from you any ideas that you might have for the show.

So far we are planning a weekly recipe of the following:

* An "Elvis twin-spin", where you send in your choice of your favourite two Elvis Presley tracks.

* An "Original version" of a classic record (for example Bessie Bank's original recording of the Moody Blues' Go Now).

* At the cinema - a little chat about a great movie and playing the theme song (for example Arthur and the title track by Christopher Cross).

* Dear Diary what I was up to this date back in time.

For example, around this time 40 years ago on Sunday March 16th 1969, I played a charity gig with The Move along with Amen Corner, Fleetwood Mac, The Gun, Harmony Grass, The Paper Dolls, Barry Ryan, Peter Sarstedt, The Tymes and Geno Washington.

What a line-up! I'd probably play Eloise by Barry Ryan and Man Of The World by Fleetwood Mac.

* Phone a friend telephone one of my friends, maybe Tony Iommi or Jasper Carrott or Robert Plant, etc, etc, and ask them some off the wall questions and get them to select their favourite ever record.

* 50 years ago today - top of the American charts this week, for example, was Venus by Frankie Avalon.

* Birthdays / Anniversaries - For example, Sly Stone's 60th birthday today. I'd play Family Affair by Sly and the Family Stone.

That's the general idea so far, but with the show being broadcast live (from the top floor of the Mailbox in Birmingham), and with incoming phone calls, texts and emails things will change as we go along.

Should be great fun!

Do tune in if you can and please spread the word.

Bye for now - maybe speak to you one Sunday afternoon!

Cheers

Bev

Bev Bevan's view on the latest music!

2009-03-07T21:27:59Z

BARRY MANN & CYNTHIA WEIL

Glitter And Gold (Ace)

OF all of the albums that I have played drums on over the past 40-odd years, one of my very favourites is the 1969 Move LP Shazam.

On that album it was my idea for the band to record a version of Mann and Weil's Don't Make My Baby Blue, originally recorded by Frankie Laine.

When Shazam was re-released on CD, I received an American copy autographed by Barry and Cynthia, saying: "Thank you for making such a cool version of our song!"

They first met in 1961 and began writing songs together. Later that same year they married and now, 48 years later and after writing dozens of hits, they remain so.

This compilation is made up of American recordings, most of which were not hits in the UK.

Best of the bunch are Mama Cass's It's Getting Better, Bill Medley's Brown Eyed Girl, Gene Pitney's I'm Gonna Be Strong, the Righteous Brothers' See That Girl and B J Thomas' I Just Can't Help Believing (recorded a year before Elvis Presley's big hit version).

There's no sign, though, of Mann and Weil's biggest ever hit, Righteous Brothers smash You've Lost That Loving Feeling or The Move's Don't Make My Baby Blue!

STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL

Best Of (EMI Gold)

STEVE Harley and Cockney Rebel basked in hit single sunshine for two years, between the summer of 1974 and the summer of '76. Top tenners Judy Teen and Mr Soft were followed by chart-topper Come Up And See Me, Make Me Smile.

Two more successes followed, Mr Raffles and Here Comes The Sun, and then the hits dried up. All of those songs are included on this 16-track compilation CD.

Latest CD reviews...

2009-02-28T16:02:08Z

When I am not drumming I also do the odd CD review in my spare time...

ANN PEEBLES Original Soul Funk Sister (Demon)

UNFORTUNATELY, Ann Peebles falls into that "one hit wonder" category - but what a one hit wonder it was!

I Can't Stand The Rain was named the greatest single ever made by John Lennon. This was the man responsible for writing Strawberry Fields Forever, Nowhere Man, In My Life and Imagine. Enough said!

Ann Peebles was born in 1947 in St Louis, one of 11 children. She began singing with her father's gospel choir and eventually landed a recording deal with Memphis label Hi whose major artist was soul legend Al Green.

Miss Peebles went on to marry fellow label recording artist Don Bryant, and they began writing songs together, culminating in that big 1974 hit 45.

As well as that classic, you'll also find the evocative I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home and the stunning I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down, two fine tracks that should also have been big hit singles.

Still, better to be a one hit wonder than a none hit wonder.

CHER The Imperial Recordings : 1965-1968 (EMI Gold)

BORN Cherilyn LaPierre in El Centro, California in 1946, Cher first came to our attention in 1965 as half of husband and wife team Sonny & Cher with worldwide smash hit I Got You Babe. Didn't last - they divorced in 1974!

This collection trawls her best solo recordings from 1965 to 1968, including powerful renditions of It's Not Unusual, Needles And Pins, Alfie, Sunny and You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.