Bulls Head Bob - June 2023. THE MIGHTY VILLA! GUILD SCORE AN OWN GOAL. HERE COMES THE NIGHT - BERT BERNS

 Howdoo You Brummies

Its June,  it's sunny and I'm feeling Happy which, given the state of the world, is surprising but what can be the cause of this nice feeling??

I'll tell you what, it's THE MIGHTY ASTON VILLA!!   Being a Villa

fan has been very difficult to live with for all these years but now we stand proud.  At the beginning of the season we were truly on a downward spiral with nothing to look forward to except an impending exit from the Premier League. 

A lacklustre attitude with bad results week after week and then we got a Proper Manager with discipline, vision, dreams and expectations.   Unai (pronounced Oonaye) (for my friends in foreign climes) Emery has turned my frown upside down alright! and we will be playing in Europe next year.  

Mrs Bob who has no idea about the Villa or football in general thought his name was 'One Eye'.  That hilarious supposition had me and the gang in stitches when she tried to join in the celebratory conversation at the pub!  I love her, she's the the girl for me!! UTV....

NAMM 2023.  GUILD GUITARS SCORE OWN GOAL.

Up till a few years ago the blog readers were treated to a report

from The NAMM music show by our old mate and US resident Bill Bonham.    Sadly Bill passed away but every year when its announced it reminds me of Bill and what a loss to the music world he was but on the positive side it serves to remind me of happier Brumbeat Days when he was on the scene with his Hammond B2 growling away.

I had a cyber check on this years show and particularly Guild Guitars where they displayed their latest offerings and, as usual, their acoustic models are gorgeous and the Solid body offerings look like Russian pieces of crap, devoid of design ethics as shown in this picture of their Surfliner selling at  £475.00.  There is also a Surfliner deluxe with a Tremelo for £725. 00.  Pictured below.

I think "clunky and unattractive" and "could do better" is my take for this retro looking guitar.  

It reminds me of the pre 60's days looking in guitar shops and this would be the one  hanging on the wall that nobody wanted to try.  Guild should have studied the sleek, sensuous lines of the gorgeous looking METEORA from Fender, or perhaps they did and decided that Clunky was the way forward in filling their retro niche for those who have no style.   I am sure it's built well but, really?

Fenton Weil were one of the worst guitars built in the late 50's.  Bits would drop off them and the fret wire wasn't even inset into the neck but at least they looked good.   Dear me Guild are certainly consistent.

CLASSIC 60'S HIT.   HERE COMES THE NIGHT.  BERT BERNS

I just love this song and remember playing it with my first band at those 60's gigs in Brum.  I believe that the public think that 'Here Comes the Night', the 1965 hit by Them was written by Van Morrison.  Well not only was it written by another guy, namely Bert Berns, but had been previously released in 1964 by Lulu with a slushy, soulless arrangement full of strings courtesy of Mike Leander that did nothing on the charts.  The recording, released a year later by 'Them' was a different kettle of fish and Morrisons gravelly, earthy voice gave it some urgency which was offset by some melodic guitar phrases supplied by Jimmy Page.

Bert Berns, also known as Bert Russell was a contracted songwriter in the famous Brill Building in New York.   He famously co wrote "Twist and Shout" with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers who released Twist and Shout prior to The Beatles famous rendition and wrote 'Baby Let me take you Home' by the Animals  and later co wrote 'Hang on Sloopy'by the McCoys.

He wrote many more hits but didnt achieve any success as an artist himself.

 

A double DVD about Bert Berns was released. Called "BANG, the Bert Berns story". I  haven't seen it myself but imagine it is interesting.  I'm not sure if it's still available but probably worth a view.

Ok guys, thanks for dropping in to the blog.  Its music history with a touch of irreverent humour, always worth a visit.

Take Care of the Ones you Love. 

Bob

Copyright:  Bullsheadbob 

Contact:  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com