The Song For Today by Jimmie Oliver (free ebook reader for ipad TXT) 📖

Stanshall's spoken part is included on the compilation album: 'Milestones - 20 Rock Operas'. It is worth checking out. Curiously enough, Viv Stanshall had previous experience of such a role in the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band's 'Intro And Outro' during which he introduces a bizarre cast of characters such as Val Doonican, Charles De Gaulle on accordion, Adolf Hitler on vibes, and J.Arthur Rank on gong!
{Also on this date, JR Ewing is shot in the broadcast finale of Dallas in 1980}

MARCH 22ND
The Last Farewell by Roger Whittaker (1971)
available on the album The Last Farewell & Other Hits
Bespectacled Roger Whittaker was an unlikely pop star, but he did enjoy considerable success with a couple of hits, including 'Durham Town' and this memorable tune, recorded in 1971. 'The Last Farewell' is a tear-jerker that reportedly sold eleven million copies around the world. Today is the date of birth of Roger Whittaker, who was born in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, on this date back in 1936.
{Also on this day, in 1997 Tara Lipinski becomes world figure skating champion, aged 14}

MARCH 23RD
Drive by The Cars (1984)
from the album Heartbeat City
Rick Ocasek was born this day in 1947. His group's greatest claim to fame is without doubt the smash hit, 'Drive'. The song acted as a fundraising single for famine relief in Ethiopia, and aside from the humanitarian motives of Ocasek and his band, the recording deserved to sell in large quantities purely on the basis of its own considerable merits. 'Drive' is clearly one of the outstanding records of its decade and supplies further proof that the 1980s yielded more than their share of classic tracks.
{Also on this date, Scottish footballer Davie Cooper dies of a brain haemorrhage in 1995, aged 39}

MARCH 24TH
Alison by Elvis Costello (1977)
from the album My Aim Is True
Nick Lowe was born on this date in 1949. Aside from enjoying one or two chart hits of his own, including 'Cruel To Be kind' and 'I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass', Lowe became a sought-after producer. He brought his talents along to assist the new kid on the block Elvis Costello, when he recorded his debut album in 1977. The long player's title, 'My Aim Is True', was drawn from the lyrics of 'Alison', a tragic love song. The track was probably the highlight of the album that launched the career of the second Elvis in pop history. Costello would follow his previous mentor Nick Lowe into the avenue of producer as he supervised long players by The Specials and The Pogues, as well as collaborating with the likes of Paul McCartney. 'Alison' isn't necessarily his best tune, but the album it belongs to is one that critics have paid homage to, and its producer Nick Lowe should derive much satisfaction from this.
{Also on this day, in 1976 President Isabel Peron is ousted by the Argentine military}

MARCH 25TH
I've Seen That Movie Too by Elton John (1973)
from the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Mr.Reginald Dwight was born this day back in 1947. Reg who? Yes folks, Elton John (for it is he) has thrilled audiences and record buyers for three decades with a multitude of memorable hits. 'Nikita' and 'Your Song' are sensitive love songs, whilst 'Song For Guy' is a formidable instrumental during which our Reg suggests "life isn't everything". Of course 'Candle In The Wind' and 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' are the tunes which most people appear to enthuse about, but this writer feels that the most criminally overlooked classic in popular music hails from the outstanding 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' double album. Even surpassing the splendour of the title track is the six-minute masterpiece entitled 'I've Seen That Movie Too'. Featuring arguably the best instrumental break in pop history, this moody melodrama is a Bernie Taupin-induced rebuff of a drama queen. Such was the lyrics on perhaps the greatest-ever double album in music that a misogyny cloud hung over the record. Nevertheless, do yourself a favour and bask in the orchestral arrangement by Del Newman and the wailing guitar of Davey Johnstone, because dear reader, this opus is an epic.
{Also on this date, in 1957 the six-member European Economic Community is formed}

MARCH 26TH
Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand) by Diana Ross (1970)
available on the album Diana Ross' Greatest Hits
Diana Ross, born this day in 1944, took a courageous step in exiting the enormously successful Supremes and plotting her own solo journey. However, arguably Motown Records' greatest-ever star simply went from strength to strength with a string of chart-topping singles on both sides of the Atlantic, including 'Touch Me In The Morning', 'Love Hangover', 'Upside Down', 'Endless Love' (in tandem with Lionel Richie), and 'Chain Reaction'. Another lesser hit worthy of note from Ross's vast repertoire of love songs is 'Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)'. In this tune, American music's very own Princess Diana urges the listener to "reach out and touch somebody's hand. Help make this world a better place - if you can." Go on and try it. See what happens.
{Also on this day, Noel Coward dies in 1973 at the age of seventy-three}

MARCH 27TH
Inbetweenies by Ian Dury And The Blockheads (1979)
from the album Do It Yourself
Ian Dury once stated in one of his tracks:"All I want for my birthday is another birthday." Unfortunately the diamond geezer lost his battle against cancer on this date in 2000, aged fifty-seven. Starting their musical existence as Kilburn And The High Roads, Ian Dury and his Blockheads carved out their very own niche. Dury sang of cockney characters such as 'Plaistow Patricia' and 'Billericay Dickie', and his music was decorated with tongue-in-cheek humour as witnessed on 'Common As Muck' and 'What A Waste'. I have a particular liking for the five-minute opus, 'Inbetweenies', which showcases composer Chaz Jankel's rather funky rhythm. It's marginally preferable to the excellent 'Sweet Gene Vincent' as the choice of song for today.
{Also on this date, Nikita Khrushchev becomes the new Premier of the Soviet Union in 1958}

MARCH 28TH
Locomotive Breath by Jethro Tull (1971)
from the album Aqualung
John Evan, the keyboardist of Jethro Tull, was born on this date in 1948. Jethro Tull provided a unique brand of rock, revolving around Ian Anderson's flute, ranging from the humour of 'Fat Man' to the radio-friendly 'Living In The Past'. For me, 'Locomotive Breath' is an extraordinary track right from the outset, where a jazzy piano meanders along, almost directionless, and then suddenly "out of the shuffling madness" enters a sinister guitar sound which takes the song off on a different path. The story in 'Locomotive Breath' by itself is interesting. This relatively unknown recording merits greater recognition, along with other such Jethro Tull products as 'Nothing Is Easy' and 'Bungle In The Jungle'. Incidentally, you don't have to be a hippie to appreciate this fine creation.
{Also on this day, Britain's Labour government loses a vote of confidence in parliament in 1979}

MARCH 29TH
Seasons In The Sun by Terry Jacks (1973)
from the album Seasons In The Sun
Don't be fooled by the song title, folks. There is nothing remotely sunny about this Transatlantic Number One. Many sad songs are so depressing as to render the listener suicidal, but 'Seasons In The Sun' is an immensely listenable pop ballad. This track in which the singer contemplates an imminent death while recalling past, happier times can lay claim to being one of the greatest sad songs of all time. On this day in 1944, Canadian Terry Jacks was born. To ignore this fine chart-topper would itself be sad.
{Also on this date, in 1973 the last American combat soldiers evacuate South Vietnam}

MARCH 3OTH
Let It Grow by Eric Clapton (1974)
from the album 461 Ocean Boulevard
I remain perpetually disappointed that so many bandwagon-jumpers immediately cite the repetitive 'Wonderful Tonight' as Eric Clapton's best love song. Even the more worthy candidates, the majestic 'Layla' and 'Bell Bottom Blues' don't quite compare with the song for today. 'Let It Grow' features a simple, unfussy soundtrack, embellished with equally simple but poignant lyrics: "plant your love and let it grow". This magnificent album track from '461 Ocean Boulevard', assisted by fine backing vocals, is then decorated with a sumptuous fade-out when there is beautiful interplay between guitar and keyboards, not dissimilar to the second half of 'Layla', which is outrageously edited out by radio disc jockeys in a silly attempt to maintain the four-minute formula. Eric Clapton, author of these outstanding romantic tunes, was born on this date in 1945.
{Also on this day, President Reagan survives an assassination attempt in 1981}

MARCH 31ST
All The Young Dudes by Mott The Hoople (1972)
from the album All The Young Dudes
Is it possible to take a Bowie composition and improve upon it? Well, Mott The Hoople did just that. Mind you, Ziggy himself helped with the production and backing vocals. Mott The Hoople, like countless other performers, will always be associated with one particular song which stood head and shoulders above the rest of their repertoire. Then again, when you provide such a sensational guitar intro, then nothing else that you record stands any chance of a favourable comparison. After the impressive opening, this rocker goes from strength to strength, culminating in an arms-swaying conclusion with such ad-libbing from vocalist Ian Hunter as "Hey you, with the glasses. I want you, I want you up at the front." Today marks the anniversary of Mick Ralphs's birthday in 1944. This classic track remains a must for any record collection of young dudes, and older ones in denial about their age.
{Also on this date, in 1990, 200,00 people attend a 'Poll Tax' protest in London}

APRIL 1ST
Vietnam by Jimmy Cliff (1969)
from the album Wonderful World, Beautiful People
Top Jamaican reggae singer Jimmy Cliff shares his birthday in 1948 with April Fools' Day, but he was nobody's fool. Star of the movie 'The Harder They Come', Cliff's compositions were covered by the likes of Desmond Dekker, The Pioneers, Madness, and UB40, the latter of which made an admirable attempt at re-interpreting 'Many Rivers To Cross' for their 'Labour Of Love' project. Cliff never quite scaled the heights reached by Bob Marley, but he did have a few hits of his own. One such release, entitled 'Vietnam', had a flirtation with the British singles chart in 1970, when