.Sad news about Richard Attenborough....He was in one of the funniest sketches I've ever seen...it was about 25 years ago in a programme called "Alas it's Smith and Jones"....with Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones.....he said he had just completed filming Ghandi and required the music track...to which Mel said he had the man to do it...the best...Griff then turns up on a pushbike with a banjo and sings a ridiculous song in a 48 track studio....Sir Richard played it dead straight concluding with "GET HIM OUT OF HERE!!"....I always admire anyone who sends themselves up.....great guy. Kate Bush has recently made a comeback after 30 odd years...and stormed it in a live concert...rave reviews....never quite got her...bit too far out for my taste...but good luck to her....however I did like the orchestration on Wuthering Heights….and unfortunately the X Factor is returning….the least talent being behind the judges desk The Nanny State strikes again!!....some bright spark who is obviously trying to create a job for himself has suggested that the over 50's should be advised (via a leaflet) on how to handle forthcoming old age...re organising pensions and how to keep fit etc.....OVER 50's!!!!!....then another bright spark suggested this was too young...maybe OVER 65s....I looked at these blokes and thought I'm better looking...more intelligent....and more talented than both of them put together...they know where they can stick their advice. When a nine year old girl gets taught how to use an automatic weapon (with drastic consequences) one has to seriously question the mentality of Americans….they are so quick to condemn others….what a hypocritical nation they are……and the “proud” parents filming it……I despair. The song I have sent you this week should be close to your heart as it's about your home......The Wirral Song.....this came to me when I was standing on Thurstaston Hill in the 80s and thought there's the Mersey...there's the Dee...and there's the Irish Sea....gotta be a song there so I came up with this one....I took it to the Wirral Council who ordered 4000 copies to promote their leisure services...I wrote a a Bside (as it was vinyl) about the Wirral Way....the song actually made the local Top Ten as compiled by one of the local major stores

Cliff….oh dear…the witch hunt continues…as usual no charges – probably no real evidence…yet he’s all over the papers….guilty before he’s even spoken to. I think we are all getting a bit sick of all this….I’m not a fan of Cliff as you know (he just wont go away) BUT he has got a bit of a rough ride ahead of him and I do feel for him….his faithful fans are buying his record in an attempt to get it to the top of the charts….the whole thing is a disgrace and all this trial by media needs sorting out…preferably by a judge who can keep awake. 2.Jon Culshaw is back on the tele….I am a massive fan…I love impressionists (your mate Paul Melba being a top rater) and Jon Culshaw is the best…he is so funny and talented. I’ve always found impressionists to be really entertaining especially live….give me a good one as opposed to a good singer any day. He was on Aled Jones’s Sunday morning programme (which is excellent) and he was brilliant. 3.There’s a new celebrity challenge programme reared its head called “Tumble”…and involves celebs doing acrobatics (after weeks of training) live….seems to me to be an accident waiting to happen….the panel of judges mark them on their efforts…and soon the public will be able to vote by phone…like the public know what they are talking about….which will make a few bob for ITV….can’t see the point myself…another dud…I didn’t think anything could be worse than “Splash”….but I was wrong. 4.You’ve gotta laugh in this country….everyone is moaning about the intended increase in train fares….the authorities reckon it’s to maintain the tracks etc…and the companies only get 3p in the pound profit….so why create another service which will cost BILLIONS?...that’s a lot of 3ps….and where’s the money coming from?.....no wonder the new high speed service has suddenly gone quiet….keep building fellas while nobody is noticing….and hope the farmers don’t see you ruining their land. 5.The song I have attached is called “Beatle City” which I was commissioned to compose around the mid 80s by the then Merseyside County Council. They wanted it to be called by the title but I felt it was cashing in a bit….but when you get a big order for a vinyl 45 you go along with their wishes….I talked them into creating their own label thus becoming the first council to release a record….they sold it in the libraries and souvenir shops etc and it sold very well…the B side was a rocker called Merseybeat Memories which mentioned a load of old groups. It’s always nice to sell a job lot. I don’t think I have a copy of the 45…..MIGHT BE WORTH A FORTUNE NOW!!!!

The Nanny State strikes again...now drinks have to let you know how dangerous they are for your health via labelling....like cigarettes...I'm sick and tired of being told what is and isn't good for me by so called experts who are probably part of the manipulation process of big greedy companies....there is also talk of bringing down the drink drive limit...which I'm actually all for. Sinead O'Connor was recently on (plus hideous tattoos) talking about her latest album...the concept being that SHE'S the boss....she quite rightly stated that artists who sign up to record companies are doing them the favour...not the other way round...which is right but hopeful artists are 10 a penny these days...so if you don't want to be a puppet go it alone....which you can only do if you are good enough. I don't know how the BBC have the nerve to charge us for a licence......here's an example...Monday 11th August...3.00 Escape to the Country (repeat)...3.30 The Hairy Bikers (repeat)....7.30 Fake Britain (repeat)...8.30 Miranda (repeat)....9.00 Death In Paradise (repeat)....10.35 Have I Got News For You (repeat)...11.20 who do they think they are (repeat)....it's only the news programmes which aren't repeated...and they are tripe!!....are they havin' a laugh?...they should pay US to watch. Sad news about Robin Williams...I wasn't a fan but very sad....I always found him uncomfortable to watch and he always seemed troubled...his best film was "Dead Poets Society"...great film....depression is a terrible thing which no-one can really help you with....tragic. On the subject of great films I decided to watch "Back To The Future"...although I saw it first time round I forgot how good it is...great story wonderfully written and acted....why can't they make this sort of film these days...instead of the dragged out computerised trash we are subjected to.

Edwin Starr said it all in his song WAR. What is it good for...absolutely nothing and such a waste of human life with all its attendant misery. However, we are celebrating the centenary of WW1. The latest news from the UK Govt is that we will be fined if we leave our motors running in traffic queues. Oh Yeah! That's an easy one to police. Don went to see Eric Faulkner (ex Bay City Rollers) and was disappointed. Find out why in the podcast. There's a new show on TV and the winner, a singer, Takes it All. Yet more dross this time presented by Alan Carr and full of today's technology.Count me out! ....and finally, these are the Doo Wop Days and Don tells us about the title track and how it links with a radio station in America.

I watched Terry Christian on a chat show recently…I LOVE this fella…he says it like it is…he said the public should be allowed into Parliament to ask questions and the MPs should be put on lie detectors. He totally shares my views about the lying,thieving,selfish shower of public schoolboys who supposedly run the country…and have you seen Miliband lately?...he’s had a major make-over…hair,teeth,the lot…he looks even more slimy and slithery than he was before….and Cameron with his botoxed forehead and Eric Pickles looking like he needs a fork sticking in him to see if he’s cooked…it’s a freak show. I also watched an interview with Tony Blackburn who has been around for 50 years…what a great bloke…he’s on 7 radio stations he was saying and deservedly so…should be knighted. Here we go again…it those “scientists” again….these “experts” have come up with a brilliant discovery….last year we had to eat 7 portions of fruit a day….but that’s all wrong!!!...these experts have decided that any more the 5 portions a day does NOT increase your life expectancy…AND what’s more…if you drink heavily in mid life it could affect your memory in later life…hmm….I wonder how much these people get paid for this drivel….oh yes and you only need 5 minutes exercise a day….I assume that includes steering clear of the pies. I was very very upset to hear that British Gas had suffered a drop in profits because of the hot weather…and one of the other energy companies are also whining that their profits have also dropped to just OVER A BILLION!!!....I’ll be losing sleep over this….all this together with the banks ripping everyone off it’s all good stuff…the latest garbage is that the ridiculous bonuses they paid out to their top men for losing all that money will have to be returned…OH SURE…I can see THAT happening…it’s a joke. The problem with the inhabitants of this country is most of them need to get a life….they love to grovel and courtesy to those “above” them….personally if His Royal Highness Prince Philip asked me to get him a glass of champagne I’d tell him to get it himself…it’s that word “Highness” that gets me…for goodness sake….my band used to play for a local member of the royalty (mentioning no names) and I was chatting to his gardner/butler who was so proud to have served his lordship for nigh on 30 years…and his father before him…I thought wow two generations of doormats. And THAT my friend is the problem. Track 9 on my CD takes those of a certain age right back to their youth….I tried to make it in a “street corner” style…so it should bring back a few memories.

.......and to track 8 on my CD “What Happened To Julie?”…which begs the simple question as to whereabouts of one of your young schoolboy crushes…it would be nice to know what happened to those lost loves and what they are doing now…….or not? Still lots of sport on the tele….the Open was a huge success…it was £75 to get in on the Saturday and Sunday…£11 for fish and chips…and a fiver a pint…and it is much better on the TV…but there you are…The Commonwealth Games are now upon us…I saw the highlights of the opening ceremony which looked the same as every other opening ceremony where we watch hoards of athletes jogging past waving at the camera…I’m sure those involved have a great time but I find it all a bit boring…the swimming is a good cure for insomnia….along with Rod Stewart who should have called it a day years ago. The news is still covering the terrible tragedy of the Malaysian airliner…it’s heartbreaking and unbelievable but what you don’t need is the gutter press showing a photograph of a lorry carrying something which is covered over with the headline “IS THIS THE WEAPON WHICH BROUGHT DOWN THE PLANE?”…nobody knows so why speculate with this stupidity…all it does is aggravate the situation…and the Dutch guy who made a speech coming out with stuff like “Were they looking into each others eyes when they knew they were going to die…were they linking arms…we will never know?”…This doesn’t help…the poor people who are grieving their loss don’t need this sort of unnecessary banter IT DOESN’T HELP!!! I was watching Mathew Wright one morning last week and they had Jim Davidson as a guest…I never used to like him but he won me over when he successfully defended the case against him regarding sexual abuse …he was describing the hell he went through being hung drawn and quartered by the press…and how his accusers (who he had no knowledge of) get away scott free. He is an example of a media witch hunt….people who falsely accuse should be thrown straight into jail….I’m now a fan of Jim..and anyone else who tells it like it is. The Giants are back in Liverpool…those wonderful giant puppets from France who walk the streets and tell a story….they are worked by many puppeteers who swing on ropes etc and bring these marvels to life…last time it was the story of the Titanic…this time it’s World War One as seen through the eyes of a gigantic Granny who has been on display sleeping in a monster bed in St Georges Hall before rising and strolling the streets in front of thousands of onlookers…a wonderful occasion and great for the City….AND the weather has helped…great stuff.

..and to the 7th track on my album…”Tribute to Ricky Nelson”….I’ve always been a huge fan of the guy..preferred him to Elvis in the 50’s…so I thought he deserved a place on my CD….it tells of how his love songs brought us all through the dark times after just being chucked by the love of your life…sit in a dark room with your Dansette and put on “Lonesome Town”…problem solved. the weather here has been very hot…great for sailing and all outdoor activities…EXCEPT for the poor pensioners….this country has to be top of the charts for moaners…a few weeks back it was too cold and the poor pensioners needed looking after (The one’s who aren’t cruising round the Medi that is)…now they are too HOT and need looking after…in case they de-hydrate…next thing will be the droughts…what does it take to make some people happy…beats me. ..The Open Golf Tournament is upon us…..and Hoylake is buzzing…I decided to go out in my kayak on Thursday and row on the Dee alongside the Royal Liverpool in the hope of getting on the tele….but to no avail…it’s the only way I’ll ever appear at the Open….I don’t quite get the attraction of watching live golf when it is so much better on the tele…anyway it looks like being a big success. Have you been watching?...some great shots of Hoylake from the air….but I wish they would stop calling it THE Wirral…..it’s WIRRAL!! .We went over to Liverpool in the week to buy some electrical stuff from Maplins…the service was superb and the guy who served us was a scream…amongst the stuff we bought an extending window scraper for a fiver…as it was so long they offered to deliver it FREE…it arrived NEXT DAY…I have written to Maplins and thanked them for great service which I didn’t think existed anymore. .On a similar subject we went to Wetherspoons in Caernarvon and had two delicious mixed grills…AND a bottle of quality wine…all for 15 quid….it’s hard to believe the value of the place…and it’s less than two quid a pint!!!....I’m a fussy eater but I can’t fault Wetherspoons…this is the reason they are always full and all the other places are empty….wonderful.

..track 6 on my CD (Doowop Pioneers)was an idea to educate the world as to what is actually Doowop...it originally began on street corners in the U.S.A. whereby a group of guys would congregate and harmonise...similar to our barbershop...and it developed into those great 50's classics such as Blue Moon...Teenager In Love...Why Do Fools Fall In Love...etc...this song is a tribute to them. ......O.K. Brazil took a hammering in the World Cup...but if you went by the headlines you'd think it was the end of the world......the country was "HUMILIATED...SHAMED....DISGRACED...." and people in the street crying....it's a FOOTBALL MATCH!!...that's all...surely there are other things to think about?...mind you to stand alongside thousands of people overnight to see a bunch of cyclists fly past for 11 seconds....I begin to wonder whether some people actually have a life. ......The news is full of the "missing" documents regarding child sexual abuse....when you watch the media's re-action you would think that the country is run by a load of perverts...what is it with these people? Mind you I would think there will be a few quaking in their boots. ....The Open Golf is at Hoylake a again next week....already the road signs are up and there is talk of a big hotel complex being built...amazing how they find the money for these big events and yet the public sector gets told there will have to be cuts....and they will have to work until 68...so they go on strike - which will have no effect. .....Obviously there is so little news the BBC have to let us know AGAIN that we are the most obese nation in the Universe...."scientists" have studied this and that and have come up with this amazing conclusion which helps fill 20 minutes of BORING BBC news...I personally don't care...I keep myself fit which is easy to do if you are prepared to put in a bit of EFFORT...something these blobs don't seem to be able to do...their problem - not mine...and I don't want to hear about it on the news every day.

Rolph Harris has been all over the news this week….WOW…what a fall from grace…MBE OBE CBE and portrait painter to the Queen…oh dear. What I still don’t get about all this is someone MUST have known back in the day?...why take so long to come forward…anyway he’s got 5 and a half years….I went to his exhibition in Liverpool a few years back and his drawings and paintings were on sale…at a ridiculous price….they wont be worth much now, Our roads are getting more and more dangerous for cyclists…according to those in the know….I must say I steer clear of main roads these days when I’m on my bike…but we are very lucky on wonderful Wirral as we have a coastal cycle path right round the peninsula…so you can do a thirty mile stint without going on the main road and risking your life…..they have cycle lanes along a lot of roads which are O.K. providing idiots don’t park on them. There has been a very informative survey by “scientists” at one of our universities and have come up with the staggering information regarding “headbangers” at rock concerts…..their activities could cause brain damage….now there’s a surprise…..you would think some halfwit wrenching his head up and down 6 inches away from a PA speaker hammering out 1000 watts would be fine….what they seemed to have overlooked is to receive brain damage you first have to have a brain…so most of the Motorhead fans should be quite safe. The Navy have been on the news displaying their latest addition to the fleet….an enormous aircraft carrier…the size of 3 football pitches…named after our majesty….all very nice but it has cost 6 BILLION….didn’t I hear someone say we had cut jobs to save money?....6 BILLION……out of the taxpayers pocket….but there is no money around?...do me a favour. 5.Track 5 on my album is called “The Bobby Vee Song”…..I had the pleasure of working with Bobby on two occasions…once at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton…and again at the North Wales Theatre in Llandudno….I found him to be a great guy and we hit it off from the outset…so I thought he HAD to have a spot on my album….it tells the story of how Mr.Vee stole my girlfriend’s heart back in the day….I thought she loved ME…but she loved Bobby Vee. It was great to meet and work with one of the top teenage idols and to discuss his hits (Carole King etc) over a coffee.

Now we are out of the World Cup we can have a change of subject on the T.V. for a change…that is when the Suarez incident has died down…he got a 9 match ban but I think the lad needs help…why not just take all his teeth out?...problem solved. Having said that the Coulson affair has taken over….and as usual the BBC drag it out for 50% of the bulletins….as I have always said the press get away with far too much…they couldn’t care less who gets hurt as long as they sell their trashy papers…..looks like Coulson is taking the hit but if it was up to me they would all go behind bars…..and Cameron hasn’t come out of it too well. Also someone has “come forward” with allegations regarding Jimmy Savile…saying he saw Savile drag a young girl out of a chidren’s home and the girl was later found dead….there is as yet no evidence whatsoever but guess what…headlines in the paper “CHILD KILLER” with a picture of JS….Proof?...who needs proof?...let’s sell papers….something needs to be done. I must say I do enjoy Wimbledon….I played tennis at club level for many years and know how tricky the game is….I don’t think people realise the amount of fitness and training is required to be at the top of the game – it’s probably the toughest sport of them all…..requiring so much skill. I go to a local gym which is part of a tennis centre where they have pro tournaments from time to time….when you watch these guys play you wonder how they SEE the ball never mind get it back…and these guys are NOTHING….I’ve known a few pro players who say unless you are in the top 20 you don’t make much of a living … tough game…come on Andy!!…but I think old Novak will win it. The Liverpool International Music Festival….ex Mathew Street Festival…is once again the subject of criticism – nowadays all the groups are young tribute bands and the old rockers aren’t too happy…they think it should reflect original Merseybeat…I’m not sure how I feel about this…a part of me says move on where another part says The Beatles still pull in the tourists from far and wide….but I’m not too sure whether a bunch of ageing sixties bands still have the appeal to the young?...at the end of the day it’s about money I suppose Track 4 on my Doowop album is entitled “Rock and Roll Princess”….this song came about after I’d written “Love At First Sight” (track 1)…and a guy in Germany got hold of it and put it on YouTube…he set the song to a picture of Venice (?) and when the chorus kicked in he put a photo of his little daughter holding a uke…it was so delightful I got in touch with him and said she looked like a Rock and Roll Princess and it went from there….I dedicated the song to the little girl (Laura) for the inspiration….it was after this that I decided to make the album.