How to cope with recession - a musical interlude

For a song written in the 1970s, this is remarkably prescient. In fact, it could be the only song in history that not only deals with coping with economic misery, car scrappage, supermarket overcharging, oil prices and inflation but is also very good; uplifting even.

Check out the story of The Fast Flying Vestibule on this great American poetry site or listen below.

The Fast Flying Vestibule: I’m Glad I’m Prepared for the Recession

 

Im-glad-im-prepared-for-the-recession-1

 Related

Was the recession any worse than previous ones?

NowPlaying What's the colour of money

Me I know it's red. An apposite blast from the past from Hollywood Beyond. Enjoy:

Vote for your favourite Elvis moment

There is no better way to spend a lunchtime.

Vote for your favourite Elvis moment

Currently in the lead is 'Elvis makes television and entertainment history with his Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii - Via Satellite special.' with his birth only in third place. 

Related

The secrets of Mervyn King's temple

 

And now gratuitous big pics of the King.

 

 

Chelsea FC VIP tickets more than half-price | Stranglers tour

One of the downsides of living in London, apart from public transport in rush hour, is Chelsea Football Club. You either love 'Chowseee!!!' or you hate them. And I don't feel the love.

But if you are a fan then you can watch your beloved club from one of the posh seats with a three-course meal, half-time snacks and a team list thrown in for £99 a pop. A hundred quid for a game of football?! you may ask. But normal price is more than £200.

>> Be quick: Chelsea ticket offer from Travelzoo

Now a non sequitur for non fans. Why not check out the Stranglers latest tour. And check out the Keith Floyd tribute by drummer Jet Black on the way. The telly chef was a big Stranglers fan and their music was the soundtrack to his TV shows.

>> Stranglers tickets on sale 10am today

'Many people tell you that they're your friends' - how prophetic all those pre-Facebook years ago (PS> Yeah, I know Hugh Cornwall hasn't been the frontman for near on 20 years.)

Desert Island Discs finally available on iPlayer

The programme has been around for 67 years and yet only now is it available on the BBC's 'listen again' service - or, assuming one week online is a year in the old world, the equivalent of around 167 internet years.

For the uninitiated, Desert Island Discs sees famous people invited to Radio 4 to chat about their lives and choose a selection of music, a book and a pointless luxury to accompany them on a lonely sejour on a desert island. It's presented by Kirsty Young but the rights to the show still belong to the family of its erstwhile creator, Roy Plumley, who have now agreed a deal that allows licence payers to listen to repeats on the iPlayer and as a podcast. 

The first show online features Kirtsy chatting to Barry Manilow. And coming up, according to Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer, 'I still yearn for Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, Madonna, Arsene Wenger etc. etc. Stay tuned. We're trying.'

Listen to the first show this lunchtime. Here's Barry...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr

Related

Want cheaper, better, faster broadband? Do some research here

 

Things still worth buying from the USA #1: Country music

As the value of sterling against the dollar continues to topple, the attraction of visiting - or spending in - the USA is dwindling daily. But some things you simply cannot get over here are still worth hunting out. Obscure country music for one. And the Ernest Tubb shop is the place to find it.

Though the website isn't the greatest, it is a fantastic source of names that you can then paste into Google and listen and discover. There's all kinds of stuff from Dan Paisley and the Southern Grass (Warning: sound on!) to the man responsible for rescuing country music from the doldrums all those years ago: Waylon Jennings (pictured below). It's a brilliant way to waste a lunchtime - and it's all free, including the mail order catalogue, which is definitely worth getting your hands on. Get your free copy here.

 

'Be better to your neighbours and you'll have better neighbours' - Ernest Tubb

Related

Latest tourist exchange rates

More Waylon