By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 05:34 am:

The Queen's "Birthday Honours list" has just been announced, and for
once there are some of interest. As far as the popular press is
concerned, the big news is an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for
David Beckham, which appears to have been awarded because he's a
famous footballer who married a pop star. Roger Moore is now a
knight - Sir Roger - for a career dedicated to the art of raising one
eyebrow dramatically. I won't even comment on TV chef Jamie Oliver,
who irritates the hell out of me...

But, of more interest is a CBE - Commander of the British Empire -
for Gordon Sumner, better known as Sting. He's come a long way from
the days when I used to know him in London, when the Police were just
starting out. I remember meeting him in 1977 or '78 down at the
record label I was involved with - Step Forward, which was co-owned
by Miles Copeland, Stuart's brother. I arrived just as my friend Nick
Jones was about to leave for lunch with the group - MacDonald's,
would you believe...? Sting said they'd like to go with us, but they
were broke, so I offered to pay for lunch. I bet Sting doesn't
remember the day I bought him a Big Mac and fries!

I recall another visit in 1978 to Nick, whose cramped office was
always piled high with boxes of albums and 45s. Step Forward had no
warehouse, so the records were stored in the label's offices. While I
waited for Nick to finish his phone call, I glanced at the mess on
his desk, and spotted an interesting picture sleeve. It was a solo
E.P. from Jools Holland (still with the group Squeeze at the time),
and titled "Boogie Woogie 78". "Wow" I said aloud, to myself - "I bet
this is good!" At that moment, a face appeared from behind one of the
stacks of record boxes with, "oh - do you like boogie-woogie?" I
replied that I did, and was interested to hear the version of Joe
Turner's "Boogie Woogie Country Girl". It was at that moment that I
realised I was talking to Jools himself - he'd come in to see if the
pressings of the E.P. had arrived! He was delighted to hear that I'd
heard of him, and knew he was a member of Squeeze. At that time, he
was very quiet and shy, believe it or not, and he gave me a
complimentary copy of the record - which I still have. Today he is
Jools Holland, OBE. Nice one, mate.

Also in the honours list is an MBE for Errol Brown (Hot Chocolate). I
can honestly say, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. I met him while
working with Pete Waterman, and he was a real gentleman with an
almost apologetic regard to his fame and success.

And finally, an MBE also for Gerry Marsden - presumably for still
being alive. Well, they're run out of Beatles, so I suppose it's the
second string of Mersey heroes to be honoured now. (I bet Pete Best
is sick!)

PS - what "Empire"?

- R -

Full details on the BBC news website at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2988090.stm

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 06:07 am:

Ritchie;
Jools Holland wanted Jimmy to do a track on his new jazz compilation CD, so during our Tour of Europe last March he flew us to the UK, put us up in a hotel (which has quite a history, ghosts & all) in his home neighborhood, the Greenwich section of London, put his chaueffer & Bentley at our disposal(the driver was beautiful, he showed us different areas in London & pointed out where Madonna lived since she's a buddy of Jimmy's), we went to Jool's studio for the session, a cool & funky place, it went smoothly, easy & quickly, Jools was a nice person, I took some photos of him with Jimmy, and his people took some of the three of us, we had a great time for the two days we were there. By the way Jools had a poster size photo of himself with Stevie Wonder taken awhile back hanging on his studio wall. It was the only photograph in there, I thought that was pretty cool. Jools is living large yet remains down to earth. That was my impression of him. Jimmy recorded "I'll Be Seeing You" for Jool's CD. Other jazz artists also participated. Thats my Jools story.
S.S.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 06:40 am:

P.S.- Ritchie, Jools is still pretty quiet & shy.
S.S.

By MEL&THENSOME (217.14.178.84) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 07:42 am:

Ritchie,
I Hope you saw The Trooping of the Colour Sah.
My old regiment are still in Iraq (1IG)
So the troop wasnt up to scratch this year.

Great music though,
had me back up and marching around my room with my dog properly dressed off behind me.

The things I could tell you about the troop.

But,
I am now a god damn civilian Sah.

Mel/dco,dsm,ksvr,vc and bar.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 12:24 pm:

Mel; What breed of dog do you have? S.S.

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.193.58) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 12:33 pm:

A soulful hound of course Soulsister,
when I take her out we are known as
Mad Mel and the pups.
my mate has 5 great danes and named the first after Big Maybelles "candy"
Another mate named his spaniel after Otis.

As well as others
were all totally mad over here Soulsister,
a mate of mine even named his son after Lee David after being blown away at an all-nighter by a record by him.

must go as grrrruffin is howling.
(stu can relate to that)
mel/barking mad.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 12:46 pm:

Mel; I can dig it! Sammy Ambrose and his then girlfriend Marcia had a white toy poodle named "Smokey"for Smokey Robinson, and a German Shepherd pup named "Flame"for James Brown's "Famous Flames", I had input into that name(smile), if your listening Bobby Byrd!! JMS/S.S.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 12:59 pm:

Mel; Actually that poodle was a grey smokey color now that I think about it, it was James Brown's toy poodle that was white. S.S.

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.91) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 01:20 pm:

Soulsister
as you like pooches have you heard
the track by
Priscilla Page
called
"throw the poor dog a bone"
its the flip to
"Im pretending"
on Topper Records(no.1010)

Always remember a good lady friend of mine playing it to me
it starts with a dog barking and through the record but regards the corny lyrics it has one stunning backing to it.

Check it out Soulsister youll love it.

mel/top breeders recommend me.

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Saturday, June 14, 2003 - 01:59 pm:

Mel; I do think I've heard it in the past. Will have to check it out again. Thanks, S.S.

By Ian W (194.75.128.2) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 07:59 am:

Mel, great record! You didn't mention Barbara Dane!

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.49.71) on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 - 08:11 am:

Nice one Ian
we could go all canine on here but better not as I usually go wayyyyyyy over the top.
you know
with references to the spaniels,
The Dogs although it would take a lot of Treasure to get a copy(ooh).
What about Bobby Baskerville,
he's not one of the notorious hounds of....... is he.
see what I mean Ian,
Gotta go I
think I can hear the Labradors!
MEL/TOTALLY BARKING.