Tuesday 24 April 2012

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Johnny Nash - 'I Can See Clearly Now'

MIDWEEK CRISIS you can't see the wood for the trees, then come to WEDNESDAY CLUB we've got Johnny Nash and he will show you how to see clearly again!

JOHNNY NASH - I can see clearly now (1972)

It was 1972 I was living with my Girlfriend, now wife, in a bedsit on the Hill in Richmond, Surrey. I had  bought a set of ear phones (my very first) the day before and was on the way home to try them, I could not wait.

When I got to my place, I saw my downstairs window open. Worse still was the main door and also my bedsit door were open. We had been robbed! It was one of the worse disasters I had faced in my young life.  ALL MY RECORD COLLECTION was gone, my NEW EAR PHONES were gone, still in their unopened box. I was inconsolable. I could not speak, I could not eat, I could not even listen to music. They could have taken a kidney, they could have taken my gold (if I had any) but not my record collection, that's not fair. These guys knew how to hurt. I will say something however, in their defence. They had taste, as they left all my girlfriend's records behind.

It was about two weeks later and I was on the way to work and I dared to switch on my radio. It was as if a light had descended upon me, maybe this is what it is like when you go to heaven, I don't know? I just fell in love with this perfect piece of pop music, 'I Can See Clearly Now' by Johnny Nash. I made a quick detour to the nearest record shop and bought his current album of the same name, a superb album. I was back, I was again ready, ready for more music.

'I Can See Clearly Now' is what I would consider to be a perfect pop single, there are many around, can you name your perfect pop records?  Here are a few to get you started : 'Get it on' by T. Rex. 'Dancing Queen' by Abba, 'The Sun ain't Gonna Shine Anymore' by The Walker Brothers, 'I'm a Believer' by the Monkeys. 'Good Vibrations' by the Beach Boys. The list is endless!
There are more questions than amswers

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WEDNESDAY CLUB - Johnny Nash - 'I Can See Clearly Now'
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Anonymous
25 April 2012 at 07:21

Your entire record collection! That is just tragic. Johnny Nash to the rescue! You're right - that is a perfect slice of pop. I, for one, would be very happy if they are piping that out at the Pearly Gates. As for other pieces of pop perfection, I'd like to add 'Young Hearts Run Free' by Candi Staton, 'Sweet Talkin' Guy' by The Chiffons, 'Stoney End' by Laura Nyro, 'Dear Elaine' by Roy Wood and 'Grocer Jack (Excerpt From a Teenage Opera)' by Keith West.

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sfw
25 April 2012 at 22:11

Gutted for you Old Pa! Thieving b'stardo's - albeit with taste

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26 April 2012 at 00:23

Everyone's worst nightmare - the stolen record collection, I honestly don't know if i'd be able to cope - nice quip about them leaving your girlfriend's records behind though!

All great perfect pop selections from yourself & Singing Bear (Sweet Talkin' Guy was my first single!) - this is an item that could run & run. Off the top of my head, how about 'Nothing Rhymed' by Gilbert O'Sullivan, 'Days' by The Kinks, 'What Do I Get?' by Buzzcocks, 'Son of a Preacher Man' by Dusty Springfield, 'The Soul City Walk' by Archie Bell & the Drells, 'It Doesn't Bother Me' by The Distractions, 'Oh Pretty Woman' by Roy Orbison.....so many wonderful tunes, so little time.

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Anonymous
26 April 2012 at 07:27

Superb list from The Swede but extra special points for including Gilbert's 'Nothing Rhymed'...much underrated talent.

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26 April 2012 at 08:47

The Swede....great selection there.....as you say the list is endless

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26 April 2012 at 10:39

Great song, great story...'in their defence'....live it! It's all hard drives, at least for me and if I lost all my music I think I'd have to throw in the towel. Perfect pop songs, there are a few, 'Groove is in the Heart' comes to mind. But I remember back in the day when Hip Hop was crossingover, it was sacrilege to admit you liked them but behind closed doors you can't get much better than. Rob Base 'It Take Two', King Bee 'Back by Dope Demand', Tone Loc 'Wild Thing' and Redhead Kingpin 'Do the Right Thang'.

Thanks for the contributions The Swede and SB, I'll go and make a Spotify playlist.

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26 April 2012 at 11:59

Brilliant story! I didn't know she had a record collection! a perfect pop song for me would probably be 'Don't You Want Me' by The Human League or 'Love Shack' by B-52s but I'd have to agree with Old Pa, anything by The Beach Boys!

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Anonymous
26 April 2012 at 13:23

Can I just add 'Union City Blue' by Blondie? Haven't been able to get the tune out of my head as I consider 'perfect' pop today.

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26 April 2012 at 14:20

SB of course Blondie a few there too...not mentioning Tamla Motown How many clssics Pop tunes are there?

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