That "J" Word (Pt 5)

“And like a man with a Tiger outside his gate, he not only couldn’t relax, but he couldn’t relate”

I don’t know about you? But, for me at least, music plays an incredibly important role in my life. I would go as far to say, as important to me as the oxygen my lungs rely on to stay alive. As vital as every single beat of the heart in my chest. Sending blood and renewed cells to every part of my body. There isn’t a day that passes where I haven’t listened to music in some form or another.

I think my life would be far poorer and emptier without it. There would certainly be a void.

As a kid growing up in the 70s music played an important role in our house too. I have memories of it being on quite a lot. Whether that be on the radio, or mum and dad having their “Hi-Fi” blasting whatever vinyl record took their fancy in that moment. Being the youngest sibling, and 18months younger than my older brother, of course, he was at school before me. This meant that my mum would be at home looking after me when she wasn’t at her part time job working in a shop in town. Her work didn’t end when dad got home from his job though. My mum also had another part time evening job in a pub I think. The poor lady must have been shattered!

I have wonderfully fond memories of sitting on the floor of our living room in Billericay. Just my mum and I. She would be ironing the laundry. I would have toys, books, pencils, and colouring books. And of course, to store my pencils and other paraphernalia? The staple of any 70s household. Tupperware containers! The reason for me mentioning the most mundane, yet essential items will become apparent shortly!

Whilst my mum was doing the ironing, to ease the boredom, she would have music playing on the Hi-Fi. One album my mum and dad really liked was “Hot August Night” which is a Neil Diamond Live in concert recording from the summer of 1972. It was recorded at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s a family favourite, and whenever I hear a track from it. I am immediately 5 years old again at home with my mum!

Earlier I mentioned Tupperware, that 70s favourite storage solution! Well, there was a reason for this! The first two tracks of “Hot August Night” are particularly wonderful. To be honest, the whole album is superb. However, Track 1. The Prologue. It is a track which builds beautifully with strings, into track 2. Crunchy Granola Suite. The name of song 2 alone is just an excuse to let your imagination run away with you. Yet, the drumming in this song, and in fact throughout a lot of the album is key for me. And I think, must have ignited then, although I didn’t know it at the time, my now love of drumming and one of the reasons why I still play drums to this day. I mentioned I would sit with my pencils, colouring books etcetera. The Tupperware became my drum kit. My living room became “The Greek Theatre” in Los Angeles. My colouring pencils my drum sticks. I was on stage with Neil Diamond! Bashing away on those Tupperware tubs as if my life depended on it. As if I was playing on the finest drum kit money could buy! I was the timing keystone holding Neil’s band together! My mum would be ironing away, dancing side to side, singing her heart out. These were special times for me. Just me and my mum. I don’t think I realised just how very special they were at the time.

Such wonderful memories. There is one particular line in “Crunchy Granola Suite” that whenever I hear it. Without fail, I can guarantee you, in my mind, I am a child again. And I have the same thought process now as a 52 year old man, as I did then as a very young boy. “How terrifying!”

The line in question?

“And like a man with a Tiger outside his gate, he not only couldn’t relax, but he couldn’t relate”

I remember, even as a young child attempting to try and come up with a scenario where one might find a tiger outside their front gate! Probably, and I am only surmising now, my 5 year old tiny mind came up with the solution that the man in question must live next to a zoo! It’s odd what you do and don’t remember isn’t it!?

If only my mind could have recalled vital information more clearly for exams when I was at school, I would have fared a lot better than I did! Ho hum!

There is a beautiful and of course, the original version of “Red Red Wine” on this album. It’s hard for me not to feel incredibly melancholy whenever I hear this particular version. Music for me as I am sure for you too, can transport us away. To the place where we first heard it, or of the person we heard it with, the person we kissed when the particular piece of music was on. Reminds us of our first “love” Our first “heartbreak” and a million and one other emotions and scenarios in between. Truly a “gift” from God.

Mum and Dad had friends at the bottom of the cul-de-sac. Chris and Pete. Pete was a big “Bear” of a man. He was a gentle giant to me. He had jet black hair, long and scraggly, with a big beard. He reminded me of Grizzly Adams! Pete and Chris loved their music too. Especially Pete. Argent was a band he liked, and I think because of Pete, my dad got into Argent too. And in turn, I like Argent too. Again, whenever I hear an Argent song, it is like “Dr Who” has transported me away in his TARDIS back to the 70s. We have somewhere in an old photo album, no doubt in my dads attic, a photo of Pete, laid back in an arm chair, with his eyes closed. Hands folded on his chest, and headphones on. I like to think when I looked at that photograph at various points in the past; he was listening to Argent. We lost touch with Pete and Chris long ago now. We did keep in touch for many many years, but after they divorced in the 90’s I think, and we all moved away, unfortunately we lost contact. Or stopped trying. Such a shame. They had two daughters, Sarah and Racheal, who were very similar ages to myself and my brother. We got on really well. Again. Such happy memories.

So Billericay for me, was my first home. My safe place. My happy place. My formative years. Full of love. Full of music.

And this would continue.

Thanks as ever for reading.

Peace, love and blessings.

Dom G xx