

Feb 5, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: TAKES YOU BACK
Who remembers Keith West? He was the good looking lead singer with Tomorrow, a 60s psychedelic band which also mustered Yes guitar...

Jan 29, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: WELL-A WELL-A WELL-A HUH
Tell me more, tell me more. Did you work out the song? The novelty single has never really gone away. Years ago, it was propagated mostly...


Jan 22, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: MATHS OR MYSTICS?
I wonder; do you wait for a bus in lockdown and they still arrive in twos or threes? I expect not as there are reduced services and with...


Jan 15, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: FISH ‘N’ TIPS
This strange looking tips jar reminds me of a goldfish bowl, a receptacle singularly unfit for purpose when it comes to providing an...


Jan 8, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: RESOLUTIONS, RESOLUTIONS
A new year traditionally brings opportunities to start afresh; to make resolutions but then generally fail to see them through. A straw...


Jan 1, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: 2020 IN ALBUMS
Rather inconveniently, today is the first day of a new year rather than the last day of the old one. It might have been neater to do some...


Dec 25, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: DUSTING OFF 10 ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS SONGS
Christmas being Christmas, you can be forgiven for making the odd list. Cards, presents, food & drink, films to catch on TV, memorable...


Dec 18, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: NOT THE BEST OF
This month I have been mostly reading ‘Best of’ lists. I find myself drawn to them, however I try to turn the printed page quickly or...

Dec 11, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD
So, it is just 14 days to Christmas Day. Today I find myself pushed for time and in search, if not of the lost chord, then of a theme (2...


Dec 4, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS?
Trundling around Sainsbury’s this morning I was once more struck that all the great Christmas songs are the old ones. That’s not the same...


Nov 27, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: IS THIS THE REAL LIFE
One of the pleasures of writing this column is that scarcely a week goes by when I am not entranced by an artiste or two entirely new to...


Nov 20, 2020
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: A CHRISTMAS COMMERCIAL
It’s that time of year again. The Christmas TV ad is back in abundance offering nice warm feelings in exchange for shifting stock....