When we were young (er....)

Hi..... again....

I've been sat here today... as with most days, watching the World go by, thru' the window & listening to music. It's what I do best & - as the lady from the 'clinic' said (I think) - it gives me a routine & helps me get thru' some of the bad times....

I was really over the moon, earlier, when the 2012 box set reached me..... but, a short while after I finished the post... well, I was knocked back... not in any physical way... more in a "Wow" sort of way.

I was happily putting things onto the computer, ready for the Mini Egg - when one Cd in particular reached out of the Bose & hit me upside the headphones.

It's a 1975 recording of Lynyrd Skynyrd, which was recorded at a concert, in Cardiff, on November 4th 1975. I think that's the right date - tho' it might have been the 5th !! Anyhoo......

......... To get concert tickets, living in this part of the World, was pretty hard. This was way before the Internet came along & you had to either go to the venue, to pay cash - or send off a cheque.... which hopefully would not get lost in the post + reach the place in time, to actually get a ticket !! In this case, I was lucky...

A guy I was friends with, at the time, wanted to go - as we had seen them on their previous tour, when they supported Golden Earring & we were really over the moon, to get two great seats, really with-in a few feet of the stage. The biggest headache, was actually getting to Cardiff !!.

But - this wasn't such a hassle.... I had traded my (really) old banger in, for a 2 year old Ford... so, it was reliable & everything went well. We left here in plenty of time, headed  up to the M4 & then over the bridge to Wales....... I think it was about a 250 mile round trip. No biggy - we were young & didn't really care how we got home, as long as the car got us there !!

I think - looking back - I was really surprised the place (around the theatre) wasn't pack out.... there were probably 50 or so people, just hanging around outside - waiting for the doors to open. I remember, we just hung back a ways... we had our tickets, so there was no real need to push thru' everybody....

From the previous tour, there had been a couple of changes, to the Skynyrd line up. One of the guitarist & the drummer had left.... a new guy was in to fill the empty seat, but the band were - for a while - down to just 2 guitarist.

So, there we were... just waiting.... then this guy came out thru' the doors & looked a bit out of place. As he came up to the 2 of us, he asked if we knew where the castle was ? Cardiff is a brilliant place - but, on a cold November night, I had no idea at all - so, I just sort of pointed in a vague direction & off the guy went.

The doors eventually opened & after a  great support band - who' name I just can't remember - the "main event" hit the stage..... with the guy, back from his trip to the castle, on the drums !! Yep - we had met the fantastic Mr Artimus Pyle .... tho' we hadn't realised it, when we sent him off into the night !!

Whether he saw us - or remembered us, I will never know..... but, he did pass a drumstick to my friend... so, maybe he did ?! I seem to remember, my friend gave the stick to another guy - mainly as he didn't want it - which looking back, seems a little weird... oh well..

The reason for the little story above, is mainly because, I was playing a Cd of the show.... and it really brought the memories back !! The concert was recorded for a radio broadcast - and, as is my want - I picked up a great copy of it, from a friend. As always - don't buy bootlegs.... if you have a friend, maybe they will let you have something you want.... if you ask nicely !!

The tracks are:

1) Double Trouble
2) I Ain't The One
3) The Needle & The Spoon
4) Saturday Night Special
5) Gimme Three Steps
6) Same Old Blues
7) Simple Man
8) Whiskey Rock & Roller
9) They Call Me The Breeze
10) Gimme A T For Texas
11) Sweet Home Alabama
12) Free Bird

It's a fantastic recording of a really good night out !! I can't really remember what time we actually got home - but, it was really early in the morning..... which was a bummer, as I had to go to work the same day !! But - we were young & it was just a part of growing up !!

The family are still out & about... well, the ladies are. J & I are still here... playing music & having a bit of fun.... The music of the moment is Nine Inch Nails's 'Ghosts I-V'....  it's been a bit different, but.... I guess that's all part of not being as young anymore... until next time....

Bye Bye