'Welcome Back My Friends.......'

Greetings World's !!

How has your bit of the Universe treating you this fine Saturday ?! It's about 1pm here in England's South-West corner, the daffodils are out, the Sun is bright & life is pretty good, even if I say so myself !!

I've been away from the keyboard, just for a couple of days - mainly to "regroup" my thoughts a bit. I wasn't feeling too special & I needed some me time, just to put my brain, back into my head. I get that ways, from time to time...

First tho' 'The Family' !!

As I type, My Wife & Dearest Friend - B - is upstairs, doing a bit of work, in her Craft Room. The sewing machine is out, sooooo, I'm guessing she is working away on a quilt, that she has been doing over the last few weeks.

I've told her & the M & M's have told her - it looks really great.... but, it's the first one's she has ever done, so she it has to be just right !! I'm the same with recordings - we both want our work,  in a ways, to be perfect !!

Talking of the M & M's - they, along with baby HJ were here a couple of days ago. ME is looking really well, M looks every bit, the new Dad..... and HJ is just perfect !! She really has her own character, bless her !! We'll see her again soon, I'm sure...... hope so at least ?!

I'm just afraid of giving her a bug !! I keep getting told "you'll be fine" and the such like.... but !! I don't want to give the mite anything, I really don't !! Not in these few weeks at least.....

Going back to a little while ago - I spent some time, up in my 'Man Cave' area. I've not felt well enough, to do that much in there.... even tho' there is still stuff to thro' away !! But - today, I bit the bullet & went in there, to put a few things together..... things in boxes & stuff off the floor !! I filled 3 boxes & so they will get sorted out, the next time I head towards the loft space.

I've been collecting stuff, for years, so it's time it was stuck in a box, ready for a new owner, at some point down the road !! In a way, I'm hoping the Star Trek model collection will come to an end soon. I've just enough room, for maybe 4 more models, in one of the boxes. I don't really want to start another box - only to find I only half fill it !! Time will tell on that one.... no biggy !!

What is a biggy - I found out, today that Keith Emerson had passed away, at the age of 71 (I think).... I'm not 100% sure when he died, but I did hear it was on the 10th - maybe 2 days ago, but don't quote me on that !!

So - with his many solo projects, the work he did with The Nice & Emerson, Lake & Palmer, he has left behind a massive amount of work !! Try & check it out - there is some fantastic stuff available !!

To mark his death & because B was singing "Welcome back my friends....." I'm playing the 2 Cd set, of the same title, 'Welcome Back My Friends, To The Show That Never Ends - Ladies & Gentleman Emerson, Lake & Palmer'

It was originally on a 3 Lp set and was one of those albums, that 'Prog Rock' (and others) fans had to buy !! I know I did.... along with Yes's 'Yessongs' triple album.... which came out, around the same time..... and which was unfairly (I think) compared, in one way or another to the ELP album.

Anyways... the tracks on the 2 Cd version are:

CD 1

1) Hoedown
2) Jerusalem
3) Toccata
4) Tarkus
5) Take A Pebble Pt.1

CD 2

1) Piano Improvisations
2) Take A Pebble Pt.2
3) Jeremy Bender/The Sheriff
4) Karn Evil 9

I thought I might have listed these tracks before - but, I'm not really sure. Anyhoo.... it's a good album & an album which many of today's stars use as a mark of excellence !! Groups like Dream Theater, to name but one, really owe Emerson a big "thank you" for what he did, using the keyboards of the time..... Goodbye my old friend !!

When people ask me, what this - or that - band has done recently, I usually say nothing.... mainly as their dead !! Unfortunately, that list grows bigger & bigger, each year..... !!

Staying with music....

There is a record fair, in Exeter today & once again, I've missed it...... bummer !! B did offer me the chance to go down, but I simply couldn't be bothered. If money was no object, I would of gone down, to see what was available..... but, not this week !!

I'll see what happen, in about a month, when there are a couple more.... locally..... it won't be so far to travel & I'll get to see some of the same people, so I get to win on both fronts !!

One of the big reasons, for going to the Exeter fair, was to see the guy who sells the Cd cases. Now he no longer does the fairs and I've recently bought over 100 cases from him, mail order... well, there was one less reason, to go down to Exeter !! Oh well......

I've just had a 'phone call - HJ is coming to see us, in about 20 minutes, sooooo I better shut this off & put on a clean T shirt !! This one got a bit grubby when I was in the spare room.

So, for now, I thank you for logging in & for taking the time to read my words..... it really is good to know you're out there.... until next time...

Bye Bye