Retro Music 66

June 1, 2023 ~ beetleypete ~ 26 Comments

Anyone who has known me all my life will tell you that I am not a great fan of Elton John. I don’t like to watch him perform, as he always seems rather creepy to me.

However, there was a time when I liked him quite a lot, a time before he was as hugely popular as he is now. Prior to his second album release in 1970, it was going to be distributed by the record company my dad was working for at the time. He brought home a sample copy of the single that was taken from the album, and I listened to it carefully. After a few days my dad asked me what I thought of this ‘new singer’, and I told him he was going to be huge.

The single released from the album was this one. It wasn’t a huge worldwide hit, far from it. But definitely a taste of things to come.
(And it is not an Aretha Franklin song, she recorded a cover version.)

Holy Moses I have been removed
I have seen the spectre he has been here too
Distant cousin from down the line
Brand of people who ain’t my kind
Holy Moses I have been removed

Holy Moses I have been deceived
Now the wind has changed direction and I’ll have to leave
Won’t you please excuse my frankness but it’s not my cup of tea
Holy Moses I have been deceived

I’m going back to the border
Where my affairs, my affairs ain’t abused
I can’t take any more bad water
Been poisoned from my head down to my shoes

Holy Moses I have been deceived
Holy Moses let us live in peace
Let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease
There’s a man over there
What’s his colour I don’t care
He’s my brother let us live in peace
He’s my brother let us live in peace
He’s my brother let us live in peace

Written by: Bernie Taupin, Elton John
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

Four years later, he released a single that I really liked. In 53 years, these are the only two records of his I ever owned.

‘A History of the World According to Getty Images’

April 21, 2023 ~ beetleypete ~ 28 Comments

My thanks to fellow blogger Carolyn for bringing my attention to this 19-minute video about the control and use of images. It contains a lot of familiar film footage throughout history, and some eye-opening information about who owns the rights to it, and how much they charge to access it.

Carolyn is originally from England, and now resides in New York State. A large number of cats allow her to share their house, and her blog is packed full of photographs, as well as tales of her everyday life. https://catsincambridge.net/

This is the link to the film. I suggest muting the strange musical soundtrack when you watch it.

‘A History of the World According to Getty Images’ Challenges the Power Structures Inherent in the Capture and Control of Footage

Historical Photos On Video

April 20, 2023 ~ beetleypete ~ 33 Comments

This short video (just over five minutes long) contains a real mixture of historical photos, the earliest ones taken in the 1890s. It covers a variety of subjects, from the Depression Era, to WW2 and later. I have not seen any of them previously.

Historical Figures Brought To Life

April 13, 2023 ~ beetleypete ~ 28 Comments

I found this on You Tube, and thought it was impressively done.

Using ancient statues, famous paintings, and photographs, the film makers applied AI to give accurate colour representations and movements to the historical figures shown in this 9-minute film. Heads move, eyes open and close, and there are some facial expressions too.

One of the better uses of AI technology, in my opinion.

A Dog And A Piglet: Made Me Happy

March 6, 2023 ~ beetleypete ~ 30 Comments

My thanks to Jill for featuring this video on her blog. https://jilldennison.com/

The Exit Plan

March 2, 2023 ~ beetleypete ~ 44 Comments

My friend Antony sent me this professionally made short (14 minutes) film. It makes a serious point about our future, and the increasingly ageing population. A good cast makes it worth your while watching.

American Photographs From The 1800s On Video

February 28, 2023 ~ beetleypete ~ 22 Comments

A collection that dates from the early 1840s, to the turn of the century. The video runs for 6 minutes and has interesting black and white photos from the period covering aspects of everyday life, as well as featuring some historical figures. (Only one photo has been colourised)

American Life In Photos: 1930s-1940s

February 27, 2023 ~ beetleypete ~ 33 Comments

Another selection of carefully colourised photos from those two decades. The video runs for 8 minutes and includes 40 photos.

The Great Depression. Colourised Photos

February 25, 2023 ~ beetleypete ~ 38 Comments

Most of us are familiar with the many haunting photos taken during the Great Depression in America. We might also have read ‘The Grapes of Wrath’, or seen the film adaptation. I found this 7-minute video on You Tube that uses colourisation techniques to revisit many photos of the period, making the people in them seem familiar.

More Rare Photos From History

February 18, 2023 ~ beetleypete ~ 22 Comments

I hadn’t previously seen the majority of the photos in this 11-minute video. Many are colourised for effect, and that works well. As well as the subtitles, there is some commentary explaining them.

Despite the rather sensationalist title of the video, none of the images are particularly distressing or upsetting. (In my opinion.)