Tag Archives: 80s

Red Red Wine Reminiscing #100DaysOfOldDays

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Day 19 #100DaysOfOldDays

This is my collection of 80’s singles. There’s 51 here, and I had lots more. I have a collection of LPs too but they haven’t made the journey from Cavan to Mayo yet.

Some are a wee bit scratched

If you’re a relatively young person reading this and you’re wondering what an LP is. It’s a long playing vinyl record. A single has a song on each side, and an LP is an album with a few songs on each side. It plays longer. On one of these; a record player. I think these days they’re called a turntable.

THIS OLE HOUSE – Shakin Stevens

When a new single was released, we went into Colemans stationery shop to order it. If it was number one in the charts, they’d usually have some in stock. Or if you knew someone who was going to Cavan town, you’d ask them to get your record in the music shop.

I’ve had a look through my collection of vinyl singles. Some great memories, and I still love every song—on the A side.  

I think the very first record I bought was TO BE OR NOT TO BE by B.A. Robertson released in May 1980. I was only twelve and just on the road to discovering pop music. Before this, all I knew was Charlie Pride and Philomena Begley. Thanks Mam.

This is my favourite record…only because it’s green.

BEING WITH YOU by Smokey Robinson

Here’s my top ten favourites from my collection. I’ve added a YouTube link in case you fancy a trip back to the 1980s disco halls.  

RED RED WINE by UB40. I didn’t know until just now that Red Red Wine was written and first recorded by Neil Diamond in 1967. UB40 covered it in 1983. And I have to say, I love Bob Marley’s version. ‘Red red wine you make me feel so fine.’

HELLO by Lionel Richie. 1983/84  All Lionel’s songs were easy to fall in love with.

I’VE NEVER BEEN TO ME by Charlene. It was originally released in 1977 but it wasn’t a hit, until in 1982 it was re-released and stayed at number one in the charts for six consecutive weeks. Class song. Listen to the lyrics!

WORDS by F.R. David. 1982. I still know all the words! Ha!

UNION CITY BLUE by Blondie. Debbie Harry was plastered all over my walls. I really wanted to be her!

Who remembers JE T’AIME…MOI NON PLUS By Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin. 1969. Yes, I was a baby but it was a still a hit in the 80’s. Can’t think why! Ahem. My mother didn’t like it and I had to play it on low volume. And if I were to play it now, it would be on low volume too, in case Little Miss Ten heard it! There’d be questions.

I LOVE ROCK ‘N ROLL by Joan Jett. 1981. This was when I learned how to play air guitar.

XANDU by Olivia Newton John. The soundtrack of the movie Xandu in 1980

I WANT TO BE FREE by Toyah (Wilcox). 1981 We weren’t at all influenced by her lyrics!

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN by Cyndi Lauper. 1983. We used go stone mad to this song at the discos in the hall!

I know I said top ten, but I have to mention JEALOUS GUY by Roxy Music. The song was written by John Lennon in 1968, and recorded on his 1971 album, Imagine. Classic!

I’ve so many more I could talk about but the night’s not long enough. Madonna, Wham, Tracy Ullman, David Essex, Culture Club, Chris De Burgh, Status Quo, Kim Wilde, The Police, Pet Shop Boys, Madness, Adam and the Ants. And more.

Those were the days of fantastic music and great songs!

Lucy’s drawing of a vinyl record.

Vinyl Record by Lucy McBreen

Swing High Sweet Children #100DaysOfOldDays

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Day 11 #100DaysOfOldDays

We all talk about the freedom we had as children of the 70’s & 80s. When I think about the places we played as children, I wonder how we came safe. I got stuck up trees, got lost in the woods, my brother fell into a slurry pit. That same brother threw another brother across his shoulder playing kung fu, he landed on his head and nearly died from blood poisoning.

All five of us fell into a river (at different times) and lived to tell the tale. None of this was unusual for the times we lived in. Children swam in the lakes, roamed fields and forests. Stayed outside until darkness fell and cycled for miles on their bikes. We hadn’t much fear I suppose, and we all looked out for each other.

My brothers and I spent a lot of time in the countryside where my father’s workplace was located. We played in the meadow and picnicked by a narrow river. When the dam (further up) was closed, the river was so shallow that we could play under the bridge; either barefoot or in wellies.

(Lucy’s big sister, Gemma age 27, is visiting and she wanted to draw a picture for us. They got very competitive!)

Gemma’s Drawing of a Bridge Across a River

There were rules and we followed them. There was a particular point in the river that we weren’t allowed to pass, and we never did, and we never got in while the dam was open.

Across the field where the dam was, there was a thicket of hazel trees. We used to cross the dam bridge, which was only a couple of meters long, to get to the hazel trees. With the dam closed, one part of the river was four or five feet deep. We would swing from a hazel branch across the river while our bums skimmed off the water. We got a great adrenaline buzz from it. As far as I remember, none of us fell in whilst swinging from those branches.

I got my dip with a simple loss of footing. It was in a very shallow part and I remember it as clear as day. My cousin was standing beside me at the time and for years I blamed him for pushing me in…although he has always strongly denied this! Mmm…

#FookFifty – I’ll Kiss Your Ass!

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Holy smoke I can’t believe it
I’m on this planet 50 years.
How time flies. Where did it go?
What’s next for me I’d like to know. Continue reading →