Archives for April 2011

OK it's a fair cop guv. I'm in breach of the peace and I can't even blame my parents.

I've been locked in my studio all week making a din and when I step out for a break I realise it's beautiful weather all round. From my room of racket and distortion I walk into a garden of busy birds chirping and the gentle hum of bees. I find myself asking, 'Why am I missing out on all this?'

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Euan McIlwraith crosses the Forth from South Queensferry to North Queensferry.

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BBC Scotland Journalist Bill Whiteford ponders over previous run ins with royalty ahead of The Royal Wedding and presenting the BBC Radio Scotland's coverage of the big day.

The two 100 metre square brick murals featuring the faces of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Erected April 28, 2011 in Sydney.

Sometimes there's no sense asking "why me?" Why should I be picked to join Kaye Adams for BBC Radio Scotland's coverage of The Royal Wedding? The answer, like as not, would be "why not you?"

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Presenter Sally Magnusson tells us how she came up with the idea to write a book and make a programme about pee.

Sally Magnusson

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Easter is upon us already and I feel I've barely recovered from Christmas! If you're in any doubt spring has arrived with a flurry, just look outside and you can't fail to be impressed with the new growth sprouting from every corner.

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When my producer Richard Murdoch and I agreed to meet Mavis Staples for a quick chat about her Celtic Connections visit a few months ago we expected to be back out of her hotel after 15 minutes. As it happened, we were there nearly an hour. When we left the room we both looked at each other and blinked. We knew we'd just experienced an amazing interview - I have to admit to being slightly paranoid that all the material was on tape. What we didn't know was what to do with it.

Essentially we had to talk to her about the previous evening's performance and the new record. However I was very aware of her story and felt inclined to mention some of the people she has encountered in her remarkable life. What then took place was an amazing story which touched upon her relationship with The Civil Rights movement through to Obama in the White House.

She talked of people she knew - Martin Luther King, Bob Dylan, the staff at Stax Records (where she signed in 1969). She spoke about her relationship with Cissy Houston (Mother of Whitney), Prince, Ry Cooder and Elvis Presley. Finally we heard about the woman who influenced her above all, Sister Mahalia Jackson.

We knew we could certainly turn this into an "Another Country" special. However that would be to sell the story short. Yes, Mavis Staples is an important part of the story of roots music and would certainly be an important artist to cover. (She's just won a Grammy for Best Americana Album). We felt strongly that her story around these songs should not, in our opinion, be limited to people listening to a specialist music show. This is living history which deserves to be shared and enjoyed.

So thanks to some creative thinking by the programmers here at BBC Radio Scotland we are bringing the story of The Amazing Mavis Staples to you on Easter Monday at 4pm. At the time of recording I wrote this about that hour I spent with Mavis:

' I felt as if I were at the feet of someone who had been a key witness at the most important movement of social change in the USA over the last 50 years.'

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BBC Scotland, Pacific Quay, Glasgow

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Some people don't like Gospel music. I remember a particularly oafish bloke who wrote for Melody Maker deriding the very concept when U2 had the temerity to include a Gospel Choir on their song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Weirdly enough, it's in that title that the magic of Gospel is encapsulated.

It's not the certainty; it's the doubt. It's not just the Praise, (as Tom Jones admirably pointed out) it's the blame. I had the mixed blessing of interviewing Betty Lavette in January. I'd mentioned to her that Mr Jones was in town and off mic she was withering in her contempt of older artists trying to resurrect (if you'll pardon the pun) their career by tipping their hat to their maker. Thirty years ago I might have felt the same thing but the experience of getting older has changed that.

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As part of Radio Scotland's Take on the Day, we caught up with John Beattie after the show for a chat.

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John Beattie, Glasgow, April 2011

John presents John Beattie, weekdays from 1200.

Next week on Easter Monday, Ricky Ross presents The Amazing Mavis Staples. Mavis describes her career as a gospel and soul singer, a civil rights activist and her friendships with Bob Dylan, Prince and Martin Luther King.

Listen to this sneak preview now, ahead of next week's programme.

We're getting to that stage where it's impossible to open a newspaper or watch a news bulletin without seeing a story about the election campaign or the Royal Wedding. In the studio with me this week were Robert Dawson Scott, David Torrance, and Severin Carrell. Despite the fact that they're losing the will to live with the saturation coverage, all the guys were able to bring fresh perspectives to the twists and turns of the political debate and even managed to find some amusement in the over the top wedding coverage. A top tip if you're trying to get publicity for anything at the moment: contrive to mention Kate and Wills in your Press Release and you're guaranteed.

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I spent Thursday evening chairing an election hustings meeting at the invitation of the Scottish Association for Mental Health in Edinburgh and learned a lesson. It is that I don't know nearly as much as I like to think.

For an hour and a half there were questions and answers about NHS policy, treatments and budgets that went clean over my head. I had virtually no idea what the candidates and questioners were talking about, immersed as they all are in the minutiae of mental health.

I was impressed by the depth of knowledge and commitment of the candidates, Mary Scanlon, Shona Robison, Jackie Baillie, Ross Finnie and the Greens' Alison Johnstone. Some of them have been involved in this area for years. So I was dismayed at my own ignorance. It shows how a journalist is merely a jack of all trades, a skim merchant with a cursory knowledge of everything and command of nothing...which probably confirms your worst fears. But, for what it's worth, it contradicted the common view of politicians as charlatans pursuing personal agendas. I doubt if anyone left that meeting still believing that.

This week we take on the election with our panel, bolstered for one show only by the redoubtable Bill Jamieson of the Scotsman who joins us from his baronial home on the shores of Loch Earn. (I exaggerated that last bit). There is much to cover including the SNP manifesto but despite the plethora of proposals from all parties, we still seem to be lacking the shining star in the sky, the movement on the far horizon that signals a truly big idea.

Are you a committed nuclear nut? Are you signed up to a nuclear future and unmoved by Japanese meltdowns? We hear from Paul Dorfman from Warwick University who gives a chilling assessment of conditions at Fukushima and follows up with a description of Germany's withdrawal from nuclear power and its rapid and prolific development of renewable energy. It could be the Germans are showing that the often derided rush to renewables really can work. Here we are told of the generating power and reliability of reactors...but that doesn't impress the good doctor. We have some humanitarian logistics. I know, I know...it scared me too but it turns out to be a sensible plan for preparing for natural disasters which are occurring more frequently as time goes on...we don't know why but I'm sure Hollywood will tell us soon.

Still the best and most detailed account is John Prebble's Culloden and the victors' triumphant viciousness burns through it. If Cumberland thought the Highlanders savages, he went on to make a case that he and his forces were the true barbarians. I speak to historian Maggie Craig.

Angus Macleod will review the papers and it all kicks off at 8am. I hope I make a better job of the programme than I did the hustings. You be the judge.

Friday's discussion of biggest breakfasts included Al, just arrived back from Glasgow from Manil, three breakfasts and a lunch on the way. And still hungry. But dare anyone try this?

Hi Tom,

I often enjoy cooking this concoction after a long night of various beverages. We call it Stooge and it feeds a small army. Begins with multiple tins of stewed tomatoes (usually 4), chopped onions, bacon all thrown into a large pot and simmered for about an hour. Then we place slices of cheese on top of the simmering brew and begin to crack eggs onto the slices. Once the eggs have poached, scoop and enjoy (if you can get beyond the look of it).

Enjoying the show

Reiner in Canada

Cathy Macdonald and Kathy Galloway

Forgiveness, which is one of the subjects under discussion in this weeks Sunday Morning with Cathy Macdonald, is a really complex issue, but to my mind, it's also a much under-rated virtue, and the greatest gift we can bestow on our fellow man. The capacity to forgive is there within all of us, but why do we struggle with it so much? I can't say that I have a particular problem with it - "Ah, but", I hear you cry, "that's because you haven't been tested". That's essentially what it's about, isn't it?

But are there some things that are just impossible to forgive, too much to pardon and lay aside? On an individual level being unable to forgive can cause heartache and pain and blight our lives - rendering us helpless in the face of closure - as my guest in the first hour of the show - Head of Christian Aid, Kathy Galloway so succinctly put it.."an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, only renders us blind and toothless".

But of course in a wider context, forgiveness can seem the least likely of outcomes - even if therein might lie the solution, particularly in areas of conflict. Canon Andrew Whyte, or the Vicar of Baghdad as he's known, and who probably has the most dangerous job of any clergyman in the world also shares his view on the subject.

How do you reconcile a great wrong simply by forgiving the perpetrator? For some it's a mountain too high to climb - and what is the relationship between forgiveness and apology? Can one exist without the other - I told you it was complex, but another two of my guests also get to grips with this in interesting fashion.

All thought provoking stuff as Christians prepare for Holy Week. Don't forget to send me your stories and the songs that have special meaning in your life - let me know what they remind you of - and why they're important. Email - sundaymorningwith@bbc.co.uk

Take a rare look at our Strip the Willow footage filmed at the Take the Floor outside broadcast on the 21 March 2011 from the Salutation Hotel, Perth.

Read on to find out about dances and folk events happening in your area with our weekly events guide.

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It must have been around 1990 or 1991. It was the SECC in Glasgow and visiting the city was Bob Dylan. It was the only time (until now) I have ever bothered to go and see him play. To be honest, even then I was a little half-hearted. As I remember it wasn't much of a gig. Realising halfway through a song that you are listening to Rainy Day Woman wasn't my idea of a great night out at that time. Years later I chatted it over with my companion that evening, the venerable Swan, who knows a good deal more about Bob and gigs than I will ever do. He mentioned that, contrary to my opinion, he'd rather enjoyed himself.

Reflecting on it now I often wonder whether I and many others have taken the wrong approach with listening to Dylan live. In our heads are these great recordings and all we want to do is hear them again with some years and a little gusto. In Bob's head - well who knows - but from what I've read it seems as if he remembers nothing of the recording and much about the song. As someone from the folk tradition that is wholly correct and wholly believable. So rather than a willful maverick tearing apart his back-catalogue we perhaps now see a balladeer remembering and passing on the song. What more can you ask?

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As part of Radio Scotland's Take on the Day, we caught up with Fred MacAulay after the show for a chat.

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Fred MacAulay, Scotstoun, April 2011

Fred MacAulay presents MacAulay And Co, weekdays from 1030.

The garden is going spring crazy. Everywhere I look new shoots are sprouting up, bringing promise of colour and scent a plenty. Like most people, I've been waiting so long for spring this year - after ten months of winter and two months of bad weather - now that it's here it's taken me quite by surprise. My resolution to get all my seeds planted in plenty of time this year was in danger of falling by the way side (along with most of my other resolutions!), so I made sure this week that task was top of my agenda. Jim McColl has a rather endearing nick-name for me, 'Mrs McGawnty', devised because (according to Jim) I'm always 'gonna do this and gonna do that, but never quite get round to it!'. A bit of an unfair moniker me thinks, the only scant evidence being that I still have last year's tulip bulbs as yet unplanted, rotting in the shed.

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MacAulay And Co regular, Graeme Virtue has sent us this article.

Dead and Loving It

This week on the MacAulay And Co TV guide, we'll be talking about The Walking Dead, the wildly popular American series about zombies. All those shambling extras might look a little ragged but the show itself has a very healthy pedigree. Channel 5 acquired it from AMC, the boutique US cable channel responsible for Mad Men. It's been overseen by Frank Darabont, the Hollywood heavyweight behind The Shawshank Redemption.

It also stars Andrew Lincoln - as a far more hard-boiled version of Egg from This Life - in the pivotal role of Rick Grimes, a county sheriff determined to track down his missing wife and son in the aftermath of a gruesome apocalypse.

The zombies in The Walking Dead are repellent and terrifying. They will tear your arm off and eat your brains if you so much as look at them the wrong way. They have bad skin and notably poor impulse control.

Graeme Virtue taking part in last year's Glasgow Zombie Walk

But people love zombies. I know this because last Halloween I took part in the second annual Glasgow Zombie Walk. It was a surprisingly celebratory event: a thousand decomposing bodies dragged themselves through Kelvingrove Park, the majority of them groaning like your grandad watching Jimmy White fluff a 147 break. Everyone looked like death ... and they were loving it.

During this walk, the massed hordes of undead constantly demanded "braaaaaaains!" - but always in a cheerful tone. I was one of the least convincing participants, sporting only a Cher-style wig, a Black Sabbath T-shirt and some white facepaint. By contrast, the majority of zombies I bumped into that day could easily have shuffled their way onto a Hollywood film set. They had dedicated a lot of time to creating horrific wounds and trailing viscera. I admired their guts. Often because they were spilling out of their bellies ...

With so much public affection for zombies, it looks like the flaking undead might eventually usurp vampires in the cultural consciousness. Recently, bloodsucking TV shows have been in the ascendant, thanks to the popularity of True Blood on Channel 4, Being Human on BBC Three and The Vampire Diaries on ITV2. Remarkably, none of these vampire-themed shows actually suck, but if there are viewers who believe fangs aren't what they used to be, zombies could presumably fill the supernatural gap.

The first season of The Walking Dead may only run for six episodes, but a second series has already been commissioned. It seems certain that, in this case, the undead have legs. So was the first episode of The Walking Dead any good? Are zombies going to be the next big thing in genre TV? And can Egg from This Life do a decent Southern accent? We'll be debating all this and more on MacAulay And Co this Wednesday morning ...

It's amazing the difference a bit of sunshine makes. With the temperature in the twenties this weekend, everyone seemed to have a smile on their face. The holiday clothes had been dragged out and that distinctive Scottish tan (pink and white stripes) had made a re-appearance. Glorious. After a long hard winter it was a welcome treat.

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Where were you when you first heard certain albums?

On Friday I'm going to tell you where I was when I first heard Bob Dylan's 'Good As I Been To You.'

I say this myself, but it's quite a good story.

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I've always been fascinated by other minority cultures - their practices and their traditions, and this week on Sunday Morning With me, Cathy Macdonald, I was doubly delighted to welcome, possibly the greatest exponent of the travelling communities unique history and culture, Sheila Stewart to spend the first hour of the programme with me. Sheila is the last in the line of the Stewarts of Blair, a family of travellers who've played a key role in preserving the ancient musical and oral traditions of Scotland.

In her biography "A Traveller's Life" she draws on her natural story-telling skills to give us a glimpse of an often harsh, but happy life, of prejudices and misconceptions, of misunderstandings and injustices - but not once does she dwell on the negative aspects of travelling life.

She sang in the studio with the ease of a seasoned performer, which she is, entertaining both Royalty and heads of state - but not for her the formality of standing round a microphone - not that she required any technical support - her voice filled the studio all on its own. She happily stayed in her seat, because, as she said " this is what I'm used to, it's how we would sing round the camp fire" She told me about the "conyach"a way of drawing up the spirt from within you and putting it into each song or story - it was mesmerizing.

And that's just the first hour of the new look Sunday Morning With format - we're also chatting to the stars of An Island Parish, and getting a sneak preview of the newly restored St Andrews Cathedral in Glasgow which opens on Monday. There's a lively debate on the banning of the Muslim veil - the niqab - which France brings into effect next week, and we'll hear about the success of a project to tackle poverty in one of Glasgows most deprived communities. And Richard Holloway inspires with his recollections of a very special women who was known as The Angel of the Gorbals.

Don't forget that I'd love to hear from you - your inspirational songs and stories, and I'll give them a mention in next weeks show. Happy listening.

Eddie is an expatriate Glaswegian, now living and listening in Croatia. Here he remembers one of those painful gym-related incidents. Or in this case, rugby...

Hi Tom

Depth of winter: Wednesday afternoon games - rugby: playing out of position at fullback: all the action with the forwards so not much to do: blooming cold: Get the picture? All of a sudden one of the other team manages to make a run for the line and I am last line of defence. Tackle him very badly and pull him back on myself: two cracks from my left ankle! Rolling about on the hard ground. PT teacher comes running over crying "get up boy!" But sir", I protest. "Come on get up for goodness sake" he unsympathetically growls. "But sir I heard two cracks" He takes my boot off, none too gently and sees my by now swelling ankle, he calls for another teacher to take over the game and he assists me to the changing rooms and tells me to change my top half. On noticing that I am wearing a semmit he has another rant! He grudgingly drove me to casualty where upon it was discovered that my ankle had two cracks. Full length cast for two weeks and then knee length cast for another four.

Was never a fan of PT after that when he was the teacher.



Enjoying the show as always

Eddie in Croatia

The Tom Morton Show is on BBC Radio Scotland, weekdays from 1405

Take the Floor:Salutation Hotel, Perth, 21March 2011.

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Well I bet you haven't been reading the three manifestos published so far. Why? Because you have other more pressing things to do. You've already got a job of your own and it's somebody else's job to run the country. And in any case, can you believe a word of it? Recent failures to deliver pre-election promises in the minority administration in Edinburgh and the coalition in Westminster, coming on the back of the expenses scandal, haven't done much for politicians' credibility... if that phrase isn't an oxymoron. And yet, like the census, we are all part of it, like it or not and the politicians are the manifestation of us and our system. In other words, we get the government we deserve. So it's probably best to pay attention.

And how could you ignore the Newsweek Election Panel? It resumes this week having been, like the Parliament in 1707, prorogued. There is a novel feature this time which is the revolving member. Sounds quite exciting, doesn't it? Each week we are joined by distinguished hack Angus Macleod of the Times and our old friend Dr Peter Lynch of Stirling University, Scotland's foremost cycling academic who promises not to wear lycra on air. In addition we have a selection of commentators to bring their own individual analysis on different Saturdays - this week Gerry Hassan, the Sage of Strathbungo. Let us know if anything they say sways your view via the message button.

We hear how the humble chocolate bar plays an important role in the conflict in Ivory Coast and how the world really should prepare for humanitarian disasters - planning ahead instead of charity appeals afterwards. We're in Belfast for an interesting take on resurgent dissidence from Malachi O'Docherty and, just for the sake of it, in Toronto where Canadians face a snap election in which the rest of the world has probably as much interest as it does in ours. We try to make Canada - lovely place - appear interesting. It is a strange truth on Planet News that nothing ever happens in Canada. To prove it, join me tomorrow at 8.

As part of Radio Scotland's Take on the Day, we caught up with Kaye Adams after her show for a chat.

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Kaye Adams, Trongate 103, Glasgow April 2011

Kaye Adams presents Call Kaye, weekdays from 0850.

The chances are Buddy Miller is in your CD collection and you might not even realise.

Buddy is a Nashville based record producer, musician, song-writer and vocalist. As well as releasing his own material he's appeared on albums by Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Solomon Burke and many more. Check out the credits on your favourite alt country CD's and you might find his name on the inlay.

We realised we play so much of his work on Another Country that we came up with a feature idea called "Where's Buddy?" to try and spot where he appears each week. Right now there's a long list of Americana artists waiting for Buddy Miller to produce their next album. This Friday night from 8pm on Another Country with Ricky Ross you'll hear a special programme featuring an interview with Buddy and another great artist, Patty Griffin. Patty was discovered and signed after playing in Boston coffee shops in the early 1990's. Since then her songs have been covered by Emmylou Harris, The Dixie Chicks, Linda Ronstadt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bette Midler, Solomon Burke and Susan Boyle.

Buddy and Patty have worked together many times and are both part of Robert Plant's group for his Band Of Joy album. It was during this tour that Ricky met and interviewed them both.

Here's a preview of Buddy talking about working with Robert Plant and Solomon Burke.

Another Country with Ricky Ross in on every Friday, 2005-2200

As part of Radio Scotland's Take on the Day, we caught up with Gary Robertson for a chat.

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Gary Robertson, Glasgow, April 2011

See the official Take on the Day videos.

Gary Robertson presents Good Morning Scotland, weekdays from 0600.

My panel this week were in particularly sparkling form tackling everything from Libya and the election campaign to Top of the Pops and X Factor (Danny and Louie are out apparently).

David Dinsmore, Jane Graham, and Martin Raymond were with me in the studio as we tried to pick our way through the many contradictory stories about Libyan defectors and secret deals.

Pans People

On a lighter note, the news that the BBC is to start showing re-runs of classic Top of the Pops got us all reminiscing about our favourite bits. If you grew up in the seventies you'll probably have fond memories of Slade, Mud, Showaddywaddy, and kids in the audience dancing awkwardly in dodgy tank tops. And of course Pans People. Martin confessed a teenage crush. David's favourite memory was Dexy's Midnight Runners singing Jackie Wilson with a poster of Jocky Wilson in the background. Jane's much younger and hipper than the rest of us so her memories are of bands like Oasis playing. Too cool by half. The seventies were a simpler time somehow.

Finally, my special guest Dr Elena Bodnar has come up with one of the most bizarre inventions I've ever come across. All I'll tell you here is it's a bra that could save your life. You'll have to listen to find out more. I had to struggle to keep a straight face during that one. Check out her demonstration of said bra online and you'll se what I mean.

Listen to Shereen, Sunday 0900 on BBC Radio Scotland.

There are some brand new BBC Radio Scotland videos called 'Take on the Day' featuring Gary Robertson, Kaye Adams, Fred MacAulay and John Beattie.

Watch them now:

Take on the Day and tune into BBC Radio Scotland from 0600 weekdays, with Gary, Kaye, Fred and John.

It is truly striking how certain themes weave themselves through the news and re-emerge in different forms. It's only a few weeks ago we were heavily engaged in argument over Lockerbie because of the anniversary and here we are, because of unrelated events in North Africa, with the same questions awaiting answer.

If defecting Libyan officials do know the inside story, will they be allowed to say? If, as some argue, it was committed on behalf of Iran with Syrian involvement, by Palestinians, does it suit a defector to say so, when his hosts would prefer confirmation of the Camp Zeist verdict.

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FRIDAY 1st APRIL

Ceilidh & Old Time Dances

Peterhead - Longhaven Hall - Gavin Piper - *Tickets £6*

Lonmay - Ben-Car Hotel - Wayne Robertson and Steven Carcary - *Tickets £7*

Lauriston - Lauriston Hall - Ken Gourlay & Willie Fraser Ceilidh Band - 8pm - *Tickets £10/£8/£6*

Concert

Findhorn - Universal Hall - Fil Campbell & Tom McFarland

Strontian - The Sunart Centre - Blazin' Fiddles

Glasgow - Royal Concert Hall - The Glasgow Phoenix Choir - 7:30pm - *Tickets £15/£12/£10/£8/£5*

Scottish Country Dances

Alva - Cochrane Hall - Jim Lindsay - Annual Branch Dance - 7:15pm - *Tickets £15*

Helensburgh - Hermitage Academy - George Meikle - Weekend Ball - 7:30pm - *Tickets £23*

Newburgh - Tayside Institute - Jim Berry - Annual Dance - 7:30pm - *Tickets £6*

Dufftown Scottish Country Dance Club - Dufftown - Dance - James Coutts and his Band

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For those of you who listened to Sunday's Beechgrove Potting Shed you would have heard us be-moan the fact that we all lost an hour's sleep when the clocks went forward. But boy-oh-boy, any grumbles we may have had soon disappeared by evening when we were rewarded with a glorious hour of daylight hailing the advent of British Summer Time. Oh what to do with all this extra time? It's too late to plant those desiccated tulip bulbs languishing in the shed since 2007, but there is one thing I can do - and I'm going to urge you all to follow suit; and that's to prepare a plot for growing veg. It doesn't matter if you have a window box, a balcony with a few pots, or acres of billowing flowers worthy of Gertrude Jekyll, there's always room to squeeze something in. There's nowt to beat having your vegetables from plot to plate in a matter of minutes, and this week I was blessed (and I don't use that word lightly) when Carole Baxter presented me with a bundle of fresh asparagus, picked from her garden just an hour before. Oh, I just can't tell you how wonderful it was. Now, I've tasted asparagus more times than I'd care to think - well I've eaten it about half a dozen times if truth be told - but never have I tasted any as sweet and as succulent as Carole's crop. Lightly boiled for a couple of minutes, dressed with melted butter, and I was in heaven!

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Spring is most definitely in the air - and while I would be much happier if the temepratures were more generous, my heart is instantly warmed by the sights of Nature's promise of better times to come - lambs gambolling in the fields as you drive away out of the city. Daffodils fighting for attention next to the pale snowdrops and crocuses, and the smell of hyacinths, is my proof that the gardens and hedgerows will eventually shake themsleves out of the doldrums and deliver their annual bounty of colour and fragrance.

Seeing the shrubs and flowers spill onto the road as you drive by is such a wonderful sight for the many of us who have neither the time nor the space to nurture our own gardens. The wild flowers are still my favourites - particularly the primroses and their yellow perfume - there are carpets of them close to where I now live and while I have to wait till next month to enjoy them once again - it's worth it, if only because they remind me of home. There was a small clutch of them beside a stream where our sheep and cow used to graze and it was like your own little garden. Those were the pre-ipod days, and my music came mainly from the radio, when, if you were lucky enough, you would sneak off and listen to the charts for the latest hits - making them possibly even more memorable.

Send me your own stories and if there's a special song attached - better still email me.