A Retrospective Playlist.

Following the sad passing this week of Steven Richard Wright MBE, a man whose voice and wit have given not only me hours of entertainment over the years, but many others likewise I am sure. I thought that I would take this opportunity to write about how the music we have listened to over the years stays with us, forever held within our memories.

From an early age, the tunes that I heard played over the radio waves captivated me, and being from a generation, unlike today, where only three channels graced the television set in the corner of the living room, my transistor radio somewhat took precedence.

Not being from a family known for its musical abilities associated with the playing of instruments, my parents and siblings did however introduce me to the world of vinyl records, whose tastes varied considerably in their genres. Downstairs would be a mixture of Cliff Richard and the Shadows, a favourite of my dear Mother I might add, to the progressive sounds of Pink Floyd which would resound through the floorboards on a Sunday morning, while my Dad sat reading his newspaper. Of course, my older siblings' preferred listening habits were something very different indeed, The Osmonds and the Bay City Rollers never did capsulate me like they did my sister, but my brother's records, well they were something else. Deep Purple I found to be more of a musical magnet where I was concerned, a bit of a rocker? Yes, and that’s what I stayed predominantly for the majority of my younger years, live concerts at the Victoria Hall in Hanley, and the Friday night rock show with Tommy Vance. Even to this day, it would be true for me to mention that I am still partial to a rock guitar riff or two, although the days of frantic head-banging have long since gone, just like my hair.

But just like Metallica so eloquently put it, the memory remains, brought colourfully back to life whenever one of those old classics is played, just like the songs of now will inevitably become anchor points to the youthful ears of today.

Of course, I could sit here all day writing about certain times of my life intermingled with nostalgic tunes, perhaps long past the point where my audience has fallen asleep, and that is why I now hand it over to you. I would love nothing more than to prick your musical memories and hear which songs you hold dear to your hearts, and the stories that accompany them.

Darron x.