KEEP SMILING THROUGH – Rod Stewart & ‘SMILER’ (1974)
‘SMILER’ (1974): As poignant as ‘Maggie May’ and resonant as ‘You Wear It Well’, ‘FAREWELL’ was another of his great lyrical ballads.
RANTS & REFLECTIONS
CUP IN HAND – The FA Cup Third Round: 13/1/1973
The FA Cup third round 13/1/1973: The jolly Spurs outing – Tottenham go on a beano to Margate…..
FUNKY PLATEAU – Elton John & HONKY CHATEAU (1972)
‘HONKY CHATEAU’ was well received by the critics and began a run of Elton John albums that effortlessly topped the charts through the 1970s.
GOALS OF CHRISTMAS PAST – the Division One fixture programme of Boxing Day 1972:
THE BOXING DAY PROGRAMME of 1972 – a great double act hit the headlines (without assistance from Andre Previn).
RESPECTABLE – Twenty Great Games of 1979-80
TWENTY GREAT GAMES of 1979-80: HAMMER SHOW – West Ham United win the FA Cup from Division Two………….
LIVING FOR TODAY: John Lennon – ‘IMAGINE’ (1971)
On his last solo album Lennon declared ‘The Dream is Over’ – but in longing for peace on ‘Imagine’ he can be judged as saying Long live the Dream.
NATIONAL MEASURES – Twelve fine 70s players who never won an England cap…….
Twelve fine 70s players without an England Cap: KENNY HIBBITT (Wolves): Great passes, plenty of goals, but no international recognition……
LONDON CALLING – Twenty great games of 1978-1979
Twenty great games of 1978-79: Osvaldo Ardiles & Ricky Villa: Loved at the Lane/annihilated at Anfield…….
TRAMPS & SCENES – Bruce Springsteen & ‘BORN TO RUN’ (1975)
Albums by other great artists needed years of critical gestation, but within 18 months of release ‘Born to Run’ was acclaimed as ‘the greatest ever made.’
SHOCK ABSORBING – Ten defining FA Cup ties of the 1970s
BETTER CALL PAUL – Maguire opens the scoring as third division Shrewsbury Town topple Manchester City in January 1979…………..