Hello fellow-travellers!

Well, the sun came out for a little while this week, so NOTP justifiably ignored it. 

Three in a Row got all cosy on the sofa with velvet - linked by Blue (Bobby Vinton), via Bowie's Goldmine and the Underground's 'There She Goes'  and, rather startlingly,  'Some Velvet Morning' by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood.

 A rather young-looking Peter Gabriel adorned the cover of Charity Shop Corner's cover this week - a 'best of' of sorts, from 1990.  I chose 'Family Snapshot' which came from the 'fingernails' album, as I call it. Powerful stuff.

Due to an absent CD, I couldn't play the Long Song that I intended last week. However, due to the miracle of vinyl, here it is this week - recorded at Abbey Road we had Pink Floyd's 'Money' leading into 'The Great Gig in the Sky' with vocals by Clare Torrey, from The Dark Side of the Moon.

Another request this week for Kitsch'n'Sink was a little more restrained than last week's - Hazel O'Connor's 'Will  You' from the album 'Breaking Glass'.

Waiting at the bus stop for one of three buses were World Party, Abba, Get Well Soon, The Saturdays, The Love Affair, Echo and the Bunnymen, Mylo, Ben's Brother, JJ Cale, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Squeeze, Fyfe Dangerfield, Yo La Tengo, Emmy The Great, Jem, Elvis Costello abd finally The Colourfield.

Don't forget you can email me on glyn.james@tudnofm.co.uk with your suggestions.

Have a great week.

Glyn

Hi there

A few new films have arrived this week ahead of Alice and her drug-fuelled trip into the land of oddness, but none really hit the big bell. Still, let's see what we've got to go and see.

New this week:-

EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES

 Ever heard of Pompe's disease? Neither had I - and it's pronounced Pompey, by the way. Very sad for those families who have it, of course, but this film plays a bit like This Week's Good Cause. Mr and Mrs Rich-but-dull have two plucky but winsome children with this  problem. Dad hears about an eccentric scientist who can help. So enter curmudgeonly Harrison Ford, and immediately the film gets more interesting - well, I was now able to keep my dinner down. He's unpleasant and grumpy but underneath that exterior is a heart of, well, something squashy. Dad raises the money by getting a pharmaceutical giant on board and Mr Grumpy sets to work listening to Cream played loudly. It's watchable while Ford's on the screen, but neatly sidesteps the real issues - such as whether it's ethical for a company to make millions by exploiting families who have got stacks of private health insurance. Oh well, not just one Mr Grumpy, then.

FROM PARIS WITH LOVE

A US diplomatic aide in Paris dreams of being given a proper assignment. His dream comes true, but he is saddled with a new partner. This stars a shaven headed John Travolta as a Bruce Willis lookalike who makes the body count in Pulp Fiction look like child's play. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers with a very odd moustache plays the sidekick while bluffs and double bluffs abound. Lots of action, and the car chases are very competently done by Les Freres Julienne whose talents aren't solely devoted to chopping vegetables. Surprisingly produced and co-written by the once-great Luc Besson.

LEAP YEAR

This is a sort of 'When O'Malley met Sally'. Amy Adams plays a New York career girl who wants to propose to her dull boyfriend who would have been played by Ralph Bellamy if this was a 1940 screwball comedy. Sadly it isn't, so our heroine comes to Old Oireland where she can propose and marry him. But there's bad weather, and a grumpy Irishman, played by Matthew Goode, whose accent veers from Killarney to Kilmarnock, offers to take her to Dublin for a fee. They hate each other, of course but soon....I think you know the rest. Fun if you're a fan of shamrock and Guinness and irritating omigawd Anericans.

 

And what else is there?

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS 2 – THE SQUEAKUEL

“A truly terrible, utterly witless comedy” – The Guardian – and who am I to argue?

AVATAR

James Cameron’s epic 3-D blockbuster..

INVICTUS

How Nelson Mandela united post-apartheid South Africa behind the Springboks' triumphant run at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Morgan Freeman; dir Clint Eastwood

THE CRAZIES

The residents of a small town are plagued by insanity after a mysterious toxin gets into their water supply. Remake of the George Romero 1973 zombie film.

THE LOVELY BONES

A murdered girl watches over her family from heaven to help them find her killer. Peter Jackson adapts Alice Sebold’s excellent novel

PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF

A student discovers that he is the descendant of Greek gods.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

A prince, transformed into a frog, has to get a princess to kiss him to break the spell. VALENTINES DAY

A bunch of couples and singles in Los Angeles break up and make up in the run-up to 14 February. Includes Shirley McClaine! Makes Love Actually look like Citizen Kane.

THE WOLFMAN 

An exiled man returns to his ancestral home, only to discover a horrifying destiny. Remake of the 1941 film (Lon Chaney Jr and Claude Rains) with Anthony Hopkins.

SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK’N’ROLL (ThCol)

Ian Dury biopic with an amazing performance from Andy Serkis.

GLORIOUS 39 (ThCl)

Steven Poliakoff’s eve of war drama with Bill Nighy, Julie Christie, Jeremy Northam.

 

Also – TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE, KING COAL,THE INFORMANT (ThCl)

 

Ricky Nelson was a teenage heartthrob on his parents(Ozzie and Harriet Nelson) TV show. His singing on the show led to a lucrative recording career of sweet ballads and some good rocking numbers. After the emergence of the Beatles with his career on the skids he changed his name to Rick Nelson and took a music change to more country and Western numbers written by himself.  Unfortunately he was killed soon after in a plane crash and therefore never consolidated a possble future recording career. I will be playing his top ten next week on Tuesday 9th March On tudnofm 107.8 or online at Tudnofm.co.uk and listen live.

ANDREA BOCELLI.....THE TOP TEN......

1....TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.( WITH SARAH BRIGHTMAN)

2....THE PRAYER.(WITH CELINE DION)

3....DARE TO LIVE.(WITH LAURA PAUSINI)

4....CANTO DELLA TERRA.

5....BECAUSE WE BELEIVE.

6....BESAME MUCHO.

7....VIVO PER LEI.(WITH GIORGIA)

8....MELODRAMMA.

9....SOGNA.

10..SOMOS NOVIOS.

OTHER TRACKS PLAYED ON SHOW....

World in my arms......Nat King Cole......album.....LOVE SONGS.

Marry Me.....Dean Martin.....SINGLE.

Home thoughts from abroad...Clifford T Ward.......album...THE BEST OF....

Do you want to know a secret.....Billy J Kramer.....album...THE BEST OF.....

Hit and Miss....John Barry....album...THE BEST OF ...

Longing for a simpler time......Peggy Lee.....album....MIRRORS.

Manha De Carnaval.......Carly Simon.....album...INTO WHITE.

That old black Magic......Bobby Rydell...album...THE BEST OF...

Romance is dead / Upside down....Paloma Faith....album...DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH OR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

Moonlight kiss....Raul Malo.....album  LUCKY ONE.

Everybody's somebody's fool....Connie Francis....album...THE SINGLES.

All of me....Micheal Buble....album   CRAZY LOVE.

Thunder and lightning polka.....Andre Rieu.....album...FOREVER VIENNA.

Heart of Glass.....Puppini Sisters.....album...BETCHA BOTTOM DOLLAR.

Street of dreams....Doris Day....album....THE LOVE ALBUM.

Now....Al Martino....album.......COLLECTION.

The Last Farewell.....Roger Whittaker.........album.....THE VERY BEST OF....

Fools rush in......Ricky Nelson......album.....GREATEST HITS.

 

I will be going through most of the screen performances of Howard Keel next week and also looking at one or two stage performances.   As soon as Howard Keel hit the screen his onstage performances stopped and apart from one return then became famous on television and stage showcase performances. I will also be featuring songs from THE MUSIC MAN  with Robert Preston and Shirley Jones. Next Sunday 2-4pm on Tudnofm 107.8 or online at Tudnofm.co.uk and click on LISTEN LIVE.

Unfortunately due to unforseen circumstances Craig Jones was not available as a guest on the show today but will be a guest on March 14th. The playlist was as follows......

Pirate King.....Kevin Kline.....PIRATES OF PENZANCE.

Party's on the house.....Tommy Steele....HALF A SIXPENCE.

Whatever Lola wants......Gwen Verdon.....DAMN YANKEES.

Magical Mystery Tour......Beatles......MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR.

True Love......Bing Crosby,Grace Kelly......HIGH SOCIETY(FILM).

It's so simple.....Fritz Weaver.......BAKER STREET.

Money.......Liza Minelli, Joel Gray.....CABARET(FILM).

Lucky to be me....Larry Kert...ON THE TOWN.

I'll never fall in love again......Bobbie Gentry.......SINGLE.

A wonderful guy.......Doris Day......album.....SHOWTIME.

I'm a brass band....Gwen Verdon......SWEET CHARITY.

Music of the night.....Teatro......album.....TEATRO.

Waitin' for my dearie....Shirley Jones....BRIGADOON.

How I got the calling......Clair Greenaway,Patina Miller......SISTER ACT.

Boogie Wonderland......Brittany Murphy.....HAPPY FEET(FILM).

Losing my mind.....Micheal Ball....album...THE MUSICALS.

Kiss of the spiderwoman.....Chita Rivera......KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN.

Long ago,.....Robert Goulet....album....ON BROADWAY.

Masquerade....Cast....PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

You are my lucky star...Tommy Steele......SINGIN' IN THE RAIN.

Mame......Cast.......MAME.

The best things happen while you're dancing......Danny Kaye....album...18 WONDERFUL SONGS.

I'd be surprisingly good for you.....Elaine Paige,Joss Ackland...EVITA.

Maniac.......Cast.....FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL.

Welcome to the Valley Of The Giants blog. I do hope your are enjoying all of the programmes through out the week here on Tudno Fm. 

On Saturday I will be going back in time to the 1960's  to the days of Radio Caroline. In thoses days I came to North Wales on holiday. Holiday makers would be playing there portable  radios in the open air as they as they walked along the streets. This was the first time you  could listen to pop music during the day. This all changed in 1967 when the marine offences act outlawed the pirate ships around the coast of Great Britain.

So lock on your dial to 107.8 Your Voice  Your Music Tudno Fm.

Your also welcome to contact the Studio by phone,Text or e-mail rob.horton@tudnofm.co.uk

 

Don't miss Andy Hayes who will wake up Tudno Fm with the Saturday Breakfast Show (8am til 10am)

Andy and I will keep you up to date with Whats on in the Landudno and surrounding areas plus Traffic/Travel 

See you soon

Rob Horton. 

 

 

Isn't it amazing just how quickly time passes by. Do join me this weekend for another three hours of brilliant Motown Sound. Why not take a break from the hoovering and pour your self a nice steamy coffee and relax while we entertain you. Let us now if there is a special occassion coming up soon. As always you are most welcome to contact me by phone e-mail or text.

We will also keep you up to-date with Traffic and travel every 20 minutes pass the hour up to Midday.

So go on enjoy the weekend with Tudno Fm.

Best wishes

Rob Horton

Do miss Saturday Morning Breakfast with Andy Hayes  from 8am

Ahoy me Hearties!

Another week gone already and we have another NOTP. Not much news this week (excluding the marital affairs of a singer we wouldn't feature) so we'll get on with the show.

Three in a Row was a bit different this week as we hear that Abbey Road Studios may be sold off. So I trust you'll forgive me for featuring a track each from four decades recorded there? The Sixties had to be represented by those pesky Beatles and the ground-breaking 'A Day In The Life' Yes, I know that wasn't from the Abbey Road album, but does show what can be done with creative engineering and production. The Seventies had 'Broadway Hotel' by Al Stewart from 'Year of the Cat' (1976). The Eighties was a bit thin till I noticed that just scraping in under the bar was 'Nude' by Camel. Very dated (and scratched!) but, hey, we haven't featured Camel before. Bringing up the Nineties was Radiohead's 'The Bends' and 'Fake Plastic Trees'. 

Long Song tonight was Robbie Williams from a few years back - 'Me and my Monkey'. I know it's not cool to like Mr Williams, but who said we are cool here?

Charity Shop Corner featured the singular voice of Miss Ella Fitzgerald which is always a good thing. 'That Old Black Magic' did the trick.

After a split reaction when I played 'We Want War' as my Long song a few weeks ago, I decided - possibly against my better judgement - to feature 'Hidden' by These New Puritans as my album of the week. A bit hard going, you'll agree, but we do need to redress the balance here at NOTP!

A request came thudding in for Kitsch'n'Sink and who was I to argue? I must admit this had been blotted out of my memory, but a bit of digging gave us  'Jeremy is Innocent' by - and here's some confusion - either Ivor Biggun (ho ho) or Rex Barker and the Ricochets. Take your pick - they're still the same record. Oddly enough, I doubt we'll be featuring it again. Don't forget you can nominate a record too. But do think carefully first....

Also clinging to the wreckage were Brian Eno, The Besnard Lakes, Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood, Be Bop Deluxe, Fred Astaire, Underworld, The Postmarks, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Muse, Alphaville, Norman 'Hurricane' Smith, Brian Eno, Bob Dylan, Chorale and Joan Armatrading.

Have a good week - see you soon!

Glyn 

 

Hi there

These are this week's films. I'm delighted to see that Theatr Colwyn is showing the films that don't seem to be getting an airing at Cineworld - this week it's the Ian Dury biopic 'Sex and Drugs and Rock'n'Roll. Nowhere Boy and A Single Man are coming up next month so I'll keep you informed.

News: Starting next Friday, Cineworld will be showing Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' despite the industry boycott.

 

Film of the Week

THE LOVELY BONES

A murdered girl watches over her family from 'the in-between' of earth and heaven to help them find her killer so she can rest. Peter Jackson adapts Alice Sebold’s excellent novel. He makes a fair job of it too, with Saoirse Rona, last seen in 'Atonement', carrying off the role of fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon (like the fish) with aplomb. He tries too hard, however, to make this a thriller as well as a heavenly fantasy, a shocker and introduces a superfluous comedy character in the form of a horribly miscast Susan Sarandon for good measure. Thankfully it does keep to the spirit of the novel, but all these gimmicks stem the narrative flow and at times it gets clunky and characters such as Susie's brother remain undeveloped and there are plot leaps - how did her father and sister suddenly know who the killer was when everyone was baffled for a year? Some judicious editing at the script stage,  going with instincts instead of listening to a test audience's reaction, which resulted in a gratuitously nasty scene being shot and included,  and this could have been a film which would have done justice to the novel. Still, despite the flaws, it's certainly worth seeing, not least for the music by Brian Eno and the Cocteau Twins.

 

And the rest.....

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS 2 – THE SQUEAKUEL

“A truly terrible, utterly witless comedy” – The Guardian – and who am I to argue?

ASTRO BOY

A robot child, created by a scientist in the image of his son, is called on to save his city.

AVATAR

James Cameron’s epic 3-D blockbuster..

INVICTUS

How Nelson Mandela united post-apartheid South Africa behind the Springboks' triumphant run at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Morgan Freeman; dir Clint Eastwood. Highly recommended.

PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF

A student discovers that he is the descendant of Greek gods and has to recover Zeus's stolen lightning bolt. Chris Columbus directs a crash course in Greek mythology.

SHERLOCK HOLMES

Guy Richie’s take on the detective with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law.Good fun - catch it whle it's still on.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

A prince, transformed into a frog, has to get a princess to kiss him to break the spell. He finds one willing to do it, but she's not a princess. Randy Newman songs

SOLOMON KANE

A 16th-century hero's past forces him to redeem himself by battling evil in his homeland

VALENTINES DAY

A bunch of couples and singles in Los Angeles break up and make up in the run-up to 14 February. Includes a mummified Shirley McClaine. Makes Love Actually look like Citizen Kane.

THE WOLFMAN 

An exiled man returns to his ancestral home, only to discover a horrifying destiny. Remake of the 1941 film (Lon Chaney Jr and Claude Rains) with Anthony Hopkins.

YOUTH IN REVOLT

A sex-obsessed 14-year-old boy falls in love with a free-spirited girl while on holiday and stops at nothing to remain with her. Michael Cera in Jekyll and Hyde alter-ego comedy which is better than you would expect.

SEX AND DRUGS AND ROCK’N’ROLL (ThCol)

Ian Dury biopic with an amazing performance from Andy Serkis.

UP IN THE AIR (ThCol)

George Clooney and Vera Farmiga in a story about empty lives beneath the gloss. Excellent.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (ThCl)

THEATRE

Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – ThCl till Saturday

ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM – ThCl till 6^th March

 

VIVA BROADWAY – RhylPav- Thuirsday – Linda Lusardi and Sam Kane

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY - – VenCym Thursday to Saturday                                            Kelly McGillis (Witness, Top Gun) and Rolf Saxon in American romantic comedy.

DATHLU GWYL DEWI – VenCym all weekend – celebrate St David’s Day