OK, let's get this started with "Fanfare For The Common Man" by Emerson Lake & Palmer. Carl Palmer is still one of the world's greatest percussionists and whilst this version is somewhat cheesy, it's stood the test of time. And may I say, "Love The Show Simon".

You could go with "Rituals" from Topographic Oceans, and the team could all disappear off for a curry for the first half hour of the show, in the finest tradition of the Noble Lord Wakeman, aka God of the Day :-)

"Randy Scouse Git" by "The Monkees"



Love the show.



P.S. Does the driving drum beat in "Iggy's Lust for Life" feature Kettles?

Excellent show yesterday. Taught me interesting stuff about The Spencer Davis Group and who was and wasn't playing with them, but unfortunately I am over 50 and have promptly forgotten it. Who was that organist?

Anyway, I am not doing overly well with my opening song suggestions thus far, but ever the terrier...

"Viva la Vida" by Coldplay, was my first thought. I had a browse around the worldly wise web and couldn't find anything that appealled to me more, but I did find something by a folky band (No apparent timpany, so I don't know why they were thrown up, pardon the phrase) called Pyewackett. Bellowhead fans just might appreciate. Check them on a well known video sharing site. I hope this doesn't get me modded.

Any road up, Coldplay, please?

Hmmm, 5 seconds of timpani at best there Monkee loving Cornish Darren. I never knew that song was called Randy Scouse Git, so thank you for your post. I see the "Love The Show" attention-seeking continues...



Love The Show Simon :)



PS I also wondered about the drumming in Pet Shop Boys "Se A Vida e" - but like "Lust For Life" I think it's just a bass drum rumbling away...

As usual, no idea about the opening record. But re. the restless legs sydrome - my Dad has this and his GP prescribed Ibuprofen (other anti-inflammatories also available) for him and it seems to work.



Still Love the Show!

My vote would be with the Emerson, Lake and Palmer suggestion - extraordinary song and would make a very powerful opening. Saw Coldplay at the O2 a year ago - they were amazing! So "Viva La Vida" certainly gets my backing too. There is just so much good music around - it is really heartening for a dull overcast day like today...so go on Simon, give us something to warm us up and get us going!



Oh, and how about a cure for cramps? I'm lying in bed and suddenly the leg goes rigid and I have to leap out of bed and cavort around the bedroom without disturbing Angela....trying to get some movement back into the non working leg....so a bit of restless leg syndrome would do me some good! Could we arrange a swap?

I fear it will be Showaddywaddy, but ELP much preferable and another head-nodding opportunity!

Rev David - try taking Dioralyte an hour before bedtime and sip water from 6pm onwards. At best it will sort any electrolyte imbalances and at worst you'll keep getting up to go for a pee, which will exercise the legs!



Go ELP! (or is that E, L Pee?) groan......

Thank you Spike - I will take your advice seriously. At my advanced age getting up for pee is more than likely anyway. Is Diowhatsit available over the counter? I'm presuming it is! Its a bit ironic isn't it that one comes to a Radio 2 Blog for medical advice!! Simon what have you started! Perhaps you could have a section of the show (maybe at half term when thereain't so much homework around) devoted to the medical conditions of ageing rockers? What do you think?

Rev David, you're most welcome. Yes Dioralyte available at all good chemists - and some rubbish ones as well. You could also eat a banana a day (high in potassium), but don't leave the skin by the bed or Angela might get more than she bargained for!



May I also say, Simon, that I find the show a most agreeable experience?

Bruce Springteen, Stolen Car from The River album has a haunting kettle drum throughout the song, altough I suspect a little slow to start the show with. Theres also a a number entitled 'Kettle drum blues' by Paul Roberts however I have no idea what that sounds like!

I find a good cure for restless leg syndrome is to bind them together before bedtime (don't forget when you come to get up)

Looks like Shawaddywaddy then.

Great show.

I suppose a play from the "Ben Hur Soundtrack" would be out of the question? I can just see everyone stuck on the M25 rowing their arms backwards an forwards in unison as Simon becomes the sweaty timpani player on the Slave Galley ship banging out the tempo.



RAMMING SPEED!!!



Love the Show.



P.S. Imagine the drum sound Kermode could make with his large flaying hands!!!

How about the Hawaii 5-0 theme? Ticks all the boxes for me!



Enjoy the fish and chips, but for heavens sake stop with the fish jokes. You're giving me a haddock!



Love the show Simon - long may it continue

Malcolm, surely you mean "for heaven's hake"?



Simon, the Drive Show is top notch, in fact it's Turbot powered....("Cod help us! " mutters Mayo, with chips)

There can be several reasons for jittery/restless leg/s;



Some are:



1. Low magnesium levels

2. State of anxiety

3. Being on meds for anxiety/depression.

4. Withdrawal from above meds.

5. Drug/Alcohol withdrawal

okay ,so I haven't a clue about timpani( s?) or even how to spell them, but I've got this rash.......

Ah, Ticketyboo, that'll be timpanists' itch. The (usually) 4 kettles are clearly not placed ergonomically for your build/reach. A common problem, experienced by the common kettle player - so why not urge Simon to play "Fanfare For The Common Man" by ELP to assuage your suffering? Or you could just scratch along to it...



Simon, the show is a blesspoppet of radionessity, without it my life would clearly be bereft.

.. meant to say..... "love the show Simon"



Sorry Spike, but ELP versus a song that's called "Randy Scouse Git".....

no contest !

The Grandstand theme tune had a fine timpani, and I well remember Chris having a feature on his Radio 1 breakfast show where people phoned in to mimic the noise every Friday.



Although it's also known as the bongo song, Safri Duo's Played-a-live must have a kettle drum on it, as must anything by Suzi Quatro. What about Wouldn’t it be nice by the Beach Boys?

I agree Ticketyboo, how could Simon possibly offend our wonderful Liverpudlian chums with such a blanket insult. Fanfare it is then! Keep scratchin'



Loving the Show soooooooooooooooo much it hurts!

Does you got it by Roy Orbinson (or is that Orbison???) feature the timp drum at the end???

Spike.. don't know about Simon insulting the Scousers, but you called me " common "...

or even the whole way through the song now I come to replay it in my head...

Ticketyboo......sorry for any offence, though I suspect you're having the last laugh! The Common Man (non-gender specific) was intended by Copeland to honour the tax paying citizens of the USA post-war efforts and all....I'm proud to be common, though I believe we are all exceptional.



As is the Show, Simon :)

My suggestion is Elbow's "One Day like This"

Can't say there's a timpani for sure, but everything else is rammed on there..so that's my penneth.



Ticketycommonboo

Of course! Elbow! "The Loneliness of A Tower Crane Driver" which deffo has excellent timpanic movements and is guaranteed to make your hairs stand up on end at the Big Shift passage! Nice one Ticketycommonboo! I withdraw my ELP request in the face of such an inspired choice (of mine).



The Show is gonna be a cracker tonight with all this banging going on!

Definitely Elbow's "Tower Crane Driver". Saw them live twice last year -wonderful!



But, obviously, not as wonderful as the Show!



Tortie

Tortie, such a sycophant! :):) Great show Simon etc...Elbow it is then, at least I got the first 2 letters correct!!! Oooooo, I can barely wait for 5.00!

Interesting suggestion by Paul of Sheffield with Pyewackett - they were recommended to me by a colleague some time ago, and I never quite got round to checking them out. Would be interested to hear something of theirs!



As for the 'restless leg' - I too suffer from this mysterious malady. It's down to either lack of exercise (with the requirement to bounce around like a loon for 10 minutes - always interesting when at work...) or excitement (the bouncier the leg, the more strongly I feel about something - a dead giveaway to those in the know). My father suffers too, so perhaps it's genetic?! Anyway, I strongly suggest that you put on some lively music and bounce around the studio in order to aid the completion of your show in peace. We won't laugh. Honest.

Spike - you'll be modded for using words like "sycophant" :) What "first 2 letters" did you get right?

Dunno what modded means (I am over 50) - hope it's painless ! As for the 2 letter dicombobularity...... EL p ELbow......Tower Crane Driver supporters, let's hear it from you! TortieCat, Ticketcommonboo, put your votes in!



BEST SHOW IN THE WORLD SIMON (ahem, recovers decorum).....

Modded = Moderated.

I'm obviously wearing my dozy head re the 2 letter reference!

Hi Simon



Just popped in to second, third, fourth (or how ever many you are up to) Fanfare for the Common Man - I haven't heard that for ages.



I won't jump on the sycophantic wagon though



thankyew



misstoedipper.

Love Thin LIzzy, but hardly timptastic, mostly bass drum and padded tom, but as you say, it's your show.....so why ask us?

How about we suggest an instrument and you choose the song? I vote sitar. LOVE THE SHOW!!!

Well done Spike! You got a message on air - I wonder if Simon will take you up on the sitar thingy!?! What do you think?

Ah Rev David, I'm, just dizzy with the fame!!! Not ust a mench, but ELP too!!! I do love the sitar idea (of course). Blesspoppetness is a word that should be used between leaders of nations, don't you think? If we all referred to each other as Blesspoppets, wouldn't the world be a nicer plaice (sorry, fish joke crept in)...x

I think it is a stonkingly good word - it even has liturgical connotations!!!

Thanks Simon - for the mention and ELP play! I'm lucky enough to have a job which allows me to randomly penetrate your webness with my insights. Next.......I WILL make you play Prefab Sprout, and dedicate it to all lovers of melody and blesspoppetness....ity! x The Show's OK.....

Do you think the Pope is a blessedpoppet??!!

ABBA use a Timpani drum on the instrumental crescendo of "Chiquitita"



Grant Howard

Anglesey

Rev David - of course - we are all blessed, regardless of anything. Popey needs a hug. (On a soccer note so do Pompey) So does Mugabe. Blesspoppetness to you Rev David. Restfull, cramp free legs to you sir. And love to all.

ABBA's "Chiquitita" contains the Timpani at the build up instrumental at the end.

Bother - I'm supposed to be sipping arn't I saintly Spike? Better get to it!

Do it for you Rev D! So, what sitar music.....?

Some early George Harrison sitar music? It looks a difficult instrument to play - I play guitar and love thumping loudly on the Strat in church by myself with the amp turned up as loud as I can stand it - just me and God - Oh, and the strat...and the 100 watt amp...heaven!

Rev David - put up a link to your church! Time for the banana, diarolyte and water....be still your beating legs!

jamesandjohn.org.uk - though there isn't much on the website at the minute.

Hi Simon you featured as a picture in my pub quiz last night. You got unanimous approval!

How about a bit of The Who - Won't get fooled again

Really enjoyed Simon Mayo yesterday and the bit about restless leg.I am a suffferer or I was. Quite surprised that the GP seemed to dismiss how important magnesium is for restless leg. I suffer from this a great deal and recently came across an article in the BMJ saying that magnesium deficiency deserves a special mention, as its present in about a quarter of the patients suffering from restless leg. I use a magnesium oil spray a lot, so I can spray it on my skin exactly where the discomfort is and it really helps ease my symptoms and it only takes a few minutes to work.