Jackie Wilson "The sweetest feeling"...no better song to sum up that Friday feeling :-)

Morning Simon.



For ARF can you please play



DEAD RINGER FOR LOVE by MEATLOAF to get the party started?



Many thanks,



Kev

I'm in the mood for CARS AND GIRLS by PREFAB SPROUT today Simon, so resist the temptation to play ASHES TO ASHES and pop it on the turntable, there's a good chap.

Morning Simon



For ARF, can I please go with



Twilight - ELO



speshly for MTF as it's her Berfday today!



Thank you.



Deevs



x

Morning all



I see the Blog-gremlin is back with us!



Another busy day here in sunny East Yorks.



Back later when I've thought of an ARF



Tortie x

How did supper go Deeevalaaahhhhh (robot dance)? Plenty of Rioja to wash it down?

Failing #4 above, howzabout



Bamboleo by The Gypsy Kings



to get our Spanish-themed dinner party off to a good start!



Deevs



x

Spikey - tis tonight! Wouldn't have a dinner party on a "school night" !!



x

Happy Bidet MTF ! ;-)

Good morning one and all.



Lessons in Love by Level 42 please.



And a very happy birthday to MobileToothFairy!



Deebee X

#6 Oops, I'm a day out! Talking of which, having a nice day out in Kernow, re-visiting places I haven't been to for many yonks.

Morning Simon and all blessed Blogpoppets....I shouldn't be here! I am supposed to be in Sweden!!! And they are calling it an act of God!!!

Dear Peta - does yesterday's problem with moderation (like the ash cloud) still haunt us?

I must work - can't make any good opening suggestions today - I'm too disappointed

oooooo, NICK LOWE? Can we have SWITCHBOARD SUSAN please Si? Pretty Please?

Hey Revster - welcome back! We missed you!

Morning Rev - Nice to see you back again.



I'll second Deevs ARF for Twilight - just because MTF always asks for it! Or 'Confusion' by the same fine band, 'cos there seems to be a lot of it about at the moment!



Happy Birthday MTF.

Can it be anything other than Damien Rice's "Volcano" as the opening track?

Well, yes it can. David Bowie's "Ashes To Ashes"

Morning All,



Happy Birthday MTF!



As it's my last day at work today (until I don't know when!) I would like you to play JAMES - COME HOME please.



As you were, chaps...



Nic

Happy birthday MTF - hope you have found your way back from the M25 by now!

Morning all,



Congrats MTF on your birthday! Commiserations to the Rev - He does work in mysterious ways...

Anyway, looks like them gremlins are out and about again, so I shall go and dose up with some caffeine.

Before I go tho, how's about

ASHES TO ASHES (Bowie)

as an ARF (for obvious reasons and also suggested by CDF a while back).



Cheers, Dave

Hi Rev - sorry about your travel plans - act of God, that's ironic! Still, Sweden's loss... Luckily my daughter flew out on Wednesday. I hope she's able to get back okay next Tuesday. Lots of people here (at work) were supposed to be going to a big conference in the States today - a lot of gloomy faces around.



Deebee X

Ha, just read your post Kevin - sorry, it was 'awaiting the mods' when I tuned in.....

Hi Simon - for ARF I'd like "The One And Only" by Chesney Hawkes, good jumping up and down song - and it was no 1 on my daughter's birthday which was yesterday - happy 19th Kirsty.



Otherwise - how about Wild In The Streets by Bon Jovi? Terrific feel-good song.

I'm glad to say the ash hasn't disrupted my travel plans. I will still be hitting the M27 (not literally, I hope) at around 4pm, bound for Worthing, travelling at a height of 1.83m....

I will be contacting Phil (Children In Need) next week with Bloggers interest for November and phone answering for the CiN Music Marathon. So, if you're interested, and haven't already done so, there's a thread on CLP Bloggers page on Faceache for CiN 2010 - just add your name and I'll forward it to Phil next week. I'll also need email addresses for each of you to send to Phil so the BBC can contact you directg nearer the time.



(Please do not start new thread on Blogpoppets page - it'll only serve to confuse me!)



Deevs



x

#26 I'll send you my email at lunchtime Deevs. X

I reckon a Nick Lowe song is nailed on today so won't make a suggestion. Have asked for a "good luck" shout for Stevenage for tomorrow, which should ensure Radio 2 listening figures plumeting through the floor in Luton if Simon grants it :-)

Deebee - on my FB info tab is my email addy - can you ping one over to that and I'll put you in my contacts list.



Ta!



Deevs, born organiser!

x

Thanks you lovely lot for all my birthday wishes.xx



I will indulge myself ( in a hopeless bid, I know) and ask for....



Twilight by ELO.



Its got to happen one day, and thanks to those of you who have asked for it too.



Its such a great song and upbeat and never, well hardly ever, gets played on the radio.



Its been an exciting morning so far. The hoover blew up as soon as I plugged it in, so a mad dash to buy another!!



Do birthday gifts get more exciting than that??



Oh, I haven't even opened my cards yet, so off to do that now.



Have a lovely day all of you.



Go on Simon, make my day, please!!



MTF.xx

#24 - LazyRizzo - I am afraid that that song is forever tainted in my mind and Chesney Hawkes the Devil incarnate as he stopped my beloved JAMES from getting to No. 1 with Sit Down for 5 weeks (however much I may hate the song now...lol...) It still hurts...lol.





Nic

Oh and Simon, if you are hinting that the ARF opener has already been chosen then what's the point of all these blimmin' suggestions?!



Nic

How do all, and happy birthday to MobileToothFairy - a GREAT day to have a birthday I reckon, sharing it with the Pope, Gerry Rafferty, and myself.



I have to concur that ELO would be a fantastic way to start the weekend. I myself have not opened any cards yet, and will have very little time to do so tonight, as I'm travelling to my nan's in Essex and staying with her whilst marshalling at Brands Hatch truck racing this weekend. Here's hoping the weather holds out.



If you could see your way to that tune Mr Mayo, you'd make me very happy (as well as MTF by the sound of it), and I'd certainly vote for you.



Mayo for PM.



Night all.



MP

Good Afternoon Each! And a specially good day to MTF. Happy Birthday, Chuck!



Simon, I find myself with a desperate desire to hear "Jazz, Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold" by The Bonzo Dog DooDah Band. Would you be so gracious? I'd be eternally grateful.



Well, OK, maybe not eternally, but for a bit, anyway. Ta!

#28 #32 The Nick that Simon refers to is not the ARF song but a Twitter thread from last night. So many times during the debate either Cameron or Brown said "I agree with Nick" that a whole thread sprang up - Best outdoor food? I agree with Pic Nick - Most devilish? I agree with Old nick...that kind of thing...

Thanks Paul.x



Just popped back to say...



Kev, I dont go near the M25, strictly a one motorway gal!



MTF.xx

Afternoon Simon and all you lovely blogpoppets,



If it is Nick Lowe today, it would be great to hear CRUEL TO BE KIND but I would much rather listen to........



COME ON EILEEN by DEXY's MIDNIGHT RUNNERS



My car is covered with a fine dust. I suggested to my son that it was Icelandic dust, he replied "No Mum, it is just very dirty!"



Sorry that you couldn't get to Sweden, Rev, but it's good to have you here!



Mcw x

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MTF!



AND thankyou for all the lovely nature updates on the other blog, they are a joy to read. My swallows have gone AWOL- here one minute and now gone!! Shall keep the old mince pies peeled!



Mcw x

Ah MCW, they will be the ones doing a stopover en route.



I really fancy a mince pie now!!!



Thanks for wishes.x



MTF.xx

#39 I'll look out for the stragglers then! The ones with unkempt feathers and bright red faces!! Bless them, thousands of miles flying non-stop, my arms are aching thinking about it!!

#39 Well we've had Easter, so I wouldn't be surprised if they're selling them in Tescos by now (other supermarkets, etc.)



Deebee X

Afternoon all



Paul - Bonzo Dog Doodah Band, great call. I'd love it if he played anything at all by them.



I think MTF should get her choice finally, a bit of Twilight, go on Simon.



A

Thanks Andy, I have been asking for it now for almost a year, including originally on CLPs blog.



Doesnt everyone love a bit of ELO?



Possibly not :)



MTF.xx

#43 I certainly do MTF - I was in their fan club in my youth. I found my fan club pack a few months ago whilst haveing a clear out! And I also got my Bev Bevan autobiography signed. If you haven't read it, it's a great read!

Hi guys 'n gals - I'm deeply touched by your concern. Here I am stuck in Romford without wife and car who remained behind in France under the mistaken idea I would be on a serious conference in Sweden so Angela decided gardening in France with a friend would be preferable to be alone in Romford. Isn't life full of subtle irony? There must be a Thought for the Day in there somewhere? How splednid is that?

Rev - Life's full of irony isn't it...



Nic

Well, I'll be hitting the road at 4pm, so will not be on here until later. Good luck with the ARF, folks, and hope the ash doesn't getcha!

# 46 yes Nic it is....

Simon - since I'm not in Sweden as I ought to be...something by Abba??? How's about "Waterloo"?

Back from lovely day in the sunshine - no ash clouds yet - met up with The Boy prior to tonight's gig, and wonder if there's a better sea side setting in the world than The Minack theatre.....

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that I've come to the conclusion that I'm not so keen on ARF as the rest of the Drivetime shows. I can't quite put my finger on why - when CLP used to do it I listened to Drivetime less often, but I did use to enjoy the Friday shows. And yet if I was asked which of the two of them I prefer, in general it would have to be Simon. I guess maybe it's partly because there's less of the things Simon excels at - the interviews, confessions, general banter etc. It seems to be mainly over excited women phoning up to tell him their weekend plans (okay, if I phoned up and got through I'd be a bit over excited, but that's one of the reasons I don't phone!)



Deebee X

I think it's probably a relaxing fun show to do, and maybe even necessary to allow the movie show to happen with Kermode earlier in the afternoon i.e less preparation needed by the main man.



I guess it does what it says on the tin.

Hi Deebee,



I think you are right. I always enjoy the Mon to Thurs shows, and Simon is excellent at the interviews, the wide range of guests from Doddy and Boy George to Kim Cattrell has always kept the show fresh and interesting. I also love the fact that we on the blog can (and do) get chance to choose the songs from the themes that Simon sets. Enjoy Matt on sport, more so than Jonny Saunders (sorry Jonny!) and his laugh is great when Simon reads out the confessions. But Friday seems to be a different show altogether and I can almost second guess what songs will be requested.



Have a lovely weekend, Saturday looks to be a nice sunny day inspite of the ash. Should get some fantasics sunsets apparently!



Mcw x

#51, 52...I agree with Deebs and Ken.



Not quite the same ring to it.....

# and now I agree with mcw too!

Off for last night's postponed madras, then on to the Big Gig - will post links on the FB site laters.



You do remember the FB site?!



Missed most of The Show due to blimmin' laptop battery problems, so did we get a hit of Nick Lowe?

May as well go for a cheeky little....

5 in a row?

Ken, that is a good point. It must be quite tiring doing two shows back to back, and I guess ARF doesn't need quite as much pre-planning as the rest of the week.



MCW - good to know the forecast is positive! You have a good weekend too - and we must have our Cambridgeshire mini blog meet soon!



Deebee X

and Spike - thanks for the reminder about the FB site!

#59 sorry to be the harbinger of doom, but "they" do say snow is on the way.....or is it just the wrong kind of ash?

I wonder if Twitter has an ashtag on the volcano situation......

I blame global warming

#61. If 'they' are correct and we do get a little wintery precipitation, will we get the worlds first ever pre-gritted snowfall?

Dunno if anyone is here, but on BBC4 now there is a tribute to Nick Drake...

...including Green Gartside, no less! My, he's changed!

..and at 11:20 tonight, the last in the series of Guitar Heroes on BBC4 - In this sixth and final show to round out BBC FOUR's Guitar Heroes series, axe fans get classic riffs from Pete Townshend as the Who play Won't Get Fooled Again, Rod and Ronnie with the Faces doing Miss Judy's Farm at the old BBC TV Theatre, some weird yodel-rock from Dutch prog rockers Focus, folky acoustic numbers from Davy Graham and Ralph McTell, and some flamboyant fretwork from Americans Nils Lofgren and Ted Nugent.



Filmed in the 1970s for shows including Top of the Pops and The Old Grey Whistle Test, these tracks pay tribute to a golden era in rock and to the last of the 70s Guitar Heroes.

*lands in a cloud of volcanic dust*



Hi all - just caught up on the bloggery. Made me smile.



London - north, south, east, west, greater, central, circular, M25iness was actually not too bad, somewhat ameliorated by stopover in decent pub/b&b in Richmond, a place which surely qualifies for quintessential stunning little corner of England.



Flippin glad to get a lie-in tomorrow, though.

Do I have to say...



Quelle suprise that another tweeter got the ARF???



I have just sat down and opened my birthday cards and am off to bed in a moment.



Thanks all you wonderful bloggers for good wishes.



Watch out Simon, I am now a fairy on a real mission, now how does this tweet thing work??



Night all.



MTF.xx

#67 will watch on iPlayer for sure - that Jan Akkerman can dish out a lick or two. As for Thijs van Leer, he's just plain bonkers.

The Boy Wonder and his Gal brought the place down last night - 2 hours of absolute magic. Not a single bum note and some jaw-dropping playing and singing. The August tour of Kernow is a guaranteed sell out! I'm first in the queue and there are a number of scouts/record producer types right behind me.

#71

Hope it's captured on film, Spikeedad. What sort of venue are we talkin? Acoustic-y?

#59 Deebee, that would be lovely!



#69 MTF, I did tweet on your behalf yesterday, cos I, too, like a bit of ELO now and again.



#71 Sounds like it was a great evening, Spike. You must be very proud of both of them, and rightfully so.



Cheery bye for now. x

Morning All



#71 Sounds like a fab evening Spike - you must be very proud of your boy.



#73 I tweeted and texted Simon for a birthday request for MTF - in fact I did everything but stand outside his studio waving a placard...maybe that would have worked, we'll never know.



Today is my wedding anniversary, so Mr Bee and I will be heading out this evening for a nice meal. We're thinking probably Chinese.



Have a good day everyone.



Deebee X

#69 MobileToothFairy



Sorry m'dear - belated Happy Birthday MTF!

It's amazing what you miss when 3 days away from t'internet



OK - forever the researcher - I've been having a closer look at the ARF or Opening Track phenomenomemumena esp. relating to your long-running request for ELO - Twilight.



ELO tracks 'seem' to be well represented across the shows on R2 or perhaps that's just my perception - I always think Rod Stewart is played a lot [both artistes a safe bet, universally popular, fit the demograph, blah de blah etc etc].



Of all the ELO singles, around 22 of them were Top 20, 15 of them Top 10.

'Twilight' maxed at No 30 and was only in the charts for 7 weeks.



Perhaps the track itself is just not 'popular' enough? Whereas the band are, and indeed you are :)

Request methodology probably doesn't even come into it.



Anyway, don't mind me - just having one of my Saturday morning rambles ....

I have put a link to Simon's latest column on our FB site. I'd appreciate some feedback on whether people actually want me to carry on performing this service. I know a lot of you are on Twitter, so get the link directly from the man himself, as I do, but there are still a fair few non-Twits amoung us (plus, I suspect some lurkers, who may find it useful).



I'll ask the question again on Monday's blog, when there are more people around.

and of course (for Paul's benefit) I'm sure LOTS of people actually buy the Telegraph and read the column in print! (other newspapers, etc..)

Talking of FB, looks like the Drivetime page (as opposed to the Blogpoppets one) has been affected by the ash cloud as well. The Thursday post appeared after the show finished. And the Friday post has only just appeared.

#77. The fiver's in the post. Oh, and Happy Anniversary to both of the bees.

(tumbleweed)

Morning all.



Hope the bronchials are OK this morning - not too affected by the vast clouds of ash...



Had a great weekend househunting. Found one we like enough to put a silly offer in for!

Songs for the stranded today. I will be voting for;



I'LL FIND MY WAY HOME - JON & VANGELIS



LEAVING ON A JET PLANE - PETER PAUL AND MARY

Oh, and MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE - POLICE

NEW BLOG PEEEEEEPS!