Mum and Dad are from London in England. My Dad was the youngest son in a huge family. Both Dad's parents were on the music hall stage. My Dad's father — a natural entertainer — opened an open fronted shop for lace curtains in Lewisham in 1912 and then for 25 years until he passed away became known through South London as Little Jim, the "Curtain King" . Then the war came and Dad (and Mum) separately joined the RAF. After the war they met and married, and I was born in Hastings over there in 1951. We all moved to Brisbane Australia in 1956 when I was four. Dad obtained work as a salesman for National Cash Registers (NCR) and we moved to various towns — Lismore, Rockhampton, before our family settled in Brisbane when I was 12. Then, after leaving home at 19, I also moved around, mainly doing computer programming with different firms, and with many different housing and community-style living arrangements over the years — Ayr and Townsville in North Queensland, a short time in Sydney, 2 months in America (in 1979), then a full year in Sydney in 1983 where my first son David was born — early morning when that race began where Australia won the America's cup click here for some of the news articles. But, while travelling a lot, it seems my life has always centred around Brisbane. And I love this picture of our city. Click to open its page.
Click here for a short date line brisbanehistory.htm
For more info, visit aboutus.asp
Have absolutely loved playing records. Bought "A Hard Day's Night" on my 13th birthday in 1964 costing me £2.12s.6d and I think it was the most money I'd ever been given — then spent. But I developed a huge record collection particularly from the 1966-1973 era. In 1974 I was awarded the Guinness world record title for non-stop disc jockeying during Christmas 1973. Working with a Methodist Church (since 1977 Uniting Church) leadership team in Brisbane we contacted management at Sundale Shopping Centre on the Gold Coast who set me up on a specially constructed stage in front of the 4GG sound booth. Next with the assistance of Gold Coast radio station 4GG we contacted EMI Records Australia who then sponsored my effort as part of a worldwide 75th birthday celebration. And so during my annual leave from work with a crowd of supporters and bemused shoppers I disc jockeyed for 3weeks 2days 3hours while promoting "Quo Vadis", a bunch of coffee shops that had been set up on the Gold Coast that Christmas. They were "drop in" centres sponsored by local churches — the God Squad in Melbourne — the House of the New World in Sydney — the House of Freedom in Brisbane — the Jesus family in Ipswich — and various other bods. Interestingly though after I had broken the world record of records 
and decided to stop playing (New Year's eve at the start of 1974) I found I had less "compulsion" to want to put on another record. Life is interesting innit ?
Click here for further details (and some photos of the effort including the Guinness announcement).
Click here for some famous singers and musicians who sadly, and famously (or infamously) died young.
Incidentally, most of you know this, we strongly recommend you don't respond to any "conversation" that someone from "Google AdWords" may attempt to initiate with you
while one of these videos are playing
| Title | Recordings ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| About Time Nick Laird-Clowes | 2013 |
| Against all Odds Phil Collins | 1984 |
| All you need is Love John Lennon (The Beatles) live performance at EMI Studios in London before 400-700 million people, three weeks after the Six Day War | 1967 |
| Almost Famous(Airport Scene) Nancy Wilson | 2000 |
| Always Look on the Bright Side of Life Art Garfunkel | 1997 |
| Always on My Mind Pet Shop Boys cover version | 1987 |
| American Pie (A Long Long Time ago) Madonna 2000 (Don Mclean 1972) | 2000 |
| And did those feet in ancient time (Jerusalem) from Chariots of Fire movie | 1981 |
| And the rockets red glare Robert Downey singing and BB King playing the US National Anthem in "Heart and Souls" movie | 1993 |
| Any Old Iron Harry Champion | 1911 |
| Baker Street Gerry Rafferty | 1978 |
| Band on the Run Live Glastonbury Music Festival 2004 — Paul McCartney | 1974 |
| Beatles Chronology all their songs (in recorded order) plus Now and Then released in 2023 | 1962-1969 |
| Be Careful What You Sign Larry Norman live 1990 | 1973 |
| Book of Love Peter Gabriel's version from Shall We Dance movie | 2004 |
| Born To Try Delta Goodrem on Neighbours, October 11 2002 | 2002 |
| Box Tops hits "The Letter" (Get me a ticket for an aeroplane) sung by 16 year old Alex Chilton also "Trains and Boats and Planes" a somewhat related song on their first album | 1967 |
| Chase the Devil Max Romeo reggae audio | 1976 |
| Chicago's hits "Saturday in the Park" in 1973, "Does anybody really know what time it is" in 1969, "25 or 6 to 4" in 1970, "If you leave me now" in 1976 and "Hard to say I'm sorry" in 1982 | 1969-1982 |
| Coldplay's hits from their first four albums include "Yellow" in 2000, "Don't Panic" in 2001, "In My Place", "The Scientist" and "Clocks" in 2002, "God Put a Smile upon your Face" in 2003, "Fix You" and "Talk" in 2005, "The Hardest Part" in 2006, "Viva la Vida" in 2008 | 2000-2008 |
| Cry Me a River 2002 Billboards Award video | 2002 |
| Dear Malcolm Dear Alwyn 1973 Larry Norman audio | 1973 |
| Desert Song 1929 and 1953 movie videos | 1929-1953 |
| Dido's hits from her first two albums include "Thank you" and "Here with Me" in 1999, "Life for Rent" and "White Flag" in 2003 | 1999-2003 |
| Different Drum Linda Ronstadt (Stone Poneys) | 1967 |
| Dire Strait's "Local Hero" in 1983 and other hits — "Sultans of Swing" and "Water of Love(Live)" in 1978, "Romeo and Juliet" and "Tunnel of Love" in 1980 | 1978-1983 |
| Do you believe he's comin' (audio) in 1973, plus Make it with you in 1970 — David Gates from Bread | |
| Don't Bring Me Down Electric Light Orchestra TV 2001 | 1979 |
| Don't Look Back in Anger Oasis video | 1995 |
| Don't You Forget About Me Simple Minds video | 1985 |
| Down Under Men at Work | 1981 |
| Dumb Things Paul Kelly video | 1989 |
| Edge of Seventeen Stevie Nicks | 1981 |
| Eve of Destruction Barry McGuire | 1965 |
| Everything is Broken Bob Dylan live in concert 1999 | 1989 |
| Expecting To Fly Neil Young's hit with Buffalo Springfield in 1967, "Woodstock" with Crosby Stills and Nash in 1970, "Heart of Gold" with Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor on closing chorus in 1972 | 1967-1972 |
| Forever Young Bob Dylan and the Band | 1973 |
| Fortunate Son Creedence Clearwater Revival live at Royal Albert Hall London April 1970 | 1969 |
Free the People Darryl Braithwaite and Sherbet a live version with a high school. Introduction of "Waltzing Matilda", before he segues into the song  | 1971 |
| Friday on My Mind The Easybeats live on Top of the Pops 1966 | 1966 |
| Go your own way 1976, As long as you follow 1988 Fleetwood Mac videos plus Don't you wanna talk about it 1985, Rock that doesn't Roll 1976 Larry Norman in concert | 1976-1988 |
| Godspell movie based on 1971 musical "We Beseech Thee" .. "Bless the Lord" .. "God Save the People" .. "Alas Alas For You" .. "By My Side" | 1973 |
| Graceland Paul Simon live on David Letterman | 1986 |
| Great South Land of the Holy Spirit Steve Grace | 1991 |
| Hallelujah 1984 — Leonard Cohen early video plus John Cale's 1991 tribute version played in Shrek in 2001 | 1984-2001 |
| Hey Jude The Beatles video link to original performance on David Frost in September 1968 plus an interview with Julian Lennon in 2021. Also Maharishi and the Beatles a recent interview including links to | 1968 |
| Highway 61 Revisited Bob Dylan audio | 1965 |
| Hillsong video "Mighty to Save" in 2006 .. "Emmanuel" in 2005 .. "Welcome in this Place" in 2005 | 2005-2006 |
| Hold Me Now Thompson Twins video | 1983 |
| Holiday Madonna video | 1983 |
| How to save a life Grey's Anatomy Cast Members video | 2006 |
| Hurt Christina Aguilera video | 2006 |
| I just don't know what to do with myself Dionne Warwick in 1966, Cameron Diaz in 1997 "My Best Friend's Wedding" | 1966-1997 |
| If I fell / "This Boy" The Beatles video | 1964 |
| If we Try / "Empty Chairs" Don McLean video | 1972 |
| I'm Not in Love (1975) + four songs Donna(1972), RubberBullets(1973), Things We Do for Love(1976), Dreadlock Holiday(1978) — 10cc videos | 1972-1978 |
| Imagine John Lennon video from the second verse | 1971 |
| Immigrant Song Led Zeppelin live 1972 video plus "Tangerine" from Led Zep III and "When the Levee Breaks" from Led Zep IV | 1971-1972 |
| In the Garden Bob Dylan video | 1980 |
| In the Year 2525 Zager and Evans video | 1969 |
| Into My Arms Nick Cave video Sung at Bill Nighy's funeral in the movie "About Time" | 1997 |
| Ironic Alanis Morissette video | 1996 |
| It's My Life (it never ends) Talk Talk (1984) and No Doubt (2003) videos | 1984-2003 |
| It's Still Rock and Roll to me Billy Joel video | 1980 |
| It's Too Late-Ride On Evermore audio | 2004 |
| I Won't Back Down (1989) plus "Learning to Fly" (1991) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers video | 1989-1991 |
| Kiss Me Sixpence None the Richer video | 1998 |
| Lamb (Messianic Jewish duo) — "Jerusalem Descending" (1974), "Queen of Sheba" (1976), "Sacrifice Lamb" (1972), "Ephraim" (1976), "Sh'ma Yisrael" (1978) | 1972-1978 |
| Let the River Run Carly Simon (theme from the movie "Working Girl") Famous toast Harrison Ford as Jack Trainer "Power to the people" Tess "The little people" | 1988 |
| Losing My Religion R.E.M. | 1991 |
| Maranatha / "Little Country Church" / "For those Tears I Died" Everlastin' Living Jesus Music Concert | 1971 |
| Maroon 5's hits in 2004 (lyrics only) from their first 2002 album "Songs about Jane This Love and | 2004-2019 |
| Mary, did you know? Pentatonix | 2014 |
| More than a Feeling Boston | 1976 |
| My Boomerang won't come back Charlie Drake | 1961 |
| Neighborhood Bully Bob Dylan | 1983 |
| Nightmare Larry Norman with great shots — even one from "The Miracle Worker the Helen Keller story | 1973 |
| Northern Sky Brighten my Northern Sky scene from Serendipity movie | 2001 |
| One World: Together at Home the global concert Saturday April 18 2020 2:00pm-10:00pm ET or Sunday 4:00am-12 noon AEST | 2020 |
| Part of the Union Strawbs video Live Top of the Pops 25th January 1973, becoming the unofficial anthem of the trade union movement | 1973 |
| The Police formed in London in 1977 with primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). Hits from their albums up to 1983 include — "Roxanne" and "Can't Stand Losing you" in 1978, "Walking on the Moon" in 1979, and "Every Breath you Take" in 1983 | 1978-1983 |
| Pommy Jackaroo Buster Noble | 1962 |
| Praise Scripts Murray Wylie | 1976 |
| Pretty Fly Offspring video | 1998 |
| Right Said Fred Bernard Cribbens | 1962 |
| Royal Telephone Jimmy Little video | 1963 |
| Saved Bob Dylan audio | 1980 |
| Scarborough Fair / Canticle Simon and Garfunkel audio | 1966 |
| Sea of Love with Juno excerpts video | 2000 |
| Ship of Fools in 1986 / "She's the One" in 1997 World Party video plus "Don't Bang the Drum" and "Whole of the Moon" in 1985 with The Waterboys | 1985-1997 |
| Slice of Heaven Dave Dobbyn and Herbs video Theme from Footrot Flats movie and New Zealand's "unofficial" national anthem | 1986 |
| Snoopy's Christmas Royal Guardsmen | 1967 |
| So Long Fischer Z video | 1980 |
| Something Special Randy Newman audio | 1987 |
| Streets of your town The Go-Betweens video | 1988 |
| Stumblin' In Suzi Quatro 1978 video plus "Chipmunk Song" 1958 | 1958-1978 |
| Teach Your Children Crosby Stills Nash video | 1970 |
| Therefore With Joy Scripture In Song audio with the option of playing the entire album "Thou Art Worthy" released in 1970 | 1970 |
| Titanium David Guetta video featuring Sia | 2011 |
| Total Eclipse of the Heart Bonnie Tyler video | 1983 |
| Toy Soldiers Martika video (official) | 1988 |
| Travis's hits from their first three albums include — "All I want do is Rock" (1996), "Why does it always Rain on me" (1999), "Sing" (2001) | 1996-2001 |
| Turn Turn Turn The Byrds video (Ed Sullivan show) | 1965 |
| Twelve Thirty young girls are coming to the canyon The Mamas and Papas Ed Sullivan show, June 22 1968 | 1967 |
| Vertigo U2 video | 2004 |
| Video killed the Radio Star The Buggles video | 1979 |
| Wanted Dead or Alive Bon Jovi video | 1986 |
| Waterloo Sunset 1967 official audio / "Sunny Afternoon" 1966 The Kinks plus Picture Book video and Last of the Steam Powered Trains live in 1968, Victoria and You've Really Got Me live in 1979, and Till the End of the Day live in 1993 | 1964-1969 |
| The Weight The Band (with photos) | 1968 |
| What a Fool Believes Doobie Brothers audio | 1979 |
| When He Returns Bob Dylan audio (final track on Slow Train Coming | 1979 |
| Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd live unplugged video | 1975 |
| Wishin' and Hopin' My Best Friend's Wedding video | 1997 |
| Wuthering Heights Kate Bush video | 1978 |
| You Ain't Going Nowhere The Byrds audio | 1968 |
Click here for Hoyts, Greater Union (Event Cinemas) and Cineplex Australia, an Australian Cinemas Timeline.
Click here for a Movies Radio and TV Timeline, in the US.
Many of Brisbane's inner-city cinemas closed between 1965 and 2001. First to go was the Tivoli Roofgarden in 1965, then the Wintergarden in 1973, Odeon in 1976, Regent in 1978, Paris in 1980, George in 1991, then Albert and Forum Cinemas in 2001.
Click here for the background to these Brisbane cinemas.
Click here for Brisbane cinemas open in 2022.
Click here for Event Cinema (at Garden City)
Click here to see my movies page.
Favourite movie scripts: Wayne and Schuster's "Rinse the Blood off my Toga" and Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First". Favourite movie performances: Danny Kaye Angela Lansbury and Basil Rathbone in "The Court Jester". Anthony Hopkins in "Meet Joe Black". Hugh Grant in "About a Boy" and "Music and Lyrics". Julia Roberts in "My Best Friend's Wedding". Also "The Great Race" "Field of Dreams"
"That Thing You Do"
"Bend it Like Beckham"
"Back to the Future (first one)" "The Matrix (first one)"
"Sunshine on Leith"
"Rocketman" - Elton John. Music is great. Click link for a more accurate timeline (and some corrections to the storyline).
Click here for a TV (and Newspaper) Moguls Timeline in Australia
Click here for two of Peter Cook's most famous skits – "The End of the Age" with Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean), and "One Leg Too Few" with Dudley Moore, plus the Monty Python skit – "Society is to Blame (Dead Bishop)" with the Monty Python team.
in the Australian Idol 2004 series — along with the judges (Marcia Mark and Ian) hit a great though at times volatile chemistry — Brilliant.
I have 3 children. Loved reading to them around the dinner table: Frank Peretti's Cooper Kids (
Heroes
CS Lewis and Watchman Nee (for staying true to themselves).
And those passengers on United Flight 93 (click here).
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