The further I go back in time, the fewer songs I recognise. Because a whole stack of Time Kicks Back is set in Bletchley Park during 1940, I’m gonna spend a wee while looking at that decade. I couldn’t find enough songs I knew/liked to do more than a single summary for the entire decade. Here they are:
1. That Old Black Magic – Judy Garland 2. Pennsylvania 65000 – The Andrews Sisters 3. White Christmas – Bing Crosby 4. Nature Boy – Nat King Cole 5. We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn 6. Deep In The Heart Of Texas – Bing Crosby 7. Pistol Packin’ Mama – Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters 8. These Foolish Things – Frank Sinatra 9. Over The Rainbow – Judy Garland 10. (There’ll Be Blue Birds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover – Vera Lynn 11. Swanee – Al Jolson 12. Whispering Grass – Ink Spots 13. The Trolley Song – Judy Garland
And a few bubbling under: You Are My Sunshine – Bing Crosby Lili Marlene – Anne Shelton Begin the Beguine – The Andrews Sisters If I Had My Way – Bing Crosby Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ra! (That’s An Irish Lullaby) – Bing Crosby Don’t Fence Me in – Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive – Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters Meet Me in St. Louis – Judy Garland Saturday Night (is the Loneliest Night in the Week) – Frank Sinatra Moonlight Becomes You – Bing Crosby Nancy (With the Laughing Face) – Frank Sinatra
When it comes to guilty pleasures, you cannot whack Eurovision for splitting the country in the same way marmite does. For the longest while I’d been kinda take it or leave it, but the past couple of years, with proper parties have been such fun. And apart from the love for Graham Norton and a stack of prosecco, the watching of the iconic movie has now become an annual family ritual. Play Ja-ja Ding-dong!
This year saw us rooting for a number of different acts, including (but not limited to) Cyprus, Spain, Sweden, Czechia, Norway and Lithuania. Others worthy of note were Serbia, Albania, Australia, Belgium and Germany. Unfortunately, the UK entry, although it sounded really powerful on the radio, didn’t live up to its potential.
We were happy when the Swedish entry beat Finland’s energetic effort – despite nails which looked like they belonged on a fantasy/horror Netflix show, Loreen deserved her second win.
Earlier, we listened to Steve Wright’s run down of the top 40 UK. In addition to bringinging back some fun memories, it threw up some amazing facts. Like although we were joint 3rd with 5 wins, the UK have lodged the highest number of 2nd places (16). Here’s the top 20, as voted for by Radio 2 listeners:
1. Sam Ryder – Space Man (2022) – 2nd 2. Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up (1981) – Winner 3. Gina G – Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit (1996) 4. Katrina and the Waves – Love Shine a Light (1997) – Winner 5. Brotherhood of Man – Save Your Kisses for Me (1976) – Winner 6. Sandie Shaw – Puppet on a String (1967) – Winner 7. Cliff Richard – Congratulations (1968) – 2nd 8. The New Seekers – Beg, Steal or Borrow (1972) – 2nd 9. Lulu – Boom Bang-a-Bang (1969) – Joint Winner 10. Michael Ball – One Step Out of Time (1992) – 2nd 11. Sonia – Better the Devil You Know (1993) – 2nd 12. Bardo – One Step Further (1982) 13. Scooch – Flying the Flag (For You) (2007) 14. Mary Hopkin – Knock, Knock Who’s There? (1970) – 2nd 15. Imaani – Where Are You? (1998) – 2nd 16. Olivia Newton-John – Long Live Love (1974) – 4th 17. Daz Sampson – Teenage Life (2006) 18. Cliff Richard – Power to All Our Friends (1973) 19. Lucie Jones – Never Give Up on You (2017) 20. Lynsey de Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom (1977) – 2nd
It turns out that Ireland are the the most successful country, first with Dana in 1970, two wins from Johnny Logan in the 80s and an unprecedented 3 years in a row from 92-94 and then again in 96.
Goodness me this one took a lorra, lorra research, but hopefully, I’ve only included enough to give you an immersive experience and not bored you with all the details which fascinated me.
So much stuff I never knew about Enigma codes and Bletchley Park (I even spent in a day a the place, cramming in as much as I could).
Apart from the memory of the whole family crowded round a tiny, blsck-and-white TV, I don’t remember much about the England/Germany game in 1966. I was only 6 at the time – old enough to know it was a big deal and love the pink wafer biscuits and Corona’s “ice-cream soda.”
This will give you a flavour of Kev’s decidely dodgy experiences: Kev buried his demons when he was 22. And dug them up again 22 years before he was born.
Shortly before paranoia sets in, Kev discovers the secret his housemates are keeping from him. The Time Capsule in the attic? It really works. His first time-travel jaunt has him witnessing a historic cup final, courtesy of Georgie, who reveals previously hidden depths.
When they’re paired in a WWII Bletchley Park role-play scenario, Kev sees a different side to her – while she thinks he totally rocks the trench coat and fedora as a 1940s spy. Bonus!
Obsessed with the Jules Rimet trophy-theft, he returns to 1966, where his investigation attracts unsavoury attention, and he has to dig deep for the skills to survive. With nasty side-effects. He didn’t mean for Georgie to bear the brunt, but what is it they say about hurting the one – no, seriously?
Anyway, you can pick up your copy of Time Kicks Back by clicking the link – a steal at £2.99/$3.49 or read for free on Kindle Unlimited. Continue the fun adventures of a bunch of 30-something geeks as they explore their family’s pasts with the aid of a temperamental time capsule in the attic. Although it can be read as a standalone, reading the other two first will give insight into the complicated relationships between them.
I’ve shown both of these to a number of my fabulous team, and so far it’s a tie. Which one do you prefer? Add a comment below. Ta xxx
Prologue 1 – 1940. “Neighbours, you are tedious.” Leonato attempted to sidestep the deranged constable, but he blocked the path. “If I were as tedious as a king, I would bestow it all on your worship.” His solemn delivery raised chuckles. “All thy tediousness on me, ha?”
Despite exquisite comic timing, completely unexpected from men with such serious day-jobs, the interplay couldn’t hold Clive’s attention as he ran through his lines for the next scene. The one he dreaded most. Not just the thirteen-line speech which tied his tongue in knots, but the thought of laying into the girl he’d grown dangerously fond of. Hettie, the object of his concern, whispered in his ear. “He’s remarkably good for a scientist. Should be on a West End stage.”
Trying to ignore the effect of her proximity, he whispered back. “We could all learn from his timing.” Even as his body responded to the fresh apple notes emanating from her glossy hair, his mind pondered on the slip-up. What would a girl like her know about London’s West End? Unless, as he suspected, she was playing him.
A stern glare from the director had them both zipping lips and he found himself recalling her ingenious solutions to the war-time shortages. The blush he found irresistibly endearing had accompanied her explanation of using cider vinegar to wash her hair and beetroot and Vaseline instead of lipstick. But that just drew his attention to her lips.
The call for act four curtailed his musings, and somehow he made it all the way to the end of his long speech without stumbling. A moment later, her face crumpled as he delivered the line denouncing her as “… an approved wanton.”
But that was just the start. The director’s notes to increase the physicality had her clinging to his arm as she pleaded and, when he flung her off, she stumbled, landing awkwardly on the floor. Hettie was a game girl, but he could tell she’d hurt herself, and could do nothing about it.
Finally, his part was done and he exited the stage area, oblivious to the rest of the scene except for her winces revealing the potential damage at his hands. But not for the right reasons.
The frisson he’d experienced at having her helpless at his feet had shocked and excited him in equal measure. Appalled by the powerful images running through his mind, he made a note to assess these inappropriate reactions threatening to blow his cover. And, more worryingly, to reveal a potential cruel streak.
Prologue 2 – 1966. In many ways, Kev’s entire life had been leading up to this moment. Admittedly, not exactly here in this less-than-salubrious pub, 22 years before he was actually born. But to a similar situation where all the life hacks resulting from his upbringing, education, and experiences coalesced.
Even the parts he’d played in school productions – thanks to a sympathetic drama teacher recognising his talent for slipping into a skin other than his own – came in handy.
He adopted the confidence and sleaze of a 60s spiv, made easier by Georgie’s assurance that he rocked the trench coat, fedora and slicked back hair. He’d had a teeny tiny tremor about the etiquette of wearing a hat indoors, and quite what you were supposed to do with the damned thing when you took it off. But Ben’s golden advice saw him in good stead – watch what the people around you do, and blend in. He sipped the pale ale with a grimace.
Prickles at the back of his neck and the odd snatched phrase alerted him to the increasing interest of a nearby table of thugs. He’d clocked them as the power centre in the room while at the bar, the mirror behind it being perfectly placed for that function. He mused that its original purpose was to make the mean selection of spirits appear twice the size. Also, given some of the seedy clientele, to give the landlord eyes in the back of his head.
Part of Kev’s training involved augmenting his senses to lessen his chances of being taken by surprise, and they were ganging up to inform him now would be a good time to bug out. He’d learnt as much as he could from this particular watering hole, and was unlikely to gain any further information about his prey by sticking around. Several bruises and the odd cracked rib, perhaps, but they’d have to catch him first.
He made his move and, by the time they entered the alley, he was ready for them.
Clothes rationing had ended by 1949 and by the early 1950s women in particular wanted dresses and skirts made with a huge amount of fabric to make up for the meagre amounts they had endured during the war.
Men’s suits became narrower, straighter and less fussy. Most men opted for conservative grey suits and did little to stand out in terms of fashion. Instead of wearing three piece suits all day long, men would dress for business in the morning and later change into something more comfortable.
Hairstyles and Hats
Teenage fashion emerged, with girls wearing poodle skirts, swing skirts with petticoats, pencil skirts or pleated skirts.
Button down blouses with a cardigan or a preppy twin set were commonly seen on young girls. Bomber jackets, Hawaiian shirts, varsity cardigans and blue denim jeans became popular amongst boys.
1. Bobby Darin – Mack The Knife – 09-59 – Atco 2. Neil Sedaka – Oh! Carol – 11-59 – RCA 3. The Everly Brothers – (Till) I Kissed You – 09-59 – Cadence 4. Dion & The Belmonts – A Teenager In Love – 05-59 – Laurie 5. Paul Anka – Put Your Head On My Shoulder – 09-59 – ABC Paramount
6. Frankie Avalon – Why – 12-59 – Chancellor 7. The Coasters – Charlie Brown – 02-59 – Atco 8. The Drifters – There Goes My Baby – 07-59 – Atlantic 9. Paul Evans & The Curls – Seven Little Girls Sitting In The Back Seat – 11-59 – Guaranteed 10. Connie Francis – Lipstick On Your Collar – 05-59 – MGM 11. Johnny & The Hurricanes – Red River Rock – 09-59 – Warwick 12. Ricky Nelson – Never Be Anyone Else But You – 03-59 – Imperial 13. Elvis Presley – A Fool Such As I – 04-59 – RCA
And here’s the bubbling unders. Lloyd Price – Personality – 06-59 – ABC Paramount The Flamingos – I Only Have Eyes For You – 07-59 -End Wink Martindale – Deck Of Cards – 10-59 – Dot
A typical 1950s household saw mothers not working outside the home, instead concentrating on providing a safe and cosy environment for the family. Fathers were sole earners, with the average weekly wage in 1957 being £10 (compare to £420 in 2007 or £629 in 2022).
Work time to pay for a weekly basket of basic food items such as milk, butter and bread was around 3 hours 40 minutes. 1950s saw the introduction of fish fingers, electric fires, washing machine, ink and toilet paper.
Unemployment was very low in the 1950s and it was a long period of prosperity with living standards in Britain rising considerably. In the early 1950s, many homes in Britain still did not have bathrooms and only had outside lavatories. In the 1950s, a typical home had a cooker, vacuum cleaner and a plug-in radio. Only 33 per cent of households had a washing machine. Most people were still doing their washing by hand. Only 15 per cent had a fridge and freezers and tumble dryers were scarcely heard of. Only 10 per cent of the population had a telephone.
TV first became common in the 1950s. A lot of people bought a TV set to watch the coronation of Elizabeth II and a survey at the end of that year showed that about one-quarter of households had one. By 1959 about two-thirds of homes had a TV. At first, there was only one TV channel but between 1955 and 1957 the ITV companies began broadcasting.
In Britain, the health of ordinary people greatly improved when the National Health Service was founded in 1948. In the 1950s Dr. Jonas Salk invented a vaccine for poliomyelitis. The first kidney transplant was performed in 1950 by Richard Lawler.
There was growing opposition to the death penalty. In 1957 the Homicide Act abolished hanging for certain kinds of murder. It was still allowed for murder during a theft, by shooting or explosion, and for the murder of a police officer or prison officer while on duty. A person who was convicted of more than one murder could also be hanged. There were several firsts for women in the 1950s. Barbara Mandell became the first woman newsreader on British TV In 1956. Rose Heilbron became the first woman judge in Britain and in 1958 Hilda Harding became the first woman bank manager in Britain.
Transport: Cars increased in number after World War II, and car ownership more than doubled in the 1950’s. By 1955 there were over three million cars on Britain’s roads. By 1959 32% of households owned a car.
The first zebra crossing was introduced in 1949. Lollipop men and women followed in 1953. The first parking meters in Britain were installed in London in 1958.
Following the 1944 Education Act all children had to sit an exam called the 11 plus. Those who passed went to grammar schools while those who failed went to secondary modern schools. Meanwhile, new sweets were introduced, Bounty (1951), Munchies (1957), and Picnic (1958). Also, in the 1950s young people had significant disposable income for the first time. A distinct ‘youth culture’ emerged, with teddy boys. A revolution in music was led by Elvis Presley and Bill Haley, and it was the decade of jive, skiffle and rock’n’roll.
Leisure: People spent most of their leisure time at home – reading, listening to the radio/gramophone records, watching television or pursuing hobbies. The most popular hobbies were knitting and needle-work for women, and gardening for men. Children spent a lot of time playing with other children outdoors, and enjoyed a range of hobbies such as stamp collecting. Families enjoyed playing board games such as Monopoly, Ludo, and Snakes and Ladders. In the 1950s Lego became a popular toy. Mr. Potato Head was invented in 1952. Skateboards were first sold in 1958. Barbie dolls were invented in 1959. There was a craze for yo-yos, 3D-spectacles, I-Spy books and hoola hoops in the late 1950s.
Pop Art started in London in the mid-1950’s depicting images from popular culture, including comics, advertising images, and celebrity portraits. The best known artist of Pop Art is undoubtedly the American artist Andy Warhol.
This is the first of the 50s years where I actually knew enough songs for it to warrent a top 13 on its own merit.
A lot of these classics have stood the test and time and are still played on the radio six decades later. Others featured in movies like “That’ll Be the Day” and appear again and again in any show set in the fifties.
1. Peggy Lee – Fever – 08-58 – Capitol 2. Big Bopper – Chantilly Lace – 10-58 – Mercury 3. Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode – 05-58 – Chess 4. The Platters – Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – 12-58 – Mercury 5. Perry Como – Catch A Falling Star/Magic Moments – 02-58 – RCA 6. The Everly Brothers – All I Have To Do Is Dream – 05-58 – Cadence 7. The Teddy Bears – To Know Him Is To Love Him – 10-58 – Dore 8. Tommy Edwards – It’s All In The Game – 09-58 – MGM 9. The Champs – Tequila – 03-58 – Challenge 10. The Coasters – Yakety Yak – 06-58 – Atco 11. Eddie Cochran – Summertime Blues – 09-58 – Liberty 12. The Crickets [with Buddy Holly] – Oh Boy! – 01-58 – Brunswick 13. Connie Francis – Who’s Sorry Now – 03-58 – MGM
And a few bubbling under: Elvis Presley – One Night – 11-58 – RCA Ricky Nelson – Poor Little Fool – 07-58 – Imperial Conway Twitty – It’s Only Make Believe – 10-58 – MGM Little Richard – Good Golly, Miss Molly – 03-58 – Specialty The McGuire Sisters – Sugartime – 01-58 – Coral
While we wait for Ken (just over a week to go), here’s some teasers in the syle of Popmaster questions. Not long now my lovelies. And if you’d like to challenge me, I’d love to hear your questions.
Rationing continued after the end of World War II: sugar, butter, cheese, margarine, cooking fat, bacon, meat and tea were all still rationed when the Queen came to the throne in 1952. Sugar rationing ending in 1953 and meat rationing in 1954. The meagre choice of ingredients and flavourings, whilst concentrating the cook’s mind on creating filling and satisfying meals, would preclude even the best of cooks from creating cordon bleu dishes. Food was seasonal (no tomatoes in winter for example); there were no supermarkets, no frozen food or freezers to store it in and the only takeaway was from the fish and chip shop.
Meat and two veg was the staple diet for most families in the 1950s. It was the age of spam fritters, salmon sandwiches, tinned fruit with evaporated milk and fish on Fridays. Sunday lunch was a roast, then ham salad for high tea, followed by trifle or fruit cake. The only way to add flavour to this bland cooking was with tomato ketchup or brown sauce. Salad in the summer consisted of lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes, and the only dressing available was Heinz Salad Cream. In the winter, this was replaced with a coleslaw of thinly sliced white cabbage, onions and carrots, coated in Salad Cream.
The average family rarely if ever ate out. The closest most people came to eating out was in the pub. There you could get potato crisps, a pickled egg, and perhaps a pasty or some cockles, winkles and whelks from the seafood man on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening.
Things started to change when the UK’s answer to the burger bars in America arrived in the 1950s to cater for that new group of consumers, the teenagers. The first Wimpy Bars opened in 1954 selling hamburgers and milkshakes and proved extremely popular.
These are some popular dishes in the 50s:
1950: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. Because sweet treats were in short supply during the years after the war, this amazingly colourful bake was welcomed with open arms when it burst onto the foodie scene in 1950. Made with tinned goods, pineapple upside down cake was an easy thing to whip up with your butter and sugar rations, and could make its way round a big family if sliced thinly enough.
1951: SPAM. While fresh meat was still being heavily rationed, SPAM provided an unlikely source of protein to thousands of British families during the 1950s. Love them or hate them, SPAM fritters were the dish of the year. These crispy morsels were coated in batter, deep-fried and served up for many a supper.
1952: Baked Alaska. To be a true child of 1952 you’ve got to have had a baked Alaska or two in your time. This science-defying pud wowed the masses when it was introduced in the 1950s with its hot outside and freezing cold inside. Made with a sponge bottom, a thick layer of jam, a mound of ice cream and a baked meringue shell it really was an impressive party centrepiece.
1953: Devilled Eggs. Liberated from egg and sugar rations but still firmly in the grips of cheese and meat rationing British cooks of 1953 were keen to make the most of their new found culinary freedom. The result? Devilled eggs! These curried canapés were a real favourite for serving up as part of a party spread.
1954: Burgers and milkshakes. 1954 saw the end of rationing altogether and the opening of the first Wimpy Bars, selling burgers and milkshakes to Britain’s teenagers – and they loved it.
1955: Black Forest Gateau. With its layers of chocolate sponge, whipped cream and cherry syrup, Black Forest Gateau was the dish of the moment in 1955, after being invented in Germany some years earlier (known by its German title, Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte). It appeared in recipe books everywhere following its inclusion on a list of best-known German cakes in 1949, and aren’t we so glad of it? This classic cake is still a favourite for many today.
1956: Coronation Chicken. Coronation chicken was invented for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 and gathered popularity with every year that passed. In 1956 this exotic mix of cooked chicken, mayonnaise and curry powder and truly become one of Britain’s favourite lunchtime sandwich fillers and could even be found on the shelves of grocery shops, pre-made.
1957: Rice Pudding. Ah, Rice pudding, a deliciously creamy dessert that was traditionally made in a pot but somehow found its way into a tin during the first world war. Despite the tinned version coming years earlier it was 1957 that marked a huge step change for the most popular brand, Ambrosia, when it had to open up a whole new factory to cope with the demand for its famous tinned pud.
1958: Chop Suey. A rise in immigration during the 1950s and 60s gave Brits a real taste for strong flavours from further afield. 1958 was the year Chop Suey was introduced to the menu of Butlins’ holiday camps – making it officially a British favourite!
1959: Arctic Roll. Birds Eye inherited Arctic Roll in 1959, when it bought an Eastbourne ice cream factory and went on to have great success with this freezer staple of the time. Much like a traditional Swiss roll, this ice cream filled alternative captured the hearts of those who couldn’t face having to make a pudding every evening.
JRo Author 