Shadows’ Renascence: Thursday, 17th February, 1977

A hamburger cost forty cents. Three carnations, of varying colours, cost forty-five cents.

At The Lantern Tavern seafood restaurant in Cronulla: two whole lobster mornays cost seven dollars and eighty cents each; two orange juices; rich lemon cheesecake with cream; apple pie and cream; plus two coffees, came to a total bill of only nineteen dollars and seventy cents.

After dinner I listened to Sam Gallea’s programme on the radio. He played Cliff Richard’s recording, “Blue Turns To Grey”, and listeners were asked to phone in and name the artist as well as state the year (1966) in which the record had been a hit. Sam volunteered that The Shadows’ old instrumental recordings are, once again, really popular in England.

The Jive Five

Eugene Pitt, Richard Harris, Thurmon Prophet, Jerome Hanna and Norman Johnson comprised this American doo wop group. The quintet formed in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1950s.

The Jive Five experienced its only major hit, in 1961, when “My True Story” peaked at No.3 on the American Billboard’s pop singles chart and spent three weeks atop that country’s rhythm and blues chart. While the group was unable to attain such dizzying heights again it continued to record and perform, for decades, utilising differing personnel.

The names of more of my favourite recordings can be found in the suggested playlists. I shall be adding to this list from time to time.

Walters’ Century: Friday, 18th February, 1977

The postmen are currently on strike. Today’s maximum was twenty-nine degrees Celsius.

“Donny And Marie (Osmond)” is on television, this evening, with guests that include the comedian, Paul Lynde, and Sonny and Cher.

Australia is 6-345, at stumps, in Christchurch. Doug Walters remains not out on one hundred and twenty-nine.

Walters’ Double Century: Saturday, 19th February, 1977

Last night’s concert, at the Showground, featuring Rod Stewart, had to be cancelled, due to the storm which struck Sydney. Today was quite chilly, with a maximum of twenty-four degrees Celsius.

At the orchard, Glenburnie, in Darkes Forest, between Sydney and Wollongong, we bought three pounds of “green” grapes for a dollar, three pounds of “red” grapes for a dollar and thirty-five cents and three pounds of large plums for a dollar and fifty cents.

From 6.30 p.m., “Space 1999”; 7.30, and also on Channel Seven, “Morecambe And Wise”, with the pair’s guest being the celebrated British actor, John Mills.

At stumps, in Christchurch, New Zealand is 3-106 in reply to Australia’s 552. Doug Walters amassed 250 and the left-handed all-rounder, Gary Gilmour, one hundred and one.

Five From Six!: Sunday, 20th February, 1977

David Hookes, a left-handed batsman, has scored 156 against New South Wales. It is his fifth century in six innings, for South Australia, and his fourth in succession.

At half past eight, this evening, on Channel Nine, the movie, “Kill Charley Varrick”, from 1973, has Walter Matthau cast in the title role. Another film, “Whatever Happened To Rosemary’s Baby”, is on Channel Seven.

A Year Too Late!: Monday, 21st February, 1977

A six months’ trial to ban smoking on public transport begins today. It is a pity that it was not introduced a year earlier as last year was Sydney’s wettest since 1963 and, as two non-smokers, we had to rely entirely upon public transport.

Sydney experienced rain this afternoon. The city, on average, receives approximately one thousand two hundred millimetres (forty-eight inches) per annum.

First Test Drawn: Wednesday, 23rd February, 1977

The rain of yesterday continued all night. I collected a Tax Rebate form from the post office at Brighton-le-Sands, and a Medibank Exemption form from St. Peters Post Office.

The First Test, in Christchurch, ended in a draw. New Zealand was 8-293 (Bevan Congdon 107 n.o.) in its second innings; fifty-seven runs short of victory.

Sandy Nelson

Sander Nelson was born, in December of 1938, in Santa Monica, California. He attended the same high school as Jan Berry and Dean Torrence, who were also to have success in the recording industry, under the name of Jan and Dean.

A drummer, Sandy played on many recordings by other artists as well as achieving success in his own right, as a solo performer. Of these, “Teen Beat” peaked at No.4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, in 1959, selling in excess of a million copies.

“Teen Beat” was followed, in 1961, by “Let There Be Drums” (No.7) and “Drums Are My Beat”(No.29). Sandy struggled to chart after that and an accident suffered while riding his motorcycle, did not help. His right foot and a part of that leg had to be amputated.

In spite of this, Sandy continued to record into the early 1970s. In all, he released more than thirty albums.

The names of more of my favourite recordings appear in the suggested playlists. I shall be adding to it from time to time.

Thursday, 24th February, 1977

The rain went, for the day, after lunch, having teemed all morning.

At 7.30 p.m., “Serpico”; 8.30, a two hours’ programme, ‘The Trick Book’, of the “Policewoman” series, which stars Angie Dickinson as Pepper Anderson. The British actress, Joan Collins, is listed among its guest stars.