Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard - Nigel Morland

Earlier today I got to see a film I`ve wanted to see for some time, Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard. 

Released around 1939/1940 (sources vary) , the film is based on the Nigel Morland book of the same name. Nigel Morland is one of a number of pseudonyms used by Carl Van Biene (1905-1986).

My impression is that the film must have seemed quite dated even at the time. Mary Clare is excellent as the Mrs Pym of the title but the rest of the cast are a mixed bag. Most of the cast are elderly, which makes me think it was made after WW2 broke out.  

 
The dialogue, some of it written by Morland/Van Biene himself, has some flashes of wit, and the story is quite intriguing. Despite it`s shortcomings I would say it is a good film overall. 

As far as I know this is the only Mrs Pym film, which seems a shame. It was also Mary Clares` only leading role in a film which is very surprising to me. 

A lot of people won`t want to persevere with this one, but if you are prepared to be patient it does make quite rewarding viewing.

Portrait of Alison aka Postmark for Danger - Francis Durbridge

This is a film still from another film I`ve seen recently, Portrait of Alison (US title Postmark for Danger) a British film from 1956.

Based on a Francis Durbridge story, this is definitely one of the best and most accomplished films of it`s type that I`ve seen. 

Look out for it !

Richard Dalby (ed) - Crime for Christmas

Another Richard Dalby Xmas book - not sure, but I think I may have them all now. 

Martel Robinson - Sunny Soil (FULL ALBUM)

Mike Robinson aka Ray Martel aka Ray Martell aka Martel Robinson

I know nothing about Ray Martel except for the fact that he is one of my favourite singers. I am not actually certain which of his stage names is actually his real name. At one time ran a record label called `Ray` , which might make you think his name was Ray, but there again his songwriting and production credits always seem to go to M Robinson. 

As I`ve mentioned, I`m not posting reviews at present, but my next post after this will be some of his music so you can give it a try for yourself. 

Magnet was a specialist reggae label founded in Stoke Newington (London) in 1971. It released tracks by a number of different artists. 

On the face of it, it doesn`t look as if they had licensing agreements with Jamaican producers to release their tracks in the UK.

 It may be that artists financed their own recordings and then Magnet paid them to release them, in the same way Greensleeves did in later years.  

Every release that I know of on the Ray label was credited either to Martel Robinson or Ray Martell, so it`s a pretty safe bet this was his own venture. 

Next up, I`ll share some of his music fr those who`d like to hear him. 

Stay tuned !

Films - Salute the Toff, Hammer the Toff - John Creasey

This very stylish poster advertises a 1952 film I saw recently (though not for the first time).

John Bentley, Patricia Dainton and Valentine Dyall also appeared together in Paul Temple Returns the same year.

Salute the Toff was filmed `back-to-back` with Hammer the Toff, but has a slightly different cast (Carol Marsh instead of Patricia Dainton).

You may remember Carol Marsh as Rosie in Brighton Rock, which by sheer chance is another film I`ve seen again recently. 

Richard Dalby (ed) - Ghosts for Christmas

Another addition to my Richard Dalby Xmas books collection ! Must be getting near to having the full set now ! 

Larry Parks and Others - A Tiger by the Tail

I recently saw Larry Parks in A Tiger by the Tail (1955)

As I`ve mentioned before, I`m not posting reviews at present, but here`s an original newspaper/magazine advertisement for the film.

An absorbing film which I enjoyed. In the US it was released under the title Cross Up, presumably because the phrase A Tiger by the Tail was not in common usage over there as it was here.

Billy Dice - Unity Is Love

This is Unity is Love by Billy Dyce which I mentioned in my previous post. 

Jamaican pressings of this single credited the vocals to The Untouchables. 

There have been many bands with that name (there have in fact been two Jamaican reggae bands of that name). In this case it will be the same as The Inspirations i.e. Ransford White aka Billy Dyce and Trevor Shaw aka Jimmy London.

Billy Dyce Undying Love (Unity is Love) - Alvin Ranglin

This is a single from my own collection, Billy Dyce singing Unity is Love (wrongly titled on the label as Undying Love) on a UK label, GG, produced by Alvin Ranglin.

Billy Dyce is great, but that`s not what I`m going to focus on today.

Former singer and TV repair man Alvin Ranglin began as a record company proprietor when he took over the running of a Jamaican label named Gloria, which had previously been owned by one of his relatives. 

Subsequently, he founded three further labels, GG, Hit and Typhoon, all based in Jamaica.

Both Discogs and Wikipedia treat the London version of the GG as being basically an offshoot of  the Jamaican parent company. 

In truth, it was probably a subsidiary of the London-based Trojan records, who would have had had a license from Alvin Ranglin to release his output in the UK, as they did with many other Jamaican producers. Trojan are credited on the label with publishing, manufacturing and distribution of this disc.  

For those who want to hear the single, I`ll post that here separately next. 

Before becoming a label owner, Alvin Ranglin recorded with Vernon Buckley aka Vernon Maytone as Vern and Alvin and with Lloyd Flowers as Flowers and Alvin. You`ll find those tracks on You Tube easily enough. 

K Turton - Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Nottingham - Wharncliffe - 2003

Kevin Wharncliffe - Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deeds in Nottingham - Wharncliffe - 2003

I am not posting reviews at present but thought people might be interested in this book I read recently.

Recommended if you like a bit of non-fiction historical crime.

A very impressive account of one of Nottinghams` most notorious murders,  Herbert Mills` killing  of Mabel Tattershaw,  looks at Mills` confession to a journalist and suggests a motive for both the killing and the (quickly recanted) confession which I had not heard before.  

Also includes Samuel Atherley`s murder of his family at their home in Arnold, which I hadn`t heard of before, despite my  having spent many years living in and around the Arnold area. 

G K Chesterton - Father Brown Short Stories

G K Chesterton - Father Brown Short Stories - Arcturus - 2018

This volume brings together two of Chestertons` Father Brown collections, The Innocence of Father Brown and The Wisdom of Father Brown.

I read one or two of the Fr Brown short stories in younger days and as I recall, enjoyed them. I`ve watched a number of screen adaptations, both recent and not-so-recent, and enjoyed those.

When I saw this book in  my local library, I borrowed it straight away, never doubting for one second that it would provide a few happy hours.

In that I was mistaken. The problem with these stories, for me at any rate, is not necessarily the plotting, but more with the great mans` storytelling style. In fairness, these stories were hugely popular in their day, so it may be that our expectations of writers has changed.

This is not helped by the way he punctuates his stories with odd, sometimes mystifying, observations on spiritual matters that must have been puzzling to  readers of any era. 

Some have found him a dogmatic, sometimes xenophobic, writer. This wounded him and he spent much time and energy attempting to answer those criticisms. I would say those elements can be found in his writing.  I suspect the root cause is not so much malice or prejudice so much as that he tended to be a rather unworldly character with little experience of the world ; a bit "off with the elves and pixies" as one of my uncles used to say.

At one time I would have persevered and finished the book, but I must admit that once I reached `The Sins of Prince Saradine`, which contains the phrase "a bittern sounded in the distance like an elf upon his dwarfish drum" my patience began to run out. I tried a couple more stories and then gave up. 

Johnny Orlando - Sing a Song for Free

Johnny Orlando - Sing a Song for Free -Pye - 1972 - Promo Copy

NB -This is the original Johnny Orlando, not the other one. 

This is a recent addition to my music collection and one that I prize very highly.

I cannot tell you a lot about him, other than the fact that he is a long-established and well-respected singer of reggae/pop/soul. He has a knack for songwriting and concentrates mainly on love songs.

His real name is Leslie Alexander Vassell, and in younger days he did sometimes record as Al Vassell. 

Now in his 70s, he is still active in music today, based in the UK, and has recently performed in Spain and England.

Sing a Song for Free has a `60s pop/soul feel to it. Some might find it a bit lightweight but not me. 

Amazingly, I had no trouble finding a copy at a reasonable price and in fact there were a few copies about when I bought mine, most apparently in decent condition and not expensive. 

Usually I don`t collect major label releases much, but it`s kind of a period piece being on the Pye label, and I like that fact that it`s a promo copy. 

To really appreciate the great Johnny you have to hear him sing his own songs, but this is a good starting point for a collection. 

Fergus Hume -Professor Brankels` Secret

Fergus Hume - Professor Brankel`s Secret

This was the follow-up to Fergus Humes` first novel The Mystery of a Hansom cab.

It is very different to his detective stories, being in every way a 19th century Gothic novel. Some would say it is rather derivative, perhaps too heavily influenced by some of the better-known works in that genre. Perhaps it is, but I don`t really care about that !

The eponymous Professor, described at one point as looking "the incarnation of an arch fiend - a modern Mephistopheles", seeks "the heart blood of a pure maiden" - you will need to read the book to find out why - reconciling himself to his grisly mission with the thought that "the killing of a person in the case of science is no murder". He is just a touch obsessional !

In pursuit of this goal he is soon producing "a long steel knife, the edge of which he felt with a hideous smile". The young woman he has selected seems rather reluctant to participate, despite his promise that "you will have a short life but an eternal fame.". Perhaps she sees no point in eternal fame if she will not be around to enjoy it, but in any event her response as he advances "with a vacant smile" is to throw a bottle at him.

To avoid spoiling the tale for potential readers, I shall just point out that you should know by now whether this is your sort of thing or not. 

Clearly it is whole-heartedly gothic and just a little bit over the top. I personally enjoyed it immensely !

Trevor African aka Cecil Brown

Trevor African is a name used by Jamaican singer and record producer Cecil Brown. I assume that this is the same Cecil Brown who sang in vocal trio The Willows in the `70s and that Cabrock (formerly C A B Rock) is his own record label, C A B  being, presumably, his initials.

 Joan (actually Joanne) is a classic song. It starts with the songs` protagonist sitting alone watching the sunset and reflecting on his relationship with Joan/Joanne. He realises that in life, night passes and a new day begins ; "As the moon goes away/And the sun comes up/We welcome, we welcome/A brand new day" . He admits that there have been times in the relationship when he was in the wrong and his commitment to Joan/Joanne is renewed. It might sound a bit trite put like that, you really have to hear it.   

Jah is My Soul - a nice little tune. Not as strong as Joan but very agreeable and in many ways quite uplifting. The kind of tune that you get it out and play it, and straight away you want to play it again. As I just did. 

Man Fi Choose is DJ/toasting type thingy (what do they call it now ? I wish they still called it "singjay" !) . Normally I don`t like this type of thing but actually this is one of the better ones, more tuneful than most and carrying a message that one should exercise caution when choosing a partner.  Good advice !

Generally if I came across this CD I would disregard it immediately. I don`t like the artwork, I have no interest in dance or hip-hop and I would assume any reggae content would be dancehall or some hastily-produced digi-reggae. 

While it`s true I don`t like much of the music here, at the end we find three Trevor African tracks, Joan, Fuss Over Bust and Island in the Sun, the latter not being available in any other form as far as I know. Unless you love hip-hop etc, it`s probably not going to be worth forking out too much for this, but if you can get it at a reasonable price, I would get it for these three alone, if only to avoid wearing out your vinyl !

I hope this has been of interest and if it encourages someone to take an interest in Cecil aka Trevor, I`ll be happy with that ! 

Passenger to London (1937 film)

Passenger to London (1937)

`Passenger to London` is a 1930s British B-Movie.

It was written by David Evans, a screenwriter with 37 TV and film credits to his name, and features an impressive cast, notably Jenny Laird (Dr Who, Inspector Morse, Z Cars, Sherlock Holmes and the Mask of Death, Ghost Squad and much else). 

Clearly, it was made on a low budget and as it only lasts 1 hour some of the finer points have to be glossed over. As an example, Lairds` character very quickly comes to trust a man she has found in her hotel room, even though she is openly dismissive of his explanation for being there and despite the fact that he initially pretends to be a hotel employee, which he is not. 

I don`t really mind that myself, but I can imagine some would not be so tolerant. However, the film does pack a lot into an hour and that suits me fine.

If `30s b-movies are not your thing, I very much doubt that this one will win you over, I think this is one for afficionados only. However, if you`re prepared to make allowances for a film that is very much a product of it`s time and overlook a few minor shortcomings, I think this is well worth a look.

Overall, I think it deserves to be better known and would recommend it to anyone who fancies giving it a go. 

Dorothy Hughes - The Blackbirder - TFP/New York - 2004

Dorothy B Hughes - The Blackbirder - The Feminist Press/City Univ of New York -- 2004

In the `Femmes Fatales - Women Write Pulp` series

Modern reprint of book first published in 1943.

Some time has passed since I read this, so I can`t really provide a review as such. 

This book was first published during World War Two and at that time would have been quite contemporary. The author was not writing for an academic audience, probably not writing for posterity,  and disliked the term `woman writer`.

I`m guessing she would not have been chuffed to be published  by the Feminist Press at the City University of New York, or to have been included in a series of  highlighting women writers of pulp. 

However unchuffed she might have been, I for one am glad this title has been reprinted.

It is not what I would call a spy story, but is an absorbing read in the `noir` style.

I recall there were quite a few printing errors and it was not always clear when she was using dated terminology and when the text had simply been wrongly transcribed. One instance that I was recall is when her central character refers to her location as a "definitely 9 o`clock town". Was that a phrase people used in the `40s, or was it included in error ? I am not sure. 

I found the story absorbing and Ms Hughes` writing style distinctive. I enjoyed reading it and will almost certainly read it again. 

Reggae on the Rocks - Arnot Hill Park (Arnold Park) - Nottingham - 16 June 2019

This is the third time I`ve seen this talented group of local lads live, and hopefully not the last time.

Their set began with The Harder They Come and ended with Too Experienced so as you can tell there was plenty there for the lover of vintage reggae.

At one time it would have seemed odd the idea of a reggae covers band as all the emphasis was on original material, but these days I quite like hearing a few old favourites played live. Perhaps I`m getting old !

The band are proficient and versatile, playing an hour-long set that is designed to appeal to a wider audience but still have something to offer for the seasoned reggae fan. 

Some will say that they are something of a reggae variety act - whether that`s a criticism or a recommendation is very much a matter of personal taste.

Inevitably, there were a couple of songs I personally could have done without, a couple which they sometimes play that I would have liked to hear but that they missed out on this occasion.

Overall though it was a good hour of live quality reggae and I was happy with that.

The Trollenberg Terror (1958) aka The Crawling Eye

The Trollenberg Terror (US Title The Crawling Eye) 1958

Just seen this on the UK`s Talking Pictures channel.

Independently made in the UK, this was the last film to come out of Southall Studios and was  based loosely on a 1956 British TV series of the same name. 

I would say that it is well-acted and for the most part relies heavily on suspense rather than special effects. Although it is a science fiction film, it is noticeably influenced by the horror genre in places.

Towards the end it is marred to a degree by low-budget special effects but speaking personally that didn`t really spoil my enjoyment overall. 

Would recommend to anyone who`s prepared to enter into the spirit of the thing and not really worry about whether it`s the last word in film making. At the end of the day it was an enjoyable and effective film and that`s all I care about. 

Martin Davies - Mrs Hudson and the Malabar Rose - Canelo - 2015 (Holmes and Hudson)

Martin Davies - Mrs Hudson and the Malabar Rose - Canelo - 2015

In the `Holmes and Hudson` Series

In practise I`m not able to review each and every book that I read, but instead I shall  just tell you that this is the book I`m reading at present and that I`m enjoying it enormously. 

I certainly plan to read the other two titles in the Holmes and Hudson series but after that I suspect that Martin Davies and myself will be parting company as I suspect his other titles will be less in my line. 

Unfortunately, I don`t have time to comment in greater detail, but that`s the way it is with us international men of mystery, constantly in demand ! 

J M Allen - A Senior Sort of Murder - Vanguard - 2007

J M Allen - A Senior Sort of Murder - Vanguard - 2007

This authors` books are not always easy to find, probably because they were produced in quite small quantities. For this reason, some sellers are asking huge prices for them, but I am not convinced those prices are realistic. A quick search online produced very little trace of `chatter` about her books and I would have thought that if they had achieved cult status there would be a lot more talk about them.

Secondly, she is not the only author to have written as J M Allen, so don`t assume all J M Allen books are by this J M Allen.  

On to the matter in hand. The author, who I take to be an amateur, has had five books published to my knowledge, four of them being crime fiction. Having read this I can truthfully say it is worthy of a professional writer. 

It is a good story, told well, and the couple of criticisms I have are quite minor. The only one worth mentioning here is that some of the dialogue seems stilted, but not so much that it detracts from the book as a whole.

Crime writing purists might object that the reader does not have all the information needed to solve the case themselves (new information is suddenly made available right at the very end) but overall I still feel this is a strong contribution to the crime-writing genre. 

If you can get this at a reasonable price I strongly recommend you do so.

If I remember I will update this review at some point with a list of this authors` crime fiction titles. If anyone knows anything about the writer and/or her works, it would be great to have your comments. 

Andrew Forrester - The Female Detective (James Redding Ware)

Andrew Forrester - The Female Detective - British Library - 2014

In the British Library Crime Classics series

Andrew Forrester is the pseudonym of James Redding Ware 

Mr Forrester/Ware was a prolific author who was not specifically a crime writer but did contribute at least three titles to the genre (The Female Detective, Revelations of a Private Detective, Secret Service or Recollections of a City Detective).

If he has anything to say to us today it is more by accident than design as it seems likely he wrote for money and not for posterity !

That said, at his best he conjures up such an authentic feel that, although there were no female detectives in his day, some have suggested that he may have had some contact in the Police Force of the day whose attitudes and observations he drew on. 

Unfortunately, some of the stories in this collection simply don`t represent him `at his best`. It`s true that tastes have changed and that some may have seemed more impressive to the reading public of his day, but the truth is that one or two were simply not all that good at any time. 

I do think that his best work still merits our attention but overall it might have been better for the BL to have published a Best of Forrester with selections from the three books.

Having said that, if you can pick it up cheaply, this is worth having for the better stories. Mine was a charity shop purchase for 50p so I can hardly complain ! 

Belper Bands in the park 2019

Belper `Bands in the Park` 2019. 

Brass Bands, Silver Bands, Jazz and Blues, Swing, a Steel Band. What more could you ask for !

Winston Hewitt - Snapshot - Corner Store Records - 1976

Winston Hewitt - Snapshot - Corner Store Records - 1976

This year I skipped my usual monthly purchases of vintage reggae 45s for a month or two and used the money to buy Winston Hewitts` LP Snapshot from a seller in Canada. 

The cost was actually not as high as I expected (around 23 GBP including postage) and I am very happy with my purchase.

 The musicians are accomplished and versatile but never bland. The arrangements/production are excellent. Mr Hewitts` songs are mostly of the `dancing and romancing` variety and what he does, he does well. His reggae roots are never far away, but equally there is a pop sensibility and a touch of funk and soul. 

It`s Winston Hewitt being Winston Hewitt but I have to give credit to all concerned as there are no weak performances here. 

Songwriting and arrangements are by Winston Hewitt, with production credits shared between him and Mel Shaw. Winston Hewitt is also credited with acoustic guitar and some bass guitar. The other guitarists are Bhim Singh and Pat Liverpool. The bass guitarist is Ivor Jewt. Keyboards are by Wally Lewis and Alban `Banny` Liverpool plays drums.

 Check out his You Tube page if you want to hear his music and a selection of his back catalogue can be downloaded on Amazon. 

A quick poll conducted at our house earlier today produced a 100% `thumbs up` for this record from a group of people with an age range of 8 to 57. Can`t say fairer than that. 

Of Winston Hewitt and Others

Winston Hewitt/Jackie James/Carlton Harrison

Winston Hewitt was a founding member of The Pioneers reggae group and was their original lead singer. His association with the group ended when he moved to Canada in the 1960s, but he continued to perform and record. Additionally he worked as record producer and ran his own companies, Boss Records and W H Records.

He was also founder of the Canadian Reggae Music Awards, intended by him to raise the profile of the music.

As you can see, these pictures relate not to his own back catalogue, though I am a big fan, but at records by other artists that he released on Boss Records. 

Sadly I know very little about either Carlton Harrison or Jackie James, though I would recommend Jackies` version of Piece of my Heart, which has become a personal favourite for me. 

  

Beeston Players

I`m posting this rather belatedly, to say the least.

However, last November, self, spouse and offspring took ourselves to Beeston, Nottingham to see this rather fine production of Murder Weapon.

Obviously, a review this long after the event would be ridiculous, but I can say that all of us thoroughly enjoyed it and subject to practicalities (we live in Derbyshire) intend to partake of the pleasures offered by the Beeston players again.

A small group, they put on two productions a year, normally one comedy and one thriller. It`s hardly cutting edge stuff, but I probably wouldn`t like it if it was. 

I for one would rather see a group of locally-based amateurs who put their heart into it than pay big money to see a big star. But that`s just me.