time

7-8-23 38 David Bowie — The Jean Genie +4 36 Queen — Killer Queen -2 35 Elton John — Rocket Man -3 35 Sparks — This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us 26 Queen — Somebody To Love -1

Its 30 years since the death of pianist and composer Roy Budd He began playing the piano at age 2 and was appearing in public at the age of 6, making his London Palladium debut at 12. He formed jazz trios with various line-ups, and released alnums and singles, but gained most fame as composer of film scores, the first being Soldier Blue in his early 20s. His most famous score was that for Get Carter, the theme for which was recorded by his eponymous trio for a budget of £450, and saw Budd playing - simultaneously - a harpsichord, an electric piano and a grand piano, with Jeff Clyne on double bass and Chris Karan on percussion (it was released as a single but never charted until 1999, when it reached number 66). Other film scores by Budd include Wild Geese and Wild Geese II, Steptoe & Son and Steptoe & Son Ride Again, Paper Tiger and Who Dares Wins. In addition to his film scores, he also recorded two albums with the London Symphony Orchestra, the first being a collection of science fiction/fantasy film themes. Budd died from a brain haemorrhage, aged 46.

6-8-23 51 Sparks — This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us 43 Queen — Somebody To Love 43 David Bowie — The Jean Genie =4 38 Queen — Killer Queen 21 Elton John — Rocket Man 20 Sweet — Ballroom Blitz -6 10 Stevie Wonder — Sir Duke

Its 22 years since the death of actor Kenneth MacDonald. Although he played some serious dramatic roles, it's his two regular roles in comedies that MacDonald is remembered for; firstly he was Gunner 'Nobby' Clark in It Ain't Half Hot Mum, for 56 episodes from 1974 to 1981, but almost certainly better remembered for his role as Mike Fisher, the pub landlord in Only Fools and Horses (30 episodes, 1983-96) He died after suffering a massive heart attack while on a family holiday in Hawai'i, aged 50.

Never mind 'Dying off the radar', most, if not all, of these have must have been living off the radar too.

Similarly, Reach publications are the low bar for 'journalism'; just about every headline is clickbait.

Warren Ford, creator of Yorkshire Tea, dead at 96 (on 21st June). (Don't tell the Yorkshire folk, but he was a Londoner).

Its 25 years since the death of songwriter Britt Lindeborg aged 70. Her biggest hit was a Swedish version of the Italian song Il ragazzo della via Gluck to an Adriano Celentano tune, but she is probably best known as the writer of the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest Winner Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley. This was her second Eurovision composition, having had Judy, min vän entered in 1969 (It finished 9th of 16, to a four-way tie for first).

Actress Wanda Ventham is 88 today.

5-8-23 49 Queen — Killer Queen  46 David Bowie — The Jean Genie +4 42 Sparks — This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us 39 Queen — Somebody To Love 27 Elton John — Rocket Man 25 Stevie Wonder — Sir Duke 19 T. Rex — Ride A White Swan 19 Sweet — Ballroom Blitz -6 12 M — Pop Muzik 

"Dumfound" is also given as an alternative in the OED, but are we sure that's what BB meant? Was it M for Mangosuthu or B for Buthelezi?

Wait no longer Mo Foster obituary.

4-8-23 40 Queen — Somebody To Love 39 Sparks — This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us 36 Queen — Killer Queen 35 David Bowie — The Jean Genie +4 29 Sweet — Ballroom Blitz -6 27 M — Pop Muzik  27 Stevie Wonder — Sir Duke 24 Candi Staton — Young Hearts Run Free 21 T. Rex — Ride A White Swan 20 Elton John — Rocket Man 18 The Moody Blues — Question 10 Squeeze — Cool For Cats

There is https://www.facebook.com/groups/154417481409369/permalink/2339280726256356

3-8-23 43 Queen — Somebody To Love 37 Sparks — This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us 35 David Bowie — The Jean Genie +4 33 Sweet — Ballroom Blitz 33 Stevie Wonder — Sir Duke 31 Queen — Killer Queen 26 The Moody Blues — Question 24 M — Pop Muzik 24 Candi Staton — Young Hearts Run Free 23 Elton John — Rocket Man 21 T. Rex — Ride A White Swan 20 Squeeze — Cool For Cats 11 Elvis Presley — Suspicious Minds 09 Deep Purple — Black Night 04 The Police — Can’t Stand Losing You -6

How's Tony Hatch these days?

Former Pakistan wicket-keeper and board chairman Ijaz Butt dead at 85. He played 8 tests, and was team manager for the 1982 tour of Australia. He was barely settled into the Chairman's position when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus en-route to a match, killing 8, which stopped home tests for several years, and was also at the helm during the betting scandal which saw three Pakistan players banned for accepting money to bowl no-balls at Lord's.

2-8-23 38 Queen — Somebody To Love 37 Stevie Wonder — Sir Duke 32 Queen — Killer Queen 30 Sweet — Ballroom Blitz 30 David Bowie — The Jean Genie +4 28 Sparks — This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us 26 Squeeze — Cool For Cats 25 Elton John — Rocket Man 25 The Moody Blues — Question 24 Candi Staton — Young Hearts Run Free 20 T. Rex — Ride A White Swan 19 M — Pop Muzik 16 Roxy Music — Love Is The Drug 14 The Police — Can’t Stand Losing You 13 Deep Purple — Black Night  12 Elvis Presley — Suspicious Minds 9 Boney M — Ma Baker -6 7 Blondie — Dreaming 6 Gloria Gaynor — Never Can Say Goodbye

I'll have to look out for that one!

Twenty years since the death of singer/actor Don Estelle (Ronald Edwards). Born in Manchester in 1933, he was a boy soprano who developed into an adult tenor. As an actor he's mostly remembered for playing Gunner Sugden - nicknamed Lofty, as he stood 4' 9" tall - in the BBC's It Ain't Half Hot Mum, though he had a few other film and TV appearances (Dad's Army, League of Gentlemen...). As a singer he's mainly remembered for his duet with IAHHM co-star Windsor Davies, Whispering Grass, which reached number one in 1975, and the accompanying album, which reached number 10. He also recorded a CD with former MP Sir Cyril Smith (pre-sexual abuse allegations). This video was filmed at an air show in New Zealand in early 2003, less than 6 months before his death, of liver disease, aged 70.

Surprise, surprise, the unexpected hits you between the eyes As it did for Cilla Black, 8 years ago today, when she died of a stroke, after falling and hitting her head, aged 75.

1-8-23 27 Queen — Somebody To Love 24 Squeeze — Cool For Cats 24 David Bowie — The Jean Genie +4 23 Elvis Presley — Suspicious Minds 22 Sweet — Ballroom Blitz 22 Queen — Killer Queen 22 Elton John — Rocket Man 22 Candi Staton — Young Hearts Run Free 22 The Moody Blues — Question 20 Stevie Wonder — Sir Duke 20 Don McLean — American Pie 20 Sweet — Fox On The Run 20 T. Rex — Ride A White Swan 20 Boney M — Ma Baker 19 Sparks — This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us 17 Roxy Music — Love Is The Drug 17 Blondie — Dreaming 17 M — Pop Muzik 16 Boney M — Rasputin -6 16 Gloria Gaynor — Never Can Say Goodbye 16 Deep Purple — Black Night 14 T. Rex — Children Of The Revolution 14 The Police — Can’t Stand Losing You 11 The Kinks — Lola 07 Barry White — You See The Trouble With Me

Obituary for Michael Bakewell, radio and TV drama producer, (and ex of Joan) who died 11-7-23 aged 92.

1-8-23 50 Boney M — Rasputin -6 43 Squeeze — Cool For Cats 42 The Police — Can’t Stand Losing You 34 M — Pop Muzik +4 23 Blondie — Dreaming 12 Olivia Newton-John — Hopelessly Devoted To You 06 Squeeze — Up The Junction

Different band entirely.