The Return of Toy Cars III

 After last weeks scorcher we return to more normal posts.

Continuing on on the great toy car return, here is a new model in the collection.

It is a  Tomica C-03 Lightning McQueen Cruising Type featured in a Disney film with a full set of markings although that comes at the expense of static doors but with commendable detail such as the unique tires.

In terms of presentation it comes in a cardboard box, wrapped in see through wrapping with a collectors side flap opening plastic box to keep it all looking new 

Post heat edition

 

I'm not feeling too good probably with losing chunks of sleep across the week with the super high temperatures close on forty degrees - bad enough of out but higher in with the heat being trapped in the brick and wood structure making sleep impossible and so being well out of spoons.

I have a box set I'm playing I might get around to writing something about plus a few more records that at least avoided being in transit in those conditions.

But this peanuts stip sums it it perfectly in the week less than entirely honest marketing was unmasked with the music label Mobile Fidelity Sounds Labs with audio technicians left to face the music while the owner, the store Music Direct leave them to take the flack for marketing purple prose they didn't write and print.

It's like I invited a group of lads out  and told lies so their folks would agree and having been caught I leave them to take the consequences for MY actions.

So as those fires still burn I'm taking a rest to recover cos truthfully I need it.

Goodbye Adam Beales

There are some things that however much we prepare for we do feel sad about and when someone we spend time with leaves us this is one of them.

Adam Beales joined us in September 2 2020 right in the middle of the Covid lockdown  as presenter number 40 of Blue Peter which was and remains my first love as television shows go being a huge part of my memories.

He was the second Northern Irish presenter of the show after the late Caron Keeting and was known to a number of people before as a Vlogger (Video blogger) with a massive following.

Adam has a light hearted approach to life, ever the prankster but quite capable of being serious when necessary and this showed in an early eposide where he took co-presenter Mwaksy on a road trip of Northern Ireland, somewhere he'd know like the back of his hand showing what it has to offer.

Northern Ireland for many is more known for "The Troubles" and its political instability but to showcase it wasn't just fun and it was so funny but to introduce to children the many good things about that part of the UK when it comes to it's history and geology was a great thing.

He was ever up for a challange such as his water cycling across Lake Windermere in Cumbria which was shown in its last installment tonight as the shows young viewers sent post and things in to help see him off making tonights show a memorable one for him and us as viewers.

Thank you and good luck in your future for bring fun and joy in for children of all ages during a dark period in our recent past.

His leaving takes us to two presenters, Richie Driss and Mwaksy while the BBC considers how to serve children in the near future who I am sure will still take from Blue Peter what I and millions of others did.

The Return of Toy Cars II

In a somewhat topsy turvey week we return to our toy cars with three models from the 2020 series by Tomica all of which were of popular Toyata and Nissan models.

First off, the Toyata Soarer which shows the extra detail off  when you compare Tomica's models to Hot Wheels.

The ever popularToyata Celica 2000GT with custom wheel details.

Yes the doors actually open showing the dashboard and seats, something I like about these models mirroring those I had when I was (officially) younger.

Finally the Nissan Skyline GT-R with licence plate detail, custom wheels and again the doors open fully.

Take two Rollers compilations

The last instalment of this series from April this year, looked at four original albums that meant a lot to me at the time and how they were received. 

Some artists have a relatively simple recorded history that sees all their commercially released recordings being on regular albums and perhaps a "Best Of".

Like many British groups the Bay City Rollers had a number of singles not issued on album, unique singles mixes and exclusive 'B' sides because over here issuing singles from from albums fans have already bought is looked down upon.

This new entry looks at a couple of compilations.

This was the second attempt in Japan in 1977 to create a compilation and remains a most essential choice on vinyl because it takes all the UK singles in their original forms from the 1971 Jonathan King produced Keep On Dancing in the original mono to the string less  version of Give A Little Love of July 1975 compiling them in release order with the often non album b sides.

As the title suggests the emphasis is on their earlier recordings.

It also has Mary Anne, the B side of Money Honey which was included on the UK Dedication album and Mama Li, the B side of Love Me Like I Love You and two Japan singles.

The twenty six tracks are spread across two lps for the best sound quality while being more convenient than changing the original 45's by hand every three minutes rather than the auto changers we had with a few stacked up at a time.

It does sound very good.

Following a series of changes in the bands membership and after the issue of the It's A Game album and single, Arista in the US felt the need to issue a compilation even if the first US album "Bay City Rollers" was just that pulled from the UK Rollin' and Once Upon A Star albums.

Most issues followed the US version from the stingy five tracks per side and album art but a number of European countries had their own versions which were different.

This is the original West German version which is particularly useful for having both 1976 non album singles Love Me Like I Love You and the cover of Dusty Springfield's I Only Wanna Be With You, Money Honey outside of its appearance on the UK Dedication album coupled with the lovely decision to start each side with their most current singles from the It's A Game album.

This album featured the North American and continental Europe Yesterday's Hero and Rock & Roll Love Letter singles, the latter being a Power Pop gem.

Keep On Dancing on this album is the remake in stereo for the Once Upon A Star album.

Of the single lp best of editions this is the one that showcases the Rollers talents the best and compliments that Japan Early Collection double well.