THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Gary Shearston (1939-2013)

Another little bit of my past has died. Back in the autumn of 1974, when the UK went into its second General Election of the year I had Whooping Cough very badly and about six weeks off school. During this period this record was one of my favourites. My father heard it and started to rant about how Shearston had destroyed the purity of the original by mentioning Cocaine (it was in the original lyrics, but my Dad would never see sense when he was angry - a bit like me), and how disgusting Shearston's long hair was. No wonder the British Empire had collapsed, yadda yadda yadda.

I still like the record, even though I have been singularly unmoved by most of the other music of his that I have heard, and I am sad that he has died.

Rest in peace dude.