Giffing the Legends... Elvis

Here's yet another video clip that was just begging to be giffed. It features Elvis in
his final film 'Elvis On Tour'.  And it's in this very clip that we see what must be the last
time on film that Elvis broke into a sweat and gave the fans their dollars worth.
The following year in 1973 was of course the last big gig, Aloha Hawaii via Satellite
which was beamed live around the world. After that began the great physical
decline and Elvis died at the age of 42 in August 1977, 40 years ago this month.

Polk Salad Annie is the song being performed here. A tune composed and originally
sung by Tony Joe White. And it's clear to see that Elvis is enjoying himself as the
song reaches a big climax. And the bass solo by Jerry Scheff isn't bad either.

Youtube video upload by Timothy Sideburns

A Visit to Banqueting House London

THE LOST PALACE OF WHITEHALL WAS ONCE THE LARGEST ROYAL RESIDENCE IN EUROPE, AND HOME TO THE
MONARCHY FOR 168 YEARS.  ACQUIRED BY KING HENRY VIII FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF YORK FOLLOWING
CARDINAL WOLSEY'S FALL FROM GRACE, IT WAS ENLARGED AND COMPLETED BY QUEEN ELIZABETH I.

IN 1606 A MORE SUBSANTIAL  BUILDING ON THIS VERY SITE REPLACED A TEMPORARY WOODEN CONSTRUCTION
AND WAS COMMISSIONED BY KING JAMES I AND HIS WIFE QUEEN ANNE FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ROYAL
MASQUE. IT IS THE BUILDING YOU SEE TODAY, THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF THE TWO DEVASTATING FIRES IN THE 1690's.

ON 30th JANUARY  1649 KING CHARLES I PASSED BENEATH THE MAGNIFICENT RUBENS CEILING, PAINTED TO
CELEBRATE THE GLORY OF THE MONARCHY, AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO A SCAFFOLD OUTSIDE WHERE HE WAS
BEHEADED FOR TREASON.
THE RUBENS CEILING WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE VERY LAST THINGS HE SAW, A WORK THAT HE ACTUALLY
COMMISSIONED HIMSELF.
THE FIRST MAJOR CLASSICAL BUILDING IN ENGLAND CONSTRUCTED IN THE ITALIAN PALLADIAN STYLE, THE
BANQUETING HOUSE IS A MIRACULOUS AND ARCHITECTURALLY PRECIOUS SURVIVOR OF FLOOD, FIRE AND WAR,
WHO'S ABILITY TO IMPRESS HAS ONLY INCREASED WITH AGE.


BANQUETING HOUSE WHITEHALL LONDON

Here's a beautiful Palace in Whitehall that I've been itching to visit, finally getting
there yesterday on Friday morning on what was a very busy sunny morning in Central
London, with tourists absolutely everywhere.
Oddly enough I must have walked past Banqueting House dozens of times while
passing through Whitehall and yet I wasn't even aware of it's presence until recently
when I saw some pictures in Time Out magazine of the spectacular Rubens painted
ceiling. They were installed in the Main Hall in 1636 but actually created by
Rubens in Antwerp.
And it is the Main Hall with it's spectacular ceiling that is the big draw of this
long lost Palace.
The lower floor called The Undercroft was closed off to the public yesterday
as they were carrying out some repairs. And yet both the Main Hall and The Undercroft
can be hired out to the general public for weddings and various functions as well
as conferences and fashion shows.
And being such a warm and sunny day I couldn't resist joining the hordes of
tourists by moving on to several nearby London hotspots like Trafalgar Square,
Parliament Square, The Thames and Big Ben, the now silent clock, where
builders were already busy putting up more scaffolding. And I'll no doubt post
up some of those images later on.

Below: The official Tourist Information video
for Banquet House.

James Brown and those Stage Antics!

Here's a video clip that was begging to be giffed. I hadn't seen this clip until recently.
It features the Godfather of Soul, or as the MC says, Soul Brother number one.
It is of course James Brown.
Naturally I had to giggle as he comes on stage in what must seem like out of date attire,
but then this performance happened back in the 1970's. But what was very noticeable 
was that as soon as he took up his place at the mic, he suddenly burst into one of his stage
antics where it looked like he might have done some serious damage to himself.
One can only imagine that in the early 1970's James Brown was at the top of his game
and selling more records than any other time in his career. Perhaps at the then age of
41 it was his way of saying I'm back and still on top of the world. But one thing was for
sure, and that is that he was a real showman.

This performance in Zaire in 1974 was set up to tie in with a very famous boxing match
known as The Rumble in the Jungle which pitted Muhammad Ali against George
Foreman. A match in which Ali won in the 8th round and regained the World
Championship title.

Interestingly James Brown does feature quite a lot in my music collection as I quite
like the music soundtracks from those 1970 blaxploitation movies.

Below is a video clip of that Zaire Concert in which James Brown performs
'The Payback.'

VIDEO UPLOADED TO YOUTUBE BY CAROLINA DELL VALLE FRIAS  

Sunday Morning at Kenwood House

A week ago on Sunday I had an early morning walk around the
beautiful grounds of Kenwood in Hampstead. And being such a
fine and sunny morning I was able to take a few pictures.
But more importantly I wanted to try and make another short
video (below).
And while I was there I had another look around inside the
actual Kenwood House.
Surprisingly many of the rooms were a little dark with many of
the window blinds pulled down. I can only imagine that it was
probably for the protection of the valuable paintings and artifacts
on display as it was a very sunny morning.

For more pictures of all the rooms inside the House you can see them
in my first posting of Kenwood House HERE.

Below is a short video I made on that Sunday morning visit.

This is the view you get of the open area of Kenwood once you pass through
the Kenwood Ivy tunnel. And during the days of the famous Kenwood
Concerts this would be your first view of the throngs of crowds waiting
for the Saturday night performances to begin.
And it was on the far side of the pond where the stage area was set up.
And on nights when fireworks were set off, the water created some dramatic
reflections.
The position and the noise of the stage area became quite a controversy
with locals living right behind it starting to complain, eventually forming
a campaign group which included our very own Alf Garnett, actor
Warren Mitchell who was the most vociferous. In the end they got what they
wanted and the permanent stage was dismantled and set up much further
to the other end of the Kenwood open space.

In June 2008 Brian Wilson came to London and performed at Kenwood on
a spectacular Summer evening and sung many Beach Boy classics. It almost
felt like a private show in my backgarden being that I don't live that far
from Kenwood and Hampstead Heath. After that concert I was literally
buzzing for a whole week.
But sadly the concerts ended a few years later and I've not read about any plans
to have them back again.
It seems like every time outdoor events in London become too popular,
then that usually secures it's demise.
  

Above: Brian Wilson performing at Kenwood in 2008.