A message from Monkey Mike

4th September 2022

Always wear a mask in class and at school, please.

Wear your mask over your nose and mouth.

Do not touch your face or mask.

Always wash your hands.

Thank you

Young Learners, level 6: It’s festival time

3rd September 2022

Many countries have festivals that can be:

colourful / dangerous / exciting / fun / noisy / peaceful / traditional / unusual

Question 1:

What festivals do you have in your country ?

What do people do ? What are the customs ?

Is there special or traditional food ?

Complete this piece:

In Vietnam, the biggest festival is Tet Holiday. At Tet the custom is for parents to give …

Vietnamese eat special food such as …

People wear beautiful, colourful … and watch …

Festivals around the world

Tell me about these festivals. Use the new adjectives to describe them. Would you like to go ? Why or why not ?

Do you think these people are crazy or brave or just having fun ?

First, to Europe, and this famous festival in Spain:

Staying in Europe, we go to the UK:

Now we are off to Africa, to the country of Niger:

Now let’s cross the Atlantic and head to Mexico:

Time to head back to Asia, stopping at Thailand:

Please Note: All photos are taken from Google Images or free photo sites, and are used for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement or offense is intended. If I have used your photo or image, and you wish me to remove it, just ask. This site is not monetized, I run it on my own dollar. Thank you.

The Beatles solo cinema projects. Some not-so-fab films (part 1)

22nd August 2022

Before The Beatles broke up in 1970, each member had released at least one solo record or appeared in a non-Beatles film.

These solo outings are a ‘must-see’ for Beatles fans, although none of them match the artistic excellent of The Beatles music, or come anywhere close. Most are now curio pieces, examples of the late 60s zeitgeist, and are of little cinematic merit despite amazing casts and writers.

I hadn’t previously seen any of the following five films. Unfortunately it proved to be a rather disappointing experience.

Anyway, in true Beatles style, “One, two, three, four …”

Let’s start in the Autumn of 1966. The ‘Revolver’ LP had been released in August. John Lennon was offered a part in an anti-war black comedy so left the UK to film in Germany and Spain. Meanwhile, Paul McCartney was approached to write a score for a domestic comedy-drama called ‘The Family Way.’

The film was released on 18th December 1966 (June 1967 in the US), while the soundtrack LP was issued in the new year, on 6th January 1967. First, the film review.

‘The Family Way’ is by far my favourite of the five.

The Boulting Brothers, producer and director, were significant names in 50s British cinema, making some classic films on a limited, post-war budget (films such as ‘I’m All Right, Jack’, ‘Brighton Rock’ & ‘Lucky Jim’ among others). The script was by Bill Naughton, who had written the iconic 60s play ‘Alfie’.

British viewers (of a certain age) will recognise many familiar faces from film and TV, especially the male lead, Hywel Bennett (later to play the eponymous Percy in 1971, music written by Ray Davies of The Kinks).

The title is somewhat misleading, as the phrase is a British euphemism for being pregnant, usually out of wedlock (a social stigma at this time). In fact, the lack of a family is the main point of the film.

Set in the Manchester region of north-west England, the film following the wedding of Jenny and Arthur, Jenny from a middle-class background, Arthur’s father a life-long employee at the local gas works. Arthur enjoys classical music and literature, at odds with his uneducated father. There are tensions at the wedding between father and son, but the real problem occurs on the wedding night; Arthur is unable to consummate the marriage, and the couple to sleep separately throughout most of the film.

Finally Arthur overcomes his issues, and the couple go on a belated honeymoon, and will move into their own home when they return. It is also heavily implied that another man was Arthur’s biological father, although he now seems to fully accept and love his dad.

Of the five films under discussion, this is the only one I would be happy to watch again. Additionally, it is also one with the least contribution from a Beatle.

Paul McCartney wrote some pieces which his producer, the legendary George Martin, scored and wrote variations for orchestra. According to online sources, Martin had to force McCartney to finish the work, staying at McCartney’s house one night until Paul had produced some music. [1]

As for the music, I feel it’s pretty uninspiring and inconsequential. The LP clocks in at under 27 minutes, and I doubt if many Beatles fans who actually own it, play it often.

However, it may hold a very important key. Because of the northern setting, McCartney thought a brass band would be a good idea, and it has been suggested that this led to the idea of ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.’ Of course, that LP is another story altogether …

‘Sgt Pepper’s’ epitomises the ‘Summer of Love’ in 1967. Meanwhile, the US forces were increasing in Vietnam, fighting was escalating.

At this point, John Lennon made his solo screen outing as Private Gripweed in ‘How I Won The War,’ released on 18th October 1967

The film centres on a lower middle-class man who becomes an officer (Michael Crawford), and how out of touch officers were with the men under their command. The humour, often black, is very hit-and-miss, not to say outdated. Occasionally the jokes don’t work at all.

Lennon, with cropped hair, merely plays a version of himself, and is competent and enjoyable to watch although the film does drag. The plot is basically a group of soldiers being sent into the desert to prepare a grassy area suitable for a game of cricket.

The film received moderate reviews which was disappointing as the director was Richard Lester, who had made ‘A Hard Day’s Night,’ the first Beatles film, which was so fresh and exciting.

Another interesting incident is that Lennon stayed in a villa in Spain during the shoot, a villa that reminded him of a certain building in Liverpool, a Salvation Army garden called Strawberry Fields.

One of the co-stars, Jack MacGowran, would be the lead actor in ‘Wonderwall’ (1968) for which George Harrison composed the music.

Harrison’s soundtrack was released on 1st November 1968, while the film wouldn’t get a full UK release until 12th January 1969.

MacGowran plays a stereotypical absent-minded scientist, who lives alone in a drab, brown-toned apartment, piles of dusty papers everywhere. One day, through a crack in the wall, he sees into the next apartment (alluded to in the LP cover). His neighbour is a beautiful young girl (Jane Birkin) who practises free love, her living space open and multicoloured. The scientist envies her life, and boyfriend, until he witnesses the other side of the permissive society; the irresponsibility. The girl gets pregnant, the boyfriend leaves her and she attempts suicide. The scientist sees this and calls an ambulance, thus saving her. The film is a condemnation of the hippie lifestyle, the squares save the day, depth and character over superficial image.

Musically, the LP has its admirers, featuring Harrison’s fascination with the sitar. This works well with the film and places the film firmly in the late 60s. The music is quite listenable, without the images, mixing eastern and western influences, and did receive some praise from contemporary reviewers.

Ringo, meanwhile, made two films in the late 60s, both based on books by Terry Southern, ‘Candy’ and ‘The Magic Christian.’ The much-loved drummer worked with such screen legends as Richard Burton, Peter Sellers and Marlon Brando … but I will save that for another blog.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_Way_(soundtrack)

Young Learners, Level 3: Sentence building using the Past Tense

24th August 2022

Last week, we learnt some adjectives and used them in a short piece of writing.

Can you remember the adjectives ?

The adjectives:

old / young / beautiful / handsome / ugly / happy / angry / sad / healthy / unhealthy / amazing / clever / cute / dangerous / exciting / great / intelligent / interesting / lazy / talented

This week, we are going to write another short story, but this time using Past Tense (Verb 2).

To start, here is a list of verbs in the Present Tense (Verb 1). What is the Past Tense ?

buy // drink // eat // go // listen // make // play // read // say // see // take // watch

bought / drank / ate / went / listened / made / played / read / said / saw / took / watched

What did you do last week ?

Use Past Tense (Verb 2) and the new adjectives. I want three sentences with at least three verbs and three adjectives.

EXAMPLE:

On Saturday I watched an interesting video on YouTube. A young girl played drums very well. She was so talented. On Sunday, I read an exciting book and listened to some old music.

Now … your turn.

What did you do, what did you see, what did you eat and drink ? Did you … ?

Young learners, level 3: Let’s tell a story.

18th August 2022

Let’s tell a story !

First we need a subject, a person or animal, or both:

Now, what are they doing ? Maybe they are:

walking // playing // working // talking // watching // reading // doing homework // making a video // looking for something

What other verbs do you know ?

Now we need some adjectives. What adjectives do you know ?

old / young / beautiful / handsome / ugly / happy / angry / sad / amazing / clever / cute / dangerous / exciting / great / healthy / unhealthy / intelligent / interesting / lazy / talented

Now, let’s make a story. I will choose the teacher.

One day a handsome teacher was making a video for YouTube. The teacher has short, straight, black hair, and a black beard. He looks very friendly and happy. He is speaking about sharks. Sharks are very dangerous, big and angry. The video is very exciting and interesting.

Now … your turn. Tell me an interesting story. You may draw and colour as well

Kindergarten: Student as teacher

14th August 2022

Objectives:

Develop speaking skills

Encourage students to speak in sentences

Use of contractions i.e. I’m, it’s etc

Show English syntax by example rather than by formal teaching e.g. adjective before the noun

Have the students interact with each other in English

Make basic phrases part of the student’s natural speaking

The students have been making short sentences, looking at flashcards, such as, “It’s a yellow book.” To make sure the students are able to switch colours and adjectives, and not just think that all books are yellow, here’s a little exercise.

Have one of the students be Teacher, and then ask, “What is it ?”

Teacher can also ask individual students; that way, we can monitor progress, and see where help is needed.

Rotate Teacher so all students are given a chance.

Now … What is it ?

It’s a blue book. It’s a big, blue book.

Butterfly Decal: Cupid’s Arrow (low-fi demo version)

13th August 2022

A very basic, low-fi demo of a future Butterfly Decal song, recorded at home on an iPhone 7, using the Garageband app.

The acoustic guitar is a cheap model I picked up for 1 million VND (35 GBP or 42 USD). At first I played it through a processed Chorus Shimmer amp, using the default settings. In the second track, I used a clean Cool Jazz Combo amp setting, with extra reverb and mids and bass.

I got to use my new custom-made electric guitar on two tracks, both through a Fifties Rock & Roll amp.

Custom built Strat-style guitar, made in Viet Nam, because I play left-handed

Remember, this is merely a demo. The tempo is possibly too slow, and it desperately needs Niall’s magic touch on bass, drums and keys, not to mention making a proper audio mix.

If you like the track, feel free to forward it to your friends. Niall (my partner in Butterfly Decal) and I would really appreciate if you click the ‘Like’ button.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you my little princesses

30th July 2022

We just finished an extra, four-week summer school, which meant working from 8.30 – 10.30, then coming back for two evening classes, 17.10 – 21.00. This schedule, for all of us, was exhausting.

However on my last day, three girls gave me some presents: two notebooks and some chewy sweets. The sweets soon went the way of all flesh, but I will use the notebooks for ideas, songs and lyrics.

Thank you so much. A teacher NEVER forgets any gift from a student.

Chinese short stories: A recommendation

24th July 2022

Recently, I finished an anthology of Modern Chinese short stories namely ‘The Picador Book of Contemporary Chinese Fiction.’

The collection, first published in 1998, is one of the best I’ve ever read; all stories are worth reading and many are excellent.

My experience of Chinese Literature has been mainly limited to the Classics: Confucius, Lao Tzu and poetry from various dynasties, so this is a great introduction to contemporary fiction.

A 2004 collection by China’s first Noble Laurate

The Picador anthology has the following contents:

Western readers may be aware of Su Tong as he wrote ‘Raise the Red Lantern’, which was filmed by Zhang Yi-mou in 1991.

If you can find a copy I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

1966 – Rock Classics … and some soul, Jazz and a World Cup

July 2022

1965 ended with The Beatles throwing down the gauntlet with the ‘Rubber Soul’ LP. The musical Cold War between The Beatles and the Beach Boys was on !

Bob Dylan had released ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ which would be a very tough act to follow, while The Who had debuted on LP with ‘My Generation’.

Ravi Shankar issued his ‘Sound of the Sitar’ LP, an instrument that George Harrison would use on ‘Rubber Soul’, and would be heard on several big hits over the next two years.

Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones playing sitar

Some of the early 60s beat bands were fading away while garage bands were on the rise. Meanwhile London was swinging, and the UK was getting ready for the World Cup

Please note, most dates are from Wikipedia so there may be some errors. Also, some LPs were only issued in the States, while UK and US release dates varied; I have usually given the UK date. This is a selective discography, showcasing just some of the amazing music of 1966.

January

1st Paul Jones ‘My Way’ LP

7th ‘Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds’. Live recording from December 1963, featuring Eric Clapton.

7th Spencer Davis Group ‘The Second Album’ LP

14th London-born singer David Jones changes his name to David Bowie. Bowie would release four singles in 1966 but none entered either the UK or US charts.

17th Simon & Garfunkel ‘Sound of Silence’ LP

21st Them ‘Them Again’ LP, featuring Van Morrison on vocals, but the LP failed to chart.

31st Tony Bennett ‘Movie Song Album’ LP

February

4th Rolling Stones ’19th Nervous Breakdown’ single

9th Death of Blues singer Sophie Tucker

11th The Animals ‘Inside-Looking Out’ single

14th Bob Dylan ‘One of us Must Know’ single. Reached 33 in the UK, but didn’t crack the Billboard 100 in the US.

18th The Hollies ‘I Can’t Let Go’ single

19th The Lovin’ Spoonful ‘Daydream’ single

21st Cher ‘Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)’ single

25th The Kinks ‘Dedicated Follower of Fashion’ single

25th The Yardbirds ‘Shapes of things’ single. Some critics have labelled this as the first psychedelic rock song.

Michelle Philipps of The Mamas and the Papas

28th The Mamas and the Papas ‘If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears’ LP

March

1st Elvis ‘Frankie and Johnny’ soundtrack LP

4th The Who ‘Substitute’ single

4th The Beatles ‘Yesterday’ EP

4th John Lennon quoted in the London Evening Standard saying that the Beatles were “More popular than Jesus.” This causes protests and record burnings, especially in the Bible belt of the USA

7th The Who ‘A Legal Matter’ single. Issued by Shel Talmy (producer) without the band’s permission.

8th Crispian St. Peters ‘the Pied Piper’ single. Peters also covered the Phil Ochs song ‘Changes’ but it failed to chart.

14th The Byrds ‘Eight Miles High’ single. Record is widely banned due to perceived drug references.

15th Nancy Sinatra ‘Boots’ LP

25th Dusty Springfield ‘You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me’ single

28th Cher ‘The Sonny Side of Cher’ LP

March

The Mamas and the Papas ‘Monday, Monday’ single

Percy Sledge ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ single

The Fugs ‘The Fugs’ LP

Love ‘Love’ LP

The Lovin’ Spoonful’ Daydream LP

The Monks ‘Black Monk Time’ LP

Phil Ochs ‘In Concert’ LP

April

1st Sam & Dave ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ LP

7th Manfred Mann ‘Machines’ EP

15th Manfred Mann ‘Pretty Flamingo’ single

15th The Beach Boys ‘Sloop John B’ single (March 21st in USA)

15th Rolling Stones ‘Aftermath’ LP (2nd July in USA)

22nd The Troggs ‘Wild Thing’ single

April

James Brown ‘It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World’ single

Bob Dylan ‘Rainy Day Women #12 & 35’ single

The Seeds ‘The Seeds’ LP

Otis Redding ‘The Soul Album’ LP

May

3rd The Temptations ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’ single

4th Stevie Wonder ‘Uptight’ LP

6th Small Faces ‘Small Faces’ LP

7th Rolling Stones ‘Paint it Black’ single

13th the Animals ‘Animalisms’ LP

21st The Animals ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’ single

27th The Yardbirds ‘Over Under Sideways’ single

30th The Beatles ‘Paperback Writer / Rain’ single

May

Dave Clark Five ‘Look Before You Leap’ single. Only reaches number #50 in the UK charts.

Simon & Garfunkel ‘I Am A Rock’ single

Frank Sinatra ‘Strangers in the Night’ single

‘When The Boys Meet The Girls’ soundtrack LP. The first film starring Herman’s Hermits. The LP is an eclectic mix, featuring the British band alongside Connie Francis, Liberace & Louis Armstrong

June

3rd The Kinks ‘Sunny Afternoon’ single

3rd Jimmy Ruffin ‘What Becomes of the Brokenhearted’ single

3rd Manfred Mann ‘Instrumental Asylum’ EP

10th Elvis ‘Paradise, Hawaiian Style’ soundtrack LP

15th The Beatles ‘Yesterday and Today’ LP (US only)

Beatles producer George Martin stated that his first disagreement with the band was over this LP cover. Capital Records recalled the sleeve which today is a valuable collector’s item.

17th The Hollies ‘Bus Stop’ single

17th Death of Jazz musician Johnny St. Cyr

20th Bob Dylan ‘I Want You’ single

20th Bob Dylan ‘Blonde on Blonde’ double LP

27th The Beach Boys ‘Pet Sounds’ LP (May 16th in USA). The LP peaked at number 2 in the UK, but only reached 10 in the USA

27th Mothers of Invention ‘Freak Out’ LP

June

The Count Five ‘Psychotic Reaction’ single

Bobby Hebb ‘Sunny’ single

‘What’s Shakin” compilation LP featuring The Lovin’ Spoonful, Paul Butterfield and Powerhouse, a supergroup comprising Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce & Steve Winwood.

July

1st Donovan ‘Sunshine Superman’ single

1st The Hollies ‘Would You Believe ?’ LP

4th The Lovin’ Spoonful ‘Summer in the City’ single

8th The Beatles ‘Nowhere Man’ EP

11th Cher ‘Alfie’ single

15th The Kinks ‘Dedicated Kinks’ EP

15th The Yardbirds ‘Yardbirds’ LP, more commonly known as ‘Roger the Engineer’

18th The Byrds ‘Fifth Dimension’ LP

18th The Beach Boys ‘Wouldn’t it be Nice’ / ‘God Only Knows’ single.

Paul McCartney proclaims ‘God Only Knows’ “The greatest song ever written.”

22nd John Mayall ‘Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton’ LP

25th The Supremes ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ single

25 The Troggs ‘From Nowhere’ LP

29th Manfred Mann ‘Just Like A Woman’ single

30th World Cup Final. England beat West Germany 4 – 2 after extra time.

31st Death of Jazz pianist Bud Powell

July

Lee Dorsey ‘Working in the Coal Mine’ single

The Left Banke ‘Walk Away Renée’ single

Wilson Pickett ‘Land of a Thousand Dances’ single

The Troggs ‘With a Girl Like You’ single

The Butterfield Blues Band ‘East – West’ LP

Tim Hardin ‘Tim Hardin 1’ LP

Paul Jones leaves Manfred Mann for a solo career, and is replaced by Mike d’Abo

August

5th The Beatles ‘Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby’ single

5th Small Faces ‘All or Nothing’ single

5th The Beatles ‘Revolver’ LP

12th The Who ‘The Kids are Alright’ single. This iconic track didn’t even enter the UK Top 40.

15th Jefferson Airplane ‘Jefferson Airplane Takes Off’ LP with original singer Signe Toly Anderson, and Skip Spence on drums

16th The Monkees ‘Last Train to Clarksville’ single

18th Bob Dylan ‘Just Like a Woman’ single (US only)

18th The Four Tops ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ single

26th The Who ‘I’m a Boy’ single

26th Spencer Davis Group ‘Autumn ’66’ LP

26th The Walker Brothers ‘Portrait’ LP

29th The Beatles play their last ever public concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco.

August

? and the Mysterians ’96 Tears’ single

September

6th The Byrds ‘Mr Spaceman’ single

12th The Mamas and the Papas ‘The Mamas and the Papas’ LP

Rolling Stones in drag for the ‘Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby’ promo film.

23rd Rolling Stones ‘Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby’ single

September

Ike & Tina Turner ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ LP

The Incredible String Band ‘The Incredible String Band’ LP

Autumn

John Lennon begins filming How I Won the War

October

7th The Hollies ‘Stop Stop Stop’ single

7th Death of Johnny Kidd

10th The Beach Boys ‘Good Vibrations’ single

10th The Seekers ‘Georgy Girl’ single

10th The Monkees ‘The Monkees’ LP

12th Supremes ‘You Keep Me Hanging On’ single

21st Manfred Mann ‘Semi-Detached Suburban Mr Jones single

21st The Yardbirds ‘Happenings Ten Years Time Ago’ single. One of the few Yardbird tracks to feature both Jeff Beck & Jimmy Page.

21st Manfred Mann ‘As Is’ LP

22nd Simon & Garfunkel ‘A Hazy Shade of Winter’ single

24th Simon & Garfunkel ‘Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme’ LP

28th The Kinks ‘Face to Face’ LP

31st Elvis ‘Spinout’ soundtrack LP

October

Bobby Darin ‘If I Were A Carpenter’ single

Tim Buckley ‘Tim Buckley’ LP featuring Lee Underwood, Van Dyke Parks & Jack Nietzsche

The Deep ‘Psychedelic Moods’ LP

Herman’s Hermits ‘Both Sides of Herman’s Hermits’ LP

John Lee Hooker ‘The Real Folk Blues’ LP

13th Floor Elevators ‘The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators’ LP

November

2nd Death of Bluesman Mississippi John Hurt

10th Los Bravos ‘Black is Black’ LP, featuring the hit single by this Spanish band fronted by a German singer.

11th The Who ‘La-La-La-Lies’ single. Another track released by producer Shel Talmy without permission.

12th The Monkees ‘I’m a Believer’ single

16th Martha and the Vandellas ‘Watchout !’ LP

16th Smokey Robinson & The Miracles ‘Away We a Go-Go’ LP

Shot from the ‘Dead End Street’ promo film

18th The Kinks ‘Dead End Street’ single

21st Joan Baez ‘Noël’ Christmas LP

28th Tages ‘Extra Extra’ LP a beat group from Sweden

November

The Bee Gees ‘Spicks and Specks’ LP

James Brown ‘Handful of Soul’ LP

Love ‘Da Capo’ LP

The Lovin’ Spoonful ‘Hums of The Lovin’ Spoonful’ LP

Booker T & The MGs ‘And Now!’ LP featured one single ‘Sweet Potato’ which was nowhere near as successful as ‘Green Onions.’

December

3rd The Who ‘Happy Jack’ single

5th Buffalo Springfield ‘Buffalo Springfield’ LP. Future pressing replaced an LP track with the ‘For What it’s Worth’ single.

9th The Hollies ‘For Certain Because’ LP

9th The Who ‘A Quick One’ LP

9th Cream ‘Fresh Cream’ LP

10th The Beatles ‘A Collection of Beatles Oldies’ compilation LP

18th The Family Way film released, music by Paul McCartney, the first solo Beatles recording.

John Lennon filmed in Soho, London, November 1966

26th ‘Not Only, But Also’ TV comedy Christmas Special aired on the BBC, featuring John Lennon

December

The Left Banke ‘Pretty Ballerina’ single

‘After the Fox’ film released. The Hollies released a single of the title track in August but it failed to chart.

December Eric Burdon of the Animals, releases his first solo single ‘Help Me Girl’. His first LP in 1967 is credited to Eric Burdon and the Animals.

December Gerry and the Pacemakers ‘Girl on a Swing’ LP. Fails to chart in either UK or USA

In Jazz:

Wes Montgomery released ‘Tequila’ & ‘California Dreaming’

Miles Davies released the live ‘Four & More’ LP and Lee Morgan issued the ‘Charisma’ LP.

In Free Jazz, Ornette Coleman had two LPs, ‘Chappaqua Suite’ and ‘The Empty Foxhole’.

John Coltrane released ‘Ascension’ and ‘Meditations’

In Folk and Country:

Bob Lind, whose songs have been covered by Glenn Campbell, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, and Eric Clapton among others, released ‘The Elusive Bob Lind’. Glen Campbell issued ‘The 12 String Guitar’ LP.

Waylon Jennings issued 3 LPs including ‘Folk-Country’ while Johnny Cash released 2, including ‘Happiness is You’.

In Blues:

B.B. King released ‘Confessin’ the Blues’, Muddy Waters issued ‘Muddy, Brass & the Blues’ & Lightning Hopkins had ‘Lightnin’ Strikes’.