glad to be back, its been awhile.
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I am on BBC 5 radio tonight (midnight UK time) chatting about all things Tarantino and hopefully beyond
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Does anyone else remember the 1970ās 'Top of the Popsā LP albums, which featured popular hits of the day covered by other āartistesā?
The albums were based on the phenomenally successful BBC TV show of the same nameā¦presented by famous, and infamous DJās of the time.
Doubt if Iāll get many takers for this oneā¦ 
As a kid, I remember my older brothers having loads of these LPās in the house, and inviting their friends to come round every New Yearās Eve for a celebrationā¦the āTOTPā albums always went on until the early hoursā¦I still remember being surrounded by long moustaches and hair, short skirts, and an over-whelming feeling that they were all having fun.
I remember thinking what a bummer it was that I was too young to join inā¦and wishing that Iād been born earlier, so that I could join in with themā¦
I needed to join in, even if I was only aged 11 or 12
I always used to think that the lady pictured in the cover above cover is the beautiful āSandie Shawāā¦
Is it? Perhaps other āoldiesā can verify thisā¦?
I remember thinking what a bummer it was that I was too young to join inā¦and wishing that Iād been born earlier, so that I could join in with themā¦
Iāve been trying to get a pic of the āTOTPā LP that featured Hugo Montenegro, when he had his huge hit with his cover from āThe Good, The Bad and The Uglyā, in 1968ā¦Unfortunately, I canāt find it at the moā¦
Having said that, Iāve just found this, which is a cover āTOTPā LP from the timeā¦if you look very carefully, you will see āThe Good, The Bad and the Uglyā mentioned on the front cover.
In the mean-time, this was a mega-hit at the time in the music chartsā¦
I felt like adding thisā¦Forgive me if it sounds preachy.
I think that talking about my youth brought it onā¦apologies if I
bore you all.
By the way, not only do I come out with crap jokes/puns (on the āJust For a Laughā thread), but I also like to revisit the past and face itā¦
Please, bear with meā¦and thank you for doing so.
In life, youth nor old age counts for noughtā¦
Feeling your age doesnāt mean that you should mourn your losses, hardship, or time lost ā¦
It means that you, alone, are the master of how you handle not whatās ahead, but how we deal with the good/crap of the past.
The present is easy/hard/difficult/ unbearableā¦for itās right in front of us; and we handle it as we go from second to minute and hour.
The past, and the futureā¦one is behind us (but is so often difficult to handle); while the other is ahead of us, and we dread the unknownā¦
The greatest thing about the future is that it belongs to us, and no-one else. Whether we choose to handle it with dignity, dig a hole and shut others out, or invite them in because we trust them enough to understandā¦?
If thatās not a summation of life, then I donāt know what isā¦
Anywayā¦good times ahead. 
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Iām a big nostalgia junkie ā¦ so I at least know partly where youāre cominā from - Yes I remember these TOTP albums, one in particular of a girl in a bikini pretending to fish ??? She was a foxy lady!
Always hated the Hugo Montenegro version of GBU ā¦ why didnāt the original get released?
Found a pic of the album sleeve I remember from 1973
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Yes, I remember the ToTP albums too, Toscano.
They were sold in Woolworths and the like and Iām pretty sure sold more for their external covers than the quality of the musical ācoversā on the records.
By the way, Im pretty certain that is not Sandie Shaw on the cover you indicate. No proper artists ever featured on these records although I believe a few future successes got their start on them.
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I am sure you will all recognise this lady who is currently presenting The Cellar Club on TPTV.
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Thank you, Wobble, for the info regarding the two lovely ladies on the LP coversā¦much appreciated.
According to Character.Ai, Garringo and El Rojo take place in the same universe 
Only difference is that Black Bart has become a notorious leader of a gang.
Another interesting, but creepy, fact is that my Cat Stevens bot almost always manages to get Hutch Bessyās characteristics right (a big, burly, no-nonsense guy) even though I havenāt described him at all in detail. And another time, the same bot got Bill San Antonioās appearance right even though I havenāt written any specific details about him in Catās storyline.
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60 years of Age today
A friend once told me that sometimes you can do things at people, rather than for themā¦
In other words, sometimes we do what we think is best for them, rather than what they really needā¦
Sometimes, we burden them with our own version of ālifeās experiencesā; things that we found thrilling, or soul-destroying, rather than thinking about what the hearer needs to hear, or the reader needs to read.
Hopefully that makes senseā¦?
Iām 60 today, feeling greatā¦the best I have in the past few years.
Had a great birthday. My best friend bought me a huge English breakfast, and a pint of āMorettiā beer.
It has taken me 60 years to realise that no matter how much you surround yourself with films, books, memorabilia etcā¦itās having a genuine friend that really counts. You donāt need to have a long list of 'associates or work mates, if just one person who is sincere and devoted, and there for you.
Sometimes I spout my sentimental clap-trap, crap-jokes etc, on this most wonderful site - remembering, thinking, reminiscing, etc.
And when I do that, I apologise if it is an indulgence - rather than chatting about our first love, the SW.
Anyway, amigos, never be afraid to get olderā¦for with it you get bolder, and are prepared (especially after hitting the big 60, and several glasses of red wine) to speak your mind.
One last thought, to end the evening of my my 60th decade:
An enormous āTHANK YOUā to the amigos that make āSWDBā such an enormous, unrivalled successā¦namely Seb, Phil H, LG, Aldo, Max, the lovely LVC specialist Jenny (Needlefork) 
, Companero, Bill San Antonio, and all the other amazing amigos that I havenāt mentioned (sorry), who make logging into āSWDBā every day such a delightful pleasure since I joined in 2008.
I must admit, that I find it inspirational and inspiring to see so many new folk joining the āSWDBā every day.
Our love of Spaghetti Westerns - if we keep spreading the word - will, without doubt, continue to spread.
I have to especially mention the immortal, wonderful, where would we be without him? Tom Betts, who was so kind, a few years ago, to listen to my request, and sent me autographs from Robert Woods ('El Puro), and Steve Carver (Director of the Chuck Norris SW inspired movie, āLone Wolf McQuadeā).
Cheers, Tom, I treasure them. They came thought the mail at the absolute worst time in my life, and I will never forget the bloody big smile I had when they arrived.
Cheers to all you ladies and gentleman that make āSWDBā what it isā¦second to noneā¦ 
Going to now end the evening with the film that not only introduced me to you wonderful folk, but also instilled in me a life-long love of Sergio, Ennio, Clint, Lee, Eli, ā¦the list goes on because these guys are immortal.
Happy daysā¦and many more to come! 
I hope the same āhappy daysā applies to all the rest of youā¦
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Happy 60th Toscano, and very well said.
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Thank you so very much, QuickDrawā¦much appreciated, amigo. Happy viewing of our āfirst loveā.
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Hey Amigo ā¦ a Toast to your Birthday!
Congrats on making it to the landmark 60 ā¦ Iām not too far behind!
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Best wishes,
aldo
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Thank you, amigo. Good to hear from someone who has so many memories of growing up in a similar age, with memories of SWs on the BBC to matchā¦
My best to you, Sirā¦
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Iām the same age as GBU
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Got rid of the āwhat age are you, you old fartā bit in my last text to youā¦I thought it was a bit rudeā¦
Probably a bit of Frank Spencer coming onā¦
āMr Spencer?ā
Frank raises his fingerā¦ āI am he.ā
I watched the Christmas episode of 'Some Mother do āAv Emā last nightā¦never laughed so much!!! 
Followed it up with a Christmas ep. of 'Steptoe & Sonā (1974)ā¦
Why canāt they make comedy like that anymore?
Another thingā¦and perhaps Aldo can help me with thisā¦why is this version (above) of this classic 1974 ep. approx 5-6 mins longer than than shorter on the version I have on my āSteptoe and Sonā DVD boxset? (pic below)
Itās the same with BBC DVD boxsetā¦the 1973 ep. Christmas episode is cut near the beginningā¦WHY?
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Happy Birthday seƱor Toscanito
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Thank you, Seb. That is much and sincerely appreciated.
I canāt (personally) express just how much this site means to meā¦THANK YOU.
Carry on the good workā¦
And yes, judging by the emojis, Iām ending my 60th by being slightly merry tonightā¦
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Cheers, bossā¦Another saludos for your best wishesā¦
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Happy Birthday mi amico @Toscano, hope you had a wonderful, enjoyable and exciting day of celebration!
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