Birthday Blues No.1 #6 - David Soul - Don't Give Up on Us

 

I am six years old and it’s Jimmy Carter’s first day as President. Also, Hutch from Starsky and Hutch is top of the pops.

Not that I have any idea what that show is like. Say what you like about my parents, they did not fuck about with bedtimes for us as kids. I went to bed very early indeed, my mum had three of us to deal with and by the time the telly started getting good in the evening, we were being packed off to bed so she could get some peace.

Just some of the programmes I had to pretend I knew what was going on in as a kid next day in the playground – The Professionals, The Sweeney, even shamefully the first series of The Young Ones. I missed them all, thanks to this strict bedtime bullshit.

I had to watch YouTube to find out what this record was like. Instantly I recognised it from somewhere, it starts like somebody wanting to do MacArthur Park very badly, like Manilow levels of bad. Soul’s voice is pleasant enough but it’s hard to escape the idea that bored housewives were buying this record and fantasising about sexy Dave rolling them over the bonnet of an American car. It’s a very Our Tune kind of record. Providing Simon Bates ever got a letter from Julie in Coventry remembering the time her late boyfriend gave her one over the bonnet of his Datsun Cherry before being struck by lightning.

Later I would become more aware of David Soul from his turn in Salem’s Lot and his bizarre role in the election of Martin Bell in the 1997 General Election. He seemed a cool guy.

Anyway, back to me being six in 1977. It fucking sucked. I hated school and was still being picked on for looking different. Although I did get a new teacher called Miss Morton whom I apparently had the most terrible crush on. In my mind she looked a bit like Mindy from erm Mork and Mindy. Also I now have a baby brother.

I don’t remember anything from this year other than we had some sort of party at school for the Queen’s silver jubilee. My parents were no fans of the monarchy, and I can’t imagine we celebrated 25 years of Liz 2 – Electric Boogaloo.

The main event of the summer was us getting a dog. His name was Whiskey and he was a massive part of my childhood from then on, even seeing me off to university, being present when I had to tell my parents I was going to make them grandparents much sooner than theyd have liked.

Basically, I’ve got absolutely no opinion on this song worth sharing. But McCartney, you mother fucker, I’m coming for you.

Current Ranking of Birthday no. 1 – 5

Final Ranking of Birthday no. 1 –  N/A

What Should Have Been Number 1 instead that week -  I Wish by Stevie Wonder

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