Films and Shooting Magazine August 1973 by Hansom Books Artillery Mansions cover from Visconti’s ‘Ludwig’

Unmarked Post Card

It’s been a while since I updated on my news.  It does take rather a long time sourcing interesting images and having the time cause this does take time.  Probably too much time but these are all sourced and scanned by myself.  I hope many of these images are unique.  And that’s London Life for you, tiring.  But I’m not tired of life yet Samuel Johnson.  I’m thrilled to have discovered another gem from the past.

Cover of London Life Magazine 31 Craven Street August 1955. This magazine was A5 size due to rationing after the war. Apparently it was a precursor to Tatler Magazine. It’s a curious mix of being quite naughty for its time and deadly serious such as a story about suicide in the Thames “A Tragedy of London by Night”, a piece on Karl Marx’s House amongst the strangest of all questions in the back which range from “Who are the Basques” to “Has Brains Trust ever heard of panties being stolen from washing lines?” It became well known for its letters about dress fetishes apparently. Primarily it was a magazine about London published by New Picture Press in Craven Street.

Cover of London Life Magazine August 1952

I wanted to say how grateful I was to everyone who came to the release of If?  It was a magical night I shall never forget.   I have CDs for sale now for £5.  I will try and put a link on my website.  If anyone has bought digitally I will send hardcopy for free.

Double page from August 1955 London Magazine Anna founder of New York’s Rockette Chorus

From London Life August 1955 in costume for House of Birds

Even my boss came and proceeded to tell me the next day the Parable of the Talents from the Bible which I took on board!

This High Dive is Strictly on the Level Popperfoto 1970 Sports Sunday…We’ve heard of vertical take-off, whoever saw a horizontal dive. Perhaps you’re thinking it’s a trick, that girl never was on that diving board in the first place…that she turned up for a swim not knowing that the pool had been taken over for an illusionists convention. The delegates found her sympathetic subject for the levitation bit and hey presto! up she soared to the four-metre board. But on the level, this is no illusion, no trick, it is the result of doing the right thing at the right place at the right moment. Lesley MacDonald of London was doing her dives at a North London pool yesterday when a cameraman caught her in this unusual pose.

I have uploaded a couple of films of the night on Youtube.  A special thanks to Richard Moore (on violin), Mark Vernon (on Baritone) with whom I recorded the album, James Ussher for his video and beautiful photos, Brian Kavanagh for his stunning photographs and Sam Lowsley-Williams for his photographs and films too.  They all turned up with cameras and videos which I hadn’t really thought about.  I am grateful because I don’t often perform live and it was a one off performance just of the album If? In its entirety.  Also to BJ Cole to Louis Vause and Dave Barbarossa – amazing musicians who were so encouraging and of course the fabulous John Crampton who played one of my favourite Leadbelly songs ‘Pick a bale of cotton’… Oh Lordy pick a bale of cotton, O Lordy pick a bale of hay, Oh Lordy pick a bale of cotton, Oh Lord pick a bale of day…”

Lettie and Richard Moore performing at the Finborough Arms 31 May 2018 photograph by Sam Lowsley-Williams

It’s on a very small scale I’m performing at but all in a grain of sand.

Lettie, Richard Moore and Mark Vernon performing 31 May 2018 at Finborough Theatre (Photograph by Brian Kavanagh)

Lettie by Brian Kavanagh at Finborugh Theatre 31 May 2018

Lettie at Finborough Arms by Brian Kavanagh 31 May 2018

I have struggled lately with some big acts.  I walked out on David Byrne and felt terrible.

David Byrne at Hammersmith Apollo taken on my phone but where’s the band? I went up this close to check- I saw the dancers. I saw someone playing bass. Then I saw him stop and yet the bass carried on and yet he promises there were no backing tracks at all but I couldn’t feel it. I had no emotional response from hearing it which was sad to me as a huge fan.

I also wanted to walk out on Public Service Broadcast and their annoying music put to films about the Welsh Miners (?) but I couldn’t cause I was in Bournemouth although I couldn’t wait to get back to our gorgeous hotel The Norfolk Royale!

Lettie in Bournemouth outside her Godfathers hotel The Royal Norfolk 6 April 2018

My problem is that I don’t like heavy use of backing tracks but according to David Byrne there were none used.  Anyway, whether it’s being really played or not wirelessly through bluetooth it left me cold.  I realise how good Nick Cave was and The Eels are – it is precisely because of this. They use backing sparingly and there’s feedback and nuance and sounds of amps and things.  I personally need this.  I don’t want slick when I see live. I hate digital as it is anyway!

The Eels at Brixton Academy Monday 2 July sitting on the bar what a great view!

Postcard ‘Dear Mother hoping you are well’ dated 1924 Miller & Lang Ltd

Anyway, I don’t want to be one of those moaners because nobody else minds and really who am I to say anything at all.  My only reason I do is I feel like it is affecting my experience of live music and will impact what I want to see in the future.   I think it’s interesting to talk about the future of music in these very uncertain times.

The Eternal City Theatre Royal Torque advert Monday April 23 six nights David Allen & Sons

The dichotomy of this I believe is the future and the future as I see it are these concerts featuring Roy Orbison or David Bowie as a hologram.

Pictorial Post Card David Allen & Sons unmarked

The difference however is that you have the live orchestra with a ghost!  So the other way round in effect!!  And people will LOVE it!

Unmarked postcard

I went to the Ephemera Fair and could not believe what I found some of it above and below.  My highlight was a charming man in his 80s Julian Dunn who had came up from Surrey (avoiding that nightmare cycle race that put London at a standstill!) who isn’t on the internet.  We chatted at great length about everything (including his love life!) He said I was a rare breed to this game as nobody young is interested.  I’m pretty sure though I spotted Lawrence of Belgravia  (singer of Felt) looking at some old Melody Makers and the guy from Sonic Youth but I could be wrong.  Anyway I thought I should share some with you.  I don’t post these on Facebook because these images are so unique.  As a typist I rather love this one:

Advertising Postcard Underwood Typewriters unmarked post card

Language of Stamps unmarked embossed postcard The Alpha Series Processed in Switzerland

Here’s a beautiful postcard made out of real stamps below….!!

Stamp Montage postcard ‘don’t you think these cards are good made of stamps thought the words good …love Enid’ to Tooting Common no date

Sago Konstar Stockholm Printed in Sweden unmarked on back – I love this postcard it almost feels hand painted.

In regards to music I have recorded about about eleven new tracks with David Baron  whose career goes from strength to strength from commercial work to composing scores for an extraordinary NY based artist of international acclaim.   Some of this work will be going on Hear & Now Recordings (he has already released one extraordinary instrumental album called Cycles).  I am also working on some music with Tom Ingleby which includes a song about the year 1932 following my visit to the Picasso exhibition Love Fame and Tragedy at the Tate Modern three times!  If you can go I highly recommend it.  It closes on 9 September.

En Tissus New-Flexible unmarked on back

I shall drop In Copyright Samuels Ltd Strand London unmarked on back

Every morning I wake up the optimistic.  I never give up.  I tend to my terrace and my flowers.

Embossed unmarked postcard Artist Atelia H Guggenheim Co Zurich No 6859

I even finished the Sean Hughes song (the lyrics are his poem The beautiful girl stops dancing) which you can hear here:  and also on my news page.  His agent loved it so I’m really happy.   I’m always looking for the turn after the sign post.

Paul Popper Photographic Agency Fleet St copyright Popperfoto

However it’s impossible to create without time and the dog days of August are perfect.

Hayle Beach July 1971 from unknown photograph album bought at Battersea Car Boot sale

Anyway, I hope something will come of something will come of something will come of something will come of something will come of something will come of something will come of something will come of something….because something at least usually does!

Send me a postcard color by Bunn Yeager unmarked postcard Plasticchrome

From sunny England until the next one x x x

Hayle Beach July 1971 unknown photograph album from Battersea Car Boot sale