The Almanac editorial contingent contains at least a couple of former History teachers and, as they say, ‘old history teachers never die, they just go back in time’. So, given that it’s the cricket season and given the recent huge feedback for Col Ritchie’s Desert Island Discs, let’s go ‘reelin’ in the years’ to recount significant events from November 27.
Cricket first. In 1979, the first day-night ODI saw Australia take on the West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground. See the full scoreboard by clicking here. Check out the Windies pace attack – Roberts, Holding, Croft and Garner! Len Pascoe had a good night out, as did one GS Chappell while KJ Hughes and AR Border chimed in nicely.
Go forward to 1982 and we remember the Australian Test debut of Kepler Wessels when he scored 162 in the Second Test against England at the ‘Gabba. Kepler, of course, went on to have a second debut in Test cricket as captain of the reinstated South Africa. The scoreboard for 1982 at the ‘Gabba can be seen here.
Moving on to 1984, the Second Test v West Indies, also in Brisbane, is mostly remembered for the demise of Kim Hughes as captain after two devastating losses in a row. The Aussies faced an attack featuring Garner, Marshall, Holding and Walsh – now that’s confronting! Only Wayne ‘Flipper’ Phillips provided much resistance with the bat while GF Lawson was the pick of the bowlers. Hughes played another two matches, failing miserably, before disappearing from the Test scene. Check the scorecard here.
Sadly, this day also marks the anniversary of the death of Phillip Hughes in 2014. 63* became an iconic score and for the remainder of the season crowds applauded whenever a batsman reached that figure. We put out our bats in respect. It was, probably, the saddest day in Australian cricket for many decades.
On the music scene, this date presents several significant milestones. Rather than provide you with a single link per person/group, use these memory shakers to YouTube your way through the day, taking in as many clips as you can.
The mesmeric Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle in 1942 and emerged as one of the guitar gods of the 60s only to die far too soon in 1970. His Woodstock performance, all in white, tassels swinging, matching guitar – riveting!
One of the first so-called ‘supergroups’, the legendary Cream played their last concert on this day in 1969 (although some say it was the 26th). Clapton, Bruce and Baker were indeed super but couldn’t work together, hence their early demise. What a monumental sound they created! Sadly, Bruce died five years ago almost to the day while Baker passed away only last month at the age of 80.
A year later, in 1970, former Beatle George Harrison released his three-album masterpiece ‘All Things Must Pass’, a stunning solo debut that proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that ‘the quiet Beatle’ was no less gifted a composer/songwriter/singer than the more acclaimed Lennon/McCartney team.
Finally, November 27, 1976 marked the release of the Sex Pistols’ ‘Anarchy in the UK’, a pulsating, eviscerating critique of life in beleaguered Britain. Raw, leering, contemptuous – and brilliant!
Where do you start?
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Where do you start with a potential soundtrack like that? Raw, in your face Sex Pistols instead of a double, make that a triple, shot of coffee? Some thing a bit more aching like Harrison’s ‘Behind that locked door’ if it’s a melancholy morning? I might go for Cream’s ‘White Room’ which has a couple of those special ‘moments within a song’ alluded to elsewhere yesterday – the introduction with its tension and apprehension, then the closing wailing guitar just so Clapton.
Question: I sometimes wonder if JTH found his inspiration to ‘lunch for Australia’ from the Sex Pistols’ song ‘Pretty Vacant’.
Friday is 18 years since the passing of George Harrison too. I recall hearing it in the car. Living in the Material World by Scorsese, (without any narration) remains a beautiful documentary on his life.
Great set of historical moments. Thanks.
Hmmmm. I’ll move us forward 2 days, November 29.
I recall the death of my father on that day in 1974. It was the opening day of the Ashes series @ the Gabba. Wally Edwards debut, and after an early slump Chappelli got us back in the game. Next day Tony Greig bounced the Australian tail-enders, and the series really became fair dinkum.
On November 29 the first Holden, FX-48-215 rolled off the production line @ Fishermen’s Bend.
Glen!
5 years!
RIP Phil Hughes.