Sometimes we just need to take it easy and let ourselves be distracted by seemingly trivial things. Bear in mind, however, that what may be trivia to one might well be a matter of significance to another. Here are three things to consume today.
It’s Kerry O’Keeffe’s birthday today – he’s 72. ‘Skull’ is the quintessential embodiment of the word of unique! As a player, commentator, author or whatever, no-one, but no-one, was/is/ will be just like him. And thank goodness for that otherwise we’d have to have an extra cause of death listed on certificates (or in scorebooks!) – Died of Laughter.
For me, O’Keeffe’s greatest moments on the field came in the second innings of both teams in the Melbourne Centenary Test. With Rick McCosker injured, O’Keeffe opened the batting for Australia with Ian Davis in their second dig and contributed a valuable 14 in 50 minutes when the game was on a knife-edge. Then, in England’s second knock, with the visitors challenging at 4/346, O’Keeffe snared the key wicket of Randall before chiming in later to remove both Grieg and Lever.
Here’s the Randall wicket. Don’t blink or you’ll miss it.
To read more about Kerry O’Keeffe click here.
Happy birthday, Skull! We’d love to have you back in the main commentary box for this series. (Imagine what he might come up with about England’s issues with racism or Paine’s peccadilloes.)
To see Kerry O’Keeffe’s career statistics click here.
It’s also Bev Bevan’s birthday – he’s 77. Bev who? Aficionados of musos from Birmingham will recognise Bevan as the drummer from The Move and Electric Light Orchestra. He’s an underrated talent in the minds of some. Guitar power chords or synthesisers may well have driven or dominated any number of ELO hits but just as important to their sound was the capacity of Bevan to adapt his percussion skills to suit the style required. My favourite is his work on ‘Fields of People’ from The Move’s album Shazam.
Bevan wrote the odd song and sang even less. For the latter we should probably be thankful if ‘Ben Crawley Steel Company’ from The Move’s Message from the Country is anything to go by.
Happy birthday, Bev!
To read more about Bev Bevan click here.
The Almanac recently featured a couple of articles about The Band. * Well, today marks the anniversary of their final performance at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco in 1976. It was this concert that was filmed by Martin Scorcese and released as The Last Waltz.
Here are two classic tracks to savour from that occasion.
Super stuff!
To read more about The Last Waltz click here.
* Read the earlier articles on The Band by Col Ritchie and Ian Hauser.
We’ll do our best to publish two books in the lead-up to Christmas 2021. The Tigers (Covid) Almanac 2020 and the 2021 edition to celebrate the Dees’ magnificent premiership season(title is up for discussion at the moment!). These books will have all the usual features – a game by game account of the Tigers and Demons season – and will also include some of the best Almanac writing from these two Covid winters. Enquiries HERE
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About Ian Hauser
A relaxed, Noosa-based retiree with a (very) modest sporting CV. A loyal Queenslander, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, and has been known to appreciate a glass or three of wine. One of Footy Almanac's online editors who enjoys the occasional editing opportunity to assist aspiring writers.
It’s good to see some long overdue recognition for Bev Bevan, an integral part of The Move and ELO. In addition to Fields of People, I would also like to point out his drumming in ELO’s Fire on High, and The Move’s Open up said the world at the door (especially the part from 3.25 to 4.25).
As for his singing, only two songs come to mind: the aforementioned Ben Crawley Steel Company, as well as The Move’s version of Zing! Went the strings of my heart. Bevan’s vocals are a stark contrast to those of Carl Wayne, who also sings in this song!
An obscure fact is that before The Move began, Bevan and Wayne played together in local Birmingham band Carl Wayne & The Vikings.
Ticks all the boxes IH. Loved Skull as a player. The odd man out. A nerd in a team of ockers. Better as a commentator. The Odd Couple – Oscar to Peter Roebuck’s Felix.
Loved The Move. “Blackberry Way” and “Flowers in the Rain” were catchy mod classics to my teenage ears. Still hold up today.
The Last Waltz is the greatest concert film of all time. Muddy Waters “Mannish Boy” still burns.