Last night I had this dream in which I was playing, of all the most unlikely things, an accordion. I'd forgotten about it completely until I was flitting around the interwebs this morning and quite by chance I came across an article about, of all the most unlikely things, accordions. "Ooh, what a weird coincidence! I've just broken my dream!" I gasped, and went on to explain to Mr SDS how spookily odd it seemed that I should both dream about and read about, in the space of just a few hours, and of all the most unlikely things, accordions.
"No, it was the Johnnie Allen song" he replied.
Ah... my memory is so short sometimes. Last night, before I'd gone to bed, we'd been going through some music archives not heard in a long time, and it included Johnnie Allen's cover of Chuck Berry's 'Promised Land'. It's a great song, isn't it? And it has a very notable accordion break in it. Of course...
Still, it was weird to be playing the accordion in a dream.
Firstly, Johnny Alllen's take on my favourite Chuck Berry song is utterly brilliant, is it not? Juts genius - even when he mangles the lyrics at one point. Secondly, accordions have been a big topic of conversation between me and my dad of late. We are no experts but dad used to play one a bit, just for a hobby, and he is thinking maybe he should take it up again. He doesn't have one right now but today we are going to scour some shops to see how financially realistic it might be. He picked up his old one in a junk shop about forty years ago - so, you never know. Thanks for sharing your dream - accordions are in the air.
It is brilliant indeed. "Accordions are in the air" - I like that! Hope your dad manages to get one again. My late father-in-law had one about 40 years ago too apparently, they must have been in the air then as well...
Ah, I have this kind of dream/coincidence so often, where I forget what I've dreamed (often with significant imagery/symbolism) and then randomly come across the same imagery online which suddenly reminds me of the dream. And I rarely have a traceable reason for dreaming about that thing, like you did. It's always a bit more reassuring when you can trace it back, though :)
That's weird isn't it? I suppose we have so much more variety of imagery and subject at our fingertips online that the chances of these coincidences occurring is increased, but I still rather like the thought that there is a little bit of mysterious magic going on behind the scenes!
One of my favourite encounters, unlikely as it may seem, was at the 100 Club. I was at a cajun/zydeco night there back in the 80s and getting a pint in at the bar chatting to the bearded guy in what can only be described as a tramp's cast off coat standing next to me. He appeared to be pretty drunk and I was having difficulty placing his accent but seemed a nice enough bloke. Anyway, the bands changed over on stage and the next group started up a tune when suddenly this guy handed me his pint and barged through the crowd - much to everyone's annoyance, he stumbled onto the stage and we all thought it was kicking off with a random drunk as he grabbed the microphone....stripped off his coat to reveal a beautiful Southern cut white Colonel Sanders style suit and launched into a stunning Promised Land... turned out it was Johnny Allen all along. What stage craft, what a man - and I got to finish his pint !
One of the best 'close encounters with the great and good' I've come across. Gives me an idea for a blog post but, having said that, I haven't bumped into that many. Maybe we could all pool a few experiences?
Oh, what a superb tale wonderfully told, Bel Mondo! Must have been brilliant to have witnessed that - and a free drink into the bargain. Always a pleasure to see you too.
SB - blog post sounds good and I'm sure a few encounters could be pooled to great effect (seem to remember TS has a few good'uns as well!)
Had almost forgotten how the night ended - dashing to catch the last tube home from Tottenham court road we passed a small trio of buskers in the station playing ramshackle rockabilly. Turned out to be Mick Paul and Topper (yep, no Joe tho) and damned if we didn't choose to get the train instead of staying to watch. Bit of a good night out tho !
How is it that some dreams remain searingly vivid long after waking, while others flitter just out of memory's reach? Great post, with a brilliant version of 'Promised Land' attached, all topped off with Bel Mondo's marvelous anecdote.
Yes it's odd isn't it... I didn't remember the dream at all until the subject appeared in a different form, but then it all became clear. Indeed, a magnificent version of Promised Land, with a magnificent anecdote from BM too. I'm glad I mentioned it!
Aaaarghhhhh. I thought I'd locked that one away. All that therapy and counselling I had to get over the trauma of my unconscious but graphically detailed indiscretions with you-know-who has now unravelled... If he seduces me in my dreams tonight, naked but for a strategically placed squeezebox, I will have you to blame.
I can just picture your Granddad's decorative accordion, Yve, along with many dogs and children at his feet, very trad (I'm imagining a little cap on his head and a roll-up hanging out of the corner of his mouth too).
It's odd when you can't trace the roots of certain dreams, isn't it? I sometimes dream about people from the past whom I haven't thought about in decades, sometimes they're not even of any significance, like kids I was at primary school with who weren't even friends. Who knows why things just pop in out of the blue but I like to imagine it's just the mischievous dream fairy rummaging through the filing cabinets of our memories.
Love the tune and the girl playing the acord is cute...just read earlier comment and that is second time in a few minutes the name Jimmy Shand pops up....as I told SB in the 60's I popped into Digger the Barber in Inverness and yes you guessed it JS himself was getting a haircut
C,
ReplyDeleteNow I wish I'd posted an accordion tune this morning to add a further strange coincidence to your day. ;-)
That would have been spooky...
DeleteFirstly, Johnny Alllen's take on my favourite Chuck Berry song is utterly brilliant, is it not? Juts genius - even when he mangles the lyrics at one point.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, accordions have been a big topic of conversation between me and my dad of late. We are no experts but dad used to play one a bit, just for a hobby, and he is thinking maybe he should take it up again. He doesn't have one right now but today we are going to scour some shops to see how financially realistic it might be. He picked up his old one in a junk shop about forty years ago - so, you never know. Thanks for sharing your dream - accordions are in the air.
It is brilliant indeed.
Delete"Accordions are in the air" - I like that!
Hope your dad manages to get one again. My late father-in-law had one about 40 years ago too apparently, they must have been in the air then as well...
Ah, I have this kind of dream/coincidence so often, where I forget what I've dreamed (often with significant imagery/symbolism) and then randomly come across the same imagery online which suddenly reminds me of the dream. And I rarely have a traceable reason for dreaming about that thing, like you did. It's always a bit more reassuring when you can trace it back, though :)
ReplyDeleteThat's weird isn't it? I suppose we have so much more variety of imagery and subject at our fingertips online that the chances of these coincidences occurring is increased, but I still rather like the thought that there is a little bit of mysterious magic going on behind the scenes!
DeleteOne of my favourite encounters, unlikely as it may seem, was at the 100 Club. I was at a cajun/zydeco night there back in the 80s and getting a pint in at the bar chatting to the bearded guy in what can only be described as a tramp's cast off coat standing next to me. He appeared to be pretty drunk and I was having difficulty placing his accent but seemed a nice enough bloke. Anyway, the bands changed over on stage and the next group started up a tune when suddenly this guy handed me his pint and barged through the crowd - much to everyone's annoyance, he stumbled onto the stage and we all thought it was kicking off with a random drunk as he grabbed the microphone....stripped off his coat to reveal a beautiful Southern cut white Colonel Sanders style suit and launched into a stunning Promised Land... turned out it was Johnny Allen all along. What stage craft, what a man - and I got to finish his pint !
ReplyDeleteNothing like a squeeze box in the right hands !
One of the best 'close encounters with the great and good' I've come across. Gives me an idea for a blog post but, having said that, I haven't bumped into that many. Maybe we could all pool a few experiences?
DeleteHa! Outstanding!
DeleteOh, what a superb tale wonderfully told, Bel Mondo! Must have been brilliant to have witnessed that - and a free drink into the bargain. Always a pleasure to see you too.
DeleteSB - blog post sounds good and I'm sure a few encounters could be pooled to great effect (seem to remember TS has a few good'uns as well!)
Had almost forgotten how the night ended - dashing to catch the last tube home from Tottenham court road we passed a small trio of buskers in the station playing ramshackle rockabilly. Turned out to be Mick Paul and Topper (yep, no Joe tho) and damned if we didn't choose to get the train instead of staying to watch. Bit of a good night out tho !
DeleteOK, close down the internet, we're done here. There will never, and can never, be an anecdote to top Bel Mondos.
DeleteI'm now a vivid shade of green...
DeleteHow is it that some dreams remain searingly vivid long after waking, while others flitter just out of memory's reach? Great post, with a brilliant version of 'Promised Land' attached, all topped off with Bel Mondo's marvelous anecdote.
ReplyDeleteYes it's odd isn't it... I didn't remember the dream at all until the subject appeared in a different form, but then it all became clear.
DeleteIndeed, a magnificent version of Promised Land, with a magnificent anecdote from BM too. I'm glad I mentioned it!
George from Jim McLean's Rabbit played Jimmy Shand the other day -along with Flaco Jiminez and Sharon Shannon - masters of the craft
ReplyDeleteThanks, CC, I don't know those at all - I'm curious now! I'm not acquainted with George from Jim McLean's Rabbit so shall have to drop in there too.
DeleteI'm reading this and narrowing my eyes...because I think there's a detail...something or someone you're leaving out of this dream
ReplyDeleteAaaarghhhhh. I thought I'd locked that one away. All that therapy and counselling I had to get over the trauma of my unconscious but graphically detailed indiscretions with you-know-who has now unravelled... If he seduces me in my dreams tonight, naked but for a strategically placed squeezebox, I will have you to blame.
DeleteI can just picture your Granddad's decorative accordion, Yve, along with many dogs and children at his feet, very trad (I'm imagining a little cap on his head and a roll-up hanging out of the corner of his mouth too).
ReplyDeleteIt's odd when you can't trace the roots of certain dreams, isn't it? I sometimes dream about people from the past whom I haven't thought about in decades, sometimes they're not even of any significance, like kids I was at primary school with who weren't even friends. Who knows why things just pop in out of the blue but I like to imagine it's just the mischievous dream fairy rummaging through the filing cabinets of our memories.
Love the tune and the girl playing the acord is cute...just read earlier comment and that is second time in a few minutes the name Jimmy Shand pops up....as I told SB in the 60's I popped into Digger the Barber in Inverness and yes you guessed it JS himself was getting a haircut
ReplyDeleteSame here, Old Pa. The name Jimmy Shand keeps cropping up lately.
DeleteNice tale about him too. Hope you both got a good haircut!
Your "post from the past" sidebar widget brought me here. Very much approve of the Who-referencing post title!
ReplyDeleteThanks Martin, I don't often dream about a squeezebox so couldn't miss the chance to reference it!
Delete