COOK-IN-CHARGE and JUNIOR WALKER

The Time was now December 1988, I had been in my New Job for about 2 Weeks, I was Called "Cook-In-Charge" I had a Small Kitchen to Look after and a Stores Room, and I had to Feed about 25 Clients and about 5 Staff Per Day!

As I said Previously the Clients at the Day Centre had Dementia, so this was Very Different for me, as I the Clients Walking in and Out of the Kitchen, so I had to Learn about "How To Deal with them" which was Quite Difficult!

Some of them you could have a Long Conversation with, but Others were the Complete Opposite and Could be Very Bolshy and at times a Bit Violent! 

As I said before, I was the First Male to Work Inside the Day Centre as well as the First Chef, so the Food they were Used to having, I Never Cooked, so I was Told by "The Boss" what they were Used to and What they Liked, it was was Very Plain Food, as you would Expect, so I Started Cooking a Load of Basic Stuff!

After the First Week, I Remember, I went to see "My Boss" and Asked her about the Food Situation, I asker her whether I could Start Cooking a bit more Adventurous Food for Everyone, to my Surprise, She Agreed!

So the Following Week, I Starting Cooking Different Types of Food, For Example, Sweet and Sour Chicken or Pork with Pasta, All Types of Meat in a Curry Sauce with Rice, Lasagne, Fish Pie, Chicken Chasseur Etc Etc.

I also Started Cooking Better Vegetables and Potatoes, I mean all they were Used to Before was Just Different Vegetables all Boiled Up to a Near Pulp, I Started Using Different Cooking Methods and Sauces with the Vegetables, and a Lot of Different Potatoes, Cooked in Different Styles, Not just Boiled or Roast!

I also had to Provide a Sweet/Pudding Every Day, this I did, Using all New Things (for the Day Centre) including Various Steamed Suet Puddings, Trifle's, Bread and Butter Pudding, Meringues Etc. 

Another Thing I had to Cook, Every Day, before I Clocked off Work, was a Piece Cake or Something Similar, for Everybody, the Types of thing I used to Cook were, Vanilla Slices, Scones, Fancy Cakes, Shortbread, Egg Custards, Etc Etc!

Something else I Cook, soon after Starting the New Job, was a Christmas Cake and Some Christmas Puddings, I Knew it was a bit Late, Normally but it was Better Late than Not Having Any at all!

All in All I was Enjoying my New Job and Looking Forward to Christmas, which was only a Couple of Weeks Away!

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Now for Some Music, Next Week I am starting a New Voting Poll, this Time its Going to Concern "Who's The Best Saxophone Player"
I have Picked 10 of The Best and will Feature Each One of them Every Other Week in My Posts! 

There will also be a Voting Section as there was for "The Best Soul Singer" and "The Best Funk Bass Player" 

I Artist I will Start the Posts with is "My Favorite All -Time Sax Player" The Man by the Name of "Autry DeWalt (Mixon) Jr" in Other Words The Great Junior Walker! 

He is a Long Time Favorite of Mine, Dating Back to the Very Early 70's, in Fact, Me and the Wife had the Privilege Back in the Early 80's to see him Live in Concert.

What a Fantastic Show he put on, in Fact it was One of the Best Live Shows I have Seen, Check My Previous Posts, (for the Artists I have Seen in Concert), in Fact the Reason for this Post is a Video I Found a Few Months Ago on YouTube!

This Video Reminded me a lot of the Time I saw "Junior Walker" and that's what gave me the Idea of the Up and Coming "Who's The Best Sax Player" Posts!

Just Watch the Video, it is Brilliant, you will Not See this Sort of Performance Anywhere Today, How Junior Walker Could Play the Sax Like that and Sing is Fantastic, also see his Great Backing Band The All-Stars!

The Actually Recording is from 1967 and was at The Ram Jam Club in Brixton London, it Lasts for about 7 Minutes!



              

NEW JOB and MASS PRODUCTION

The Time was Now Early November 1988, I Remember this Time Well, there was a Couple of Things Happening around this Period, I was Waiting to Hear whether I had got a New Job, Working for Norfolk County Council as a Cook, and also I had Sold my Van which I had, I Part-Exchanged it for a Morris Marina!

Home Life was getting back to Normal after the Bankruptcy about a Month Earlier, by this Time we had been Living in the same House for about 6 Years, and Married for 10 Years, Nathan was 10 Years Old and Natalie was 8 Years Old, but the only thing I Wanted at that Time was the Job I had Applied for a Couple of Weeks Previously!

I was Lucky back then, the First Job I went for after the Bankruptcy, I got, I had a Call from the Day Centre Manager, Telling me I had got the Job, I was to Find out Later, I Nearly Did Not get the Job, because I was a Bloke, and No Man had Ever Worked Inside the Day Centre Before, they were All Females!

So with only about 6 Weeks until Christmas, I had got Myself a New Job, it was Monthly Pay, I had Always been Paid Weekly before, but at Least I was going to get 1 Month's Pay just before Christmas!

I Remember my First Day in the New Job, Very Well, my Hours were to be 8am until 3pm, 5 Days Per Week, the Money Was Not Great, but the Hours Were and I was to get Every Bank-Holiday Off, I had Never had them Hours and Times before, Working as a Chef, although I was Now Called a Cook-In-Charge! 

The Place I worked was a Day Centre for People with Alzheimers Disease, Now I had Never Worked in a Place Like this Before, but Being the Cook, I thought, who the People were Would Not Affect me in Anyway or my Work, how Wrong I was Going to be, in the Future!

I Remember the First Day, After I Knocked Off at 3pm and I was in my House by about 3.10pm, I thought "What a Cushy Little Job, this is Going to be" and I Liked all the Staff who Worked there and the Place, But as you know, things are Always Great to Start with, its about a Week into, that you Start Realizing who the D@ckheads are!

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Now for some Music, Back in the Middle 70's and Early 80's one of the my Favorite Funk Band's was Mass Production, they had Some Great Music Released back then!

Mass Production like a Few Other Bands back then (Cameo, Earth Wind & Fire, Bar-Kays, Funkadelic etc), had Several Band Member's, Mass Production had 10!

They Released a Total of 8 Albums Over a 8 Year Period from '76 to '83, All of them on the Cottillion Record Label.

I'm Not going to Feature any of their Usual Track's but I'm Going to Feature 3 of their Instrumentals, the First one is "Shante" from the "Massterpiece" Album of 1980 and the other 2 Tracks Come from the 1983 Album "Mass Production" they are "Sundancer" and "Victory in '83"

I Don't Know which is my Favorite Track out of the 3, but I did Purchase "Shante" as a 7" Single and the Album, which it Came From!  

JOB APPLICATION and ANITA BAKER

The Time was now around September of 1988, and Two Things were Happening in our Life, Firstly I had the Bankruptcy Hearing to Sort Out and I was Looking for a New Job!

I had a Choice of 2 Different Jobs I would have Preferred to get at that Time, One was a Chef or the other was a Butcher, the Kids were 10 and 8 Years Old, so I Needed if Possible to get a Day Time Job, so it was Looking Likely I was going to go back into Butchery!

As for the Bankruptcy, Everything was just about Sorted out, apart from the  Money, I had to Pay to go Bankrupt, I think at that Time it was £100, which I did Eventually find, Cant Remember how I got this, but I did!

So One Late Septembers Day I had to go to Norwich for the Bankruptcy Hearing, One thing I do Recall is, I was Not Suppose to have a Car, so I went to Norwich Early and Parked Near the City Centre and had to Walk to the Building in Chapel Field Road, which was about 15 Minutes Away, I Cant Really Remember too much of what happened, all I can Recall is being Told what I can do and what I Cant do Financially, for about the Next 7 Years! 

After about 2 Hours of Listening to all that, I was on the way Home to see Susan and the Kids, as was Very Glad that all the Stuff was Over!

But as it Turned Out, that Day was the Start of a lot of Financial cr@p We were going to Suffer over the Next Few Years!

On the Job Front, I was Very Lucky, because the Local County Council were Advertising for a Cooks Job, about 10 Minutes from where we Lived, so I Phoned up for All the Details, and was Told all about the Job over the Phone, it Sounded Great, 8am to 3pm, 5 Week Days a Week!

This was the Ideal Job for me, I had Never had a Chefs Job Before where I got all Nights and Bank Holidays Off, so I asked the Centre Manager to Send me an Application Form. 

But there was only a Couple of Draw-Backs with this Job, I could see, and they were, I was going to be a called a Cook instead of a Chef, that was No Problem and Secondly they had Never had a Male Cook before, they had always been Female, so it was going to be Difficult in getting in there, in the First Place! 

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Now for Some Music, Around Late 1988, The Best Female Soul Singer "Anita Baker" Released her 3rd Solo Album to Date, on the Elektra Record Label, it was called "Giving You The Best I Got" 

The Album Reached Number One on both Pop and R&B Charts in the US and it also Charted in the Uk at Number 9!

The Second Single Release from the Album was a Great Track called "Just Because" what a Great Track this was, it Reached Number 1 on the R&B Chart and Number 14 on the "Hot 100" Chart.

The Song was Written by Alex Brown, Sammy McKinney and Michael O'Hara and Produced by Michael J Powell, he was the Founder Member of "Chapter 8" who Anita Baker had Sung with a Few Years Earlier!

             

"Just Because Lyrics"

When I think about how much I'm loving you
No limitations, no set of regimented rules
I'm amazed how much this love has touched my life
And the commitment that we share is a welcome sacrifice

This must be, sweet fatal attraction
My life-long date with destiny
Love this strong, it just brings out the passion
I never knew was here in me

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin'

Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby, just because you're you
Just because you're you

You're a diamond in my mind. a treasure found
A precious gem to me. you're so nice to have around
I'm so glad I took the path that led to this
And it's amazin' loving you, I'm doin' things
I never thought I'd do

I don't know, there ain't no explanation
Of why I'm sharin' love at last this way
I won't try to work out all my reasons
I'II use these words to simply say

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin'
Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby, just because you're you

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin'
Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby.

Could it be that there's more to this than meets the eye
Maybe that's the reason why
All I know is when I'm in your arms it feels all right
I'II hold you tight and I come alive

I love you just because
I love you just because
Just because I do, my darlin'
Emotions more than words can help me say
I love you, baby, just because you're you

[til fade]

BEEF STROGANOFF and DAVID JOSEPH

Image via Wikipedia

As I said in my Previous Post (Non-Music Post) being Second Chef had its Advantages and it's Dis-advantages!


Now for One of the Dis-advantages, This was around Winter Time in 1984, some Years previously I had been doing my Chef Training College Courses from 1974 to 1979.


Two of my College Tutor's Stand out in my mind, as to being the Best Cookery Teacher's I had, while doing my 5 Year's Training, One Being a Chef by the name of "Lee Mills" and the other was a Chef named "Brian Thompson"


Why I mention this is, because One Night while being in Charge of the "Casino Kitchen" I was on the "Stove" and an Order came in for A "Beef Stroganoff" amongst other Dishes, I believe it was a Party of about 4 People!

So I did the Order and everything was Fine (or so I thought it was) and a little later, the Waiter came into the Kitchen, and said to me "the Chap on Table 5?" reckons He used to be your Teacher and would like a "Word with you" 


So when I had the time to spare, I went out into the Restaurant to see Who it was, now "Head Chef Peter" was Good at the sort of thing, I was Not, I liked being behind the Scenes!


To my Surprise when I got to the Table in Question, I saw my Ex-College Teacher "Brian Thompson" sitting there, immediately I thought he was going to say "What a Lovely Meal, Lee, I taught you well!


But he didn't, In front of everybody, he started going on about, "I Taught you how to make Beef Stroganoff properly, all them Year's ago, and you Dished this up for me, what the Hell's going on!

I was Stunned, to say the least, but I quickly got my thoughts together and in front of everybody at his Table and in the Restaurant at that time, I said, That was back then, I now Work here for "Peter", and I will Cook Meals how he wants me to Cook them, after all, they pay my Wages!


I then Walked back into the Kitchen, and that was the "Last Time" Brian Thompson, Spoke to me, I have seen Him a Couple of times around town , since then,  I don't know if he see me or he just didn't speak!


That all Happened some 28 Years ago, so if I saw him tomorrow, Would he Speak, I don't know!

About the "Beef Stroganoff" what was He moaning about, to tell the Truth I cant remember, but I think it was something to do with the "Fresh Single Cream" I had used!


Incidentally, he was also my Head-Chef (Brian Thompson) when I worked at the "Sandringham Hotel" about  2/3 Years previously!


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As for some Music, the Year earlier in 1983, David Joseph, the Ex Lead Singer with the Brit-Funk Band "Hi-Tension" Released his First Solo Single.


It was called "You Cant Hide (Your Love From Me)" on the "Island Record Label" it was Written by "David Joseph" and Produced by "Godwin Logie"

What a Great Track this was, I remember thinking back then, when I first heard the Record, this is very "American" and He (David Joseph) was English! 


Here's the Full 12" Version.

FREDDIE STARR & ENCHANTMENT

Freddie's on the right! don't know who
the other Bloke is!

Now I was Second Chef, I was In-Charge  of the Kitchen at least 3 Shifts Per Week, this had Its Advantages & its Dis-Advantages!


First the Advantages, I used to get more of the Tips from the Customers, but this was always Shared out amongst the Kitchen Staff.


On a Few Occasions, you got Really Big Tips, for Example, if Somebody had Won in the Casino before having a Meal, they Left a Big Tip, or If Somebody Famous had a Meal, I Remember Serving  A Few People like this!


The Best Tipper I Remember was "Freddie Starr" He was Starring at one of the Theatre's in Town, He was on there for about 6 Weeks I think!

Image via Wikipedia

So He came into the Casino on a Regular Basis, & had several Meals, the First Time I remember, He popped his head around the kitchen and said to me "Who's the Chef, who Cooked my  Meal tonite!" I said it was me, and He put something in my Hand, when I looked, it was a £50 Note!


I was Shocked, by the time I looked up, He had gone back into the Restaurant, of course this was later Shared amongst the Kitchen Staff, He came back a Couple of  more times after that, when I was working, I Never see Him again, but He Always left a £50 Note!

He was a Generous Bloke, No Doubt, but as a Comedian, I Never Really Liked him much, & a Couple of £50 Note's never Changed That either! 


I'll tell you the Dis-Advantages Next Time!
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As for some Music, in 1978 The Great Soul Vocal Band "Enchantment" Released the Great Single "Its You That I Need" from the 1977 Album "Once Upon A Dream"


This is what Soul Music is all about, you don't Hear class like this anymore, Real Instruments and Great Vocals!


This track would be in my All Time Top 20 Soul Records!


The Song Reached number 33 on the US Pop Chart and number 1 On the US R&B Chart, with the Album Reaching Number 8 in US R&B Chart, Both the Single and Album Placing's  were Enchantment's Best ever.


The Song was Written and produced by Michael Stokes, and on the Roadshow/Unites Artists Record Label, see Lyrics below! 



Something strange is happening
You don't belong to me anymore
It seems I'm all alone
In my dreams

I just feel so weak
No one knows the pain I see
When I'm all alone
Now that you're gone

My world is cold
My friends are few
Without you here
My joy seems cruel

When you left you took part of me
What can I do

It's you that I need, baby
It's you that I need
I'm lonely
It's you that I need, come back

Something's gone in me
You were my life, my mystery baby
How could you do this to me
Left me holding on to a memory

I tried, I tried to be good
Take you to a place no others could
I suddenly woke and found you gone
Now I sing my heart to you
Through the words of this song

Something happened to me
You were my life, my destiny
My life will never, ever be complete
Come back to me
It's you that I need baby, baby
It's you that I need
Come back to me

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NEARLY SECOND CHEF and PRINCE PHILLIP MITCHELL

As I said in Previous Post, I was back in Full-Time Work at the "Kings Casino" I Enjoyed Working there, and I got on Great with the First and Second Chefs!


I Remember within a Few Month's of being there, Peter the Head Chef had been around our House to Meet Susan, Nathan and Natalie, Susan Really Liked Him I recall, we had also been around His Flat.


A few Months within starting at "Kings" Peter was off on his Holidays to America, He asked me to do the "Second Chef's Work, whilst Steve was going to be in "Head Chef" in Charge, of course I agreed to this!

I remember having more responsibilities at Work and Working a Few more Hours.


Why I remember this so Clearly was when Peter returned to Work, he asked if He could Pop round to see Susan and the Kids, this He did, and to our Surprise He had Brought us all Presents from His Holiday!

He got the Kids, Natalie a "Air Hostess" Doll and Nathan a "Model Airplane" I remember he brought Susan, a "Big Cuddly Toy" and He got me, an Album and a 12" Single.


The Album was The Weather Girls "Success" but I cannot think what the 12" was!  


We were all really Surprised by this, but then Peter was a "Nice Bloke" and a Good Friend to Me and Susan!


We Last saw "Peter" about 15 Years ago, when we Invited Him around Our House, some 12 Year's after I had last Worked with Him.
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As for some Music, a Great Track from the 1979 by "Prince Phillip Mitchell" called "I'm So Happy" it was on the Album "Top of the Line"

What a Great Track this is, Written by P.P.M, I still Play this on a Regular Basis Now, why was this Bloke, Never a Big Success!


It was from his second Album out of 4, and it was on the "Atlantic Record Label"

Over the Years, Prince Phillip Mitchell Wrote several Song's that were Recorded by other Artist's including: Mel and Tim, Millie Jackson, Joe Simon, Candi Staton and Norman Connors. 









Checkout some of His other Great Music!


Have a Read of this 2001 Interview with Prince Phillip Mitchell. 


Download the Album, Press "save file to" option.

FULL TIME WORK AGAIN and JEFF LORBER

As I said in Previous Post, I was Working about 2 or 3 Nights Per Week, when I First Started my New Job at "King's Casino" but that soon Changed to more Nights, and then I remember going into Work one Night and was Told the "Second Chef" had Left!


This Worked out right for me, as they took on a New Second Chef and I was asked by "Peter" to do more Shifts, this I Accepted!


The New Second Chef was a chap by the Name of "Steve Green" he had Previously Worked with the Head Chef "Peter"at a Hotel in nearby "Norwich"


So I was back Working as a Full Time Chef within about 3/4 Months of Finishing on the Rigs!


I knew my "Wife" Susan never liked me Working Nights, but I was a "Chef" and didn't have too much Choice (but to Work Night's)!

I suppose when I Look back to our Earlier Lives nearly 30 Years ago, concerning our Marriage and "Our Kids" I should have tried some other Sort of Work (so I could have been Home, more in the Evening's), but all I had been was a Chef and a Butcher, and I had Worked at Most of the Butcher's in Town (there was only about 3/4 different Companies).


By this time, around early Summertime in 1984, me and Susan had been Married 6 Year's and "Nathan" was nearly 6 Year's Old and "Natalie" was 4 Year's old.

Back to Work, the New Chef "Steve" was a Decent Bloke and I got on Well with Him, his only trouble was He followed the Local Football Team "Norwich City" and I also remember he did not go Much on Soul Music!


Anyway Working with them 2 Chefs was Great, I cannot remember too many Disagreements with Either of them, although they did
Talk about "each other" a fair bit to me, as they were Like an Old "Married Couple" having known each other (and worked together) for a Few Year's!


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 As for Some Music, back in late 1985, Keyboardist Jeff Lorber had His Biggest Album (to Date) it was Produced by David Frank and Mic Murphy Aka "The System" it was Entitled "Step By Step"

Step by Step was a Best track on the Album and was Sung by New York Session Singer" Audrey Wheeler and it Reached Number 31 in the US R&B Charts!


The Track was Written by Jeff Lorber and Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters and it was on the "Arista" Record Label in the US and on the "Club" label in the UK.

Checkout this Great Track!

Here's a Great Extended Dance Mix by Ray K


  
Step By Step - Jeff Lorber (ray Ks Extended Dance Mix) ray K by rayk  Checkout more of Ray K's Mixes!