6 DUCKS and JOHNNY BRISTOL

Working on the Rigs was a bit of an Eye Opener (for somebody who had been used to their Home Comforts and Dry Land) I remember one Incident that Happened during either My First or Second Trip!


I used to Cook all the Meals for about 25 Blokes at any one time, so I had to (obviously) get most Foodstuffs ready in advance.


So I got a Maintenance Man to put a Big Padlock on the Food Chiller/Fridge Door, as I had been told by the Previous Chef,  that the Contractors I was looking after, were a Bunch of Animals! 

So one day, I thought  I would Cook about 6 Ducks for the next day and cook them Duck "A La Orange" for Dinner, after these were Cooked and Cooled off, they were put in the Chiller overnight (with the door Locked of course)!


The Kitchen area was left Unlocked at Night Times, for the Workers to get a Snack or Drink, I also used to leave a Tray of items in the Fridge, which were always Eaten by the next day!

Next Morning I went to Work, I could not believe what I saw, I put the Kitchen Lights on and there in front of me was the Big Chiller in the corner with both Doors hanging off!


Someone had been in the Kitchen during the Night before and took my Big Meat Cleaver out of the drawer and smashed off the Lock and both of the Fridge Doors, to get to the Food inside!

The 6 Cooked Ducks were all Half Eaten and all the Bones etc were thrown back into the Fridge, the previous Chef was right, these contractors were a bunch of Animals!


Of course Nobody ever owned up to Breaking into the Fridge or Eating the Ducks, but what did Happen was I Never Locked the Fridge at Night Times Anymore, nor did I ever leave them any more Treats (when I was off Duty) and I never  Cooked anything in Advance again, everything was Cooked and Served on the Day, and all Meals were Quick and Simple to Prepare (nothing to elaborate)!


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As for some  Music, in 1974 one of my Favorite All-Time Soul Tracks was released "Hang On In There Baby" by Songwriter, Producer and Singer "Johnny Bristol"


That was a Great Track, I remember this being played on the radio, the Year before I left School, it was taken from the Album of the same name, it turned out to be Johnny Bristol's Best Chart Placing Single and Album Ever!


The Single Charted in the US Pop Chart at Number 8, in the US R&B Chart at Number 2 and in the UK Pop Chart, it got to Number 3, the Albums Highest Placing was Number 7 in the US R&B Chart.


Johnny Bristol Re-recorded the Song in 1990 for Ian Levine's Record Label, have a look on the Page for a In- Depth Bio. incidentally, where the Video was Filmed, was in my Home Town! 

Johnny Bristol had a Great Voice, I'm Surprised He never Recorded more Albums than he did, only 6.


In the Mid Sixties he Worked for Motown as an In-House Writer and Producer, he Worked with some of the Top Acts at Motown, including Marvin Gaye, Junior Walker, Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson. 


Around 1973 he left Motown to work as a Producer for CBS, where He Worked with amongst others: Randy Crawford, Marlena Shaw, Tavares and even Tom Jones!  


Get The Album Here

THE BEST SOUL BANDS / ARTISTS OF THE ALL-TIME # 3...MARVIN GAYE Part 4

This Series of Post's concerns in my Opinion The Best Bands/Artists of all time.

I will write a Short Bio including  the Band Members/Artist, some Facts and figures, their Histories,  Links, Videos, The Tracks they made Famous, Links to Download etc etc

I will continue the series with the Best Soul Vocalist from Tamla Motown Records................MARVIN GAYE. Part 4.

In the Spring of  1977, Marvin Gaye Released "Got To Give It Up" some said this was his attempt at Disco Music, but whatever it was, it Reached Number 1 in US (his 3rd), and has it turned out, to be his Last in his Lifetime!

It was taken from the 2 Million Selling Album "Live at the London Palladium" it was the only Studio Track on there!

During March of 1977 MG's First Marriage to Anna Gordy finally came to an end (after about 13 years, although they were apart for about the last 4 years) and it was agreed that some of the Revenue from next Album, would go to his Ex Wife, it was a Double Album called "Here My Dear" most of the Tracks concerned the Marriage Break-Up.  It was Released in late 1978.

Only 1 Single was Released from the Album in early 1979, that was called "A Funky Space Re-incarnation" it reached Number 23 on the R&B Charts, but it failed to Chart on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, his First Failure for 17 Years!

During 1979 MG did the "Talk Show Circuit" in the US, he also Toured the US, England and Japan.

Also during middle to late 1979, MG again faced Financial Troubles and also Second Marriage Troubles, he was seeing Janis Hunter before his First Divorce and Married for the Second time soon after.

This Second Marriage lasted less than a Year, but they did not Divorce until February 1981.

After Performing  Concert's in Hawaii during September of 1979, MG decided to stay there for a while, he did not have to Pay Taxes there and he was also back into Drugs, plus he feared if he went back to the US, he would be Imprisoned by the IRS for Non-Payment of Taxes!

By 1980 Marvin Gaye had Re-Located to London England, he still Feared returning to US because of his Tax Evasion!

He did another European Tour during 1980, which included a "Royal Gala Charity Show" which MG turned up Late, and was then Sued by the Promoter "Jeffrey Kruger", this was later settled out of Court!

By late '80, Marvin Gaye (still living in UK) had been working on his next Album for a while, he had changed the Title several times and the some of the Tracks. He finally settled on the Title "In Our Lifetime" and sent the Tapes of the Album back to the US, for Motown to listen and respond to!

But Motown by now were tired of Waiting for MG to make New Music and soon as they got the Tapes, they went ahead and Remixed and Edited some of the Tracks and also Changed the Artwork on the Sleeve and slightly changed the Album Title, and then Released the Album on 15 January 1981.

Marvin Gaye was Livid and Vowed never to work for Motown again!

By the Summer of '81, negotiations were underway, with Motown for Marvin Gaye's Release, he was offered several different Deals by other Record Labels, but in the end he chose CBS Records, and joined them in March of 1982.

After Touring the UK and finishing with 2 Concert's in Belgium in Early 1981, Marvin Gaye decided (after advice from his Belgium Concert promoter) to move to Ostend in Belgium, it was Dual Purpose, he wanted to cut down on the Drugs, he was taking again and he wanted to get himself Fit again "Emotionally and Physically"

While in Belgium, Marvin Gaye had a Video of his time there, recorded, it was called "Transit Ostend" give it a look, its a Great Insight to Marvin's Life!

Download the Albums: "Live at the London Palladium"
                                       "Here My Dear"
                                       "In Our Lifetime" 
Also Download about 25 Marvin Gaye Album's