Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Interesting to see that video 41 years later. Did you notice that the Dreamers were singing an old standard in the background?

Song was based on Auld Lang Syne traditionally sang here in UK at least on New Year's Eve. The G-Clefs had a number 9 hit in US number 20 in UK with it in 1961 yet original dates back to 1954 when a group called The Four Tunes did it, only version I have ever heard is Freddie and The Dreamers version,though not my most favourite track of theirs.

Their version made number 5 in UK and number 36 in States. Two singles later neither of which made top twenty, Freddie's chart career was over.

Auld Lang Syne is also sang in many Masonic lodges at the completion of the evening festive board. At least it is here in Canada.

Before or after they slaughter the pigs? (Easy, now, Meddy...it's just a joke...)

You can hear Robert Fripp quoting "Auld Lang Syne" in the weird little clock-ticking countdown interlude in the middle of "Down The Dolce Vida" on Peter Gabriel's first solo album...

Blood sacrifices are not part of any ritual that I am familiar with Dane. You should know that by now. But it is interesting to see that old song show up in a variety of places. Even in pop songs, so it would seem.

Well, I've certainly seen my share of blood sacrifices in Southeast Asia...but here's one you may find amusing, and it happened right in my front yard last week...get ready, because 'I'm Telling You Now':

The little twenty-foot pine tree outside our front door caught some kind of disease this past winter, and has all but completely died. It was a little too close to the house for the foundation's sake anyway, so I figured it was probably for the best...but how to cut it down properly, given my acquired animist beliefs? Well, I did my best approximation of the right thing...put on a sacred gamelan CD, lit some incense, meditated for a time at the foot of the poor thing, and then prayed to the Atman of the tree for permission to begin taking it down. When I felt it was time, I began sawing off branches, working my way up using the bits I'd left as hand/footholds. I had got nearly all the way to the top when one branch broke under the sawblade and dangled by a bit of bark...holding on with my left hand, I hooked the saw handle on my right thumb and began twisting and bending the branch, trying to dislodge it. Suddenly it broke free, and I ran the sawblade right across my forehead. Before you could say 'Kali Yuga', there was more blood flying than at a cockfight in a Shiva temple. I did a barely controlled fall out of the tree and ran into the house, propitiating gods and demons right and left with the sacrificial flow...

Oh yeah...what were we talkin' about...right, Freddie and The Dreamers...

Well, like that other old song says, "Life is but a dream"...

Dane, you should have asked Keith Richards for help!

Yup, that's right about where I took it...

I came, I sawed, I got conquered...

I guess the Ottoman of the tree didn't want you to cut it down, now how about that Jaco story?

What am I, Bob, your footstool?

Okay, okay...I need to get some dinner first, and then I'll be back to regale you with a tale from a distant age of Power and Mystery...the 1980's.

Stay tuned...

Gee, Dane... sometimes i really get the feeling you're my long lost brother!
Back to the topic, BTW. It was nice to see a serious Freddie, and i wonder how difficult it was for him to keep that sad look upon his face, and i also got an impression he looked a bit like John Lennon.

I think Freddie (in that video at least) looked like Peter Falk...better known by some as Lt. Columbo.

Noooo, i don't think so! I like Peter Falk, but i cannot see many similarities (oh well... at least, i've never seen Falk in glasses).