Seend Cleeve (Thursday 26th January 2017)

I was on a similar mission to the previous Friday and searching for colour, so naturally I ended up at the canal. I didn't return to exactly the same spot but parked at the next road bridge along, at Bolland's Hill in Seend Cleeve.

I didn't encounter any photogenic dogs this time, but a robin did fly down from a branch to the towpath immediately in front of me to pose.

I have been unable to blip this until today as one of the SD cards I was using was absent, first having been left at a friend's and then escaping from my pocket to the floor of the car. After much time searching the car, retracing my steps, returning to my friend's and having a second clear-out of the car I finally located it when it shifted to somewhere under the driver's seat. This is one of the shots that was on it, the last shot I took there.

L.
30.1.2017 (1320 hr)

Blip #2018 (#2268 including 250 archived blips)
Consecutive Blip #000
2017 Blips/Extras #021
Day #2500 (492 gaps from 26 March 2010)
LOTD #1253 (#1379 including 126 on archived blips)

Canals series
Kennet and Avon Canal series
Landscape series

A Visit To The Canal At Seend Cleeve, 26 January 2017 (Flickr album of 16 images)

Taken with Pentax K-1 and Pentax HD P-D FA 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6ED DC WR lens

Lozarhythm of the Day:
The Fentones - The Breeze and I (1962)
The Fentones: Jerry Wilcock (lead guitar), Mick Eyre (rhythm guitar), Walter (Bill) Bonney (bass) and Tony Hinchcliffe (drums)
 The Breeze And I began life as an instrumental called Andalucia, but Spanish and then English lyrics had been added by the time Jimmy Dorsey recorded it in 1940, and it was later a hit for Caterina Valente in 1955. The Shadows recorded it during the sessions for Out Of The Shadows in June 1962 but held it over as a potential single, though when it was finally released nearly a year later it was as the B-side of Foot Tapper. I heard it again recently, but it was a tamer, politer version than I remembered.
It turned out that what I was remembering was a stronger version by the Fentones, who were the backing group of Shane Fenton (who later became Alvin Stardust). Their version came out in September 1962, after the Shadows' recording but long before it was released.
The Fentones' second single was to be a thematic version of the Ventures' Gringo, but their cover of composer Ernesto Lecuona's The Breeze And I was chosen instead.Two takes of this had been recorded, and at the suggestion of the producer Ron Richards the 'best' received an overdub over the second verse.  A Spanish guitar plays the melody of the second verse behind which Jerry Wilcocks' electric lead guitar takes flight.  As Wilcocks' echo unit was not functioning properly Shane Fenton (who was helping out on the session) operated the controls to the studio's own echo to 'swell' the sound, while the guitarist helped with extra vibrant tremelo.  Finger-clicks for castanets were also dubbed on afterwards, all of which made for an atmospheric cut.
The version here comes from Great British Instrumentals of the '50s & '60s and may be the 'other' version, as that has been used on several recent compilations.
Breeze proved a hit amongst the Fentones' contemporaries. Apart from the aforementioned Shads, the Tornados had also recorded a typically intense version for their second release but after hearing the Fentones were ahead of the game their producer Joe Meek shelved it in favour of Telstar, giving the Fentones a clear run. Sadly, it was only a minor success and their solo career stalled.