FIFTY YEARS AGO we were humming along to the hits of 1976. Some have magnificently stood the test of time; others have not. Join us on Memory Lane as we review them on their golden anniversaries.
Last week we announced that 50 years ago the song at the top of the charts was the quirky Combine Harvester (Brand New Key) by the Wurzels. Fifty years ago this week they are still there – and their two week stay gives us the opportunity for a detour.
In 1971 the US folk Singer Melanie released Brand New Key, a catchy, sassy song which was to prove to be her greatest success. It tells the story of a young woman who has brand new roller skates and tries to lure in the young man she has her eye on by pointing out that he has a brand new key (the tool you need to adjust the size of your roller skates) and they should link them up for better performance – as well as trying out a romance.
The song is a little suggestive (“(I) don’t go too fast but I go pretty far”), but it also has something of the feminist perspective of the times (“I’ve been all round the world/Some people say I done alright for a girl.”)
That song inspired singer/songwriter Adge Cutler to write Combine Harvester for the Wurzels. And just in case you’re tired of that number after the last week, here’s an opportunity to listen to the inspiration.
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