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Things To Be Proud Of

Tuesday, September 21st, 2021

Back in 1968 when the world was in an upheaval of riots and protests, Terry Jones and myself sat down to write songs for a lovely man we’d met called Barry Booth. Barry had been the pianist for the Royal Household Cavalry. As it had proved impossible to fit a piano on a horse he’d had plenty of time to himself, and after his national service ended he began to build a career arranging and accompanying big touring acts.

One of them was the matchless Roy Orbison. Barry encouraged us to write something which he could play to the great man and we would all be millionaires. I’d just married and our first child was on the way and I could have used a million. Or even a hundred. Which is how I came to write The Last Time I Saw You Was Tomorrow. Barry played it to Orbison in his hotel room, but Orbison didn’t see its potential. The potential to ruin his career.

But Barry wasn’t put off. He asked us to write more songs which he himself would sing. The result was an album for Pye Records called Diversions. Nobody was interested apart from John Peel who played He’s Very Good With His Hands on his legendary radio show. This boosted sales to around 200.

Barry Booth – Diversions!

Terry and I went back to writing jokes and forgot all about Diversions. Until recently, when Barry had some CD’s made and I realised how good some of those old songs sounded. Quirky, pre-Pythonic lyrics delivered by Barry with musicianship of great delicacy and feeling. 

Terry died in 2020 and Barry just over a year later. If you have any curiosity about their work then do try and listen to a copy of Diversions. The album, of sad and surreal ( and funny ) songs shows that good things live on. And it makes me realise just how much I miss my two fellow Diverters.

Purchase a book or DVD in the shop and get it signed by Michael. Just write your name or the name you want in the Book/DVD Signing box at checkout.

Palin’s Posts

  • On The Road Again – again

  • Nights in Belfast

  • On Squatting

  • Perfect Matches

  • Things To Be Proud Of

  • Change Of Heart

  • The Bishop’s Finger

  • A Day For The Diary

  • Walk, Don’t Run

  • London Lockdown

  • Inspirational Eccentricity

  • Marking Time

  • Big Day For Erebus Fans

  • Out Of The Window

  • Pre-April Fool

  • History Doesn’t Always Repeat Itself

  • Knowing Terry

  • Nancy Lewis/Jones

  • Ticker Tapes 3

  • Fifty Years On

  • Ticker Tapes 2

  • The Ticker Tapes

  • Bournemouth and Beyond

  • Getting On A Bit

  • End Of Term Surprise

  • Down Under and Underground

  • Archives and Anniversaries

  • Erebus Sails On

  • On The Road Again

  • Calm Before The Storm

  • Busy Summer

  • The Last Lap

  • Erebus Sails on into the New Year

  • Death of Stalin Day

  • North-West Passage

  • Following The Fleet

  • Spring Into Action

  • A Weekend In Pakistan

  • Cold Start

  • Ten Days in Taiwan

  • A Yorkshireman In Paris

  • Brazil and Why the Thought of It Cheers Me Up

  • June goes out with a groan

  • May on The Way

  • Still Travelling

  • Martin Honeysett and Dr. Fegg

  • Farewell to the Thirty Years Tour

  • Warm in London

  • Eurostar to Paris

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