Publisher's Synopsis
REVIEWS
"A wonderful book, depicting the 1950s to the 1970s, that many will identify with, a fascinating insight, a valuable piece of social history............"
"A really good story, told with heart-warming honesty."
"If you loved the music from these times and grew up on a council estate, with all the fun, happiness, love, warmth and sometimes sadness, then this is a book to read"
"A great insight into growing up in a suburban village in the 1950s/60s, excellently written and takes you on a nostalgic journey....Graham's personal story inspires...."
"This book describes one person's journey through life near London.........it will resonate with many."
"Graham, the author really captures the mood of the times and the great songs we listened too, danced too, even today."
"Great social history book, that for any one born in the 50s/60s (or want to know) it brings back so many memories."
"A thoroughly great read, if you want to reminisce of that time in history where life was full of expectation, the era has been superbly captured by the author."
Remembers "the swings, schools, childhood friendships, boys and girls play and especially the music referencing - it all came back."
"A must buy, for those who loved the 60s/70s social scene...."
"Well worth a read, just from the social history perspective." Classic Scooterist magazine.
".......a social/urban history for those who were there" soul-source.co.uk.
Product Description:
The 1950s hailed a rapid change and a bright future for many, an exciting new Elizabethan age with over a million new council homes built for returning soldiers and their growing families. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan proclaimed 'Our people have never had it so good....'. This story - as well as an urban and social history is both observational and its narrative covers news events of those times - including one mother's attempt to raise two boys virtually single handed and the backstory.
It focuses on the youngest son with his older brother's support and influence of fashion, especially R&B and soul music throughout the colourful 'Swinging Sixties' in a rural Surrey village, just ten miles from Marble Arch. A bittersweet story of childhood, living on "an estate", schooling, youth clubs and its life learning experiences, but above all the therapy of music and how it helped. Leaving school and into the workplace, whilst hanging about in clothing and record shops, pubs, bars and clubs of the suburbs and London's West End, a journey that many experienced in the 1970s. Reputed to be the best decade for clubbing and dance music, especially funk and its fusion with jazz, which the book covers in some detail.
You can read books about, a 1950s childhood, or the colourful and musically changing 60s and the technologically advancing 1970s, but this book really brings it altogether in one volume.
