Scaryduck's comment in the previous post but one reminds me it is time for me to tell of one of my less praiseworthy contributions to World Peace, Mental Health and General Joy.
Namely, How I Helped to Make Black Lace the Global Superstars and Party Regulars they are today.
It all started innocently enough. As a teenager I listened to Piccadilly Radio, the commercial radio station serving the Greater Greater Manchester area. A radio station that spawned, amongst others, Andy Peebles, Garry Davies, Timmy Mallet, Chris Evans, Steve Penk, Richard Keys, Mark Radcliffe and Tery Christian (and The Word).
There was also a presenter called Dave Ward. In the 80s he was very popular. (I last heard of him five years ago d-j-ing in a Blackpool pub). He used to host the 11-2 at night programme . There were certain traditions associated with this, best summed up by the jingle
Under the Bedclothes with Cuddly Dave. Everyone knows he's a bit of a rave. Bedsocks and garters and Terry the Tug. Nookie and birthdays and records he'll plug. Eleven to two in this we will revel Because we all know he's a dirty old devil.
One of the traditions was flashing. When Dave gave you the nod, you had to flash your bedroom lights and look out to see whether your neighbours were flashing theirs, then ring up to say. Nevile started going out in the Flash Van to look for people to flashing. This grew into gatherings at an announced phonebox.
He very much welcomed contributions from listeners. I was a very frequent contributor - probably in the Top 5 - to the extent that I knew my letters would also be read out on other shows, because I was "Gerry from Sale - she's not a fella".
One of the traditions was horizontal dancing. At ten to midnight a dance record would come on and you had dance to it, in bed. Again, the onus was on the listeners to find obscure records and send them in, then other listeners would demand they be played again and again. One such was "The Joker" by Phil Charles. This was on more or less every other day, prompting Black Lace to record a version and call it Superman.
When it was riding high in the charts, Peter Powell stated on Radio One that it was selling well because of a "strange dance fashion in the North of England..."
So if you ever wanted to know the history of Black Lace's Superman, there you have it.
