Andy 'Thunderclap' Newman RIP (1944 - 2016)

[Portland Road]

Sad to relate, but on the same day that Ronnie Corbett died, the death of Andy 'Thunderclap' Newman was announced.

He is of course best known for the major 1969 hit 'Something In The Air', by the band that took his name.

He was the keyboard player from a jazz background, the guitarist was Jimmy McCulloch (later of Wings), the singer (& writer of the hit single) was John 'Speedy' Keen. The band were associated with The Who, being on the Track label with Pete Townshend playing bass and producing their recordings (under a pseudonym), and Kit Lambert managing them.

Jimmy McCulloch died in 1979 and Speedy Keene in 2002. They were both respected journeymen of the music business.

RIP Thunderclap Newman.

[jno]

Fair play, 'Something In The Air' is a top tune. RIP.

We have got to get it together...

[daz]

That is a shame.

As jno says, it is a top tune.

RIP

[vicboy]

Years ago, between IT contracts, I started researching a book which was going to be about which record was no.1 in the UK when certain major events took place.

What I was hoping for was to find a coincidental, perhaps even spooky, link between the records and the events. But the idea ran out of steam because I couldn't find enough links..

However, in my increasingly desperate desire to find material I decided that Thunderclap Newman and 'Something in the Air Tonight' was suitable because it was no.1 when man first landed on the moon. I suppose there is a very tentative link but a weak one!

Another dodgy link I was going to use was how Chris Farlowe was no.1 with 'Out of Time' on the day England went to extra-time to win their only World Cup in 1966....

Looking back, I have had better ideas!

RIP Thunderclap.

[Portland Road]

Yes indeed, four days after I was born, and two days before the moon landing, Thunderclap Newman played at the Coatham Hotel venue in my home town.

This was at the end of the street where my grandads house was. And 'Something In The Air' was no. 1 in the charts.

They didn't do a lot of recording, but their album of the time 'Hollywood Dream' is well worth checking out.