Released #OTD 1973, #Quadrophenia by #TheWho remains one of rock's great concept albums. Pete Townshend's tale of teenage alienation, identity and Mod culture went on to inspire the cult 1979 film of the same name. ~The Real Me~

#folkloresunday In The Famous Historie of Fryer Bacon, preserved in a 1627 edition, an extraordinary English legend tells of the magician Friar Bacon and his disastrous experiment with a talking brass head. Bacon and Friar Bungay had fashioned the head, hoping it would reveal how to surround England with an impregnable wall of brass. But nobody knew when it would speak. Exhausted by waiting, the friars left their servant Miles to keep watch. At last, the head announced, “Time is.” Miles saw no reason to disturb his masters. Then came “Time was.” Again, he ignored it. Finally, the head cried, “Time is past!” Thunder erupted, and the enchanted head shattered into pieces. Bacon's magnificent scheme had been destroyed, not by an enemy or a rival magician, but by a servant who failed to recognise the importance of three little warnings.

49 years ago today, #ELO released Out of the Blue, giving us one of the happiest songs ever recorded: Mr. Blue Sky. Five minutes of pure joy, followed by a glorious little excursion into progressive rock. What a magnificent band. ☀️🎶

Happy Friday! 🥳 A little British psychedelia from 1967. Kaleidoscope perform Holiday Maker on French television, looking as though they'd rather be almost anywhere else. Wonderful song. Spectacularly awkward television. 😂

#Gothtober #31DaysofHalloween Bauhaus ~ Bela Lugosi's Dead (Dracula,1931).

#WedsStory Every morning, my reflection did the opposite of what I did. When I smiled, it frowned. When I waved, it folded its arms. Yesterday, I threw away the mirror. Upon reflection, I think I've made an enemy of myself.

Happy 69th birthday to Julian Cope! Proof that psychedelic brilliance doesn't always require profound lyrics. Sometimes the correct number of ba's and oh's will do nicely. 😂 #TheTeardropExplodes ~When I Dream

#WordsOnWednesday “Ravens seem to be the only birds that have an understanding of the meanings that they convey in auspices…” Pliny the Elder, Natural History, Book X, 15 (c. AD 77). Nearly two thousand years ago, Pliny suggested that ravens were not merely messengers of omens, but understood the messages they carried.

#mythologymonday In Greek mythology, Demeter, grieving for Persephone, disguised herself as an elderly woman and became nurse to the infant Demophon ~ Each night, she secretly placed him in the fire, using her divine powers to protect him from the flames and make him immortal. But when his mother discovered the child in the hearth, she screamed in horror. Demeter revealed her divine identity, furious at the interruption. Demophon's chance of immortality was lost forever.

#folkloresunday In 1851, English antiquarian Benjamin Thorpe recorded a chilling Scandinavian folk belief concerning the Church-Lamb, a spectral creature said to haunt churches and graveyards. According to tradition, a lamb was once buried beneath a church altar to ensure the building's protection and endurance. Its ghost was believed to linger within the sacred walls. Those entering an empty church might glimpse a small lamb leaping across the choir before suddenly vanishing. But its appearance outside was far more ominous. Should the Church-Lamb appear among the graves, particularly before a gravedigger, it was believed to foretell the death of a child who would soon be buried there. An innocent creature, transformed by folklore into a messenger of death.

Happy Friday! 🥳 It's 1966. The Mighty Hannibal is Jerkin' the Dog*, accompanied by two go-go dancers and an alarming quantity of punctuation. *I'm taking the moral high ground 😬

Many thanks @mattstevensloop @TFATD This is a brilliant album!

Oscar Wilde's Air Freshener

#OTD 1066 #BattleOfHastings William the Bastard and Harold Godwinson finally met near Hastings. Harold's exhausted army formed a shield wall along the ridge. William attacked with archers, infantry and cavalry. The fighting lasted throughout the day, with neither side particularly inclined to bugger off. Eventually the English line broke. Harold was killed and William was victorious, although exactly how Harold died remains uncertain. Fortunately, the entire thing was observed by an artisan visiting from Bayeux, who hurried home afterwards and recorded the day's events in an enormous embroidered account. Historians remain grateful that he'd remembered to bring a makeshift sewing kit. England would never be quite the same again. A new language, an alarming variety of cheeses, and a deeply regrettable enthusiasm for pointy shoes.

#WordsOnWednesday "The Malay merchants say that God made Timor for sandalwood, Banda for mace, and the Moluccas for cloves, and that this merchandise is not known anywhere else in the world except in these places." Tomé Pires, Suma Oriental (1512–1515)

Age yourself by naming an overrated movie from your childhood I'm a massive Who fan but I really didn't enjoy this 😂

#OTD 1066 William the Bastard learned that Harold and his exhausted army had finally arrived near Hastings. After two weeks waiting for him, William prepared his army for battle. The holiday was over. Tomorrow.... they would settle it.

#OTD 1066 After racing south from Yorkshire, Harold Godwinson and his exhausted army arrived near Hastings. They stopped for a rest. The army divided into those preparing for battle and those wondering what was for tea. 1066 continued to be a shit year to be Harold.

#mythologymonday In Welsh tradition, Gwyn ap Nudd was king of the fair folk and ruler of Annwn, the Otherworld ~ In the medieval Life of Saint Collen, the saint denounces Gwyn and his followers as demons. Soon afterwards, a messenger summons him to Gwyn's court. There, Collen discovers a magnificent castle filled with richly dressed courtiers, music and a sumptuous feast. Gwyn welcomes him and offers him food, but Collen refuses, declaring the feast to be nothing more than an illusion. He casts holy water across the gathering ~ The castle, the courtiers and Gwyn himself vanish, leaving only the bare hillside. Had Collen dispelled a wicked enchantment, or merely rejected the hospitality of the Otherworld?

The Calendar Crisis (Inspired by personal lamentations and an exasperated @AnnaTizard) Christmas arrived at the meeting in September. "You're early," said Halloween. "Marketing," replied Christmas. "But September is mine," protested Michaelmas. "Who are you?" asked Christmas. "An ancient Christian feast." "Never heard of you." Easter entered carrying a chocolate egg. "Am I late?" asked Easter. "By about six months," said Halloween. "Or six months early," said Valentine's Day. "It's difficult to tell." Bonfire Night cleared his throat. "Could somebody explain why there are fireworks in July?" "Gender reveals," said Christmas. There was an uncomfortable silence. Then New Year's Eve staggered in, wearing a party hat. "Is it midnight yet?" "It's September," said Halloween. New Year's Eve considered this. "Excellent. Plenty of time for another drink." From the back of the room, Michaelmas sighed. "I remember when dates meant something." "Again!" shouted Christmas. "Just who ARE you?"