Neil Gits Strangled !

We all have dreams in our sleep, it’s whether or not we are able to remember them that is the interesting part. I am prone to some rather vivid ones these days, certainly in recent years, which occasionally I can hold very clear details of in my head for up to 24 hours afterwards ! Some are nice dreams of things I’d like to be real (mostly scoring important goals in big football matches … lol) and others are quite scary nightmares, exaggerating my darkest fears, which is the sort I suffered last night and am now trying to get out of my head – I’ll spare you the details …

In real life, I don’t have too many worries about bad things happening to me. Since retiring I have plenty of time to fine tune my life and take preventative measures around the house to ensure that the chances of an “accident” taking place at home are reduced significantly. I am also very meticlulous on how I set up things in the studio on a Monday night. I know exactly what to do to get the best out of the equipment around me and what not to do to avoid any unfortunate ‘mishaps’ that could affect the ‘Cool Soul Experience’ usually enjoyed by my listener …

I don’t always get it right though and when fate intervenes the odd hiccup can occur on air. Maybe some unexpectedly heavy rush hour traffic delays my normal early arrival at Gateway or possibly I haven’t eaten properly beforehand whilst making last minute adjustments to the playlist, these are the sort of things that can throw me out of my stride and result in what might be referred to as a ‘blooper’. Some people actually seem to find these quite amusing, according to the feedback I receive !

During a recent show, I did something that I NEVER do normally – I had my headphones hanging round my neck, resting on my chest. It’s a classic image of a radio presenter, the publicity shot of a grinning DJ with his ‘cans’ dangling beneath his chin. Alas, on this occasion, as a song faded rather quickly, my headphones dropped to the floor and the long lead strangled me as I rushed to pick them up before I needed to speak ! You can’t really talk on air without wearing them, it’s hard to explain, but it’s weird if you try to – and it’s also difficult to speak whilst choking too ! And that is why I always place them strategically to one side on the desk in between sharing my pearls of soulful wisdom with you …

I can’t recall any such incidents during last Monday’s show, but I can of course guarantee that you will hear two hours of top quality tunes from the soul, jazz-funk & disco scene of the 60s 70s 80s and beyond if you visit the “Listen Again” section on this website – and indeed if you catch the next show LIVE tomorrow (Monday) at 7pm …

The Tunes – Monday 12th May 2025

Garfield Fleming – Please Don’t Send Me Away
Shannon – Sweet Somebody
Lukas Setto – The Two Of Us
Donnie Elbert – I Can’t Help Myself
Donnie Elbert – Where Did Our Love Go
Tristan – These Arms
Taylor Dayne – I’ll Always Love You
Sheree Brown – I’d Rather Be In Love With You
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes – Reaching For The World
Boz Scaggs – Lowdown
Aurra – Like I Like It
Gladys Knight & The Pips – I love To Feel That Feeling
Edwin Starr – Running Back & Forth
Kenny G – Tribeca
Candi Staton – Nights On Broadway
Aretha Franklin – Spanish Harlem
Paul Randolph – Don’t Take It Personal
Johnny Gill – Quiet Time To Play
Chuck Jackson – I Keep Forgettin’
Emotions – How’d I Know That Love Would Slip Away
Chic – Rebels Are We
Level 42 – Something About You
Colonel Abrams – Music Is The Answer

Feel free to get in touch with your soulful request or just for a mention on the show – put a post on “The Old Gits Soul Show” page on Facebook, text (01268)833978 or message me via e-mail : [email protected].

The Old Gits Soul Show is broadcast LIVE from 7pm–9pm every Monday, repeated on Saturday evening from 5pm–7pm, on Gateway 97.8FM in Basildon & East Thurrock, across South Essex on DAB and available nationally via the Radio Player on your TV as well as online via www.gateway978.com You can listen on your smart speaker or your phone too … plus you can hear it again anytime you like via the “Listen Again” button on the Gateway website – just search “Cool Soul” !