Neil Gits A Rude Awakening

There’s no getting away from it – we are now officially in Summer 2025 ! My diary tells me that today (Saturday 21st June) is “The Longest Day” & “The Start Of Summer” … so there you go ! In my world though, we’ve been there already for at least two weeks, with some temperatures you would normally expect in August, and as someone who is much more of a Spring/Autumn kind of chap, it’s been pushing my ‘survival levels’ early …

I think most people in this country love the sun and the heat, we don’t get very much of it over the course of a year really, and thousands of Brits will happily flock to countries in the Mediterannean or the Far East where the temperature is constantly up in the high 30s / 40s … OUCH ! But even for the most devout sun worshipper this time of year presents a few problems, one of which is getting a good night’s sleep !

My nights have been turned on their head in June, I have completely had to change my routine to have the best chance of getting a full night’s kip and have barely had more than six hours worth in the night recently, although a “Disco Nap” in the afternoon has become part of my daily routine now – anyone over the age of 50 will tell you the value of those when trying to make the most of a Weekender or All-Dayer on the Soul Scene and still be awake as midnight approaches !

It doesn’t help though when you are prone to dodgy dreams and though I can’t remember the details, I must have been having one earlier this week when I flung myself across my bed at about 3am and headbutted the edge of the bedside unit, smacking myself on the cheekbone, just below my left eye ! Luckily, it appears no damage was done, just another night’s sleep ruined, and this time I couldn’t blame the heat, the early morning daylight or over exuberant rush hour drivers passing my house with their ‘Ibiza Summer Playlist’ booming out of the car windows …

I will be looking forward to my weekly run to Basildon on Monday,with the aircon up to level 3 in the car, then enjoying two hours in our lovely cool studio, thanks to the various fans keeping all the equipment from overheating. Whether you are listening outside savouring the evening sunshine on from 7pm Monday or topping up your tan over the weekend during the day with my latest shows on “Listen Again” or today’s ‘Repeat Play’ at 5pm, we can all enjoy two hours of the good stuff together. Here is the latest selection for you to check out :

The Tunes – Monday 16th June 2025

Princess – Say I’m Your Number One
Bobby Womack – Across 110th Street
McKenzie & Gardiner – Hold On Tight
Strikers – Body Music
Strikers – Inch By Inch
Marvin Gaye – Got To Give It Up
Anita Baker – Sweet Love
PrivatProjekt – Save The Children
B B & Q Band – Main Attraction
James Ingram – Yah Mo Be There
Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up (12″ Version)
Major Harris – After Loving You
Touch Of Class – I Love You Pretty Baby
Jackie Wilson – Shake A Leg
Millie Jackson – Never Change Lovers In The Middle Of The Night
Chic – Chip Off The Old Block
Next – Too Close
Jason Paterson Delaire – Game Of Love
Drifters – Please Stay
Lucita Jules & Foster Rogue – I Love You
Shirley Lites – Heat You Up, Melt You Down
Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You
Trammps – Oh Waa Hey

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” !