Neil Gits Rosy Cheeks

I remember a few years ago, Nathan’s old youth football club took part in an all-day five-a-side tournament at Barleylands, Billericay around this time of year. It wasn’t an especially hot or sunny day, just an average Summer Saturday, so I didn’t bother wearing a cap, as I usually do outdoors … and woke up the next day with a rather sunburnt bonce !! Fast forward to 2021 and his current club were holding a similar event last Sunday at Witham Town FC where the forecast was a mixture of sunny spells and showers, but mainly cloudy with temperatures around 18 degrees – and I instantly recalled that previous occasion and went prepared !

As his team battled there way into the semi-finals, helped along by a rare 20 yard wonder-strike into the top right corner by son-of-proud-dad, I enjoyed the action with my legs and feet safely covered up by my trust jeans and walking boots – no shorts and sandals here ! – and arms moderately protected by my natural above-average amount of body hair, but of course an Eng-er-land football cap permanently on my head and big sunglasses in place from start to finish. So it was a bit of a surprise to look in the bathroom mirror once back home and see something resembling a sort of grotesque children’s TV character staring back at me with two big red circular marks on their face, the only place the sun could find to place its dsatardly evil rays !!

In the end, despite that shock, the only “pain” suffered last Sunday was the almost ineviatble suffering endured through an unsuccessful penalty shoot-out (Nathan’s kick hit the post – but he was a lot closer than others!) and by Monday I was ready to head for the studio fully fit to present two hours of soul, jazz-funk, disco & reggae to Basildon and The World. There’s a second chance to hear this week’s show on Gateway from 5-6pm this evening (Saturday) or if you head to the “On Air” section of this website and select “Listen Again” it can be heard at any time over the next three weeks – just look for “Cool Soul” in the menu box. These are the terrific tunes I played :

The Tunes – Monday 5th July 2021

Royalle Delite – I’ll Be A Freak For You

Jacksons – Show You The Way To Go

Sargent Tucker – It’s All Good

Rodney Franklin – The Groove

Rodney Franklin – Gotta Give It Up

Jef Kearns – Hazy

Donny Hathaway – A Song For You

Teddy Pendergrass – Nine Times Out Of Ten

AP Connection ft Howard Johnson – Thin Line

D Train – You’re The One For Me

Sade – Smooth Operator (Extended Smooth Jazz Version)

Barry Biggs – Wide Awake In A Dream

Rob Scott feat Elisabeth Troy – Winter Love

Dinah Washington – Mad About The Boy

Patti Austin – Only A Breath Away

Whitney Houston – I’m Your Baby Tonight

MS1 Project feat SETA – You Got The Love

Bloodstone – Natural High

Ali Woodson & Freda Payne – Dreaming Wide Awake

Light Of The World – London Town

Olympic Runners – Sir Dancealot

Ginny Brown & The Collective – Starlight (Nigel Lowis mix)

Feel free to get in touch with your soulful request or just for a mention on the show – post on “The Old Gits Soul Show” page on Facebook or message me personally …

E-mail: [email protected] or send a text message to (01268)833978.

The Old Gits Soul Show is on Gateway 97.8 in Basildon & East Thurrock and also around the world via www.gateway978.com from 7pm–9pm every Monday, also repeated on Saturday evening from 5pm–7pm, plus you can hear it again anytime you like via the “Listen Again” button on the Gateway website – search “Cool Soul” !