THE HIT PARADE: SIXTEEN WEEKS

FIVE NEW READY MADE SONGS

This mini-album tells the story of sixteen weeks in the life of The Hit Parade, from Christmas Eve, through the holidays, back to work, and on a weekend away by the seaside.

This mini album features Julian Henry, Raymond Watts, Harvey Williams, Cath Carroll, Mike Watts and Matt Moffatt.

All songs are by Julian Henry except The Dispossessed by Julian Henry and Cath Carroll.

Original five track CD issued in 1993
Released in Japan on Polystar Records
Catalogue number PSCW-5029

Three track CD (‘Autobiography’ ‘The Dispossessed’ ‘Now The Holiday’s Over’) issued in 1994
Released in UK on Sarah Records
Catalogue number SARAH 90 CD

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I LOVE Christmas (J.Henry)

Long ago, before time began
Came the research and the marketing plan
And the award for the best toy of the year
Underneath every Christmas tree
Is a note saying ‘santa claus please
Don’t drink and drive when you leave here’
I love Christmas, every year

Like the kids having snowball fights
The networks brawl for the broadcast rights
Of the big blockbuster TV shows
And all the stores in the high street sell
Party hats and jingle bells
As the sales team chase their monthly goals
I love Christmas, every year

I’m queuing up for my tickets to see
Gary Glitter play on Christmas ever
In another Christmas comeback show
I never knew I was crucified
On the beer and a few mince pies
He’s gonna play some Christmas rock and roll

THE DISPOSSESSED (J.Henry /C.Carroll)

In a rented room in your home town
You talk so soft, the rain came down
And the fishing fleet
Or what was left of it
Came to haunt our sleep

I left the Docklands, checked the clock
Forty eight hours with you
Still I don’t want to stop
To sleep to think to dream to breath
Or wonder wonder wonder

You got to me just like I guessed you would
With just the way you said
‘D’you think I should?’
You woke me from a deep deep sleep
For the endless vigil that the dispossessed keep

Now that the fishing fleet is a ghost that creeps
And it haunts these narrow dusty narrow lonely London streets
You woke me from a deep deep sleep
For the endless vigil that the dispossessed keep

CORPORATION STREET (J.Henry)

It’s dawn on Corporation Street
A cold wind blows but I’m the man they know as hot
And yes I’ve won, I’ve closed the deal
But I can’t get out and you know it feels
Like Corporation Street is all I’ve got

I got this far by acting cute
It came with a little hard work and sticking in the size 10 boot
The wife is at home in Gerrards Cross
And though she complains she knows who’s boss
She’s there to fuss and cook the meat
When I get back home from Corporation Street

I’ve got a five star pension plan
The company said thanks with this little tax free backhand
Yeah me and my new friends got told the score
On a weekend course for the insecure
I learnt to win and I paid the price
Now I’m wondering if it’s worth the sacrifice

But you’d be proud to see the kids
They’re growing up and they want more just like their Daddy did
Yeah, yeah, yeah I’m alright Jack, I’m sitting pretty
Here in the land of opportunity
I’ve got my mouth stuffed full of sweets
When I see you out down Corporation Street.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY (J.Henry)

Beyond the Goodwin Sands a foghorn blows
I’ve got to tell you what your boyfriend thinks he knows
I know I think he’s not so good for you
I guess you wonder why I still ring you up
You know it’s only because I can’t pick you up
And I’d go crazy thinking that I’d lose you

In this town, they say you get around
I don’t know what it is about you
But I want to get hold of you

Up on the cliffs I go and watch the sea
It makes me wonder if you’ll ever marry me
St Margarets has a special way to make me blue
I fell in love with you over the 16 weeks
But I’m the boy at school who never speaks
I only ever wanted to hold you

NOW THE HOLIDAY’S OVER (J.Henry)

Now the holiday’s over
I’m shaking sand from my shoes and bag now it’s over
So much babe for our summer
What’s it worth now it’s so far away
And now I’ve lost my mind
Because you’re way out of my reach
And so I spend my time
Combing the shores of Brighton Beach

Walking home from the arcades
Babe I’m so drunk you know that I’m falling over
Where’s the thrill in this old place
Now that the summer’s gone so far away

You caught me looking back
At my treasures and my memories
And I can’t have them back
It’s all washed away on Brighton Beach

For in July I found
There was life and it was in my reach
It was the perfect kind
Holding your hand on Brighton Beach

And now the holiday’s over

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