“Kelly Klassic” Borrowed Angel – by Des Kelly Written and recorded in 1972 by Mel.Street, we now have a positive reason as to why Country Music will never die. Singing this song that tells a story, that happens all around the World, a youngster in Country Music, by the name of Mo Pitney, comes clean on his Borrowed Angel. Pitney was a keen follower of Stars such as Merle Haggard and George Jones, and, like them, vocalises brilliantly, where every lyric can be heard very clearly. Like other members of e’Lanka, who do enjoy this type of music, all I can say, is “Lets go, with Mo Pitney”. Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in-Chief) e’ Lanka.  ...

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“TWO TEXAS TROUBADOURS” – by Des Kelly “They got together many years ago, On”The stone-cold Country Show”, George Jones & Marty Robbins were their names, Singing hits (in part), and yet, Songs that we will never forget, I wish that I could play you many more”. Brought back especially for each & every e’ Lanka member out there, with just a few minutes to spare, so please enjoy these “Greats” you’ll see,when music was, what it was meant to be.           Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in-Chief) e’ Lanka.   NOTE WELL… Sometimes, when I say “Hello”, ………………….  There’ll be more like these to follow…. D.K.   ...

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“A COUNTRY LIVING LEGEND” – by Des Kelly HE IS ONE OF A VERY FEW ACTUAL LIVING LEGENDS OF COUNTRY MUSIC, OR THE “MUSIC OF LIFE”, AS I REFER TO IT. HAS BEEN AROUND WITH PAST ICONS (IN MY BOOK), SUCH AS MERLE HAGGARD, GEORGE JONES, RAY PRICE, AND CHARLEY PRIDE, TO NAME JUST A FEW, STILL PLAYS AN ACOUSTIC/ELECTRIC GUITAR THAT HAS CERTAINLY SEEN BETTER DAYS, NAMED TRIGGER (AFTER ROY ROGER’S HORSE), HAS “BEEN THERE & DONE THAT”, WITH THE BEST OF THEM, INCLUDING THE LATE, GREAT WAYLON JENNINGS, HE CERTAINLY LOOKS THE PART, AND HIS AGE, AND DOES NOT EVER BOTHER TO EVEN TRY TO LOOK ANY YOUNGER THAN HE IS, ALTHOUGH WILLIE NELSON WAS QUITE A HANDSOME YOUNG DUDE DURING HIS HALCYON DAYS, QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO. WHAT STRUCK ME ABOUT WILLIE NELSON WAS HIS “STYLE” OF SINGING. SURE, HIS TONES ARE SLIGHTLY MORE NASAL THAN ...

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“LOVE SONGS, LANKAN STYLE” – by Des Kelly      I chanced to hear this video and decided that THIS was a type of music that would be enjoyed by all the good members of e’Lanka, everywhere. They are a Dutch band, this group called The Locomotions, and I had never even heard of them, but then, my forte’ being American 80’s and 90’s style Country Music, I tend to feature legends like Merle Haggard, George Jones and the like, but suddenly, as I was watching You-Tube Music Videos, The Locomotions popped up, and, as I do, I decided that because we are now in “Escape-Mode” in Melbourne, after weeks of Lock-down, this was a good time to get the folk back dancing to some good music, so here they are, my friends, “The Locomotions Compilatie Love Songs”, especially for you. Hope you enjoy this video. Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in-Chief) e’Lanka. ...

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               “ADVICE FROM ELVIS” – by Des Kelly He was taken away far too early, but as my good friend Chris Lawton also knows, Elvis, like so many “Stars” of Show-biz., also started their careers  singing Gospel songs, giving the World around them sound advice on how to live their lives. This generally came from watching their own parents, grand-parents, etcetera, live life under much more strife than themselves, and still adhere to the words written in the Bible, commonly also referred to, as the Word of God.  Country Stars such as Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, George Jones, and even “Rockers” like Jerry Lee Lewis, all started their careers by recording simple Gospel songs, and although Elvis was the exemption,ribute to Jesus Christ and the Holy Christian Family.  ...

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    “THE HAG” – By Des Kelly Quite possibly, one of the best know names in “Country Music”, certainly, one of my top favourites, he was a Songwriter, Singer, fiddle-player, and guitarist, all in one, and, like so many other great Country Icons of America, had a tough life, not only before he became a “Star”, but even after~ when many pretty young ladies (he married five of them), gave him a hard time, trying to keep him toeing the line, which he refused to do, even when it was for his own good. I have always admired Merle Haggard, God rest his Soul, as he died exactly 79 years after he was born, he passed on to the old Opry in the sky, on his 79th birthday.           There are definitely many more amazing things about this guy, who will always be fondly remembered ...

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“STORIES IN SONG” SERIES 2019 –  “SAM, THE MAN” – By Des Kelly  George Jones, alias “no-show Jones”, or “the Possum”, has, and always will be, one of the greatest Country Icons that America can boast of, and deservedly so, because he could sing a song that would go straight into the hearts of thousands of his listening audience, either on-stage, or via the hundreds of Radio Stations of the US, committed  24.7, to ONLY Country Music. George Jones died in April, 2013, & his fans lined up for kilometres around, just to glimpse his body for the last time. Thousands gathered in the Streets around to salute the hearse as he went on his last ride.  He was 82 years old.    I will feature George Jones himself, later on, but, even before he died they were singing songs titled “Who’s gonna fill their shoes”?, and many, were the Country ...

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“Chiseled in Stone” by Des Kelly Born in Alabama, Vern Gosdin was known around the World of “Country Music”, as “The Voice”, and it is easy to see why. He had no less than 19 top ten solo “hits” from 1977-1990, three of them ending on the top rung of the “Country” charts. Taking them in order, as I see the story-telling capabilities of my favourite music, they were :- “Set em up Joe, I’m still crazy”, & to his beautiful dancing partner (of the night),”I can tell by the way you dance (you’re gonna love me tonight). Now, if that isn’t “telling a story'”, I wouldn’t know what is.!   Typically, as it was with so many other great “Stars” of Country Music, Vern & brother Rex were born into a very poor family, both loved Gospel Music with a passion, idolized the “Louvin Brothers”& Vern, as a young ...

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“THIS IS LIFE”.- By Des Kelly Both of them started their lives never dreaming of the “Stardom” that was to come their way. Tammy Wynette and George Jones, their names would have to be known by ex-Lankans & others, even “settled-down” at the moment, at the centre of the Arctic Circle, so very famous, are they. Both started far from affluence, George, having to join the Marines to “help” a large, but impoverished family, Tammy, actually picking cotton as a very young girl, prompting her to always keep a bowl of cotton-wool in her home, even after stardom.      As I have always said (& written), the term “this is life” could not be better said (or sung), in anything but Country Music. The harshest critics of this music will have to agree that Country music, especially by these two, will bring tears into the eyes of the listener, ...

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“THIS IS LIFE” – By Des Kelly Both of them started their lives never dreaming of the “Stardom” that was to come their way. Tammy Wynette and George Jones, their names would have to be known by ex-Lankans & others, even “settled-down” at the moment, at the centre of the Arctic Circle, so very famous, are they. Both started far from affluence, George, having to join the Marines to “help” a large, but impoverished family, Tammy, actually picking cotton as a very young girl, prompting her to always keep a bowl of cotton-wool in her home, even after stardom.      As I have always said (& written), the term “this is life” could not be better said (or sung), in anything but Country Music. The harshest critics of this music will have to agree that Country music, especially by these two, will bring tears into the eyes of the listener, ...

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