THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS - 7 DAYS TO THE BIG PARTY.
On 3rd October 1973 Maldwyn Pope started work on his first album for Rocket Records.
By the time the album was ready for release in the summer of 1974 nature had taken its course…Maldwyn’s voice had broken.
Sadly, it was decided to shelve the album and start again. It was early in 2023 that Mal got in touch with his old Rocket Records company boss Elton John. With Mal’s Golden Jubilee fast approaching Mal asked if it might be possible to get hold of the tapes to that lost album.
Days later Mal received the news that Elton would not only give Mal his tapes he would also return all the rights in the songs .
50 years later ‘Rocket Boy’ is released in time for Mal’s Golden Jubilee concert at the Swansea Grand Theatre on 3rd October..
The Making of Rocket Boy - From Tape to USB Stick
'Breathe' & Golden Jubilee Concert 3rd Oct Swansea Grand Theatre
I’m having a big party in October at the Swansea Grand Theatre and you’re all invited. I’ve booked the venue and the entertainment. I’m not sure if there will be cake, jelly and blancmange but I’m sure there will be a bottle or two of bubbly.
Tickets now on sale https://www.swanseagrand.co.uk/MalPope50th
'BREATHE'
GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBATION CONCERT
'BREATHE' - No.33 IN THE HERITAGE CHART
The new single ‘Breathe is currently No 33 in the latest Heritage Chart.
Its a big year and I’d love to celebrate it with you in Oct. …and you can vote for it for next week if you still like it.
It was 50 years ago today.....
BUTTERFLY - FULL, ORCHESTRAL OR UNPLUGGED
BUTTERFLY VIDEOS
DREAM OUT LOUD
The London Video
The Memphis Video
THE BORDER - SINGLE
*** MAL CHATTING TO JASON AND REV KATE ON BBC RADIO 2 ***
MAL POPE - NEW SINGLE 'SO SAD'
‘YOUR SONG SAVED OUR LIVES…BUT’
It was back in May 2020 as lockdown started to bite that the number of domestic abuse cases started to soar.
One of the songs of Mal’s recently released album ‘Butterfly’, told the story of one such woman.
‘You Are Not Alone’ was soon picked up for use in a National campaign to promote The LIFE FEAR FREE helpline. #youarenotalone
Women, and men, wanted to share their stories. It was one woman, who Mal refers to as Jane Doe, who really made Mal think.
‘Your song saved our lives…but’.
For years she had lived in constant fear of a violent attack, usually verbal, occasionally physical. But she felt the opening lines were wrong.
In Mal’s song the woman packs her bags and waits until the morning. Jane told Mal that if she had packed a bag, and it had been found, she didn’t believe that her partner would ever have allowed her or her little girl to leave that house. It was the next part of the story that broke Mal’s heart.
Jane had called her parents asking for help and they had basically told her she had made her bed… and she had to lie in it.
Even though the song is entitled ‘SO SAD’ it really is a song of hope. You can be strong enough to walk away.
What Jane wanted Mal, and all of the other victims of domestic abuse, to know is that it is possible to break the cycle.
There are people, strangers, who will stand by you, help to pick you and to start again.