Book review: Benny Green: Swingtime in Tottenham

You know how it is, you read a book - well that's what you did in my day - then put it on the shelf and forget about it. Alternatively, if you've enjoyed it, you loan it to a friend and, in doing so, you lose both a book and a friend. I know, I've been on both sides of the equation!

Fortunately, Swingtime in Tottenham remained in my personal library and today, short of reading matter, I pulled it down from the shelf where it had nestled since 1976. 

The author, the late Benny Green, had a turn of phrase to die for. I had only to read the first sentence to know it was going to be worth revisiting - In 1942 I can remember one of the lowlives of the district, a young man with Clark Gable ears and a salt-and-pepper double-breasted jacket ...

Writer, broadcaster and saxophonist in one of Ronnie Scott's early bands, Green doesn't mention these achievements, instead he gives a hilarious account of the years preceding them.

Any musician of a certain age who gigged at weddings, staff dances, masonic balls and other social gatherings with bands of great ineptitude playing for an indifferent group of three-legged dancers will be able to relate to the many events the author recalls in his laconic style.

Absolutely hilarious it is still kicking around on Amazon, eBay etc. Check it out. Lance  

Benny Green: Swingtime in Tottenham (1976). Lemon Tree Press. ISBN-10 ‏  0904291111