I wonder what “finding consolation in pin-ups” means.

Download: We Could Send Letters – Aztec Camera (original single version) (mp3)

I never realized the Moulton bike was such a cult icon, there’s even one at the Museum of Modern of Art in New York.

Download: Bike – Pink Floyd (mp3)

Is that Hammersmith Odeon behind them?

The main job of British movie dolly birds in the 60s and 70s was to be passive objects for the likes of Sid James or Robin Askwith to phwooaar all over or to scream helplessly and faint when Christopher Lee appeared in a cape. But with her imposing height, Amazonian build, and drop-dead looks, Valerie Leon didn’t fit the part of the ditzy barmaid or virginal damsel in distress so she was usually the one being sexually aggressive and domineering — entering rooms like a panther in heat, thrusting her cleavage forward like a deadly weapon, giving off enough horny static to power a large city — and it was the men who got all flustered and ran to the fainting couch when she approached.

She looked like such a you-are-not-worthy goddess that a lot of the time she wasn’t cast as a regular human being and played a variety of jungle warriors, aliens, and reincarnated Egyptian queens. Even in the Hai Karate ads she came across like some amorous Terminator robot who could not be stopped. Typically, when she did play a normal person we were supposed to believe she was such a crazed nympho that she’d chase after such weedy targets as Jim Dale, Ronnie Corbett, and even Charles Hawtrey. But I guess that was supposed to be the funny part.



She was a ubiquitous presence on 1970s telly, forever popping up as the comedy crumpet on variety shows and sitcoms, and you could always rely on her to class up a production — at least visually. As a boy I would immediately, um, perk up when she appeared and would sit through some right old rubbish in the hope that she’d appear again, however briefly, in that low-cut cocktail dress or fur bikini and play havoc with my hormones.

I’ve no idea if she was any good as an actress, watching her my normal critical faculties tend to be short-circuited, and her filmography is full of such nameless roles as “Hotel Receptionist”, “Lady in Bahamas”, “Serving Wench”, “Bath Girl” and, amusingly, “Queen of the Nabongas.” But one credit she should be proud of is having Roxy Music’s “Beauty Queen” written about her. I never knew that until recently but apparently she had a fling with Bryan Ferry at some point and now the opening line “Valerie please believe, it never could work out” makes sense to me. Whether this is true or not (the internet says it is) I hope it is because someone as gorgeous as Valerie Leon should have songs written about her.

Download: Beauty Queen – Roxy Music (mp3)

It took me a second to remember that those are radios they’re holding to their ears, not mobile phones.

Yeah, alright, it was a rubbish bike, but the chicks dug it.

Download: Ride My Wheels – T. Rex (mp3)

I was in the mood for more Deee-lite so why the hell not. I know this is a blindingly obvious choice but it’s a terrific performance (Bootsy Collins on bass!) and there’s Lady Miss Kier wearing what she’s wearing.

I rarely check my site stats but I did the other day and visits are way down at the moment probably due to the lack of content here lately (I’m busy!) But I have a secret weapon to get my viewing figures back up: Pan’s People dancing in tiny little skirts.

Shameless pandering for eyeballs and comments? Oh yes.

Yes, it’s Valerie Leon again. As someone commented last time she does seem to crop us here a fair bit, usually in short videos or the occasional picture which is a bit like her career really — lots of quick guest appearances (as the anonymous “crumpet” usually) and very few bigger roles. I should give her a post of her own one of these days.

Afraid I’m being a bit of a lazy bones on the writing front at the moment, can’t seem to summon up the energy to finish anything long off. Plus I’ve actually been busy on the freelancing front and am about to get even busier — which is good! Money!