I loved this LP - I bought it soon after it was released in South Africa back in 1975. At the time, I was a young Phys. Ed. teacher at Riebeek College in Uitenhage. The school hall was being used for some other purpose one day, so I was unable to hold my gym classes indoors, but because of rain, my pupils and I were forced to take shelter in the kiosk up at the tennis courts. To entertain the children, I had brought along a portable cassette player and some compilation tapes which I had put together from my various records. I was completely unaware that my beloved Spanish Train had been banned in South Africa soon after its release - supposedly because it was considered to be blasphemous under the very strict censorship laws of those days. After proudly playing some of the tracks from my new LP to my students, including Spanish Train and A Spaceman Came Travelling, one little voice piped up and said: Mrs Krain, do you know why this record has been banned...? As a teacher, I was always professional and very particular about being a good example to my pupils, so these words rang in my ears like a very loud alarm.... an alarm that made my blood run cold and my mouth go dry... Oh no...had I just played banned music to my innocent young school pupils? Oh no....! My dignity would not allow me to let on that I was too stupid to know about the censorship...so with a nonchalant voice that did not betray my thumping heart, I merely mumbled: I dont know... I had visions of my irresponsible behaviour being discussed around supper tables that night, but my sweet charges did not let me down.... Today, I can chuckle at the ridiculousness of the narrow-minded laws to which we were subjected in the past...and that very girl who asked that innocent question that day is herself a grandmother today, and a dear friend of mine. Yes, Barbara Eckley - you might have forgotten the incident, but I have not! So, this one is for YOU, my friend....
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 21:13:30 +0000
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