Me and Mrs Jones

Billy Paul has died and hearing him singing ‘Me and Mrs Jones’ on the radio sent me straight back to 1972, when the song was everywhere. The exams were over and there were long hot summer days when I seemed to have all the time in the world to hang out with my friends, to read, and to daydream. I can see my young self with long hair and dressed in the not very flattering style of the day, a midi skirt, perhaps, or flared trousers.

In truth, ‘Me and Mrs Jones’ is not a great song, but it was a great performance by Billy Paul. And listening to it now there is an added piquancy. I kept my maiden name when I married, so not everyone knows that these days, as well as being Christine Poulson, I am also, yes, Mrs Jones.