Well it’s finally happened. After years of juice world and fetty wap my 20 year old has seen the light and suggested this to me the other day … and long may it continue.

What you ordered – “to provide a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence”

What you got – Vanilla Ice (natch), Milli Vanilli (actually only one of them because the other ones dipped out), Flo Rida and Young MC (the Bust A Move hitmaker from 37 years ago).

I often go down worm holes usually in Wikipedia. This may be well known but today I learned that John Lydon and Nora were due to be on Pan Am 103 the jumbo blown up over Lockerbie but missed it because Nora was late packing. However Paul Jeffreys was on board the bassist with Cockney Rebel.

I’m amazed to see the Ramones chart history … they never really made it big in terms of sales. According to Wikipedia.

US charts no top 50 singles UK charts 4 top 50 with Baby I Love You reaching 8

Surely that’s not right?

In order to keep it nice and tidy.

Well it’s almost upon us and we know how well we do with that first ball. Australia seem clear favourites but the odds for the results have England about 7/1 to win 3–2 and 6-1 for Oz to win 3-2 so somewhat mixed.

There are injuries for the Ozzies but if we can stay fit esp Stokes I think we can do this. History says there is a 50/50 chance of one game being drawn through rain, I don’t think any others will.

We probably need to win in Perth … we definitely need to win in Adelaide and I think we will win the day night … I’m going 3-2 to England … at least 2-1 up after 3 if not 3-0

What a tremendous story.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cdeg0w3wr72o

I have a thing about looking up current set lists. If I see mention of a recent gig by Gong or John Otway I cannot resist looking up their current set. Anyhow here’s China Crisis’ set list from Chelmsford

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/china-crisis/2025/chelmsford-theatre-chelmsford-england-7b4e6ec8.html

If I ever saw an obvious film script it’s this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gw42j29lqo

It was 24 February 1984 and The Smiths were playing Bristol University Students Union. I was living opposite the building at the time and this was the hottest gig in town and I couldn’t get a ticket for love nor indeed money. I think they had made their debut on TOTP that week with WDDIM and there was huge anticipation. Rumour had it tickets were selling outside for five times their face value.

So I thought I’d chance my arm and see if I could bargain an affordable price. I wandered across the road and indeed touts were selling tickets at extortionate prices. I kind of gave up and walked into the building. The gig was on the third floor and the rest of the Anson Rooms were open for business as usual.

Then I noticed someone come out of the lift. Surely it wasn’t still stopping in the hall on floor 3. In for a penny … I pressed 3 and the next thing I knew I was getting out of the lift inside the venue.

Have you ever got into a gig through less than normal means?

I know nothing much about hi fi but I do have a really nice pair of Kef speakers. What do I need to stream? A streamer with an amp? I really don’t know where to start … I have a Mac computer. TIA

Number one son has just returned from a holiday with his pals in Granada.

Me – So how was the holiday? Son – Amazing. Me – What did you think of the Alhambra? Son – The what? I had some beer called Alhambra is that what you mean?

To be fair this post could also be titled Dads eh?

A two and a half hour episode on Dazed and Confused this week. Much as I love it crikey he needs a good editor.

10 mins in and we are still talking about the Four Seasons and Brenda Lee.

May or may not have been the subject of Waterloo Sunset but certainly close to being the non music face of the sixties.

I was talking to a mate of mine about how back in the day when you’d left school you would go to the job centre and have a browse of the cards to see what was available and then hand the card in for an immediate start. It doesn’t work that way anymore.

Back then you could get interesting (or at least different) jobs albeit often short term.

He was a projectionist in the Ladbroke Grove Odeon for a while and then an attendant on the London to Aberdeen night train.

I got a job (and this isn’t a euphemism) cleaning out Jane Seymour’s swimming pool.

Now it seems the only quickly available jobs are food delivery.

I’ve had a dentist called Dr Stretch and a chiropodist who went somewhat unfeasibly by the name of Miriam Barnacle.

Your go.

I don’t wish to get all Peter Kay but I was just fondly remembering the small ads primarily from the MM.

The classified was a jumble of abbreviated band names clearly meant to limit the cost per character. There were requests to form bands such as “Vocalist wanted influences Zep Tull Fairies Crimson. Nantwich. Gigs. No breadheads”.

Or lonely hearts seeking “old lady” into (insert similar bands) reading films.

The mail order albums always had the same bands no doubt early Richard Branson ventures. Bands unlikely to trouble the charts like Seventh Wave, Here and Now or (insert band name from above): the early years (AKA when they were shit). Ronnie Woods solo album seemed to crop up a lot too.

Then there was the clobber. Keep on trucking T shirts or that Genesis one with the girl with the wavy hair. 27 inch loons. And god forbid sheepskin lined denim coats (you could achieve QD).

Happy days.

Anyone into foraging?

I’m still a beginner but have made blackberry jam and wild plum jam. There’s a wood near me with filbert nuts, rowan, hips, haws, crab apples, sloes and damsons so I’ll be picking there in the next few weeks.

But I steer clear of fungi not because I don’t know enough but I just don’t fancy it even though I love normal mushrooms.

Noel Gallagher has listed The Best of the Who as one of his favourite 13 (?) albums. The Best of the Beatles is of course Alan Partridges favourite HJHM album.

Is it right to include a best of? I think there are rules such as the one or two track rule (but never both) for mix tapes.

My favourite Neil Young album is Unplugged which is a kind of best of but I do steer clear of Greatest Hits or Best Ofs.

Let’s have some love for Joe

2nd all time test runs Most test runs for England Most test centuries for England Most tests as England captain Most test wins as England captain Most test catches as a fielder And who can forget his five for ten

I’m so glad to have lived in the era of Root and Anderson. Can he get the 2,500 to pass Tendulkar? Well he’s still only 34.

Featuring one of my favourite songs of all time

What’s everyone’s thoughts? Good idea? I don’t really see the point I honestly don’t think most 16 year olds can make an informed decision either way I would expect the turnout to be less than 20%. Should it only be for those working?

I broke a rib picking blackberries yesterday.

Over to you …

Any other Mario Mathy fans out there?

Listening to WIYE and there was mention of Genesis P Orridge and Cosi Fanni Tutti appearing on the cover of Force It by UFO … I couldn’t think of any other examples of artists on other artists album covers (that they didn’t play on) … cue as always about 600 examples

I rather liked their debut album and really thought they were going to hit the big time. Rather like The Fall. Except they never hit the big time either (just The North).

Got chatting to a guy running a record shop the other day and he too loved the first album but told me the second album didn’t sell at all. He saw them at Isle of Wight this year and said it was a very poor turn out.

Perhaps the Fall shaped hole is a very niche market.