The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Flaming Pie – more like Flaming Nora!

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Macca’s pretty good late 90s album re-released as a “super deluxe set”, 5 CDs and 2 DVDs plus books, marbles etc The limited edition also with vinyl and “art prints” is 520 quid!! The regular deluxe version is around 200 quid!! I remember picking up the first 3 of these for about 30 quid back in 2011.

To be fair the 2CD version looks decent value having 21 of the main 26 extra tracks (mostly demos and B sides), but these prices are otherwise outrageous.

* 2 of the CDs in in the deluxe edition are apparently each about 30 mins long and another one is spoken word.

https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/paul-mccartney-flaming-pie-reissue/

Courtney Love and Liverpool

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Interesting article, if you have any interest in the early 80s Liverpool scene or indeed lived there at the time.

I was at University there and routinely at the end of the day would walk to the Pier Head to catch a bus back to the Carnatic Residence Halls, I would normally wander past Probe records so I probably indeed did see her around.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/25/courtney-love-in-liverpool-scousers-wild-child-how-to-rock

The Afterword Favourite Albums – The Results

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OK, in the style of Radio 1 in the 70s/80s I am going to count down the albums form 10 to 1, and will then reveal the rest of the top 100, go through this at your own pace, I suggest playing the youtube link to get into the spirit of things.

Some stats: Around 100 contributions, I think 645 dufferent albums were nominated.

Disclaimer: I have double checked the results, but no guarantee everthing is completely correct. I had some trouble from the likes of @Lodestone-of-Wrongness and @Lemonhope trying to sneak in multiple entries …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY85ET2gXGQ

ATTENTION – TOP ALBUMS DEADLINE CHANGE – MONDAY MIDNIGHT

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Originally I put May 31st as a deadline.There have been many contributions and obviously most people currently have a lot of time on their hands so I am moving deadline forward to next Mon 18th May, midnight UK time.

Post in original thread, not here. One list only per person, please. Thanks for all the interest.

New Rolling Stones Single

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Living in a Ghost Town, reggae tinged, relevant lyrics, nice harmonica from Mick. Was released 8 minutes ago and I have heard it once.

Now I will expect a rush of people saying it’s not as good as Jumpin Jack Flash, but I think it’s not bad at this stage and I am glad we have it.

The Tweedy Show

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As many here might guess, Wilco are my favourite band. They have just postponed their West coast North American tour (I optimistically have a ticket for a show in August). The Tweedy family are housebound and have been broadcasting “The Tweedy Show” almost every night this week (technical problems one night). Challenging time for UK people being at 9.30pm Central Time (currently 2.30 am UK time), but you don’t have to get up for work, right? It is broadcast on Instagram from Jeff Tweedy’s wife’s account – Susan Tweedy “stuffinourhouse”.

Has featured Jeff in the bath, plenty of ribbing in his direction, some scary coughing from Susan and some sublime songs sung by Jeff and the boys, Sammy and Spencer. Also lots of fan interaction, requests etc reported by Susan.

View post on imgur.com

How are we all doing?

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Only my 3rd day working from home, situation in Ontario, Canada is changing rapidly. Schools have been closed since Mon (would be March break anyway), but most doubt there will be a return before summer vacation end of June. All restaurants and bars are closed (except for delivery/take out), think most non essential businesses are closing down in malls etc. I am only going out to get food and tryng to avoid it as much has possible. Borders are basically closed now except for Canadians and permanent residents. Only about 10 cases in Ottawa so far, but 3 are people who work closely with a colleague’s daughter (all caught in Austria I think), so it is already getting close. And I am reasonably high risk because of Crohn’s and medication I am on for that suppressing immune system.

To be honest I am struggling a bit. Have been close to tears on occasion. My daughter is with me for an extended period of time and I am trying to put a brave face on the situation. I am, anyway. somewhat prone to getting a bit down about things and lots of stuff I would use to combat this, seeing friends » Continue Reading.

Perspective? – my home town in 1866

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Monmouthshire Merlin 15th Sept 1866

EBBW VALE.

OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA.—It is with deep regret we have to announce a serious outbreak of cholera in this place, and the adjoining village of Victoria. The first fatal case occurred on Friday, in, we believe, Limestone Row, Newtown, in a house inhabited by an Irish family, and very much overcrowded. One report says there were 27 persons in the house; but we believe the correct number is 15. The epidemic continues to spread. Up to Tuesday night 12 deaths were reported in Newtown, seven of which took place on Sunday. Three deaths have occurred in the Forge, and several fatal cases in the town. Nearly 20 deaths have occurred in Ebbw Vale and Victoria up to Tuesday night. We hear that only one death occurred on Tuesday. the greatest alarm has prevailed among the people since the outbreak. On the fact becoming known to Mrs. Darby, she at once despatched a telegram for a large supply of disinfectants, and entrusted them to Mr. Henry, town agent, for gratuitous distribution amongst the inhabitants. On Sunday Mr. Henry’s house was visited by hundreds of persons with bottles for supplies. We are under lasting obligation » Continue Reading.

The Guardian and the coronavirus

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Is it just me but is the coverage from The Guardian completely hysterical? Every day there brings masses of new doom and gloom news. Is it just click bait or is their coverage reasonable?

Today we have an article stating 250,000 people in Scotland might need to be hospitalised with 80% of the population catching the virus (currently 1 person has it). Also a warning of stockpiling and “food riots”. This is typical of their coverage with each day producing yet more desperate news, with minute by minute updates seemingly designed to scare us half to death and cause panic amongst their readers.

For me the Canadian coverage seems more balanced, reporting new cases, but realising there are other things in the news too, and it doesn’t need to be the main story at all times.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/02/scotland-says-250000-could-be-hospitalised-if-coronavirus-spreads

Best Ever Albums

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Found this site today. Best ever albums list aggregated from over 40,000 separate charts that have been submitted to the site.

Plenty of the usual suspects, Radiohead surprise me, not that they feature, but so many of their albums. Few other surprises, Neutral Milk Hotel at 14? Wtf? Never heard it, maybe it is a masterpiece. Personally happy to see Yankee Hotel Foxtrot at 45.

If you don’t like it, add your own list and change it!

https://www.besteveralbums.com/overall.php

Top 15 Live Shows of the Decade

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Enough of Northern Irish politics, solving Labour party issues and worrying about who “Croz” is, here are my top 15 gigs of the decade if anybody cares. Feel free to add yours …

1. Paul McCartney – Sept 20 2018, Bell Centre Montreal

Not actually the best concert of his I have seen or even the best live music I heard in the last decade, but I took my then 12 yr old daughter and hearing her singing along, seeing her dance and the wonderment on her face made this the best concert going experience I have had. Real horns helped too.

2. Kate Bush – Sept 24 2014, Eventim Apollo, London

I never thought this would happen, who did? I avoided spoilers before flying over and showed up knowing (almost) nothing about what she was going to do. Not without some minor issues (son Bertie), but a stunning theatrical experience that I doubt we will ever see the like of again, She sang magnificently and the closing Cloudbusting had me in tears (not for the first time, that night)

3. The Zombies – Apr 1st 2017, Le National, Montreal

Odessey and Oracle in full from the front row, doesn’t » Continue Reading.

Chart Watch – December Version

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It’s only Dec 6th but the charts are once more taking on a familiar look:

[see first comment]

Am guessing this is a result of streaming (mainly), want a good pension plan? Write a Christmas hit! Wonder if what is played in stores now count for the charts as this kind of breakdown seems to be especially early this year.