About a year ago, Mrs Nog and I had to downsize, moving across the road – literally – as she can no longer manage stairs.

I’m now her full time carer and days consist of getting her up, fed, washed and out followed by lunch. She then sits in front of Sell it / Fix it / Upcycle it / Stop it Barking / Arrest it TV while I go to what one of our sons helpfully calls Pensioner Soup – lane swimming at the local pool.

On my return, Mrs N has dropped off and once she awakes, cup of tea , menial domestic tasks and sit with the cat and watch the parakeets and squirrels fight over bird feeder erm, fat balls.

Evening meal and some shared TV kicks in and by about 9.30 ish, I get her to bed.

We’ve had to unload about 2000 books and put 3 times as many cds and albums into the loft of our old house.

I’m now totally digital via Qobuz which is my accompaniment to a very analogue 10.00 pm onwards in which I read hard copy Weekend Guardian, Observer, New Statesman and the Eye, along with Mojo and » Continue Reading.

There are 4 nog-progeny, aged from 31 to 23. All boys, so will be children forever..

As part of my ongoing campaign to be held in their utmost contempt and disdain, I buy each of them a book from a charity shop. These books tend to come from the Woke lefty snowflakes and bed-wetters part of the literary world. I doubtless put more effort into sourcing them than they do into reading them, but the looks of unrestrained joy on their little faces as they eagerly tear open the cheap wrapping paper is something which I’ve yet to experience..

Past offerings have included bits of Orwell, Waugh, Russell Hoban, the wonderful Alwyn Turner, Mick Herron and some of the Soccernomics books..

If you were me, dear Afterworder, what might you purchase for these 4 layabouts ?

TIA

Dear All,

We’re downsizing and many cds are3 being stashed.

I’d like to rip them and store the files somewhere neat, tidy and accessible, to be replayed via bluetooth. as not everything is available on streaming services..

Any thoughts pls as to software and hardware for this task ?

( Probably abt 500 cds..)

TIA

Plot Synopsis : Children, behold my vault of vinyl ! My Cornucopia of Clash LPs ! The extravaganza of XTX output ! Marvel at the Miracle legion !

Which of you will maintain this shrine when I fall off of my perch ? Children – in rare moment of unity .. Not us you old twerp… Current wife : What they said.

Hence ebay has become a dumping ground for the best part of 50 years worth of record collecting and truth be told, I’m quite enjoying it.

Choosing 500 to keep is difficult and watching some gems drift away for buttons…99p for Trust, Costello ? I almost bought it back myself.

I’ve also had some stuff which has failed to ahem, generate interest and has been re-listed so frequently that it practically has RSI..( I’m looking at you, J Geils Band Full House Live and Stiffs – Live…)

Anyway, latest batch Decade – Neil Young went for£17.00 Houses of the Holy is being viewed from afar and nestling at £7.50

Anyone fancy anything by Thomas Mapfumo, Misty I R, Moby Grape, Yes and The Flamin’ Groovies ? Then’ ave a look .. I’d put a link here, but don’t » Continue Reading.

Recap. Selling record collection – this week’s highlights.

Crabby Appleton – £15 Johnny G double ( with there is a Greenford far away..) 99p ! Keith Christmas Brighter day 99p Band on the Run 99p Combat Rock 311.50 Joy Davidson toe-tappers Closer £30 – Still £15 Clash ist. £9.50

There have been a good deal more enquiries re this batch..

I seem to have attracted the atention of a few dealers who’d like more info than I can be bothered to provide.

My standard reply is These are used record, which I’ve mostly owned from new and they are all eminently playable and piced to sell ( Usually starting at 99p.) Most people are fine with this and join in the bidding .

I have, however, received a staggering amount of dealersplained patronising business hogwash and some abuse for not playing whatever game is required of me.

I’ve told 2 blokes that I won’t sell to them and one of them has unleashed blood curdling threats to report me to Mr Ebay and to tell my mum, or something.

Anyway Still unloved Neil young – Tonight’s the Night Stiffs live

Leige and Leif J Geils Live

40 sales and £500 » Continue Reading.

For Insomniacs everywhere. The Great Offload continues.. Plodding thru’ ebay sales I’ve now moved 30, yes 30 lps ! At this rate I’ll need to outlive her Maj, to shift them all, which will get a firm thumbs down from my current wife.

What went well..Weird reggae singles..Tommy McCook and the Supersonics ditty – which might pre-date some aspects of feminist thought – ” Sugar Panties.” ( And no, you can’t unsee that now.) As well as Ras Michael’s toe-tapper, “None a’ Jah Jah Children, no cry.”

MC5 and Ramones first did OK

There is no love for Dwight Twilley or, goddamnit Crabby Appleton ! What chance will I stand when I get to Wackering Heights, by the Wackers !

99 p for Trust by Elvis C ?

Thank God I had the foresight to own it on something like 4 other formats..

Latest batch to go up..

Clash 1 and Com Rock Keith Christmas Waits Saturday night CSNY 1st Trojan Story 3xlp.

Will report back. You have been warned.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/mys/sold?_trkparms=ni_actn%3Anav%7Cni_nt%3AITEM_SOLD%7Cni_apos%3A1%7Cni_sg%3A2%7Cni_pos%3A1%7Cni_st%3ANEW%7Cni_wh%3A1%7Cni_nid%3AITEM_SOLD%7Cni_bn%3A0&_trksid=p2380424.m570.l5997

Well, I’ve started to knock out my records..

There’s no rhyme nor reason, I’m just pulling stuffdown from the loft and checking to see if it’s likely to sell..

Anything which looks like it’s likely to yield below £5 is going to the charity shop as I can’t be arsed .. I’m looking at you, Clifford T Ward ! ( Sob, the records are great, but sadly unwanted..) I inherited a loft containing some singles from previous occupant who must have been a bit of a dance fiend..If you’re after S Express, Bomb the Bass and a few Madonna 45s then Crouch end Oxfam is your destination..

I’ve sold a few bits on ebay with – to me at least – some surprising outcomes..

The winner was Zuri Punx, by Sperma, a Swiss pink outfit.I was sent this when I was a social and I’ve got no memory of playing it in over 45 years. Received £55 for it from s grateful punter.

Joblot of singles went, a Scars album, Ultravox first.

Deeply unloved ? Poor old Dwight Twilley.. Fabulous powerpop, but ungiveawayable on ebay..See also Songs for Beginners, by Graham Nash..

Next batch includes Taste, J Geils, MC5, » Continue Reading.

Following a conversation with the Nog-offspring, it seems that the answer to the question

Who wants dad’s Records when nature takes its course ? Answer : Not your children !

I am consequetly looking to shift some of these which have been purchased from late ’60’s until last week.

I’m going to do this in sections, or something.

The collection contains all of the usual suspects – No Queen or Oasis obvs- but Gallagher, Cream Marley S Dan, Traffic, Joni, Loads of jazz and ’70’s reggae, plenty of Blodwyn Pig !!

If anyone is interested in receiving the lists, then pls email me on

sgwilkins@hotmail.com

I’ve also got 10 copies of the mag Comes with a Smile, from early 2000’s.

They do move on ebay, but if anyone fancies all 10 and wd pay the p and p, as well as throw in the price of a revivifying beverage then again, same email .

Don’t know if anyone’s caught this SAS Rogue Heroes, BBC 1.

It’s on the Sunday 9.00 pm spot, where thinly written drama limps around before bedtime.

It’s been described as Peaky Blinders-esque – yes, I know- and has script / dialogue which elderly readers of Captain Hurricane in the Valiant would recognise. ( Obviously fewer references to sausage- munchin’ squareheads to reflect our improved social niceties.)

Characters are mainly called Crampy Crampington, Chalky, Nobby and Ginge, and almost by statute, there’s an unpredictable Oirishman, called, erm Paddy ! Officers are clueless toffs, rules are meant to be broken etc..

It’s underpinned by a fairly eclectic mix of noise..Sham’s Borstal breakout was a recent highspot. Herewith Episode 4

Sing, Sing, Sing – Benny Goodman The Game (Triple H) [feat. Motörhead] – Jim Johnston Born to Lose – Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers Thunderstruck – AC/DC Bless ‘Em All – George Formby Oi! Oi! Oi! – Cockney Rejects Rollin’ and Tumblin’ – Cream

So, it’s twaddle, and you won’t need to take notes, but if you want something on whilst perusing the Sunday papers, or more likely, gawping zomboidly at a small screeen, this might fulfill that need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54AwVkP_8ow%20

The Edgar Wright film was fab, if a teensy weensy tad overlong..At one point I turned to Mrs Nog after about 11 quarters of an hour and pointed out that we were 5 albums into a 25 album career..

Her wordless reply was deafening.. Luckily for me the most time was spent on the early Halfnelson then Island stuff. The rest was pretty decent, however and the bros were just lovely blokes..Go and see it , but before you do have a look in your attic or down the back of the sofa to see if you have the OGWT Sparks footage anywhere, as no-one seems to and it was imho up there with Dolls / Wailers as one of those moments… It was probably recorded over …sob

Any thoughts anyone pls ?

Amy and Eric doing their bit for the democratic process..

Dear AW folk, I know that this is by no means a London-based community, but there might be one or two who are close enough / up for this…..The launch of the Hornsey Cultural Society..This notification went to some local TwitFace and similar .. Pls come along if you fancy it – Plague permitting..

Dear Upholder of Hornsey Culture, Thanks for agreeing to receive details of our exciting events…. To kick things off, we’ve been fortunate to ensnare David Hepworth, he of Live Aid, Smash Hits, The Whistle Test, The Word etc. and all matters Music writing, publishing and broadcasting. He will be talking about the miracle which is the vinyl Long Playing record, as featured in his last book whose paperback form is published to coincide with the event. Please see following info for further details.

David Hepworth, author of the Sunday Times best-sellers “1971: Never A Dull Moment”, “Uncommon People: The Rise and the Fall Of The Rock Stars” and “A Fabulous Creation: How The LP Saved Our Lives”, will be talking about where the LP came from, how it changed the way we experienced music, and where it went.

David Hepworth has been writing about, » Continue Reading.

Off to Walthamstow to see the longlist launch for the Penderyn Music Writing Prize..

Details here.

6th Penderyn Music Book Prize

Now in its sixth year, the Penderyn Music Book Prize celebrates the very best of the years music books. Previous prize winners include Mark Lewisohn, Jon Savage, Daniel Rachel, Stuart Cosgrove and Shirley Collins.

You are all welcome to join us for a very special event to mark the announcement of the 2019 Penderyn Prize longlist.

On the night, four of this year’s fourteen long-listed authors; Will Birch, Mick Houghton, Ian Penman and Tracey Thorn will discuss their writing with fellow author/historian Travis Elborough and we will announce this year’s best music books.

The Penderyn Music Book Prize is the first UK-based prize specifically for music titles (history, theory, biography, autobiography). The prize is awarded at the annual Laugharne Weekend and is sponsored by Penderyn Distillery. The prize is for UK published books only and was launched in 2015. The winner is announced at the Laugharne Weekend each year.

The long-list is drawn up by a booksellers, musicians, journalists and former prize winning judges.

I promise to report back subsequently, whether anyone wants me to or not..

» Continue Reading.

This week in London at the Word-friendly Lexington, Fika Recordings present The Winter Sprinter 2020 Wed 8th Jan – Sat 11th Jan Four nights & twelve bands the perfect antidote to the post-Christmas blues in the intimate surroundings of The Lexington

I went along to last night and saw Holly Macve + The Hanging Stars + Portland Brothers The Portland Brothers are a duo comprising Steven Adams and Timothy Victor who “do songs.” They’ve worked in / around the Broken Family Band amongst others and are both excellent guitar pickers, with harmony vocals dropped atop. The onstage rapport is engaging with no-one taking themselves too seriously, and while no there’s nothing radical and ground breaking going on here, good musicians who clearly enjoy what they’re doing and can entertain an audience will – I hope – always find a gig somewhere. If a killer song emerges from this, for themselves or someone else..who knows ? Next up were The Hanging Stars, “ London Cosmic Country Folk band.” I’ve seen them a few times in a variety of forms, headlining and supporting and they get better each time with tonight’s show marking real progress. There’s a new album available in February » Continue Reading.

Was held last wekend from Friday to Sunday at the Winter Gardens in erm, Margate.

This was the line up. Friday The Men They Couldn’t Hang LINDISFARNE Edward Tudor Pole Wild Willy Barrett’s Roaring Touring Rodney Slater’s Parrots Screaming Alley Cabaret

SATURDAY George Shovlin and the Radars The Milk Men The Sharpeez Wilko Johnson Focus Geno Washington Curved Air Desmond Dekker’s Aces Stray The Members Here and Now Pearl Handled Revolver

SUNDAY Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel The Blockheads John Otway Big Band Skinny Molly Man Stan Webb’s Chicken Shack Captain Accident and … Dr Rob and Radi8ors Hardwicke Circus Danny Giles Band All glued together by DJ Wendy May’s Locomotion

I went along with my two younger brothers – our combined age is 180 ! I missed Friday as I was at Diesel park West – new album out next week.. v good, but I’m advised that Friday night was Lindisfarne’s, if only for the involvement of the great Paul Thompson..I’m told that all of the hits were delivered in good order. The next two days were pretty decent. The Winter Gardens is a great venue, two stages, plenty of watering holes and we combined our time indoors » Continue Reading.

Apologies if you’re aware of this.. New release from Wreckless Eric and very much in keeping with his looking back / looking forward approach to life and his music.

The live shows – details above – are always a decent mix of the old and new …

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DyM9nc4XgAEwSYH.jpg%20

I’ve thrown these things in before but..

Pete Atkin will be preforming songs he wrote with Clive James at thw Walthamstow Folk Club on March 10th as well as other gigs, listed here

https://www.peteatkin.com/pa.htm

He does a great show, presenting these top notch songs…

PLUS

New Diesel Park West album scheduled for next month..

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

The link takes you to a review of a Tim Lovejoy ” Autobiog,” and it is evisceratingly brutal…

I don’t know much about TL part from two partial viewings of the ladfest Soccer AM and I don’t really have a dog in whatever the fight was, but When Saturday Comes has tweeted the link for World Book Day – and God bless them..

http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/42-Media/145-no-love-no-joy

Owing to inefficient scheduling within NogCorp International, I find that I am going to be in Venice on Thurs Oct 26th instead of fanboying my way to the Palladium to enjoy the Aimee Mann show. Grr.

Consequently I have a ticket available for said festivity in which she may do the above piece of Anti-Trumpton activity.

Ticket cost £40 and I’d like to recoup as much of that as I can, if poss.

Would any of the AW faithful be interested in taking it off of my hands ?

Pls have a go if you think you’re hard enough, to sgwilkins@hotmail.com

Muchas gracias.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI6AGfwdrGQ

Anne Nightingale reminiscing setting up for her Lou Reed interview in 1989…on 6 Music as i tpye badly.

Mrs Nog, nogsmall the small and I are in New York at the mo. ( Long dull report to follow.)

We’re staying near Madison Square Gardens and the world seems to have gone Phish crazy with a slew of dates and many local bars / restaurants piggybacking with tie in specials And events. I’m not hugely familiar and what I have heard seems a bit like the kind of noodly stuff which might have pitched up at Chatham Central Hall in support of Peter Bardens Camel in the early 14th C when I was a sprat.

Am I missing something and shd I send the Nogs to see Hamilton whilst I go and wig out to the Phish ? Grateful for guidance.

Anyone ?

http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/30-years-of-q-magazine-need-a-good-home-any-ideas

Dear Afterworms,

Mrs Nog – as she will then be, a Nogkid and I, are all off to New York for a couple of weeks in the Summer. ( Yes – I know.)

We’re in Brooklyn for 4 days and then 5 days on Long Island, then back to Manhattan.

I expect we’ll be bored rigid..unless you good folk can suggest ways by which we can while away the dreary hours, as well as suggest any apps which we might load onto our gizmos to assist us with opur travels.

Over to you and muchas gracias in anticipacio…