The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Kirsty

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Today marks what would have been Kirsty MacColl’s 60th birthday. I’m choosing to mark it with my favourite KM song, a joyous slice of salsa coupled with some top-notch “fuck you” lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyR-1RijX1k

Liz Fraser

by 10 Comments

Passed away today at the grand old age of 88. She was a stalwart of British film comedy in the ’50s, ’60s and into the ’70s. Just look at some of the films she appeared in:

I’m Alright Jack Two Way Stretch Doctor In Love The Rebel Carry On Cruising Carry On Cabby The Family Way Up The Junction Dad’s Army Not to mention The Great Rock & Roll Swindle as “woman in cinema…”

There can’t be too many of the gents on here that didn’t have a crush on her in their time – I know I did.

Gammon No-Show

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Much to nobody’s surprise, I am sure, given his track record, news today that Morrissey has cancelled all his UK and European shows for July. The promoter states the reason as “logistical circumstances beyond their control”, which is doubtless promoter-speak for “No one is buying tickets to see that prize chunk of racist arse-pastry”. Maybe even the most rabid Moz fans are now realizing what a lot of people have been saying for a long time – their hero is a c**t. (*)

http://www.nme.com/news/music/morrissey-cancelled-upcoming-uk-european-shows-2347528

(*) Edit – no swearing on the main page, please. Helpful Mods

Danny Kirwan

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Danny Kirwan passed away June 8th. He was a member of Fleetwood Mac in the Peter Green years, and in many ways held the band together after Green left. Bare Trees in particular is mainly Danny’s album. He was fired from the band in 1972 due in main to alcohol problems, but also mental instability. After a couple of solo albums he largely disappeared from the music business, and sadly drifted into homelessness and mental illness.

A statement from Mick Fleetwood and John McVie:

“Today was greeted by the sad news of the passing of Danny Kirwan in London, England. Danny was a huge force in our early years. His love for the Blues led him to being asked to join Fleetwood Mac in 1968, where he made his musical home for many years. Danny’s true legacy, in my mind, will forever live on in the music he wrote and played so beautifully as a part of the foundation of Fleetwood Mac, that has now endured for over fifty years. Thank you, Danny Kirwan. You will forever be missed! ~Mick Fleetwood and Fleetwood Mac”

Here’s the quite lovely Woman Of A Thousand Years, from Future Games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0zGGQLb0Z4

Dennis Edwards

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Just saw that Dennis Edwards, lead singer of the Temptations during the Whitfield/Strong years (i.e. their best years) has passed away at 75. Wonderful singer, wonderful voice….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA-bspSRCXE

Atomic Rooster – Sleeping For Years: The Studio Recordings 1970-1974

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What does it sound like?:

Atomic Rooster were formed when Vincent Crane and Carl Palmer left The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown in 1969. Between the recording of their debut album “Atomic Rooster” in 1970 and the single “Tell Your Story, Sing Your Song” in 1974 the group underwent a bewildering array of lineup changes, with Crane as the only constant band member. This 4 disc box set gathers together everything the band recorded between 1970 and 1974 – four albums, plus non-UK single cuts and album tracks and demos. Their debut album, Atomic Rooster, opens disc 1, and showcases their progressive/underground roots. Crane’s organ leads the way, propelled by Palmer’s sometimes frenetic drumming (yes, there is a drum solo….). Nick Graham’s rather stentorian vocals are perhaps the weak point (his yelps of “save me!” on the single Friday 13th a case in point) – by the time the album was released both he and Palmer had gone, ushering in the revolving door era of Rooster line-ups. After a brief stint by Ric “Mick Shrimpton” Parnell, Paul Hammond took over the drum seat while guitarist John Du Cann became the new vocalist. This is the lineup that recorded second » Continue Reading.

ATM: De-warping vinlys

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Anyone got any handy tips on how to take the warp out of a vinyl record? I recently picked up copies of Montrose’s first album (a hard rock banger!) and Back To The Egg for a dollar each, but both have warps. Any advice gratefully received!

Pure. Comedy. Gold.

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Thanks to Twitter, I have been introduced to the comedy stylings of one Mark Boyle, who apparently promotes the virtues of a wattle and daub lifestyle in The Guardian. I can’t make up my mind whether he is a super dedicated performance artist, or just an insufferable twat. Keen observers may remember that he was previously known for attempting to walk to India on no money, but turned back after reaching France due to his inability to speak – er – French. My favourite one liner from this particular article? “If a bored moment ever did arise, I’ve a tin whistle begging to be learned…”

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/25/boredom-ditched-technology-life-beautiful

What fresh hell is this?

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Some bearded ponce with a hipster haircut has been clogging up my twitter feed of late, plugging some sort of ghastly ‘musical video’ by his beat combo “The Disappointment Choir”. All perfectly frightful of course – I leave the video here for you all to sneer at (warning, contains hand held keyboard action). Follow them on twitter at @disappointchoir – that will teach them….