The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Beggar’s Banquet 50th anniversary

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While the other lot go hell for leather, with their 50th anniversary bonanzas this November, a much more minimal remastered new package is on the way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Beggars Banquet. Includes a mono mix of ‘Sympathy’ and a recording of a phoner with Lord Beezlebub. Also coming up, rerelease of One Plus One and next year a reissue of RocknRoll Circus with a few more bits and bobs

https://variety.com/2018/music/news/rolling-stones-beggars-banquet-rock-roll-circus-deluxe-reissues-exclusive-1202966209/

Macca klaxon #438272

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Just in case anyone is wondering why its so damn quiet on the McCartney front at the moment, here’s a rather good interview from the new GQ. Given he has been uncommonly open on recent encounters with Marc Maron, Howard Stern, he’s on equally good form here. Nothing shockingly revelatory but a good read nonetheless.

https://www.gq.com/story/the-untold-stories-of-paul-mccartney

Bowie podcast klaxon!

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Hello all, just a quick note to alert you to the release of my latest Bowie podcast, ‘Albumtoalbum’ – in this one-hour chatathon, ‘The Complete David Bowie’ author Nick Pegg and I chow down on Lodger for your listening pleasure. Do spread the word and hope you like it!

It’s the Beatles White album, it sold, shurrup.

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So, Macca confirms (almost) a bumper box of White album wonderfulness this year. Quite possibly, Abbey Road will follow. So, am guessing will include Esher demos, mono and stereo remixes, studio outtakes etc… will you be getting it?

And while we’re here, what do we make of the new Macca single? I think it’s not half bad…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nguRK37qI54%20%20%20%20https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aef2eV7GmQw

https://www.forbes.com/consent/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markbeech/2018/06/20/beatles-50th-anniversary-white-album-is-almost-ready/

ATM: Six Track Stunnas!

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I have to host a music quiz soon and came up with a beezer idea for the album cover round, where you see five album covers and have to work out the link between them. I thought of PSB ‘Introspective’ and Bowie’s ‘Station To Station’, the link being they both have six tracks. Now am stumped. Any recommendations for six track LPs, ideally a bit less obvious (but not too obscure!)? Cheers

Bowie podcast klaxon!

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I decided to make a series of podcasts, which would contain Afterword-levels of geekery in the service of discussing Mr Bowie’s oeuvre. I interviewed writers, musicians, artists and random mates about their favourite DB LPs and have come up with a series of what I hope are interesting conversations. My production skills are audibly shonky but I hope to improve in editions to come. First one is live now, with The Complete David Bowie author Nicholas Pegg talking about his love of 1969’s ‘Space Oddity’. I’d be terribly grateful for any feedback, listens, likes etc from the AW massive. Thanks!

The Night Mail

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Apropos nothing at all, here is the gorgeous 1936 reading of WH Auden’s ‘The Night Mail’

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmciuKsBOi0

Rick Hall

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Rick Hall has died, aged 85. I recently had a bit of a Muscle Shoals phase after watching this excellent documentary that places him pretty much at the centre of the 60s soul explosion in the US and an endearingly humble fellow

The Sense Of An Ending

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Listening to the ho-hum title track to Magical Mystery Tour, I was reminded again what a weak track it actually is, especially coming hot on the heels of ‘Pepper’. But come to the coda, and fade, and it all suddenly gels – a plinky-plonk piano ambles skywards, vaguely referencing the main theme, beneath the sound of clinking glasses and one of Macca’s best bass moments – a pulsing, dark little groove, that bubbles and squirms its way out of the song.

I think it’s a proper little HJH moment, and thinking about it, they did seem to chuck in little goodies at fade-outs or codas. Backwards tapes on ‘Rain’, the honking laughter on ‘Within You’, those big, straffing lush guitar lines at the end of ‘Strawberry Fields’ and of course, HJ itself, about 5 minutes bloody coda.

So, what are your favourite endings? Happy or otherwise…

Pete Shotton RIP

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Was there from the start, Lennon’s oldest mate and saw it all happen. His memoir which has been out of print for years now, deserves a reissue.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/tributes-paid-after-john-lennons-12793611

Hangover

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I have a soul crushing hangover today, caused by too much cheap red plonk last night.

What are the Massive’s tried and tested hangover cures?

RIP Alan Wise

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Sad to hear Manchester legend Alan Wise passed away, three months after his young daughter killed herself. I loved James Young’s wicked portrait of him in ‘Songs They Never Play On The Radio’, the tragicomic account of playing keyboards for a wasted Nico in early 80s Manchester, under Wise’s distracted direction. And his influence on Factory and everything that followed is immense.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/alan-wise-dies-factory-records-11418317

Hepworth 1971: The Final Word

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I’m quite sure this must have been subject to extensive AW preview, analysis and speculation but I can’t find it, so anyways, pop pickers, Captain Chuckles, the hardest-groaning man in showbidness, Mr Please Please Yourself Then, David Hepworth has committed a book devoted inevitably to 1971, the year when things officially stopped being Any Good. I see Amazon has it down for April publication.

“This is no ‘my generation is cooler than yours’ nostalgia trip. Just as movements in art, jazz or TV undeniably had Golden Ages then so too with the long-playing record and its seismic effect on subsequent generations. David Hepworth’s forensic sweep of this astonishing twelve months is thoroughly absorbing and appropriately rollicking, expertly guiding us through one miraculous year in all its breathless tumble of creation.” (Danny Baker)

“Fond, funny, beautifully written and fizzing with sharp and sweeping theories that instantly feel like facts.” (Mark Ellen)

(I am actually rather looking forward it)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/1971-Never-Moment-Rocks-Golden/dp/0593074866/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456871134&sr=8-1&keywords=david+hepworth

Lennon family fracas

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Oh dear.

“A man has been sentenced for knocking out his sister’s two front teeth in a row over a Christmas record 40 years ago. Patrick and Anita Ackroyd disagreed over John Lennon’s Happy Xmas (War is Over) when they were teenagers in December 1975. A court heard that he punched her in the face and knocked out her teeth in an assault that has left her wearing a dental plate ever since.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11998338/Man-knocks-out-sisters-two-front-teeth-in-row-over-John-Lennons-Happy-Xmas-War-is-Over.html

Paul McCartney

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Venue:

O2, London

Date: 24/05/2015

There were times when I just stared goggle-eyed at the stage which by a colossal fluke happened to be not so far – a few feet away – from my perch on the first floor tier, immediately stage-right. There he was, Beatle-booted, luxuriant of moptop and leaping about like a spring lamb. Paul McSoddingCartney. Despite being a hardcore Fab-head for 30 years, this was the first time I had ever seen him live. By gum. Old hands at these gigs – and there were many, by the looks of the banners, binoculars and mutters over the setlist – might disdain such naïve joy, but really, the whole evening was absolutely magical.

They bounded on, waving and grinning and it was straight into ‘Eight Days A Week’ ,’Save Us’ and then ‘Got To Get You Into My Life.’ It was during the latter I had one of quite a few funny turns. I remembered first hearing ‘Revolver’, aged about 11, with some older lads sneering knowledgeably that this might all be a bit over my head.

The voice, occasionally breaking into a croak, was instantly recognisable. Much much better than I had dared hoped » Continue Reading.