The Afterword

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Rory Gallagher – “Best of the BBC Collection”

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What does it sound like?:

As the title suggests, this is a selection of Rory’s many BBC appearances spanning the early 70s to the mid-80s and as you’d expect, the sound quality is uniformly excellent. Many versions of the 1973/4 tracks also appear on “Irish Tour ‘74” which is considered by many to be the definitive Rory live album. Well, those tracks are equally excellent here in much better fidelity so are a pleasure to listen to, like an old friend appearing fresh faced and in great shape after the passage of the years. Other gems have also been pulled from the archives. A particular highlight is 1971’s “Used to be” from “Deuce” – certainly one of Rory’s best studio albums. He’s still with the first trio here who blow up a funky bluesy storm, Gerry McAvoy on especially great form. Another treat is “Banker’s Blues”, from 1973, with Rory on acoustic guitar and harmonica fingerpicking superbly with newly arrived Lou Martin on acoustic piano. Nice. Around half of the set is from a 1979 set at The Venue in London. This was a two-night show and, as it happens, I went to the other night. The band is » Continue Reading.

Not another re-release…

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Just putting it out there… Twang rereleases are like buses (etc)

You saw this back in 2020 when some were quite nice about it. Well, due to, ahem, distribution problems it had to be withdrawn but now it rides again. Some tracks were rewritten, some just had a few tweaks to the mix. But I like so here it is.

Bandcamp: https://jonathanroberts.bandcamp.com/album/locked-down

Spotify:

60s Melodrama

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I heard “You don’t have to say you love me” the other day and was moved to do a playlist of great 60s melodrama so here it is. Please add your suggestions below. I discussed with @Feedback_file who immediately said “what’s the definition of melodrama”. Here’s Wikipedia:

A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a very strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or excessively sentimental, rather than action. Characters are often flat, and written to fulfil established character archetypes. Melodramas are typically set in the private sphere of the home, focusing on morality and family issues, love, and marriage, often with challenges from an outside source, such as a “temptress”, a scoundrel, or an aristocratic villain. A melodrama on stage, filmed, or on television is usually accompanied by dramatic and suggestive music that offers further cues to the audience of the dramatic beats being presented.

Interestingly there isn’t much soul music which I think qualifies because the emotions are too real. Melodrama is greatly exaggerated with a pinch of fromage. Also, whilst melodramatic songs are usually dramatic, » Continue Reading.

ATM – install new PC

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I’ve finally bitten the bullet and decided to replace my existing ancient Dell tower PC with a reconditioned HP desktop. It’s ages since I have done this so any advice welcome. Obviously I’ve backed everything up to OneDrive and an external drive.

Particular concerns:

1. Moving Outlook – not losing contacts, folders, old mail etc- I dimly remember there’s a data folder somewhere? it would be nice if the accounts could move too 2. iTunes – I have an ancient version to avoid Apple upgrade trauma as my still functioning iPod is probably no longer supported. Is there a better alternative now? 3. Separate logins for me and the Mrs. Currently we just use mine which means my OneDrive etc is peppered with Mrs. T’s documents, scans, images etc which it is fair to say she doesn’t have much of a structure for. objective is I separate then then all her stuff will be on her OneDrive away from mine. Can you share applications across different logins eg the banking software etc? 4. Can you just connect the two machines together and copy everything over? USB? Ethernet?

Advice, war stories gratefully received.

Alors, cheville cassée !

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Mrs. T and I were having a lovely holiday in France until 2 days ago when we did a very simple 2k forest walk and she slipped whilst trying to avoid a puddle and broke her ankle in two places! The pompiers arrived in 20 mins and, having called a man with a chain saw to clear the path who arrived in 10 minutes, got her to A&E where they did x-rays, diagnosed the situation and kept her in over night, ambo to clinic first thing yesterday where they reassembled it with 6 pins in the afternoon. I picked her up at lunch time and bought a large bag of drugs with the shopping list they gave me. Perfect.

Now I wonder what’s next. What is the recovery process? How do I transfer a French case to a British hospital? When to travel back? Etc etc unknown unknowns.

Any experience/advice very welcome!

ATM Smoothies

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My sister has been on at me to get a smoothie maker. This partly as I have some stomach lining damage to sort out and I envisage a sort of super smoothie with all the good stuff in it. But…but. I hate buying more shiny kit for the kitchen that never gets used. Any views, experience here?

Slide Masters

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I was moved to create a playlist of some of my favourite slide guitar tracks/players. After the great input to my Great Guitar Instrumentals list last year, which still gives me pleasure, please feel free to suggest additions/changes!

BTW, lap steel and dobro are allowed, pedal steel not. That will be a playlist in the future. My list/rules etc!

Robin Trower – “Bridge of Sighs” (50th anniversary edition)

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What does it sound like?:

Macclesfield, 1974. I am 16, 3 years into learning the guitar and keen for new music. I pop into Barry White’s record shop in Brook Green, location of many cool sounds. On the counter there is a mysterious looking sleeve with a strange exotic font and what looks like an ear but closer examination reveals it is actually an unidentifiable morphing shape hinting at a depthless vortex into which to fall. The music fills the shop – at one moment funky, the next rocking and bluesy, then spacy with swirling effects and layers of guitars. I’ve heard of Robin Trower, mostly second hand and of the “Hendrix ripoff” variety, but have never actually heard him. It doesn’t sound at all like Hendrix, I love it and my carefully coveted pocked money and paper round pay is exchanged for a copy. I’ve come back to this album many times in the ensuing decades, particularly the live album he released a few years later and never tire of Robin’s playing and particularly Jim Dewar’s great bass playing and sensational singing.

And so to the 50th anniversary of Robin Trower’s 1974 album “Bridge of Sighs”. This is » Continue Reading.

The Afterword Detective Agency

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In the deepest recesses of my memory I remembered a Melody Maker article back in 1976 about a band who had done a storming version of “Love potion no. 9” with a remarkable lead singer, but I could recall nothing else. A bit of Googling and YouTubing revealed what I think is probably the record (which I didn’t actually hear at the time) and it is indeed a stormer. Apparently the band is The Mad Hatters, possibly with a Chris Gent as lead singer. Mike Batt produced it. I can find nothing else out about them though though there is another single on YouTube.

Anyone out there know anything? Surely with our collective knowledge we can answer the question, who were The Mad Hatters and where are they now?

The Afterword #108: DID with Steve T

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Steve T joins Twang in the pod to discuss which of his favourite tracks, book and luxury he would take to a desert island should fate place him there. If this format reminds you of a programme by the nation’s favourite broadcaster, this is, of course, a complete coincidence.

If you’d like to be abandoned on a desert island with only one book and a few MP3s, contact Twang.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theafterwordpodcast/Steve_T_DID.mp3

Dean Parks on Steely Dan and others

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Apologies for the slightly nerdy / niche nature of this, but I fell into watching this interview with Dean Parks, session guitarist who did some notable Steely Dan tracks amongst many other. What a self effacing and nice bloke with encyclopedic knowledge of his instrument and what he used for what. Like many experts he answers question articulately and in detail with a touch of wry humour along the way. Well worth 45 mins of your time if you’re vaguely interested in how great pop music gets made. I felt some here would enjoy it.

Something for the weekend Sir?

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Any plans for the weekend? I’m happy to say I do not. Mrs. T is going to the theatre on Saturday so I’m home alone with a good movie, subtitles on and guitar in hand. I’ve been relatively busy lately so a bit of idleness will be welcome. How about yous?

My tip – there’s a nice documentary about the making of “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty on Prime. Very watchable.

Have a good one.

New Joe Jackson album

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You can’t accuse Joe Jackson of ploughing the same old groove. His new album is old music hall classics! Looks fun from the video, though I imagine many will be mystified!

ATM – home security

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Slightly gloomy subject but our neighbours were burgled recently – they had poor locks on the front door and the feckers walked straight in. But it prompts me to look at video doorbells, cameras, lighting etc etc. Another neighbour has gone with the Blink system which seems nicely designed and integrated with cameras, lights etc…but what does the massive think? Other options? Good/bad/indifferent?

In fact we have little worth nicking in this day and age (who steals 8 year old tellys?) and have no cash in the house but it’s the toerags getting in and ransacking the place which is just horrible.

PS – of course, the scrotes will get in if they want to – the whole objective is to make it look like more hassle than moving on to a less well protected house.

PPS – I’m not getting a dog!

The Afterword #107: Remix/Remaster

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Twang, Tiggerlion, FentonSteve and Dai blow the cobwebs out of the pod and convene to discuss remixes and remasters. Fenton talks for approximately 3 hours about Sadie and dynamic range compression, inevitably the Fabs sets come up and Twang crowbars in the Tull series of reissues. We consider the frilly bits put around old and beloved albums to get us to rebuy things we already have multiple times, and the team tip their favourites and some clunkers to avoid.

H*ffman readers will be relieved to know this pod was mastered at -16db LUFS.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/theafterwordpodcast/Remix_pod_master.mp3

Section Kase – “Cretinous Behaviour”

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02/09/2023

What we need at this point in the steady decline of our country after 13 years of terrible government is a loud, noisy punk album screaming abuse at all and sundry. Happily Section Kase have come along with “Cretinous Behaviour”, 29 minutes and 10 tracks of foul mouthed frustration and rant. It’s a proper punk album of short songs, fast tempos and teenage bad attitude. Full disclosure requires that I reveal that the guitarist is one Twang Jr and two mates – hear the voice of generation Covid after 3 years of being pushed about by an uncaring leadership. Spoiler – they’re not happy.

It’s great fun too – lots of dark humour and bitterly ironic sneering. There are echoes of past punk bands of course, but also fellow travellers such as Motorhead. All good noisy fun.

Grab a copy here and support the good work on Bandcamp

Or stream on all platforms…

Enjoy!

Emma Rawicz “Chroma”

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What does it sound like?:

I first saw Emma Rawicz at my local jazz club in September 2021 in that fleeting moment where lockdown seemed to be easing and seeing live music was such a treat. She had been shortlisted for Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year by Jazz FM and the breathless news was that she had only been playing tenor sax (or any sax for that matter) since she was 15 and we were watching her at the advanced age of 19… Whatever, she was really good, and I saw her a year later and she was even better.

After a period of intensive study at Chetham’s school in Manchester she went to the Royal Academy (where she still is…) then spent lockdown with her head down practicing and investigating the classic jazz repertoire to fill in her knowledge – growing up in North Devon she’d never really heard jazz until a touring big band visited and she was hooked. Needless to say, all that wood shedding paid off and she sounds like a veteran with high multiples of years under her belt.

I bought her first album, “Incantation”, off Bandcamp where she announced she had 100 CDs » Continue Reading.

ATM – photo organisation

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I have probably over a thousand photos, vaguely organised, but there are lots of duplicates and short of looking at every one (which wouldn’t work anyway as you can’t remember them all) I can’t get them into more than vague organisation. Anyone know any easy ways of deduplicating and tagging them so they are a bit more manageable?

Mojo John Lennon Special

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I have a copy of the Mojo John Lennon Special which my Mum had saved in mint condition. Anyone who would like it PM me and I’ll pop it in the post. I don’t want anything for it, going to a fellow AWer but by all means stick the postage cost in a charity box near you!

Ad free YouTube, anyone?

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The adverts seem to be getting more frequent on YouTube, and given the data they must have on my interests I’m mystified why they are so consistently irrelevant but nonetheless they are incredibly irritating. I do use YT a lot and I’m coming round to paying for it – the fact that they create none of the content feels wrong but I guess it’s a good platform. Anyone taken the plunge?

ATM Lisbon

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Mrs. T and I are sloping off to Lisbon for 5 days in mid February to celebrate my move to what the government delicately calls economic inactivity. Bring it on. Recommendations of everything good from views to cafes to restaurants, bars, galleries, venues and more very welcome. I want it all! TIA!