Musings on the byways of popular culture
As well as running the Cockney Rejects’ popular comeback, Jeff ‘Stinky’ Turner has recently started a podcast talking about soccer, boxing and punk – and most recently, he seems to be keen to get rid of some people from West Ham. I’m not a soccer follower myself, so does anyone know what this is about? And is he on the right or wrong side of history?
Stinky’s call to storm the barricades is in the comments.
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Checking up on the expected dispatch dates for some recent Bandcamp purchases, I stumbled across this cracking offer from the marvelous Owl Service people – a rich sampler of vaguely psychedelic folk music – so called ‘acid folk’ – that originally inspired the members of the band.
For any of you of a folkish bent you’ll likely have one or two, or even several, of the tunes therein, but here they are in a nice little continuous collection of delightful breadth, and all in full lossless glory for you to freely download.
If you avail yourself of this splendid gift, I’d urge you to invest in a few of the Owl Service’s own titles while you are there. They are prolific and talented as well as generous, and I’ve been delighted by every one of the ones I’ve bought over the years.
https://theowlservice.bandcamp.com/album/acid-tracks-an-introduction-to-the-roots-of-psych-folk
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Looks like The Charlatan’s Tim Burgess has solved the problem gig goers have been facing for a while, by launching an online souvenir ticket generator. For those of us who like, hoard or display tickets to gigs from the past, the TOOIK hitmaker has announced a tool to help satisfy the need for a physical stub. As mentioned here in the NME, it’s to help promote the London Merch Market- https://www.nme.com/news/music/tim-burgess-unveils-vintage-souvenir-ticket-generator-ahead-of-2026-london-merch-market-3906276
And here’s a link to the ticket generator- https://merch-market.co.uk/ticket-generator
So, this leads me to two questions- Do you have a favourite ticket and if so what do you do with it? I was always a bit jealous of a friend of mine who kept all of the old tickets and then had them framed. I think I have a few in a box in the loft. Perhaps I should go up and have a look, although I’m not sure if I could get away with having many of them on display.
The recent posts on the Mayoral election in New York reminded me of one of my bugbears – how both the mainstream and social media often use the terms Communist, Socialist (along with its Social Democrat/Democratic Socialist variants) and Liberal as interchangeable. They’re really not! However, I do find it difficult to come with a short, easily digestable one liner to sum each of them up. Any suggestions?
Dancers Tom Whitehead (of the Royal Ballet) and Max Maslen (of Birmingham Royal Ballet) perform a dance choreographed by Hanif Kureishi and (Royal Ballet choreographer) Kristen McNally, to My Bloody Valentine’s ‘Come in Alone’, at Salts Mill in Saltaire, as part of Dance Passion Bradford.
On air BBC Four tomorrow at 8pm.
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WIlliam. It’s a flexible name. Will, Willy, Bill, Billy, Billlie. Even Guillaume, Wilhelm, Weilym, Guillermo. Does any other name have as many forms? And such variety in nominative determinism?
In its full form, it’s a serious name, the name of kings, of presidents and prime ministers (McKinley, Pitt), of philosophers (Ockham), earnest and important writers and actors (Shakey, Wordsworth, Blake, Faulkner, Boyd, Burroughs, Yeats, Baldwin, Dafoe, Hurt, Macy, Shatner).
Shortened, it’s a name of action – Kemp, Smith, Sergeant, Ferrell – I’m too busy for the full name
Sweetened, it’s a bit silly – Bragg, Goat, the Kid, Childish, Connolly, Corgan, Fury, Joel
Feminised, it stands its own – Holiday, Jean King, Jo Spears, Piper, Ray Martin, Whitelaw
But it’s as plain and simple, rough, tough ‘Bill’ that it really stands up to scrutiny. A rugged, honest, dependable name – a sign of unshowy quality, someone who has put in the effort and performed. Look at this list and marvel at the strength of characters presented: Bailey, Berry, Bixby, Browder, Bruford, Bryson, Clinton, Evans, Frisell, Haley, Hicks, Laswell, Maher, McKibben, Murray, Nighy, Oddie, Pullman, Shankly, Ward, Watterson, Withers, Wyman.
Who deserves top Billing? Which Bill to pay the highest compliment?
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Is anyone going to see Tull guitarist Martin Barre tonight?
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Come away in out the cold, sit down and warm yourself by this roaring candle, and please tell us all – what have you been reading / listening/ watching / diverting yourself from the abyss with this month ?
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I just listened to the 500 Songs episode about Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Andrew Hickey made the point that the band never fitted in to any of the “scenes” of the late sixties – they weren’t part of the San Francisco Dead/Airplane/Grape scene cos they weren’t psychedelic, nor were they political (except for Fortunate Son), nor were they folk/rock, or heavy rock, or bubblegum.
Basically they were a band that everyone liked, the way everyone likes a burger.
Andrew reads this quote –
“The formulation the band members themselves came up with was “Creedence is like burgers”. Other bands might be foie gras or caviar or some exotic cuisine, but everyone enjoys a good burger, and there are times when it’s just the thing to hit the spot. And their job was to make the very best burgers they could”
Any other band/cuisine match ups?
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6 Disc SDE for Style Council’s Cafe Bleu
https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/the-style-council-cafe-bleu-special-edition/
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I spent yesterday having my kidney stones lasered, and today I am feeling a bit delicate. I’m not in the mood for music, but nerding out in front of the telly with a cup of tea is in order for the next few days.
I have Prime, and Offspring the Younger has loaned me her Netflix login while she’s at work.
DEVO, Quincy, and What Happened, Miss Simone? are in the list.
What else should I watch to distract me from the string and pipework hanging out of my [redacted]?
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It’s John Lewis Christmas ad season, for those who celebrate, and this year’s features a dad who’s thoughtful son buys him a 12” vinyl dance track which transports said dad back to his pre-parenthood clubbing days. He loses himself in the music and memories before thoughts of his son bring him back to the present day for a warm embrace.
I hadn’t given any thought to Ultravox! (exclamation mark faithfully observed) for years until John Foxx was on Adam Buxton’s podcast. The choice of guest came as a slight surprise, but makes sense when I think about Buckles’ self-made jingles, and they clearly share a lot of musical background based on the ramble-chat.
Ultravox! were one of the key bands of my mid teens. I was a few years too young to follow the John Foxx era in real time, and this was in the early 80s. So I headed for the depthless Amazon Music catalogue and fired up an ‘Island years’ compilation. It was decades since I had heard these songs, but as I sang along in my head, and occasionally out loud, I was word perfect on My Sex, The Wild, The Beautiful and the Damned, and nailed » Continue Reading.
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The epic if not everyone’s cup of tea Tales From Topographic Oceans is coming as a 12 cd set next February.
https://themusicuniverse.com/yes-to-release-tales-from-topographic-oceans-super-deluxe-edition/
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So, I mentioned in the ‘Vote for Colin’* post that I would be posing a question which would, most likely, be resolved by @Colin-H I mentioned the 7 CD Gaughan R/Evolution set to my good friend, Mick who is a big DG fan. This prompted him to get back to me asking if I knew how to get hold of the early 80’s album, Parallel Lines by DG & Andy Irvine. He has searched online etc. without success. Anybody got any thoughts? *My vote has now been cast.
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Fighting talk from the new Mayor of New York City. I found his “immigrants” speech quite inspiring. I think this represents a bit of hope and it seems significant.
I’m sure the eyes of the world are looking at us here on this forum for our reckons – so what do you think?
November sees the 50th anniversary of Neil Young’s Like A Hurricane (apparently). “So what!” comes the outcry. Indeed. It’s just an excuse to post this cracking live version from Berlin 1982:
Commenter Eric Rice puts it succinctly: “My favorite of the many versions of this song. Bruce Palmer’s bouncy bass line propels it forward more forcefully than other versions. Neil’s guitar solo was never better articulated or more passionate. Even the pause to fix his tie sounds intentional if you’re just listening. He was in top form for this entire concert and it was right before Nils Lofgren decamped for New Jersey and Springsteen.”
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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.
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Excellent read about a TV show called All’s Fair from Lucy Mangan. I didn’t know 0 stars was possible.
Weekend album finds from a huge stall at Scotlands largest car boot on Sunday, I was happy to pay a fiver each.
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Howsaboutthatthen! The MG Alba Trads may not be something many of you vote in, but why not, this year, make an exception. Tucked away in the numerous awards is on for Community Project of the year. And one of the finalists is the kickstarter campaign for Dick Gaughan’ forthcoming box set, aka @colin-h ‘s. It might grant our boy a bottle of Isle of Barra whisky, too, as they sponsor that prize. And the publicity can’t harm the project.
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The Cherry Bar is pretty grungey. Lots of touring bands lob there after shows. Sone so unannounced gigs. This was posted on Facebook.
Open Love Letter to Oasis.
Dear Liam and Noel,
I love you.
I am the owner and booker of Cherry Bar. We are a small late night live music dive bar that has somehow survived for over 25 years in Melbourne.
I like your band Oasis and have so much respect for you lads as a unique and dependable force of bona fide rock n roll attitude. However, I write to you today specifically to share my deep gratitude because you and your fans are the happy heavy drinking economic juggernaut that this city and my bar desperately needed.
Melbourne was the most Locked Down city in the world during Covid and the entire hospitality sector has been and remains devastated. My Mum was pretty happy when the City of Melbourne appointed me as the Chairman of the Night Time Advisory Committee during Covid, making me Australia’s first Night Mayor. True Story. So I speak to you as something of an expert when it comes to Melbourne’s damaged night time economy.
Our Governments and local » Continue Reading.
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If I ever saw an obvious film script it’s this
The release of Neil Young’s latest Archives collection, which includes some of his eccentric live work of the late 70s and early 80s (Devo collaboration, shortlived bar band the Ducks etc), got me thinking: could I piece together a best-of playlist from his many, many live recordings, a bit like I did with Van Morrison two days ago? I won’t deny it took a while, and it’s topped out at more than eight hours long (and that was only Big Time – arf!). I tried to pick songs from the era in which they were written, although I couldn’t help leaning on some of the Weld versions as that’s my favourite period of live Neil. It will also not be acoustic enough for many people’s tastes. But here from the Cellar Door to the Cow Palace, via Barking Town Hall, are some of my favourites. Be sure to tell me yours.
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So Engerland’s thorough Ashes preparation (bar a 3 day match against England Lions to come…bizarre) is over. A clinical 3-0 defeat against New Zealand in a ODI (Bizarre!) series. It’s not the management’s fault , it’s something to do with the Future Tour Programme.
Predictions then anyone? Are you going full on Glenn McGrath? Will Pat Cummings absence in the first test give us a chance of 4-0? Will our bowling attack be up to snuff? Will we lose a wicket with the first ball of the first test?
Let’s be positive…2-2!
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It’s 50 years (50 effing years!) since Bohemian Rhapsody was unleashed into an unsuspecting world. Despite their other hits, I suspect this is the track that propelled Queen into the rock pantheon and largely sustains their position to this day (apparently is the most streamed 20th century song – it would have taken me a while to guess that).
It divides opinions, as the attached article says, although I suspect a straw poll of AWers would be firmly on the side of the haters. I still tend to sing along in my head when it comes on and I’m sort of neutral- if I never hear it again I wouldn’t care, but do admire its originality and bonkersness. What think you..?
