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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 16:41 27 Nov 2024
This memory thing l was sifting through took me back into the loft, and bit by bit l am bringing down single records that l began collecting when l was eleven years old.
Only my absolute favourites made it through the past sixty years. I played Lightning Strikes by Lou Christie on the MGM label this morning and gave it a couple of repeat plays.
I have collected multiple genres over time and a Dion single could find itself next to one by the KLF in a box. Or, a Jimmy Ruffin alongside The Inspiral Carpets.
Jackie Wilson and Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine.
Barry Ryan's epic 'Eloise' together with Technotronic.
Barry McGuire's 'Eve of Destruction' and Lisa Stansfield's 'All around the World'.
TBC |
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Reply | M&T makeover
at 14:31 27 Nov 2024
According to Regent player's some incredible saves last night by Grossart in the M&T goal during the second half.
Match was delayed due to late arrival of some players.
Match finished 1 - 1, crowd was just over 200. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 17:04 26 Nov 2024
Behind the scenes in bookworld....
Us writers were usually allocated the staff rooms at branches of Waterstones with a 'rider' of sandwiches, tea, coffee and Perrier Water and the like.
In football terms l was probably around Conference South level ( as it was in '04 ).
It was a bit like been drawn against a Premier League Club in the 3rd Round of The F.A. Cup when l drew Nigella Lawson. I was looking forward to seeing her and listening to her velvet voice up close and personal.
Well, she oozed charm and we shared the same spoon at one point.
STOP PRESS - Wonder shot by Judd Trump up in York! [Post edited 26 Nov 17:06]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 20:40 25 Nov 2024
I did an event in Brighton. '05.
Was within a few miles of the venue.
There was a car crash about 70 metres in front of me.
A bad one.
I remember the dust from both cars making a cloud that hung in the air over the mangled vehicles.
I saw that as something of a warning that by driving hundreds of miles a week there was always an element of danger and from that moment curtailed some of the travelling.
Concentrated on London after that.
Easier to manage and much of it in the Shoreditch area.
Hence the association with individuals who appear at the beginning of this year long thread. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 20:19 25 Nov 2024
To try and make a bit more sense of the Norwich appearance - that was in 2004 and coincided with the third book release. Most of the leading publishers were there for the event.
The organisers phoned me on the Monday following the seminar and asked if they could pass my phone number onto a few people who wanted to do interviews.
That was fun.
Some were done over the phone and a few in person.
One of the most interesting was by a young lady who drove down from Norwich. We actually met outside of Colchester Castle.
She had an expense account for a three course lunch for two, l told her to keep hold of it and we would go for a burger, chips and coffee should she agree. Which she did.
( Expense accounts caused the conflict l had with The Independent newspaper and created internal conflict there for a few days ).
During the interview with my visitor from Norwich we discussed Norwich Art School where she had been tutored by one of my favourite vocalists - Jess Roden ( Alan Bown Set / Jess Roden Band ).
There were many interviews over the years with magazines and newspapers around the country. I insisted on cafes as opposed to restaurants and would either pay for it myself or go 50 / 50. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 17:47 25 Nov 2024
I was employed full time in advertising in 1999 and based in Chelsea, just off The King's Road.
I managed to get the first book written, designed and printed ( by Jenner Print in Tiptree ) in my spare time, evenings, weekends, holidays etc.
One of the most important aspects to the book production was to have an ISBN number and a Barcode. That made it visible to any bookseller in the world. Without that it would be pretty much invisible to anyone.
Being in advertising l suppose l had something of a head start in marketing procedures. I took on a PR company to do a Press Release and acquired a list of every bookshop in the UK.
I think there were 4,300 of them at the time.
I organised direct mail to most of them.
Waterstones had around 220 branches across the UK and a few in Europe. I spoke to most branches ( asking for the poetry buyer ). Telephone sales is not a skill or technique that l possessed but you learn how to short cut conversation as you go.
The budget l set aside for the book production, marketing, advertising and Tele sales was £25,000.
Every last penny of that was spent. And more.
When you give an ISBN number to a bookshop you can inform them that the product is available through
- wholesalers, namely, at that time, the two biggest in the UK.
Those being, Bertrams in Norwich and Gardners in Eastbourne. Both of which were within driving distance from London or Colchester when delivering box's containing hundreds of books.
Getting a poetry title into Waterstones in 1999 was quite a difficult proposition. Bit by bit l was getting orders in London. Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and most major cities. Then big towns. And small towns.
But would anyone buy the xxxxxxx thing?
My initial ambition was - if l can sell a single copy that would be some kind of success.
Waterstones in Notting Hill Gate sold the first ever copy on a Saturday morning and the Manager was so pleased that she phoned me at home!
A few days later l learned of a couple of copies being bought in Manchester and from that point there was a decent flow of sales.
The Tele sales got easier. I could speak to Ottakars, Borders, Books etc, Foyles, Blackwells etc and use Waterstones as a prompt.
Books etc ordered a stack of the things and some branches ( Canary Wharf ) were making window displays.
Being on the road. I travelled across the country to a number of different venues promoting the book in my own mode. That being - if anyone wanted a copy l insisted on giving it to them free of charge. And signing it should they prefer.
I hate the idea of taking cash from anyone who might turn up for an event, so as far as l can recall, l never did.
If people bought the item from a bookshop or via Amazon that represented ( to me ) a natural sale.
A big audience turned up at Norwich. They weren't just there for me. There were some big names in attendance.
One in particular was none too keen on my marketing ploy of giving the product away.
We had quite a row as there was a little bit of previous history.
I watch her regularly now on television and have the utmost respect for her views. I apologised to her about 15 years after our conflict via email - though she didn't respond.
Either way, l still stand by the viewpoint l held in 2004 that almost landed the pair of us in a court of law. 😳😳 [Post edited 25 Nov 17:51]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 16:43 25 Nov 2024
This poetic stuff.
As l never had any ambition to go out on the road and read poetry to people l decided against it ( for the most part ) when the opportunity arose.
What l found far more interesting was to explain to an audience the process of getting a poetry collection you have released onto shelves in retail outlets across the country.
As soon as l began to explain this l had people who were very intent on learning what you had to do ( 1999 - 2005 ).
Just about everyone who attends a poetry event writes themselves and there were very few people around ( l can't think of anyone else ) who would be able to give them any guidance.
By 2005 things had changed in publishing and my mode of operation was becoming less relevant.
I'm not sure if what l will add in this little sequence will be worth reading in 2024, but just in case it helps anyone l will add to this accordingly.
TBC. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 16:30 24 Nov 2024
Sparkfilms HQ on a Sunday afternoon.
I am upstairs watching the snooker on TV.
My dog is asleep on me.
He was my daughter's dog until he was very naughty.
Another daughter and a couple of grandkids have just visited.
The view around the room.
A Cream poster to the eastern elevation.
Television showing Mark Allen concentrating.
A group of sculptured heads.
A cupboard with LP records inside.
Some street art to the North.
A signed photo from members of Lush.
Pictures including friends l have worked with down the years.
Several hundred LP records in a storage area.
To the West, a collage l made about ten years ago.
An acrylic screen with an image shot from a book release in 2006.
A hoover in the corner.
A radio plugged into the wall.
A few dog toys scattered around.
To the South.
A window overlooking Durham Square.
There is a large green area outside and l have been clearing up the leaves again that are shed from several trees.
It's getting dark.
Dog has woken and is wagging his tale.
I bought him a coat on Wednesday and it hasn't been off him since. [Post edited 24 Nov 16:36]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 15:33 24 Nov 2024
I was driving to Frinton around 1984. Had the car radio on.
A song comes on. Hadn't heard it before.
I'm thinking ....xxxxxxx hell! This is fantastic!
It was by an artist that almost everyone would be aware of at the time. This release was heavenly.
'Orchard Road' - Words by Leo Sayer. Music by Alan Carney who also produced and arranged the song.
I grabbed a bundle of 45's mid morning and put this on the turntable.
I think all of us have had our own Orchard Road experience in our lifetime.
Here are a few lines from Leo Sayer's masterpiece....
It's twelve o'clock and the curtains are drawn
They're counting sheep down in Orchard Road
And you're hanging on the telephone line tonight
And l wish l could be - in Orchard Road
It's twelve ten when l put down the phone
The moon's shining down on Orchard Road
And I'm feeling like a schoolboy again
And tonight I'll see you in my dreams
Of Orchard Road
It's eight o'clock and the dawn's arrived
In Orchard Road it's breakfast time
I climb in the car and l turn the key
And I'm gone -
I am coming home - to Orchard Road
( Wish l had written that - glorious work! ). |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 12:36 24 Nov 2024
Was in my loft this morning and bought down the original single by Vince Taylor and His Playboy's - 'Brand New Cadillac'. This was released in '59 or '60 and l acquired it a few years ago.
Joe Moretti is on lead guitar and also played lead on 'Shaking All Over' by Johnny Kidd and The Pirates.
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust character was based on Vince Taylor.
I wasn't aware of that. Had a quick look at Vince Taylor on Wiki and that popped up.
I also played Telstar by The Tornados this morning!
My god!
It still has the Joe Meek production magic! [Post edited 24 Nov 15:12]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 12:24 24 Nov 2024
Yes, l saw Lindisfarne in the dance hall!
I think 'Fog on the Tyne' may still have been in the charts at the time they played Essex Uni.
While in Newcastle in '05 l walked across the Tyne bridge.
Was also let loose on a set of kettle drums in The City Hall in mid afternoon and gave them a whack for around twenty minutes.
Fab city! [Post edited 24 Nov 12:46]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 18:56 23 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Fifty
Berlin.
The the wall has just come down.
Clubs. Bars.
Mezzanines.
Girls dancing on metallic stairwells.
56 hours with no sleep.
Hallucinating.
Images of marching soldiers.
Armies parading across skyscapes.
Double decker buses 50 foot off the ground.
Japanese tourists looking out of the windows.
Waving.
Taking pictures with little disposable cameras.
Veering off in different directions.
Checkpoint Charlie in enhanced colours.
Walking through the American quarter.
The stars and stripes fluttering in a strong breeze.
Then beyond.
Images from war films projected onto advertising hoardings.
Lost.
Several hours wandering alone and determined to find my way back to the hotel.
Get back somehow.
Reach reception and collapse into large leather chair by the main desk.
Crash out.
Dreams.
Images.
Sounds.
Some real.
Some imagined?
Something that has always fascinated me is that our brains store information that can be from real life experiences, dreams or from imagery enhanced by substances. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 12:14 23 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty Nine
Northwich, England, April 5th, 1991
The Colchester United owner Johnathan Crisp has promoted me to Chairman for an away match at The Drill Field, Northwich Victoria.
It was a journey for an evening match that he was none too keen on.
I had a rare car in those days and the stewards at Northwich made quite a fuss of it as l drove into the Drill Field car park.
I was treated really well in the board room with a banquet of fine foods.
It was a 2 - 2 draw with the Colchester goals scored by Walsh and McDonough. Northwich equalised in the last minute.
Attendance 1,094 [Post edited 23 Nov 12:16]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 12:33 22 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty Eight
Following are three music linked memories featuring each of my daughter's before any of them were five years old.
1. We are at Dublin Airport following a long weekend taking in U2 at Phoenix Park around '84.
The flights are delayed. Rachel is two years old and in her buggy when she says 'U2'....she had noticed Bono in the WH Smith bookshop area.
She used to sit in front of the TV for her evening meals and was a keen follower of The Tube which had often featured U2.
Bono heard her little voice, came over, knelt down and shook hands with her. Lovely moment.
We spent quite a bit of time speaking to them.
2. I am driving to Cambridge on a Sunday afternoon for a client meeting in 1985.
My daughter Laura who was 11 months old is making the trip and is in her car seat. I have The Cutting Crew cassette featuring 'Died in your arms last night' playing.
I look in the rear view mirror to see if she is asleep and she is wide awake and nodding along in time with the song.
3. I put a Rory Gallagher album on the turntable at home. Suddenly my four year old daughter Hannah begins dancing in time with the Irish Wizard. She had never done that before.
Hannah was born on St Patrick's Day. |
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Reply | If you have 25 minutes spare
at 12:12 22 Nov 2024
Well made video and raised some interesting points.
It has taken me the twenty five minutes duration to thaw out after a cold dog walk. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 12:53 21 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty Seven - Continued
More memorable acts from Colchester music venues over the years.
Stone the Crows - Essex Uni
Cado Belle - Essex Uni
Red Dirt - Essex Uni
Pentangle - Essex Uni
Seahorses - Essex Uni
F.O.X. ( aka Angry v the Bear ) - Castle Park
The Lamp - St Paul's Hall
Graham Parker and the Rumour - Essex Uni
Saxon - Colchester Hippodrome
Free - Corn Exchange
Electric Soft Parade - Arts Centre
Bluetones - Arts Centre
Headswim - Arts Centre
Hefner - Arts Centre
Modern English - Castle Park
Victor Brox Band - Essex Uni
John Dummer Blues Band - Essex Uni
Seth Lakeman - Arts Centre
Cara Dillon - Arts Centre
Kinks - Essex Uni
Pretty Things - Essex Uni
Young Knives - Essex Uni
Mr Fox - Essex Uni
Drugstore - Arts Centre
Babe Ruth - Essex Uni
Doctor Feelgood - Essex Uni
Caravan - Essex Uni
Principal Edwards Magic Theatre - Essex Uni
NB. The band's listed at Essex Uni played in the dance hall or the lecture theatre and a few played in the Hexagon Restaurant. Around 1970 Colchester had three regular major music venues ( Uni, College and Corn Exchange ) and several minor venues ( Metro - Sunday was billed as a Blues Night ). |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 22:41 20 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty Seven
This is effectively a list of artists who came to my home town of Colchester who linger in the memory.
Spooky Tooth - Essex Uni
Fairport Convention - Essex Uni
Curved Air - Essex Uni
East of Eden - Essex Uni
ACDC - ABC Cinema
Jon Hiseman's Colosseum - Essex Uni
Atomic Rooster - Colchester Technical College
Van Der graaf Generator - Colchester Technical College
Genesis - The Metro
Freedom - The Metro
Ainsley Dunbar - The Metro
Ronnie Lanes Slim Chance - Essex Uni
Juicy Lucy - Essex Uni
Yes - Colchester Corn Exchange
Ginger Baker's Airforce - Colchester Corn Exchange
Uriah Heep - Colchester Corn Exchange
Stevie Marriott - The Works
Duster Bennett - Essex Uni
John Martyn - Essex Uni
The Stranglers - Essex Uni
Audience - Colchester Technical College
Aardvark - Colchester Technical College
Steeleye Span - Essex Uni
Fire - Essex Uni
The Groundhogs - Essex Uni
Warm Dust - Essex Uni
Hard Meat - Essex Uni
The Kursaal Flyers - Essex Uni
The Dammed - Essex Uni
Renaissance - Colchester Technical College
Greenslade - Colchester Technical College
Rare Bird - Colchester Technical College
Brotherhood of Breath - Essex Uni
Coldplay - Colchester Arts Centre
Elastica - Colchester Arts Centre
The Music - Colchester Arts Centre
Athlete - Colchester Arts Centre
Liverpool Scene - Essex Uni
Lodger - Colchester Arts Centre
Dire Straits - Colchester Technical College
The Subways - Colchester Arts Centre
Arthur Crudup - Essex Uni
Jan Dukes De Grey - Essex Uni
Client - Colchester Arts Centre
Arab Strap - Colchester Arts Centre
Dot Allison - Colchester Arts Centre
Echo and the Bunnymen - Colchester Arts Centre
Jess Roden - Essex Uni
Frankie Miller - Essex Uni
Kokomo - Essex Uni
Got to feed the animals now.
Maybe more tomorrow
😊😊😊 |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 21:58 20 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Further follow up to Part Forty Six.
Del Shannon recorded an album titled 'Rock On!' that he recorded between '89 and '90.
It was released in the UK on the Silvertone label in 1990.
Del Shannon commited suicide a few months before the album was released.
It was produced by Mike Campbell and Jeff Lynne and features an array of supporting musicians that include Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and George Harrison.
I suppose it was a comeback album after his string of hits in the early sixties following a series of releases with modest sales.
To think that he produced this work almost thirty years after his early success represents ( to me ) one of the greatest comebacks by a recording artist.
It is as good as anything he ever did. Possibly even better!
I played the vinyl today very loud through a guitar amp and if anyone out there was a fan of Del Shannon all those years ago you should hunt this album down.
Born Charles Westover in 1934 he impacted my life and interest in music. [Post edited 24 Nov 15:56]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 17:06 20 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Additional information relating to Part Forty Six
The following words were written by David McWilliams in the opening verse to 'Days of Pearly Spencer'.
A tenement a dirty street
Walked and worn by shoeless feet
Inside it's long and so complete
Watched by the shivering sun
Old eyes in a small child's face
Watching as the shadows race
Through walls and cracks
And leaves no trace
And daylight's brightness shuns
The day's of Pearly Spencer
The race is almost won
I was up at 3am and played this track about five times. |
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Reply | Matt Jay
at 16:10 20 Nov 2024
Kind of the club to allow Matt Jay to play in a football match.
According to sources in East London Dagenham and Redbridge could have won the Essex Senior Cup match by 10 goals to nil.
They had to settle for 1 nil as Colchester put in a lifeless performance for the most part. |
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