All posts by tonyives

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About tonyives

A Yorkshireman of a certain age who likes most genres of music and most makes of old car. Travel is a joy, not least to escape the British winter. Travel by bicycle is bliss and if I’m not lost in music then I’m lost in a daydream about a hot day, tens of miles to cover and the promise of a great campsite and a beer. I like to think I’m always learning and becoming wiser. However, on the latter point evidence is in short supply.

Al Jolson, Calvin Powers & A Corn Snake – Week 22 : 2017

Music

June 4, 2017

Trundling through the Yorkshire countryside on my bike yesterday I was miraculously transported back to Florida thanks to the presenter, Calvin Powers, on the Americana Music Show podcast. He made reference to the Suwannee Roots Revival Music Festival in October and talked through the acts about to appear.

Usually it is hard to remember a day in your life in enormous detail but I well recollect passing through Suwannee County on a hot day in late August 2015 on my bike. After cycling down the USA and taking in its magical musical history I had got to New Orleans, duly worshipped, and was heading east to the coast to meet the family. In fairness another 700 mile bike ride from NOLA isn’t inconsequential but after the earlier adventure it would be a flat run to the coast and the hell, that is, Orlando.

To my surprise I enjoyed the ride more than I ever thought. This part of Florida bears no relation to its angry, busy and prosperous eastern ‘pan handle’. It was relatively flat, very wooded, lots of African Americans and not too wealthy at all but in an unexploited and rural way. In places though it was very quiet and had that Southern combination of lethargy and debilitating heat.

On such a potential day I left Tallahassee early in squally rain (they had said there would be implications from Hurricane Erika, gosh those crazy Americans worry about anything) and headed east into a dry afternoon of heat and emptiness. As the 76 miles for the day ground by then I found myself on the ‘Ray Charles Memorial Highway’. Here in the middle of nowhere I quickly discounted it was the great man’s asphalt but slowly as I got nearer to Greenville then it became apparent this is where the African American Rhythm & Blues legend had spent his early years, his mother’s home town.

So I ‘collected’ another musical institution – saw the monument and took the photos and continued east to a State Park where I hoped to camp. The camp was in Suwannee State Park. Again in my heat dazed brain then Al Jolson came to mind with ‘Swannee’, his first large commercial hit written by George Gershwin in 1919. This became a world wide famous song. Digging around finds that Stephen Foster first adapted the Suwannee river to ‘Swannee Ribber’ in his song ‘Old Folks at Home’. From here with the river in circulation George took the name for his song.

So with all this musical history amassed I argued with the Park Ranger about charging me the same price as an RV to pitch a miniature tent (without a hook up) in this parched forest ($24) for a night. It was good to be detained and argue because the air conditioning was delicious and I noted in a tank, within the Ranger’s office, was an imprisoned Corn snake. It lived off frozen mice and as I wandered out of the office, defeated, but consoling myself that I had just cycled past a nearby gas station that sold beer and also that my exorbitant fee would keep the snake in chilled rodents for some time to come.

Steve Johnson

Moores

May 26, 2017

I have some Moores items to post but tragically some other news has come to pass that I feel I should advise before the usual lighter stuff.

Steve Johnson (PS Sales) had died after a very short illness at his home in Sherston, Wiltshire, he was just 60 years old. From feeling unwell to his passing was only around a month. This has left everyone not only deeply saddened but utterly shocked at the sudden turn of events.

You may recollect from a recent post that Steve was holidaying in South America and not least indulging in one of his hobbies – photography. If you wanted to take some epic images then you couldn’t do better than Antartica.

Steve left Moores in about 2010 and went on to run an internet business. By this time it was the end of an era for so many Moores people and we were all well past looking at our former glories. However, Steve had driven the order intake in the ‘East’ of the country, by 2005, to £11.5 million.

At this point he was a Sales Manager after starting life at Moores selling the Single Living Accommodation solutions. Given that Public Sector prices were very competitive in the market then through his efforts and the importance of the LHC his profitability was exceptional. He never dwelt on this but I did raise with him these achievements. He saw it as a team effort. However in my opinion then someone rightly gets to stand on the top of the podium.

A point that always surprises former managers is how many younger people who worked in their teams learned and developed with them. I expect those associated with Steve will feel enormous respect, affection and gratitude for this part of their careers.

Ironically the future in front of Steve looked financially secure and leisure beckoned with his partner. A thoroughly splendid, generous and interesting man then this cruel turn of events makes you realise how precious life is.

Look after yourselves.

Rats, Pills & Tea Lights – Week 21 : 2017

Journal

May 24, 2017

Surprising what you learn at Costa Coffee. I was stood in the queue with a rat trap, when the Barista (or the bloke behind the counter who made coffee but had a fancy title dreamt up by a Marketing agency) commented on my purchase. Much to our distress we have had Roland running around the garden for sometime and he’s quite a size. The Barista wasn’t hostile to my death mission but did comment that he kept them as pets. Deciding that he was mad I limited our exchange but did enquire, on my exit, as to whether his neighbours knew about his hobby?

After an uncertain period then we appeared to have let our vacant house. As always we have now refurbished and cleaned it up such that it seems a shame to hand it across to tenants. The market has been slow due to various excuses from the Letting Agent. Explanations include – seasonal drop off, General Election and the considerable building of purpose built student accommodation in York, which has proverbially drained the swamp! Anyway they are not in yet but fingers crossed there are no hitches.

As I’ve reported then after a further DVT I’m on a pill a day to prevent a re-occurrence. It doesn’t seem to be a problem other than remembering to take it. However, when I replenish my stock then I am still a little amazed that I get them for free as I am over 60. I note that the Conservatives are clawing back some benefits from the wealthy if they get re-elected. As the ‘baby boomer’ generation that has pensions, high value property and, sometimes, savings it seems a nonsense that the younger less well off should subsidise them. Thank you for the free pills but really you shouldn’

By any standards then 70,000 miles is a long way to ride a bicycle. This week I clocked up this total. As I am male then I have recorded just about all my bike rides and so when this milestone came around even I was amazed. For those who look too closely at the details then yes I have got slower (!) over the years but also the mileage is accumulated on a variety of bicycles and the slowest times (mph not kph!) include hauling heavy loads on a rugged steel bike up the Pyrenees, Alps, Rockies or the Sierra Nevada.

Lastly the events of the week in terms of atrocity must have floored everyone. I don’t think you could have received the news without becoming tearful. Slaughtering innocent people has now reached 8 year olds. Beyond belief. Everyone was interested in the details and the news channels went into overdrive. A lot of people in Manchester were literally overcome by the severity and affront of it all. I am proud of my hometown and I can well understand their reaction. However the only thing people can do about it, it seems, is hold a vigil, provide support and comfort to those affected or helping and, lastly, call for unity. This last thing is vague but I imagine is about not allowing racism to take hold. They’re right.

Never once did I really hear a thoughtful analysis on disaffected youth who feel outsiders in their society through the colour of their skin or religion, the divisive arbitrary drawing of borders between countries in the Middle East by the colonial powers in the 20th century, the hopeless and nothing short of murderous regimes run in Middle Eastern countries by Saddam Hussein, Bashar la-Assad, Colonel Gaddafi and then, the icing on the cake, the intervention of Western countries militarily in the Middle East. On this last point then Britain with the French bombed Libya to a ruinous state and now it is a disaster with no ruling party or system to control. However it is rife for pouring out more grief toward Europe. Even Obama censured Cameron for this failed intervention.

The above being said then no one has a right to commit murder and if they do then they should expect justice in whatever form it takes. The security services are brilliant and unsung, I’m grateful for their professionalism and overall success. Even at the risk of curtailing civil liberties then we need to have more controls and monitoring of those who might kill us.

…at the moment, let’s hope the tea lights work.

Jason – Week 20 : 2017

Journal

May 18, 2017

As week’s go then this one has not been the best.

I’m not very anxious about signs of my own mortality. It’s along the road but it seems to be out of sight at the moment. However for one good friend it came dramatically into sight before he got too close to 60. Such is my mental process that after I received a text from Marion I immediately thought of ‘First Of The Gang To Die’ by Morrissey, not least because Jason Field was.

I met Jason when he became a resident in a house I shared in Billericay in the late 70’s/early ’80’s. He was a young undergraduate engineer on a placement with Ford Truck. The rest of us in the house, Paul, Peter and Tim, worked at Ford, whether Tractor, Cars or Trucks.

It was stupid lads together who either balanced buckets of water on top of doors, invited the most vulnerable to a complimentary sandwich saying it was chicken but enjoyed their reaction when we told them it actually was frog leg meat, let off horrendously loud boat fog klaxons at 3 am next to someone’s bedroom and not least enjoyed rolling up to the pub for continued ribbing.

Jason at work was a star and a hoot out of it. A confident, opinionated and slightly know it all from Newton Aycliffe. More fun continued when he borrowed his dad’s Morris Marina Estate and, with Neil, we drove to Austria for the Grand Prix – many memorable moments not least him carrying out some engine servicing at a campsite that eventually necessitated getting the equivalent of the RAC to visit to swap around the plug leads that stopped the engine firing!

Clearly from this photograph we must have been invited to a fancy dress party back in the day – I recognise my old school cricket pullover, if not the bearded lad in tinted glasses with masses of hair..

We all left the house and moved on. Jason finished his degree at Manchester University and not least caught the eye of his bride by turning up at the Hall of Residence bar in bedroom slippers. (At my age this seems logical but at 20 years old or so then I can see the fashion crime). He returned to Ford and moved up through the grades that we had all originally coveted. On his stellar rise he ran a night shift at Halewood, ran the White Body Plant at Jaguar, looked after the manufacture of radiators at Dagenham and ended up in the Czech Republic joint running a Plant that made air conditioning and light components for just about most major car manufacturers in Europe.

We’d kept in touch albeit loosely, as blokes do, and met up over the years. In 2009 I cycled with a another pal, Jim, to his house in Kunin, just over the Czech border, from Krakow in Poland (via Auschwitz). There we were treated royally by Marion and Jason before trundling back. He was now in his early fifties and thinking that he might retire back to England. The pension seemed good and life was good.

Despite Christmas cards then the communication tailed off. People can be like that I thought. However, in 2014 I received a card from Marion saying that it would be great if maybe I could invite him on Facebook? He was now wheelchair bound with Multiple System Atrophy. This very rare condition leads to a failing of the body whilst the intellect remains in tact. Of course I went to Essex to see him and admired their fortitude and spirit coping with this wickedly random tragedy. Over subsequent visits with Jason, now in care, he was always cheerful but for a man of such energy and capability it all seemed unforgivably cruel to be reduced to such captivity.

I was getting frustrated looking for decaffeinated coffee beans at Tesco (they didn’t have any) when Marion sent a text saying he’d passed. I’m sure when I next visit that aisle I will have a terribly heavy feeling.

We’d tried to visit in February but he’d been rushed to A & E, it was not uncommon for him to have episodes that needed hospitalisation, and it was in our plans to try and visit again on May Bank Holiday.

So a part of my life has gone but frankly my loss is incomparable to a widow’s. As they say seize the day and look after yourself.

Dog Trauma, Fraud & A Festival of Cards – Week 18 : 2017

Journal

May 4, 2017

I recently heard a story that a friend of a friend had a kitchen installed. The kitchen installer then sent his final invoice by email. The email was hacked and the invoice altered such that the account and sort code were changed to a Nigerian account. Unsuspecting any problem the recipient of the invoice paid on line to this now altered bank account.

All was quiet until the kitchen company asked where the money was? Eventual investigation revealed that the money had been paid into a ‘new’ account and that the kitchen company had indeed not received its money. I’m not sure where the impasse has got to but you expect that the owner of the kitchen may have to pay twice.

So be cautious in paying direct on line against an invoice received by email. Maybe my chequebook isn’t completely obsolete yet? Isn’t it about time that some form of cyber security initiative controlled Nigerian email? Not only is there this horror story but also we all suffer from junk mail; should you be unlucky enough to click their attachment or links it will expose your computer to fraud. Always check the address of the email sender – on junk mail it is usually some nonsense and not PayPal, a bank or whoever it purports to be from..

The family suspects that it is a toss up whether my being in the company of small children or dogs is preferable. This is very unfair but probably true. However, I am not cruel and when I visit Wales to see my sister then I diligently walk the dog – Blossom (…don’t ask).

I might have been more positive about dogs were it not for the modern etiquette that demands scooping up its droppings wherever it might randomly deposit them. The old days of leaving it anywhere weren’t good – I remember a long bus ride home from central Leeds to my home in the country with smears of it on my leg, this happened when I was nine and may explain a lot! Anyway me and Blossom had a nice long walk and usually she keeps any surplus until she gets back to the house and drops a load on the back lawn: not in line with the reason why she was hauled around but it does avoid inverting the poo bag and gripping the warm, smelly and slimy gift and then carrying it home at arm’s length.

As we cruise country paths surrounded by grass and farm animals then it crossed my mind that should Blossom develop the need then some relocation of the mutt into the long grass might hide the deed and we might proceed quickly from the scene of the crime undetected. So imagine my horror when we returned and got on the street where she lived and she adopted the pose on the verge… oh no! I did contemplate checking all the surrounding windows for surveillance and if the coast was clear then dashing for our front door afterwards, however, the risk of ignominy and future pointing was too great a risk. So thanking the very empty canine from the bottom of my heart I collected the bountiful donation and went home wondering if I could find a plug on Google for next time.

After advice from my physio I joined a gym in order to use specific equipment. I’m not a stranger to physical exercise but gyms are not my scene. The Council run one nearby and as it is chocker full of kit then I signed up. Gaining access when getting to the gym however remains a baffling experience.

At Reception I presented my gym membership card and my York Resident’s card. The Receptionist chirped back “£5.80 please”. No I smirked back, “it is £3.90 as I is am a York resident and an old person entitled to a discount”. Okay she confirmed, “May I see your concession card?”

What! I had already got two new cards to attempt to penetrate the gym did I need a third? After asking where I might get the third card and what it looked like she said it had to show proof of my age on it. Warming to the conversation I enquired as to whether she had my age on the system as I had to go through an induction and form submission initially. Yes, she the system noted my age but I still needed to show proof. Now I’m all for detailed checks if buying a shotgun, accessing large Social Benefit payments, boarding a plane and the like but for an hour wasting myself on a Bosu ball and a Leg Press?. Anyway she relented… on this one occasion, and allowed me entry after I gave her another card… my Debit card to pay the £3.90.

Pocklington Arts Centre – We Salute You

Music

May 14, 2017

If I had two claims to fame, that I would peddle in North America to court celebrity, then the first is that I have shaken the hand of the future British King, Prince Charles and the second is that I went to the same school as Carson, the butler in Downton Abbey. The latter spoke beautiful English. That, I know, would have a bunch of Americans cooing that they ‘loved his accent’. Well this compliment can be returned because on a Thursday afternoon as I was sweeping the drive (welcome to rock n’ roll) and BBC Radio York interviewed Bennie Pete, the leader of The Hot 8 Brass Band. Bennie has a delicious Louisiana drawl acquired from being a resident of N’Awlinz.

Bennie was on the Afternoon Show promoting their gig at the Pocklington Arts Centre that evening. Pocklington is 15 miles east of York and is a small town of 8,500 folk who mainly use this little town as a dormitory whilst they work elsewhere. Around it is farming land and so if it had an economy that drove it then that would be it. Also within it is a prestigious private school that boasts William Wilberforce as one of its former pupils. He led a campaign in the first half of the 19th Century that led to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire being passed by an Act of Parliament in 1833. He’s not unknown in the USA as I actually cycled past a small town in Ohio called Wilberforce, named after him whilst heading to Nashville via the route of the Underground Railroad in 2015.

So listening to Bennie and his Southern tones I still had to pinch myself that Pocklington could attract such international acts. In fact, Pocklington Arts Centre some time ago had become an important venue for Americana acts to visit whilst in the UK and I was so grateful that I didn’t have always have to troop to Manchester, London or Newcastle to see my heroes or heroines.

Hearing Bennie on the radio and then later that night on the stage made me think how special and unusual this place was and that I should write down its magic and the way it brought American music to East Yorkshire. Bennie between songs talked about their tour and how each venue was a new discovery in the UK. When the band pulled into Pocklington and saw its small market square, little shops and general mid 20th Century feel they were bemused. They were used to checking into a hotel and then using the Sat Nav to get to the venue for a sound check. To stroll across the street was a novel experience and they liked it. They also liked the packed 197 seat venue that danced, whooped and shook as they brought their jazz funk to this sleepy town. In fact we surprised ourselves!

Staying in Pocklington is what 95% of what the artists do, even Rosanne Cash, who’d wanted more upmarket accommodation in York was to be found eating fish and chips at one o’clock in the market square after her set. Such is the footfall of Americana legends to Pocklington that Rodney Crowell couldn’t be fitted in because Jim Lauderdale was booked for the night that he had spare on that tour.

If these Americana artists get together back in the USA I wonder if they talk about Pocklington Arts Centre? I think they might – not least because we’re thrilled and grateful that they brought their talent to us.

For me personally, I got to sit, my then 17 year old daughter, in the audience as Chris Smither captivated the audience with his wondrous Train Home album and not only could he play and sing but that insistent foot tapping was haunting. Lucinda Williams needed a bigger venue up the road but she brought her catalogue to an adoring audience as she reeled off the highlights of her recording career. Tift Merritt alternated between acoustic guitar and piano playing her own uplifting soulful Country. Albert Lee told us of his touring with an icon, Don Everly and lastly would Laura Cantrell remember a bloke rambling on about riding a heavily laden bicycle up 1900 feet to Panguitch Lake, Utah on a cold September morning listening to “Queen Of The Coast”? I’d like to think so because I will always treasure her impersonation of someone riding a bike.

Pockington Arts Centre we salute you.

Record Of The Week # 18

Music

May 12, 2017

John Moreland – Big Bad Luv

John Moreland’s fourth album Big Bad Luv is the kind of slow burner that even on first listen you know contains a few years of pleasure up the road as you continue to discover further delight in the attitude, melodies, voice and not least the profound and expressive sentiments.

The music is crafted with Tchad Blake, who’s produced the Black Keys, U2, Bonnie Raitt and The Artic Monkeys (to barely scratch the surface), on the controls. The sound is understated rock with a blues tinge and so definitely Americana. On his web site they reference The Band and some of that quality and vibe is to be found not least with the organ on, maybe the album highlight, “Love Is Not An Answer”. It is the strong and handsome yet whiskey mellowed tones that captivate as he interprets his world-weary observations. This at least is my take on the verse content but Moreland himself says:

“At the very least my songs have been a way to exorcise negative feelings so that I can move on. And hopefully they provide that same experience to listeners”

‘Lies I Chose To Believe’ hooks you with a great melody but what an opening line:

                                                 “I’ve gone and lost my faith in photographs

                                                 Curse those martyrs that mark my past”

We’re in the presence of a poet as well as a tunesmith and no wonder Jason Isbell name checks this new album on Twitter. “Sallisaw Blue” starts apace and references Oklahoma, his current domicile as well as explains where the Big Bad Luv reference comes from (a neon sign!). A great start with a rolling gait before we take it down to “Old Wounds”… ‘don’t forget to love me in damnation’ may give you a clue as to the song content if the title didn’t. The lighter arrangement of “Every Kind Of Wrong” is acoustic with occasional tasteful slide. “No Glory In Regret” sees Moreland accompany himself also on acoustic guitar and he sings:

                                             “God’s been making deals

                                             While we’re down here spinning our wheels

                                             And using up our little share of luck”

Whilst all eleven of the tracks engage and the album certainly remains strong for the duration the record finishes with “Latchkey Kid”. This beautifully reflects on his previous life as that child with the key but lately:

                                           “And when I look into the mirror, now I see
                                            A man I never knew that I could be”

A real pleasure

(Lastly, this is definitely the album sleeve of the year so far. Love it and maybe I’ll search out the vinyl!)

Record Of The Week # 17

Music

May 10, 2017

Wishbone Ash – Argus

On December 15th 1972, for a cost of 60 pence, I was sat on an elevated platform (where the Orchestra usually sat) , next to the stage, at Leeds Town Hall where after an opening set by The Average White Band on strolled the band of the moment, Wishbone Ash, debuting their earlier April release – Argus. This record not only became an album of the year but also became one of the seminal rock guitar albums for anyone born in the 50’s. 

As they reached their third album then the ‘sound’ had been honed and the twin guitar passages and harmony vocals became their signature. It helped to have the Production and Engineering skills of the team behind the then stellar Deep Purple at the helm. Add lyrics about medieval warriors complemented by fluid and intoxicating guitar solos then you have the ingredients for bliss. Rock can often rely on the shock and awe of electric guitar and a driving beat to become memorable but this album’s longevity also leans heavily on melody and some exquisite musicianship best illustrated by “Leaf And Stream”.

It wasn’t an era when ‘progressive’ rock bands sought singles but “Blowin’ Free” would maybe their ‘greatest hit’ and the delicious chorus is pure summer apparently written about a Swedish girlfriend of band member Martin Turner. If there was ever a BBC Radio 2 record that you could imagine a few million blokes of a certain vintage telling the wife to shut up as he cranked up the radio on the weekly car trip to Tesco then this is the one.

Today the band still tours in two guises – one is led by lead guitarist Andy Powell, who flourished – every 17 year old’s air guitar fantasy – a Flying V back in the day and the other incarnation is led by original bassist, Martin Turner. I’ve seen both and if you have the chance to see either then you will be rewarded. The band has had many line ups over their career but only these two members tour playing the catalogue. However, whilst that may in theory damage the authenticity then I believe that the enthusiasm, energy and slavish note perfect adherence to the original wonderful records of new members can make the experience better.

In fact I can well recollect, sometime in the early Noughties, spilling my pint at Fibbers in York as I punched the air when the chorus came back in on “The King Will Come”, a slow burning anthem with some intricate guitar passages.

If the combined talents as musicians and songwriters elevated this album to iconic status then the twin leads of Any Powell and Ted Turner set the pace but the insistent and complimentary bass of the other Turner is not to be under estimated – listen to how it drives and solos on “Sometime World” and then note its rough and attractive tones on “Blowin’ Free”. Sticks man, sorry I’ve slipped into Sounds 1974 mode err… I mean, drummer, Steve Upton has his subtleties as well as brawn as witnessed on standout “Warrior”.

As another rock band of the era opined then be good to yourselves, put this album on NOW!

– For the former Member of Parliament for Thurrock (1987 – 1992)

Plums, Boiling Water & The FBI – Week 19 : 2017

Journal

May 10, 2017

Well the bad news is that I’ve watched the 52 episodes of House Of Cards and finished Season Four with nothing left. However help is at hand as those nice people at Netflix unleash Season Five at the end of May. Given the surreal politics all over the world at the moment and not least in Washington DC then this epic story about a US President, which involves murder, betrayal, sacrificing others, money laundering, occasional sex and attempted assassination makes complete sense. Until it comes out then I’m watching Better Call Saul.

The politics drags on and is so dull that the lovely BBC led on the sacking of the Head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation tonight. Frankly who in the UK cared? Given that we are in the middle of a General Election campaign then somehow you’d think that the FBI, an institution that about 70% of the UK population couldn’t identify, wouldn’t be the lead item unless you obsess about Donald Trump.

We visited Skipton on Saturday and enjoyed the market. Boy was it cold, I had to buy a hat (not much hair I’m afraid) and yet today it was scorching and shorts were worn and more importantly the hood was down on the Morgan. I cannot remember the temperature fluctuating so dramatically in a day or two.

Skipton should be a sleepy farming market town in the Dales but it still surprised with the market stalls. One selling old vinyl LP’s – where else can you get an old Millie Jackson album for £3 and Asian vendors with their young lads, beside them learning the trade, selling just about anything. We bought plums and strawberries. After this excitement we went on a barge trip on the Leeds Liverpool Canal where we learned about its mill history during the Industrial Revolution. The trip home was via Ilkley where we stopped off at the sensational The Veggie for lunch. Frankly, if everyone went there for a meal then it would be a threat to future meat sales. Wonderful place… oh, that Portobello mushroom burger was beyond bliss.

The present Mrs Ives still can surprise (and worry me) after 30 years of marriage. I had had breakfast when she appeared in the kitchen and emptied a recently boiled kettle of its water and refilled it? So I enquired as to why you’d throw away recently boiled water rather than just re-boil it? Apparently re-boiled water has a detrimental affect on the flavour of her coffee. Yup, me neither…

Marketing, Elections & Insomnia – Week 17 : 2017

Journal

April 28, 2017

So it has been a while since our foreign travels and I have thought about producing a Journal post. So what’s happened since then then? It seems like a busy time of house letting, painters and roofers. Sadly the tenant who I wrote about in a previous Post, where I played the role of an inadeqaute agony aunt, didn’t resolve her problems and they both left, which was very inconsiderate for our revenue stream! 

However, on another level then It seems that life has returned to normal with an Election in the news, whether British or French. Picking up on another Post that I have written, then the worst thing about it is the media saturation and the BS we’ll have to work our way through until June 8th, in fact I think most folk know how they are going to vote this time and so bothering with the hustings is a waste of time. I feel that it can only ramp up with hysteria in the intervening days and if the campaign has no exciting things for the media to write about then I imagine we’ll be latching onto ‘Armageddon’ like comments from anyone in Europe about our future.

Of similar pleasure was a trip to the dentist for a chipped tooth. This occurred in the IKEA cafeteria, which was scant reward for good behaviour. Instead of having the meatballs and chips I had a piece of grilled salmon with a risotto. (My daughter’s boyfriend had the 15 meatball option and a hot dog at the Exit on his departure – I well remember when I could stick this stuff away with no weight implications). I avoid the dentist and can see no reason for check ups – pain or mechanical problems lead me to his seat. The injection for numbing the gum does feel like he’s inserting something like the blunt end of a metal coat hanger into your cheek. Let’s hope the teeth now behave or I will contemplate moving away from consuming solids.

Yes, the sign is not a protest poster but a sign from the Council. Read it slowly!

One of Anna’s many delights is that when I pick a concert to go to then she likes the fact that most of the audience are younger than her. This is often a reality born out of my taste in music. More of the edgier stuff, with a younger audience, is not her bag and this observation about age is likely to continue for her. We went to one of our favourite venues – Pocklington Arts Centre – to see The Blues Band. I had seen them twice previously – both times in Southend in another life and over three decades back.

Paul Jones, lead vocalist, of Manfred Mann and BBC Radio 2 fame was 75 and looking well on it. However for all the modern marketing that makes you cynical about how many ways they want to empty your pocket then old men have a neat line. Shamelessly he plugged a band or solo CD’s as they played every song. They then all disappeared at the long interval into the foyer to flog and sign them at £12 a piece. Concert merchandise is not new but they are usually a pleasing side benefit for the audience rather than the main reason for the band being there! I spent some of their set adding up the number of seats, number of CD buyers, CD costs and number of nights to work out that Paul was well into four figures of profit by the end of the tour.  Let’s home he gets the very best Care Home. An unlovely experience frankly.

As an update on my reading then I am ploughing through Roy Jenkins biography of Gladstone, the 19th Century Prime Minister. It is 650 pages of close print and is not an easy read. I was saying to Anna that it is a brilliant cure for insomnia because after about four pages then the eyelids become leaden and sleep beckons. To borrow a phrase, more associated with Crimbo, then I have another 40 sleeps before I finish it.

Record Of The Week # 16

Music

April 25, 2017

Live From Los Angeles – Brandy Clark

I suppose I am back into vinyl, in a small way, mainly because of the complete nostalgic pleasure in thumbing through LP’s and the very size and feel of it. I like the practicality of CD’s and the quality of sound, however a heavy vinyl LP played on a good sound system is audio nirvana. So the strategy has been to collect a few second hand albums that I didn’t have the money to acquire when I was a teenager and also look out for a few new things that were special.

Record Store Day, now in its 10th year generates special releases. These are limited editions that make them scarce and sad old men hover around the shops on April 22nd every year to spend lots of money and then wander out into the daylight with crazed and happy faces clutching albums by Uriah Heep and Budgie. (Yes, I was sorely tempted).

In fact I jest as there are also lots of young people enjoying vinyl – in Week 48 of 2016 there was a greater value of vinyl sold than downloads in the UK. If you’d added the value of second hand vinyl sold as well then digital downloads would have been hit out of the park. Of course streaming is the main way of accessing music nowadays but if I relied on it in Acaster Malbis, with our appalling broadband, then I wouldn’t listen to much.

So I saw that Brandy Clark was releasing a live album for Record Store Day. Breezing into the local emporium – Vinyl Eddie’s – I asked if they would have this on the day? Sharp intake of breath that was code for ‘this is York and why the hell would we stock a Country album even by Johnny Cash, let alone Brandy who?’. They found it on the internet and said it was a US only release but they might know a man… So digging the garden on Sunday I got the call saying that Brandy was in town.

Bliss. An acoustic album with Brandy and her guitar/vocalist accompanist, Miles Aubrey, recorded Live in Los Angeles in September 2016 was mine. Brandy is now making her way as an important Country music artist after long years paying her dues on the way up. The two albums came a long way into her music career and have both been remarkable with blissful traditional country melodies, lyrics that tell stories about love, cheating, drinking and the Country music ‘full nine yards’ of chaos and always a lot of humour, which is a hallmark of much good Country music.

Brandy has earned her time in the spotlight after being a ‘go to’ songwriter. Her credits will be found on the albums by Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves, Sheryl Crow, Toby Keith, Keith Urban et al. It was time that she grabbed the mic and had the super trouper pointed in her direction.

So now by herself then each album has gold on it but the highlights are where she finds a sad scene to sing about. On Live From Los Angeles two of the best Country songs ever to have graced these ears appear on each side. “Hold My Hand” tells the story of being at an event with her beau when his beautiful and confident significant ex appears and her partner is embarrassed and uncomfortable. She offers advice that in order to tell her of the fact that he has moved on and is also confident of where he is now, and who he is with, that he should show this by holding her hand.

Since “You’ve Gone To Heaven” is 4½ minutes of heartbreak – a cataloguing of the events and emotions that have befallen a family since her father died. Her beautiful voice on a wonderfully paced and sparsely arranged song just crushes you.

There are other great tracks on the album from her first two albums and all each probably worth a blog.

Moores People Update 3

Moores

April 22, 2017

Through my last web post then a few old friends came back into view. Clare Currer (Sales Administration) seems to have maintained contact with old colleagues but after a spell out of kitchens then the lure proved too great and she is back with Roundel albeit working from home, well done for swinging that one.

Similarly it was lovely to hear from Sharron Street (Customer Care) but no information on her life today or more importantly what colour her hair is at the moment (Shazza forgive me)!

John Asty (8E17 & Installation) subscribed to the blog and is now a runner and pounding the pavements no doubt to get fit for half marathons. Look after those knees mate!

Which brings me to Simon Barlow (PD Sales Administration & Installation) who has posted on Facebook that he was about to run his 10th London Marathon. I couldn’t but be impressed. (This event is part of the Ives family workload as my youngest daughter works for adidas and will be working in t’Smoke for the event to support their sponsorship).

I think he has been as lean as this for many years but it still comes as a shock to those who knew him at Moores.

I contacted Steve Thompson (Human Resources) who I’d not been in touch with since leaving Moores. He seems chipper although not pleased to be reminded about his football team, Norwich City. Apparently he’s left them now and looking for his next career – let’s hope that falls into place quickly.

Steve Johnson (PS Sales) is still on this amazing South America tour that has already taken him to Antartica, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador. He’s now on the Galapagos Islands along with other scaly creatures… He’s a superb photographer, entertaining blogger and his images are excellent. It may be worth a look at his blog on Wine, Dynamite and Penguins

Curry night brought together Caron Reed (PS Sales), David Cook (PS Sales), Jim Brady (PS Sales Administration, PS Sales & Installation) and Andy Parker (PS & Retail Sales). Caron is the full time mother of two little girls – four and 11 years old, which sounds too much like hard work. David keeps getting younger and spends much of the week on the golf course. Jim, as reported, is flying along with his elderly care business (it was good to meet up with someone actually working!) and Andy is now thinking of retirement at the advanced age of 55 years (!) after running and owning an IT services company that worked in secondary education.

Please let people know about this page on my website and if you have a story to tell then write in below.

Lastly… competition time. Anyone name this former colleague?

Record Of The Week # 15

Music

April 22, 2017

The Best Of The Best Of Chuck Berry – Chuck Berry

2016 was notable for the death of Rock and Pop legends and depending on your record collection then someone you probably collected shuffled off this mortal coil. This year has been collecting casualties and in March Chuck Berry left us.

 Chuck joined the celestial choir at the not too rock ‘n’ roll age of 90 and so maybe his departure wasn’t tragic. However as social media usually explodes and BBC Radio 5Live gets teary over icon departures then Chuck’s legacy to popular music simply puts the others in the shade but didn’t move the needle on the gauge of popular media emotion.

John Lennon, who was well placed to note a tune and social phenomenon when he saw one, said, “if you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’”.

Charles Edward Anderson Berry started his recording career in 1955 and was in on the ground floor of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll but maybe he more than the other panoply of greats left the most important future Rock imprint for others to copy. From a start in the blues he developed a unique sound, which was exciting to the kids of the day. His songs usually featured an epic guitar riff and his lyrics told the story of American teenagers desires – cars, dance, romance and consumer culture.

Recording abound of his songs by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, ELO, Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Linda Ronstadt and others too many to mention. The classic songs include “Johnny B. Goode”, “Rock And Roll Music”, “Maybelline”, “Roll Over Beethoven”, “No Particular Place To Go” and “Sweet Little Sixteen”.

So for me he was vital for the Rock of the Seventies and frankly didn’t music finish after that? I loved the tunes, the novellas and the tongue in cheek humour and all gloriously compiled in just under 3 minutes. If I had doubts about his importance then endless encores by any band I may have seen could often include a Chuck Berry number, after all it was likely to be the ultimate crowd pleaser. (In fact, when I saw The Blues Band in Pocklington on April 21st they played “Nadine”)

In 1978 on my Laker flight to the USA and back I bought some records – old habits die hard as I still view this as part of the American experience – and I collected this $2.97 gem that still lurks in the collection along with several other Chuck Berry releases.

If I was picking my all time favourite then it isn’t on this album – “You Never Can Tell”, not least because of its moment in Pulp Fiction.

Record Of The Week # 14

Music

April 14, 2017

Imperial Bedroom – Elvis Costello & The Attractions

When this gem was purchased by a pal (Neil Smith) in 1982, as was the habit, it was soon transferred to a C90 cassette and lived in the car. Elvis Costello was, at the time, very much the future of rock ‘n’ roll.

After his arrival as part of the Stiff Record Label explosion in 1976 then I was a fan. Vituperative Rock ‘n’ Roll meets Punk in short 3 minute tuneful burst coupled to his staccato delivery of lyrics with brilliant rhyming couplets and caustic observations of anything and everything. For me it always worked better for me on record rather than live. I well recollect seeing him at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion and frankly not catching a word as he breathlessly tore through his set at a pace that was definitely Punk. I saw him once again after that but I wondered why I had shelled out my hard earned cash twice.

Imperial Bedroom was Elvis’ 5th album after his recording career started in 1977. Always a tune and wordsmith then this album was different as we saw a real maturing of the talent. From the electric buzz that introduced the album then you can detect that the production and arrangements are a significant shift from the earlier output. Geoff Emerick, of Beatles fame, was at the production helm and comfortable to add strings, accordion, brass, National steel dobro, harpsichord in arrangements that gave a clue as to Elvis’ future genre hoping output. In fact “Loved Ones” is a Beatles arrangement to the core and “All You Need Is Love” horns on “Pidgin English” are familiar.

The album heralded a move from the four-piece sound but as Costello was leading the arrangements then they never lose his indelible ‘sound’.

“Beyond Belief” gives us the first lyrical glimpse of his genius:

“History repeats the old conceits

The glib replies, the same defeats

Keep your finger on important issues

With crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues”

However for all his cleverness then the ability to slip back to the mundane boy girl tribulations of “Long Honeymoon” show his deft touch:

There’s been a long honeymoon

She thought too late and spoke too soon

There’s no money back guarantee on future happiness

However the music is the brilliance and “Man Out Of Time” brings a dramatic change of pace with its screeching guitar intro and it is here the contribution of The Attractions becomes clear with Pete Thomas’s drumming and Steve Nieve’s keyboards. For the bassist, Bruce Thomas, then look to Almost Blue with his jazzy touches. In fact the early success of Elvis Costello cannot be divorced from the Attractions such was their technical competence, maybe Elvis’ continual reinvention made it a stimulating place to be for the band.

His vocals cannot be underestimated whether coming at you full force or the little boy lost of “Town Cryer” (at this stage in his career it had the most beautiful timbre).

Not a duff track in sight. Important and brilliant.

Record Of The Week #13

Music

April 10, 2017

I Got Your Medicine – Shinyribs

The fourth release by Shinyribs of I Got Your Medicine comes with a decision of whether to buy this superb blue-eyed soul rocker or use the money on a ticket to see them live. That’s because this album creates a fierce desire to grab a beer and find your dancing shoes. I can’t help you, it’s a tough call. 

The band leader, vocalist and all round tour de force, Kevin Russell, knows how to deliver a song and if you give him brilliant female vocal backing (Sally Allen & Alice Spence), feel good horns and a tight rhythm section (that can seriously damage your back) then you have a very good time on your hands.

I seriously love the fact that you don’t have to work too hard to inhabit this superb 1970’s retro soul and rock album. It has great personality and if you’re seeking earnest provocative new music then it’s not here, but hey! I’d recommend you start your weekend and give this a spin. 

The first sign that you may start dancing in your seat is “Don’t Leave It A Lie” offering self empowerment to those who’ve been inhibited for too long. The Little Feat swagger is well evident but the later appearance of a flute and ukulele are more of a signature of this well oiled machine. “Trouble, Trouble” sees Kevin lead the band with a soulful vocal and receives a great complementary back up vocal from the ladies. Shinyribs can take the tempo down a notch (and let’s face it all dancers need a slow one to catch their breath and have a chance to smooch) and with “I Knew It All Along” tell the story of unrequited love and the realisation that she’ll never be his. “Hands On Your Hips” continues his love lorn ways with the love of his life starting to stray. These are both classic 70’s soul ballads the like of which you’d have heard before on AM frequencies in a town near you.

The Shinyribs are not averse to a cover and pick Allen Toussaint’s “A Certain Girl”. For this listener, however, it is too soon after the Country Pop nailer by Joy Lynn White of “A Certain Boy” and loses out to the novelty achieved with their coquettish background call and answer chorus but you be the judge.

Special mention must go to the band who seem more than accomplished and have the feel of Leon Russell, Tower of Power & Dr John rolled into one. That’s definitely a team you can believe in. Each track is worthy and I could have mentioned any: such are the quality of the tunes and arrangements. However, all good things come to an end and Shinyribs bring the 48 minute outing to a close with the gospel call of “The Cross Is Boss” that leaves you swaying and clapping in the aisles as the singers lead you home. Hallelujah.