Terry Riley in Glasgow

Gregor asked if I was going along to see Terry Riley as did my younger son. I honestly don’t know, I have been busy lately stuffing leaflets through your door trying to convince you that we should be free.

I have been talking to people who say the strangest things like: we don’t want independence? Or we need to combine with England, in case anyone attacks us. I mean who was the last country to attack us (if we exclude the German airades that destroyed Clydebank, before the present English Labour Government & local English Labour Council tried to finish the job): yes: you are correct it was England!

Who would attack Scotland? All our enemies throughout the world, are there because of the axis of terrorism stretching from Washington via Downing Street to Garshake Road.

I suppose given Riley’s advanced age, he is now concerned about tracing his Irish roots & this is the reason for his concerts in Ireland, according to this month’s ‘Wire’. As soon as you go searching for your Irish roots, It’s time to put your house in order. So I will make a special effort to go.

I am sad today because I cannot remember so many deaths in such a short time. I am fortunate still to have one of my parents alive. I should ensure that I see her more. God bless Nancy & Alec.

The Road to Damascus

Is life getting weirder or what?

One minute you are on a coach to Blackpool, the next instant you are sitting an assessment for a minibus test, next I am teaching a pc passport class & then I am inside my pc trying to re-connect a component that had drifted loose & all the time I had merely a dodgy mouse.

During this latter mad week my younger son got the keys to the house next door. Does this mean I will gain some living space? Does this mean he will cease asking me for ‘change for the bus’ most days?

I could have bought another house in this street with all these bus fares over the years. He did state he bought me a couple of cd singles that I had suggested. One was a Beady Belle sampler containing 5 tracks, many of which I have on the albums.

The other one was very disappointing as I had recently seen Paul Napier as support to Jackie Leven @ King Tuts, but the cd single I just got was uninspiring.

The Happy Highlanders are used to a crazy hectic schedule & they paid el rapido visit during all this chaos. They had to push on as they were going up to the hospital, then to see Allan Taylor in concert & then straight home to Glenmore. I am fond of Allan Taylor & I remember a track called ‘Sometimes’ that may have been on an album of the same name. (Mental note, I will have to check this!)

Somewhere during this period my sister-in-law, who incidentally

lives just across the road, had fallen in the street while coming over to our house. She is ok, but we are concerned as this is not an isolated case.

I am concerned about how sentimental I am becoming. This a.m. as I was forking out yet another batch of change to my homeowner son, I flashed back to a land far away when his mother was taking him aboard a plane & he wanted to stay with me. It broke my heart then to leave him & the pain still aches occasionally. It did this morning.

Divine Right’s Trip

Oh right where was I? Now I remember a dreaded first visit to Blackpool. I can now wear the t-shirt ‘I survived Blackpool Pleasure Beach’. Reminds me of the gung ho t-shirts available in Saudi Arabia after Gulf War One.

‘Don’t knock it till you try it’. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience although I was living vicariously through the wonder & shock & awe of the young children in the party.

Speaking of which, my ego got yet another dent as we boarded a Beaver creek’ canoe with our designated young person & his dad, when the official advised strap in well son & your dad & you too, granda!

Does old age happen to Deadheads, too?

On reflection, the reason I enjoyed the trip so much, was not so much for the event, but totally to do with the people that came with me.

This echoes what my Sierra Leone, table tennis opponent at Bell College used to say, when I asked him if he had been out & about to e.g. Loch Lomond. He stated why would he go there? I told him it was one of the most beautiful places on God’s earth. He replied that he didn’t know anyone there, he had no friends there, and therefore why would he go? People were what counted, not places. I do believe he has a very valid point.

Travelling Without Moving


‘Isnt it Funny how time slips away’.

Sporting a Turkish away top (thanks liam), I was pondering my first trip to ‘weegie’ heaven.

This is not strictly true. I did arrive in Blackpool train station by accident rather than design, after I boarded the wrong connection from Preston, when I was coming home for a break during my 3 years in Manchester.

I remember when I was younger, I used to enjoy the journey more than the arrival at my destination. Now that I am older the opposite is true.

Last year, I was invited to Blackpool with the International students, after the event. This time I have had advanced warning. It is only for a day (I hope!) & I trust I will not find it ‘too tacky’.

It seems a bit odd, when we live in the most scenic country in the world & yet we are going down to England’s Las Vegas.

Moving Without Travelling



‘Catch a falling star; put it in your pocket save it for a rainy day’.

Sometimes the searching for something elusive can be more pleasurable than obtaining the result. Not always. Life can often create disappointments.

This week has resulted in the acquisition of materials from 2 exceptional bands. This has been a gnawing irritant on the back burner since the late 60s.

After a search of some 37 years, I was certainly not let down by Mandrake Memorial, who have been criticised by others as being 2nd division psychedelia. This is a nonsense, possibly put out because of their incredibly, high level of musicianship. In my humble opinion this band are way up there at the top of the Premier, period.

The other band is Jan Dukes de Grey. I have been looking for this since I saw the covers on the Deram/Dawn label? Recently I discovered they were on the NWW list. I just got a cd named ‘Sorcerer’, but as this is 67 minutes long & the average lp of that period was around the 40 minute mark, I suspect this may be a compilation. I will check a discography to find out.

It hasn’t grabbed me yet maybe it will take a little longer. I remember this came out around the same time (& perhaps on the same label) as Comus. Now they stand the test of time exceptionally well.

Down But Not Out, Yet

If we cannot beat the world champions, who can we beat? Andora? Let’s hope we don’t slip up against the Faroes. We have done so before!

On the night of that disastrous result, I was getting a Lithuanian haircut, she cut it fast as she knew I was anxious to catch the match. Strangely enough, Lithuania is also in our European championship group.

A proud nation that always expects that it can punch above it’s weight.

I was fortunate enough to hear alex neill, snp give a speech on Friday night that would raise those hairs on the back of your neck. There is & will be a huge backlash from the Unionist establishment including the Orange Order (In Scotland!) warning Scots about voting for Independence. Even Ian Rankine, a writer whose work I admire, claimed that Scotland is not ready for Independence!

Just look at how these other small countries have developed since they gained their freedom: Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, etc….the list is endless.

Beattie Scores Again & Saves His Country

Life doesn’t get any better than this? A last minute goal against Georgia lifts a whole nation of also rans & victims of Imperialism into what we really are & that, this a country deserving of respect & self-determination.

Beattie’s goal gave us our pride back. I watched the game on tv & the atmosphere was electric. Driving back home from my In-laws & listening to the events post match, there was something huge happening.

I wouldn’t tempt fate & go along to those optimistic ally mcleod days, but there is just an outside chance, we could be at the top table & qualify for the European Championships. Commentators are saying this is what it is like to win ugly! This is despite the fact that we have Italy & France in our group!

We all know how often we get these impossible draws while England get the minnows. I will save that conspiracy theory for another day.

After such a boost, I knew that the gig with the happy highlanders would be a blast. Although they are having a harrowing time at this moment, Jackie Leven @ King Tuts was just the diversion they required.

I have seen the great man at the same venue maybe a year ago, I will have to check this blog’s archives for an answer. His new cd ‘Oh What a Blow that Phantom Dealt Me!’, is packed with superb songs. Seeing him perform live however gives another dimension to his art. His voice for me cannot be beaten.

The Day of the Jackal

You have seen the original film & the remake. Just check these passport photos & check this guy's passports. Some very suspicious cirumstances here & some highly controversial countries visited.

All the stans: afghanistan, pakistan, iran, balkans, saudi arabia, nepal, hindustan............
Political hotspots throughout the world. Is there more to this seemingly reserved librarian than meets the eye?

What could be a more suitable cover story? Or has he just read too many books?

Does he look familiar? Have you seen him just seconds before some catastrophe?

Me & My 2 Sons



This is an excellent photo of me & my 2 sons after watching 'Little Miss Sunshine' & crying our little hearts out!

Song of the Highwire Shrimper


Following on from Archimedes Badkar. This indeed has been a revelation. The 2nd album in particular has me thinking I am listening to either Soft Machine’s 3rd album or ‘Wire’ magazine’s featured artist, Terry Riley’s - Poppy Nogood.

As I listened to it this a.m. from 7.00 a.m. the street sounds, e.g. bleepy electronic car keys, passing emergency vehicle, children’s voices on the way to school & birds morning choruses, washed in to the perfect overall soundscape.

I have been listening to Radio 3’s Mixing Programme for 16 years, since the start. In their wisdom, the bbc has pulled it.Why??


Fortunately, Resonance FM has given the boys a slot. However, I used to pick it up under the listen again umbrella & as yet Resonance doesn’t have this facility!

The heading refers to a track on Tim Hecker’s Radio Amor. I was enjoying this & raving about it to anyone who would listen (no-one!) & there was a review in the ‘Wire’ stating everything I had thought about the album. It’s great when someone re-enforces opinions you already hold.

Archimedes Badkar & Belle & Sebastian



Another weekend, another Scottish rugby defeat, another Celtic failure, this time at the hands of Falkirk’s bairns. Why settle for second best?

Some would suggest it is our fate, as we have no form of self-determination. Unlike other small countries, we have no real say in our own affairs. No wonder we are losing everything except our pride. This must change soon.

On the positive side, I did finally hear the soundtrack song to the Belle & Sebastian series. It was by Les Poppies & it is awesome. I also managed to source some cds from that esoteric NWW list…………..e.g. .Archimedes Badkar’s first couple of albums & I am looking forward to getting to know them.

The Wealth of Nations

I just heard today that the Bank of England is withdrawing Edward Elgar from the £20 note & replacing him with Adam Smith one of the leading instigators of the Scottish Enlightenment.

Is this a sign that we are being recognised as a nation?

Freedom?



Hold on a minute! What is going on? Tony Blair & George Bush are arming to the teeth, with the latest nuclear weapons, a small country in the northern hemisphere, that is heading towards its inevitible independence.

Did I miss something? Oh yes the people of that country are proud & always box above their weight. Even although they do not want these weapons, perhaps they may use them to get some revenge for being exploited all these years!

Bring it on.

King Tubby’s Wah Wah Hut

What a hectic week. Not only are Celtic out of Europe, but they were also beaten today by the forces of darkness.

During this week I had to make a trip up to King Tuts to collect tickets for Jackie Leven’s upcoming date.

On Wednesday, I had to drive out to Dunblane for a Joint Conference for I.T/MIS & Librarians. It was exciting, but sometimes you just crave that pipe & slippers in front of the fire.

I also was made aware of a couple of photos of myself floating around in a Community Scotland report. I cannot remember 1) the photo being taken 2) where I was & 3) giving permission for the photo to be used.

I know this is rich coming from me with such a cavalier attitude towards copyright, but I just want some control over my crazy life.

What did keep me going however were the following little gems:

Crippled Black Phoenix- Love of shared disasters

Tim Hecker – Radio Amor

Avey Tare & Kria Brekken – Pullhair Rubeye

Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol 3 part 4

Ivor & John gone but not forgotten.

Daddy what was life like back in Glasgow when people didn’t care about money & they just tried to get on?

Well one of the pleasures in my simple life included meeting my girlfriend, now my wonderful wife & going into The Ceylon Tea Centre (Sri Lanka) in Buchanan Street for a meal. You could have a wide selection of, what was at that time quite a radical idea, fresh salads & a large pot of tea with a boiling water refill on the side. The salads were to die for I can still remember the huge portions & the tremendous value for money. Friday nights were special of course & although I frequented roughly the same area of Sauchiehall Street as todays’ bright young things, there was not the same level of sleezy, drunkiness that exits now. It was a happy peaceful time, man.

Often into The State Bar & then onto the Maryland across the road to see some spectacular sights both on & off the stage, e.g. Edgar Broughton Band erupting into ‘Out Demons Out’ at the end of their set. It still brings a smile to my lips whenever I fall nostalgic & put it on.

Turkish Delights


‘Bridge to engine room’. Isnt it odd how everything appears to be connected. Listening to Potemkine’s ‘Triton’ (1977) this a.m., I was amazed at how much the violinist reminded me of Jerry Goodman of Flock & later of the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

This sound of 70s retro jazz rock would excite one of my happy highlander friends.

Wasn’t ‘Battleship Potemkine’ a movie by Serge Eisenstein? I have so many new Kazakh & Russian acquaintances at work.

Also last night TCM showed ‘Zabrieski Point’, another of my favourite movies & one with the best soundtrack & the best beginnings & end sequences. I realised how much of the actual music was left off the album. This also reminded me of how the sound on Antonioni’s films outstrips everyone else. He has a great ear for the sound quality of his films.

Why are the phones & the walls of my house covered with photos of Davy Robertson from BBC Scotland news. Is there a cult?

I have just acquired a number of Turkish psychedelic albums & I would suggest that perhaps I might have the largest collection of Turkish psychedelia in Scotland? Actually to be honest much of it sounds closer to krautrock.

I am reminded of my last days in Istanbul, when the atmosphere was tinged with agent provocateurs & the tension was tangible. It was November 73 just around the time of the ‘Midnight Express’ bust. I took to my room in the hotel with an Iranian friend & a large of supply of wood blocks for the stove.

Afro Harps

There it is I have done it again. You make all these plans & then something else comes along & you get pulled in another direction.

Sun Ra’s ‘Sunrise in Different Dimensions’ started the whole shebang.

I just acquired a copy of another Dorothy Ashby cd ‘Afro Harping’ ‘big wow factor’ on this one folks. I have gone on at length about her other cds on these pages. This one has been playing all morning end to end.

You can see where Alice Coltrane (r.i.p.) got many of her ideas.

On that desert island, I would love to have a pile of Dorothy Ashby, Alice Coltrane, Sun Ra, Martin Denny, Moondog, Sun City Girls, Miles Davis, dvd highlights of my last 500 ‘tap-ins’ from my 5-a-side matches & a copy of the Dewey Decimal Classification latest edition. (Only kidding about the latter!).

Having a High Llama Time

Sometimes in order to learn you have to immerse yourself totally in the subject.

This is a technique I have employed in the past e.g. in order to learn Arabic.

Although the High Llamas have always been chipping away at me, I have frequently shelved this as ‘one day I will need to gather up all my High Llama cds & just play them end to end. I am at this stage now. I always thought of the band as a modern take on the Beach Boys & that is not a bad thing. Is it?

This is causing a little internal conflict due to the death of Charles Gocher. I have accumulated a wealth of new (for me) Sun City Girls items. They are for other days.

The sun has come out over the past few days as we drift into march amid crocuses, daffodils & Mad March hares & the High Llamas are providing the best sunny soundtrack.

Siege the Day

I will have to stop watching these epic historical movies e.g. Troy, Kingdom of Heaven & Alexandria, because every time ‘Muttonchops’ the mad mental window cleaners’ ladder appears, I put the oil on the stove.

I have had to speak to him in the past for crushing my flowers by leaving his ladders on top of my flower beds. Obviously, he is not a gardener. I had negotiated a minor discount from him for leaving his ladders in the garden for days & I am sure we will have to chat again real soon.

I am trying to introduce a gutter cleaning clause into our dealings, so I will have to keep him sweet & stop pouring the boiling oil onto him.

Chaos Theory

Recently I watched yet another crazy Finnish movie. The Finns seem to be as obsessed by alcohol & misery as us Scots perhaps even more so. Anyway this film was called ‘Frozen Land’ it was rather long for films these days at around 2 hours. However like me you are a sucker for anything that highlights chaos theory you will love this movie. You know the old adage about a butterfly flapping its wings.

While I was writing this believe it or not, I was actually listening to Terry Riley’s ‘Rainbows in Curved Air’. Its not that long since I played this, but I was surprised at how clean it sounds from its 1969 recording. It is also very short. That gave me the opportunity to play some Sun City Girls & this led me to wonder about whether it is pc to enjoy their fake takes on asian cultures with their odd vocal stylings & dalek mutterings & laughter. Since writing this I just found out that Charles Gocher the 54 year old drummer with SCG has died of cancer. What a year for deaths!

I think they are an amazing band & I do not believe they are making fun of other cultures they are actually promoting music from these areas. Their Sublime Frequencies label issues many works from culturally endangered regions.

This led me to ponder about Mr Cohen’s humour in Borat & whether it was politically correct to fall about laughing.

I then played Ray LaMontagne’s ‘Til the Sun Turns Black’ & the rain went off, the sun came out & as soon as it was finished I played it again rapido. This is surely the best cd since I don’t know what.

53 years old & still doing what I have been doing since I was 16!

Fire & Rain

Being an avid ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine reader, when it really mattered….i.e. in the late 60s & early 70s, I was amazed at the frequent output of the Taylor clan, beginning with James.

I wondered what happened to the others, especially as my son had spent a small fortune on a ticket for James’s upcoming concert in Glasgow. I found this in Wikipedia:

Taylor's four siblings, Alex, Livingston, Hugh, and Kate, have also been musicians with recorded albums. (Livingston is still an active musician; Kate was active in the 1970s but did not record another album until 2003; Hugh operates a bed-and-breakfast with his wife; Alex died in 1993.) Taylor's children with Carly Simon, named Ben and Sally, have also embarked on musical careers. His father remarried later and had three more children: Preston, Theo and Julia.

If 6 Was 9

Are numbers significant? There are many patterns in the natural world that would suggest that all life has a numerical foundation. The ancient Greeks were obsessed by numbers. Mad Madonna & her mates are current toying with the kabala, although with them we know it will be a passing fad when the next big thing comes along to divert their attention.

I live in house number 33, before that I lived @ #63 in a nearby street. For most of my early life, I lived @ a house numbered 3 & I was there in 1969.

As I write this, I am listening to 6 organs of admittance & it is taking me back to 1969. In my opinion, they are good enough to be 9 organs of admittance, even although they mostly work as a duo.

Another of my favourite bands was a duo for much of their output, although they informed the media that they were as their name suggests a trio. They had a fictionalised 3 rd member of the Hafler trio, but in fact it was Chris Watson (late of cabaret Voltaire & who makes excellent cds for the touch label & who works in sound for the bbc) & Andrew McKenzie.

I always felt drawn to this band. For a time when he was working solo, Andrew McKenzie became very ill with hepatitis b just like this writer. Mr McKenzie enjoyed word & number games in his work………e.g a trilogy in 2 parts, four ways of saying five…….etc…

This writer is not obsessed with numerology, but I can codify ideas & knowledge down to minute decimal signifiers.
I do not enjoy football, I watch & play 796.334!

Many of the bands I listen to regularly have names containing numbers……e.g. 3 Mustapha’s 3, pentangle…third ear band…….9 horses………………etc

Great Big Supermaket Chain Houmous Scare



I knew there was something odd afoot when none of the usual suppliers had any houmous on the shelves. Sainsburys is often a sure source but they had dried up too. What could I do two little starving boys at home & me with the houmous deficiency disease. As we used to say in the jailI was 'rattling' man.

Of course, I could make some at the drop of a hat, but I wanted immediate satisfaction.

Later we scoured the newspapers for the story. Yes, there it was in black & white, 6 large supermarket chains had withdrawn stock due to a health scare. Luckily there are some other independent suppliers left & off we went to Aldis & went crazy clearing the shelves. You never know when they will be 'carrying' again.

Is Shinsuke Nakamura the new Lubo Moravcik?

Even he is about to leave the nest & move all the way across the privet to next door, do you think keith dylan ginsberg kerouac beattie, would object if I added Shinsuke Nakamura to his name.

Over recent months I am sure there are babies all over Glasgow with all, or some, of this Japanese magician’s name there on their birth documents. Judging from his majestic free kicks as well as his other linking moves, I can understand why he has become the football fans’ favourite.

My own reasons for giving our last born this mouthful are a bit obvious, some would say it has something to do with a touch of eccentricity, although to be honest I personally don’t know what gives people that crazy idea.

Great Lost Albums of 60s & 70s

Pt 9

Even at my advanced age I still get surprised.

Today I managed to discover a new artist & album from back in the day. Gary Higgins ‘Red Hash’ is the best thing I have heard since Clive Palmer singing ‘Pretty Kerry’. Find it somehow, its one you should hear before you die.

I am not sure what the title refers to maybe some kind of corned beef stew?

I’ve Got Those Fleetwood Mac, Chicken Shack, John Mayall Cant Fail Blues Again!

Let’s see what else has slipped under the radar lately. It’s a case of what goes around, comes around. The whole blues thing was very much a part of my life during the late 60s early 70s. Been there done that! I cannot really listen to much of that material. There are exceptions to every rule however. As the following might suggest:

There were albums that did not set the world on fire at the time, but going back now & re-listening to them certainly brightens up my life.

Some of these artists have been thrown back at me by current djs….e.g. Gilles Peterson has reminded me of how great both David Axelrod, Harvey Mandell & Shuggie Otis were. I am listening to the latter’s ‘Here Comes Shuggie Otis’ as I write this @ 9.30 Sunday a.m. & Its pouring outside. Hold on & I will turn it up, way over ‘bat level’ for the ‘Happy Highlanders’ as one of them is going a little deaf with age. Ah that’s better.

The whole white blues thing from the states had some great artists, beginning with the Electric Flag & then the solo albums by Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper…….etc..had that extra something that is difficult to describe. There was of course the part they played in the formation of the electric Dylan sound.

I heard one of Al Kooper’s recent cds & it was dire. However, I can still remember those tracks I had on my old Grundig, 4 track open reel recorder & how sweet they were. Unfortunately, a lot of this old vinyl stuff has stayed well below the radar unlikely to get re-issued on cd.

Scottish Baroque

Please excuse me while I go off on one again. Alright, I wont mention the remarkable co-incidence (or the half-remarkable question!) involving me starting Colin Harper’s book on Bert Jansch & his interview in this month’s ‘Wire’ magazine.

I am being driven in this direction by that whole psychedelic folk revival across the Atlantic. Recent concerts in Milngavie, where I saw John Renbourn onstage or in the audience, kept Bert Jansch in vogue. They were sparring partners for so long. At one of these concerts, I met Stuart, who recommended Colin Harper’s ‘Dazzling Stranger’ about Bert Jansch & the first British folk & blues boom.

This month’s ‘Wire’ also has a feature on Bert & I have recently re-listened to my Pentangle cds. I am reminded of the only time I saw Bert live & this was @ Bellshill library. An exceptionally intimate performance that convinced me of Bert’s greatness.

From the book, I discovered that Bert was tight with both Clive Palmer & Robin Williamson of the Incredible String Band. They all lived together in Edinburgh over a number of years.

I am enjoying the details about this post war beatnik lifestyle with all the Kerouac overtones, the sandals & beards & dufflecoats. Bert, Clive & Davy Graham for some strange reason found themselves in rather exotic parts of the world: North Africa, Afghanistan & other parts of the Middle East. This was to have a major influence on their lives & work.

Also this was to point the way for the next generation. What amazed me, as I was growing up, was that I felt that myself & my peers, were opening up new avenues of exploration. The naked truth was, that many of the above characters had already ‘been there, done that’.

Richard Skelton

As an avid ‘Wire’ reader, I am often intrigued by their range of articles. I was not aware of it but some recent acquisitions I have were by Richard Skelton (see ‘Wire’ Feb. 2007, p12) under his many aliases.

Personal tragedy, i.e. the death of his wife in 2004, has spurred the 33 year old to lose himself in the creative process & the results are spectacular. His releases on his own label: Sustain-Release (www.sustain-release.co.uk) come out under various monikers e.g. Broken Consort, Carousell, Harlassen or Heidika.

As librarians we cannot help classifying or giving a taxonomy to ‘things’ so I would have to peg Richard Skelton’s work in either a post rock or a folktronic genre. However his output doesn’t really fit comfortably into either bracket & each album fluctuates across a broad spectrum. I like to think of it as a kind of minimal drift ambience, but perhaps that’s just me being silly!

In recent times this voyage of discovery of all this new post rock…whatever new music has been a real labour of love. There is a wealth of real quality music around. Not the MTV & other media-led pap we are constantly exposed to, but deep under the surface if you choose to look you will find great treasures. I feel that this is a very worthwhile quest & I have spent a good, many hours searching & the rewards make it worthwhile.

Fab gear just discovered includes Mono, the band not the record shop, café, club, restaurant in King St, Glasgow & the self-titled cd by Det Gamla Landet.

Epitome of Cool

No I am not talking about Chet Baker, Steve McQueen or even Audrey Hepburn. I am thinking about a sad librarians Friday night that usually consists of viewing music programmes on bbc 4 (the only tv channel worth watching). I am seldom disappointed & often enlightened.

Last night’s documentary on J.J.Cale was exceptional. His songs have always been drifting around our house since way back when. That cool, smokey voice & laidback sound certainly fits in with my frame of mind.

He has been given a rebirth of sorts with Eric Clapton paying back some of his dues. Although he has recorded inferior versions of ‘After Midnite’ & ‘Cocaine’. Clapton’s sound around the time of ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’ owed so much to JJ. Early Dire Straights stole this sound too.

However watching JJ, I now realise that he had such a sensible anti-commercial stance throughout his life. He kept his whole musical life within his own grasp. He did own up to a rather colourful past (I mean who did not trip the light fantastic at that time).

A recent discovery for me has been David Munyon, who has strong elements of that Cale sound. I had ‘Song for Danko’, a recent release that I love & this week a copy of an album called CD3 was brought down from Aviemore.

Too much ping in the pong

Who thinks a librarians’ life is quiet?

Yesterday my mate ‘Caff’ appeared after perhaps a 2 year gap with an enquiry & I tried to source his needs. However he carries so much baggage & is so far ‘out there’ he wears me out. He talks so fast about everything & anything I found it difficult to focus. Its odd to recollect that his partner is so calm & teaches tai chi (she taught me at one point).

After this, perhaps it was due to this freaky visit, I got totally whitewashed at table-tennis. I mean, I consider myself a decent player, although I didn’t begin until I was almost 30 & working in the Mitchell Library. Later I was chosen to represent King Saud University College of Agriculture at the game. Although I have not played since grudge matches in Glenmore perhaps 15 years ago, I would have expected to have retained some skills. My colleague, Tommy gave me a quick lesson on how far I still have to travel. It was like playing Shane Warren. The ball was spinning embarrassingly & I totally failed to read any of his serves.

I had tried, & failed, to get someone to sort out how to stop 41 year old toilets from smelling. It reminds me of Batha or Harra in Riyadh or Mumbai on a bad day. I decided to bring stuff from home. Will this stop the pong? Watch this space. Do you remember Ping’s House on Dumbarton Road?