An in depth interview with T-Bone Burnett.

I think the Fairport idea is a non starter. Clearly the Word populace is not interested in crusty old folk rockers. I say let's have Robbie on the cover!!!

It would be nice to have a little bit of space devoted to some of the people who have been knocking away at the more esoteric coalface for quite a few years. Names that spring to mind are the like of John Lurie, John Zorn, Marc Ribot, Terry Allen, even Eugene Chadbourne. I'm sure they've all got a tale to tell. Also some of the producers such as Mitchell Froom, Joe Henry, etc.

Terry Reid. He's over again in May. If that guy doesn't have the greatest depository of interesting stories of an almost-famous life in rock music, then I'm a banana. You could tie it in with a picture of Zeppelin on the cover for the shelf sales. All angles covered.

One of my personal favourites and would, I imagine, give excellent value...

I'm also convinced that there is still a good article (or book) on the sad decline of Steve Marriott that needs to be written...

Edwyn Collins has just announced a new tour. Now there's a story crying out to be told.

.... would you like to see in the Word, I'd change the question to 'what', and answer it with a look at the current state of the world of videogames and the way that more and more non-gamers are being enticed into its digital grip. I always enjoy most in Word those articles about the various facets of music, cinema, technology, DVDs et al, such as the future of downloadable music, and of radio, social networking, the recent one on ticket pricing, and would like to see their own unique take on this genre of electronic entertainment.

Maybes they could look at how the trad stereotype of gamers is changing (in a poll last year it was found that 20% of regular gamers in the UK were over the age of 50), the rise of the casual gamer who were brought in by the likes of Nintendo's portable DS and Wii console who previously wouldn't have been seen dead with a controller in hand, users of Flash games on t'internet like Popcap (60% of whose users are female or so I read recently), how the consoles are becoming media centres in their own right, and so on.

Better yet that it could be penned with someone of wit and wisdom who also knew something of the field, such as the godlike genius that is the Laurence Fishburne-resembling Charlie Brooker.

And on a completely different tack, I'd love an article by someone in the know about the vast archives of musical material the BBC has got stashed in its vaults - what's in there, when it might all ever be released in some form in the future, great lost performances etc etc.

And finally on a musical tip, I'd second Alex's shout for a looksy at the life of Edwyn Collins. Talk about a life less ordinary.

This must be the forum for me to ask whether The Word can somehow harness the opinions of it's readership to get a good 'recommendation' forum going.

We are all looking for that band which we were previously unaware of that comes like a bolt from the blue and are wonderful. We have the Word itself and Word of Mouth etc, but what if there was something structured that harnessed the listening power and proven good musical taste of the readership, to point us all to something perhaps previously unrecognised.

It could be something like the Bookclubs that are proliferating in the 'terrestrial' newspapers these days, only for music. Or it could be something on the website that literally has a 'Try this' followed by 'They sound like....'. You get my drift I hope.

Meanwhile in the absence of this I'd like to see something on The Mutton Birds. A band that never quite escaped from the long shadow of Crowded House but were utterly wonderful nevertheless. (btw seek out Don McGlashan's album 'Warm Hand' which would get 5 stars from me and is criminally unpublicised in the Northern Hemisphere)

A trip back to Cowpunk might be fun, with a whatever happened to them next, explaining how the Boothill Footappers, Pogue Mahone (surely stylistically ill suited, but seemed to get lumped in together)and others fared, adding on into the Men They Couldn't Hang and onward into the country -rock revival (at the front and back of a short queue) of the Rockingbirds. Offshoots and branches a la family tree of new folk in this months issue. But better drawn, as it was adisgrace to have that only a few pages, fer chrissake, after an interview with Pete Frame.
Pubrock could be another, with the Willis, Ducks de Luxe etc etc. It should appeal. (I know Roogalator have a big fan amongst the Irregulars)
I know some of our younger comrades despair all this backward rear mirror glancing, so maybe, given the "Whats hot in Ipswich" strand ongoing, just who are the movers and shakers in our regions, and I don't just mean bands. Local venues, labels, mentors etc would be of some fascination, I suspect and may teach us old'uns, for all I know, a bit about our home towns.

I'd like to see some interviews with:

John Shuttleworth
Matt Johnson (The The)
Paddy McCloon
Teenage Fanclub
Bob Harris
Count Arthur Strong
Elvis Presley

If an interview is out of the question due to distance then a simple career overview would suffice.

Classic oz "punk" song, by the Saints, effectively Ed Kuepper.
(Why does he sound a prize tit, or have I missed earlier commentary. Is it his name that offends? Cos it sounds like a smoked fish? Criticism by name of artist?? Because of name?? I'd give nix to that as a method.

Can be a bit prickly. He's an odd sort of character but quite gifted.

He's had an incredibly varied career. Like Neil Young its hard to imagine any one person liking everything he's done but at his best he's brilliant.

I can't imagine he'd shift too many copies so I wouldn't put him on the cover but he's more than worthy of a lengthy profile in the mag. The story of how The Saints "I'm Stranded" became Sounds magazine's single of "This and every other week" is worthy of an article in itself.

Doubtless they were your favourite musicians of the 60s...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wrecking_Crew_%28music%29

I hadn't realised that none of the Beach Boys played on "Good Vibrations"... the Wrecking Crew played on so many amazing hits.

And if their story never appears in Word, I'd heartily recommend reading this one:
http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/web/20070212-rock-n-roll-brian-...

I'd like to see them interviewing each other.

...is a whole feature devoted to New Country with essential albums, interviews with key players (Lucinda Williams, Shelby Lynne, Holly Williams, Tim McGraw etc.); a Nashville tour etc. etc. But nothing about Hank Williams, Dolly Parton or Kenny Rogers, mind.

Yes - definitely time for an in-depth interview with McNabb. As mentioned previously he is always good value for money, now has a substantial history as a solo performer and with the Icicle Works, as well as being involved recently in the Liverpool 08 activities. And the autobiography should be a good read - I think Andrew Collins has made comment on it before.

Mark Lamarr - another great suggestion ! I really like the fact that he has such a vast musical knowledge but also doesn't suffer fools gladly and would love to read a bit more about him.

...would be a great interviewee. I know he's been in previously re the Bonzos reunion, but maybe the chance to get him talking on a range of subjects, including his solo career and recent songs, and isn't it coming up to 40 years of the Pythons ?

Ah yes that man is a genius, as I was saying to Arthur...Ted um urh Worth just the other.... urh decade. I'll have some liver with those sausages. Do I have to pay?

Also love to see Robin Williamson or Julian Cope interviewed.....what about Roky Erickson - he'd be entertaining at least.

I would love to interview Christopher Eccleston and show to everyone how he's not the "miserable Northerner" most of the media portrays him. Having met him on four occasions in recent years he is completely the opposite to what you read of him.

and I`ll say it again...A glaring omission from your excellent publication is anything substantial about Teenage Fanclub. I went to school with one of them you know...but I don`t say anything.
Shouts of hear, hear (or is it here, here?) for Brian Eno, Matt Johnson, Paddy McAloon, Christopher Eccleston, Robin Williams, Ian McNabb as well.
And what about Roddy Frame, Bruce Morton, Stephen Lindsay, Johnnie Walker, Boo Hewerdine, Postcard Records, The Jesus & Mary Chain, need I go on? And let Stuart Maconie write whatever he wants, he`s a genius.

Terry Hall.
With the Specials 'Best of' in the shops and a reunion expected, the joker of the Coventry 2-Tone scene will surely be only too happy to schmooze along to Word Towers to place some product.

Jeff Lynne
Here's a long shot. Send proud former ELO fan-club member Andrew Collins business class to LA to meet the man responsible for 'Evil Woman'. Happy days.

Whilst I agree with muttnjeff about wishing to see a feature on The Mutton Birds I have to express disappointment that McGlashan's Warm Hand didn't meet my (high) expectations. He and Alan Gregg need each other - Marshmallow is too saccharine whilst McGlashan could do with Gregg's immensely strong melodies. But what a band all the same and definitely worth a feature in your esteemed publication.

Roxy Music were astonishing in the 70's and it's a body of work that's well overdue a re-appraisal, rather than the usual old tosh about image and how suave and smart BF is.

A U2 feature would be great if only someone had the balls to sit in front of Bono and ask him to discuss: a) how sanctimonious he comes across, however well intentioned he might be; and b) let's talk frankly about some of the more overblown music and crap lyrics. It'd be nice to read about a jolly good bunfight rather than the usual polite stuff...

Nils: a super and horribly under-appreciated solo career after being in Grin; working with Neil Young on "Goldrush;" Springsteen's guitarist - the man must have a terrific story to tell.

I saw John McVie interviewed for a Fleetwood Mac documentary and he was a gas. Spoke articulately and entertainingly of the 60's band, couldn't remember that much about the 70's but was very funny about it and clearly has a large tome of stories to tell.

in conversation with Robyn Hitchcock.

...underrated genius with some good stories to tell...
The Fanclub too.....what do they do between writing four new songs every three years?
Tom McCrae...
Ed Harcourt

XTC
T-Bone Burnett
David Geffen (!)