Entertainment For Lively Minds
Word 197: it's the long and winding podcast
In this boundary-smashing one-hour-plus podcast Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Fraser Lewry range across: a star-studded carol service, what Verdi could do that Dylan couldn't, rock and roll's magic age of 24, the association between mix tapes and love letters, the cassettes we miss and the ones we don't and the story of "Wally!"
In addition Kate Mossman joins us to talk to folkie Jackie Oates who also plays a couple of songs from her excellent, Folk Award-nominated new album Saturnine.
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Another splendid bit of podcastage...
Thanks.
I must admit to being slightly amazed that the average 10 year old would have even heard of *the famous actor* DH refers to, but you live and learn.
24? Yes I definitely peaked at 24, in almost every way. Ah well...
And another fabulous musical guest in the shape of Jackie Oates - with your musical tip-offs you will be costing me money.
Dolly Pentreath... FWOOOOAARR!
Cornwall has long been my favourite place in the UK. A few years back I was staying in a B&B in St Just, chatting away with the owners in the garden about the - err - somewhat limited physical appeal of Dolly as evidenced by the engraving above. I was then told to keep my voice down as one of her descendants apparently lived next door...
Wonderful stuff... I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas, but I'd love to have been present for the Atkinson / Blessed spectacular.
You've reminded me of my habit of shouting out "FREEBIRD!" in the breaks between songs at jazz fusion gigs in the 1980s. I can assure you that unlike Dweezil Zappa, Chick Corea did not see the funny side.
Thanks, as always. And can I say that with regards the podcast - unlike most areas of entertainment - less is not more. More is more.
Answer me this
does the 'Wally' thing have anything to do with those 'Where's Wally' books that were all the rage in the 80s where you had to locate the Wally character amongst a huge crowd.
Speaking of gig shouts,
"STEVEN...."
Haven't heard the podcast yet
But "Wally" was definitely being shouted at gigs in the 70s so nothing to do with the books.
I accompanied my son to V this year and the young people have moved on from shouting "Wally" to shouting "Alan". They think it's original. Bless.
First heard (by me) at Liverpool Empire in 1973
It was a feature of every gig I ever went to see at the Empire and the Royal Court in the 70's.
However I don't think I've heard it anywhere since the outbreak of the Punk Wars.
They were more innocent times, we had to make us own entertainment etc...
"WALLY!!!"
JUST COMING!
The "Whipping Post" cry at..
Dweezils concert wasn't as random or knowing as is made out.
Frank himself covered the song extensively in his last great live era.
Zappa + Whipping Post
IIRC, Zappa was playing a concert in Finland and somebody in the audience shouted out for Whipping Post. Frank said he was sorry but the band didn't know that one.
Soon after, he worked up a typically elaborate arrangement of the song and made the band learn it "just in case somebody requests it again".
After no-one did, he started playing it regularly - possibly as a pre-emptive measure, or possibly because it allowed for a stonkingly long guitar solo.
'Wally!' in the late 80s.....
....at an outdoor concert I attended. A balding, bespectacled, vintage T-shirt-wearing individual wanders through my part of the crowd, shouting 'Walleeeee!!' It looks like he remembers this cry from the first time.
No response from the rest of the crowd. The cry comes up again. And again. Still nobody takes up the baton.
Finally someone near me shouts out 'Wally!'
The originator looks round in gratitude.
'Yer Dad's here'
Thank you...
... for the usual talking of bollocks, but above all for introducing me to Jackie Oates. Incredibly enchanting stuff. And her album's on emusic - marvellous! Here go 12 of this month's credits.
Jackie was lovely, but I'd like to mention Mike Cosgrave
her piano player. His accompaniments are beautifully constructed and recall another brilliant piano player in the folk genre, Belinda O'Hooley who played on and wrote a couple of songs for The Unthanks "The Bairns". She now plays in a duo - check them out -
http://www.ohooleyandtidow.com/index.php
Loved the carol service story
But must agree, how many kids have heard of Rowan? Blackadder was in the 80s. Kids in year 7 (just started secondary school) were born in the year 2000. Even the Mr Bean's pre-date them.
Sadly for the kids, they're not seeing BRIAN!!! BLESSED!!! and wanting to ask him - how is Gordon, I heard he might have died?
But Johnny English...
...did distressingly good business this summer.
I was part of that business
Johnny English is a huge fave in my family & extended family. So my niece (11) would know him from that in fairness.
Get out.
Reminded of a joke by a phrase David Hepworth used ...
Chap goes into a baker's in Scotland
"Is that an eclair or a meringue?"
"No, you're quite right, it's an eclair"
Top podcast BTW, made wandering around Bristol in the sleet almost tolerable