I’m sure I speak for most when I say we are continually fed up, when on public transport, the constant sound of people playing smartphones (often at full volume) when we are forced to hear music (questionable these days IMO) and inane phone conversations.
It’s unnecessary (get some earphones for £10), discourteous (we really don’t want to hear that) and disrespectful (this really impairs the quality of our bus / train journeys).
My autism means that I have particular intolerance to high frequency (many of the smartphone reproduction is tinny and unbearable).
So after a summer full of instances like the one below, I’ve laid out plans that hopefully will end this locally and IF successful, I’ll use change org to petition every UK bus company to adopt a no-tolerance approach to audible music.
Now you will have heard me say that I recorded that. This was three gangsta-looking guys at the back of the bus. You wouldn’t be challenging them any time soon. However, they can get away with doing it because we have nothing to challenge them with. Remember before this smart technology? People didn’t take radios on buses and force us to listen to their choice of music. For one thing they’d be challenged by the driver.
Young rebellions in public bus, among polite citizens, making a chaotic atmosphere.
So I gave this a lot of thought and figured that on buses, we have signs (stickers) everywhere that say, for example, NO SMOKING OR VAPING. What do people do? They don’t smoke or vape.
With that in mind, all we REALLY need is for bus companies to produce this and help out an end to our misery once and for all.
I plan to approach our bus company here and if they take up this idea, I’ll start a change.org for signatures and see if we can’t petition bus companies UK-wide to implement the same.
When we think of this tag it’s a far more broader church isn’t it.
Interestingly, while researching this, in many lists online, Love Will Tear Us Apart didn’t feature at all though I’d consider it fits the bill.
I’ll recognise it as a classic but won’t be nominating it as my ten will feature personal favourites.
And I hope you will too! In fact the more obscure, the merrier.
To add, when I ran this hashtag through Twitter…
way-hey, we’ve an exclusive hashtag to work with.
PREVIEW
With such a vast amount of songs duplicated, I thought it best, in the early rounds at least, not to tag each nominee individually as once the draw is published, everyone will know which song is theirs as the polls go out each day. Later on perhaps things will get a little more formal. So when you see a song and think, hang on a minute, I nominated that, don’t worry as if it’s successful and reaches the latter stages of the competition then everyone who voted for the particular song will be tagged.
To add, if you submitted ten songs and one hasn’t appeared it will simply be because of space AND subject to a limit on repetition of bands, i.e, making sure we don’t have an overflow of Clash, Pistols, Stiff Little Fingers etc – I’ve worked diligently to ensure everyone has a fair crack – so let’s Whip It!
GROUPS
In rounds one and two, there will be groups of four with the top two most voted for songs going through.
ROUND ONE – 128 GROUPS
ROUND TWO – 64 GROUPS
Then from round three onwards, all songs will compete with each other head to head on a single knockout basis.
Thank you all very much for your interest and votes: this tournament will now commence on Saturday 1st October with polls published on Twitter usually between the hours of 7 and 9am.
Now here is that FIRST ROUND DRAW in full.
GROUP 1 – SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER
GROUP 2 – SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER
GROUP 3 – SUNDAY 2 OCTOBER
GROUP 4 – SUNDAY 2 OCTOBER
GROUP 5 – MONDAY 3 OCTOBER
GROUP 7 – TUESDAY 4 OCTOBER
GROUP 9 – WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER
GROUP 10 – WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER
GROUP 11 – THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER
GROUP 12 – THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER
GROUP 13 – FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER
GROUP 14 – FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER
GROUP 15 – SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER
GROUP 16 – SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER
GROUP 17 – SUNDAY 9 OCTOBER
GROUP 18 – SUNDAY 9 OCTOBER
GROUP 19 – MONDAY 10 OCTOBER
GROUP 20 – MONDAY 10 OCTOBER
GROUP 21 – TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER
GROUP 22 – TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER
GROUP 23 – WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER
GROUP 24 – WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER
GROUP 25 – THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER
GROUP 26 – THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER
GROUP 27 – FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER
GROUP 28 – FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER
GROUP 29 – SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER
GROUP 30 – SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER
GROUP 31 – SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER
GROUP 32 – SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER
GROUP 33 – MONDAY 17 OCTOBER
GROUP 34 – MONDAY 17 OCTOBER
GROUP 35 – TUESDAY 18 OCTOBER
GROUP 36 – TUESDAY 18 OCTOBER
GROUP 37 – WEDNESDAY 19 OCTOBER
GROUP 38 – WEDNESDAY 19 OCTOBER
GROUP 39 – THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER
GROUP 40 – THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER
GROUP 41 – FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER
GROUP 42 – FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER
GROUP 43 – SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER
GROUP 44 – SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER
GROUP 45 – SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER
GROUP 46 – SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER
GROUP 47 – MONDAY 24 OCTOBER
GROUP 48 – MONDAY 24 OCTOBER
GROUP 49 – TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER
GROUP 50 – TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER
GROUP 51 – WEDNESDAY 26 OCTOBER
GROUP 52 – WEDNESDAY 26 OCTOBER
GROUP 53 – THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER
GROUP 54 – THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER
GROUP 55 – FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER
GROUP 56 – FRIDAY 28 OCTOBER
GROUP 57 – SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER
GROUP 58 – SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER
GROUP 59 – SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER
GROUP 60 – SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER
GROUP 61 – MONDAY 31 OCTOBER
GROUP 62 – MONDAY 31 OCTOBER
GROUP 63 – TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER
GROUP 64 – TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER
GROUP 65 – WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER
GROUP 66 – WEDNESDAY 2 NOVEMBER
GROUP 67 – THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER
GROUP 68 – THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER
GROUP 69 – FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER
GROUP 70 – FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER
GROUP 71 – SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER
GROUP 72 – SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER
GROUP 73 – SUNDAY 6 NOVEMBER
GROUP 74 – SUNDAY 6 NOVEMBER
GROUP 75 – MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER
GROUP 76 – MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER
GROUP 77 – TUESDAY 8 NOVEMBER
GROUP 78 – TUESDAY 8 NOVEMBER
GROUP 79 – WEDNESDAY 9 NOVEMBER
GROUP 80 – WEDNESDAY 9 NOVEMBER
GROUP 81 – THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER
GROUP 82 – THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER
GROUP 83 – FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER
GROUP 84 – FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER
GROUP 85 – SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER
GROUP 86 – SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER
GROUP 87 – SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER
GROUP 88 – SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER
GROUP 89 – MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER
GROUP 90 – MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER
GROUP 91 – TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER
GROUP 92 – TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER
GROUP 93 – WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER
GROUP 94 – WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER
GROUP 95 – THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER
GROUP 96 – THURSDAY 17 NOVEMBER
GROUP 97 – FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER
GROUP 98 – FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER
GROUP 99 – SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER
GROUP 100 – SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER
GROUP 101 – SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER
GROUP 102 – SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER
GROUP 103 – MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER
GROUP 104 – MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER
GROUP 105 – TUESDAY 22 NOVEMBER
GROUP 106 – TUESDAY 22 NOVEMBER
GROUP 107 – WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER
GROUP 108 – WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER
GROUP 109 – THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER
GROUP 110 – THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER
GROUP 111 – FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER
GROUP 112 – FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER
GROUP 113 – SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER
GROUP 114 – SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER
GROUP 115 – SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER
GROUP 116 – SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER
GROUP 117 – MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER
GROUP 118 – MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER
GROUP 119 – TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER
GROUP 120 – TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER
GROUP 121 – WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER
GROUP 122 – WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER
GROUP 123 – THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER
GROUP 124 – THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER
GROUP 125 – FRIDAY 2 DECEMBER
GROUP 126 – FRIDAY 2 DECEMBER
GROUP 127 – SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER
GROUP 128 – SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER
SECOND ROUND
Monday 5 December 2022
Tuesday 6 December 2022
Wednesday 7 December
Thursday 8 December
Friday 9 December
Saturday 10 December
Sunday 11 December
Monday 12 December
Tuesday 13 December
Wednesday 14 December
Thursday 15 December
Friday 16 December
Saturday 17 December
Sunday 18 December
Monday 19 December
Tuesday 20 December
Wednesday 21 December
Thursday 22 December
Friday 23 December
CHRISTMAS EVE 2022 🎅
CHRISTMAS DAY 2022 🎄
BOXING 🎁 DAY 2022
TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER
WEDNESDAY 28 DECEMBER
THURSDAY 29 DECEMBER
FRIDAY 30 DECEMBER
NEW YEAR’S EVE 2022
NEW YEAR’S DAY 2023
MONDAY 2 JANUARY 2023
TUESDAY 3 JANUARY
WEDNESDAY 4 JANUARY
THURSDAY 5 JANUARY
THE THIRD ROUND
** WHITE MAN through after play-off
FOURTH ROUND DRAW
MONDAY 16 JANUARY
TUESDAY 17 JANUARY
WEDNESDAY 18 JANUARY
THURSDAY 19 JANUARY
Friday 20 January
Saturday 21 January
Sunday 22 January
MONDAY 23 JANUARY
FIFTH ROUND DRAW
Tuesday 24 January
Wednesday 25 January
Thursday 26 January
Friday 27 January
Saturday 28 January
Sunday 29 January
Monday 30 January
Tuesday 31 January
SIXTH ROUND
Thursday 2 February
Friday 3 February
Saturday 4 February
Sunday 5 February
QUARTER-FINALS
Tuesday 7 February
Anarchy In The UK – Sex Pistols
versus
Down In The Tube Station At Midnight – The Jam
Wednesday 8 February
Teenage Kicks – The Undertones
versus
Transmission – Joy Division
Thursday 9 February
Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve – Buzzcocks
So the title of this project comes from a Nanci Griffith album but the idea is right there on Twitter in the form of #FemaleVoices. which will have been started by someone, somewhere and a whole bunch of people will post a song per day.
At first, though I could easily fill thirty one days in July, I thought about skipping it owing to time but what persuaded me was the fact that I could blog it here and it would mushroom into a whole album in itself with playable videos; everything on Twitter available here in one room.
I will catalogue the songs in order of merit as I’ve decided upon numbers one and two – well, the whole lot now in fact.
Heidi Berry starts us off from the station with Washington Square; a song from her album, Pomegranate.
(Day 1)
HEIDI BERRY Washington Square
It’s like two trains running in two tunnels Suddenly all is light And your train comes into view Face so close, see your breath on the glass I’ll follow your eyes As you veer away into the dark And I’ll still be here In Washington Square
(Day 2)
ANNE GARNER All That’s Left
All that’s left is freezing fast No room for love, it might not last If all that’s felt is torn apart then who will keep your wounded heart in theirs?
(Day 3)
JOAN ARMATRADING Laurel And The Rose
A lonely pedestrian Walking in the night And there’s no need to run Cause I’m following behind And I don’t want I don’t want I don’t want to misunderstand
(Day 4)
LIZA MINELLI So Sorry I Said
Your powers of persuasion, those quizzical eyes Have tired and tied me with innocent guile I would have walked out and after all the tears we shed I should have stalked out gone and painted the town bright red but instead So sorry, I said
(Day 5)
EVA CASSIDY Autumn Leaves
Since you went away the days grow long And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song But I miss you most of all my darling When autumn leaves start to fall
(Day 6)
CHRISTINA PERRI A Thousand Years
Time stands still Beauty in all she is I will be brave I will not let anything take away What’s standing in front of me Every breath Every hour has come to this
(Day 7)
JEWEL Foolish Games
You’re always brilliant in the morning Smoking your cigarettes And talking… over coffee Your philosophies on art Baroque moved you, you loved Mozart And you’d speak of your loved ones As I clumsily strummed my guitar
(Day 8)
SADE By Your Side
When you’re on the outside, baby And you can’t get in I will show you You’re so much better than you know When you’re lost and you’re alone And you can’t get back again I will find you Darling, and I will bring you home
(Day 9)
MELANIE C If That Were Me
Might surprise a few, this selection, but a song about homelessness and the line “I couldn’t live without my phone but you don’t even have a home” is poignant enough to give this one a place here.
(Day 10)
LILLIAN LOPEZ (ODYSSEY) If You’re Looking For A Way Out
One of the greatest soul ballads I’ve ever heard, top notch stuff and an essential inclusion.
(Day 11)
TO THE WEDDING Honest Love
I just can’t find anything online at all about To The Wedding, there doesn’t seem to be a web page about them let alone a website, all I know is that the lead singer Lauren kindly follows me on Twitter and delivers this amazing song.
(Day 12)
KIKI DEE Loving And Free
Bound I am bound, like a rope on a swing Up in the air and then down again Sure for the first time so clear in my mind Wise to the feeling I gently unwind
(Day 13)
LIANNE HALL Cosy
Very little content on YouTube and not really much about Lianne on the internet as a whole which is bewildering really but yes, I first heard this song on the Sound Of The Suburbs Peel compilation and yes I’m aware there’s a Peel session although I haven’t heard it. From Brighton originally and these days based in Germany, this is Cosy and I’ve had to make an MP4 to upload myself.
(Day 14)
ROSIE THOMAS Pretty Dress
Put your red coat on and walk with the light in the woods If it gets dark don’t get scared There’s so much waiting for you Cover up your ears and don’t show them ‘Cause you’re much better than them
(Day 15)
NATALIE MERCHANT Maggie Said
Holdin’ back What did I get for all of that? What did it count for? Tell me that Nothin’ Nothin’ Oh, nothin’, that’s a fact
16. (Day 16)
IMOGEN HEAP (Frou Frou) Let Go
This is the music video I created for the song, a few years back now, if you’re reading this then I hope you will enjoy watching it. It hadn’t been on my YouTube channel before but it’s on there now.
Drink up baby down Mmm are you in or out Leave your things behind ‘Cause it’s all going off without you Excuse me, too busy oh, writing your tragedy These mishaps you bubble wrap when You’ve no idea what you’re likeSo let go And jump in Oh well whatcha waiting for It’s all right ‘Cause there’s beauty in the breakdown (So let go) yeah let go And just get in Oh it’s so amazing here It’s all right ‘Cause there’s beauty in the breakdownIt gains the more it gives And it rises with the fall So hand me that remote Can’t you see that all that stuff’s a sideshow Such boundless pleasure We’ve no time for later now You can’t await your own arrival You’ve twenty seconds to complySo let go And jump in Oh well whatcha waiting for It’s all right ‘Cause there’s beauty in the breakdown…
(Day 17)
KIRSTY MacCOLL Mother’s Ruin
Gin or ladies of the night?
As I’m limiting this to one song per artist, first to mind came They Don’t Know and then Caroline but if I had to pick only one song from Kite, well, Mother’s Ruin it is.
Mother’s Ruin, she says to herself I’m just screwing my own mental health” But Fridays and Saturdays She walks down those alleyways A latter day lady of the lamp How you doing? You ain’t from round here Won’t you come in? I’m really not scared ‘Cause Fridays and Saturdays I still do it anyways And anything is better than out there
(Day 18)
KATE RUSBY Underneath The Stars
Here beneath the stars I’m mending I’m here beneath the stars not ending Why on earth am I pretending? I’m here again, the stars befriending They come and go of their own free will
(Day 19)
ELIZA CARTHY Benjamin Bowmaneer
And as he rode o’er the lea Benjamin Bowmaneer As he rode o’er the lea Castors away And as he rode o’er the lea He spied a fly on his knee The proud tailor rode prancing away
(Day 20)
STINA NORDENSTAM Little Star
I wanted to choose Another Story Girl in truth but couldn’t really omit Little Star.
I fell in love with the song and the video at the time and my girlfriend at the time bought me And She Closed Her Eyes on CD.
(Day 21)
ALANIS MORISETTE You Learn
Wear it out (the way a three-year-old would do) Melt it down (you’re gonna have to eventually anyway) The fire trucks are coming up around the bend
(Day 22)
ALISON KRAUSS If I Didn’t Know Any Better
Your heart is pullin’ If I didn’t know any better I’d be fallin deeper and deeper it’s true I’d hear it callin’ If I didn’t know any better and I’d be in love When the flame burns out If finally settles down And you forget I ever came around
(Day 23)
PHOEBE BRIDGERS Smoke Signals
One of your eyes is always half-shut Somethin’ happened when you were a kid I didn’t know you then and I’ll never understand why it feels like I did
(Day 24)
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD Wishin’ And Hopin‘
So if you’re thinkin’ of how great true love is All you gotta do is hold him, and kiss him and squeeze him and love him Yeah, just do it And after you do, you will be his
(Day 25)
POLLY-JEAN HARVEY Angeline
My first name Angelene Prettiest mess you’ve ever seen Love for money is my sin Any man calls, I’ll let him in Rose is my color, and white Pretty mouth and green my eyes I see men come and go
(Day 26)
PATTY GRIFFIN Rain
Strange how hard it rains now Rows and rows of big dark clouds When I’m holding on underneath this shroud Rain…
(Day 27)
TRACY CHAPMAN Unsung Psalm
If I do have a funeral ever (though I’ll probably try and boycott it), this would be my song.
If there is one thing I know I know I will die If anyone cares some stranger my critique my life I may be revered or defamed and decried But I tried to live right
(Day 28)
JUNE TABOR Sudden Waves
There are bays, peaceful bays in the harbour of your hand Where the waves, sudden waves cannot reach There are days when the ways of your words can make dry land And I can stay
(Day 29)
TORI AMOS Here In My Head
One of the finest vocal performances I’ve ever seen from quite possibly my favourite female vocalist.
Held your hand at the fair and Even forgot what time it was And even Thomas Jefferson wasn’t born In your backyard like you have said and Maybe I’m just the horizon you run to When she has left you and me here alone on the floor You’re counting my feathers as the bells toll You see the bow and belt and the girl from the south all Favorites of mine you know then all well And spring brings fresh little puddles that makes it all clear makes it all Do you know what this is doing to me Here in my head
(Day 30)
KATE BUSH And Dream Of Sheep
It’s those seagulls. If any song gives you the feeling of a harbour and being there… and it’s my favourite song in the masterpiece that is Hounds Of Love too.
Ooh, their breath is warm And they smell like sleep And they say they take me home Like poppies, heavy with seed They take me deeper and deeper
(Day 31)
NANCI GRIFFITH From A Distance
(No words necessary)
From a distance we are instruments Marching in a common band Playing songs of home, playing songs of peace They’re the songs of every man God is watching us, God is watching us God is watching us from a distance
Inspired by #Punktop16 on Twitter I’ve been minded to create my own punk and new wave favourites list which actually will be an A to Z rather than a 1 to 20 because I couldn’t rank them at all myself. In any event at the time of writing there are twenty-three but who’s counting!
So I want to write about (if I can remember) where I first heard it, where I bought the single, what I loved about it (content and structure) though most of you who know me a little will know that late seventies I was in a Surrey children’s home and my pocket money was spent almost entirely on vinyl.
The Squirrels, Banstead is now a respite centre
I know that once I got my own single room (at 12 you could, you were in a dorm that slept four before), I had a Fidelity record player but the boy next room, Anthony, he had a Dansette. He was like a teddy boy with a drape and quiff and everything and actually taught me a thing or three about rockabilly.
At the other end of the spectrum, a boy called Christopher, 14, year younger than Anthony, now he was into punk and I remember he had these red PVC trousers with zips everywhere and a fleecy kind of jumper or sweater that was leopardskin.
My bedroom walls in posters mostly had Debbie Harry and Chrissie Hynde as pin-ups. I really liked The Pretenders although they themselves don’t feature in this project.
The music came first from the radio of course. I can remember the first time I heard London Calling at the breakfast table – knew I just had to buy that single soon as I could.
But there were magazines of course and things like Melody Maker and NME, Record Mirror and Sounds where you could see the charts and learn about all this stuff going on.
GOD BLESS WILLIAM GRUNDY
And then there was the famous Bill Grundy interview on (Nationwide was it?) – “Go on then – say something outrageous” – later I even bought the Flogging A Dead Horse album though even now I still probably side with The Great Rock And Roll Swindle over Never Mind The Bollocks though, when I did the Best Debut Album bracket on Twitter, a fair few said that Bollocks was the album that changed everything.
Later I would learn that punk rock actually started years earlier, New York Dolls were unknown to me then. I would say that the earliest single I had that would fit the bill was I Need To Know by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
All of these singles I’m about to discuss, many are household names but as it’s personal, there may be a few surprising and hopefully pleasant picks for readers.
As I said, it’s unlikely I could classify these in any particular order of merit and so in the interests of fairness, we will go through in an alphabetical line-up.
Can’t Stand Losing You – The Police Danger Signs – Penetration Emergency – 999 Gotta Getaway – Stiff Little Fingers Harmony In My Head – The Buzzcocks Hurry Up Harry – Sham 69 (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea – Elvis Costello And The Attractions In A Rut – The Ruts Love On The Terraces – Serious Drinking Manny Moe And Jack – The Dickies Mary Of The 4th Form – Boomtown Rats Pretty Vacant – Sex Pistols Public Image – Public Image Limited Run Like Hell – Peter And The Test Tube Babies Smash It Up – The Damned Something Better Change – The Stranglers Sound Of The Suburbs – The Members The Greatest Cockney Rip-Off – Cockney Rejects This Perfect Day – The Saints Tommy Gun – The Clash Tomorrow’s Girls – UK Subs You Bastard – Alternative TV You’ve Got My Number – The Undertones
THE POLICE – Can’t Stand Losing You
Released: 14 August 1978; June 1979 (re-release)
This is a fine way to start although there’s a darkness and rather a sad story attached to it.
To begin with, I do remember that this was bought for, I think, something like 32p in Woolworths in Banstead High Street and this is the one, the very same, below.
There was the out-of-chart record rack and that cover – a man dangling over a block of ice with a three-year electric fire next to it – these days we would say something like “what the actual fuck?” and ten-year-old me thought along those lines though perhaps not in quite those exact terms.
32p at the time would have got you, in a subsidised establishment like a working men’s club, a pint of Double Diamond. And one of the many benefits of researching as you write is learning – I had no idea until now that there was a Double Diamond Export.
This was an early Police single (later on I would find a copy of Fall Out) and with it’s reference to the bitterness of a break-up and thoughts of suicide, it can be heard as somewhat depressing but the cod-reggae underlay gives it a positive push I feel, one of those songs that has a bittersweet edge.
I was at an impressionable age. Back at the children’s home we learned the dad news that a resident, Geoffrey, aged 14, had thrown himself in front of a train at Brookwood station. He had run away days before. The news hit everybody hard, the children and the staff.
Because there were children there from various backgrounds, broken homes, divorce, health reasons, me with autism, it was a supportive environment that trued to be just that but there was always some kind of disturbance, to be expected with such a mix of social issues.
Of all The Police singles that I love dearly, this one had to be my choice where I’m only giving a place to one song per band and where I can, I will link a music video.
I can’t see the point in another day When nobody listens to a word I say You can call it lack of confidence But to carry on living doesn’t make no sense
The timing of it all makes me think today of how ill Geoffrey must have been with thoughts similar to those lines to make him do what he did.
PENETRATION – Danger Signs
Virgin Records, 1979
I have no recollection at all of where I heard Danger Signs the first time or where I purchased the single. I hadn’t really been aware of Don’t Dictate.
Years later I would buy that Pauline Murray And The Invisible Girls album on the strength of having a 10-inch copy of Dream Sequence which I thought was amazing and played to death repeatedly.
Still, Danger Signs is to me a classic punk affair and easily grabbed a spot in this. A vinyl rip here, scratches and all – wonderful.
“Go on, go on, go on, go ON…”
999 – Emergency
Released: June, 1978
I’m back – in full atTACK!
They were great weren’t they? 999. Didn’t seem to have any longevity, they were suddenly there and then… but I learned only this morning that The Dickies are still going!
Emergency though, a fine new wave single, oh my word, yes.
Black jack wanna quack Never get your money back Pack attack in the back By a bloody maniac Better see industry Take it fast and make it last Go away make them pay Never make the same mistakes Sometimes care sometimes not See them bleed and see them rot I’m back in full attack Never give in until they crack Emer… emergency Emer… EMERGENCY!
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS – Gotta Gettaway
Released: 27 April 1979
One of the finest moments in life was the 1987 visit to the Netherlands and south-west Germany.
I had a birthday there in Valkenburg and the morning after an evening of many litres of Dutch fuel, to clear my head I decided to go for a dip at the Polfermolen, local public pool.
Walking out into the early Sunday morning sunshine, the first song on my cassette Walkman was Bloody Sunday (Stiff Little Fingers) – enough to clear anyone’s head.
As we are cataloguing singles here, I’ve decided on Gotta Gettaway for my inclusion. It’s just as immense and I love the imagination of it all. Life really was passing me by. And still is.
You know there ain’t no street like home To make you feel so all alone Plenty of folk to tell you what to do But they don’t speak the same language as you They wanna have me here Have me and hold me near Hold me down fasten and tie But the cars are all flashing me Bright lights are passing me I feel life passing me by
THE BUZZCOCKS – Harmony In My Head
Released: 13 July, 1979
Where do you go with Buzzcocks singles?
Their most successful, some would say although I tend to despair at the term, signature tune in Ever Fallen In Love or one of the many other superb sing-alongs; Promises, Orgasm Addict or What Do I Get? That very nearly made the cut here but I’ve gone for Harmony In My Head here. I had the blue sleeve but with Aldershot in mind perhaps I ought to have had the red too.
Whenever I’m in doubt about things I do I listen to the high street wailing sounds in a queue Go out for my walking sailing social news Don’t let it get me down I’m long in the tooth When I’m out in the open clattering shoppers around Neon signs that take your eyes to town Your thoughts are chosen your world is advertising now And extravagance matters to worshipers of the pound But it’s a harmony in my head It’s a harmony in my head…
SHAM 69 – Hurry Up Harry
Released in October, 1978 on Polydor Records.
We can probably see this as a novelty record now or perhaps some did at the time but, coming from their second LP and in my opinion one of THE great concept albums, there’s so much going on in the narrative of That’s Life that actually, one hardly notices Harry.
My copy was merely a paper sleeve, I wasn’t aware of the picture sleeve until some while later.
And because of my location at the time, Hersham wasn’t that far away. While the band didn’t have that many singles in their discography, Hurry Up Harry is the one that stands out for me.
ELVIS COSTELLO – (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea
Released: 3 July 1978 on Radar Records.
Several different picture sleeves for this I’ve found but this was mine.
Ah, Elvis. That lip curl he did and the strange way he held the mic in those early days, remember?
Reminded me a bit of Alvin Stardust at the start of the decade.
Detectives was the first Costello song I heard on the radio but of the period, I had to choose Chelsea.
Oh, no, it does not move me Even though I’ve seen the movie I don’t want to check your pulse I don’t want nobody else I don’t want to go to Chelsea
THE RUTS – In A Rut
I can’t concentrate, I’m in a state I don’t feel straight, I can’t love or hate I can’t feel nothing, can’t feel no sting Only just learning, I ain’t a king
You’re in a rut, You gotta get out of it – out of it – out of it – out of it – out of it You’re in a rut, You gotta get out of it – out of it – out of it… out of it!
Ain’t no use, you ain’t that sloose Don’t tie that noose, it’s just abuse Don’t take that ride, it’s suicide You cut your wrist, You tried and missed.
You’re in a rut You gotta get out of it – out of it – out of it – out of it – out of it. You’re in a rut, You gotta get out of it, out of it – out of it… out of it!
I can’t concentrate, I’m in a state I don’t feel straight, I can’t love or hate I can’t feel nothing, can’t feel no sting Only just learning, I ain’t a king
You’re in a rut You gotta get out of it – out of it – out of it – out of it – out of it You’re in a rut You gotta get out of it – out of it – out of it – out of it… OUT OF IT!
Ain’t no use, you ain’t that sluiced Don’t tie that noose, it’s just abuse Don’t take that ride, it’s suicide You cut your wrist, You tried and missed
You’re in a rut You gotta get out of it – out of it – out of it – out of it – out of it You’re in a rut You gotta get out of it – out of it – out of it – out of it… OUT OF IT!
The Ruts’ first single, “In a Rut” was finally released on People Unite in January 1979, having been recorded back on 24 April 1978 at the Free Range 8-track studios. It was backed up with anti-heroin tirade “H-Eyes” on the B-side (“You’re so young, you take smack for fun/It’s gonna screw your head, you’re gonna wind up dead”). DJ John Peel expressed his admiration for the group on air (as can be heard on a retrospective 1978 radio show clip on the In a Can album) and a session for the BBC swiftly followed the same month.
Out of all those fine Ruts singles up to Staring At The Rude Boys and Jah Wars, I always return to In A Rut, it’s home for me.
SERIOUS DRINKING – Love On The Terraces
Her name was Sharon, she came from Saafend with sister Karen (a little skinhead), she liked football, she liked scooters, she liked A Certain Ratio, she liked the Cockney Rejects…
Is it me or was that just one of the cutest verses in a song I ever did hear?
It’s also one of only two songs I know that mention Southend.
And the later line – “she nabbed my programme, she broke my heart” 💖
Surely one of the great footy songs this and yet still unknown to a few.
THE DICKIES – Manny, Moe And Jack (1979)
From the sound of that car ending to the crash at the end, this is one fine auto adventure. Sure it was fun collecting all those fab singles from the yellow through to the red (Fan Mail) but it was slightly displeasing that this single came in bog-standard black. Some band though, still going today and a few great covers, notably Paranoid.
When you’re on the road And your car wont pull that load And your wheels aren’t feeling fine Well I know of this joint Where they’ll check your plugs and points I know these guys they’re three good friends of mine Manny Moe and Jack They know what I’m after Manny Moe and Jack They know what I’m after They’re Manny Moe and Jack Once your inside They wont take you for a ride They got a good deal for you and your automobile For the right price They will sell you fuzzy dice And leather hand grips for your steering wheel If its tires you want they got a lot for you Dunlop, firestone, Pirelli too Manny, Moe (and Jack) Manny, Moe (and Jack) Manny, Moe (and Jack) Manny, Moe (and Jack) Manny, Moe (and Jack) Manny, Moe (and Jack) Manny, Moe (and Jack) Manny, Moe (and Jack) Manny, Moe and Jack! They know what I’m after…
BOOMTOWN RATS – Mary Of The Fourth Form
Released: 11 November 1977
Because of Bob I guess, not everyone’s cup of tea but I thought (yes, even Rat Trap) all those early Rats singles were fantastic, especially this one. I wonder now if it was the lyrics too. 🤔
Stretchin’ out her long legs Pullin’ up her stockings She’s combing out her black hair Starin’ at the teacher Openin’ her lips wide Shiftin’ in her seat, yeah She slowly moves her hips aside
SEX PISTOLS – Pretty Vacant
Released: 2 July, 1977
Not much that needs to be said on this. Not quite my favourite Pistols track but my first purchase, this single and could never stop playing it.
There’s no point in asking, you’ll get no reply.
PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED – Public Image(1978)
“Its not a game of Monopoly”
This is very atmospheric I’ve always felt, like you’re travelling through a wind tunnel. Careering even. Monster tune even if I say so myself, well worthy of inclusion here.
PETER AND THE TEST TUBE BABIES – Run Like Hell(1982)
I was down the local disco getting’ off with this girl., things were going really good, going really well. We was alone in a corner kissing and then I heard, this bloke come up behind me and say .. ” Oi, you! – that’s my bird!
Peacehaven’s finest, Peter And The Test Tube Babies. Formed in 1978, by Derek “Strangefish” Greening and Peter Bywaters. Due to their humorous tongue-in-cheek lyrics, they have been considered part of the Punk Pathetique sub-genre. Run Like Hell may be the youngest single in this selection.
THE DAMNED – Smash It Up
Released: 12 October, 1979
You can’t have part one without part two!
It really couldn’t be any simpler.
That sublime build up, the fade out, the fade back in then… ooh-ooh SMASH IT UP!
That’s how it must be done. 👍
THE STRANGLERS – Something Better Change
Released: 22 July, 1977
Slightly more tricky choosing a Stranglers single.
There’s a Stranglers bracket right now on Twitter and I think this one’s in the last sixteen.
So why have I picked it? “Stick my fingers right up your nose” for one – a true punk sentiment. Then there’s Greenfield’s keyboards and, I’m a real fan of abrupt endings as in… CHANGE! in this instance. Walk On By and Peaches ran this one close.
THE MEMBERS – Sound Of The Suburbs (1979)
Clear vinyl for me at the time and with this of the two rather different picture sleeves.
Same old boring Sunday morning Old man’s out washing the car Mum’s in the kitchen cooking Sunday dinner Her best meal, moaning while it lasts Johnny’s upstairs in his bedroom sitting in the dark Annoying the neighbours with his punk rock electric guitar
COCKNEY REJECTS – The Greatest Cockney Rip Off (1980)
Back in my hometown of Farnham my best friends were all West Ham fans (no idea why but there we are) so they ought to have liked Cockney Rejects but at the time The Jam were all the rage.
Still, on the wave of the coloured vinyl fad, here’s what I would have had a copy of (above).
THE SAINTS – This Perfect Day
Released: July, 1977
Has to be one of the earliest punk / new wave singles I had, impossible to leave out of a top twenty like this.
THE CLASH – Tommy Gun
Released: 24 November, 1978
This is by some distance my favourite song by The Clash but it’s all about the ending.
The lyrics and… those drums before the death – superb! 🤪
Boats an’ tanks and planes, it’s your game Kings an’ queens an’ generals learn your name I see all the innocents, the human sacrifice And if death comes so cheap Then the same goes for life!
UK SUBS – Tomorrow’s Girls(1979)
Another GEM of a band and firmly riding the coloured vinyl bandwagon, ensuring I had at least my only rose pink single in Teenage.
Tomorrow’s Girls is anthemic to me, such a simple tune, so easy on the ear but a song that will always make you remember where you were and who was around you, ergo, something special.
ALTERNATIVE TV – You Bastard (1977)
Can qualify as a B-side can’t it? 😋
The flip-over of ‘How Much Longer’, I’ve always had a fondness for this. Vinyl crackles again too, awesome…
Leave me alone, you’re wasting time (you bastard, you’re wasting time) Get out of the way, you’re no friend of mine (you bastard, you’re wasting time) My precious, precious time Everybody’s wasting my time My precious, precious time You’ve never seen excitement if you know what I mean, so leave my time alone Get out of my town, there’s no room for two (you bastard, you’re wasting time) Get out of my way, I don’t like you (you bastard, you’re wasting time) My precious, precious time Everybody’s wasting my time My precious, precious time You’ve never been in rock and roll, you know what I mean So leave my rock and roll alone My precious, precious time My precious, precious time My precious, precious time
And to end this look into the beginning of my teenage years musically, we’ve the Undertones and my favourite single of theirs, You’ve Got My Number. It’s that wonderful beginning and of course that sudden ending with WHY DON’T YOU USE IT!!! that does it for me. In the meantime if you’ve taken the time to read what had taken me six hours to put together, I hope you enjoyed it and thank you sincerely.
THE UNDERTONES – You’ve Got My Number
Released: 9 October, 1979
You’ve got my number Why don’t you use it You know my name You won’t abuse it If you wanna wanna wanna wanna Wanna have someone to talk to I’ll pick you up In my car Take you home It’s not far If you wanna wanna wanna wanna Wanna have someone to talk to Do it – do it – do it – do it Why don’t you ring my number? Why don’t you ring my number now? Let’s say goodbye I couldn’t stand it You’ve got my number Why don’t you use it
Well first the good news. I’m not going to spend too much time in giving my reasons but more introducing my favourite clips and enjoying them again.
Early Doors is rather underrated in my opinion and like Fawlty Towers, where only a dozen episodes were made, I think this is a British classic.
It’s superbly written and typecast. Henshaw the ideal landlord and the regulars that trod The Grapes. The unlikely coppers. The missing chocolates. The day at the races. Tommy’s new job…
Even the theme tune is great. It’s called Small World and sung by Roddy Frame.
There are very few clips of Early Doors on YouTube. I’ve tried uploading before. You just get a copyright claim and can’t upload.
Then I thought – I’ve got a website. Why not write an article and post fave snippets for others to enjoy.
Yes that’s what I’ll do. A sort of top ten clips. Or more. Well see how it goes.
Anyway enjoy the videos and before you go, be sure to have a look at the out-take videos I’ve done at the end- they’re just as funny!
MORE… OR LESS?
A sketch which debated organic food and the realisation that actually, while we’re all getting less, we’re paying more for it… I think…
THE PUB QUIZ
While not rib-tickling, I like the quiz scene because of the interaction and sarcasm between everybody but moreover at the end when there are groans because Duffy puts Miss You Nights on the jukebox again. Poor Duffy, all out of love and heading home on his own with a Fray Bentos.
GET UP, SKIN UP
This is probably my numero uno. It’s Ken’s face as Phil takes out the king size Rizlas and then pulls out a block which is two ounces if it’s a day and rolls a spliff, as you do, in the line of duty,
“You got any Bob Marley?”
“They’re off their bloody tits!”
TORTOISE
How this is played is great. Unless you’ve seen it already. Tommy’s chair is empty and the atmosphere is sad and you’re thinking it’s been the end for Tommy.
Until back he comes and they’re only talking about a bleedin’ tortoise!
And apparently you can’t replace a tortoise because no two tortoises look the same…
CIRCUSES
Everyone I know thinks this sketch is right up there with the best.
Do you like circuses?
CLASSIC PHIL AND NIGE
“A grown man? Dressing up as a baby? What does he get out of that?”
“Two Farleys rusks and his arse wiped apparently”
DIDN’T HE DO WELL!
Just a small compilation of clips from one of the series 2 episodes with the coppers on top form and you can see that Tommy is still working as a lollipop man.
THIS CHARMING MAN
From the first episode, Duffy enters the grapes with the Smiths classic playing on the jukebox.
If you’re of a young persuasion and don’t know what a jukebox is – Google it.
PENIS ENVY
Joe nudges Duffy at the urinals to check out the Scottish fishing tackle while Phil and Nige recount a flashing tale to Ken which results in that classic line – “no – he was in a Ford Escort”.
GIRO JIM
In which Joan tells the rest of the pub a story about Giro Jim and a Chinese takeaway after Ken’s Mum shows Winnie a newspaper article…
THE GREAT MALTESERS MYSTERY
In which Jean has a bag of Maltesers go missing. But it’s not just a bag. oh no… it’s a family bag!
THE OUT-TAKES
The DvD set includes OUT-TAKES so to enhance this post I’ve added some favourite blooper footage.
Life Is… – Rejuvination Clearing The Past – Genuine Grid One – Elegia Mother Earth – Vibrronics Quantum Limit (Symphony Of Love Remix) – Alien Signal Skin Deep (Global Communication Remix) – Dusky Resonance – Substance & Vainqueur Netherworld (Oliver Prime Remix) – L.S.G. Anjum – Diffaith Cassiopeia – Nail Sunfruits Avenue – Aural Planet
Running time: 78:52
In life, I do like a bit of everything. And with a name like Oliver, I always want more.
I hadn’t mixed anything for well over a year and so today returned to the decks to add another volume to the Deep Space Ritual series.
Deep Space Rituals are themed mixes that are freestyle and primarily a fusion of techno, space dub and acid house,
Volumes 1 through 11 are no longer on this website but I’m hoping to upload this new creation to my Youtube channel, particularly as I’ve made it into a movie!
The footage is from a documentary entitled Journey Through The Universe.
Ultimately we had a WINNER! The tournament favourite I FEEL LOVE lost out to BILLIE JEAN in what wasn’t really a closely-fought final either.
Next up will be a bracket of reggae and ska.
QUARTER-FINALS
FOURTH ROUND DRAW
Saturday 15th January
Sunday 16th January
I’ve used a list randomizer for this third round draw and I have to say it has thrown up some fantastic pairings. The third round will run for eight days from Wednesday 5th January to Wednesday 12th January 2022. Here are the sixteen ties with the 2nd round % vote for each song in parenthesis.
Wednesday 12th January 2022
THIRD ROUND DRAW
Saturday8th January 2022
Monday 10th January 2022
Wednesday 5th January 2022
Thursday 6th January 2022
Friday 7th January 2022
Tuesday 11th January 2022
SECOND ROUND DRAW
Phase two sees the commencement of head to head ties, each match determined by their percentages scored in round one.
The second round will run from Monday 20 December 2021 to Tuesday 4 January 2022 with two groups to be played each day.
As the highest-scoring group runner-up, Moby’s”Go!” returns with another chance.
Find out below all of the songs YOU voted for, who plays who and when.
Monday 20 December
Tuesday 21 December
Wednesday 22 December
Thursday 23 December
Christmas Eve ⛄
Christmas Day 🎅
Boxing Day 🎁
Monday 27 December
Tuesday 28 December
Wednesday 29 December
Thursday 30 December
New Year’s Eve 🎈
New Year’s Day
Sunday 2 January 2022
A new bracket tournament starting November 2021.
Featuring all genres of dance music, we’re looking for our Twitter friends to compile a list of FIVE favourite tracks, be it old school disco, house, trance, techno, R&B, soul, hip hop, rap, drum and bass, whatEVER, if it’s a CHOON to YOU, let’s hear it!
Following all of your nominations, the draw for Round One has now been made by Randomlist and will commence Tuesday 16th November through to Thursday 16th December.
Scroll down to check when the songs you voted for are in play and who they’ll be up against!
They don’t, do they. Never did when I was growing up or being educated and the fact that it was the 1970’s shouldn’t make any difference whatsoever.
But between then and now, somewhere along the line (and I blame the internet for a lot of the malaise) it’s gone very very wrong.
Out in public you will see the most ignorant people, seemingly devoid of any manners or indeed, basic social awareness.
There’s a chap on Twitter, one of my followers, who writes about his neighbours. The Ghastlies he calls them. It’s quite comical to read actually, I’ve made a point in telling him he could easily write a sitcom about them.
Though anyone remembering The Chawlers would know only too well the type of families that exist with God knows how many offspring and who’ve likely never done a day’s work in their lives. They probably couldn’t even spell the word.
The tattooed, pierced eyesores who are on Facebook via an intravenous drip spouting their “should of” and “them days” and “she goes” and the like. You know the sort.
So it’s Sunday morning and I decide upon a chicken bake at a well-known purveyor of baked goods. You know the one.
There’s a fair bit of a queue so I observe the social distancing markers in the floor and am idly queing when behind me come another of these families from hell, huge fat woman, actually thinking back they weren’t that dissimilar to Wayne and Waynetta slob. You know the show.
I kid you not, the father was a dead ringer. Anyway their daughter who I suppose must have been around six, made her way to stand in front of me.
I think you may already guess what happened next. And it did.
Probably not even a minute later, Wayne walks past me and plonks himself in front of me next to his child. And then Waynetta arrives too. Loud foul mouth yob, piercings everywhere that would embarrass even an airport metal detector and… oh look, hugely pregnant again.
I can’t and don’t do confrontation and with the queue still taking its time, I stepped back and left, without my breakfast.
It’s got to the stage where these morons, and I could use stronger adjectives, are so oblivious to others around them that if someone like me dared to say anything you’d probably get something like “oh what does it matta, fack off and die u old caant”
Writing about it does lessen the pain but not the dismay and disdain for these in-breds. There must be something like 10% of people like this in the world and with it already over-populated, personally I’d have them all gone by way of a lethal injection.
Because all they do is breed, seemingly, and have no decency or manners in any of them. What is the point of their existence?
And to be allowed to be in charge of children, there ought to be some kind of test that you must pass before you can officially and legally be a parent.
Christchurch in Dorset is just down the road. In fairness, at this time of the year you would expect to be on a beach, not visiting a previously unknown beer emporium, at least, not in the daytime.
I had searched for craft ales in my area and found this place that had great reviews and opened at 11am. Time then for a sunbed first thing.
There’s always a funfair at this time of the year too so I thought I could have a walk round there first. However they have moved it uptown, this is where it used to be, near to the town quay.
You’ll have to excuse the flowers; when I saw that arrangement I couldn’t resist!
So here is the fair. Looks about the same number of attractions possibly on a larger area of ground. Too early for anything to be going on but still, probably busy when its open.
That micro coaster is just about my level, tinier even than the old Wild Mouse at Littlehampton.
And so on to the main event. My remit was to find a dozen healthy craft ales from around the world and of differing genres and strengths. I may have succeeded. In the end I spent just over £50 for this little crew.
I will list these individually for the reader so that they can learn about each ale, I will certainly be learning along the way. Will I be drinking them? Gradually. Will I be keeping the bottles? Most certainly!
But first I had to sample one of the draught ales from the menu.
Customers who walk in can choose in measures of thirds, halves and two thirds or a whole. The strongest one there was the Strawberry Stars which you would see very little change from a £10 note.
I asked for a porter and the owner, Ben, recommended a chocolate and hazelnut affair, only 5.2ABV and £5.40 for the full pint. Here I am sampling it.
I’m not sure whether this makes me look menacing, mad or just having had a rough time the night before or maybe it’s just the ageing – one thing’s for certain the legs are still amazing. 😇
Anyway let me introduce you to the family (as The Stranglers once said) with a pic of each ale and some background to it.
Straffe Hendrik
A powerful beer with rich flavours of malt and hop.
The Straffe Hendrik family consist of a golden tripel, a brown quadrupel and the limited editions of Heritage and Wild. All beers have a high alcohol percentage and are rich in flavours and taste.
They are strongly hopped and brewed with a subtle mixture of different kinds of malt of the highest quality. The taste of the beers evolves as the years go by.
Moncada Brewery – Crisitunity
Barrel Aged Blueberry Stout – words from Untappd.
We took some second runnings from an Impy and added blueberries and brett. We then shared the resulting concoction between three different barrels. Each evolved in a singular fashion, extracting flavour and texture from the wood and the remnants of what the barrel stored before.
Vault City – Raspberry White Chocolate Honeycomb Imperial Stout
Rich and decadent Imperial Stout brewed with Raspberry, White Chocolate and Honeycomb.
Vault City say “As it’s our birthday we wanted to release something pretty special, well two things actually – a sour and a stout. We came up with a recipe based on our ideal birthday cake: Raspberries, White Chocolate and Honeycomb. These flavours sounded like the perfect combination for a Sour but equally as fit for an Imperial Stout. This is our birthday cake in a big bold sour!”
This weighs in at an “oooft” 12% ABV and makes me think of Python’s Australian Table Wines sketch. 😂
8 bottles of this, and you’re really finished — at the opening of the Sydney Bridge Club, they were fishing them out of the main sewers every half an hour.
Barefaced Brewing Co – Heartbreak Stout
This is a local brewer, out at Blandford Forum. Described as a ‘breakfast stout’ this is what they have to say:
The beer that started it all off. Taking it’s name & inspiration from events that lead to the founding of Barefaced. We use Bad Hand Coffee roasters espresso, paired with chocolate to make our stout ever so bittersweet.
Orval Trappist Ale
The distinctive fruity and bitter taste of Orval beer means it has become a genuine reference in the exclusive world of authentic Trappist beers.
Orval beer is a high fermentation beer. The ageing process adds a fruity note, which strikes a subtle balance between the beer’s full-bodied yet complex flavour and bitterness.
The beer was first brewed in 1931 and owes its unparalleled taste to the quality of the water, the hops and the yeast used. The brewery has selected very aromatic and unique hop varieties, which hark back to the first brewmaster of Orval, who hailed from Bavaria. The beer’s aromas are very pronounced while maintaining the right level of bitterness thanks to the English method of dry hopping.
The various stages of fermentation – combined fermentation with the original yeast and with wild yeast, followed by fermentation in the bottle – mean the beer must age for some time and requires numerous quality controls.
La Chouffe
From the Achouffe Brewery nestled in the heart of the Belgian Ardennes. A golden ale, strong, spicy and lightly hoppy, La Chouffe is bottle re-fermented, unfiltered, unpasteurised and without any additives. So what is a Chouffe? A red hatted, long-bearded gnome that’s a part of local folklore.
LOOK
A golden amber beer that is slightly hazy with a white robust head.
AROMA
Aromas of sweet malts, orange peel, coriander and spices.
TASTE
Tasts as it smells, soft caramel and malts with the underlying hint of coriander and mild yeast.
North Brewing Company – Coffee Coconut Porter
A rich, dark porter brewed with speciality malts, toasted coconut, and whole coffee beans from our local roaster, North Star. Balanced sweetness plays against complex coffee flavours in an indulgent, luxurious beer. Available at Morrison’s!
S43 Brewery – Happy Little Accidents
Hops: Idaho 7, Mosaic, Columbus, Amarillo, Centennial Malt: Maris Otter, Oats, Wheat, Maltodextrin Yeast: London Ale III ABV: 6.8% Style: IPA Allergens: Gluten (barley & wheat), Oats Vegan Friendly Quantity: 440ml
This beer is the product of working with what you’ve got. Sometimes brewing is a complex process of planning and handpicking hops, sometimes it’s a case of just chucking everything in. Guess which one this is?
The result of all that chaos is a thick, juicy IPA. Expect resinous hits of fresh fruit and pine needle. A happy, messy miracle of an accident.
Lost Pier – Fruit Machine IPA
From the makers:
Fruit Machine IPA is our smooth and rounded NEIPA with a low bitterness and creamy sweet mouth-feel from high amounts of flaked oats & carapils in the malt bill. Expect juicy citrus aromas from the Citra dry hops and an exotic fruity palate from Azacca and Sorachi Ace hops. A small hit of apricot puree was added for an extra fruity hit all brought together by a New England yeast which adds aromas of ripe stone fruit.
Solid State – Verdant Brewing Co. – Yakima Chief
A creamy, massively tropical, and punchy collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops! A festival of Cryo and T90 hops whacked into a 6.5% IPA. A first for us, and a really exciting opportunity to team up with one the world’s finest purveyors of all things dank, green & delicious.
Goodh Brewing Company – Knockout stout
Brewed with Olfactory coffee beans, Knockout is a big hitting oatmeal stout that is both full of body and flavour.
Goodh wanted to brew a bold beer to compliment the signature coffee from their local roasters so they decided to go big and craft a rich, sweet stout with a thick mouthfeel that has an abundance of coffee, chocolate and dark fruit flavours from start to finish.
Delirium – Strong Fruit Beer
Delirium Red is an 8.0% abv dark-red cherry beer made by the heroes that gave the world Delirium Tremens. Based on their blonde ale, it has a light pink, compact head, a soft aroma of almond and sour cherries, and tastes tangy and fruity, with a perfect balance between sweet and sour.
So there they are. Twelve fairly different ales to sample – I’d leave it to the experts to review them. I’m not one of those, just someone who enjoys craft ales. I hope you enjoyed reading about them. 👍
Acid Mouse Music 