SUNDRIES

 

CHURCH PHOTOS

At the back end of 1985 one of my friends, Malcolm Holland, spent a few months visiting relatives in Australia. For much of that time Malcolm was based in Sydney. He took several photos of Aussie band the Church at two, possibly three gigs.
I believe that the gigs were probably at
the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney on 23/09/85 and 23/10/85.
The material they were performing during this time was mostly early single sides and numbers that appeared on their latest album “Heyday”, released November 1985.

HOODOO GURUS PHOTOS:
Photos taken at the Hoodoo Gurus gig, the Riverside, Newcastle, 28/11/85.

I remember the gig was a very lively affair, loud and aggressive garage rockers with plenty of energy and noise. Songs played that night were early singles and numbers from their previous two albums “Stoneage Romeos” and “Mars Needs Guitars”.

POSTCARD RECORDS:
They had a sock drawer for an office, almost no money and more dreams than common sense. But when Edwyn Collins and Alan Horne decided to start up their own record label from a shabby Glasgow flat, no one was going to stand in their way.

Postcard Records was the mad, makeshift and quite preposterous result. Launching the careers of Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and cult heroes Josef K, they stuck it to the London music biz and, quite by accident, kick-started the 1980s indie music revolution. (Simon Goddard)

POSTCARD RECORD RELEASES

WISH001 – ORANGE JUICE – “Felicity” – November 1979 (One-track 33rpm ‘I Wish I Was A Postcard’ flexi-disc. Label centre featuring the full Louis Wain musical kittens illustration. 2,500 copies pressed, intended as an extra with the aborted fanzine Strawberry Switchblade. Copies then given away free with the Orange Juice single “Falling And Laughing.”

80-1 – ORANGE JUICE – “Falling And Laughing” b/w “Moscow Olympics” / “Moscow” – February 1980, officially, a total of 963 copies pressed.

80-2 – ORANGE JUICE – “Blue Boy” b/w “Lovesick” – August 1980, first press of 2,086 with blue disc labels in a hand-coloured reversible sleeve. After securing Rough Trade distribution, the next pressings became the first Postcard release to use the cowboy design sleeve: originally white with white A-side and yellow and red B-side disc labels, later issued in brown sleeve and labels.

80-3 – JOSEF K – “Radio Drill Time” b/w “Crazy To Exist” – August 1980, first copies came in a hand-coloured reversible sleeve. Later issued in white, then brown, cowboy sleeves.

80-4 – GO-BETWEENS – “I Need Two Heads” b/w “Stop Before You Say It” – November 1980, first issued in white, then brown, cowboy sleeve and disc labels.

80-5 – JOSEF K – “It’s Kinda Funny” b/w “Final Request” – November 1980, brown cowboy sleeve and disc labels, A-side with hazy group portrait.

80-6 – ORANGE JUICE – “Simply Thrilled Honey” b/w “Breakfast Time” – November 1980, brown cowboy sleeve and labels, A-side with group head-shots.

81-1 – JOSEF K – “Sorry For Laughing” LP – January 1981, intended as Josef K’s debut album and pressed up as a limited white-label but never commercially released.

81-2 – ORANGE JUICE – “Poor Old Soul” b/w “Poor Old Soul Pt 2” – March 1981, the last of Orange Juice’s four Postcard singles and the first appearance of the new black Scottish design sleeve, the reverse with label discography listing the next four scheduled singles. Pink disc label with illustration of a child staring at a record on the B-side. First 10,000 copies came with postcard insert with handwritten lyrics and cat cartoon by Edwyn Collins.

81-3 – AZTEC CAMERA – “Just Like Gold” / “We Could Send Letters” – March 1981, Scottish design sleeve, blue disc with pictures of dancing children on the B-side. First copies came with postcard insert with handwritten lyrics and group picture.

81-4 – JOSEF K – “Sorry For Laughing” b/w “Revelation” – March 1981, released by Belgium’s Les Disques du Crepuscule in a colour picture sleeve with a cartoon of the band, catalogue number TWI 023.

81-5 – JOSEF K – “Chance Meeting” b/w “Pictures” – June 1981, last of the Scottish design sleeve singles. Green disc label with band photo on A-side. Initial copies came with postcard insert with handwritten lyrics and a black and white photograph of a large litter of wild dog pups.

81-7 – JOSEF K – “The Only Fun In Town” LP – July 1981, the only album released on Postcard. Black and gold sleeve, black and gold disc labels. Inner bag featuring lyrics and a collage of photos.

81-8 – AZTEC CAMERA – “Mattress Of Wire” b/w “Lost Outside The Tunnel” – August 1981, the last Postcard record. Yellow disc labels with hand-drawn tartan design coming housed in a picture sleeve showing an ancient Roman.

THE FOLLOWING WERE ASSIGNED POSTCARD CATALOGUE NUMBERS BUT WERE NEVER RELEASED

81-3 – AZTEC CAMERA – “Green Jacket Grey” b/w “Real Tears” – this item was listed in the Rough Trade catalogue compiled at the end of 1980. These had been early Aztec Camera demos recorded prior to Postcard. Number 81-3 became “Just Like Gold” instead.

81-5 – ORANGE JUICE – “Ostrich Churchyard” LP – again listed in the Rough Trade catalogue compiled at the end of 1980.

81-6 – ORANGE JUICE – “Wan Light” b/w “You Old Eccentric” – this single was listed on the back of the Scottish design sleeve but remained in the Postcard vaults.

81-9 – GO-BETWEENS – “Your Turn, My Turn” – listed in the 1981 Independent Labels Catalogue and first issued in July 1981 on Melbourne’s Missing Link label.

81-10 – ORANGE JUICE – “You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever” LP – listed in the 1981 Independent Labels Catalogue. Funded by Rough Trade but released instead on Polydor in February 1982.

81-11 – SECRET GOLDFISH – “Hey Mister”

81-12 – BLUEBELLS – “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” – listed in the 1981 Independent Labels Catalogue. First released on London Records as the B-side of their debut single “Forevermore”.

81-13 – AZTEC CAMERA – “Green Jacket Grey” – proposed title of the debut Aztec Camera album, but never recorded.

81-14 – JAZZATEERS – “Wasted”

THE ROGUES:

THE ROGUES – PICTURE GALLERY

Back in 2010 I was contacted by Diane Ruszczyk who was a huge Rogues fan during their tenure as Buffalo’s Number One group. Fortunately she took several photographs during that 1966/67 era and they will be shared on my blog.

The Rogues just happened to record ’You Better Look Now’, one of the greatest folk punk janglers of all time:

The Rogues were:
Robert Radel (bass)
Gary Jaros (drums)
Michael Spriggs (lead guitar)
James Pierotti (lead singer)
Dave Smith (rhythm guitar)

A message to me from lead guitarist Michael Spriggs:

Hello from the the USA,

Thank you so much for taking all the time to put up the Rogues Blog, it’s really very cool and I was elated to see that Diane still had all that info. I wish I had some more to give you but my Father threw out my entire collection of Rogues memorabilia when he moved to Florida years ago (I had already moved to Nashville by then)

Friggin awesome work my friend and thank you!!!!!!

Best Regards,

Michael Spriggs

Thanks once again to Diane Ruszczyk for preserving and sharing these fantastic images and ephemera of The Rogues.

SONGS EXPLORED:

“ONE” HARRY NILLSON

Many ’60s songs were not only recorded by the original writers but also by many other groups and performers. Some, more successful than others.

Several cover versions were massive hits and out-sold the original artist’s release. I will endeavour to research some of my favourite songs here on ‘Yellow Paper Suns’, highlighting not only the very well-known records but I’ll also zoom in on the long-forgotten and ignored 45s and LP tracks.

Click on the record label for more information.   

NILSSON – “One”

Harry Nilsson‘s introspective 1967 song “One” has led me to investigate several other versions recorded in 1968 / 69 including Bobby Vee, Three Dog Night, Al Kooper, Johnny Farnham and blond soul bombshell Chris Clark.

The interpretations of the song mostly stick with the baroque psych arrangement.

Many ’60s songs were not only recorded by the original writers but also by many other groups and performers. Some, more successful than others.

Several cover versions were massive hits and out-sold the original artist’s release. I will endeavour to research some of my favourite songs here on ‘Yellow Paper Suns’, highlighting not only the very well-known records but I’ll also zoom in on the long-forgotten and ignored 45s and LP tracks.

The first song under the microscope is Harry Nilsson’s haunting baroque number, “One” which was written in 1967 and released as a single in America during February 1968.  

The record was released in Britain a month later but it didn’t chart. Curiously, the song featured on the B-side of Nilsson’s big hit “Everybody’s Talkin'” released in the UK during September 1969 (RCA Victor 1876).

2022 has been the year that I discovered Bobby Vee‘s mid to late sixties Liberty recordings. It’s never too late to become a little obsessed with someone’s records decades after they were released.

Vee’s take of “One” is another baroque rock arrangement with sweeping strings perfectly coalescing with melancholic vocals.  

“One” by Bobby Vee can be found on his 1969 album “Gates, Grills And Railings” (Liberty LST-7612) March 1969.

Three Dog Night are not a group I’ve ever been interested in and for this project I had to locate a copy of their single on (Dunhill D-4191) April 1969.

This version discards the baroque arrangement for the in-vogue dynamic late sixties rock style. 

The guitars blaze away, drums pound energetically and the vocals are powerful and direct.

Before I started this Nilsson project I had never previously heard of Johnny Farnham so imagine my surprise when I discovered that he was famous in Australia, enjoying a huge chart topping single with “One” in 1969.

Johnny’s version is upbeat and quite psychedelic in parts especially the production effects. Great vocals too.

Chris Clark is virtually unknown and although she recorded for the popular Motown label failed to have any chart action.

For whatever reason the Motown label created a subsidiary and named it Weed with the moniker “Your favourite artists are on Weed.”

There was only ever one release on this newly formed label.

Chris Clark’s amazing soul bustin’ version of “One” can be found on her ignored album “C.C. Rides Again.”

It’s fair to say that arranger and composer George Tipton shaped the sound of Nilsson’s late sixties recordings.  

I don’t know if they were still working together in 1970 when Tipton released his album of Nilsson songs called “Nilsson By Tipton” on Warner Bros.

versions in order of appearance – Nilsson, Bobby Vee, Johnny Farnham, Chris Clark, Al Kooper, Three Dog Night and George Tipton.

*** since I compiled my entry of all the known recordings of “One” I have been informed by a respected record collector and a music sleuth that four other versions exist:

The Music Convention, a group from New Zealand, released “One” as a single on (RCA Victor 60452) during September 1968.

Mike Melvoin released “Plastic Cow Goes Moog”, an album on (Dot DLP-25961) in 1969. This record contains a version of “One” presumably a moog-fest instrumental.

The New Seekers are not a group I’ve taken much notice of in the past but to their credit did conceive a version of “One” for the album “Beautiful People” (Philips 6308 055) released during May 1971.

The Phoenix Authority released an album on (Mainstream MRL-303), released February 1970. The LP contains an interesting version of “One”.  

One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It’s the loneliest number since the number one

“No” is the saddest experience you’ll ever know
Yes, it’s the saddest experience you’ll ever know
Because one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever know

It’s just no good anymore since you went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday

Because one is the loneliest number
That you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest number
That you’ll ever know

One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do
One is the loneliest number
Much, much worse than two

One is the number divided by two
One

One is the loneliest number

VAN DYKE PARKS – “High Coin”

The next song under my spotlight for the next few weeks is “High Coin” by Van Dyke Parks. I’m not sure if he ever recorded a studio version himself but there are numerous attempts by others, mostly done in a folk-rock style.

I know versions by Harpers Bizarre, The Charlatans, Rick Jarrard, Skip Battyn, Bobby Vee, Jackie de Shannon, WCPAEB, Southall Riot, Mike Wilhelm, A. Ruthann Friedman and The Fault Line.

Many ’60s songs were not only recorded by the original writers but also by many other groups and performers. Some, more successful than others.

Several cover versions were massive hits and out-sold the original artist’s release. I will endeavour to research some of my favourite songs here on ‘Yellow Paper Suns’, highlighting not only the very well-known records but I’ll also zoom in on the long-forgotten and ignored 45s and LP tracks.

The next song under my spotlight for the next few weeks is “High Coin” by Van Dyke Parks. I’m not sure if he ever recorded a studio version himself but there are numerous attempts by others, mostly done in a folk-rock style.

I know versions by Harpers Bizarre, The Charlatans, Rick Jarrard, Skip Battyn, Bobby Vee, Jackie de Shannon, WCPAEB, Southall Riot, Mike Wilhelm, A. Ruthann Friedman and The Fault Line.

Bobby Vee released a very polished version of “High Coin” during October 1965 (according to 45Cat) complete with a bouncy rhythm, hand-claps and backing vocals. The single was never released in Britain and did not appear on any studio album back in the ’60s.

Bobby, under his real surname of Velline, is credited on the label as co-writer. Producer Joe Saraceno worked with him on many mid-sixties recordings and also produced the hit records for The Sunshine Company such as “Happy” and “Back On The Streets Again.”

Skip Battyn & the Group released a version of “High Coin” during October 1965 which may have been the first. The lead vocals are in the folkie / troubadour style with a folk-rock backing.

Skip ended up as the bass guitarist in a late ’60s version of The Byrds.

This is quite an obscure 45 and for whatever reason has never troubled any compilation apart from a homemade CDR “California Love-in Volume 6”.

I don’t have this 45 or indeed access to the CDR so this track will not feature in my “High Coin” mix on Mixcloud.

Harpers Bizarre recorded a version of “High Coin” but not in the usual folk-rock style. This take is slow-paced, some would say ponderous, with heavily layered vocals. I’m not even sure if I like it or not. At least it’s unique and experimental.

It’s not immediate by any means but after a few plays I’m beginning to think it could be genius. It’s a long way from their Tikis days.

My hunt for “High Coin” recordings brought me to Jackie DeShannon who I previously didn’t know much about apart from those early ’60s songs covered by The Searchers.

Her orchestrated take of “High Coin” from June 1968 sounds over-produced with masses of strings and things. Although her vocals are accomplished sometimes it’s best to keep things simple.

The Charlatans from San Francisco were regulars at the Family Dog and in particular the Fillmore Auditorium. After signing a record deal with Philips in 1967 they released a country-folk version of “High Coin” as a single during May 1969.

Hang onto your old Eva Records re-issue from the mid eighties because subsequent Charlatans retrospectives on Big Beat curiously omit “High Coin.” 

Only two versions of “High Coin” were released in 1967, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band recorded their instrumental take for their album “Part One”. This LP dates from March 1967.

This CD from a few years back on Psychic Circle compiles Rick Jarrard‘s version of the song, recorded at the famous Gold Star Studios in Hollywood and released on Chattahoochee Records in November 1965.

Rick went on to greater things as a producer for The Jefferson Airplane, Nilsson and in the early ’70s, David Cassidy!!

Versions in order of appearance – Bobby Vee, The Charlatans, Harpers Bizarre, Jackie DeShannon, Rick Jarrard, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band.

There are at least five other recorded versions of “High Coin” which have proved difficult to add to my archive. Perhaps one day I’ll find copies of the missing items!

Skip Battyn, future member of The Byrds but prior to that he had a stab at success with a single on Record Records (RR-11), a small label from Los Angeles. His version of “High Coin” was released in October 1965 and is very much in the in-vogue (at the time) folk-rock sound.

Southall Riot featured on an obscure 10″ EP on Earworm (WORM 71) titled “Outta Town, Outta Space” – a tribute to the WCPAEB. It was released in 2001 making it the most recent version of “High Coin”.

Mike Wilhelm, the former Charlatans member released an album on New Rose Records (ROSE 70) in 1985. Appearing on this obscure LP is his solo version of “High Coin”, the second visit to the song after his first with The Charlatans in 1969.

Ruthann Friedman released some records in the late sixties that barely got noticed. She also recorded a previously unreleased version of “High Coin” reissued on CD by Now Sounds some years ago. The CD is now almost impossible to obtain without paying extortionate sums of money.

The Fault Line were a short-lived group who recorded for the RCA label. Their one and only 45, released at the end of 1969, contained “High Coin” on the flip of the A-side “Did You Hear About The End Of The World” (RCA 47-9771).    

Their version has a late ’60s groove with brass, similar to the sound generated by The American Breed.

HIGH COIN

I’m goin’ for high coin baby
Or I ain’t goin’ nowhere at all
I’m goin’ for high coin baby
To keep me high and in and up and down and all
Some others living by the rules are turning
Mortals into fools like you and I
I’m fine It’s my time

It looks like high time baby
To stop our lovin’ nickel dime
We’re in the high times baby
Where words are lost and tempest tossed in lemon lime
When times and places effervesce
In words of wonder from down under
I’m no less, I’m fine, it’s my time

SUBBUTEO

Kenny Wardhaugh RIP – 30th March 1964 – 24th December 2021

THE SUBBUTEO RETRO LEAGUE

At the turn of the new Millennium we decided to reform our childhood Subbuteo teams from the 1970s and early 1980s and start new Subbuteo League and Cup Competitions.

The venue and headquarters of our favourite table football game was my brother Andy’s house in Newbottle, Houghton-le-Spring, who now lived just down a pathway from our original headquarters at our family home in St Matthews Terrace. 

Your host, Colin Mason and my brothers Andy Mason and Graeme Mason were joined by our old friend and neighbour Kenny Wardhaugh to relive our formative years on the Subbuteo pitch. The sessions were serious, we all meant business and wanted to win.

As adults we were better behaved but a few arguments and confrontations did occur now and again. This was expected because results and points were all that mattered. 

FLICK TO KICK

Occasionally I took my camera along and took photos during important matches. These photos were downloaded onto an old computer at the time and stored away in folders.

Sadly, my old computer died a death and I was unable to retrieve these photos because I never backed them up anywhere else! I thought they had been lost forever, stuck on an old hard drive sitting on a shelf in the garage since around 2005. 

Back in the Summer of this year I bought some software and was able to retrieve photos from several old and wrecked computers. I was filled with excitement when I managed to get back these archived photos from our Subbuteo sessions and hundreds of cat photos thought lost forever.

For more Subbuteo related ephemera click “Flick to Kick”

We never followed the traditional Subbuteo rules but adapted them to make our game quicker, more tactical and a whole lot more exciting. Wherever possible we tried to adopt the FIFA rules of the day in the professional sport. 

The Subbuteo Offside rule was always going to be messy and laden with controversy. During one particular match a goal was scored, all hell erupted, the referee was puzzled, arguments ensued. Eventually the ‘goal’ was disallowed, decided by the throw of the dice. The particular incident in question had never happened before. 

These days the Offside rule is still full of mystery and controversy in the professional sport.

Is the player interfering with play?

Is the player trying to bend the rules?

Can that goal be allowed or disallowed?

With modern day technology and cameras at every conceivable angle around football stadiums controversy still exists. It was no different almost twenty years ago when we were intently playing our Subbuteo matches.

Here is a sketch I made following the disallowed goal. Nowadays, in my opinion, there would have been no need to disallow the goal. It would have been perfectly valid.

SUGGESTIONS

To increase the flow of the game and to stop time wasting the small goalkeeper can only be used once. The ball must also move over the half way line. If the ball does not move beyond the half way line the opponent takes over possession of the ball where the ball stops.  Introduce the following disciplinary measure 

1. When a side reaches 5 yellow cards that side can not use the small goalkeeper at any stage in the game. In the event that the small goalkeeper has been used a direct free kick will be awarded to the opponent 

2. When a side reaches 10 / 15 / 20 yellow cards the above measure will be introduced  Current Form will decide which 4 teams qualify for each Cup Competition.

Matches 1 to 6 will decide the 4 sides to go through into the semi-finals of the Mitre League Cup  

Matches 7 to 12 will decide which 4 sides to go through into the semi-finals of the Brian Moore Memorial Cup  

Matches 13 to 18 will decide which 4 sides to go through into the semi-finals of the Retro FA Cup.

New Rules and Regulations for SUPER LEAGUE 5 

1. The small goalkeeper or a defender can be used to take a goal kick. This player can only kick the ball once and the ball must be kicked over the half way line. The attacking team will take over possession if the ball is not kicked over the half way line. 

2.  When a team reaches 5 yellow cards that team must play the next League match without the use of the small goalkeeper. When a team reaches 10 yellow cards that team must play the next 2 League matches without the Use of the small goalkeeper. 

3. Super League 5 and all Cup games will be played using the interception rule. If the scores are level at full time in Cup matches 5 minutes ‘extra-time’ will be played. If the scores are still level a sudden death shoot out will take place. 

4. A player will now receive a yellow card if it is moved in error. To qualify for the semi-finals the 4 teams with the best Current form will go through. Matches 1-6 Brian Moore Memorial Cup Matches 7-12 Mitre Cup Matches 13-18 Retro FA Cup 

5. A player is deemed off-side in the usual way (ie) there must be a defender and the goalkeeper in front of the forward. However, if forward 1 moves into an offside position but is still moving, forward 2 may strike the ball without having to take an offside flick.

If forward 1 has come to a standstill an offside flick must be used. The Referee will decide if any goal has been scored in such a circumstance. His decision must be final. 

6. Players not in an upright position must first be placed upright before they can strike the ball, otherwise a handball will be judged to have taken place.

This set of photos is from a match between Yellowby Town versus Summertown FC. According to my folder information Summertown enjoyed a 0-1 away win.

According to the property information of the photos these date from April 2005. More Cup success for Andy with Floriana over Graeme’s team Summertown FC.

This set of photographs are posted without the date because at this present time it’s unclear when I took them. Over time, when I delve into our Subbuteo paperwork and ephemera I will be able to determine the exact date. It’s clear though that Andy had enjoyed success with Yellowby Town and Floriana. Possible year 2003.

It appears that I was wrong yesterday when I uploaded a set of photos from 30th January 2003 and stated that they were the earliest. This session, almost two weeks earlier and dated 18th January 2003, is the our first Subbuteo session captured with my digital camera.

Moving on a few months from the last photo batch takes us into May 2004. Notice the black and white dice on the edge of the Subbuteo board? This was used to satisfy any 50/50 decisions. Whoever rolled the highest score won the decision. This came in handy when the Referee didn’t see something such as deflections etc.

The last batch of Subbuteo photos I uploaded were almost a year earlier. Here are the first of 2004.

This batch of photos from one of our Subbuteo sessions were taken on the 30th January 2003 and are the earliest series of photos I took. From memory the camera I used was a cheap digital one but it served a purpose. The two Siamese cats were Andy’s but for various reasons were never allowed into the bedroom where the Subbuteo matches were intensely played.

At the turn of the new Millennium we decided to reform our childhood Subbuteo teams from the 1970s and early 1980s and start new Subbuteo League and Cup Competitions.

The venue and headquarters of our favourite table football game was my brother Andy’s house in Newbottle, Houghton-le-Spring, who now lived just down a pathway from our original headquarters at our family home in St Matthews Terrace. 

Me and my brothers Andy and Graeme were joined by our old friend and neighbour Kenny Wardhaugh to relive our formative years on the Subbuteo pitch. The sessions were serious, we all meant business and wanted to win.

As adults we were better behaved but a few arguments and confrontations did occur now and again. This was expected because results and points were all that mattered. 

FLICK TO KICK

Occasionally I took my camera along and took photos during important matches. These photos were downloaded onto an old computer at the time and stored away in folders.

Sadly, my old computer died a death and I was unable to retrieve these photos because I never backed them up anywhere else! I thought they had been lost forever, stuck on an old hard drive sitting on a shelf in the garage since around 2005. 

Back in the Summer of this year I bought some software and was able to retrieve photos from several old and wrecked computers. I was filled with excitement when I managed to get back these archived photos from our Subbuteo sessions and hundreds of cat photos thought lost forever.

Levi’s vintage clothing – I’ve recently spent a whole lot of money on new clothes and boots, the time was right. Thinking back I’ve only ever bothered to buy new clothes with birthday money, this has been the case for several years. My disposable income has been gobbled up on new HI-FI gear and records.

During the pandemic lock down that we’re all experiencing I wasn’t buying many records, or anything for that matter. My bank account balance had never looked so good. It was as if I had become an overnight pimp and was obtaining cash from all angles. It just goes to show that it was vinyl records milking me dry.

UNWORN AND UNLOVED

It was around this time that I ventured into my dusty old bedroom wardrobe for a jacket that I knew was in there and I wanted to wear that jacket for the first time in years.

A rack of crappy clothes where perched on the rail, the hangers were covered in dust. Unworn and unloved for more than a decade. I realised that I’d been wearing, washing, wearing, washing, ironing, washing and wearing the same clothes for years.

OK, time to get out and buy some new clobber. The unloved clothes, mostly jumpers and knitwear were washed and put in a charity bag. Someone may as well have them cheap. After all, several items hadn’t even been worn and were still sporting price and washing instruction tags.

Despite being in my mid fifties I still don’t go for squaresville high street garb, that ain’t my bag. Mail order was the only way. I must have scrutinised every decent online mod and retro shop for new clothes.

They had to be inspired by the shapes and designs of the mid sixties. Not hippie gear may I add, the cut had to be sharp and tight. I also needed the odd top for work.

NO FUN

No Fun: Deep within the teenage bedrooms of early ’80s Louisville, Kentucky, a new sound took shape as young bands with an unorthodox songwriting approach emerges from the hardcore scene. Their music became the driving influence of ’90s post-rock and foreshadowed Seattle grunge.

On several occasions, these Louisville bands threatened to break out and become the next big thing. But an unwillingness to compromise kept them just below the surface, solidifying their place in music history as true underground originals.

For Fall / Winter 2020, Levi’s Vintage Clothing celebrates the ’80s Louisville music scene – the uncompromising approach of these artists and the legacy they left behind.

Soul Kitchen regeneration – Having a couple of hairy arsed blokes / strangers in the house isn’t normally my idea of fun, in fact being anywhere near hairy arsed anything / anyone is not something I even dream about but today was thee day.

BUILDER TYPES

But they were going to be here, in my house each and every day for about a week. I had to accept these hairy arsed builder types and become acquainted with them.

Fortunately, these hair arsed blokes / stranger types came armed with skills which I didn’t possess. They had the ability to dismantle then reassemble my new kitchen.

They were able to tile floors, they were smart enough to install my new washing machine and fridge freezer, skim walls and add new shock resistant skirting board for that perfect interior finishing.

Tired old soul kitchen pre regeneration, wall paper and tiles have already been stripped off and ready for the elevation to a higher state.

Day 1: The installers arrived early this morning, very early. I was busy on the toilet reading a ’60s music magazine, deep into the goings on at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival when the doorbell rang. Who the fuck was that? The installers weren’t due to arrive until 08:00am and a quick glance at the clock revealed 07:30am.

A quick splish, splash, splosh and ‘it’ was over. I hurried myself downstairs and opened the door. The kitchen lads had turned up half an hour early. Fine by me. They can start as early as the want.

When I got home from work all the worn out ’90s kitchen units had been taken away and ripped apart. Their new home was inside the skip on my drive. Same fate for the functional but tired oven and fridge freezer. Thank you inanimate objects for serving me well over the decades.

Day 2: The kitchen lads arrived at 07:20am and cracked on straight away with the plastering, skimming, new ceiling boards and other hairy arsed man stuff. The Electrician also called in and hard-wired the boiler (whatever that means) re-wired some sockets and probably sniffed around the joint while I was out at work.

Kitchen / preparation area: Because our kitchen has been dismantled, everything is now a shell during the restoration period, hopefully all will be completed sometime next week. We decided to utilise space in the nearest room, that being our living room. No living room activities anyway, most of the kitchen and other items have been stored in this space for now.

For the foreseeable future all meals or should I say simple preparation, like toast, cheese on crackers, cups of coffee, sandwiches or raids into the box for packets of crisps would be made in the makeshift area in the living room. We’ve been using the kitchen table and a creaky old garden table brought into the house from the patio.

Because of all this hassle my arse doesn’t know what it’s elbow is doing, the two cats, Bo and Tonto race up and down the stairs looking for food, it’s no longer in the usual spot kids!!

Day 3: At 8:00am sharp, Gerry the kitchen fitter arrived. Probably fresh from his weekend of debauchery he was ready, able and willing to crack on with our new kitchen. We left him to it and went to work.

HARD GRAFT

I was pleasantly surprised just how much the lad had done on his own when I got back home from work after 04:00pm. The shell of the cabinets were on the wall and he’d created a cover for our central heating boiler. Hard graft throughout the day from the young lad.

He pointed out that our decrepit stop cock tap had started leaking and we’d have the added expense of having a replacement fitted and plumbed in. Oh well, what’s another £100. I’m figuring out it’s gonna cost at least that amount.

Day 4: Another day of disruption commenced at 08:00am and after a chat about the problems we may experience in the future with the boiler cover, and access to the mechanisms and pipes if the plumber needs to slide off the front panel and get inside the workings of it, our trusted young kitchen fitter cracked on with his work.

It was another productive day for him. The sink unit and work benches have been secured and essential home appliances, the washing machine and the oven have been fitted into position in readiness for the electrician and plumber.

Day 5: Another prompt start by the kitchen fitter, no one can argue with his time keeping and reliability. Today he finished off fitting the units, glued bench tops into place, pieced together the plumbing and installed a new sink in readiness for the electrician to call to do some work.

The electrician fitted a brand new fuse box, installed two new kitchen lights and occupied himself with the light switch covers. He also completed the installation of our brand new washing machine and oven. I wonder if we’ll be able to figure out how to use those!

A plumber also called and fitted a brand new stop cock tap, valve and copper pipes. Our ancient stop cock from the 1980s developed a drip this week. Some bugger must have been turning the old fashioned five spoke handle. Well, whoever did cost me an extra £60.

On a lighter note I was able to wash the dishes in our new kitchen sink. It’s the first time I’ve been able to do this for about six years. I broke the old tap long ago and we could no longer get hot water from it! I’ve been boiling the kettle ever since. Thankfully all of that drag is now over. Time to join the tea set and have a cuppa.

Day 6: The very prompt and reliable kitchen fitter started just before 08:00am this morning and he was still working away at 04:00pm when we got home from work. I thought that would have been it for the day but no. He stayed until around 06:00pm before jumping into his white van and home for a cup of tea and a plate of cupcakes.

NO HOT WATER

Today he installed the new fridge freezer, added the shelves within the units and added the splash back behind the oven. He also completed the task of the fitted cupboard to hide our boiler which now seems to want to piss me off every day by losing pressure. No hot water again this morning

It also appears that the kitchen radiator has developed a leak. It’s the radiator that was working perfectly fine, without any drips a week ago.

This problem has no doubt occurred when the plumber took the radiator off the wall last week for the plasterer to plaster and skim the wall. I dread to think the cost of this repair but it has to be done before we have the new flooring laid next Monday.

Day 7: Here we go again. It’s the 31st October 2020 and another fun filled day in store for the kitchen fitter who finishes off his job by adding handles to every door and drawer, adding splash backs to the bench and behind the sink. He also installed a new window sill which wasn’t particularly his job to do but he agreed to do it.

After a week living like a couple of tramps in a garden compost heap we almost have our home back. The flooring in the kitchen and Conservatory will get laid on Monday and a few other jobs like new skirting boards and a light switch needs to be looked at.

Solid progress over seven days with another day to come. As you can imagine with all of this activity there is dust from arsehole to breakfast time. We’ll have to wait until some time next week before the home cleaning process begins.

Day 8: I’ll call this the final day of the kitchen installation although a couple of tiny adjustments still need to be done at a later date. The floor fitter arrived at 07:20am, very early considering he wasn’t supposed to be here until 08:00am. Not a problem though. Get yourself in mate, and crack on.

The kitchen and conservatory floor were expertly finished off with our choice of flooring, skirting boards were replaced. Total cost for his skills was £170, which didn’t seem too bad at all.

The house is still a bit of a mess with items strewn all over the living room floor, tables and chairs need to be moved out, a full clean is absolutely necessary. Dust and grime from the past week and a half has infiltrated everywhere!