I am what I am and I'll do what I do and your number is my number
Just a couple of quick notices before we launch into the huge sprawling
self-congratulatory paean of praise for the new CD. Firstly congratulations
to the many hundreds of you who correctly identified the captions in the
last mailout as coming from Gilbert and Sullivan's Yeoman of the Guard.
We were inundated not only with correct answers, but also with requests
for cover versions of your favourite songs from all the operas you took
part in at school. The good people of Bishop's Stortford still talk of
Chris from B.S's memorable appearance as Nankee Poo, and Mr John Hilditch's
show-stopping portrayal of The Duke of Plazzo Torro is, to this day, I
am unreliably informed, held up to aspiring thespians in Southwick as
a benchmark by which to measure their own performances. This time we've
delved into a more traditional genre for the competition, and we invite
you all to compete for a bonus street-cred point by not only naming the
band, but by correctly identifying the six songs from their first album
which also appeared on 7" vinyl. (Ugh!).
Secondly we would like to extend our thanks to everyone who sent their
messages of support and condolence to Mr Porter on the occasion of his
40th birthday, which was celebrated with a great hurling of breakfast
goods at The Victoria in Derby last February 21st. The old man was moved
to tears at everyone's kindness, and not even the cruel taunts of Mr Jessi
Adams, as he and his wicked chums hurled vegan buns, could cast a shadow
over the occasion.
Impact imminent no evasion
So here it is at last. A genuine six-cylinder real life moss-covered three-handled
Blyth Power studio CD. It's been a very long time coming, and there have
been very good reasons for the delay, but at last we are able, after almost
seven years of bootlegs, sideshows and live stopgaps, to offer you the
real thing: On the Viking Station.
Before going into enormous gushing detail (we're very pleased with the
thing) we would first like to take this opportunity to thank everyone
who has stayed with us through all the long interim, and steadfastly bought
each successive release. These are the people who have helped keep the
whole thing rolling along through some dark times, and we're grateful
for their continued support. It was with this very much in mind that we
went into the studio determined to produce something that will have been
worth the wait. We've also pawned the shirts off our back to spare no
expense in the recording, so we hope you'll all put in an order as soon
as you receive this mailout. At the time of writing it's arrived back
from the manufacturers, and is in our grubby paws as you read this mailout.
Those of you who ordered in advance should have them by now. Thanks everyone.
With a playing time just short of 59 minutes, On the Viking Station is
everything we have wanted to be and to do for years. We promise it won't
be so long 'til the next one. Here, track-by-track, is what it's all about.
Watch out for me now cos I'm alive
McCullough & Guinea: Written around 1995, the opening
track is an exuberant rant through a sea story set in the South Atlantic,
with crashing guitars, interweaving vocal choruses and a sonar blip at
the end which took longer to perfect than all the drum tracks put together.
Picture the scene. Our two gallant matelots are hunched over their computers
in HMS Conqueror simply itching to let loose a torpedo at the General
Belgrano. When the orders come, the chaps do some daring deeds with a
slide rule, and then it's off to bed with a cup of cocoa and a packet
of Woodbines. Hurrah for the Navy.
Mary's Mad Army: Written in a dentist's chair around 1997,
this song appeared live on the Caesar CD, but is presented here with all
the trimmings. A disco beat, three-part harmony chorus, and a sensitive
lyric about the kind of person who gets to be queen of England when in
reality they aren't even qualified to clean a toilet.
Cider Dreaming Time: Slow ballad about TDL's grandfather,
who drove a lorry for the Great Western Railway, served as a stoker at
the battle of Jutland and lived on to become a regular fixture in the
White Hart in Castle Cary, where his devotion to Cider was well known
to the company. This appeared on Joseph's solo acoustic CD, but it's better
this way, believe me.
Armstrong Goes to War: Imagine the band's surprise when
TDL sprung this one on them three days before the studio. It seems there
wasn't enough acoustic guitar on the proposed track list, so this one
crept in in place of After the Horse. Written last December, it celebrates
the deeds of an incompetent redcoat in Marlborough's campaigns and is
dedicated with great esteem and affection to Mr Keith Armstrong, poet,
of the frozen North of England. Acoustic guitar, accordions - actually
Annie's little Yamaha keyboard, which sounds more like the real thing
than is really healthy - rolling military snares and a silly chorus during
which we all throw our caps in the air and shout lillabulero-bullen-ala!
Rebel Angels: Don't you hate it when songwriters bare their
souls? It's disgusting, embarrassing, and shouldn't be allowed. This one
has been kicking around on the spare songs shelf since about 1996, and
is one of ten that TDL wrote over two weeks while gallivanting round Cornwall
with the band. The original idea was that they'd all come out together
as one collection, but the best laid plans of anyone trying to work with
a band are destined for ultimate failure, so never mind. Here it combines
undertones of Magazine with the mood and feel of Blyth's Alnwick &
Tyne period. According to TDL, all he ever wanted was to make Alnwick
& Tyne with keyboards. We have come the long way round.
Wintersfiend: If this were vinyl, Wintersfiend would find
itself halfway down side two. It's the big sprawling stadium pomp-rock
piece, although in this instance it's combined with a vicious lyric about
how Mr Porter went to the Glastonbury Fayre and did not like what he found
there. Some of you may recall this from the solo CD, but in name only
as you will barely recognise this version.
House of Cards: Since 1991, when it was first written in
a flat in West London, this song has been sidelined, overlooked, relegated,
and generally pushed around. It was first recorded for the abortive Karpov
release, and subsequently reared its head on Gladly Give to Caesar. This
time round it almost got dumped instead of After the Horse, but it was
felt that it really ought to get the hearing we felt it deserved. Third
time lucky then. This is the definitive version, and we promise you, absolutely
the last.
On the Viking Station: Familiar to some from the Caesar
release, but to many more from the live set, where it has taken up residency
for some years now, this, the title track, is a celebration of the Cod
War, and the men who fought in it. Acoustic guitar and the trusty ersatz
accordion duel it out on the North Atlantic, with even a bit of mandolin
thrown in at the end. Watch out for the foghorn though.
To Horse and Away: Now this one has a strange history. Remember
the vocal piece at the beginning of A Little Touch of Harry in the Night?
This was the sequel, written when Margaret Thatcher lost her job and vetoed
by Philistines in the band who couldn't understand what all the Harry
business was about, and who reckoned we'd done this one already. Well
we hadn't. Bass and drums were recorded for this song at the Karpov sessions,
but then mutiny set in. Just as well actually, as the ensuing years have
been kind to it, and the current band have done justice to what might
otherwise have been a damp squib. Stately and ponderous, but ultimately
triumphant, we used to include When You Wish Upon a Star as an instrumental,
but Disney would have crucified us. Besides, after all this time, TDL
didn't want to compromise a very personal song with bits of anyone else's
composition. Ooooooh sweet Jane!
Sometimes I wonder: Probably the most punk rock we get on
this CD. Dedicated to anyone who thinks robbing banks, kidnapping industrialists
and blowing things up in the name of the revolution is a good idea. Written
after four people paid an unwelcome visit. Does anyone else think the
guitar in the instrumentals sounds like Pingu?
To Wallis a Sonnet: A quiet reflective moment before the
finale. Keyboard and vocals alone set the scene in a piece about Edward
and Mrs Simpson. This, like the final track, featured on Death Went to
Bed, and has been a feature of TDL's solo set since time immemorial. Wallis
and Edward Lay Bare both come from the same batch as Rebel Angels.
Edward Lay Bare: History repeats itself as Diana perishes,
and Charles woos Camilla. The band pulled out all the stops on this song,
and Mr Purser made of it a grand climax for the whole collection. Well-received
recent addition to the live set that has been given the treatment it couldn't
have hoped for on the solo CD.
So there you have it. Well done to everyone involved. We hope you like
it, and we hope you all buy it, as until we've flogged a few we can't
start on the next one, even though TDL is even now compiling a shortlist
of songs from the dusty pile on the shelf.
I'm
back in full attack never give in until they crack
The other big news story for this mailout is that a date has been booked
for this year's cricket match at The Whistle Stop in Tallington. Those
who came last year will recall that a splendid weekend was enjoyed by
all, even if we did lose the cricket. This year will be different. This
year we will prevail. Details are only just being attended to, but the
date is set for the weekend of July 13th. We recommend anyone wanting
to book a pitch on the campsite to do so well in advance, by ringing the
Whistle Stop on 01780 740557. We aim to start at lunchtime on the Saturday,
and recommend people foregather on the Friday evening. As stated, plans
are still in an embryonic state, but make sure you keep this weekend free,
as we want to hammer the Bishop's Stortford lot. Hope to see you all there.
This is me and my desire
A final note to all those of you with huge wads of cash bulging out of
your pockets. Not only do we have the new CD for sale, we also have the
T-shirt to go with it, and even as we speak, Mr Bambi is hard at work
on a mouse mat design, based on a photograph TDL took of 56036 unloading
at Eggborough Power Station. The T-shirts are based on the CD design,
and feature the Fisherman's Friends boat. These are available in both
black and white, and we reckon they look super cool. We ask you all to
note that once again our prices have not increased, and we're still not
charging postage, but the usual donations of stamps are always appreciated,
and do a lot to help keep the ball rolling.
What
the hell is wrong with you?
(The Chairman seems to be branching out, and instead of the usual
haiku has been moved this time round to compose a clerihew in honour of
the new CD)
Karpov crosses the Border
Was a confusing mess of overdubbed disorder
But On the Viking Station
Is a worthier creation