Phil's Stuff

Here we go, again..........

2008-10-27T10:00:00.005Z

For the third time this year I am faced with the prospect of being made redundant.

There seems to be a sense of deja vu going on here. Apparently, I will know my fate by the end of the week. Obviously, my mood has not been too good recently. It is strange how something beyond one's control can take over your life. I know that the sensible thing is to try to ignore it and keep building my sales on Amazon, ebay, and working on my business blog Earn Money and Work Online. After all, that is my aim, to work from home and make money online. Perhaps this is just a step on the road...............

dNeero stuff (I will explain later)

2008-09-05T18:13:00.000+01:00

10 Records that changed the World of Popular Music

2008-08-27T09:27:00.007+01:00

There have been many good records, but most did not change the world of music. There have been some that did and here is my top 10. (Please feel free to argue and let me know your top 10. It is all subjective after all.) These either changed the direction of music or were the pinnacle of their genre. each record comes with a brief explanation which I will expand on later posts.

1. Tutti Frutti. (Little Richard)

There are many early rock and roll records that could claim to have laid the fundamentals for what was to follow. However Tutti Frutti is my choice for its sheer power and energy. Coupled with with the fact that this was a major hit for a black artist at a time when that was almost unheard of means that Tutti Frutti just has to be on my list.

2. Move It. (Cliff Richard)

Sir Cliff. This is widely acknowledged as one of the first rock and roll records made outside of the USA. No matter that S.C.R. was a pale shadow of Elvis, this record told the youth in Britain that we could play real rock and roll and make it ours. there are those that would argue for Rock Island Line by Lonnie Donegan but for my money this record deserves its place in history.

3. Revolver (The Beatles)

Revolver is perhaps the most contentious inclusion in this list. There is no Sgt Pepper, no White Album, in this list, this is The Beatles at their best. This is the pinnacle of good, catchy pop songs, never equalled and often copied. It is also the only Beatles album I own......

4. Trout Mask Replica (Captain Beefheart)

Suddenly it was alright to meld Blues and Jazz and shake them both up to produce something not of this world. It was also alright to use free form lyrics, stream of consciousness writing. It was alright to be an artist and to work in rock. With this album rock came of age.

5. Velvet Underground and Nico (VU & N)

The cliche is that not many people bought this album but everyone who did started a band. Well, I bought this album when it was released and did not start a band. The list of those that now claim this as a major influence makes the inclusion of this, flawed, magical album inevitable, and deserved.

6. Horses (Patti Smith)

1975 and music is boring. Born of a passion for Hendrix, The Who, and other rock acts from the 60's Patti Smith launched herself on the album buying public with this stunning debut. the breadth of her vision and the execution of that vision is a sensation. Punk attitude with an artist's honesty. Simply a must have album.

7. Thriller (Michael Jackson)

before Thriller most albums spawned one or two singles. After Thriller albums would be packed with possible singles. For better or worse this album changed the music industry for ever. (Personally, I think it was for the worse, and I hate this album).

8. King of the Delta Blues (Robert Johnson)

RJ was not the father of the blues as some claimed in the 60s, but he was a very close relative. The reason that this album has to be included in this list is not that it was unique when the tracks were recorded in 1937. The reason is that this album changed white music forever when it was released as a double album on CBS in 1967. It was the first time that most of us white kids had heard real, traditional blues. That so many of us still listen to it and that the music still speaks to the following generations proves how influential this record was, and is. It led directly to the revival of the fortunes of John Lee Hooker, Muddy waters and the rest. If ever a record changed the world of music it is this one.

9. Apache (The Shadows)

Love it or hate it (guess which camp I am in!) This record changed the face of music in the UK. hank Marvin was voted the best guitar player in the NME for years. Strat rock in the UK was born and countless budding guitarists bought Bert Weedon's 'Play in a Day'........

10. My Favourite Things (John Coltrane)

I had not heard this record for years. About 18 months ago I walked into the studio to prepare for my radio show. The proceeding programme was on and this was on. I was stunned at how good this still sounded. There is genius at work here. JC takes a small insignificant and mundane song and turns it into something sublime. This made improvisation not only acceptable it made it fundamental for any musician. If only more musicians were as good at it as JC.

Well, that is my list. What is yours?

Commercial Radio Stations, The End of Civilisation?

2008-08-21T07:37:00.001+01:00

This is not as stupid a question as it first appears. At least, not if you think that music is important. I believe that music is one of the foundations of society. It predated written communication and probably the spoken word. Rhythm and melody is with us before we are born. Babies in the womb respond to music. They respond to the rhythms of the heartbeat of their mothers. We assimilate basic rhythms as we grow up, music becomes part of us.

Our lives are dominated by sounds and music almost as much as they are by light and images. We pay musicians and singers a fortune to use their skills and talents to reflect and sometimes change our lives. Well, some of them get paid a fortune. In history balladeers were feted and valued, and this is how it should be. Music has developed from the streets be it Blues, rock and roll, Punk, Folk etc. In the modern world there is a disease. It is that growing and spreading scourge of all thinking human beings, disposable, irrelevant, musical pap.

Bubblegum for the ears has always been around. One of the main culprits responsible for the growth of this rubbish has been the MOR commercial radio stations. These radio stations use music is the filler between inane quizzes and adverts. These stations provide a diet of extended jingles and tell us that it is music. They demand shorter tracks to play, they ignore any music that may make us think (they do not want us to do that). They ignore any music that may make us upset. Their prime requirement is to have a safe platform for their adverts.

Music, real music, must challenge and excite. The purpose of music, of all art, is to reflect, challenge and change. The growth and development of civilisation goes hand in hand with questioning. One of the prime sources of that questioning is music. Real music exists but it is under threat from the dumbing down of the broadcast media. That way lies the end of civilisation as we know it.

Phil Stutt runs http://www.realrockandblues.com/ a site that celebrates real music. Comments and articles on the subject of real rock and blues welcomed. I am passionate about music that engages, challenges, and is creative. I hate lift music and the aural wallpaper to which we all seem subject to these days. http://www.realrockandblues.com/ is a Celine Dion free site!
Remember, music matters, keep it real!

I Will be a Millionaire this Time Next Year......

2008-08-08T07:13:00.006+01:00

The Internet is a wonderful place to make lots of money. We all know that. We know that because we have been told so many times it must be true. We have been told that by many people all wiling to share their secrets to a six figure income (OK, so that is six figures in US$ which is 'only' a five figure income in £ but that is still not to be sneezed at). It is very kind of them to offer their secrets and always at the knock down cost of $97 (or $47). Sometimes it seems too good to be true or am I being cynical?

Making money was not my prime motivation in setting up realrockandblues.com, It would be nice, don't get me wrong, but it was not and is not my prime motivation. Now that I have been made redundant and had to take a job at a lower wage (some 25% down on basic) it is more important. That said, sales of books, Cd's and Zippos on EBay and Amazon are covering the shortfall at the present.

What I am interested in today is the number of offers that are out there that promise "A Six Figure Income for 2 Hours Work a Day" or "Make Money While You Sleep With My Unique Money Making Strategy".

Being cynical I think that the way to make money on the Internet is to sell the dream to those with no idea and little hope. Having said that I am very willing to be proved wrong. I will be looking at some of the offers that come my way and share my views in the coming weeks and months. I will tell you about those things that seem to be reasonable (there has be some kernel of knowledge in these packages, doesn't there?) and any tips that I glean. Any comments about your experiences or offers that you have come across would be welcomed, mail@realrockandblues.com.

Here's to a peaceful and profitable future. Let's all get rich!

Phil

Commercial Radio Stations, The End of Civilisation?

2008-08-07T10:54:00.001+01:00

The Only Song to be Investigated by the FBI? (Or, How Louie Louie Corrupted the Youth of the USA, or not)

2008-08-05T11:14:00.001+01:00

The USA was a strange place in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Youth culture was in its infancy and the establishment was disturbed at is growth. The establishment was disturbed by many things. There was fear at the growth of communist influence in Cuba and Latin America. There was fear of a perceived increasing threat from communism at home. Homophobia was rife. Institutionalised racism was being challenged. Rock and roll was threatening the morals of the young and Louie Louie was at the forefront of the threat, or not.

Louie Louie was written by Richard Berry in 1956. It told the story of a Jamaican sailor being upset at being away from his girlfriend. In the song the sailor poured out his woes to Louie Louie (a bartender). It was a popular song, but not a hit. By 1963 the song was a popular tune played by many bands in the Washington area. Two of them recorded versions within days of each other, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and The Kingsman. For a while the Paul Revere version seemed the most popular but eventually the Kingsmen’s version won out. That is when the problems started.

The trouble with the Kingmen’s version was that it was impossible to understand the lyrics. Jack Ely, the lead singer, could have been singing about anything. Rumours began to circulate that the lyrics were dirty and obscene. Alternative lyrics were produced and passed round. Governor Matthew Welch of Indiana banned the song from being played on local radio stations in his state. Robert Kennedy (Attorney General of the USA) received a letter from a concerned parent in February 1964. Having heard that the song was obscene this parent thought that he had deciphered the lyrics and he was convinced the lyrics were indeed rude.

The FBI, keen to uphold the morals of the country opened a file on the song (I will not make the obvious comments about Edgar J Hoover and his personal peccadilloes wanting to protect the morals of 1960s middle American youth). That the lyrics were obscene was accepted as fact. The FBI investigated and interviewed everyone involved including Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Kingsmen, Richard Berry and those connected with the record company. It must have passed them by that the singer with the Kingsmen that they interviewed was not the singer on the record. Jack Ely had been sacked from the band just after the recording. They never interviewed him. They played the record at different speeds to see if they could identify the lyrics and consulted various experts for advice.

The result of 30 month’s investigation into this scandal? There was a report sent to the Director of the FBI on 25th May 1965 which said “The department advised that they were unable to interpret any of the wording on the record and, therefore, could not make a decision concerning the matter. Also that the AUSA at Tampa, FLA and Hammond, Indiana, have declined prosecution.”

The file was closed and Middle America survived this Crisis.

Something Strange and Wonderful

2008-07-29T10:04:00.003+01:00

happened the other day. My partner read my blog. I happened to forward an email to her and, as part of my signature, there is a link to my blog. She followed it. She read the piece on depression. being a 'typical man' I have difficulty in talking about my feelings and emotions. This blog is, basically, a diary and a means of formulating my feelings into words. It does not really occur to me that someone may read it. I know that they do, well some people do, as they write to me. However, it is not written for the audience. The audience is secondary, if no one read this I would keep writing.

The effect of her reading the blog is that I have 'said' to Jane what is going on in my head. It had been impossible for me to do that face to face. I am so relieved that this has happened. naturally, the next steps as the secrets are no longer secret are to explore their implications. That is what to come. I may be pleased that the dialogue has started. That does not mean I welcome the dialogue itself.

Freedom to Read

2008-06-27T09:33:00.003+01:00

One of the great things about living in a democracy is that we all have the freedom to worship (or not in my case) and to think.

I buy and sell CDs, Books, and Zippos on Amazon and Ebay. Until recently I did not have any ethical concerns about doing this.

However, if I had copies of any of the books that were available legally in the 70s or 80s such as 'Kill Without Joy', 'Silent Death', or 'The Anarchist's Arsenal' would I be acting ethically to by selling them? Would anyone who bought them be breaking the law? people have been prosecuted, and found guilty, after down loading 'material capable of aiding terrorists' from the Internet.

I am uncomfortable with this law. When did reading become a crime? Is there a list of acceptable and unacceptable books? Is the decision as to what is acceptable made on a case by case basis? Does that mean that a white, middle class, middle aged male may own a book but a working class, Asian, young male may not?

I freely admit that I owned these books and looked at the Anarchist's Cookbook on the web in the 80s. However, I did not kill or injure anyone, or use any of the material for criminal acts. I bought the books because they were, well, interesting. (I also doubt whether much of the contents is correct. How would I know? I never tried to make Ricin, but I would not follow the instructions contained on a web site). If I owned them now would that be illegal? Should anyone who currently owns copies of these books burn them? That would bring back memories of intolerance and bigotry.

There are classes of material that I am happy to have banned. The obvious example is child pornography. Child pornography is rightly banned. The basis for banning it should be because of the exploitation of the children photographed. The point is that child exploitation is wrong and illegal. Viewing such material encourages and condones a dreadful and illegal act. Racist material is also wrong and I am happy for that to be also banned.

Knowledge is power. There should be no limit placed on it. There should be limits placed on actions. The planning or conducting terrorist acts is where the illegality should rest. Anyone planning to commit terrorist attacks should be prosecuted. The prosecution should have to show their intentions in terms of plans and actions, not their reading habits alone.

I fear that our freedoms are being restricted, in the name of freedom. It seems to me that there has been little public debate about the price we have to pay for our freedoms. There are people who want to restrict our freedoms and use terrorism as their weapon. What I can not decide is whether they are winning.

There Are Worse Things Than Listening to Dolly Parton.

2008-06-16T11:34:00.001+01:00

I was watching Euro 2008 on the TV. During the advert break there was an advert for DP’s latest release and Jane said ‘There are worse things than listening to Dolly Parton’. There was a silence, she looked at me and said ‘Did I say that out loud?’ Naturally, being a caring new man I offered euthanasia, or more alcohol.

However she is right.

Garth Brookes springs to mind.

Frank Zappa said that no music is bad music – he obviously never listened to C&W. I have a good friend who loves C&W but he listens to old C&W. He listens to what is effectively country blues and folk. I have no problem with that. I like quite a lot of it. The music talks about real issues, there are no dogs dying in the sunset, it is real music by real people. I have a similar feeling about R&B. R&B used to stand for Rhythm and Blues, now it stands for some music that is not rock, not folk. By the 1970s, the term rhythm and blues was being used as a blanket term to describe soul and funk. In the 2000s, the term R&B refers to contemporary R&B, which is a modern version of soul and funk-influenced pop music that originated as disco faded from popularity. R&B is not ‘pop’ it is, should be, real music for real people.

In other words, R&B is not was it was. R&B just like C&W has sunk to a level where the terms have no meaning. What would Etta James’ classification be? What of Woody? They would be too feisty for today’s classifications. Today, both C&W and R&B have lost their meaning, it is not just me being an old fart. Marketing has taken over reality. The same is happening to the Blues, and real rock. The objective today is to sell CDs. The marketing men want to sell ‘product’ I reject any idea that real music is product. Go and see any local band that plays in your local pub. They may well play sub standard blues rock, or worse, another recycled version of Freebird (a local problem).. At least these people are doing it live.

I play guitar, but so badly that it is painful. Even if I could play like Buddy Guy I would not have the guts to stand up on a Friday or Saturday night and put my limited talents in front of people. All praise to them. Live music (with the exceptions of new C&W or Irish folk played by people from Manchester) is one of the great things in my life. Please support it. They are better people than we are, well, they have more front. Perhaps, just perhaps, they may turn out to be the next Wreckless Eric. There is no higher praise.

What Makes a Good Song?

2008-06-16T07:53:00.003+01:00

Some time ago I was going to write a piece for my website (realrockandblues.com) about good songwriters. I abandoned it when I became bogged down trying to define ‘a good song’. The trouble is that a good song can be good in-spite of the lyrics, melody, or any of the fundamentals. Some songs, particularly rock blues, have a basic format which serves them well, making the quality of the lyric writing less important. The lyrics merge into the overall sound and can often be ignored as words. The sound of the singer becomes another instrument in the overall mix.

When trying to dissect what makes a good song the quality of the lyric writing is less important than many believe. If you concentrate on the quality of the lyric writing the question quickly becomes is songwriter ‘A’ a better poet than songwriter ‘B’? There is some merit in asking this question but it misses the point about good songs. Why are some people able to create good songs while others produce pap?

I have no doubt hat Dylan is a good songwriter (and poet). Some of his lyrics are sublime. ‘You don’t have to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows’ is a line that works on more than one level. It has both a political and natural interpretation. His facility with words is, has been, impressive. However, that is not to say that all his songs are good, or even average. Leonard Cohen is a great poet. His songs? Well, when I was 17 and consumed by teenage angst, worrying about some girl, dreaming of things to come, angry at the state of the world, yes, they were great songs. Now, they are just turgid, to me. I am sure that there are some people who still like them, mainly teenagers wracked with angst etc.? Whether a song is good depends as much on the listener as anything else. However, that is another debate.

I began writing this on Saturday and today is Sunday. The Sunday Times has a review of an Aimee Mann release that said ‘If the stars were awarded purely for song writing, you would be reading a four star review right now. Aimee Mann’s standards rarely drop. The problem with @#%&*! Smiles, however, is that most of the songs are lost in bland and unchallenging arrangements….’ This is a professional critic confusing the quality of the poetry with the quality of the songs. The lyric is only part of the whole, bland arrangements can destroy potentially good songs.

No one would ever accuse the Glimmer Twins, Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, Wreckless, T V Smith et al of being great poets. They did all make wonderful and evocative songs that have stood the test of time.

Good songs depend on making an emotional connection. They also depend on making a difference to the listener, a lasting difference. That is why blue moon and June songs do not do it for me. I want more. I do not want bland, unchallenging arrangements. If the lyrics are out in front of the mix I do not want humdrum. Neither do I want the sense that I am supposed to be in awe of the songwriter’s word craft. For me Chuck Berry’s ‘Coffee coloured cadillac’ beats all David Grey’s cleverness everytime.

What do I want from a song? Melody? Not necessarily. A driving beat? Sometimes. Clever lyrics? Not often. Give me something that grabs my attention. Something that keeps me guessing, starts me thinking, and is honest. I want a song or a piece of music to expand my experience, to change me.

So many things to say, so little importance..

2008-05-21T19:29:00.003+01:00

That sort of sums up my attitude to blogging. Some people use blogging as a way of making money, however some of us (I wish it was most of us) just use it as a release.

Friends have come back to me after the last couple of entries about depression, so I am pleased about that. I just hope that they will follow the links.

What I wanted to talk aout today was/is Lou Reed. Lou has been a part of my life for more than 40 years. The passage of time scares me. What scares me most is when a middle of the road radio station (Capital FM) plays Walk on the Wild Side mid afternoon without any discussion about the subject matter. I was at work in a warehouse (following my redundany I am now carrying boxes for a living) when the song came on. I stopped, both to listen to the music and to wonder why such a sleazy (I like sleazy) song would be played between songs by Heaven 17 and some other boy band.

It seems that WotWS is acceptable now as no one worries about the words in songs anymore. I am sorry but this song is about drugs, transvestites, sex for money, intolerance, and all manner of things. A commercial station with only 200 songs on the play list should either A) Play songs that have been requested. B) Play songs that are innofensive or C) Play songs that have a meaning and THEN TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISSUES IN THE SONGS.......

What the hell, I enjoyed listening to Lou for 6 minutes (yes, they did talk over the end of the track......)

My problem is that music is now being treated as a product. Music is not a product. It is (should be) about communication of emotion and thought and reflection about the human condition.

"Pull Yourself Together"

2008-04-21T19:44:00.005+01:00

The last post was one in which I spoke of depression, in my case brought on by a number of factors, not the least of which was the loss of my job. I have found another job, less money, worse hours (a late shift in a warehouse), but for the same company. The one that decided that they did not need 2 people working in the Health and safety department, well, there are only 400+ employees.......

Not unnaturally I looked at the Internet to see what I could find out about depression in men. After all, we men do not go to our doctors. I do not know why we do not use our GPs more but it is a fact that we do not. One site that I found useful was Depression and Suicide in Men If for no other reason that it did confirm that I am suffering from something other than feeling sorry for myself. Here are some of the tell tale signs;

pervasive low mood
loss of interest and enjoyment
reduced energy and diminished activity.

Other features can also be present, including:

poor concentration and attention
poor self-esteem or self-confidence
ideas of guilt and unworthiness
a bleak pessimistic view of the future
thinking about, planning, or attempting suicide
crying for no reason
disturbed sleep
poor appetite
decreased interest in sex

The recommendation from the site is that that if you have any of the symptoms you should talk to your doctor. If you have 3 or 4 symptoms and have thought about committing suicide you should talk to your doctor, urgently.

I certainly have a few of the symptoms. However, it seemed to me when I first read the list that everyone must qualify. It was not until I talked to a couple of male friends that I realised that they did not but I have on a number of occasions throughout my life. So, it seems that I have had several bouts of depression and come through them one way or another. I am sure that it will be the same this time. I have no desire to resort to medication, I have even cut down on my medicine of choice (whiskey).

I know that it will take a while but at least last weekend I was able to face going to have a meal with friends. For a number of weeks I have not been able to do that. I had been out for a social drink twice during the last month and had to leave very early because I could not stand the company of good friends.

If you are suffering from depression there are a number of pieces of advice I would offer. The main one is that the road to recovery is not straight. There will be times when you are feeling markedly better and then you may well slip back again. Talk to your partner, if you have one, they deserve to know what you are going through, so that they can help. It is not their fault if they tell you to pull yourself together if they do not know what is happening inside your head. Do seriously consider talking through your feelings with your GP or someone who you trust.

Above all, if you know anyone who seems to be displaying any of these symptoms then talk to them. You might just save their life.

Suicide or Fly Fishing?

2008-04-15T06:40:00.003+01:00

13th April 2008

A strange thing happened on the way to this blog. I was going to talk about the despair that leads towards thoughts of suicide. Instead of which I will be talking about fly fishing.

I got up today and the day was overcast, dry and warm. A good day for fly fishing. When I arrived at the lake which is only 8 to 10 miles from where I live, it was overcast, raining, and cold. I began with 3 flies, as always. There was a small black buzzer (size 14 - the only fly I can tie well) on the top, a larger buzzer on the middle dropper and a large, improbably fluorescent daddy on the point.

None of that means anything to anyone who does not fly fish, I realise. What it does mean is that I was using 3 flies and the fish were having none of it.

Fly fishing is a great leveller of people. You can have all the money in the world and the fish can still turn their noses up at you. I am not a good fly fisher. I have an elbow problem that makes distance casting difficult. One of the great sayings of fly fishing is that not all distance casters are great anglers, but all great anglers can cast a distance.

Anyway, suicide or flyfishing?

I was going to talk about suicide. Not the supercilious 'here's how to do it' type of blog. It was going to be about the despair and depression that lead to thoughts of suicide. The black dog that lives in your soul. The one that I have seen and known recently. Life is hard. My life has been unravelling. Debts that I can not control, a job taken away because of the economic outlook, and my inability to talk to my partner about any of the issues. I feel worthless with a cold pit in my soul.

Why fly fishing today? It is simple. Fly fishing allows me to avoid and forget (for a while) my problems. Fly fishing is a sport of concentration, of luck, and ability. I lack all three, which is a shame.

The point of fly fishing is not to catch fish. The point is to teach humility. Think about it. You cast a hook dressed with feathers that hopefully looks like something a trout might want to eat. The angler tries to make the fish take the imitation fly. The trout look at it and turn away. You have to be humble in this game.

Casting a fly would be easy, if it weighed more that a piece of wool on the end of a 30 foot length of line. Unfortunately it doesn't. The method is to make the line float in the air, to induce a whip into the line that takes that small fly out onto the water, just for the fish to ignore.

Today I got up at 6:00. I was awake at 4:00 my mind racing about my problems but by 7:00 I was beginning to think about fishing. That is one of the great things about fly fishing. You have to forget your problems. Only calm will do, it is very zen.

I arrived at the small lake at 8:00. It was calm. 2 other anglers were there, they had tackled up and were fishing. I walked along the bank to the spot I like. I laid out my landing net first, as I always do, then I put the rod together and threaded the line through the eyes. No talking, no outside thoughts, just looking at the water, where are the fish rising? This is the quiet time. The time to empty thoughts, to forget. This is the perfect time.

As soon as you begin to fish you lose. Take too many fish and it is too easy. Take none and it is a defeat. Take any and you still lose, unless to take one and immediately pack up your tackle, which is impossible. So you always lose. That is fitting. You spend your time and skill, the fish spend their lives, for you.

The mechanics of fly fishing are simple. You cast the fly, let it sink a bit and retrieve it. The actuality is different. The cast, did it land on the water without disturbing the fish? Let the fly sink to the depth that you think is where the fish are and then retrieve it, trying to make it look alive.

The angler has to forget everything, clear his mind. He can be there for 4 hours or more. He has to have his mind alert for a tug, a slight movement in the line. Then, if he does not react immediately the fish will spit out the cold taste of the hook.

I stood on the bank. I saw my first squirrel of the year. The squirrels that live in our garden have not made an appearance yet but here there was one jumping from tree to tree. The ducks flew in and swam over my line without catching on it, how do they do that? Chaffinches started a domestic argument raising a racket that would disturb the dead, but not the fish.

It begins to rain I cast. It rains some more and I cast again. I wonder about my flies. Should I change them? Perhaps flies with more colour, perhaps bigger would be better.

My hands become cold, red with the breeze and rain. My mind begins to play music. I can not clear my mind of songs. Captain Beefheart songs do not help with my fishing, but the Captain will not go away. he has been part of my life for 40 years, why should he go now? The line twitches, the fish is playing with me. I become aware, the line moves and I lift into a fish.

Another fish follows on the next cast. Then nothing for 2 hours. I go home.

Depression returns and I open a bottle of whiskey. But for 4 hours it was good.

Olympic Torch

2008-04-08T09:58:00.001+01:00

Why is anyone surprised at the troubles surrounding the parade of the Olympic Torch round the world?

When China was given the Olympics they agreed to far reaching changes over theri attitude to human rights. At the time the politicians in the IOC said that by giving them the games China would have to change. Now that they have not the same IOC politicians say that athletics should play no part in politics.

The sad truth is that the Chinese had no intention of changing, the IOC knew that, the political leaders in the West knew that but no one really cares, as long as China is a valuable trading partner. That is why you will not catch Brown, Bush, Clinton, Obama etc. condeming the Chinese in other than the broadest terms. They will certainly not call for cultural or business boycotts.

Sometimes it is difficult to be proud of your country, no matter which country it is. This week I was proud to be British. Proud to see the protesters out on the streets.

So where is the Blues Podcast?

2008-04-08T09:29:00.000+01:00

A couple of people have asked me what has happened to the new blues podcast. That is heartening as I did not know that anyone listened to them. It is also quite depressing as time has obviously been passing me by.

So, where is the blues podcast? Basically it is sitting on the stairs in my house, well, the CDs are. What I need to do is to take them into my home studio and to do the do, as they say. However, more important issues are pressing. The main one being that I am to be made redundant. The prospect of no cash coming in as from mid April is scary, both for me and my bank manager, credit card providers, etc.

One good thing to come out of this bombshell (and it was a bombshell, no indication that the company may be about to ditch 50% of the Health and Safety team) is that I have started studying for a H & S qualification (NEBOSH General Certificate if you are interested). About time too, I have been avoiding studying to get on with the practical suff, reducing accidents at work, doing risk assessments and generally nagging the middle managers to take H & S seriously. It worked too. Only 1 accident in the last 35 days (best ever result since we began to keep records in 2004). The near misses are now being reported rather than ignored and I have just organised Health Promotion Days for the 400 people who work for the firm.

The result? The company is now able to delegate the responsibility for H & S to the same middle managers that I have been nagging for the last 18 months to get their acts together. An own goal if ever there was one.

With only 2 weeks left in the business I am tempted to take an afternoon off and to record the show. Trouble is, I feel this responsibility towards the workers and can not just walk away, not until 18th April anyway.

Just like buses

2008-03-09T16:32:00.015Z

None for ages and then 2 come along at the same time.........

The second Real Rock and Blues podcast is available at Real Rock and Blues - Show 2.

Patti, Wreckless, The Captain, loads of good people and not a Celine in Sight! Not much blues either but the next one will be a blues special!!

Give it a listen and let me know what you think by emailing me at ( realrockandblues.com).

Remember, keep music real, keep it alive!

Phil

Real Rock and Blues podcast!!

2008-03-08T14:34:00.003Z

So it has been a while..............

I wrote some time ago about Ribble Valley Radio. I had a show on the station playing what I like to call real rock and blues. I am afraid that RVR has gone the way of all flesh...... As a community radio station the biggest problem was always funding. In the first year we raised £26,000 and spent £21,000 of that on equipment and £5,000 paying the Performing Rights people and offcom for the licence. Finally, after 3 years the strain was too much and RVR folded.

We are in the process of starting a new station, but in the meantime...............

I have started a web site called realrockandblues.com. There is a lot of work to do, of course, it is amazing how much time a small web site can take up.

I thought that just writing about music would be enough, but it wasn't. I really miss broadcasting! It really is the most fun that you can have with your clothes on! The solution? Podcasting! The first podcast is here Real Rock and Blues Show 1. A pretty natty title (Show 1) I think that you will agree. Why not give it a listen?

So What is Real Rock?

That is a really good question. Real rock, as I see it, is music (not necessarily 'rock') that poses questions. I hate music that could be played in a lift. Real music demands attention and thought. What I think I dislike is inoffensive music, and that varies from person to person. So, what you get here is my 'real rock' and that might not be yours, and that is fine. One of the great things about music is that it appeals to different people and means different things to different people.

Who makes Real Rock?

So many people; Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Tom Waits, Wreckless Eric, Roger Chapman, Crimzon, Nick Cave, Beefheart, Zappa, Zoot Horn Rollo, John Coltrane, Miles Davis. Anyone working with imagination and with honesty.

The list is almost endless.

Who does not make 'real rock'?

Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs, any boy band, The Monkees, any girl band, anyone who thinks that they do, Bedingfield, Blunt, Grey etc. etc.

This is rather like the old definition of art. "I do not know what it is, but I know what I like."

I hope you like what you hear, let me know.

All the best,

Phil

It's Been a While........

2006-07-24T07:10:00.000+01:00

since I wrote anything.

It has been a busy time, the RSL for Ribble Valley Radio has been and gone, the company I work for has been taken over (about time too), and the world has gone mad.

I usually think that people commenting on world events are somehow stupid. We have no influence on the politicians except at elections and then the choice is usually between Tweedledum and Tweedledumber. So what is the point in expressing any view? None whatsoever. However, I want to say that Israel has over reacted and is committing war crimes (under the agreed definition as their response to acts of aggression have been disproportionate and have targeted civilians).

Now, I have no idea how they should have targeted Hezbollah better. By being alongside the civilians Hezbollah have made any response difficult but the continued attacks on civilian targets is wrong. I understand that the aim is to disrupt the flow of munitions to the south of Lebanon. The consequence is only damaging to Israel's standing in the world. The politicians (the UK and US ones at least) may stand by them but public opinion will not for any length of time.

The only way to get rid of Hezbollah is to stop the aggression, rebuild Lebanon and have a peace keeping force until the growth of wealth denies Hezbollah the natural support that it has at present and that the aggression is building for the future.

Think about it. If you lived in a country that has been pummelled by it neighbour (whatever the provocation) would you be more likely to accept the punishment meekly or be drawn towards the only effective organisation that could offer a way of striking back?

Case closed.

Ribble Valley Radio

2006-04-11T15:15:00.000+01:00

Some time ago I mentioned Ribble Valley Radio. It is a small community radio in a beautiful part of Lancashire in the North West of England. I am the secretary for the group and we broadcast on a temporary licence last year for 28 days. We plan to broadcast again this June.

The problem, of course, is money. To broadcast you need a studio and a licence. Last year we started fromn scratch and raised something like £27,000. We spent £26,000. £21,000 went on equipment and £5,000 on the 28 day licence and the Performing Rights fees. Fundraising is starting again in earnest now that our AGM is out of the way and some new blood has joined the committee. On Saturday, 15th April, we are holding an 'eggstravaganza' in the local community hall. Lots of stalls and games. It should prove to be fun and exciting for the local kids, with luck it will also boost our funds, with luck.

I have been involved in some community projects before and one thing that you have to accept is that the people that are also involved are volunteers. This means that they are enthusiatic, over optomistic and often take on more than they can guarantee to do. Take this event for example. Lots of good work has been done and the range of events is wonderful, from childrens' fancy dress to roll a penny and splat the rat (whatever that is). However, the guy producing the posters has gone down sick, the number of people who volunteered to help has dwindled - after all families want to 'do' something over a long holiday weekend - and at the final co-ordination meeting last night there was an undercurrent of mild panic.

I have no doubt that this will prove to be a success, honest. This sense of unease is common on all the events I have been part of in the past, but for the newcomers it is unsettling. The main danger in running a community group is that because some people take on too much one or two individuals pick up the slack and run the risk of burn out.

I think that the point of this article is to say to anyone involved in a community project 'don't panic!' Believe in the dream and keep plodding on. If the eggstravaganza is not a success we will try again with another fundraising event, we will reach our targets, we will be on air in June, then again in December.

Already more fundraisers are in the planning stage. We will have a balloon race with upto 5,000 balloons in July and (my favourite) at least 3 rock concerts featuring local bands, also in July. With each of those events there will be the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach as the doors open "will anyone come?" and after each event we will learn more and improve for the next time.

It does not matter what your interests are, get involved in your community.

Put something back!!

ID Cards

2006-02-14T14:27:00.000Z

I am a Labour voter. I have always voted Labour, I used to be active in the party, but I do not understand the party anymore.

I can not see what ID cards will do for us. To be of any use they would need to be compulsory. If they were compulsory I still doubt if they would put off any terrorist. The authorities would have to find the terrorist before looking at the ID card. ID cards will be forged, of course they will do not believe anyone saying that they will be forgery proof no such animal exists. People will not always carry them and unless the police prosecute everyone that can not produce one one of the main 'benefits' goes out the window.

In any event they have ID cards in Germany and terrorists still operate out of there, as we all know to our cost.

More than their effectiveness, or lack of. What I object to is the idea of having to have one at all. There seems to be a creeping erosion of civil liberties. As far as I can see the legislation will enable the police to stop people who look suspicious in their eyes (i.e. asian) and if they do not have a card with them detain them. Do not be fooled this will happen. The authorities will not be stopping prosperous looking white males. All that will happen is that the ethnic minorities will feel further isolated and resentful.

The point of terror is to terrorise. To spread discontent and to make your enemies give up that which they hold dear.

And this from a party that I have always supported and expected to uphold my rights. I will continue to vote Labour but this is no longer the party I joined and worked for 30 years ago.

Familly Tree

2006-02-14T14:11:00.000Z

A few weeks ago I was bored and idly messing about at home and came across a familly tree web site. For no other reason than having nothing better to do I started to fill ut my familly tree. Now, I have lost touch with my familly and so the entry was quite small. The day before yesterday I had an email.

Suddenly I have found 47 other 'members' of my familly! Some are distant relations by marriage but I now also have a great grandfather and mother. The chap sending the email to ask whether one of my ancestors couldbe linked to his turns out to be my second cousin, although I have never really understood that stuff.

I now also realise that he visited my auntie on the farm where she lived 40 years ago, as did I. He also knew that one of my aunties had died and met my sisters, who I have not seen for 15 years.

As they say, small world.

Monday Morning

2006-02-13T14:28:00.000Z

In at work after a very short weekend.

The first cup of coffee and all those things that I would have done last week if I had time are still here to be done today. As a trainer in a light engineering company in Lancashire I actually got to do some training last week, for the first time in a while. Most of my time is spent completing training needs analysis and writing procedures. All of which need to be done but I am paid to train.

The problem is that no one has been training for the past 2 years and all the procedures and back up stuff are out of date................

I have nothing profound to say, ever. This is more of a do something just to get started in the morning sort of post.

One interesting thing is that I had an email from a guy who handles Jeff Scott Soto's tours in this country. JSS will come and be interviewed and record an accoustic set for me in May. This will be the first international musician on Ribble Valley Radio and although not really a devotee of his music I am very excited by the prospect.

If you live in Lancashire and get the opportunity to see a band called 'Oversight' you must do it. They are a trio of young lads, about 17 who do some covers of standard rock stuff but also write their own music. They are gaining quite a following locally and have played in Manchester Acadamy, Southport etc. I had them into the studio when we were on air in December and nice lads they were too. But so young. (Everyone looks young to me these days). I had forgotten what it was like to believe that I was going to be a rock star and have the whole of my life ahead of me. Very refreshing.

Perhaps I will go into the trials and tribulations of starting a radio station from scratch in a few days.

Take Care.

Phil

First Things

2006-02-12T14:42:00.000Z

OK.

So now I have a blog. Who is going to read it? Don't they (you) have better things to do? Why did I want to do tis in the first place? (Seemed like a good idea at the time..............) What are blogs good for? - Let me know.