school

I was innocently added to a Facebook group reuniting lots of folk from my old educational establishment, Chesterfield High School.

The thing is, I hated the place. The whole five years I was there, I don't think I have a single good memory about anything to do with it. Well, tell a lie, I do. On the 26th June 1987, I left. For good.

Don't get me wrong, I made a couple of good friends there - decent folk without any malice in their entire beings. But they were the exception to the rule.

Another thing. In a way, I'm being really unfair because any grief I had with school was, ultimately, my fault. Between 11 and 16, I had more responsibility for my actions, yet it's easier to blame the system.

Still hated the place though.

Reading through some of the things folk say, I realise that I'm jealous. I missed out on stuff at school which would've benefited me for the future. But I live and learn.

Conversely, there was a FB discussion about my first school, Crosby Road North, where I had great craic and really enjoyed reminiscing.

I had a happy childhood. It was boss. I had all my fun out of school. If there was a Facebook group called, "Growing Up In Waterloo In The 1980s And Doing Stupid Things That Could Involve Police Intervention" I think I'd be the main poster!!!

incendiary

It's turning into a bit of a Beatles' blog, I guess, but of all my neuroses this is easily the most harmless hahaha......

The newly remastered, resequenced and remixed "Live At The Hollywood Bowl" album shows Beatlemania at the height of its' power. The performances presented here exude an energy and enthusiasm that only the deaf would not appreciate what all the fuss was about. If anything, "Live At The Hollywood Bowl" would be as good a starting point for a psychological study of the human psyche than anything one could ever encounter. The sound of 20,000 screaming, hysterical teenagers, mainly girls, doesn't let up throughout the set. And as ever, the Beatles knew when to up a notch in their performances to get the audience to scream even louder. Did they do it on purpose just to wind the crowd up even more? Probably?

Modern technology, as good as it is, hasn't got to a point where the background din can be separated from the Beatles live prowess. The band still sound interested, their set brimming with exuburence and power that later tours would lose. Producer, Giles Martin, son of Sir George Martin, is a chip off the old block. He is as intimately acquainted with the Beatles sound as his father was, and in comparison with the original "Live At The Hollywood Bowl" album of 1977, he has merely dusted down and applied a new sonic sheen to the band's offering. The vocals shine on this re-release, the bass and drums mainly occupy the left channel, lead and rhythm guitars to the right - the shows were originally recorded on 3-track tape in chaotic conditions. George and Giles Martin have given us the live shows that have never done the Beatles justice...until now.

Highlights? The opener, "Twist And Shout" is raucous with a throat-tearing Lennon vocal. "Can't Buy Me Love" is full of urgency and pleading, "She Loves You" is almost as spine-tingling as the single, and "Long Tall Sally" proves that Paul, if any were ever needed, was as good vocally on visceral rockers as his writing partner. They really are THAT good. And this isn't me being a slobbering sycophant, I can listen to this with a critical distance and still say it's incendiary.

Buy. Download, Steal. Or something. This won't happen again.

Something

A bit of blogging for a change!

I'm a podcast junkie. Well, in the sense that there's some of them that I like. Howard Hughes' "The Unexplained" is a favourite, as well as LBC's James O'Brien's weekly "best of" podcast. I used to be an avid listener to Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode's weekly film review that the BBC put in a podcast, but the thing was, it went on for ages, and I have the attention span of an invertebrate, so depending on what mood I was in decided whether I could be bothered to listen to the whole show or not.

But for the past several months, I've been enjoying "Something About The Beatles"  -  a regular podcast hosted by a Brit (Richard Buskin) and a Yank (Robert Rodriguez).

And the link to their website and podcasts is this - http://somethingaboutthebeatles.com/

I like this. It's funny, informative and Richard and Robert as hosts just bounce off each other. They really do know their stuff - each of them have had several Beatles- related books published - and they often play rare tracks, covers, isolated Beatles multi-tracks and have interviewed key authors of Beatles books, such as Mark Lewisohn and Philip Norman.

The one gripe I have with it, regardless that they continually retract their words, is their anti-McCartney slant that casts a large shadow over everything. In Rob and Rich's world, Lennon is an out-and-out demigod, if a bit of a dickhead at times. George Harrison is portrayed as a genius upon whom the Beatles would never have gotten anywhere without his input. And Ringo is Ringo.

But Paul gets the lion share of the gripes, particularly from Richard who can't see that McCartney has done anything worthwhile as a solo artist, where I can beg to differ on many, many levels. The McCartney-sung track "Hold Me Tight" from "With The Beatles" comes in for some savage criticism over the course of the podcasts, yet the excellent Julie Traymor fantasy film "Across The Universe" which contained many reinterpretations of Beatles classics, used the song in some of the early key scenes in the movie. So who knows what????

I've been involved with the Beatles and their story for nearly forty years, and I think I know stuff, yet "Something About The Beatles" always lets me in on a new fact, or something I'd forgotten. I'd recommend it to any serious Fabs fan - as long as you're not that pushed about Paul!!!

buses

Let's talk about buses for a change. A personal perspective on the North Western Road Car Company, the one set up for deregulation of UK bus services, and not the one of 1972 vintage that some folk in Cheshire still hanker for to this day.

In September 1986, Ribble Motor Services, by far one of the largest State-owned National Bus Company subsidiaries, was split up into smaller units in the run-up to deregulation day in October 1986. Ribble's Merseyside operations were taken over by the newly reformed "North Western".

At that time, all of the Merseyside services North Western had inherited from Ribble were operated on behalf of Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive (MPTE). The company was guaranteed a fixed proportion of bus mileage within the PTE area, roughly between 12/13%. The PTE basically paid North Western to do work for them.

At deregulation, North Western had registered most of their Merseyside network commercially, to be operated for profit without any PTE subsidy. It was a grand plan, with many services improved. Their publicity at that time proclaimed the bold ambition of the infant company....

However, it was soon realised that North Western had overcalculated the returns they hoped to generate from their network. They were not helped by some odd diversions and revisions to routes that had run effortlessly under the previous regime. The fare scales were enormously complicated and, again, not helped by the rigourous fare hike that had to be enforced when the PTE subsidies came to an end. In fact, it didn't take too long for North Western to come to the conclusion that many of the Merseyside services didn't pay their way, a fact masked under PTE control when costs and subsidies were guaranteed.

A huge knife in their coffin came when North Western announced in 1988 that it would no longer accept the PTE-sponsored "Saveaway" bus / train / ferry combined tickets - hugely popular with the travelling public for over a decade. The company complained that PTE remuneration didn't justify accepting them. North Western's chief rival, the PTE's own company, "Merseybus", consequently put services on North Western routes to continue coverage for Saveaway users. More passengers lost to bad decisions.

Also it is worth noting that North Western NEVER traded as a stand-alone company. It was sold by the National Bus Company to the Drawlane Group, and continued its' downward spiral of cutting services and closing bus stations.

Today, North Western is long gone. It was swallowed up by Arriva Passenger Services, and now just the remaining Bootle depot is operational, but healthy - finally doing good things on north Merseyside.

worst

Maybe my two, most of the time, consider me "Dad", but I'd likely disown them if they got me something like this for Father's Day.

Imagine the worst type of condescending rubbish a record company can throw at you? Consider the implications of rehashing the same old, mostly bland, AOR nonsense over three compact discs (something else that's obselete!) and handing it to demographically-defined middle aged men as a present. Even the kindest of them will silently wonder "what's this shite????"

I love the cover though. However, the idea of me and Aaron working in either our shed or greenhouse on projects together whilst bopping away to "The Dad" album is a complete fantasy - a misnomer of megalithic proportions put together by some smug advertising executive whose ego is larger than his bank balance.

Journey, Boston, Whitesnake, Toto, Starship, Foreigner, Chicago, etc. You get the picture. Some of the worst excesses of corporate popular music ever committed for public consumption. 

Please don't be fooled by this dreadful marketing exercise. If any of the track listing appeals to you, there's any number of free download sites that will gladly give you 80s rock nostalgia to your hearts' content. 

A really nasty trick.

Utopia

As I get older, and slightly less interested in the music scene of now, and more introspective of what I grew up with (which is only natural I suppose?), I really can't figure out whether it's still as precious to me or not. Have I acquired, if I didn't have it already, a critical distance about all the bands I love?

The answer is fairly straight-forward - it's not that important. Because the great thing about music is it ebbs and flows. What floats your boat one week won't necessarily do the same the next......

"Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a great example.

Lauded as the best rock album of all time, it gains its' admirers and detractors in equal measure, but not at the same times. For every reviewer who names it as their favourite love-in, the next will lambaste it as the very worst indulgence the 60s had to offer.

The truth is a little in between. It's a flawed masterpiece - the influence of drugs, Hippiedom, the Beach Boys, etc all contribute in measure to its' greatness and awfulness. Take your pick what makes it and what doesn't.

I really don't get people who can't see the shite some of their favourite artists come up with. I love the Beatles - but they made some shocking stuff. No names mentioned, but some of it is pretty obvious. Check "The Beatles" (Apple PMC7067-68).

There is something wrong when a fan can't distinguish, I repeat myself now, critical distance of an artists output. 

For me, I'm still looking for Utopia (the destination, not the band!). I want to spend a lifetime looking for that perfect chord, that quintessential listening experience where all the vibrations and frequencies explode my head.

It's not much to ask is it?

knocked

On the day I was made redundant from my last proper job, the guy from the insolvency firm who were looking after the affairs of the company assured me that the Government-back redundancy payout would be roughly, and I quote, "a couple of grand...."

Well, tonight, after a lot of messing around I got an email from the Insolvency Service informing me that I will receive the princely sum of four quid short of £1,100.........

Talk about being knocked for six.

The thing is, both myself and Jayne had spent this "couple of grand"  in our heads for when it eventually came through. I wish we'd never even thought about it now.

I feel like I've been cheated, even though the figures are unassailable and correct. Maybe it's "just rewards" for the times I sat there at my desk and read old "Buses" magazines when I should've been doing something more productive? I dunno......

My long-term job prospects are a little up in the air because I'm currently employed three months on, then one month off, etc.. And even though I know I'll be back after that month's break, I'm wondering what to do during that time away? I have options on doing agency work again? Maybe get my taxi badge for a second time and try that for a couple of weeks? Or something completely different? I'd love to drive a van again!

I was complacent at my last job, but when the push came, I didn't piss about and spent 12 miserly days on the dole before getting back into work. I don't plan on being one of Cameron's Millions again, and like I always say time will tell.

Twenty

Twenty years ago today, Dad died.

I've mentioned this each and every year I've been online, and have related most of the best stories already. I've been thinking a lot about the half-memories and all those events that have been shrouded by the mists of time. 

I can remember going to him and crying in his arms once, but I can't remember the reasons why? All that's absolutely certain is I felt safe and secure. And I was about 16 at the time. He showed me unconditional love, whatever the circumstances. He always, and I mean always, tried to see things from my point of view. I never saw him look shocked or flustered by anything I asked or said to him. I think he was genuinely concerned I wasn't going to go through certain things in life he had.

He used to get in from work, have his tea, go and strip down to his underpants, then sit in his favourite chair all night like that! And we used to have all our mates coming in and out of the house while he sat there! They'd pop their heads around the door, "Alright, Jim!", "Alright, son!" Bonkers......

I can honestly say I never, ever had a row about anything with him. We could exchange views, and it was always done in a calm, controlled manner. I thought this was good because I quickly came to the conclusion that a lot of what goes on life is generally not worth getting hung up about. As a consequence, arguing my point has never been a strong point. But I digress.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have had an amazing father who was funny, smart, grounded and caring. Fortunate because some folk don't have that sort of relationship with their dads either. I did, and whatever else is wrong with me, I'm blessed to have been as much a part of his life, as he was in mine.

xxx 

unfair

It's an odd thought, but I left school and started full-time work 28 years ago. It doesn't feel that long ago, in my mind anyway. Maybe spending, roughly, 18 years working with the same people at different companies, and the way each of those years blurred into one has coloured my memories?

I've only passed two job interviews in my life as well. The first was when I went to work for GB Fasteners back at the end of January 1996. I went for a part-time delivery driver job. I had no experience and only really knew Liverpool and surrounding areas by the bus routes, but I spent a pleasant half-hour chatting with Vince (the then-manager) about each other's recent holidays - and I got the job for some reason!!! The second time was when I wanted to be with Lin over in Dublin, and I went for an interview for a stores person at Tuck and Co. who were, back then, the main Makita power tool dealer in Ireland. That involved a lot more of my experience gained in the previous five years, and I was dreadfully under-prepared because I didn't expect it. But somehow I must have impressed them because they offered me a 12-month contract and I loved every minute of it.

The point I'm trying to come to is that, on the other side of the coin, the rest of my jobs have come through knowing someone in the know / a favour returned / etc, etc... And I wonder to myself, in those circumstances, have I been the best candidate for the position offered??? 

I think, to a degree, I have been. There's been nothing I've done that's completely overawed me or had me scratching my head in clueless bewilderment. I've had a great deal of trust and responsibility put onto me at certain times and I haven't abused that position. So regardless of the fact that my career choices may seem quite bland and unadventurous that's been okay for me. The security of a job, madly enough, has overrode its' financial rewards.

But I've seen people, in certain jobs, who have no right to them because they are mentally and emotionally unsuited for these positions. They have their jobs through the same system of knowing a person who knows so-and-so as what I did, but there the similarity ends. It takes a special kind of bullshit to convince the employer that this sort of person is essential to the smooth running of the organisation. And through selfishness and cunning, they achieve the aims of their scam, then convince themselves that they are worthy of promotion and more money. Some folk spend their entire working lives living out this reality.

I know of a firm that has various departments, and one department in particular builds itself up to be the best thing since sliced bread. But it squanders huge swathes of its budget on employing administration staff, the purpose of some of these positions is quite unknown, whilst using a small and hugely-overworked temporary workforce to cover the bolts-and-nuts day-to-day grind - these are the staff who interact with the customer more than anybody, and yet never, ever get any of the plaudits.

It's amazingly unfair, and I wonder where it all went wrong? Can you imagine a world where everyone had a job suited to their particular talents - where there was a love for doing what one did. They wouldn't care about their wages, because productivity and quality would be through the roof and everyone would have the best of everything.

Instead, we work in a system that rewards greed, shit-stirring and bloody-mindedness. If you're pissed off with your job, then I'd say I'm probably right.

greatest

Steven Gerrard's announcement that he will leave Liverpool at the end of this present season is no real surprise.

From the moment he lost the ball for their first goal in the game against Chelsea last season, he's had the look and attitude of a defeated man. But even that is usually off the scale in most other players' abilities by a country mile. He's shown glimpses of his brilliance, notably the free kick against Basel, so far, but mostly he looks destroyed.

Neither was it his greatest idea to captain a below-average England team during the 2014 World Cup. He looked totally out of his depth and...knackered to be honest. But this is just minor moans.

He's been mostly acclaimed to be the greatest Liverpool player ever, and if he isn't he's only a gnat's whisker behind Kenny Dalglish. This is understandable, but a complete knee-jerk reaction to a wider picture that neglects so many great players.

I saw Jan Molby's ball skills that defied physics. I saw John Barnes rampage through defences at pace with the ball stuck to his feet. I saw Ian Rush find the net 346 times without even thinking about it. I saw Graeme Souness, Steve Nicol, Fernando Torres, Emlyn Hughes, Patrik Berger, Sami Hyppia, Bruce Grobbelaar, etc, etc, the list goes on........

Would Gerrard have prospered in those 70s / 80s Liverpool sides that rampaged across Europe winning everything in sight? Of course he would, and he'd have been an integral part of the set up - if not the kingpin.

What sets Steven apart from those great players and impossibly brilliant sides is he's spent his entire career at Liverpool surrounded by, with notable exceptions, shite.  Through force of character, determination and single-mindedness, he led these quite average Reds teams to some of the greatest victories in our history. Jan Kromkamp - FA Cup winner anyone?????

What will determine Steven Gerrard's place as one of our greatest players will be time and perspective. In ten years time, if public opinion still favours Gerrard in the same tones as now, that will be a proper measure of the man and the player.