I’m absolutely certain of the price though, because I kept the sticker on it for a few months. I think I went to Our Price in Central Station. Two days later, I bunked off college early and went into town. Obviously, other people would lead me on similar journeys, down similar paths, and to similar destinations, they still do, and to them I’m grateful always, but this moment, this journey was one I embarked on almost with the belief that it was only for me, that I was the only one walking this path. Kenny opened a door that day, I happily walked through it, it led me to untold places, and I’m never going back. Something that no matter how many years go by, continues to give, continues to enrich you with each and every listen. Something to learn from, to mark important moments, something that blows your mind every time you hear it. This was to be one of those magical moments as a music lover when someone turns you onto something you’d never heard before, something which becomes such an important and integral part of your life. I didn’t know it at the time, but what I know now, is that in that one ten word sentence, my world was about to change forever. Love? What did he mean listen to Love? What, or who, were Love? “ Well if you like the Paleys, you should listen to Love” Lost Liverpool looks at the Liverpool 1990 festival, where Shack and Arthur Lee combined forces Plus, like Kit, they had boss haircuts and cool guitars. I loved that attitude, that outsider-ness. When the record and music shops were filled with people searching out the new synths and drum machines, the new analogue beats and beeps, Mick Head wrote an album of sensitive soulful songs, with flutes, cellos, steel drum and brass accompaniments. In many ways, that may have been their downfall, but to me, it was a pretty cool act of defiance for them to release their first album Pacific Street at that time. Mick Head’s writing had taken on a slightly harder edge from their first LP, there was less woodwind and strings, but still plenty of brass and more distorted guitar, while still retaining their folk-pop credentials, I was drawn to this band initially a couple of years earlier, by their stubborn insistence on standing outside of expectations, away from what everyone else was doing. Just a couple of months after the release of their second and final album From Across The Kitchen Table, they were at the absolute top of their game. The conversation inevitably turned to the headline act, The Pale Fountains. You know, as you do….they’re shite….these are alright….nah, they’re shite too.and on and on. Balancing the pros and cons objectively and in depth. Kenny and I were talking about the bands on the bill, their few plusses, and their many minuses. So it was worth a 10 hour wait in anyone’s money. Best of all though, The Pale Fountains, my Gods, were headlining. I didn’t really like many of these, to be honest, but it was a day in the cold and dark environs of the Royal Court, the bar was open, I was 18, and it only cost 50p. Someone has suggested The Builders, who I liked, also played, but I really don’t remember whether that’s true or not. I don’t remember all the bands who played, but Personal Column, Western Promise, A Broken Promise and South Parade were all part of the day. I probably don’t need to explain what the event was about. It was called Ten Bands, Ten Years, Ten Bob. We were in the Royal Court that afternoon for an event celebrating Radio City’s tenth anniversary of broadcasting in Liverpool. I’m 49 now, and truth be told, I’m still just as impressed by all that. I was 18, and ridiculously impressed by all this. You’d see them hanging out in the Armadillo Tea Rooms, or the old Everyman Bistro, or, even cooler (then), The Albert on Lark Lane. In fact, Kit were mates with everyone who was anyone. They were proper, they rehearsed in The Ministry, their singer Lin was a good mate of my hero, Mick Head. They got their hair cut in Vic’s on Whitechapel. He played guitar in a band called Kit, and I was a hanger-on of various Liverpool bands, and attempting to form my own, something I later went on to do, several times, with little or no discernible success.īut Kenny was in Kit, they did John Peel Sessions, had cool semi acoustic guitars, flattops, and everything. One afternoon in 1985, I was sitting upstairs in the Royal Court talking to Kenny. With the 50th anniversary of Da Capo album, Getintothis’ Paul Fitzgerald reflects on the tip off that led him to discover Arthur Lee’s incredible psychedelic band, and his lifelong love of all things Love.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |