This week we paddle the two-man kayak of curiosity across the rock and roll seafront and make a few stops on the way, among them …

… “the future is always in the past”.

… the pure theatre of the E Street Band and its cast of characters – “our lives are repaired by the fact that they’re still together”.

… the growing appeal of Country & Western - and even “shronking” jazz – as you get older.

… Bless the Barn, Featherwash and Franny Wisp, Portlandia’s low-volume crowd-pleasers.

… the ‘Barry’ TV series (starring Bill Hader): that rare beast, a contract killer who’s a nice bloke.

… the 60th anniversary of the recording of She Loves You, why engineer Norman Smith predicted a flop and the fan break-in at Abbey Road that energised the session.

… is the success of Nick Drake partly an antidote to the age of technology?

… how our concept of ‘old’ has changed: McCartney at Live Aid was a coffin-dodging 43, same age as Kelis at Glastonbury.

… is cricket now the drunkest spectator sport? And which is the greater agony, seeing England doing badly when you’re there or watching at home with the commentary?

… and the Elton John Band have been together 53 years – but that’s only six years longer than Madness.

… plus birthday guests Andrew Stocks and Patrick Cleasby and a roll-call of new patreon supporters.

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