The Afterword Podcast

The lonely souls DFB and RubyBlue meet to discuss mental health again and specifically if - like the late great Bob Hoskins claimed - it's good to talk

Whether it's you, your friends, loved ones etc it's hard to know what's best to do. We perhaps don't have any answers but perhaps our own experiences can help others empathise and give a couple of pointers. But - like many things - this podcast is mainly for our own benefit and anything else is a happy side effect.

Twang hands the chair over to Retropath 2 to interview Fairport Convention founder Simon Nicol. In a wide ranging interview Retro manages to avoid all the usual tiresome questions ("what was Sandy like?", 'I bet Richard is a right laugh on a pub crawl" etc) and covers Simon's 50 year career and many other bands as well as exploring the realities of being a musician long after you should have found a proper job.

Twang, Tiggerlion, Mike_H and El Hombre Malo convene in the pod to discuss the work of jazz colossus John Coltrane. From sheets of sound, Coltrane changes, spiritual dimensions to heroin and being scared to go beyond certain points in the man's canon, much ground is covered. And Tig has to admit there is an album even he doesn't think he can't improve by a spot of re-sequencing.

Where were we? DFB, Steven C, Nigel T and the non alliterative DoctorJ continue wih The Beatles chat - which is what they do even if the tapes aren't running to discuss the new publishing wheeze of releasing albums with pamphlets attached that they humorously call a magazine.

We talk about the tacky, wacky or canny nature of Apple's treatment of The Beatles whether via vinyl or CD, the proposed 50th anniversary of Pepper, the Strawberry Fields Forever re-release that never was and our own HORA in the guise of Uncle StevenC's guide to introducing young people to vinyl records. This will be our last podcast on The Beatles........

Nope, sorry, we will never stop talking abot them but podcast #57 should be a Fabs free zone.

But still fab

Ahem.

Yes its the bloody Beatles again - well, we - that being the regular podders DFB, StevenC & DrJ PLUS fresh face NigelT making a stunning debut - look at the solo career AFTER his All Things Must Pass album and enquire if unlike Lennon post Imagine - is there anything to see?

Somehow we take in the 80's TV show 'In At The Deep End', the Dark Hoarse tour, the much remaindered Living In The Material World, Steven C's marvellous Spotify playlist, Oliver Reed, Neil Innes, wife-swapping, croque monsieurs and everything in between. Oh and of course Jeff Lynne & the 1986 Brumbeat concert at the third time of asking. It's a non stop cavalcade of chat and when you reach the end - we ain't done - there is more in the can for the future. Hari Hill to you all.

So 2016 ended not with a bang but a tech fuck up - and one last death. So here is the start of a podcast riddled with so much dub reggae sound effects that it had to be remounted in 2017. Its supposed to be our 2nd regular Beatles podcast but there's an AWFUL lot of Pink Floyd in it

The Flowers In The Dirt-y Robbing Bugger Super Deluxe Edition: just what is going on and we'll just get the 2 CD edition and shout ya-boo-sucks! Dr J tries to avoid the cross examination of legal eagle StevenC over his plans to buy the upcoming Fleetwood Mac - Tango In The Night SDE by disappearing We ask what's in the shoe box, is there a car and do we REALLY need it. What's the best box set - should you go large or go home - all or nothing. And Dr J gets to crowbar Jeff Lynne into the conversation again. Same Shit, Different Year RIP Clyde The Cat

NB: This podcast has been delayed due to serious sound issues and this 20 minute section may be the only salvageable bit and Twang has done a fine job to bring this greatly entertaining demolition to you. So Dogfacedboy asked for people to listen to albums that they haven't listened to before for purely childish or petty reasons. This episode details Mr Ganglesprocket grappling with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's 'Darkness Of The Edge Of Town' alongside equally reticent listener FentonSteve. Trying to explain why you like \ hate something is always tricky but we give it a bloody good go. There is no wrong or right , DFB the true believer doesn't attempt a counter argument perhaps because he's enjoying MrG's rant far too much.

Twang, Bartleby, Attackdog and El Hombre Malo polish their plectrums, clip on their capos and gather in the pod to discuss guitars. No, wait, come back! Inevitably there is some nerdery (it's four guitarists talking to each other after all) but much humour, wry reflections on ability or otherwise, gig injuries, rubbish instruments endured and favourite players appreciated. As it's Christmas our pickers have picked a few bonus tracks showing off their, ahem, chops for your pleasure.

At last Twang, Morrison, JazzJet, Pencilsqueezer, Mike_H and Tiggerlion don berets, dark round sun glasses and co-respondent shoes and discuss the wonderful world of jazz. Chins are stroked, names dropped and Skype does its best to remove Tigger from the proceedings all together. A splendid time is had by all and Sting gets a shoeing along the way. Doo be doo be doo.