The Corona Diaries

I know that we talk often, almost every week in fact, but as a rule we don't find ourselves in close proximity all that find.

Which means that I am pretty sure that there is quite a difference with what greets me in the mirror after I have thrown a leg out from under the duvet, and the picture you see of me trying to look more than a little "rock-star".

And that difference has a name, and her name is Anne-Marie Forker.

So it was a treat to get her back onto the pod, to talk all things Tottenham and Tour Bus, Pompeii and Photo Pits, Gin and Ginger.

Love'n'laptops

h

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By now you probably know that when we played Pompeii earlier in the year, we were joined onstage by an astonishing choir called Flowing Chords.

They helped the band work on new arrangements for a number of songs, and were a big part of creating something really magical on the night(s).

You may also know that they are making a return appearance for the last couple of UK dates at the Hammersmith Apollo.

But what you might not know is the backstory to the collaboration, or indeed how they went about creating something truly sublime. So it’s a good job that Musical Director Margherita Flore agreed to join us for a special episode of TCD (…sorry Lucy).

What that does mean is that we will be talking songs and setlists, so be WARNED if you find this kind of spoiler talk triggering.

Love’n’latin

h

Ant wanted me to mention three things pivotal to this week's chapter of TCD.

1. SET-LIST SPOILERS about half way through the pod we have a discussion about the set-list for the UK tour, we did include a warning in the recording, but for the purpose of prepping you here it is a second (or first) time!
2. The hotel chain that we mentioned used to be branded as the Jurys Inn
3. Apparently you need between 30-40,000 purchases in a single week to take a single to the top of the charts in the UK.

In other news I sprinkled my usual positive footballing vibes on Old Trafford on Wednesday Night, but then again they never win when I am there.

Love'n'lashings-of-custard

h

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’ve played a great many gigs since joining the band in ‘89 and quite a few new ones have been added to our “circuit” along the way.

Something we haven’t really reflected on much, is how the tour venue choices have evolved. So today we fell into a conversation about the venues on the upcoming UK tour, and how they compare to days gone by.

Where do I miss playing, where do I like going back to, and what is my second favourite gig in London.

Not forgetting Richie Benaud, (who was a very famous cricket commentator, back in the day) and a chat about the current membership of Showaddywaddy (which will be a mystery for non-Brits) particularly as it looks like the incredibly named Romeo Challenger is a mainstay on drums after all. Who knew?!

All perfectly straightforward

h

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The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

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Lord, it seems like an age since we recorded this and tbh I am not quite sure what we talked about.

I can tell you it was the balance of the post-Pompeii chat (and that it happened on #plumday) but life has moved on since then, and recall is rarely linear for me these days. It tends to wash over me in waves.

In other news the ICG reissues have finally arrived, and they look bloody lovely. Today, can certainly be classed as one of my 3650 good days.

Love’n’first-time-on-vinyl

h

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The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

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Plum Day comes but once a year, and as it turned out this year it was on Tuesday 4th.

"But what is Plum Day" I hear you cry, well that is the day that Ant and I settle ourselves in the garden at Hogarth Towers, pick the ripened plums off the tree, and generally talk bollocks.

It started a couple of years ago, post a Cropredy performance with Trevor, and has now become a bit of a thing. And this year's crop are juicy, and sweet, but we had to get in quick because they have also peaked a little early. Premature you might say.

Anyway it gave us a chance to pick over the bones of Pompeii (assuming that isn't too inappropriate as a phrase) and record a couple of episodes of TCD in person.

First up is Soundcheck, the Choir and Andy G...

h x

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The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

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It's been a bit of a week...

We weren't even sure if TCD was going to be a thing this week, what with me being on my holibobs and Ant out and about with his proper job.

But we managed to find a bit of time late on Wednesday evening, which meant I was able to elaborate on the quirks and wrinkles that have come my way since I arrived in Italy, what with the car parking, the back streets and the fact I have misplaced my trousers.

And to those of you venturing to these parts for the shows, I am looking forward to seeing you and I hope we all have a smashing time. It really should be something special.

Love'n'vessels

h

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Cast your mind back a couple of weeks to the last chapter of TCD (...sorry Lucy). You know the one I am talking about, where I was set the challenge of coming up with a single CD of material that spoke to my musical output across all the various projects I have been involved.

So by the end of #263 I managed to put together a sort of working list, narrowing it down to thirty-odd tracks I thought were representative of me and my career.

But of course that didn't really answer the question that Robert Brooke had offered up; so today Ant pushed me hard to get it down to the eighty minutes or so that would fit on a single CD.

As it turned out I got fairly close...

Love'n'soft landings

h

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It might seem like there is a somewhat cavalier approach to TCD (...sorry Lucy) this week, what with the big reveals, and the joining-of-the-dots with the last piece of purple bonus content.

So if you are feeling a little confused, here are the three things we are juggling:

1. The announcement, which I haven't been able to talk about for nearly three months, can now be made public...and it marks a big first for me.
2. We referenced back to the last Q&A and a cracking question from newbie Kevin Bremner about the best three tracks to close an album.
3. And then we stole a question destined for a future Q&A from Robert Brooke, just because Ant thought it was a bit of a belter. And do you know what, I agree with him.

And if you want to listen to the said Q&A it is available to purchase, just click here

Right, that should be enough to get yiu started.

Love'n'fayedunaway

h

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So, here’s how it went down this week…

1.⁠ ⁠Our normal in-depth production schedule exchange took place over WhatsApp on Monday

2.⁠ ⁠Recording commenced bang on 10:37am on Tuesday morning, conditions were normal with a gentle pace and favourable headwinds.

3.⁠ ⁠Approximately 20 minutes a largely throwaway comment, somewhat metaphysical in nature, threw Ant off course.

4.⁠ ⁠We took that concept on a hell of a ramble, with canine in tow, and plenty of mint-cake (courtesy of my birthplace).

Ant suggested we went old-school for the spelling, he thinks the double-g seems to work better for some reason, I can’t say I am convinced but if I am going to put my name to something then it might as well be accurate.

Then again as none of you actually exist it probably doesn’t matter that much.

h

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The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

The Invisible Man Volume2: 1998-2014

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