Word In Your Ear

Nearly every Island act seemed impossibly hip, characterful and charismatic and much of that was down to the vision and long-term belief of the man who founded the label and ran it for 30 years. Chris Blackwell beams in from Goldeneye, the Ian Fleming estate he bought in Jamaica, to remember Errol Flynn and his dachshund waterskiing, the wit and charm of Noel Coward, record-buying trips for the local jukeboxes and sound-systems and the story of Millie’s My Boy Lollipop, and talks about his relationship with Free, Traffic, Tom Waits, U2 and Roxy Music (also the ones that got away like Madonna). At one point he explains how he and Bob Marley modified Jamaican reggae to give it international appeal and there’s a great moment where he relives the overpowering effect of first hearing Trevor Horn’s production of Two Tribes. Chris’s memoir The Islander is published by Bonnier Books.

The Islander by Chris Blackwell …

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Islander-My-Life-Music-Beyond/dp/1788705750\1

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On June 18, along with four guests, we held a party for Paul McCartney on his 80th in front of a big crowd in the magical tented arena at Opera Holland Park in West London. This was a lot of fun from start to finish, fond memories, forgotten songs, new angles, personal meetings, fresh theories and fascinating unknown tales.

In this second part of the show Danny Baker talks about a lost masterpiece, does the McCartney walk, fights the corner for some of his least loved songs, puts him in perspective, sings impressively and tells the Besame Mucho/TFI Friday story.

And our last guest is Graham Gouldman who was writing big hits for the Hollies, the Yardbirds and many others in the ‘60s before he co-founded 10cc. How did songwriters react to a new Beatles single? What did he nick from Things We Said Today? What are the McCartney signatures? How is it humanly possible to play those bass parts and sing at the same time?

This episode comes rammed with revelations about McCartney’s life and songs and what he’s meant to us over the years.

Part One - https://shows.acast.com/word-in-your-ear-2/episodes/word-podcast-459-word-in-the-park-1 - features the broadcaster Geoff Lloyd and the writer Andy Miller.

Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon and receive every future Word Podcast before the rest of the world - alongside a whole load more!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

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On June 18 we laid on a celebration of all things McCartney on his 80th in the magical tented arena at Opera Holland Park in West London. People came from all corners of the globe. It turned out to be a feast of fond memories, forgotten songs, fresh perspectives, personal encounters, original theories and fascinating unknown tales.

In this first half, David and Mark talk to the broadcaster Geoff Lloyd – who once had him on his radio show and gave him random instruments to see if he could get a tune out of them and part-written songs to finish off. Geoff was born in ‘73 and pieced together the McCartney story via an interesting route. His account of meeting him is electrifying. 

Our second guest is the writer, star of the literary world and co-host of the Backlisted podcast Andy Miller, onstage wearing very special McCartney-related clothes for a very special reason. Like all of us, he watched Get Back and was astonished by what he learnt about the way the band worked.

Also in this episode… the effect of All My Loving on a 13 year-old, what our parents thought of the Beatles, Cynthia Lennon’s lost letter and four of our favourite songs and why. 

Find a sunhat, fix a cold drink, pull up an imaginary deckchair and get stuck in …

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Appetising items on our lavish tray of conversational hors d'oeuvres this week include:-

Billie Eilish, 20, (“the youngest at headliner at Glastonbury”) and pop stars who started even younger – “Little” Stevie Winwood, Stevie Wonder, Ranking Roger, Annabella Lwin, Alex Chilton and Peter Frampton.

“The poison of criminal violence and gang warfare” (supposedly Brighton in 1948) and other highlights of Brighton Rock.

The Stones – what they heard when the screaming stopped and the Hyde Park show 53 years ago.

Kate Bush on Woman’s Hour.

Found in the attic: an old copy of Smash Hits from 1982 and the rich variety on offer - the Belle Stars, Monsoon, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, The Teardrop Explodes on a bill with Queen, Vic Godard goes swing, Scritti Politti, Neil Tennant on Hambi & The Dance. 

A did-they-play-day-or-night-at-Woodstock parlour game.

TLC v Sam Fender in the Glastonbury highlights. One of them was "monumentally boring".

Famous quotes that were invented – “Let them eat cake”, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on”, “Ringo isn’t even the best drummer in the Beatles” etc.

… and the winner(s) of this month’s quiz.

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Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon for a whole load of extra and exclusive content, benefits and rewards!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

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Among the things of great import we ran up the flagpole this week:-

Why Baz Lurhmann’s new movie will do for Elvis what Get Back’s done for the Beatles.

Highlights of our Word In Your Park show – what happened on Geoff Lloyd’s McCartney radio special involving a flugelhorn? What was Andy Miller wearing and why? What obscure McCartney track did Danny Baker say was a masterpiece? What did Graham Gouldman nick from Things We Said Today when writing hits for the Hollies?

The John Peel auction and the prices people paid for an Oz Obscenity Trial vest, copies of Sniffin’ Glue and a postcard from John Lennon. 

Is punk the new pop memorabilia sweet spot?

Why gigs are getting longer.

How music hall shaped the first pop package tours.

Dads and daughters at concerts.

Plus patron birthday guest Andrew Stocks and a Fava’s Day gift from Keith Adsley.

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Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon for a whole load of extra and exclusive content, benefits and rewards!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics off the leash this week include …

The Talent v Charisma pie chart you can apply to any act.

“Double-concentrated Liam” versus “diluted Noel”, an update on the Oasis land-grab.

A second helping of the “Pete Doherty swaps crack for Camembert” story. 

Liverpool taxi-driver, 25, claims to have never heard of the Rolling Stones: could this be possible?

Pop stars infinitely older (or younger) than you imagined.

Learning to speak fluent tabloid – “the Here Comes The Sun hit-makers”, “the Paint It Black chart-busters” etc …

Marc Bolan is a “thin” concept. Bolan + Pies/Booze doesn’t work.

Plus Petula Clark, Andy Summers, Japan, Michael Owen and Toni Basil.

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Tickets for Word In The Park in London on June 18th here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/were-throwing-a-party-for-paul-mccartneys-80th-and-youre-invited-tickets-259008229587

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We give the week a spirited shakedown to see what falls out of its pockets. And this includes …

The late Ronnie Hawkins – road hog, stunt diver, bootleg liquor smuggler!

Who’s the only original rock and roller now still alive?

If you went to see Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp lumbered on to “jam”, how monumentally hacked off would you be?

Kiss have handed in their lunchpails and eyebrow pencils. Shouldn’t more hoary old rock acts “retire out of self-respect”?

What Danny Boyle’s Pistol mini-series explains about the band’s urge to succeed – and its corniest moments revisited.

Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Lady Gaga ... any other musicians who cut it on-screen? 

What are the great songs about communal experience along with Thanks For The Memory, I Will Survive, Born To Run, Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) and Airhead’s Funny How?

What Americans call “hiking” we call “walking”.

Sir Tim Rice, Sir Bob Geldof, Sir Ian Rankin … our expanding list of beknighted podcast guests.

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Tickets for Word In The Park in London on June 18th here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/were-throwing-a-party-for-paul-mccartneys-80th-and-youre-invited-tickets-259008229587

Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon and receive every future Word Podcast before the rest of the world - plus a whole load more!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Framed in the piercing super-trouper of perusal this week …

The highs and lows of Danny Boyle’s new Sex Pistols biopic.

The best in-car music for road trips (Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Rufus Wainwright …).

How do Thom Yorke’s children feel about their father’s brilliant new album (the Smile) still sounding like the work of a bleating teenager?

The late Alan White (of Yes), a working drummer since the age of 13. 

Has social media destroyed the celebrity interview by revealing how star-struck we all are?

The joy of never googling an artist and allowing them to remain a glorious mystery.

The unusual position in Depeche Mode occupied by Andy Fletcher. 

Can classical musicians understand pop music?

When Pink Floyd met Yehudi Menuhin.

The Common ground between cricket and Spinal Tap.

Irritating scenes in the new Operation Mincemeat movie. 

… and birthday patreon guests Ann Kember, Paul Thompson and Ray Roscoe.

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Tickets for Word In The Park in London on Saturday June 18th here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/were-throwing-a-party-for-paul-mccartneys-80th-and-youre-invited-tickets-259008229587

Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon and receive every future Word Podcast before the rest of the world, ad-free and with full visuals!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we've been mainly talking about....

Could The Smile be the first side-project to eclipse the mothership?

Is the kitchen the place we mainly listen to music these days?

Bob Neuwirth - the man who helped Dylan become Dylan

Vangelis - the man whose music was more famous than the film

Why do American newspapers make pop records sound as dull as set books?

Here's friend of the pod Owen Parker.

https://www.owenparker.co.uk

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Tickets for Word In The Park in London on Saturday June 18th here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/were-throwing-a-party-for-paul-mccartneys-80th-and-youre-invited-tickets-259008229587

Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon and receive every future Word Podcast before the rest of the world, ad-free and with full visuals!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Entertainments, thrills and diversions at the end of the rock and roll seaside pier this week include …

Things we want to see in a Bob Dylan museum.

Why the upcoming Spinal Tap sequel fills us with excitement and dread in equal measure.

The pub in Cornwall that Vogue magazine tried to sue. 

Is ‘Exile’ the best Stones album or just their most fashionable? And a new book about Nellcôte – “urchins living in wealth and splendour”.  

The brief return of the Stackwaddy game - Springsteen or Taylor Swift lyric? YOU be the judge! 

The fizzing cacophony of the Smash Hits office.

Why do most TV series (apart from Breaking Bad) start well and fizzle out?

A trailer for ‘The Curious Chronicles of Villa Nellcôte’ by Geir Hornes here …

http://www.nellcotechronicles.com

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Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/yourear to get up a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 1 additional month for free + a bonus gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee!

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Tickets for Word In The Park in London on Saturday June 18th here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/were-throwing-a-party-for-paul-mccartneys-80th-and-youre-invited-tickets-259008229587

Subscribe to Word In Your Ear on Patreon and receive every future Word Podcast before the rest of the world, ad-free and with full visuals!: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.