Four and a bit years ago, when I started this blog, one of the, (perhaps the), major instigator of my decision to do so was an event called The Record Player held at an upstairs lounge in the Tyneside Cinema in the heart of Newcastle. It was something I'd discovered a couple of years earlier towards the end of 2011, and it had become a major part of my social calendar and something I looked forward to and relished greatly.
Taking place on Thursday evenings, always the best times to do these kind of things, just as the weekend beckons, the format of these events was simple. An opportunity for the audience to gather, greet each other and buy drinks while taking in the pre-record slides. Then a short intro to that evening's selected album from host (Mr.) Steve Drayton. Then the record itself, played on vinyl, (of course, the format was coming right back into vogue at just this point in time), to the accompaniment of a longer slide show related to the band or artist concerned.
No interruptions, except for the moment where Steve emerged from under his desk where he invariably slumped during the playing of the albums, only evidenced by his tapping DMs) to turn the record over. Then a round of applause when it ended, a chance to discuss the record and refuel or take a leak and then a quiz with a music related theme, a chance to win some prizes then goodnights all round and out into the Newcastle night, almost invariably invigorated and feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. I never had a bad evening there, even with albums I didn't care for, except for the time Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Murder Ballads was played. I truly hated that one and took a long time to forgive Cave for it.
And the reason such a simple idea invariably worked, apart from the idea of actually listening to wonderful music in a room full of people who you knew or got to know, in its best format, (no room for discussion on that one). There are a number of other similar events that have popped up nationally and globally, but in The Record Player's case in Newcastle the reason for its original and enduring success is down to its host Steve Drayton.
A striking looking man, well over six feet tall with a resplendent quiff and beaky nose, always very well turned out, Steve is a local celebrity, comedian, BBC producer, DJ, and generally go-to renaissance guy in this part of the world when you're seeking a host for these kind of events. He has an understanding of how to work a room, make people feel at home, a back to front gift for showbiz delivery, and, most importantly in this context, a deep-rooted love and understanding of music.
So, thanks to Steve and The Tyneside Cinema, I've had a number of wonderful evenings at the Record Player there and at other related venues over the past six years. But recently these evenings have been further and further apart. Steve has got involved in a number of different ventures, a lot of the key records that would come to mind have been done, and done again. In any case, I've missed it, and a lot of the regulars I got to know through it.
So I was delighted, a month or so ago, when I saw that a series of four more evenings would be held throughout October to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of 1977, British Punk's high summer. I'll be going to all of them and why not write about them here. So first, naturally to The Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks, which I attended with a friend a couple of evenings back. I've got the record of course, anybody with a record collection related to these things should have it, it's one of the ones.
But I don't listen to it all the way through and never have, since I bought it, probably thirty years back, even though I love many of the songs. Why not? Because I was labouring under the misconception that you didn't need to. One song at a time was enough and anyway the whole thing is such a cultural monument now that perhaps even that wasn't necessary. It's stamped indelibly on your memory anyhow.
I was wrong and will be listening to it much more from now on. In his prelude to the playing of the record Steve said a number of interesting things about it. He was there at the time after all, a young Punk on the rough streets of Scunthorpe. I can't remember most of the things he said I'm afraid but there was a comment made by Noel Gallagher, (a man who I generally don't have much time for, but this was pertinent), which was particularly memorable.
Gallagher said it was the best Pop record ever made and having listened through to it on Thursday along with the visuals, I'd agree. It's a better Pop Record than Revolver, a better Pop Album than any ABBA ever released, even better than The Ramones or Parallel Lines. It's only real competitor as a Pop Record to my ears is Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and I wouldn't like to choose between the two. Nevertheless, despite agreeing with Gallagher here, I'd stick to my conviction that Oasis themselves are strictly lower division, and am unlikely to change my opinion there, unless perhaps Mr.Drayton has a Definitely Maybe evening and I doubt he'll ever do that!
So Bollocks is still a wonderful record and document on its own terms. Of course it sounds unbelievably different to how it would have done at the time. I can't verify this personally, I was between eleven and twelve at the time and far to timid to be seeking out The Sex Pistols, I was scared enough of the first Punks I was coming across on the streets of Richmond. But it sounds funnier now than it must have done at the time when it was and was widely perceived to be a genuine threat. The singles stand out of course, that's why they were singles but every song merits its place. Submission sounds like nothing else on it, pointing the way to PiL and post-Punk. Bodies, Problems, Seventeen and EMI , particularly are wonderful supporting players. It's great to hear Steve Jones re-inventing Chuck Berry and the band sound like a ten ton truck. Great evening, why should I be surprised, and I'll be back next Thursday for the Damned and The Clash.
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