| Tigers at Layer Road 21:11 - Sep 23 with 48144 views | SparkfilmsTV |
In a strange twist of events l found myself in conversation with a young lady who had attended Layer Road for a match against Hull City in our first season in The Championship. The 5-1 encounter.
We were attending a promo evening for a band called The Datsuns in North London in 2008.
During the evening she explained that she had been present at a party that made the national news due to the tragic death of someone by the name of Mark Blanco.
The incident occurred in December 2006.
This incident will be shown on Channel 4 on Monday night at 22.00 in an hour long documentary and several people known to me have made contributions.
It may be of interest to some.
I am very much hoping that the police will reinvestigate the death of Mark Blanco as a result of what will be included in the content.
I know that what l was told by this young lady 15 years ago has been instrumental in the making of this documentary.
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 12:36 - Nov 24 with 348 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Was in my loft this morning and bought down the original single by Vince Taylor and His Playboy's - 'Brand New Cadillac'. This was released in '59 or '60 and l acquired it a few years ago.
Joe Moretti is on lead guitar and also played lead on 'Shaking All Over' by Johnny Kidd and The Pirates.
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust character was based on Vince Taylor.
I wasn't aware of that. Had a quick look at Vince Taylor on Wiki and that popped up.
I also played Telstar by The Tornados this morning!
My god!
It still has the Joe Meek production magic! [Post edited 24 Nov 15:12]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 15:33 - Nov 24 with 305 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I was driving to Frinton around 1984. Had the car radio on.
A song comes on. Hadn't heard it before.
I'm thinking ....xxxxxxx hell! This is fantastic!
It was by an artist that almost everyone would be aware of at the time. This release was heavenly.
'Orchard Road' - Words by Leo Sayer. Music by Alan Carney who also produced and arranged the song.
I grabbed a bundle of 45's mid morning and put this on the turntable.
I think all of us have had our own Orchard Road experience in our lifetime.
Here are a few lines from Leo Sayer's masterpiece....
It's twelve o'clock and the curtains are drawn
They're counting sheep down in Orchard Road
And you're hanging on the telephone line tonight
And l wish l could be - in Orchard Road
It's twelve ten when l put down the phone
The moon's shining down on Orchard Road
And I'm feeling like a schoolboy again
And tonight I'll see you in my dreams
Of Orchard Road
It's eight o'clock and the dawn's arrived
In Orchard Road it's breakfast time
I climb in the car and l turn the key
And I'm gone -
I am coming home - to Orchard Road
( Wish l had written that - glorious work! ). | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 16:30 - Nov 24 with 290 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Sparkfilms HQ on a Sunday afternoon.
I am upstairs watching the snooker on TV.
My dog is asleep on me.
He was my daughter's dog until he was very naughty.
Another daughter and a couple of grandkids have just visited.
The view around the room.
A Cream poster to the eastern elevation.
Television showing Mark Allen concentrating.
A group of sculptured heads.
A cupboard with LP records inside.
Some street art to the North.
A signed photo from members of Lush.
Pictures including friends l have worked with down the years.
Several hundred LP records in a storage area.
To the West, a collage l made about ten years ago.
An acrylic screen with an image shot from a book release in 2006.
A hoover in the corner.
A radio plugged into the wall.
A few dog toys scattered around.
To the South.
A window overlooking Durham Square.
There is a large green area outside and l have been clearing up the leaves again that are shed from several trees.
It's getting dark.
Dog has woken and is wagging his tale.
I bought him a coat on Wednesday and it hasn't been off him since. [Post edited 24 Nov 16:36]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 16:43 - Nov 25 with 220 views | SparkfilmsTV |
This poetic stuff.
As l never had any ambition to go out on the road and read poetry to people l decided against it ( for the most part ) when the opportunity arose.
What l found far more interesting was to explain to an audience the process of getting a poetry collection you have released onto shelves in retail outlets across the country.
As soon as l began to explain this l had people who were very intent on learning what you had to do ( 1999 - 2005 ).
Just about everyone who attends a poetry event writes themselves and there were very few people around ( l can't think of anyone else ) who would be able to give them any guidance.
By 2005 things had changed in publishing and my mode of operation was becoming less relevant.
I'm not sure if what l will add in this little sequence will be worth reading in 2024, but just in case it helps anyone l will add to this accordingly.
TBC. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 17:47 - Nov 25 with 205 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I was employed full time in advertising in 1999 and based in Chelsea, just off The King's Road.
I managed to get the first book written, designed and printed ( by Jenner Print in Tiptree ) in my spare time, evenings, weekends, holidays etc.
One of the most important aspects to the book production was to have an ISBN number and a Barcode. That made it visible to any bookseller in the world. Without that it would be pretty much invisible to anyone.
Being in advertising l suppose l had something of a head start in marketing procedures. I took on a PR company to do a Press Release and acquired a list of every bookshop in the UK.
I think there were 4,300 of them at the time.
I organised direct mail to most of them.
Waterstones had around 220 branches across the UK and a few in Europe. I spoke to most branches ( asking for the poetry buyer ). Telephone sales is not a skill or technique that l possessed but you learn how to short cut conversation as you go.
The budget l set aside for the book production, marketing, advertising and Tele sales was £25,000.
Every last penny of that was spent. And more.
When you give an ISBN number to a bookshop you can inform them that the product is available through
- wholesalers, namely, at that time, the two biggest in the UK.
Those being, Bertrams in Norwich and Gardners in Eastbourne. Both of which were within driving distance from London or Colchester when delivering box's containing hundreds of books.
Getting a poetry title into Waterstones in 1999 was quite a difficult proposition. Bit by bit l was getting orders in London. Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and most major cities. Then big towns. And small towns.
But would anyone buy the xxxxxxx thing?
My initial ambition was - if l can sell a single copy that would be some kind of success.
Waterstones in Notting Hill Gate sold the first ever copy on a Saturday morning and the Manager was so pleased that she phoned me at home!
A few days later l learned of a couple of copies being bought in Manchester and from that point there was a decent flow of sales.
The Tele sales got easier. I could speak to Ottakars, Borders, Books etc, Foyles, Blackwells etc and use Waterstones as a prompt.
Books etc ordered a stack of the things and some branches ( Canary Wharf ) were making window displays.
Being on the road. I travelled across the country to a number of different venues promoting the book in my own mode. That being - if anyone wanted a copy l insisted on giving it to them free of charge. And signing it should they prefer.
I hate the idea of taking cash from anyone who might turn up for an event, so as far as l can recall, l never did.
If people bought the item from a bookshop or via Amazon that represented ( to me ) a natural sale.
A big audience turned up at Norwich. They weren't just there for me. There were some big names in attendance.
One in particular was none too keen on my marketing ploy of giving the product away.
We had quite a row as there was a little bit of previous history.
I watch her regularly now on television and have the utmost respect for her views. I apologised to her about 15 years after our conflict via email - though she didn't respond.
Either way, l still stand by the viewpoint l held in 2004 that almost landed the pair of us in a court of law. 😳😳 [Post edited 25 Nov 17:51]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:19 - Nov 25 with 181 views | SparkfilmsTV |
To try and make a bit more sense of the Norwich appearance - that was in 2004 and coincided with the third book release. Most of the leading publishers were there for the event.
The organisers phoned me on the Monday following the seminar and asked if they could pass my phone number onto a few people who wanted to do interviews.
That was fun.
Some were done over the phone and a few in person.
One of the most interesting was by a young lady who drove down from Norwich. We actually met outside of Colchester Castle.
She had an expense account for a three course lunch for two, l told her to keep hold of it and we would go for a burger, chips and coffee should she agree. Which she did.
( Expense accounts caused the conflict l had with The Independent newspaper and created internal conflict there for a few days ).
During the interview with my visitor from Norwich we discussed Norwich Art School where she had been tutored by one of my favourite vocalists - Jess Roden ( Alan Bown Set / Jess Roden Band ).
There were many interviews over the years with magazines and newspapers around the country. I insisted on cafes as opposed to restaurants and would either pay for it myself or go 50 / 50. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:40 - Nov 25 with 176 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I did an event in Brighton. '05.
Was within a few miles of the venue.
There was a car crash about 70 metres in front of me.
A bad one.
I remember the dust from both cars making a cloud that hung in the air over the mangled vehicles.
I saw that as something of a warning that by driving hundreds of miles a week there was always an element of danger and from that moment curtailed some of the travelling.
Concentrated on London after that.
Easier to manage and much of it in the Shoreditch area.
Hence the association with individuals who appear at the beginning of this year long thread. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 17:04 - Nov 26 with 139 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Behind the scenes in bookworld....
Us writers were usually allocated the staff rooms at branches of Waterstones with a 'rider' of sandwiches, tea, coffee and Perrier Water and the like.
In football terms l was probably around Conference South level ( as it was in '04 ).
It was a bit like been drawn against a Premier League Club in the 3rd Round of The F.A. Cup when l drew Nigella Lawson. I was looking forward to seeing her and listening to her velvet voice up close and personal.
Well, she oozed charm and we shared the same spoon at one point.
STOP PRESS - Wonder shot by Judd Trump up in York! [Post edited 26 Nov 17:06]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 16:41 - Nov 27 with 80 views | SparkfilmsTV |
This memory thing l was sifting through took me back into the loft, and bit by bit l am bringing down single records that l began collecting when l was eleven years old.
Only my absolute favourites made it through the past sixty years. I played Lightning Strikes by Lou Christie on the MGM label this morning and gave it a couple of repeat plays.
I have collected multiple genres over time and a Dion single could find itself next to one by the KLF in a box. Or, a Jimmy Ruffin alongside The Inspiral Carpets.
Jackie Wilson and Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine.
Barry Ryan's epic 'Eloise' together with Technotronic.
Barry McGuire's 'Eve of Destruction' and Lisa Stansfield's 'All around the World'.
TBC | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 19:58 - Nov 27 with 55 views | SparkfilmsTV |
1969. Driving a column gear Austin Cambridge on a provisional licence coming out of Gidea Park.
The car radio is on. The Four Tops version of 'Do what you gotta do'.....with Levi Stubbs on lead vocals and for several minutes l am lost in it.
Jimmy Webb wrote this classic.
I watched the people. Pushing their babies in prams. Walking home with shopping bags.
There's a large green area there with trees that created a backdrop for a music video shot in real time.
It's 55 years! But clear as crystal. Etched in memory.
Driving down the M1. 3am. 2005?
Nena Cherry - 'Woman'. Just perfect in the early hours.
NB. I revisited the imagery from Gidea Park in 1969 and replicated it to a point while filming on St. Michael's Estate in Colchester during early 2008.
I used a track by Absent Kid as a musical backdrop.
I drove around St Michael's and my cameraman shot the footage from the passenger seat. We did some fades on it and it came out ok ( l think ). | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:35 - Nov 27 with 48 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Kayleigh - Marillion
The original official video that was shot for this had a face and body double resembling an ex girlfriend.
Not only that, some of the shots behind railings and in open paving areas were virtually the same as had been experienced by us in Rotterdam during 1979.
Kayleigh includes a tapestry of visual imagery. It places the listener in Belsize Park. 'Dancing in stilettoes in the snow' - heavenly words that never fail to resonate.
I played 'Private Number' tonight by Judy Clay and William Bell....and followed it with 'Devotion' by Nomad.
STOP PRESS
'Chalk hearts melting on a playground wall' taken from 'Kayleigh' by Marillion.
That is some line!
ADDITIONAL INFO
The female in the video was Tamara Nowy and 'Fish' married her. The video was shot in West Berlin where the song was recorded.
As l thought may have been the case ( 'cause I do it ) 'Kayleigh' is a composite of several relationships and the imagery for 'Stilettoes in the snow' was a memory from an occurrence in Scotland.
[Post edited 27 Nov 21:21]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 22:04 - Nov 27 with 25 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I have 'Angels' by Robbie Williams on CD albums.
The first time l heard this l just thought - what a fantastic piece of work!
I was told he was leaving Take That before the media were aware. A work colleagues girlfriend was in touch with him.
I loved it when he won over the Glastonbury audience with a super show!
Dedicated my first book to him.
In my opinion some of his single releases stand up against anything in the past fifty years.
An associate of mine went on tour with him and reported back to me over the phone aspects of the demands of performing.
I don't like the term 'superstar' but Robbie Williams is all of that and more.
Big respect for Robbie Williams!
NB. I dedicated my second book release in 2001 to yachts woman Ellen MacArthur and her written response is a cherished possession. [Post edited 27 Nov 22:52]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 22:44 - Nov 27 with 18 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Another step back into bookland.
I have been writing tonight's offerings while being entertained by some scintillating snooker.
Jack Lisowski!
And well played Ali Carter too!
Wu coming back to take four frames against Mark Allen!
Anyway, l think the venue for the following was Bishops Stortford in '04 which is nicely within range of Colchester, and is a very pleasant place to wander around for a while.
I am greeted with sandwiches and coffee while awaiting my compatriots for the evening.
Enter Alan Titchmarsh.
His coat draped over his shoulders and if l am not mistaken, he is expecting one of the bookshop staff to remove it and hang it on a peg.
Maybe l got him wrong. His lifetime achievements are considerable but l don't think there was ever a prospect of he and l starting up a band together.
Waterstone's Piccadilly. 2004.
JK Rowling. Very impressive!
Much respect. | | | |
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