SOTW claim to fame double whammy!

[Rob Hall]

Not only does erudite Norman have a letter published in today's Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2 ... NTCMP=SRCH) on the subject of Christopher Hitchens, tea & Ginger Baker, but Garth has his obit of Mick Karn also (http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/ja ... n-obituary).

It's a media blitz, we're on the march!

[Des]

Impressive indeed. We are a nursery of journalistic talent.

[will vine]

It's not often that Ginger Baker lyrics make it to the fore, as they do in Norman's letter. I wondered if the great man went on to suggest that real tea making called for "amplified heat."

"......selling atonal apples and amplified heat
and Pressed Rat's collection of dog legs and feet..."

Ah! they don't write 'em like that anymore.

How long is it since you listened to "Pressed Rat and Warthog ?"
(They can't touch you for it).

[NormanD]

How long is it since you listened to "Pressed Rat and Warthog ?"
(They can't touch you for it).

Not much they can't! Not for many a year, in answer to your question, Will. That was always the one that got skipped over, wasn't it? It did get played more than "Toad" on the live double LP, which at least gave enough time to go put the kettle on (to boiling point, of course).

I do like Ginger Baker, though he does come over as a right old misery in interviews. He made a couple of trio albums with Bill Frissell and Charlie Haden and he is a very melodic percussionist. He has bad back problems which make sitting on the drum stool a painful chore (so he said), and probably contribute to his kvetching.

Oddly enough, our son sent some tea supplies (Assam, all above board) to an American chum today, and he put a copy of George Orwell's famous essay in with it. When a thing like this happens, you know you've done something right.

[gary booth]

and no mention of 'strange brew'

[Adam Blake]

How long is it since you listened to "Pressed Rat and Warthog ?"
(They can't touch you for it).

Not that long as it goes. Ginger wrote a few good'uns back in them days. Even "Toad" would be alright if it was just the riff at the beginning. (The sceptic in me thinks that the rather complicated arrangement of "Pressed Rat", with its trumpet melodies and all, was cooked up by the classically trained producer Felix Pappalardi but these are the things I think about when I should be doing something useful.)