Post by ageingted on Feb 26, 2022 3:43:31 GMT
When it rains, it pours - after months of inactivity on the Newell front, I'm suddenly awash in developments. As I don't have a Facebook account, I was shut out of the Cleaners page for a lengthy term. I had no idea what was going on. Then, in the last week or so, all posts were visible again. All the poems, film snippets, and reminiscences (brother Joe is 14 years younger?) I just hope the page doesn't get firewalled again.
Secondly, I just received the Kickstarter link for the promised Jangling Man bonus footage. As the last such 'bonus' proved relatively disappointing, I entered with lowered expectations, which were promptly blown away by discovering the 45 minute Black Session from 1993 for French Radio! The audio for this had been available on some bootleggy CDs, but how nice to see the lads in full performance - Captain Sensible, Nelson, Louis Philippe (I think). Only 29 years late. There was another link for twenty minutes of the Guv solo at home. Now I don't feel like a chump for pledging that extra cash.
Thirdly, I just received the latest Mitch Friedman book, Swell Goatee (follow-up to Hell Toupee). Mitch is an engaging storyteller who's had a pretty interesting life, so it's a delightful read. The portion that would be of interest to the pub is his story of visiting England in 1988. Mitch became a Cleaners fan from listening to WFMU in New Jersey. He befriended program director Irwin Chusid who was also a friend of Martin. So Irwin gave Mitch Martin's phone number, which Mitch used to ring Martin from a box in Wivenhoe(!). Martin proved very hospitable and arranged for Mitch to stay a week.
Now for the revelation - Mitch had previously shown up on Andy Partridge's doorstep in Swindon and received similar hospitality. Once back in the US, Mitch discovered Martin's poetry. He especially liked 'I Hank Marvinned' and thought Andy might like it too, so he sent it to Andy. The usual story is that prior to The Greatest Living Englishman, Andy didn't know Martin the songwriter but did know Martin the poet. But how did he know? Well here's Mitch claiming to be the one who got that particular ball rolling. And I'm certainly glad he did.
Secondly, I just received the Kickstarter link for the promised Jangling Man bonus footage. As the last such 'bonus' proved relatively disappointing, I entered with lowered expectations, which were promptly blown away by discovering the 45 minute Black Session from 1993 for French Radio! The audio for this had been available on some bootleggy CDs, but how nice to see the lads in full performance - Captain Sensible, Nelson, Louis Philippe (I think). Only 29 years late. There was another link for twenty minutes of the Guv solo at home. Now I don't feel like a chump for pledging that extra cash.
Thirdly, I just received the latest Mitch Friedman book, Swell Goatee (follow-up to Hell Toupee). Mitch is an engaging storyteller who's had a pretty interesting life, so it's a delightful read. The portion that would be of interest to the pub is his story of visiting England in 1988. Mitch became a Cleaners fan from listening to WFMU in New Jersey. He befriended program director Irwin Chusid who was also a friend of Martin. So Irwin gave Mitch Martin's phone number, which Mitch used to ring Martin from a box in Wivenhoe(!). Martin proved very hospitable and arranged for Mitch to stay a week.
Now for the revelation - Mitch had previously shown up on Andy Partridge's doorstep in Swindon and received similar hospitality. Once back in the US, Mitch discovered Martin's poetry. He especially liked 'I Hank Marvinned' and thought Andy might like it too, so he sent it to Andy. The usual story is that prior to The Greatest Living Englishman, Andy didn't know Martin the songwriter but did know Martin the poet. But how did he know? Well here's Mitch claiming to be the one who got that particular ball rolling. And I'm certainly glad he did.