Old Man Riva

That, my friend, sounds like the makings of a terrific set. What else do you do? I’ve tied myself up in knots with the Roadrunner track. I’ve convinced myself that we used to listen to a single version where, once you’d got to the end of the A-side, you’d flip it over and the B-side would be a continuation of the track. I can’t find any confirmation of this anywhere, so can only imagine that I’m, erm, imagining it... Edit: Ignore that, I’ve just looked at Wikipedia...

I’m putting it solely down to cheaper or cut price tickets, but the midnight train seems to have had its fair share of passengers over the years... Sometimes it can be fairly definitive in its destination, and sometimes not!

Whilst not as bad, due to me being not ‘up’ on the popular beat combos of our time, I thought the band was Nigel Hitter and the track was called Shame! But, yeah, your misunderstanding is worse!!

I like this a lot...

I was 17 when I first heard it. A mate bought the album and knew a bit about the situation in South Africa and told me more about it. As with you it was this song that led me to learn more about Apartheid (I became a member of Amnesty International as a result - actually physically writing letters in the pre-online/internet/email era!). Again, like your good self (and in line with the other song of the era you’re referring to), since those days I too have also met nice South Africans! The Biko track is an amazing piece of music, IMVHO...

Hearing this for the first time (and since)...

This was released around the time I really started to learn the bass. Along with tracks like Roadrunner by The Modern Lovers and Spanish Stroll by Mink DeVille, the Wreckless Eric track was great to try and play along to. As I fumbled through it was the first song where I was aware of hearing/properly noticing a high bass noodle! - it blew my mind! (edited to say, I think Derek Forbes played a similar noodle on the intro to Simple Minds’ debut single Chelsea Girl - and what’s good enough for Mr Forbes..!) Hearing this on the radio was a breath of fresh air...

I love this. Didn’t realise for many years that it was actually a cover!

Another song I loved as a kid. This had a real other-worldliness about it. Something different going on. I think Errol Brown was a really underrated songwriter. Can’t think of many songwriters who have a breadth of work, in terms of Top 10 singles, that can be unashamedly ‘pop’ one minute and then cover subject matter such as suicide and interracial relationships the next. A talented guy...

Bass arrived from Germany today via UPS. All good. Hope deliveries arrived safely for others on the thread...

Apologies here also...

Just to add a bit of context, the “news source” may have supported remaining in the EU but the journalist in question has advocated us leaving the EU for decades. So whilst the source may be a surprise the views of the journalist aren’t. (that’s my one political post of the year out the way early!)

Excellent! If you like that then definitely give their 2019 album, A Song For Paul, a listen...

Ghost Funk Orchestra - An Ode to Escapism https://open.spotify.com/album/6AX1AtiHx6eDnD9srRxEIR?si=jwicOAiuSxOhunMsC8XVqQ

It certainly can be, which is why it’s good to check around in the way you’re doing. I’ve had a couple of near-misses when buying in the past, but I genuinely feel that it was more down to people’s lack of knowledge and them not doing proper checks than any deliberate attempt to rip me off - that’s how I choose to view it, any road! Have you got your eye on anything in particular?!

I bought a ‘65 Jazz from them about six/seven years ago. Gary was brilliant to deal with, he brought the bass over beforehand for me to try. He also spent loads of time before I purchased the bass giving me a lesson on what to look out for when buying vintage instruments! I’d phoned around a few vintage dealers before buying the bass and when doing so asked who else they’d recommend (not an unfair question!) and Gary’s name came up a number of times as someone to buy from...

Paul Desmond is one of my favourite players. On any instrument. His tone is beautiful. If you’re diggin’ that then the recordings he did with Gerry Mulligan are well worth a listen. Before lockdown I was due to see Darius Brubeck (Dave’s son) at the local (Loughton) Methodist Hall. Ah well...

My courier status shows the location as Stanford Le Hope. However, in a more detailed view, it doesn’t show that the item has arrived at the facility - in a similar way that it showed it had ‘arrived’ at Herne Boernig in Germany on 23rd Dec and ‘departed’ Herne Boernig on 24th. It’s a mystery of Scooby Doo proportions!

Same here. Ordered/bought a bass from a different German store on 21st December. It was couriered via UPS (collected on 22nd). Status says delivery is scheduled for today (prev. was due yesterday) but that it is currently delayed due to “Eurotunnel traffic disruption”. UPS services (Standard delivery) were paused around Christmas time and a note on their website says that they will resume Standard service from 4th January, so imagine the bass will arrive next week at some point. My order has a reference as Stanford Le Hope as the location but I’m assuming that’s the next intended location rather than where it currently is as it doesn’t show as arriving there. My understanding (from the Government website) is that, as the item was purchased/couriered before 1st January, there won’t be any unpleasant additional cost surprises due to our new trading arrangements with the EU. So it’s just hurry up and wait!

I really like that! I know what you mean - “it’s a ‘bird, not quite a ‘bird” - it feels a bit RD Artist-y, which I know is a (not quite) ‘bird shape, but still... slightly different. I wish I’d bought one of those reissue Pelham Blue NR basses when they were out a few years back. Macari’s had one in the window for years after they first got it in and the price dropped to around £800 at one point, I think. Not a fan of the black p/up covers but have to say they look lovely on that bass you’ve posted - that said, if it were me, I’d be going for chrome!

I know what you mean! I found it so uplifting watching that...

Thanks all (and to PM messages), really appreciated - Basschat community, again, giving sage bass advice! I emailed Lakland yesterday and within the hour received a really helpful response from Brian (I’ve never been a social media user/member so Facebook etc. hasn’t been an option!). I’m sure working with them I’ll get what I’m after, though have a feeling I will need to order via the more expensive USA Series option, albeit for only smaller changes to the Classic Series (lighter body weight, darker rosewood fingerboard), which is a bit of a shame (though there are bigger things going on in life so I should shut up and stop complaining!). Thanks again!

... so, this is a Christmas song from 1975 that I bought as a kid. It was a double A-side (the flip side being the more familiar In Dulci Jubilo) and reached the Top 10 in that year. It used to make me feel happy and sad in equal measure - still does! And the first line surely has to be the most surreal opening line of any Top 10 hit ever!

Duly noted!