So he finds he has to cheat again. He realises his world wide readership may turn against him. They will suspect that a man who can disregard the rules about posts on the first of the month is likely to be a man who on snicking one behind standing firmly in the crease in spite the all too woody a noise audible at all points of the ground and the increasingly strident appeals from all round. He may have a bemused expression on his face but that is anything but innocent. Here he is with a song to make November which has no mention of November - indeed no mention of any month at all. But FB justifies himself - he is sure that he caught his pad with the inside edge. This song isn't about a month - it is about a season - he may say. And the crowd maybe restless for a while and wonder whether this is a good example to set to the juniors. But the moral universe is settled around FB - if he had snicked it he would, for sure, be clean bowled next ball. Even if he hadn't the likelihood of being bowled next ball is quite high.
Anyway, Autumn Almanack by the truly wonderful Kinks was released in October 1967, a follow up to the even more wonderful Waterloo Sunset. Test Match Quality.
FB has raved about Ray Davies before as one of his favourite song writers (see link here). Autumn Almanack showed Davies extending his range and it reached number 3 in the charts, held off the top spot by The Bee Gees Massachusetts. To FB's ears it remains significantly fresher and more interesting today than the Bee Gees' dirge.
Doughty groundsmen the length of the country may still be engaged in sweeping leaves into sacks as the song describes, but in October 1967 there was a rest from cricket - there was no T20 WC, no Champion's League. Just nostalgia for the season past. There was therefore an Autumn to have an Almanack about. The song could not be written now - and there's the pity.
Enjoy hearing it again on this link.
November certainly has a reputation as a month when nothing much happens, especially on the cricket field. However, as FB points out, we have wall-to-wall cricket these days and a bewildering number of England cricket sides, instead of just one. A computer database, rather than an almanac, is required to keep track of it all. As for suitable music, FB will be relieved to know that a quick trawl through Youtube reveals several November-themed songs, notably November Rain by Guns 'n Roses.
ReplyDeleteAll very true, but FB is unlikely to consider anything by Guns 'n' Roses notable.
DeleteMy opinion of Fantasy Boob has nosedived now that I find that he is not familiar with the work of Gram Parsons -
ReplyDeleteNovember Nights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKnfBHs3YN4&feature=related
Gram only recorded a demo version-but it's rather lovely I think
Peter Fonda released a version as a single
Who is Fantasy Boob? FB is distraught to learn your opinion of him has reached an even lower point, but he is unfamiliar with Mr Parson's undiscovered works. But he is grateful to you for drawing his attention to this number. He still prefers Autumn Almanack.
DeleteAlthough coming late to this thread I congratulate FB on his choice and wonder if he noticed elsewhere in the lyrics the phrase "hiding from the weather". That was something that was all too frequent for cricketers of all ages in 2012.
ReplyDeleteIndeed - Ray Davies lyrics are always full of wisdom. Many thanks.
Deleteoh November is one of my favorite months, especially because I married my wife in November and I also like the weather in that month
ReplyDelete