Why was a drum kit in the room? I can’t remember. It was a house party, a birthday I think. It’s possible another group was doing a set – it might even have been me, drumming for Tim Cansfield, one of my only two friends from school, a terrific guitarist who still works sessions and backs famous people. But very poor would be a generous description of my drum skills then, so, as I say, I can’t remember.
But NTP was definitely playing. A duo who thought they were a rock band and certainly loud enough to stifle any criticism to the contrary. We launched into one of our favourite numbers, Come Together, me on bass and vocal while Jel filled in with the difficult bits. Suddenly, the drums were there behind us, a perfect version of Ringo’s hi-hat and toms groove. I felt fantastic. Briefly we were a real group, held together by a rock-steady beat. People danced! We went straight into Lennon’s Cold Turkey, a bit of a screamer we could keep going for several ear-splitting minutes. At the end of the set we joined the rest of the party to try to get off with someone…..
NTP SNAPSHOT
Following the cutting of the 10” LP, Jel announces that it would be helpful to have a more advanced tape recorder. He’s the sort of person who buys incomprehensible electronic catalogues and he points to a small ad he’s found. It’s for a tape recorder selling, as he persuasively puts it, at an excellent price.
“Let’s get it,” he says, “It must be good. It’s a kit.” “A kit! I can barely change a plug!” “It’ll be fine – it comes with a manual.”
A week later, the parcel arrives. Opening it, things look good. It’s not really a kit as I understand it, it’s in modules, maybe 15 or 20 of them, with exploded diagrams showing how they fit together.
We don’t need much equipment – screw drivers, sharp penknife, soldering iron…
I watch Jel as he gets to work. He uses the manual but impressively he also uses his instinct. He has a more scientific brain than me and I let him get on with it. It doesn’t take that long to build, two or three hours. I hand him the tools and make coffees.
At last it’s done. It looks great and we already feel we’re better musicians. I mount it in an old radiogram cabinet and we decide to put on a spool of blank tape to test it. It runs at 71/2 ips (inches per second), twice the speed of a domestic recorder so with twice the sound quality. Switch it on and….nothing happens. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Fair plays to Jel, he isn’t easily put off. He takes it out of the cabinet and inspects it. “Oh, of course!” he says, “We haven’t earthed it….” I give him the solder, he makes the connection,
returns it to the cabinet and turns it on again. This time something does happen….
IT EXPLODES!
A bang, sparks, the smell of burning plastic, flames, smoke, the lot.
The Cavalry, in the form of my father, sorts it out. He rings the company, telling them their machine has almost killed his son and that he expects them to supply another one, for free and already assembled, to avoid any legal “awkwardness”.
A few days later a new, complete tape recorder arrives. It works perfectly. We’re now set to record what would be our second album called, simply and without originality, NTP2.
Let’s cut back to Slough College. Jel has left for university, and I’m left in Slough….
By now, I’m determined to succeed. I set about my A-levels.
Sorry, by “determined to succeed” I mean succeed in scraping by, doing as little as possible….
I’m not happy, failing at education, and now abandoned by Jel, my passport to stardom.
And then, out of the blue, a phone call.
“My name’s Al, Al Spokes, we’re at the same college. I’m a drummer. I was at a party you played at. I’m forming a rock group. Would you like to join as bassist and vocalist?”
“Um…er…what sort of music?”
“Think Crosby, Stills and Nash. But heavier. What do you think?”
“Er… yes, of course…I’ll do it…”
It dawns on me that Al was the one who sat in at that birthday party.
I listen to my copy of CS&N. And realise, I CAN’T PLAY ANY OF THAT!
STUDIO DIARY
Oct 11th Looking forward to a session with Lottie and Avvon. Lottie and I are beginning work on a new number, These Are the Things. Some time ago Ellen and I were having one of our serious conversation about life, a favourite occupation. While listing all the things about life that confound us, she sighed and said, “Yes, well, these are the things….” And I thought, “Yes, well, and that’s a title.”
Also looking forward to Avvon’s arrival to fill in the missing drum passage. A full and exciting day.
During the writing session with Lottie, he texts. He can’t make it today as he’s “going to see a man about buying a puppy.” !!! Sometimes the dedication and sheer professionalism of the members of my group is breathtaking.
He says he’ll come next Tuesday…..
Oct 15th Avvon held back at school (he’s Head of Music at my children’s former primary school) and can’t make it! Postponed till Friday….