This should be the single best known song in the history of the world ever. Somehow I do seem to be the only person in the whole wide world that remembers The Godfathers Birth. School. Work. Death. from 32 years ago*. Here it is, the best, most cynical song I can think of and the best reference to Michael Caine in song form ever.
Sharp men in sharp suits singing sharp sentiments, all with some proper guitar heft. Lovely.
All of which I will forever now associate with the moderately mighty** Wales being beaten by France in the rugby last Saturday in Cardiff. What can I say? it was a great match to watch, France were deserved winners despite a couple of heavily arguable referring calls and the final score line flattered Wales.
The French fans, as always, were great value for money, the atmosphere was brilliant but I got pretty sick, pretty fast of sitting on the end of a row of guys who were there for free beer on a works outing, talking about work while the game was on and getting up to go to bar/pissoir every 3 minutes. Fuckers; come and cheer, or fuck the fuck off.
But of more relevance to all you 1537 fanatics^ is the stop my dad and I made at a fabulous little record shop in Garnant, called Discovery Bookshop. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stock crammed into the store and came away with a superbly restrained trio:
Heavy Metal Kids – have wanted this 1974 glam/scuzz/rock and roll gem for years. Lead singer Gary Holton’s ashes were put to rest in Welshpool (more of there, later). It’s inconsistent but brilliant in places.
Tori Amos China: extra tracks and I have always had a thing for Amos’ daring way with a words.
The Godfathers Birth. School. Work. Death: Found it. Played it. Loved it. Alphabetically stored it.
Getting home yesterday was fraught as hell. Biblical rainfall for days had turned part of my route home through Mid-Wales into a scene from Hard Rain, particularly around Welshpool; where flooded roads left me somewhat in turd, where Gary Holton was interred.
I downplay it, because that’s the type of unassuming hero I am, but it was dicey and one of the roads was closed about 15 minutes after I passed through it. Being totally swamped by a wave caused by a lorry and wondering if it would make the car stall was a hairy moment indeed.
Since I’ve completed the first two parts of the Godfathers LP title and I’m not quite ready for the fourth, sadly I had to do the third today. But I don’t need your sympathy as I got to air guitar my way through ‘Birth. School. Work. Death’ on a deserted train platform this morning and that was a good thing.
983 Down (still).
PS: Half that-bloke-from-the-Faces, half The Penguin, half Artful Dodger and half Bon Scott – welcome to the mad charisma of Gary Holton.
*or last year when I stumbled across it, honesty compels me to record.
**they have now forfeited the right to capitol letters on the M’s.
^who have come to cheer and who therefore do not have to fuck the fuck off.
Who cares about rugby results when you have vinyl, amaright?
And I’m well versed in fraught journeying and scenes from Hard Rain (we are talking the same Hard Rain here, right?). The last few weeks has been outrageous. Why did I decide to move to the sticks?
I was making my way to this take. Great header.
Second person in the world to remember that fantastic piece of music.
Love the Dodger guy. You’re hitting all squares on this take. I love the rugby but probably not as much as you. Live sporting events can be some of the best or they can be a pain in the ass. I’ve lived both sides. That shot of the stadium made we want to be there.
Cheers CB! I only go about once a year, it’s a pricey business and it is something my dad and I do together which is really nice.
That stuff is worth every penny. Better if the home team wins but you are a mature fella giving France their due.
I mainly know Holton from Auf Wiedersehn Pet, remember that? Also, Island Records originally wanted Free to be called Heavy Metal Kids but they stood their ground and said no. Quite right as well cause it’s a shit name. And would you argue with Paul Rodgers?
I do, Jimmy Nail at his very finest.
Nope, Rodgers used to be a right hard knock when he was a young ‘un.
Thanks – I’ve read about them but this is literally the first time I’ve heard anything. I remember a great Q interview around this time which had a caption underneath their photo saying something like: ‘Buy The Godfathers’ new single. We wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you…’
Nobody remembers them much at all. Maybe 1988 just wasn’t ready for them.
I was wondering when the rugby would raise it’s head, scuzzy rock albums are a must.
It’s never far from my mind. It’s been proven Welshmen think about it every 30 seconds, or so.
Do you remember the Godfathers?
Looks like it was a great hang with your Dad plus some vinyl scores! Awesome!
It was a good fun time.