ALL BACK TO MY PLACE

SPACE SHIFTER OF STRANGE SENSATIONS

Robert Plant, Suzanne Vega and Makaya McCraven sit you down and say, “Listen to this!”

What music are you currently grooving to?

Bob Dylan, Rough And Rowdy Ways. From Judas to Jehovah – beatified and crucified comes the Ragged Phoenix. This is vital stuff. From the richest vein… reflections at sunset from the Voyage of Sinbad.

What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album? Love, Forever Changes – no surprise here. Through all my zig-zag times I run for shelter to this incomprehensible masterpiece.

What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it? Shop Around by The Miracles, from Mark & Moody’s record shop in Stourbridge.

Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be? My grandad Robert Shropshire Plant. He played trombone, piano and fiddle. Leader of Dudley Port Drinking Band – ultimate Yam Yam.

What do you sing in the shower? Clarence Ashley, Coo Coo Bird. A classic on the old tyme, Americana, Mountain music, bluegrass – agh! – folio.

What is your favourite Saturday night record?

Barrett Strong, (I Don’t Need You) You Need Me. Set-piece macho black ‘pop’ from the dawn of Tamla Records. What a voice. Crazy ditty. Wonder if he ate his words?

And your Sunday morning record? Ike & Tina Turner, A Fool In Love, from the church to the ‘chitlin’ circuit’. These two rocketed through the worlds of entertainment jet-propelled. I saw them one night at a Mod allnighter in Brum at The Whiskey – insane and primeval. This tune reaches maximum frenzy in two mins and five secs. How can it be – the earth moves beneath my feet again.

Digging Deep is out on October 2 on Es Paranza.