After The Noise
Everything Is Equal
Wednesday 18 March 2026
Buzzcocks – Running Free (1980)
Wednesday. The thing about working Sunday is I’m a day ahead all week. So I awaken thinking it’s Thursday.
And mutter “bah humbug” to myself when I realise it’s Wednesday.
Still, magnificent weather always gives a lift.
I continue listening to my old radio programmes on Watton Radio from 2012/13.
This fits the sunshine extremely well. Morning. Ate homemade banana bread last night. I shouldn’t, but I did. These days, as long as I stick to my rigid plan, I’m content.
A song I’d completely forgotten about. I never let myself down with these tunes. The final single before they reformed in the late 80s.
Sitting in my usual traffic, and everyone seems to be behaving themselves for a change.
This track is something else. A very underrated Buzzcocks song.
And yep… sent shivers down my spine, listening to myself waffling 12 years ago about how I was going to do more writing.
Never did.
But I am now. That’s the main thing. Better late than never.
Great song. Fantastic keyboards.
I get home unscathed. Whack some pork and vegetables in the oven. Potter around, still listening to myself in the background.
It’s time. He looks at me with that demanding “take me out now” face. Huge brown eyes. Following me around the house. Relentless.
I give in.
What song will be worth writing about next?
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Genetic Engineering (1983)
A glorious day. The sun is shining and I’ve officially got the summer jacket out. Of course, in true UK style, it’ll probably rain tomorrow.
I gave up listening to weather people after Michael Fish got the hurricane wrong in 1987. Eyes too close together. Nice man, by all accounts.
Me and Bowie, doing our thing. Off to Queen’s Park. A sprawling patch of green for my furry friend to sniff and explore. Pretty quiet. Left alone. Time to gather thoughts.
Pondering is good. Healthy, even.
I love our morning wanders. They say a walk is good for a dog’s mental health. It’s good for mine as well.
The great thing about listening to my own radio shows isn’t the sound of my voice. I cringe at that. It’s the selection of tunes I lovingly put together.
This comes on.
One of the many mysteries of the world is why I never bought Dazzle Ships when it came out. I absolutely loved this single. Bought it on seven-inch vinyl. Played it to bits. I can even remember the B-side, the haunting 4-NEU.
And yet I didn’t hear the album in full until 2008, when I finally bought it on CD.
It’s a masterpiece. Hated at the time. I love albums like that. Commercial suicide.
It still sounds astonishing today. This lead single confused just about everybody. In reality, they’d been heading this way from the start.
Afterwards, they played it safe with a run of fine pop singles that didn’t quite have the same spark.
And fantastic use of the Speak & Spell.
As I wander, I notice something.
A billboard for Saturday Night Live UK. Why has it taken so long?
And my God, it looks crap.
Trying to replicate successful programmes from across the pond rarely works. And that works both ways.
There were US versions of Only Fools and Horses and Fawlty Towers. Both terrible, by all accounts.
Out of interest, I looked up the “comedians”. Never heard of any of them. And yes, I’m judging a book by its cover.
I bet they’re all completely unfunny.
I blank it out and carry on with the tunes.
Next stop, Limerick, Ireland. Another band who should have been huge.*
*(in the world of Del)
The Hitchers – 4.30… Two Down (1999)
Oh, this is a brilliant album. Truly brilliant. Great lyrics, quirky songs, and a good beat.
It keeps me awake at night that The Hitchers sank without trace while the likes of Coldplay became global superstars.
Despite plenty of promotion at the time, the pop kids simply said no.
We need Chris Martin in our lives. And that was that.
Things like this shouldn’t bother me, but they do. Not massively. Just a low-level irritation.
That’s an awful lot of bother.
I’m enjoying drifting away from the After The Noise playlist and stepping back into a world I left behind a long time ago.
This is part of my history. And it’s great hearing and sharing tunes I’d completely forgotten about.
The lyrics always make me smile: “I’ve seen his future, and it hurts, in a Plymouth Argyle shirt”.
Next, something completely different.
Elvis Presley – Girl Happy (1965)
Around the time of The Hitchers album, I got heavily into Elvis film soundtracks.
I was so confident in my knowledge that on this radio show I’d always include an Elvis film song.
It became my favourite feature on Within These Walls.
Yes, the films were mostly tacky, low-budget, and poor quality. But they offer a fascinating glimpse into 60s life. And there are a lot of overlooked songs in there.
Churned out like a production line.
And when the deliciously upbeat Girl Happy comes on, I immediately smile.
He did some brilliant film songs. Absolutely. I mean, some were dodgy. Old MacDonald’s Farm, for example. But it’s funny, in that Elvis film-song way.
Very much of its day. Very happy. Very jolly. Makes me smile. And it’s got a bloody good beat.
What’s wrong with that?
Two days of sunshine here in Manchester. I need to go and have a lie down.
Bowie’s loving it. Sniffing without a care in the world.
Here we are in Queen’s Park. Elvis blasting in my ears… and I’m talking to a machine.
Life is good.
END OF LISTENING LOG
The Listening Log 