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Book Review: The Granta Book of Reportage
by Lang Reid
 This
publication, in paperback, is a reprint of the 1993 original, but the
subject matter of the Granta Book of Reportage (ISBN 1-86207-815-7) is
actually timeless, though historical in nature. Who will ever forget
Tiananmen Square for example, and the image of the lone man standing in the
path of the oncoming tanks is even used on the cover.
There are 13 items covered in the book, and as noted by Ian Jack in the
introduction, they are all too long and wordy to have been used in
newspapers, but were previously published in the Granta magazine itself.
Events that changed the face of history are covered including the Fall of
Saigon (James Fenton), Women and Power in Cuba (Germaine Greer), Tiananmen
Square (John Simpson), the Invasion of Panama (Martha Gellhorn), Mumbai
(Sukhetu Mehta) and Osama’s War (Wendell Steavenson) amongst others.
The items are detailed and are excellent examples of true investigative
journalism. In the item on Gibraltar, written by Ian Jack, it looks at the
role of the British Special Air Service regiment in the assassination of
three members of the Irish Republican Army. It does not take sides, nor does
it moralize, and it clearly shows that the IRA members were part of a
terrorist cell, but it equally as clearly sets the subterfuge applied by the
British forces, which became judge and jury as well as executioner. There is
certainly no pop morality expressed that could be construed as “they
deserved it”, but rather a relentless search for that very well hidden item
called “truth”.
Likewise the John Simpson Tiananmen Square item which describes the feelings
of the student revolutionaries, and just how those Chinese (students and
factory workers) were crushed by the mighty Chinese war machine – not just
by the physical appearance of the tanks in Tiananmen Square. It also
describes the mood of the revolutionaries and how that in turn became as
bloodthirsty as the actions of the tank drivers themselves.
At B. 695 it is a hefty price, but the book does offer a hefty read. This is
not a pick up and put down book, as much of the items are heavyweight and
take some careful digesting. As could be expected from their original
source, these are not cursory scribblings, but are slanted towards the
academic examination. In many ways, it can be a depressing book that
chronicles the animalistic atrocities that mankind metes out to other
members of the human race. Irrespective of whether in the “right” or
otherwise, it is obvious that we, as the inhabitants of Planet Earth, have a
long way to go before we can really claim to be civilized.
However, I have to say that at B. 695 I would also have expected a better
quality of paper (the review copy pages were in that off-white colour
usually denoting recycled pulp) and a heavier page stock. This is not a book
that will last until your children are of an age to understand some of the
influences in the past that have shaped today. A shame really. The subject
matter deserves better.
Mott’s CD review: Ritchie Newton
All Due Respect
Written by Mott the Dog
Approved by Meow the Cat
 4
Stars ****
Ritchie Newton is an artist of considerable talents, who on his new
album ‘All Due Respect’ shows them off with considerable style. Ritchie
Newton is a resident of his beloved Koh Samui, and his feelings for his
adopted home shine through on this album.
All artist have influences, Ritchie Newton is no different in that
respect. Robert Johnson influenced the likes of Chuck Berry and Muddy
Waters, and they in turn influenced so many artists as diverse as the
Beatles, to Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones, they of course then
influenced a whole generation to pick up a guitar and play and so on.
So I mean it as a compliment when I say that although Ritchie Newton has
developed his own style he also wears his influences proudly on his
sleeve.
Ritchie Newton was always mainly influenced by Elvis Presley, and the
spirit of the great man is carried through into all of his music
although by no means dominating it. In fact, over the course of the
eleven songs on this album the influences that surge to the forefront
are many fold, from the west coast sound of Steve Miller on opening
number ‘After The Last Eagle Flown’ to the blue collar rock of say a
John Cougar Mellencamp, or Bruce Springsteen on several of the early
songs, to the soft balladeers of the early fifties, in contrast the
album concludes with a storming hard rock number ‘King Of The Night’
which could be straight off a Judas Priest album. There is also a fine
tribute to death itself, ‘The Last Goodbye’ and the many ways it has to
be dealt with, when somebody who means a lot to you dies, but how also
life needs to go on. The words are worth printing to put Ritchie
Newton’s feelings across.
“I remember when my darling finally said goodbye. She was my love, my
inspiration, she was everything to me.
She gave me a hard lesson on treating people you love.
Today we are best of friends and we will never say goodbye.
The deepest cut in life is the last goodbye”.
All of the music on this album is original compositions, except for an
emotional run through of Van Morrison’s ‘Sometimes We Cry’ which Ritchie
Newton interprets with a fine spoken / sung version. A great reading of
a great man’s song. On other songs Ritchie Newton gives co-song writing
credits to his friends from Koh Samui. Perhaps in the middle the songs
become a little awash in emotion stretching the listeners taste in music
a little too far, but then it does give Ritchie Newton a chance to show
the full range of his talents. But I think he should stay as the saying
goes a little bit country and a little bit Rock ‘n’ Roll with a foot
firmly placed in both camps without going too far into the emotional
balladry.
Ritchie Newton is no newcomer to the recording studio, this being his
fifth album release. The first two being from his native Germany, ‘Bad
To The Bone’ (1994) and ‘Suchtig’ (1996), both recorded by a slightly
different Ritchie Newton that we know today. On the cover of each album
you get a long haired Ritchie dressed in leather and chains glaring out
at the world in defiance, and all the songs are of a very hard rock
nature.
In 1997 Ritchie Newton came to Thailand and like so many people fell in
love with the country and its beautiful people, almost immediately
deciding to live here. It was obvious that a living was not going to be
made as a long haired rocker, so a complete change of image was required
and a living as an Elvis Presley impersonator was eked out. At first
Ritchie did not exactly earn a fortune, but valuable experience was
earned the hard way, and the word soon spread about the young man with
the amazing voice. In 1999 Ritchie met Thailand’s number one Elvis
impersonator Jaruk Viriyakit who unselfishly invited the young man to
join him on stage on one of his shows, which was later shown on national
TV. This was just the helping hand up the ladder that Ritchie Newton
needed.
Soon, Elvis Ritchie Newton was not only performing all over Thailand,
but Asia and Europe as well. During this time Ritchie was blessed with
having his first son, Rino Mangon, which perhaps helped to quieten down
the wild rebel in him. There also followed two very popular Elvis
tribute albums: one a studio album in (2002) and a Live album (2004)
both recorded in Koh Samui.
But it is now with the release of ‘All Due Respect’ (2005) that Ritchie
has really come into his own. The songs are very strong with perhaps ‘I
Lost My Faith In You’ being the centrepiece and standout track on the
album, but throughout Ritchie’s exuberant character bursts through.
Ritchie Newton is by no means a selfish man, and although there is no
doubt that this is Ritchie’s album, there is still plenty of space for
Ritchie’s fellow musicians to shine. The piano, keyboard and bass work
of Carlito ‘Lito’ Vidal is an invaluable addition to the Newton sound,
Grathor lays down a solid rhythm section behind the drum kit, with
Caesar F. ‘Jon Jon’ Miranda Jr chugging away on acoustic guitars. The
backing vocals of Viva Vinson and Diane Jane are stunning, particularly
when they step up to the spotlight and duet with Ritchie Newton. To top
this off is some sterling lead guitar work by Boonyarit ‘Noise’
Chaichana, who really rips up the six strings when the opportunity
arises. This lot must be amazing in concert.
The album was produced by Ritchie Newton himself at the Sonic Arts
Studio, Lamai Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand. To produce an album of this
fine quality they must be very fine studios indeed.
Ritchie Newton obviously has a great love for Thailand and Koh Samui in
particular. I leave you with the words of dedication on the cover of the
album:
“This album is dedicated to everything and everyone that makes Koh
Samui, Thailand what it is ... a tropical island paradise. In 1997 I was
at the crossroads of not only my career, but my life. Koh Samui had a
profound impact on me personally and as a result, my career. I dedicate
this album to the people of Samui; Thais, expat residents, and tourists;
to the magic of Samui.”
Musicians
Ritchie Newton: Vocals
Carlito ‘Lito’ Vidal: Piano, Keyboards, Bass
Boonyarit ‘Noise’ Chaichana: Lead and Rhythm Guitar
Caesar F ‘Jon Jon’ Miranda Jr: Acoustic Guitar
Grathor: Drums
Viva Vinson: Backing Vocals
Diane Jane: Backing Vocals
Songs
After The Last Eagle Flown
Baby Rock The Night
Sometimes We Cry
Release Me From My Broken Heart
I Lost My Faith In You
Forever And Ever
Woman In Doubt
Your Love
Forever You
The Last Goodbye
King Of The Night
To contact Mott the
Dog email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mott-the-dog.com
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