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Book Review: Thai Jinks
by Lang Reid
 The
tone of this book, Thai Jinks (Asia Books, 2006, ISBN 974-8303-92-6) is set
in the introduction, where author James Eckardt writes, “Pushing sixty now,
I rejoice in the fact that while children are the punishment that God gives
you for having sex, grandchildren are the reward He gives you for not
killing your children.” Oh how I wish I could claim authorship to words of
wisdom like those, but then, I am but a poor scribbler in the provinces,
while James has worked not only for the Bangkok Post, but The Nation as
well. However, I shall refrain from maudlin self pity.
This is Eckardt’s fourth book, and I have enjoyed the previous efforts, and
before going much further with this review, I liked this one too, so you can
skip to the price if you don’t want to read all my waffle.
The book is in two parts, with vignettes on his life on land and the other
on sea. I am very well experienced on land, but have to admit that other
than falling off an ocean-going yacht in the Straits of Gibraltar, my life
before the mast has been sadly lacking. That Eckardt could interest me in
his aquatic exploits is the mark of a good writer, and I enjoyed every one.
The items on land go back for many years (34 years to his Peace Corps ‘acid’
trip, and an even more amazing 54 years to his schooling at St. Boniface),
and are not in chronological order, but this does not matter. Each is a
stand-alone story, written in a conversational style through which you can
almost hear Eckardt expounding, whilst he attacks another beer. During these
rantings he introduces his daughter Erika the Beast (a person that all
fathers will relate to) and then inveigles you to buy him another beer.
In fact, after reading this book I came to the conclusion that Eckardt’s
life has been one of disaster management, going from one last four beers to
the next. Even if not all of the vignettes revolve around beer, the pages
are certainly bespattered with the amber fluid. Journalists have been known
to indulge in the odd beer-fuelled binge (especially if someone else is
picking up the Check Bin) and Eckardt certainly follows this almost
mandatory scribbler’s dictum. Add ‘yachting’ to journalism and you can see
immediately (and read in this case) just why the listing on the Stock
Exchange for Chang Beer became such a hot issue. Forget the anti-swillers,
the chaps on the yacht tillers could have been down to their last four
beers!
James Eckardt is a good writer, even though he attempts at self deprecation.
I found this was a great book for a pick up and put down chuckle. Well worth
the B. 450 at my local Bookazine. As Eckardt writes, “The measure of your
life is not the dollars you’ve earned but the laughs you’ve had. And by that
measure I am John Paul Effing Getty.” However, I must say that the aforesaid
Getty has never given me anything, whilst James Eckardt has. Thanks for the
laughs.
Mott’s CD review: B.B.M. (Baker, Bruce, and Moore)
Around The Next Dream
 by Mott the Dog
5 Stars *****
When the Pattaya Mail first unleashed Mott the Dog on an unsuspecting
public in 2000, the column was called ‘Forgotten Classics’. But after a
short time, Mott let his mask slip and ripped into a couple of well
established artists (Elton John, Mettalica, Yes, and The Scorpions, all
got a good lickin’, for proof of this please have a look at Mott’s own
kennel on his website at www.mott-the-dog.com). It was pointed out that
perhaps ‘Forgotten Classics’ was not the correct title for the column,
so after a redesign and re-naming by Tony and Ella Crew, Mott had to
take the blame for his utterances on his own head.
Two major comments about Mott the Dog have always been: Why so many five
star reviews? Where can I buy the albums reviewed? Well, the answer to
the first question is mostly Mott the Dog only listens to music he
likes, so therefore mainly five star reviews, and most of the music
reviewed is only available through such mail order companies such as
www.amazon.com or by download. This last fact unfortunately is the world
over as there are now fewer and fewer actual music shops as we move ever
more and more into the ‘On-Line’ age. But if the column was still called
‘Forgotten Classics’ then ‘Around The Next Dream’ would certainly come
into that category.
After the original supergroup power trio Cream broke up in 1968, it
seemed that every decade Jack Bruce had a go at recreating the formula
with other famous musicians. In the Seventies we were presented with
West, Bruce, and Laing, a combination of Leslie West, lead guitar and
vocals, and Corky Laing, on the drums, both ex-Mountain, playing with
Jack Bruce. They produced two of the worst two albums ever to escape the
recording studio in Why Dontcha (1972) and then even worse Whatever
Turns you On (1973). How such three talented musicians could come up
with such dross is beyond me. Columbia Records should hang their
collective heads in shame for allowing the release of this stuff. Even
the album covers were amongst the worst ever.
West, Bruce, and Laing did at least release posthumously a live album
called Live ‘n’ Kickin, which showed that they could produce the goods
on stage. Tellingly, of the four numbers on the live album only one
comes from either of the studio albums, and that is a completely
re-worked The Doctor, whilst the other three are a fifteen minute
version of The Stones classic Play With Fire including a fire-eating
drum solo from Corky Laing, a definitive version of Politician before
Jack Bruce is let rip on an extended jam of Powerhouse Sod. The band
split up, unlamented.
In the Eighties Jack Bruce tried again, this time with ex-Procol Harum,
and axe hero in his own right, guitarist Robin Trower, and drummer Bill
Lordan. Two more albums were produced, the excellent BLT (1981) (one
cannot help but wonder if Bill Lordan was not chosen just so he could be
the lettuce in the BLT), followed by the slightly lacklustre Truce
(1982). To be fair to this ensemble they never stood a chance in the
apathy faced by real rock musicians in the early Eighties, so this
combination rather fell by the wayside due to neglect. Each artist
returned to their solo careers.
Then in the Nineties, after an impromptu jam at Jack Bruce’s 50th
Birthday celebrations, the seeds for a new power trio were planted. One
of the major factors in Cream breaking up was that Ginger Baker and Jack
Bruce could not stand the sight of each other; musically the perfect
combination as a driving rhythm section, but personality wise, oh dear.
As far back as 1963 Ginger Baker had gone for Jack Bruce with a large
knife when the two were together in The Graham Band Organization.
But, with great tact and diplomacy, old wounds were healed and it was
decided to join forces once more to provide two thirds of BBM with
mercurial young guitarist Gary Moore (ex Colosseum 2, Skid Row, Thin
Lizzy and a successful solo career). When this trio was announced to the
press, most of the comments from knowledgeable journalists at the time
were that Baker and Bruce would only last minutes before fists would
start to fly. It was like lighting the blue touchpaper and waiting for
the fireworks.
Producing themselves, with help from Ian Young, the band secluded
themselves in Outside and Samm studios, reappearing six weeks later with
a massive fifty two minutes worth of hard rock inlayed with the blues.
There is not a filler track in sight; every song stood its own ground.
At the time there were many comparisons made with some songs bearing
resemblances to Cream classics, but then what did people expect? There
were two thirds of Cream playing together for the first time in over
twenty five years.
The album mixes great rockers, such as opener Waiting In The Wings and
the incendiary I Wonder Why (Are You So Mean To Me), to classic ballads,
like Wrong Side Of Town and Naked Flame, which give Jack Bruce a chance
to show off his vocal talents.
The album also includes some rock solid mid tempo numbers allowing the
band to showcase their individual skills; for example, Why Does Love
(Have To Go Wrong) where for the last three minutes of its allotted
eight and a half minute duration, Gary Moore is allowed to totally wig
out on guitar, bringing the song to an epic climax. Without a shadow of
a doubt the best guitar solo Moore has ever laid down in the studio, and
yes I have heard Still Got The Blues For You, Black Rose, etc.
Can’t Fool The Blues is probably the choice cut on the platter,
combining great lyrics, Ginger Baker’s driving drums, dexterous bass
work, and Gary Moore again enjoying himself immensely on guitar.
The guys had cheated a little bit by straying ever so slightly from the
power trio formula, by employing the talents of Tommy Eyre on keyboards,
who plays some beautifully refined keyboards, filling out each song
admirably.
In between Cream’s, Baker and Bruce were never on such a fine album, and
this was certainly the pinnacle of Gary Moore’s guitar playing. A bold
statement I know, but remember this is a ‘Forgotten Classic’.
Album sales at first were good, and the band headed out on the road to
play some warm up dates in Continental Europe, receiving glowing reviews
all the way. Once back on British soil they were booked into London’s
prestigious Marquee club for a four night residency. On the first night
Gary Moore was all over the place, soloing where he should have been
riffing, then fluffing his big moments when they came, cursing the other
two on stage: Spinal Tap on stage. When they managed to get off stage
and back to the dressing room, a quick and violent row occurred with
Gary Moore leaving the premises never to speak to the other two again.
Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker went back on stage for a perfunctory encore
without a lead guitar. Wryly commenting afterwards that it was not the
Baker / Bruce combination that had not worked, but the young guitarist
that had imploded the band. Such is life in the rock ‘n’ roll circus.
But at least this trio did leave behind a true masterpiece in Around The
Next Dream.
In the Noughties (stupid name for a decade), Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce,
and Ginger Baker put life into perspective and got Cream together again,
and let’s face it, that is the real thing.
BBM were
Ginger Baker: Drums
Gary Moore: Guitar, Vocals
Jack Bruce: Bass, Vocals
(Tommy Eyre: Keyboards)
Songs
Waiting In The Wings
City Of Gold
Where In The World
Can’t Fool The Blues
High Cost Of Loving
Glory Days
Why Does Love (Have To Go Wrong)?
Naked Flame
I Wonder Why (Are You So Mean To Me)?
Wrong Side Of Town
To contact Mott the
Dog email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mott-the-dog.com
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