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Book Review: Free Time
by Lang Reid
A new novel, hot out of the Dragon’s Mouth Press in Hong Kong (ISBN
988-97752-3-9). Two years ago, this author presented us with the book Pole
Dancer, which was an insightful look at the oldest profession, played out
around chrome poles in Thailand. As an ‘airport’ novel, it slotted in well,
easy to read and put down again, and I even forgave it the somewhat
far-fetched ending. So when Free Time arrived on my desk, I was interested
to see what “R.D. Lawrence” (pen name) had done in the intervening two
years.
This new novel centers around a felon called Billy Marshall, who is sent
down for 25 years for robbery, forgery and destruction of public property.
Billy did not last too long behind bars, going “over the wall” and
disappearing from public view. However, he himself admits right at the start
of the book that he is not really “free”, saying, “Am I really free? Can I
ever, indeed should I ever, stop looking over my shoulder?”
His protagonist is Inspector Jack Straw, the policeman who helped put him
away, only to see him fly the coop. Jack is sent on a mission to Thailand,
and in Pattaya he hears that the elusive Billy is in the kingdom, using the
alias Ronald Littles (as a humorous reflection on the other miscreant at
large, Ronald Biggs). However, there are others, from the UK criminal
society who are also looking for Billy Marshall. The ones who he cheated out
of their cut of the action. The strong financial pull is enough to motivate
those who make not working while having a high spending ratio, their stock
in trade.
The other major player is Niang, a bar girl, who has all the usual
attributes: good looking, from Buriram, a dependant daughter and no steady
job, living above a go-go bar in Soi Cowboy. All fairly standard fare. And
oh yes, by page 136 you get to meet the family buffalo.
The book, having introduced the characters, then begins to flesh out the
minutiae to give some weight to it all. I actually found this a tad
overdone, but perhaps I know Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy too well, while first
time readers and travelers to Bangkok do not.
By half way through the book you have more than one double-cross going
through, with everyone out to score off everyone else. Billy Marshall, being
the major player, even to the point of using his pursuing inspector’s name
as one of his aliases. That wry humor even runs through to the author using
his previous book title as an anagram in a crossword puzzle!
Another fine airport novel from R.D. Lawrence. Not too taxing to tire the
brain and with enough characters to almost fill a local village telephone
directory. The twists and turns in the plot unfold rapidly as the police
attempt to nab Billy Marshall, and at the same time Billy attempts to trap
the police. So who actually did win? You will have to buy the book to find
out. And be prepared to invest several hours to reach the denouement.
Mott’s CD review: Jonathan Kelly
Live 2005 The charity concert
Written by Mott the Dog
Corrected By
Meow the Cat
 5
Stars *****
Jonathan Kelly was one of the greatest solo artists from the early
Seventies. When I say solo artist I do not mean somebody that has a full
backing band and orchestra, sings mostly other people’s songs, and the
ones that are his own are mostly co-written. I mean somebody who can
walk out on the stage armed only with an acoustic guitar and his voice,
keeping an audience spellbound for two hours and then walks off to huge
demands for encores.
The main reason for Jonathan Kelly not being a household name is the
simple fact that he followed the hippie dream, playing many free
concerts, not really studying the words of the recording contracts too
carefully, and taking people for their words, the biggest mistake you
can make in rock ‘n’ roll. It is rock ‘n’ roll music too; it maybe just
one man and a guitar, but it is certainly rambunctious music when
Jonathan Kelly wants it to be, one guitar or not, as this live album
amply shows.
Jonathan Kelly’s recording career started in 1970 with the release of
his self titled solo album, which, after a few false starts, had been
made with some singles under his real name of John Ledingham, and one
under the amusing synonym ‘Humpy Bong’.
The first album is a good honest work of a solo artist but did not
exactly catch the buying public alight. The second album ‘Twice Around
The Houses’ (1972) was a classic of its kind, chock full of memorable
songs, with some subtle backing by the very best of British session
musicians. This album coupled with an appearance on Britain’s only rock
show ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ plus appearing at many of the British
major festivals of that year, Jonathan Kelly seemed to be the next
contender to stand up and take the title.
The following year’s album ‘Wait Till They Change The Backdrop’ (1973)
was a good solid follow up. But Jonathan Kelly’s own success started to
become a problem, it was ok to headline small folk clubs, etc., with
only a guitar and an amplifier, but to take the next step a band had to
be brought in to fill out the sound in the larger concert halls.
Management arrived with pound note signs reflecting in their eyes.
Jonathan Kelly did not help himself by falling prey to the tempting life
of the excesses of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.
Jonathan Kelly became a little erratic, unreliable, and a tad moody. The
band he formed for the road, Jonathan Kelly’s Outside, managed one album
(1974) and when you consider the band included Trevor Williams
(ex-Audience), Snowy White, (Pink Floyd and Thin Lizzy), Chas Jankel,
and the magnificent David Sheen on drums, it is a great disappointment
that a better album could not have been made. If I tell you that the
album opens with a track called ‘Misery’, it gives you a clue as to its
content. It shows what a toll the rock ‘n’ roll life can put on you
mentally when you listen to the album made in 1972 with all its joy and
hope and compare it to the 1974 album.
In 1975 Jonathan Kelly completed his recording contract with RCA with an
album called ‘Two Days In Winter’. Not a happy affair, but there are
still flashes of genius nonetheless. The album came out under the
Jonathan Kelly banner but the artist on the album and the songwriting
credits go to John Ledingham!
Jonathan Kelly then turned his back on the whole rock ‘n’ roll circus
and literally disappeared. No big announcements, no final tours, he just
picked up his new wife and family, cleaned up his act, and went to make
a simple living in Wales, and that is the end of the story. Well almost.
Certainly the album ‘Twice Around The Houses’ and the concert
appearances in 1972 and 1973 had left quite an impression on many music
lovers, particularly a gentleman by the name of Gerald Sables who made
it his mission in life to go and find the man that had produced this
magical music. Not only did he find him, but they became close friends.
But Jonathan Kelly was still keen to remain anonymous, although in 2001
BGO Records bought the rights to Jonathan Kelly’s back catalogue and
released ‘Twice Around The Houses’ and ‘Wait Till They Change The
Backdrop’ on a two for one basis. I cannot recommend enough that you
look this up on www.amazon.com and press ‘buy’. These albums are
essential buys, and at two for the price of one, a steal. Then in 2004
BGO released ‘Waiting On You’ and ‘Two Days In Winter’ so that you can
add to your Jonathan Kelly collection.
Tragically Gerald Sable’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, but
fortunately she fought the dreaded Big C and beat it. Gerald Sable
wanted to do something to help the Fight the Cancer Fund, and because of
his interest in music decided a concert would be a good way of raising
money. To Gerald’s amazement his new friend Jonathan Kelly agreed to
headline the concert. Word spread quickly and the tickets sold out
instantly. By the end of the evening over one thousand four hundred
pounds had been raised for charity - no mean feat in itself.
So on the 20th April 2005 in a small club just outside Doncaster for the
first time in thirty years Jonathan Kelly stepped onto the stage to
perform to his public. The reception was deafening. There is no doubt
that the man is a little nervous at the beginning of the set, but he
need not have worried as the audience seemed to know the words better
than he did.
The whole recording brings joy to whoever is in ear shot and although he
had been out of the public eye for more than thirty years the fans still
loved him, even recognizing obscure B-sides like ‘Outside’, put out on
the non album track ‘Waiting On You’.
We get given in glorious renditions eight tracks from the eleven on
‘Twice Around the Houses’, two from ‘Waiting Till They Change The
Backdrop’ (not surprisingly none from the two albums released in 1974
and 1975) another B-side in the anti-war song ‘Mrs Gilbert’ which is as
relevant now as it was when it was released in 1968. Plus the ‘Humpy
Bong’ song from 1970 ‘Don’t You Be There Too Long’. The only cover is a
gritty version of Howlin’ Wolf’s Sittin’ On Top Of The World, which
segues into ‘The Train Song’ which is taken at a very fast pace and who
could not but love a song with the lyrics:
“The bachelor daughter to a friend of my Aunt,
Came to see me with a present of a geranium plant,
I wish she had told me not to teach it to talk,
Cause today it asked me if I would take it for a walk!”
Jonathan Kelly’s voice may have mellowed a little over the years, but
this actually suits some of the songs, allowing him to stretch every bit
of emotion out of each song. Certainly his talent and popularity have
not diminished in any way.
In-between songs Jonathan Kelly entertains the audience with stories of
the early seventies in his charming Irish brogue, which sets up the
atmosphere of the concert perfectly. Some of the stories are hilarious.
Sadly, at the moment this album is not available through the usual
channels, but can easily be picked up by looking up Gerald Sables
website for Jonathan Kelly at http://home.freeuk.net/jonathanled which
is a wonderful site full of all the things you can possibly want to know
about this artist. The website is now regularly updated, as after this
concert Jonathan Kelly is dipping his toe into playing some more
concerts, and who knows, we might even get a new album.
Songs
We Are The People
Madeleine
Rainy Town
Sligo Fair
Don’t You Be Too Long
Mrs Gilbert
I Used To Know You
Outside
We’re Alright Till Then
Down On Me
Godas
Leave Them Go
Sittin’ On Top Of The World / The Train Song
The Ballad Of Cursed Anna
To contact Mott the
Dog email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mott-the-dog.com
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