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Teds'n'Rockers CD Booklet
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Teds'n'Rockers booklet
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Teds'n'Rockers track listing.
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My pages in the booklet for Mune Tagaki's compilation CD Teds'n'Rockers, ©2003. I have four songs on this cracking album, along with bands from all over Europe, Scandinavia and Brazil. Mune's label, Revel Yell Music is based in Aichi, Japan. ©Revel Yell Music, 2003
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Front of the booklet for the Japanese Revel Yell album Teds'n'Rockers, released in November 2003. All the graphics, layout and compilation was carried out by Munetoshi Tagaki, the label owner. ©Revel Yell Music, 2003
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Track listing for the CD Teds'n'Rockers, released in 2003. Bands from Europe, Scandinavia and Brazil are represented on this 25-track compilation CD. ©Revel Yell Music, 2003.
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Munetoshi Tagaki
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Teds'n'Rockers credits
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Revel Yell CD notes
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Munetoshi Tagaki is the owner of Revel Yell Music, the Japanese cult label who have released the compilation CD Teds'n'Rockers with four of my tracks on it. Mune is shown here with Danny B Harvey, the American guitarist, promoting his History of Danny B Harvey CD. Photo: ©Doll 12, No. 184 December 2002 (Japan).
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This picture of me was taken on Newcastle's famous street of motorcycle dealers, Westgate Hill in the 1970s. I'm standing outside a long-gone biker cafe, although there are still some good egg'n'chip type meals being served in one or two award-winning greasy spoon cafes on The Hill. Photo: Lynnette ©Revel Yell Music, Japan.
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Notes for the Teds'n'Rockers CD complete with track listing. I would love to do some gigs with these bands, ideally at venues like the Ace Cafe London, the Money Honey Saloon in St Petersburg, Russia, the Cooperage in Newcastle and the Bottom Line in Nagoya, Japan... ©Revel Yell Music, 2003
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Sabre Jets gig poster, 1978.
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'Mile After Mile' CD tray card…
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'Mile After Mile' booklet rear…
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Sabre Jets' sax and Percussion man Antoine Legris used to knock out gig posters using a '70s photocopier and car spray paint, leaving them to dry in the back yard of his home. This one is from 1978.
Poster: Antoine Legris, from a photo by Rik Walton.
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The tracks on 'Mile After Mile' were written as English Road Stories, with the exception of 'Gear Jammin' Boots & A Three Speed Hat' which I originally wrote with the plan of sending it to RCA as a demo for Elvis. Trouble was, the demo was recorded in early August 1977...
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I recorded this album direct to stereo just after getting a Taylor 314KCE guitar, which is a Year 2000 limited edition with Koa back & sides. The Taylor dealer I bought it from couldn't tell me what the 'K' stood for, so big thanks to Layne Lucia from Chicago, a fellow owner/player who identified it for me, and to Rich Collins (who's e-mail I couldn't return) for responding to my requests for help from out there.
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Original photo for CD label
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Fifties Soho: The 'Heaven & He…
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Road Kids novel.
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This shot of me on the bike was taken by Lynnette and used for the label artwork on 'Mile After Mile'
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Soho coffee bars like the Heaven & Hell and the 2 I's were the birthplace of British rock'n'roll and the home of skiffle. In 1961, aged 15, I searched Soho for places like this, got caught up in a police raid and ended up wide-eyed outside Ronnie Scott's club. Later that day, I made my first trip to the Ace Café...
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Hot rodding and bike culture provided exciting themes for pulp novelists such as 'Bud Clifton', whose novel 'Road Kids' was on sale at station bookstalls throughout the land to impressionable kids like me with half-a-crown (2/6d) to spare.
Road Kids by Bud Clifton ©Corgi Books.
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Merseyside, 1966
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Tennessee Bo-Weevil rail drags…
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Gordon, Harry & I, 1966.
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This shot of Lynn & I was taken at a Bo-Weevils gig at the British Legion Club, Port Sunlight, Merseyside in 1966.
Photo: Dave Jevons
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Another of Ray Godman's Tennessee Bo-Weevil dragsters, ready to roll at Lakeland International Raceway near Memphis in 1964. I was a regular reader of Hot Rod Magazine, and pictures like this opened up a parallel world to match that of the rockers in Britain for excitement.
Photo: ©Walter Harville
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Gordon and Harry had already recorded a single at Cavern Sound when they formed the Bo-Weevils with Lynn and I. Gordon had a great style on his 12-string, complemented by Harry's rhythm playing. I hope they're still gigging somewhere in America.
Photo: David Jevons
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Lakeland International Raceway…
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Lynn Cawood, 1966.
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Tennessee Bo-Weevil dragster.
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The sign that welcomed drag race fans to Lakeland International Raceway, Memphis, home of Memphis Rodder Ray Godman's stable of Tennessee
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Lynn was the main singer with the Liverpool - based Bo-Weevils, spooking audiences in 1966 with her versions of the murder ballad 'She walks These Hills in a Long Black Veil' and 'Annabel Lee'. 25 years later, as Lynnette, she did the same thing with 'Goin' Down That Road Feelin' Blue' and 'Crazy Arms'; MG & Lynnette's music was once described to us as 'Macabrebilly' and who are we to argue?
Photo: David Jevons
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This is one of the Tennessee Bo-Weevil series of dragsters, run at Lakeland International Raceway in the fifties and sixties by owner and original 'Memphis Rodder' Ray Godman and driver Sonny Adkin. By a weird twist of logic, they inspired our band name...
Photo: Special Collections, University of Memphis.
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Midnight in Tavistock Rd, 1968
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North East R&R Society, 1973
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Muther Grumble, Feb.1973
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We lived in this Jesmond street on Tyneside from 1968 to 1985 and many of the songs on the 'Mile After Mile' album were written here, including 'Rockin' at the Ace Cafe'.
The midnight movie came to an end, as we dragged through Peterlee By the time we're home the lights'll be out, there won't be any company
(from 'Living on the A19' ©Craig) Photo: Martin Craig
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A rare picture, taken across the road from the Aventine Club in Gateshead, main home of the North East Rock'n'Roll Society. These founder members are, (back row) Rockin' Jim Newark, Boppin' Brian Dixon (Hot Rod Gang drummer), 'Long Tall Sally', Tongue Tied Pete Forrester (club's resident DJ) Rockin' Ron Lewis (HRG bass player) and Alan 'Speedo' Tulip (HRG & Sabrejets rhythm guitarist). Front row: La Bell (thanks Val!), Mick 'The Pink Panther' Rankin (who sadly died in 2002) and Chris 'Carlos' Magee (HRG gtr/vocs). Most of these guys were with me when the 'Rumble at the Chip Shop' incident took place during the same year. (see 'Stories from the Northbound Lane').
Photographer unknown.
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I was asked to write an article for Issue 10 of the successful and controversial 'underground' magazine Muther Grumble, explaining the resurgence of 1950s rock'n'roll at a time when 'progressive' and glam rock were dominating the UK music charts. I couldn't explain it, but this is my attempt. I took the pictures outside the fabulous Alletsa Ballroom in the holiday town of Whitley Bay, on the North East coast, after a bop session. The picture at bottom right shows why the Society was politely asked to leave by the ballroom's nervous management.
Rockin' Jim Newark, Ron Lewis and Phil Chicken are all in these shots. Photos & article: Martin Craig. The Muther Grumble archive can be found at http://www.muthergrumble.co.uk/
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Hot Rod Gang, Christmas 1973.
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Hot Rod Gang film poster, 1959
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Custom Buicks.
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One of the earliest pictures of the Hot Rod Gang, taken on a cold Christmas Eve in 1973 at a club in rural County Durham. Featuring Rockin' Ron Lewis on Baldwin bass guitar and massive quiff, and Boppin' Brian Dixon on drums and silver lamé drape.
Lynnette was so concerned about the band freezing on the way home in our ex-Civil Defence Thames Trader van that she knitted us all woolly scarves as Christmas presents. As she said at the time, "You won't laugh when you're wearing them...." Photo: Sandie Simpson.
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It didn't take Hollywood long to link the excitement and speed of Rock'n'Roll with the post-war hot rod culture in the USA. 'Hot Rod Gang' (1959) featured Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps.
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As well as loving hot rods, I used to buy the customiser's magazine 'Car Craft', which featured the astounding futuristic creations of George 'King' Barris and Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth (famous for his 'Weirdo Designs' and creator of the character Rat Fink).
The pictures I hoarded as a schoolboy of custom 1959 Buicks like these became reality in the early 70s, when I found my own 1960 Buick Invicta 401 cubic inch pillarless sedan, just in time to use it for gigs with the Hot Rod Gang.
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The Hot Rod Gang, 1974.
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Moon Equipment's Hot Rod garag…
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Miners' Strike, Feb. 1974
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After Boppin' Brian, Rockin' Ron and Dave Heslop left, the MKII Hot Rod Gang were (L-R) me, Sandie Simpson, Chris Magee and Alan Tulip; all later renamed in the cause of rock'n'roll.
The 18-foot long 1960 Buick Invicta had a 6570cc engine; it carried the band, their guitars, pa and amps to gigs and doubled as my small family runabout until 1976. I still have it, but it needs a full restoration. Photo:Dave McGeorge
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A typical hot rodder's garage, complete with a custom coupé. Note the 'Moon Equipped' eyes posters on the back wall. A love of hot rodding provided the inspiration for my second band, whose name also came from the 1959 film 'Hot Rod Gang' which featured Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps.
Photo: Moon Equipment
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The North East Rock'n'Roll Society and the Hot Rod Gang played a gig in Boldon Colliery Miners' Welfare Hall in 1974, to aid the families of striking coal miners. When the strike was over, the miners repaid the Society and the Band by booking them for a fete held in Boldon later that year.
Story: Gateshead Post
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New Rockpile No.15
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Early Sabrejets gig, 1975
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Two original Sabrejets
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New Rockpile was taken over from Eddie Muir of Brighton, and co-edited by Rockin' Jim Newark and I in 1975. Jim's poor health and my gig schedule sadly meant that we could not continue beyond this issue, but it was very well received and sold in 23 countries worldwide.
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Mad Dog Lupe and I rockin' out at a very early Sabre Jets gig in Earsdon, a village near the North East coast of England.
Photo: Anne Tulip
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Two North American F86 Sabres, immortalised in Chuck Berry's song Run Rudolph Run with the line '...away went Rudolph, whizzin' like a Sabre jet' (©Chuck Berry).
I built the Frog kit of this plane as a boy (but used so much glue that the wing mounts melted off) and the image of it stuck in my head until the time came to form the Sabrejets in 1975. It just had to be done.
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Sabrejets Gig Review, Septembe…
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Sabs at the Cooperage'79.
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The Cooperage, 1979.
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This review was written after a Sabrejets gig at Newcastle's Cooperage. It appeared in Out Now magazine, written by journalist Ian McAllister under the title, Don't Mind Rockin' Tonite.
The writer spent half the evening trying to guess the band's 'real names', but our lips were sealed. Review: Ian McAllister.
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An early colour shot of the Sabrejets at their weekly residency in the 500 year-old Cooperage, on Newcastle's Quayside.
Photo: Ken Cameron.
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I used an old Shaftesbury 12-string for some acoustic numbers with the Sabrejets. This was taken at our Cooperage residency.
Photo: Ken Cameron
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The Sunderland Superstars
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The Sabre Jets, Spring 1979.
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Old Newcastle, 1970s
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Carlos 'Crazylegs' Magee and Sandie LaRocque (about to be Mrs.Magee) onstage at the Cooperage. Sandie used to hand her drum duties over to Antoine Legris whilst she 'danced a mean fandango' (as journalist Ian McAllister put it) with maraccas or a tambourine.
The 'Sunderland Superstars' tag came courtesy of rhythm guitarist Speedo. Photo: Rik Walton.
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Taken in the 15th Century Cooperage, an unrestored barrelhouse where the Sabre Jets held an 18 month residency in the late 1970s.
I'm playing my 1966 Baldwin Vibraslim semi, which I've had from new - British designed and made by the legendary Jim Burns. Photo: Ken Cameron
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Before 'the Toon' was regenerated, you could find streets of derelict warehouses like this which were ideal for outdoor rehearsals. We even tried to buy one once, but the deal fell through. We rented rehearsal rooms on the Quayside for a while and shared them with river rats, the whole area is now full of luxury apartments.
Photo: Lynnette.
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Carlos & Sandie.
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Speedo, 1978.
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Ambulance to the Cooperage
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Singer/ guitarist Carlos Magee and drummer Sandie LaRocque got married during this period of the Sabre Jets' history
Photo: Ken Cameron
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Speedo played rhythm guitar with both the Hot Rod Gang and the Sabre Jets. This was taken at a Blueport gig with the 45s and r&b legends the Junco Partners.
Photo: Rik Walton
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Mad Dog Lupe unloading equipment at the base of the long stone steps up to the Cooperage's third floor entrance. The Cooperage is a 15th century barrelhouse close to the River Tyne.
The band's van was an Austin-Morris EA Ambulance; very comfortable but prone to breakdowns - hear Living on the A19 and Teesside Blues for more details. Photo: Rik Walton
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With my alto sax, 1979.
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The Sabre Jets, 1979.
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What'll she do?
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In about 1977, both Antoine Legris & I took up the saxophone; Antoine bought a tenor and I got a Guban alto. This enabled us to add some New Orleans material to the set, such as Roberta and Sea Cruise, as well as instrumentals like Peter Gunn and Tequila.
One night when we were playing at a club in Pelaw, Gateshead, we were asked to play out with the British National Anthem. As we'd never rehearsed it, we started off with a few bars and then broke into Tequila. The audience loved it but the club's management were furious and tried to stop us, leading to scuffles on the dance floor. Photo: Rik Walton.
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Taken on Newcastle's Quayside, several years prior to its regeneration with riverside apartments, law offices and wine bars.
The 1950 Humber Super Snipe was (like the 1960 Buick Invicta) both band transport and my family car. Photo: Rik Walton
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Three Sabrejets grill Antoine about the bike on Newcastle's Quayside. L - R, Antoine Legris, Mad Dog Lupe, me & Speedo killing time at a photo shoot. The child inspecting the engine is Leon Maurice, son of Blueport label owner Mike Maurice.
Photo: Believed to be by Christine Glover
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Rehearsing in Hoodsville, 1970…
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Hoodsville, Newcastle, 1970s.
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Blueport Artists' Roster, 1978…
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We used to rehearse in an old part of Newcastle we called 'Hoodsville', near the stock yards. Already, newer 1960s buildings are beginning to appear in what was one of Newcastle's most historic districts.
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Another derelict outdoor rehearsal spot, this time in an area of old Newcastle that we used to call 'Hoodsville' because it reminded us of a set from a 1930s gangster movie. It had already started to change, a newer 1960s building is in the background. I think this place is a car park now.
Photo: Lynnette
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This formed part of the Blueport brochure in 1978. Before the internet was available, answer-phones for each band replayed excerpts of the current singles.
Courtesy Blueport Music.
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Blueport BLU-2 EP, 1979.
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Sabre Jets Blueport EP, 1979
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Handcrafted in the Deep North.
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The Sabre Jets' first release on the Blueport label was pressed on virgin blue vinyl at the insistence of label founder and boss Mike Maurice. This has added to its value at record auctions.
The reviews were from German music mags. Courtesy Blueport Music.
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BLU-2 was the Sabre Jets' first release on the Blueport label in 1979. Tracks were 'Radioland', 'Rockin' at the Ace Cafe' and a cover of the Carl Perkins classic, 'Caldonia'. The EP got airplay and good press coverage in many countries.
Copy: courtesy of Blueport Music.
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Blueport Music got under the skin of radio stations and reviewers partly through their creative use of 'home-grown' publicity materials such as this hand drawn, typed and photocopied flyer.
In the same way, Mike Maurice breezed through the offices of places like the BBC in London as if he owned the joint, and his nerve got him through the usual barriers everywhere he went. Partly as a result of this, every Blueport release got extensive national and international airplay as well as good press reviews.
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