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Paul Hanley

Leave The Capital : A History Of Manchester Music In 13 Recordings

    When British bands took the world by storm in the mid-sixties, the world turned and looked at London. Despite the fact that the most successful of these bands hailed from the North West corner of England, for the USA, London was the source of these thrilling new sounds. And in many ways it was - The Beatles, The Hollies and Herman's Hermits recorded all their hits with London-based producers, for London-based companies in London studios. And that's how it remained, until four Mancunian musicians became alive to the possibility of recording away from the capital.

    Against the prevailing wisdom, they opted to plough their hard-earned cash back into the city they loved in the form of proper recording facilities. Eric Stewart of The Mindbenders and songwriter extraordinaire Graham Gouldman created Strawberry Studios; Keith Hopwood and Derek Leckenby of Herman's Hermits crafted Pluto. Between them they gave Manchester a voice, and facilitated a musical revolution that would be defined by its rejection of the capital.

    This book tells the story of Manchester music through the prism of the two studio's key recordings. Of course that story inevitably takes in The Smiths, Joy Division, The Fall and The Stone Roses. But it's equally the story of 'Bus Stop' and 'East West' and 'I'm Not in Love'. It's the story of the Manchester attitude of L.S. Lowry, by way of Brian and Michael, and how that attitude rubbed off on The Clash and Neil Sedaka. Above all, it's the story of music that couldn't have been made anywhere else but Manchester.

    Simon Wolstencroft

    You Can Drum But You Can't Hide

      Among the many near-mythical figures of the Manchester music scene, he's known as the Nearly Man. You'd expect a drummer to have better timing.

      Yes, he parted ways before The Patrol became the Stone Roses. Yes, he turned down The Smiths. Yes, Noel Gallagher asked if he fancied joining his band.

      Right place, right time, wrong choices? Timing is everything.

      But the beat goes on and while Simon Wolstencroft can see what might have been, cultivating bitterness bears no fruit. And 'Funky Si' has tasted the nectar.

      Spending an unlikely 11 years in The Fall and hooking up with his old mate Ian Brown during his solo days, You Can Drum But You Can't Hide reflects on a life driven by a passion for playing.

      Taking you from the warehouses of Manchester and the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to the high rises of Tokyo, this book hands you a backstage pass to an evocative age that restored pride to the city of Manchester. With humour and detail, Si's memoir recounts a fascinating tale of drumming and drugs, friendships and fall outs, but, above all, a love of music.

      Head over to Strata Books where you can hear Simon reading excerpts & enjoy a soundtrack of some of the less well-known bands featured in the book, including The Patrol and Freak Party.

      Paul Hanley

      Sixteen Again : How Pete Shelley & Buzzcocks Changed Manchester Music (and Me)


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