Ian Oliver

Keele Library.Serial procrastinator. Multi-interest nerd.

[Raoul Duke @batcountry1980]

You ever ask yourself the question: “How many times have I heard this song?” When it comes to me and Up the Junction, it must be in the thousands. And I’m not just talking about pressing play here. Hours and hours of my life I’ve spent really listening to it. This isn’t a song that ever fades into the background. If my concentration drifts for even a second, I put it back to the start. Because, and this is the mark of a truly great song, it still gets me every single time. I live the full story. I become the character again and again.

Up the Junction is genius songwriting, up there with any of the greats. In fact, it almost stands alone. There’s nothing else quite like it. It’s not only a lyrical masterclass, but one of the finest examples of how words and music can completely clash, yet still strengthen each other.

Chris Difford’s writing here is clever in so many ways, but not in the manner people usually mean when they talk about “genius lyrics.” There are no grand philosophical statements or dazzling displays of vocabulary. Instead, it’s razor-sharp storytelling, where not a single word is wasted. The song is actually told very simply, yet every line adds something vital, bringing both the characters and their surroundings to life with extraordinary clarity.

It’s a complete Kitchen Sink drama with a beginning, middle and end, all delivered in just over three minutes. Nothing could be added to improve it. That kind of efficient lyricism is a rare gift: saying something in five words rather than twenty while making it hit just as hard. Lines like “we stayed in by the telly, although the room was smelly” instantly conjure an entire life. If you’ve grown up working class, got your first flat with your first love, then you recognise it immediately. You can’t help smile: “That’s it right there.”

🧵

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

21st Century Girls were from Dudley, and this chart position was the page 1 headline in the Wolverhampton Express and Star! They never had another hit... #totp

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

`Farage halts Cameo gigs after making 'racist and sexist' paid videos'

Could a skilled someone please photoshop Farage onto Larry Blackman's Totp codpiece? 😆 #totp

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

@davidyelland The Paper That Supports Our Boys doesn't think it's worthy of the main headline..

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

Same lyrical twist as Chuck Berry's Memphjs Tennessee #TOTP

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

A contract expired giving EMI control of the available Beatles recordings. So Yesterday was released as a single for the first time and the 22 other singles were released in matching sleeves and a presentation box on record department counters. I bought 9 of them... #totp

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

Obviously the follow up to Sexy Thing #TOTP

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

Beatles have 3 records in the top 30 in 1976 because a contract expired giving EMI control of the recordings. So they released Yesterday as a single for the first time (it's number 8) and repromoted all the other singles in matching sleeves.All 23 were in the top 100 #totp

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

Produced by Phil The Collector Swern? #TOTP

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

Bespectacled keyboard and drum basher in Sailor is Henry Marsh. Is he the neurosurgeon?#TOTP

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

Denny Laine: Paul McCartney would only work with people whose names rhymed with one of his songs #TOTP

[Mark Cockerton @CockertonMark]

‘Like’ this post if you’d like a police investigation into links between Russia and the Reform Party can of worms.
‘Repost’ if you doubt that Nathan Gill is the only traitor in the Reform Party, given Farage’s admiration for Putin and his blaming of Ukraine for being invaded.

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

Bates sounds like the meerkats! #TOTP

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

Andy White on drums, Ringo on tambourine #TOTP

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

@TOTPFacts Also No Woman no Cry? #totp

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

Howard Jones, Paul Young, Nik Kershaw (new entry at 47 this week) all falling at the third album... #TOTP

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

The first hit for the rebranded radio 2. Radio 1 didnt touch it apart from the chart rundown...#TOTP

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

@TOTPFacts Also quoted in the talking bit on the 12" of Wah's Story of the Blues #totp

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

@TOTPFacts Cecil Bustamente Campbell, hence Buster I assume ..

[Ian Oliver @Keelewolf]

Armegideon Time! #TOTP