The Grave of Thomas Helliker

It was Sober October day 15 yesterday, and I was feeling a bit cooped-up indoors, so thought I would catch the bus over to Trowbridge and have a look at the shops. I bought a fur lined hoodie type thing in Next that might be warm in the winter, and then had a mooch around a couple of charity shops until I got bored. When I got back to the bus stop, I found it was half an hour until the next bus home. How could I wile away the next 30 minutes? I remembered that I had read about a 19th century poet called George Crabbe who was rector of St James Church from 1814 to his death in 1832. I had never heard of him before, but apparently, he was very influential in his day, and Benjamin Britten had even based an opera on one of his poems. There was a memorial to him in the church. 

Crabbe Memorial.

I thought I could add him to my list of famous graves I have visited. As you may know, in the last few years I have seen the graves of George Orwell, Thomas Hardy, Lawrence of Arabia, Laurie Lee, Seigfried Sassoon, Thomas Moore, C. Day Lewis and others. When I entered the church, I found there was some sort of service or event going on, with lots of people sitting in the pews. I didn’t want to disturb them and beat a hasty retreat. So, I didn’t get to see George’s memorial, but I can’t say I was exactly disappointed. I had a quick look in the churchyard instead. Most of the headstones were so old and faded you couldn’t read them. One tomb caught my eye though because it had obviously been well looked after. There was even a faded wreath on top of it. The inscription had been restored in recent years. It read-

                                                         Sacred to the memory of

                                                               Thomas Helliker

The thread of whose life was cut in the bloom of youth. He exchanged mortality for immortality March 22, 1803, in the 19th year of his age. The fatal catastrophe which led to this unfortunate event is too awful to describe. Suffice it say that he met his death with the greatest fortitude and resignation of mind. Considering his youth he may be said to have but few equals. He died a true penitent. Being very anxious in his last moments that others might take a timely warning and avoid evil company. This tomb was erected at his earnest request by the cloth making factories of the counties of York Wilts and Somerset as a token of their love to him and veneration of his memory.

A second inscription was added later:

                                      This tomb was formerly placed over the remains of

                                                               Thomas Helliker

At a time of great disturbance throughout the manufacturing towns of this county. He was condemned for an offence against the law of which he was afterwards believed to be innocent and determined to die rather than give testimony which would have saved his own life but forfeited the lives of others. Some of the cloth-workers of this town being so desirous to perpetuate the remembrance of such an heroic act of self-sacrifice have restored this memorial in the year of our lord 1876.

I found this fascinating, and much more interesting than George Crabbe. When I got home, I immediately looked on Wikipedia to find out more about Thomas Helliker. I discovered 'Thomas Helliker (23 March 1784 – 22 March 1803), known as The Trowbridge Martyr, was a figure in early English trade union history who was hanged, aged 19, for his alleged role in machine-breaking at a Wiltshire woollen mill. His conviction has been challenged as controversial and faulty, and he is now regarded as a victim of anti-Luddite sentiment'. He was a shearman’s apprentice, a highly skilled cutter or finisher of cloth. He worked at Littleton Mill, Semington, around 3 miles from Trowbridge. On July 22nd, 1802, a riot was organised by workers unhappy with the new machinery which threatened their livelihoods. They attacked the mill, and it was destroyed by fire. Thomas was identified as a main culprit by a man called Heath who collected £500 reward money for his dubious evidence. A man called Warren had earlier claimed he had been drinking with Thomas on the night in question, but this evidence of an alibi was not heard in court. The jury took only ten minutes to find him guilty and he was publicly hanged outside Fisherton Jail in Salisbury on March 23^rd, 1803. 

Last Letter.

His friends claimed his body and carried him across Salisbury Plain for burial in Trowbridge. There is an annual wreath laying ceremony on his anniversary organised by trade unionists. The last letter he wrote to his family is on display in Trowbridge Museum which I’ll try and visit the next time I’m in Trowbridge. I’m very pleased that I accidentally came across the grave of Thomas Helliker. It is a reminder of the terrible conditions and harsh laws that prevailed before the advent of trade unions which fought for the workers’ rights which we enjoy today, but take for granted at our peril.

Annual Memorial.

Indoor Safari by Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets.

I thought today I would tell you about an album I have been enjoying for the past ten days or so. It is Indoor Safari by Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets. Nick has written some great songs in the past which have been covered by other singers, such as (What’s So Funny ‘bout) Peace Love And Understanding which Elvis Costello recorded, The Beast In Me for Johnny Cash, and I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock And Roll) for Dave Edmunds. I first realised how good Nick was when a neighbour friend gave me a copy of his The Impossible Bird album, and later I bought Dig My Mood. I rate this new collection of songs as being at least as good as any work of Nick’s long career. I have seen him perform several times, usually as a solo act, but in 2019 I saw him perform with Los Straitjackets at Glastonbury. It was the same night that The Mavericks also played on the Acoustic Stage. 

What a great night that was. Los Straitjackets were amazing, they wore suits, but also Aztec medallions and hid their faces behind Mexican wrestling masks. They might be the best guitar band I’ve ever seen. They are Eddie Angel and Greg Townson on guitars, Pete Curry on bass, and Chris Sprague on drums. You could describe their sound as retro rockabilly surf guitar music. They were founded in Nashville in 1988 and have released about 20 instrumental albums. I think they must have met Nick in 2017 when they recorded a tribute album of Nick’s songs. Nick has said of them, "Apart from being a fantastic rock ‘n’ roll band, they know how to play tons of different styles really well. They can knock you out a version of Bacharach and David's "The Look of Love" with no trouble at all”. Their sound is the perfect accompaniment to Nick’s songs which have always had a retro feel to them. Nick has never worried about trying to sound fashionable or modern. 

Nick is 75 now. When a lot of his contemporaries in music are just recycling past glories it is refreshing to hear Nick come up with a collection of brand new songs with intelligent, often humorous lyrics, even if it is his first new album in about ten years. Nick wrote all but two of the songs here. The album’s title comes from the first track Went To A Party where Nick goes to a crazy party and gets mistaken for Robin Hitchcock. Love Starvation follows a familiar theme in Nick’s songs, namely lack of love in his life. I love the driving beat of Crying Inside which could be said to be a Nick Lowe style answer to Tears Of A Clown by Smokey Robinson.  A Quiet Place begins with a lady shouting “Hey Eddie, Eddie Angel”. It is a sad, but funny tale of someone who can’t get any sleep with cats meowing, neighbours fighting, and drunks singing Sweet Caroline. It was originally a hit, with slightly different words in 1963 for Garnet Mimms (still alive aged 90) and has also been recorded by many reggae bands. Blue On Blue is a poignant ballad sung as only Nick knows how. Jet Pac Boomerang is a lively song of good love gone bad where Nick quotes The Beatles, “Last night I said these words to my girl”. Tokyo Bay is a short and sweet rockabilly romp on a nautical theme. Trombone is the longest track and ironically there is no trombone to be heard. 

Different Kind Of Blue is another sad ballad of lost love set in the cold grey light of dawn. I have shared this song below if you want to hear it. If I had to choose a favourite track, I think it might be that one. Raincoat In The River is an obscure song originally recorded by Rick Nelson in 1965. Lay It On Me Baby is a jaunty optimistic song of love without a cloud in the sky, for a change. The mood doesn’t last though because the final song is Don’t Be Nice To Me which is pessimistic in mood, but that doesn’t matter because it’s only a song, many of Nick’s songs are tongue in cheek and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. I highly recommend this collection of songs by the great Nick Lowe and the amazing Los Straitjackets. 

Nick Lowe, Los Straitjackets - Different Kind of Blue

Van Morrison Autumn Song

John Lennon, Born on October 9 1940. The Beatles - In My Life

New Arrangements & Duets by Van Morrison.

It is Sunday afternoon and pouring with rain; I won’t be going anywhere today which gives me a chance to tell you about a CD I have been listening to for the last few days. It is called New Arrangements & Duets by Van Morrison. When I first heard about this new album I was a bit dubious about buying it because I imagined it would be nothing new and I didn’t like the idea of Van’s songs being given the jazz big band treatment. However, when I heard Steal Your Heart Away with Willie Nelson, and then read glowing reports of the album launch concerts in Brighton I thought I ought to hear it. Now after a few listens I don’t think it is one of Van’s greatest albums by any means, but there are several tracks including one magnificent song that make it a worthwhile addition to Van’s oeuvre. I think the Exile team spared any expense on the bland sleeve design though.

Van & Kurt Elling.

Kurt Elling is the guest vocalist on the first two tracks Ain’t Gonna Moan No More, and Broken Record. I admit I had never heard of him before, which shows my lack of knowledge of jazz music. Wikipedia told me he has been nominated ten times for Grammy awards and has won twice as best jazz vocalist. He has a great voice, and I love his scatting away to his hearts content. I also like the tenor sax playing of Alan Skidmore, trumpet of Guy Barker and percussion of Teena Lyle. I must say though that Broken Record is one of my least liked Van songs. I wish they had chosen something else. Chris White is responsible for eight of the new band arrangements on this album. I think he must like Van’s Enlightenment album because he chose to rearrange two Enlightenment songs. I’m not all that keen on what he has done with Avalon Of The Heart, a song I have always loved because of its spiritual connection to mystical Glastonbury and the holy grail. I don’t think these lyrics are suited to the big band jazz swing treatment. 

Van & Curtis Stigers.

Close Enough For Jazz is a song I have never been that keen on. I think this must be about the fourth time Van has recorded it. I don’t know what Paul Moran thought he could add by wheeling it out again. Curtis Stigers is the guest singer here, but I’m sure they could have found a better song for him. I’ll Be Your Lover Too is one of the best songs from the Street Choir album. This arrangement was recorded in 2014 so I think the backing vocals of Dana and Jolene must have been added recently. Four sax players, two trumpets and a trombone give a rich sound to the re-working of Only A Dream. I also like the piano playing of Jim Watson. So Quiet In Here is the first track which for me makes it all worthwhile. I always think of it as a companion song to Into The Mystic, maybe because they both mention foghorns. With this arrangement I think Chris has been much more sympathetic to the original spiritual emotion of the song. Van’s voice sounds wonderful, especially as it fades away at the end, “Way out in the distance, foghorns in the night, sailing for some other shore”, Quite brilliant. 

Van & Joss.

I like Joss Stone, as a person and a singer. I think Van likes working with her as well. I remember them singing Wild Honey together one sunny evening at Glastonbury Abbey a few years ago. She sings Someone Like You with Van here. I’m not that keen on what they have done to The Beauty Of The Days Gone By. On the Down The Road album it was a bittersweet wistful song of nostalgia, here it has a Las Vegas jazz lounge swing treatment. By contrast the next track The Masters Eyes I think is magnificent. (I have shared it below, so you can judge for yourselves) To me what makes it so outstanding is the celestial backing vocals of Larry Batiste, Nona Brown, and Omega Rae Brooks. Also, Van’s vocals, he sings it like he means it, unlike on some other tracks. Paul Moran is responsible for So Complicated and Choppin’ Wood, neither of which are favourite songs of mine. To my ears So Complicated is a bit like Broken Record. I know Choppin’ Wood means a lot to Van because its about his father, but this version doesn’t improve on the original for me. You Gotta Make It Through The World is Van’s ‘survival’ song from A Period Of Transition but is one of his lesser songs in my humble opinion. 

The album ends on a happy high note with Van being joined for two songs by Willie Nelson and his legendary Martin acoustic guitar Trigger. Willie effortlessly breathes new life into What’s Wrong With This Picture and Steal My Heart Away. Willie has such a rich distinctive voice that he can make anything sound great. I was pleased to see that Jay Berliner turns up for these songs, also Lukas Nelson, Tony Fitzgibbon on fiddle. Bobby Terry steel guitar, and Mickey Raphael on harmonica. In summary, I think this for me is a mixed album with some lesser tracks, but also some excellent ones with So Quiet In Here and The Masters Eyes sounding especially great. It is all down to personal taste, some people like the big band sound and others like a more acoustic folkier sound. I like it when Van the alchemist mixes up several genres of music into something that he makes uniquely his own, and I’d like to hear an album of new original songs by Van, but I don’t know if that will happen. One thing is for sure, Van’s voice is still as good as ever. Cheers.

Van Morrison - The Master's Eyes.