SOUL SURMISE

CITY LOSING TO CHELSEA AND MY COINING THE PERFECT TEBLE

“How is he? Is he alright?”

I think more people asked Janice how I was than actually asked me. I was thankful for the gentle sporting engagements people gave me. I believe that good sportsmanship is a value of following Jesus. I have no time for acerbic bipartisan football “banter”. 

Anyway, I am fine. Football is a funny thing. It is all about 90 minutes on one evening. The ecstasy of winning is intense and then quickly disperses. The heartache too. Also, it was a one off game. Anything can happen. We lost a recent Cup Final to Wigan. I had grieved all day, preparing for the worst. 

In those 90 minutes Chelsea were the better team for most of it. Their back 4 and defensive midfielders were superb. Kante, James, Chilwell and Rudiger - excellent! 

City were beaten by their starting line up. Everyone but Pep knows that. No defensive midfielders and players had no idea where they were playing (think De Bruyne!). Pep talked all week about City needing to play like themselves then put a team out that couldn’t be ourselves. The Champions League has Pep’s head and two years in a row his over thinking cost us. We might win more domestically with Pep but Champions League? I am not sure.

As many of you know I am more up for more Premierships than Champions League anyway. So many of you try to convince me about how wonderful it is and how much we need it but for me it is just another Cup. 

It is about 90 minutes. You don’t need to be the best team in your country to win it. Indeed Liverpool and Chelsea have won it in recent years without even making the English top 4! The Premiership is the best league in the world and you win it over 38 games. Give me that any day.

BUT… I will make you a concession. There is a way that I would love to win the The Champions League that might eclipse simply the money and prestige. I introduce you to The Perfect Treble. I have never ever heard it mentioned. It is, in my opinion, the Holy Grail of football.

It has only been done twice by English Clubs. Liverpool in 1984 and Manchester United in 2008. This Perfect Treble is qualifying for the Champions League as English Champions and being English Champions again in the season that you win it. That is the only way since UEFA allowed non Champions to play in the Champions League that makes it a real achievement for me. 

That even Liverpool and United have only done this once makes me suspicious in the modern era that you can have a tilt at both. City were close but winning and keeping the mental intensity to win another Premiership and get through all the rounds of the Champions League - it is a big ask. And Pep if you have to compromise, concentrate on the Premiership!

Until we do the Perfect Treble the Champions League remains like the other cups in a domestic double or treble. Oh of course I’d rather have a Champions League than a League Cup but…

Who knows, it might happen next season. However Tommy Tuchel is the real deal and Liverpool will be mentally strong again. That Perfect Treble is a long way off.

Twenty two years ago I watched in horror as City were 2 down going into extra time in a Division 2 Play-off Final. Thankfully we, for the first but not the last time, scored twice to turn it around. Today, we are Premier league Champions for the third year in four, fifth in a decade. We have also 2 FA Cups and 6 League Cups. In 2011 I would have taken one of each. 

Even without a Champions League, consider me spoiled beyond my dreams. Tell them I am fine Janice. Very, very fine!

MY 4TH BOB DYLAN COVERS PLAYLIST - MAKING IT 80 SONGS FOR HIS 80 YEARS

 

Meet Me In The Morning - Lucinda Williams

(from Bob’s Back Pages; A Night Of Bob Dylan Songs))

 

Mr Tambourine Man - The Byrds

(from Mr Tambourine Man)

 

Absolutely Sweet Marie - George Harrison

(from Bob Dylan; 30th Anniversary Concert)

 

My Back Pages - Steve Earle

(from Sidetracks)

 

Love Minus Zero/No Limits - Jackson Browne

(from Chimes Of Freedom; The Songs Of Bob Dylan)

 

When I Paint my Masterpiece - The Band

(from Cahoots)

 

In The Summertime - Chrissie Hynde

(from Standing In The Doorway

 

The Ballad Of Hollis Brown - Leon Russell

(from Stop All That Jazz)

 

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll - Christy Moore

(from Burning Times)

 

Foot Of Pride - Lou Reed

(from Bob Dylan; The 30th Anniversary Concert)

 

God On Our Side - Wire Train

(from Between Two Words)

 

Blowing In The Wind - Odetta

(Odetta Sings Dylan)

 

Senór (Tales Of Yankée Power) - Willie Nelson & Calexico

(from I’m Not There soundtrack)

 

Jokerman - Eliza Gilkyson

(from Your Town Tonight)

 

Property Of Jesus - Sinead O’Connor 

(from Chimes of Freedom: Songs Of Bob Dylan

 

Going Going Gone - Gregg Almann

(from Southern Blood)

 

Spanish Mary - The New Basement Tapes

(from Lost On The River)

 

Heart Of Mine - Peter Malick Group

(from New York City)

 

Girl From The North Country - Sting

(from Chimes Of Freedom: Song Of Bob Dylan)

 

What Good Am I  - Tom Jones

(from Praise and Blame)

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG - DEJA VU; 50 THE ANNIVERSARY BOX

Crosby, Still & Nash - and in this case Young, when he is attached like an extra conservatory - were the last great act to make their way into my favourite rock acts. 

I started as far back as 1992. My aunt Lila worked at WEA in Toronto and as a staff member was able to take home a  number of records at $1 each. She got me the Crosby, Stills & Nash box set and over the next 20 years at regular intervals I tried to fall in love. Nothing doing.

Eventually around 2012 something clicked. I got it and bought everything as my love of collecting does. I am talking solo albums and records of any combination. 

As the bigger combination CS&N or CSN&Y have never equalled the first two records. I debate with myself whether the debut without Neil Young or this one where they let him join the band is the best. It is too close to call.

I was delighted though that they decided on this 50th Anniversary box and the format they chose. I came to this band in the days of CDs so it was a treat to have a reason to buy the vinyl. That they packaged the vinyl in a box set with 4 CDs and at a price that McCartneys, Lennons and Springsteens could learn from.

Deja Vu is everything the Crosby, Stills & Nash debut is with that added Neil Young’s earthy grit. Their symphony of harmonies that is their sound, is showcased immediately on the opening Carry On, written to be the Suite; Judy Blue Eyes of the debut. The breadth of styles and topics of songs is still there. Nash’s amazing love-caught-in-a-moment in Our House and social comment on Teach Your Children; Stills introspection on 4+20; Crosby’s hip anthem and political provocation Almost Cut my Hair.

You can add to this perhaps Neil Young’s finest song Helpless. When Crosby doubted inviting Young on board he heard him play this song and immediately was convinced. I have a personal love for it in that it is set in north Ontario where I have visited and my Uncle Bobby was laid to rest.

Above all of this we have maybe the finest song of the entire era, not written by any of the band. Joni Mitchell, the other half in Nash’s house, who pulled out of Woodstock to get TV exposure, stayed at home and wrote Woodstock. Like Our House, this is a song about a moment in time, one weekend, and into that space sprinkles political comment and spiritual search. It is the anthem of the generation and Stills was quick to ask permission and give it the CSN&Y stamp.

Young, was asked to join the band initially to beef up the live sound. He certainly gives an earthier edge to the album. The latter half of side 2 is heavily Young. It added another dimension for sure.

Even better in this box set is a fabulous array of extra tracks, alternative tracks, demos and out takes. It is a treasure trove, not at all fillers to up the price. Fewer from Young and more from Stills than the others but so many lovely touches. Joni singing with Nash on a version of Our House, demo of John Sebastian’s How Have You Been and Nash’s Sleep Song are just three highlights. 

Great album. Great price. Great excuse.

YET ANOTHER 20 BOB DYLAN COVER VERSIONS FOR HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY

Tangled Up In Blue - Indigo Girls

(from 1200 Curfews)

 

Leopard-Skin Pill-box Hat - Beck

(from War Child: Heroes)

 

Maggie’s Farm - U2

(Live For Ireland)

 

The Groom’s Still Waiting At The Altar - Rod Stewart

(from The Rod Stewart Sessions 1971-1998)

 

Sweetheart Like You - Guy Davis

(from A Nod To Bob)

 

High Water (for Charley Patton) - Joan Osborne

Songs Of Bob Dylan)

 

You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go - Shawn Colvin

(from Covers)

 

Make You Feel My Love - Ricky Ross

(from BBC Radio 2; The Piano Room 2019)

 

The Times They Are A-Changing - Tracy Chapman

(from Bob Dylan; The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration)

 

Farewell Angelina - Johnn Mellencamp

(from Rough Harvest)

 

Up To Me - Roger McGuinn

(from Cardiff Rose)

 

Abandoned Love - Willie Nile

(from Positively Bob)

 

Positively 4th Street - Milltown Brothers

(from It’s All Over Now, any Blue EP)

 

One More Cup Of Coffee Bridget Mae Power’s

(from Dylan… Revisited; Uncut June 2021)

 

Oh Sister - Roddy Hart & Gemma Hayes

(The Dylan EP)

 

When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky - The Jeff Healy Band

(from Road House)

 

Duquesne Whistle -  Benmont Tench

(from You Should be So Lucky)

 

Lay Down Your Weary Tune - Billy Bragg

(from Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan)

 

One Too Many Mornings - Stephen Fearing

(from Younger Than That Now; Songs Of Bob Dylan)

 

Forever Young - Soweto Gospel Choir

(from African Spirit)

A SUNDAY FULL OF STOCKMANS (If You're Not Careful!)

Against all your better wishes, this Sunday morning (May 30th 2021) could be a Sunday full of Stockman!

Your choices:

 

10am - Live worship in Fitzroy.

We have been gathering for a number of weeks now and though we are only a percentage of Fitzroy, scattered across the church, cannot sing loudly or have tea and coffee afterwards, there is certainly a live feel to the worship.

I am delighted to say that I have got more into the groove of repeating the sermon. The lectionary reading is John 3 and we will be seeing asking what Nicodemus made of Jesus chat about a very different God that was being worshipped in Jerusalem at that time.

This week Alison and Sarah McNeill will lead our worship.

 

10.15am BBC Radio Ulster Sunday Service

This radio service technically comes from Fitzroy. It was recorded in our Welcome Area. Though based on the same Lectionary Reading of John 3 it will have slightly different building blocks. I am helped in the service by readers Fr Cairán O Callaghan and Erin Humphrey. The music, as a result of the BBC response to current restrictions are not live but take from CDs. We will have Carrie Underwood, Brenton Brown, David Lyon, Rend Collective and Brian Houston unless they edit!

 

11am Fitzroy On Line

Our online service with a similar sermon to the other two and worship from last week's live service as well, as well as a lovely song by Erin Humphrey!

 

So, use these while and when you can. Obviously the radio and online services can be listened to and  watched at anytime. 

 

And if that is not enough, I will be on Pause For Thought with Vanessa Feltz on BBC Radio 2 at 5.45 am (and it IS live!) the first three Mondays of June. That'll be an early start to my day off! 

 

20 MORE BOB DYLAN COVERS FOR HIS 80th BIRTHDAY

the second list of 20...

 

Like A Rolling Stone - The Rolling Stones 

(from Stripped)

 

Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

(From Bob Dylan; The 30th Anniversary Concert)

 

I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight - The Waterboys

(from Fisherman’s Box; The Complete Fisherman’s Blues Sessions (1986-88)

 

Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright - Drew Holcombe and Neighbours

(from Through The Night; Live In The Studio)

 

Buckets Of Rain - Maria Maulder

(from Love Songs Of Bob Dylan)

 

Not Dark Yet - Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer

(from Not Dark Yet)

 

Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door - Low

(from Dylan… Revisited; Uncut July 2021)

 

All Along The Watchtower - U2

(from Rattle and Hum)

 

This Wheel’s On Fire - Rod Stewart

(from Rod Stewart Sessions Session 1971-1998)

 

I’ll Keep It With Mine - Denison Witmer

(from Subterranean Blues: A Tribute To Bob Dylan)

 

Dignity - Joe Cocker

(from Organic)

 

Ring Them Bells - Mary Black Feat Joan Baez

(from The Best Of Mary Black 1991-2001)

 

Saved - Third Day

(from Offerings: A Worship Album)

 

Solid Rock - Widespread Panic

(from Earth To America)

 

When He Returns - Kevin Max

(from The Imposter)

 

With God On Your Side - Buddy Miller

(from Universal United House Of Prayer)

 

Stuck Inside a Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again - Cat Power

(from I’m Not There soundtrack)

 

I Want You (live) - Old Crow Medicine Show 

(from 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde)

 

The Man In The Long Black Coat - Mark Lanegan 

(from I’m Not There Soundtrack)

 

I Threw It All Away - Aztec Camera

(from Working On a Goldmine CD single)

STOCKI'S BOB DYLAN COVERS FOR HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY

A HARD RAINS A-GONNA FALL - BRYAN FERRY

(from These Foolish Things)

 

My introduction to Dylan as a 12 year old. The lyrics and imagery grabbed my attention in a world of Slade and T.Rex.

 

BLOWING IN THE WIND - NEIL YOUNG

(from Weld)

 

An electrified, rocked up and very loud version of an acoustic protest song.

 

IT’S ALL OVER NOW BABY BLUE - THEM

(from Them Again)

 

A Belfast cover of the song whose title is an almost over used saying in our house (in an Indian accent - great story!).

 

GO AWAY LITTLE BOY - LONE JUSTICE

(from This World Is Not my Home)

 

Love this cow-punk cover when Maria McKee was in her prime. Bob gave Lone Justice this unrecorded song and they left it off their album and put it on the b-side. Very Maria!

 

CHANGING OF THE GUARD - PATTI SMITH

(from Twelve)

 

Great that this song gets a good over. Even better that it is Patti Smith. 

 

JUST LIKE A WOMAN - NINA SIMONE

(from Let It Be Me)

 

Simone put her own touch on everything and oh my she does it good on Just Like A Woman.

 

SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE - DIANA KRALL

(from Chimes Of Freedom; The Songs Of Bob Dylan)

 

Wee jazzy piano yearning version of this great song from a great album…

 

SHELTER FROM THE STORM - CASSANDRA WILSON -

(from Belly Of The Sun)

 

Staying Jazzy. Staying on Blood On The Tracks. Hushed.

 

 

POLITICAL WORLD - THE CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS

(from The Chimes Of Freedom; The Songs Of Bob Dylan)

 

Old time string version with Rhiannon Giddens awesome voice

 

LICENCE TO KILL - ELVIS COSTELLO

(from Chimes Of Freedom; The Songs Of Bob Dylan)

 

Elvis keeps it political with Costello like urgency.

 

EVERYTHING IS BROKEN - SHERYL CROW (feat JASON ISBELL)

(from Threads)

 

Sheryl collaborates with the wonderful Jason Isbell to rock the best out of this song of fallen humanity.

 

I BELIEVE IN YOU - SINEAD O’CONNOR

(from BOB DYLAN; THE 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION)

 

Originally on the first “Christian” record. Sinead adds that defiance that only she can.

 

GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY - POP STAPLES

(from Don’t Lose This)

 

So many choices with this one. Hard to beat Pops as he gospels up the big song from Slow Train Coming live.

 

PRESSING ON - GLEN HANSARD

(A Tribute to Bob Dylan In The 80s: Vol 1)

 

Glen seems to get the spiritual pilgrimage of this one.

 

I”VE MADE UP MY MIND TO GIVE MYSELF TO YOU - COWBOY JUNKIES

(from Dylan… Revisted - Uncut June 2021)

 

From the very latest Bob record, Cowboy Junkies who have covered a few do a stunning job.

 

EVERY GRAIN OF SAND - EMMYLOU HARRIS

(from Wrecking Ball)

 

Maybe my favourite Bob lyric. It is a hymn. It is good in Coronavirus times.

 

 

DEATH IS NOT THE END - NICK CAVE

(from Murder Ballads)

 

No man more perfect than Nick Cave to cover this one. 

 

THINGS HAVE CHANGED - CHRIS TAYLOR

(from Down a Dead End Street - Tribute To Bob Dylan)

 

From my favourite ever Dylan covers record. Chris’s voice always feels perfect for all Dylan’s imperfections.

 

BLIND WILLIE MCTELL - CHRISSIE HYNDE

(from Standing In The Doorway; Chrissie Sings Bob Dylan)

 

From Chrissie’s album of Bob’s songs, one that Bob didn’t include on an album that needs included. 

 

TRYING TO GET TO HEAVEN - LUCINDA WILLIAMS

(from Bob’s Back Pages: A Night Of Bob Dylan)

 

Lucinda’s drawl fits the Dylan phraseology perfectly… and isn’t this all our aims…

PERSONAL SURMISE ON SERGIO AGUERO

In the summer of 2011 we were holidaying in Spain. One evening we found ourselves in the little town square of Los Montesinos for an evening meal. The waiter was a young Englishman who had lived in Spain for some years. We got talking football, that universal language. I had read something on the internet that day about Manchester City buying some guy called Aguero. 

I asked the waiter who would have seen Aguero playing for Atletico Madrid what he thought of him. He was not at all happy. He was a United fan and thought that Aguero was going to be a hit. He waxed lyrical about him and I have to say that I went back to our house that night quite encouraged about this guy Aguero.

A decade later and Sergio Aguero is an all time footballing hero of mine, up there with Colin Bell, Johan Cruyff, George Best and more recently Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and David Silva.

I remember Aguero’s first game. He came off the bench with 30 minutes left and scored twice and added an assist. It seems fitting that in his last game, this weekend against Everton, that he also came off the bench with around the same half hour remaining and scored twice. That sent City fans back at the Etihad for the first time in a while, there to cheer a 5th Premier League Trophy presentation in Aguero’s ten years. An Aguero double. What a bonus. It was perfectly scripted and deeply emotional.

In a career bookended by those two substitute appearances Sergio Aguero scored more Premier League goals than any other player has ever done for one club. He was a goal machine.

For me his brilliance was his ability to score half chances and goals out of nothing. You felt that if the midfielders, wingers or overlapping full backs could get the ball anywhere near him in the penalty area that he could do magic things.

He had this awesome balance, could swivel and swing. He could conjure volleys from ridiculous angles, his pièce de résistance. In seven of his ten seasons he scored 28 goals or more. When you have a player who can create something from nothing or finish what is not even a half chance you can go far. City did.

Add to the ability the humility and sense of the collective and you have an even better player. Sergio never seemed selfish, always seemed loved by his team mates and even in a final season when he could have been complaining about not getting games he simply got on with and was ready when he was needed. Phil Foden speaks about how much he has learned from Aguero. Mentor too!

His last season hasn't been his best. In his early 30s Sergio seemed more prone to injuries but worse for him he seems to take longer to get back to fitness after an injury. This must have caused some doubt in Pep's mind about how much he could depend on Aguero at this stage.

The English game is the most demanding. He might have a couple of good years left in Spain. Barcelona! When Messi didn't join him at City last season I thought it might go the other way round. Let us hope we don't meet in the Champions League next spring!

Of course the reason he will always have legendary status at City is that moment that is perhaps the most iconic memory in the English game. City needing a goal with less than two minutes of injury time left in the last game of the season to over haul Manchester United already winners at Sunderland. Somehow Mario Balotelli lying on the ground touches the ball to Aguero on the edge of the box. Aguero takes it past a QPR defender, stays on his feet and smashes it into the back of the net. City have won their first title in 44 years.

The commentator’s AGUEROOOOOOOOOO is minted. As memorable as “They think it’s all over, it is now” in the 1966 World Cup Final. When you hear the word you see Aguero running away, shirt off, swinging it like a windmill, before the entire team fall on top of him.

I’ll never forget where I was. I had left disconsolate, disbelieving depressed as City trailed 2-1 with a minute left of normal time. That most iconic moment in my team’s history and I was in my back garden sulking.

BUT… I have watched that goal more times than any other and every time I do I burst into tears. Every single time.

Yet that was only one goal. There have been 260 other goals in all competitions - volleys, thunderbolts, headers, tap ins. Everyone a moment of joy for supporters bereft of joy for almost 40 years before he arrived. 

I am sure as he has been a blessing to us, he has been a curse to the red side of Manchester. I wonder about my waiter in Spain. He knew his football. He knew the quality of this this 23 year old Argentinian who was heading to City. The rest is history. 

Thank you so much Sergio Aguero for writing that history with your genius. We love you. We will miss you. May you keep on scoring as long as it is not against us!

DISCIPLESHIP - LIKE GOLF RULES

My body shuddered. My mouth was agape. My eyes like saucers. I was shocked.

I was watching the golf on TV. It is the USPGA this weekend, from Kiawah Island in South Carolina. For some reason there is a local rule that allows players to ground their club in sand. 

Since I started playing golf as a six year old it has been drummed into me by my father that you cannot touch the sand in the bunker. That means you cannot ground your sand wedge behind the ball. You cannot touch the sand in any way. In fact there is a mythical old tricks of dropping 50p in the bunker. When your opponent picked it up you could claim penalty shots against them!

So, I am watching the now second Major of the year and this guy takes two practice swings in the bunker, lifting sand with each swing. It was like my inbuilt mother board exploded, not able to compute what I was watching. It was like my body gave a little jump.

Apparently it is unique to the Kiawah Island course. Some sandy areas are not defined as bunkers, therefore not hazards, therefore you can build sand castles if you like!

It took me by surprised, how shaken I was. I almost didn’t breathe until the commentator explained.

So, I thought, what would be more crucial things for me to shudder at? My life had obviously been so wired to the rules of golf, even though I haven’t played it for some twenty years, to set off alarm bells when someone did something outside those rules. The ways of golf were so deeply ingrained. 

Christian Discipleship is about a way of life being deeply ingrained. My mind scanned the pages of the Scriptures and settled at Colossians 3:16. “Let the word of God dwell in you richly…” Like those rules of golf indwelling, long after I needed them, the reaction I had needs to be replicated in my spiritual life.

When I see in the world, or maybe more crucially in myself injustice, racism, sectarianism, greed, selfishness, abuse of power, arrogance… my body needs that shudder, that mouth wide open, those eyes wide open. 

May it be so. 

PENTECOST SUNDAY 2021 IN FITZROY

Pentecost Sunday in Fitzroy! It will all be about TWO songs and TWO truths about The Holy Spirit. 

Pentecost UPROOTS and ROUNDS us. These are not contradictions. Last year we looked at Pentecost as a bonfire in a hurricane. It is a powerful force that sends Jesus followers  into the world to do things they couldn't have imagined weeks before. It UPROOTS their ways of life to live an entirely different way.

The Lectionary readings this week though are from John 15 and 16. John records Jesus talking a lot about The Holy Spirit in the Farewell Discourses. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit a Paraclete - a helper, comforter, teacher, counsellor. This is the Holy Spirit GROUNDS us, being with us to lean on when we're not strong.

The online service (going live at 11am) will feature the two songs and a prayer for the Middle East.

The live service in Fitzroy will add some communal songs, sung behind masks, but sung!