High Five For…

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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED W/ JACK HAYTER

* Providing the A's to the 5 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Q's today is Jack Hayter, the writer of many a hauntingly olde English folk tune, who has a new album coming out in March on Gare Du Nord Records that you should go check out (as well as the accompanying album backstory).

#1 - WHAT IS THE ONE ALBUM (OR EP OR SONG) THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE VERY NEXT MUSICAL THING THAT EVERYONE PRESSES PLAY ON THE NEXT TIME THEY FIND THEMSELVES THINKING “WHAT SHOULD I LISTEN TO NOW”?

I couldn’t possibly answer that sensibly, but when I get stuck, or fed up, or realise that I’m acting like an arse I put this on.

I don’t remember how I originally came by it, I’ve never bothered to look up anything else by Bobby Conn in case I’m disappointed (maybe you could advise me there), but this always cheers me up. I do hope this is the child friendly version.

#2 - WHAT IS THE ONE MOVIE OR TV SHOW THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE NEXT IN EVERYBODY’S NETFLIX QUEUE (OK, DOESN’T HAVE TO BE NETFLIX, WE’RE ALL INTERNET ADULTS HERE AND KNOW HOW TO FIND ANYTHING ONLINE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER)?

Black Panther which is out in cinemas very shortly here...and no doubt will
be available in the darker reaches a few days after that. I’m excited about it.

It looks a lot of fun...and I know the kids I teach in Southeast London are drooling at the faint whiff of Vibranium in the air. So I’m looking forward to a classic superhero movie that sparks discussion. I hope I’m not disappointed. It’s been an unexpectedly good couple of years for thoughtfully put together American blockbusters eg The Lego Movie.

3. I (AND BY “I” I MEAN “THE PERSON THAT IS READING THIS”) AM GOING TO THE BOOK STORE (OK, PROBABLY AMAZON) TO FIND THE VERY NEXT BOOK THAT I WILL BE PUTTING SOME EXTREMELY VALUABLE ‘ME-TIME' ASIDE FOR. WHICH BOOK WOULD YOU GET, IF YOU WERE ME (AND, I SUPPOSE, YOU HADN’T ALREADY READ WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO SUGGEST)?

I’ve just re-read a little book called “My Elvis Blackout” by Simon Crump.

Everybody who has ever heard of Elvis should have a copy. Everybody who has ever thought about the corruption that rocknroll can bring to the psyche should read it, and everyone who has ever felt a bit glum on hearing Chris De Burgh’s awful “Lady In Red” should too...because he gets executed on the orders of The King (sadly there is a biblical resurrection).

There... I’ve sold it to you already.

#4 - WHAT IS THE ONE WEBSITE (OR JUST ANY OLD INTERNET THING: APP, GIF, SERVICE, WHATEVER) THAT YOU WOULD GET REALLY DOWN IN THE DUMPS ABOUT IF IT WERE TO SUDDENLY GO AWAY?

I was going to say Google Calendar which has changed my life from a random set of happenings into something vaguely planned, but being more honest, the online Guardian cryptic crossword is something I try to complete every day, and something I would really miss.

#5 - AND FINALLY… PLEASE GIVE ONE COMPLETELY UNAIDED RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD START DOING / USING / WATCHING / EATING / THINKING / QUITING / ETC-ING TO MAKE THEIR LIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE BETTER AND/OR BEARABLE.

Talk to strangers...or at least eschew the bubble a bit more than you feel comfortable with.If you don’t then you may make yourself blind or ill.


OK folks, there you have it. Things that Jack Hayter thinks you should consider incorporating into your day/life. Before you log off to go find a stranger to talk to, go follow Jack on the Twitter & Facebook and then head over to his Bandcamp page and let him put you under an Abbey Wood spell.