Jacqui
and John in their kitchen in Banff. Christmas 2000
|
The bulk
of this album was written and recorded in six months following the diagnosis
of John's wife Jacqui Allen's secondary breast cancer, in order to celebrate
her and their life together, to reflect the pleasure of living on the
Moray Firth and to express the emotional range of reactions to the diagnosis
and to the horrors of chemotherapy (attempting catharsis).
Recording
at home on his PC, John sang and played electric and acoustic guitars,
harmonica and saz. Jacqui sang some backing vocals and provided creative
criticism. All other instruments were virtual and were supplied by EJAY.
Stormy weather in Banff Bay. Photo by Jacqui Allen 2005
I Don't
Feel Like Walking is the rough underwater blues of the album title.
Structured around the traditional form, and utilizing the familiar symbol
of The Pale Rider, the song is about bereavement.
|
| From The Dolphin
Coast: |
Is a
paean to the Moray Firth, in which the largest bottle-nosed dolphins in
the world cavort. The dolphins invariably lifted John and Jacqui's spirits
as they watched them leap in Banff Bay, overlooked by the Mackie/Allen house. |
| Inbreeding
Blues: |
Is superficially
a jokey piece about small, closed, fishing communities, but the joke is
interrupted by two lines by James Joyce - "cancer is a disease of animals,
canker a disease of plants" and "you poor priest- ridden girl". |
| Pass on By: |
Is John anticipating
the bleakness of life without Jacqui, and seeking to steel himself against
that eventuality by using the objectification techniques to be found in
W.B Yeats' "Horseman Pass By". |
| And It's Rising: |
Is a song
about waiting for the dawn after a troubled night, during which alcohol,
alone, had the power to calm the raging heart. |
| One More Smile: |
Is a (fairly
desperate) song aimed at ameliorating anger at the arbitrary progressive
disease running riot in Jacqui's small frame. |
| Sunnyside
Bay: |
Is about friends
in Banff, refugees from The Former Republic Of Yugoslavia, who were, and
are still, towers of strength in the fight to stay alive. |
| Fine Lines
Begin: |
Is a love
song, built around some of the verses of a poem John originally wrote in
1968 called Super Girl Kali et Les Fleurs Des Pensees. |
| A Samba For
Good-byes: |
Is a samba
built around some of the verses of a poem that John originally wrote in
1967 called Jason's Ennui. |
| Make My Peace
With You: |
Is a love
and reconciliation song. |
| When Jimmy
Played It Blue: |
Is about listening
to Jimmy Smith whilst reading Thom Gunn. |
| Licks For
Jacqui: |
Is a guitar
piece, based on the riffs and licks that John played often to soothe her. |
| For Carlos: |
Is a guitar
piece, saying thank you to Carlos Santana for all that uplift. |