The great compression ep – Andy Reed

It was a helluva scamp, more dumb luck than coincidence and perhaps, just an unusual twist and turn of circumstances – still…it was a thrill of a lifetime. It started with Laura, this psychologist friend of mine, seems she’s a big Beatles fan, collected all the records, cds, videos and the odds and sods that accompany that type of passion. Her goal was to meet the Beatles, at least one Beatle before she died. It was a few years back when she told me her cousin, Noogie Wicker, is a musician and that his group Jackie-O-Sister Lovers was playing the Cavern Club in Liverpool. It was a benefit for something, can’t remember offhand, I suppose it doesn’t matter. But what does matter, at least for this review was that Paul McCartney turned up at the benefit and shared the stage with the Sister Lovers. They got along smashingly and agreed to collaborate again someday when they were back in the states. Well, as luck would have it, Sir Paul traveled back to Arizona in late November fresh from the debut of his latest classical offering, Ecce Cor Meum, at the Royal Albert Hall. Though the music raised a few eyebrows and seemed to register just above tepid on the response meter, Sir Paul was undaunted, even enthusiastic…and ready to take on the world. So Paul rang up Noogie who called Laura who told me and I contacted my buddy Andy Reed. This was it…finally - a chance to meet a Beatle! But to everyone’s disappointment Paul had to cancel our meeting, something about a court solicitor. So, Paul apologized and gave Noogie the exact location of a portal to the afterlife so we could interview a “Dead Beatle” - yep, John Lennon. George declined citing ill health and a preference for a disembodied state. Yoko Ono first discovered this portal back in ‘85 but kept it secret for all these years, only her closet confidantes, spiritual advisors, and investment bankers knew about it. According to Noogie, the astrological aspects had to be aligned with the algorithm of the earth’s rotation in order for the portal to open. Noogie calculated that perfect alignment would occur at 7pm on December 7th in the front yard of Andy Reed’s home. Andy and I were beside ourselves, my god, this is a dream come true to meet a dead Beatle...it had to rank just a notch above meeting dead Elvis! What a thrill!!! Finally the day arrived, I got to Andy’s around 6pm, Laura and her husband arrived a few minutes later and at 7pm. Noogie knocked Andy’s front door with John standing beside him. After the obligatory introductions – “Hallo, I’m John and I’m as dead as a doorknob - nudge, nudge, wink, wink” - an awkward silence filled the room. It was excruciating, I could hear myself swallowing as I attempted to say something clever. But nothing came out except a strangled wheeze and a whistle of hot air. I was paralyzed. Finally John spoke…to Andy,
“Heaaaad yau hauv eh neeuw recaaahden.”
Andy nodded, “Ahem, yes it’s called the great compression, it’s just 5 songs, would you like to listen to it?
Shor ‘enuuff, laddie buck, sooo wha doos grrreat cumpression mean”?
And that’s how it started…

"Hmm. wha’s the neame of the fuurst one, cum again…The Day The World Was Lost?...hmmm - like that harmooonika, sounds like Baaakcly James Harvooost… or a bit like George unn Ohnlee A Noothen Sung”. And then Lennon leads us in singing’ the chorus,
When I leave you, don’t forget my name
Don’t wear it out
Cos you’re the reason I got beat in this game
So don’t ever change

"luv them wuurds, reminds me ovv Yoko…

at that point Lennon looks a wistful, even sad, “We was jus’ wuurkin’ it all owt when it happened…damn her fir takin’ up with Elliot, I wuz barely cold und pushin’ up the daisies when Yoko stahhted shaggin’that bahhhstid …and he sez he’s a frriend ovv mine - and I donna cah what Yoko sez about May and me …it was hehr idea in the fuurst plez, it donna givv her the right to shag evvvryone like some tweedy coont affftah I’m gonn.”

What about your relationship with Paul?"

Hmmm, Macca....he ain't dunn noothing since Yuusterday. Now he's juust Anoother Day

Oh...I see - sounds kinda familiar

Well, it shoood ya twit, it's one of me song lyeerics. Doncha remummmbah How doo Ye sleep at nacht?...baaasturd, he's always hadd hees head uup hees boooshwah arse.

We all sat silently, stunned at Lennon’s brutal honesty and wondering why a spirit would be so attached to such earthly matters and be so angry. We didn’t know quite what to say so we listened to the next track…

June
At the first piano trill, Lennon perked up, “sooonds like ah Carol King riff…hmm, (he sings)“It’s too Laayt… luv her! And I dig yer vocal sounds like the Rup chards or the Beeech Bouys, he sings, “Let the Love shine”… I cahn feel Che sugah plooomb fahary oon tha wun. Yer gitar solo is smaaashing…full booodied is that a Fendah strut?

”Andy, tha next toon – Suuuft Taagit - sounds like a few old chums oov mine…Peter and Gordon – right outta World Without Love. Paul worked out tha woon oout. I luv the aloneness in yer wuurds”

”No, No, No…hmmm, that minar chorrd is quite the menacing lil buggah, innit? Yer lyeerics are jus what I’m going thruuu….canna get outta the paaast, and soma tha time I feel so sick and boooring like a spiv or some daft wanker. All them earthly questions have lingahhed evah since… "

"What’s that last one…Smile Looook and Listen? Ahhndeee…yer cool synthesize rriff sooonds like that chap Roondgren or the Cars…I keep up on all the latest ya know, up to 1980 anyway. The middle eight sounds like suuumthin I woood write….nice. I can hare the message…"left feelin’ so dirty but endin’ up so clean” - sooonds like me.

"Andy, we was the hip ones in the sixties. But it’s nahtt like that anymooore. I luv yer music, you can doo anything…the unknooown is what-it-is, donna be frightened by it all, thaats why people are scurrying about chasin dreams, illusions. Bollocks to 'em...the dream is over....it's yer turn”

With that Lennon walked out the front door and disappeared into the whiff of a cloud. We looked at each other silently but knowing…
Andy Reed is the toppermost of the poppermost

Give Peace a Chance
Bo White
1/8/07