A Genesis revelation

Retro Record Review: Genesis Classic: Live in Poznan by Ray Wilson and the Berlin Symphony Ensemble (2011)

 

 

My musical tastes are increasingly starting to favour artists many of my friends and contemporaries have never heard of, and today's subject is a particularly esoteric album that I would be surprised if any readers are even aware of, yet alone have ever actually heard. In my previous piece in defence of Ray Wilson, I made mention of his Genesis Classic shows with the Berlin Symphony Ensemble. Having seen various YouTube clips of these performances, I recently discovered that an official recording is available and have now purchased it.

Ray Wilson may not be a household name like his Genesis predecessors and hasn't appeared in the UK charts for many years, but he still has a cult following (which is especially strong in his adopted home country of Poland) and has been far from idle since leaving the band almost two decades ago. Alongside a solo career and a revival of Stiltskin, his other recent project has been the Genesis Classic, an innovative fusion of Genesis hits with classical instruments, and after years of listening to the band's own live and studio versions this album is a refreshingly different take and really is a revelation.

Stondon a year on

It has now been over a year since the Stondon Motor Museum closed its doors for the last time and the fuss has started to die down, so this seems an appropriate time to look at what became of the former exhibits following the much-anticipated disposal auction. Many have not yet reappeared and are hopefully undergoing restoration, but others were rapidly listed on eBay in the hope of a quick profit, and those that were not included in that auction have recently started to come to light. It is surprising how many were purchased by dealers rather than private buyers, considering the high prices that left little room for profit, but the classic car market seems to be on a high at the moment and the Stondon collection no doubt benefitted from this euphoria.

A yellow Reliant without Trotters signwriting! It didn't take long for the inevitable to happen.

The puzzle of the London premium

Why is London so expensive?  

 

London is the place many of my graduate friends inevitably seem to be gravitating to in search of work, and many are now settled there and employed in well-paid jobs. That's perfectly understandable as the city offers the best job prospects in the country, but as one of those 'simple country folk' there is one thing about London I have never been able to get my head around. Why is the cost of living so much higher there and why does everyone accept this? I genuinely do not understand this state of affairs, and whichever logical angle I approach the question from, I always reach the conclusion that London circumstances should mean the cost of living is cheaper there. Allow me to explain...

Tipping point

Today's post explains my views on something else that seems to have become an accepted fact of modern life, yet really shouldn't be so: the insidious practice of tipping staff in the catering and hospitality industry. When dining out, it is expected nowadays that you should pay a tip to the waiter or waitress who served you, and this is often added on to the bill automatically and in some cases is a compulsory charge, but why should that really be so and why should the service charge be an extra on top of the cost of the meal itself? Why is the hospitality industry so different from others in expecting tips from its customers for doing its job, and making its staff rely on these tips to supplement their wages?