Everybody Needs a Little Hobby

Unreliable Recollections from Jimmy McKenna (subject to amendment as better facts come to light)

The cover photo was taken by Terry Craven

God’s Gift to Rock n Roll – I recall reading about a young boy in Newcastle who was a guitar prodigy and this inspired the chorus. The rest of the song is in the same mould as ‘What’s in a Name’. Lead guitar is performed by Thomas Fisk. Recorded by Tony Waite at his studio.

Alibi – This features Tony Waite on bass, Mick Yare on guitar and Nicky Buck on drums. It is not autobiographical! Recorded on 16 tracks at Durham Street Studios (DSS).

Memories and Things – a very early song from 1973. DisGuise performed this live in 1977 which was probably a huge error!. This version has Tony Waite on bass, Andy Power on guitar and a mystery brother and sister on piano and acoustic guitar. Recorded on 16 tracks at DSS.

BusConductress – The mad bus home from school which all bus drivers and conductors must have dreaded. Hordes of unruly kids, and I was one of them. This song of course is pure fantasy. Written in 1975. Recorded on 8 tracks at DSS.

Babe I’ve Got the Time – An attempt at being a bit dance orientated! This is actual the third attempt at this song and was recorded with the aid of Tony Waite on mixing desk and sound effects, and Paul Lynagh on drums. Recorded on 16 tracks at DSS.

Why Do You Love Me – written with my friend Carole Waller (from her poem) and starring that Geoff Grange on harmonica.

Faith – a basic blue based tune with basic lyrics.

Favourite Lover – It must have been around 1993 I went to a see a friend’s group play a local social club. Their first set comprised rock songs which the men in the audience paid attention while their wives err got a bit bored. In the second half they opened with the Tina Turner hit ‘Simply the Best’ and everyone in the room was on the dancefloor. I recall thinking about the story in this song, about very mature people err getting it on, and how it obviously resonated with a lot of mature people. When I returned home I picked up my guitar and came up my own take on the same theme.

Everhard the Wanderer – A lad from the collieries at my School had a reputation with the girls. The line ‘five minute sessions behind the pit baths wall’ is part of his legend, which impressed the rest of us 17 year-olds at the time. The basic song was written c1974.

Caught You Dancing – this is the Eurovision version! It was inspired when watching a Top of Pops episode c 1980 when the group Motorhead were seen larking a round with Irish all girl group The Dooleys. Recorded by Mark Hand.

Ring a Ding Dong – The daftest things that can inspire a song! Inspired from an obscene phrase by a friend! My brother Peter is on keyboards, Andy Craggs honked his Sax, Sister Sprintall ascended into a heavenly choir and Peter Gowland threw his drums down the stairs.

Aristotle – this was an instant composition musically and the lyrics followed soon after. Andy Wain performed keyboards and Chris Smith on drums

Gothic Comic – an instrumental from c1975, rocked up a bit – with Alan Scully on drums.

Babe I’ve Got the Time – 2^nd version – recorded at 8 Track

Caught You Dancing – original 4 track version

Babe I’ve Got the Time – original 4 track version – recorded with Peter Scott