Teenage Angst

Very unreliable recollections from Jimmy McKenna (not surprising after all this time – subject to amendment as better facts come to light!)

The album image is from the sole performances by Iron Cross at a Boys and Girls Brigade party early 1972 l-r Neil Griffin on bass guitar, myself on vocals and tambourine, Peter Hall on DIY drum kit (note wire coat hangers) and Steve Featherstone on guitar and satin jacket.

These song ideas originated in the 1972-75 period. By this time we had a piano at home on which I spent hours doodling and making up quasi classical tunes, not even understanding what keys I was playing in, with chord sequences and melodies the like of which I have not created since, but somehow they do work (to my ears). Neil and I, as pretentious 17 year olds briefly became Hansard, before our musical interests diverged.

At any given time I have several (err a lot) of songs in various stages of undress, unfinished recordings and ideas I’ve yet to begin recording. I now choose not to come up with new ideas as I only have a limited time to do anything with them. As such in 2024 I realised that amongst these were some that had originally been conceived in the 1972-75 period, and shared a common approach and naivety.

Biddley Bawm Bawm – One of my first piano tunes begun with the placement of three fingers in a nice pattern on to the keyboard. Neil Griffin and I did a rough version round friend Kevin Fletcher’s house in 1974 and I did another version with Peter Scott during the 1981 Two Tape Recorder sessions. This version was begun with Jason Bell on drums in 2002. At various times I have tried to come up with a suitably grandiose title for this but Neil’s original descriptive one sort of stuck.

Mr Bigshot – As we wrestled with learning how to play our instruments Neil, Steve and I devised a list of what important subject matter songs should be about. This then is the anti-war song from 1973. This recording was begun in 2007 with Gavin and Jason Bell providing the bass and drums.

I Wish I Knew – This is mostly Neil’s song, in singer songwriter mode written in 1973. This version was begun in 2007 with Alan Scully on drums.

Is This the Way? – A bit of a rant, on a Godly theme from around 1975. I think I had just been watching The Ten Commandments film. Recorded at home in 2024.

People Talking – Continuing with our list of important subject matter this was the End of the World/Nuclear War song from 1972. At that time one of the groups we enjoyed were agit rockers The Edgar Broughton Band. I finally recorded it in in 2007 with Jason Bell on drums and only afterwards did I realise that I had inadvertent incorporated not only the Broughton spirit but an actual riff (from the 1969 EGB song ‘Death of an Electric Citizen’) into it. Full of contrition I managed to contact Edgar to explain (and to offer an appropriate share of the imminent multi-million royalties). He replied that he was cool with it, complimented the song, the use of the riff, and said it was nice that his music was part of someone else’s story.

Alison – I came up with this whilst in 6^th Form and my muse may even have heard it as I tried it out on the Grand Piano in the School Hall (prior to being told to stop making a row by various Teachers). This version was recorded with Alan Scully in 2004.

When I See You – On to 1975 and I came up with this as a slow dirge although I always liked the tune. When finally recording it at home in 2024 I gave it a reggae type lilt and suddenly it sprang to life.

Memories and Things – I came up with this in 1973 and it remains a song I am rather proud of. DisGuise performed it live in 1977 during the height of punk which was probably a huge error! This version was recorded at Durham Street Studios c1991 and has Nicky Buck on drums, Tony Waite on bass, Andy Power on guitar and a mystery brother and sister on piano and acoustic guitar.

Mr. Lanza – The magnificently passionate voice of Mario Lanza was a constant during my childhood. When I came up with this in 1973 it made me think that it was the type of thing he might have sung. I never did put lyrics to it so it became an instrumental. Recorded at home in 2024.

It’s Too Late – The original 1972 rock riff which wrote this song has given way in this 2006 version to a quite groovy workout, starring Gavin Bell on bass, Jason Bell on drums, Danny Allan on piano, with That Art Fixter barging in on lead guitar for the outro.

Rushing About Amazed – probably my first song addressing, obliquely, a growing frustration and angst at not achieving success, whilst not having a clue about how to achieve any (I still don’t). I will have been 19 years old at this time and already rather ageist! Finally recorded at home in 2024.

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. Dion and the Belmonts 1961 single The Wanderer is an all-time favourite of mine and so in 1973 the theme was updated, with the recording finally being made in 2009 with Alan Scully on drums.

Stand In – My ten minute epic of unrequited love was begun in 1973, actually most of my early songs were on the same theme, only about different girls (and none of them actually knew/know). This one is also heavily indebted to my musical love for Van der Graaf Generator and The Who. I came up with the various tunes and Neil began the lyrics (and came up with the bluntly apt title). Neil and I performed this at our only gig as Hansard at Tom Marines 18^th Birthday party May 1974 (he was actually just 17 at the time). This version was recorded in 2004 with Alan Scully playing demented drums.

Rolling Along – the sole Iron Cross song, from a jam in 1971 with an undetermined chord structure. Each Saturday evening when Steve’s Dad, big sister and brother went out for the evening Neil and I would bring our guitars round plus our contribution to that night’s feast, after raiding our own larders. Steve had acquired a tape recorder and we set it away to record whatever happened (the Mucky About tape is sadly long lost). This version was begun in 2009 with Alan Scully providing the drums.

Finale – some of my favourite music has been described as being pretentious, though I prefer the terms adventurous or ambitious, which is my defence anyway. I came up with this in 1975 and in 2007 Gavin and Jason Bell finally provided the bass and drums that bring it to life.