Well, although I wasn’t as confident as our analyst and bookie, I still didn’t expect it to be quite that close! Perhaps the real winners are a band who can write songs that good, thirty years apart…
5 November 2023
Audrey S. Euphemisms
AOR pushed OOD all the way, but I think on balance that it was the right result. A battle of the Titans ending with a worthy winner.
Thanks for the quoting me on the results page Chris. I really was in a quandary over that vote, but it it seems I backed a winner for once (Charlton Athletic and Republic of Ireland fan here – not used to being on the winning side of anything…).
5 November 2023
Paul W
Indeed, what a tribute to the span of greatness. Hopefully there’ll be more new song soon to make that span even longer before the next Cup.
5 November 2023
two fat feet
Well I thought it would be close, but not THAT close. But it does mean that for the third successive tournament, AOR is the song that ran the eventual winner closest.
Final tournament ratings (see previous post-tournaments for explanation) :
Well, it’s a narrow victory, but it’s a victory for the horse I backed.
I can’t imagine anyone really being too upset by this result. Both incredible songs, and while it’s a damn shame that they can’t both win, one had to come out on top. And while I personally think the song I prefer won out in the end, it’s hard to deny the other contender had one hell of a staying power behind it. I love Oblong Of Dreams and The Voltarol Years all around, so I’m pretty happy with this
A great little competition all round!
6 November 2023
Sid
Also, can we have a brief moment of commemoration for the poor songs not released in an album, which I feel really drew the short end of the stick here. The power of the electric drill as a musical instrument cannot be ignored.
6 November 2023
dr DEsperate
Good game, good game.
6 November 2023
Abbers
Can we do it again please?
6 November 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Yes, in 2027! (Please note that rights may have been bought by a middle-eastern oil state by then!)
6 November 2023
Chris The Siteowner
@TFF: Gotta say, the first 11 in your rankings would be just about exactly the First XI songs I think best represent the band – a Greatest Hits album of sorts. Oblong, AOR, Light, Chatteris, JDOG, NSD, Bell Rings, Trad Arr, Bob Wilson, Trumpton and DPAK. I’d be happy to have that lot fighting in the trenches for me. They’re also 11 of the top 12 in the Baguette Dilemma Round, the other being 24HGP, which I’d happily have on the bench.
6 November 2023
PAUL F
Thanks again Chris for this quadrennial distraction from the less entertaining matters of dispute that make up everyday life.
Meanwhile – does anybody have a suitable sporting analogy for AOR’s ability to run multiple winners close without ever landing the big one? Jimmy White perhaps?
6 November 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Mayo? Colin Montgomerie? Holland?
6 November 2023
The harbinger of nothing
The JDOG 2027 campaign starts here.
Thanks for organising it all, Chris. It was fun, and I’m glad the new song beat the old one. There was more intrigue in the pool games though, I thought.
6 November 2023
The harbinger of nothing
P.S. To any 6 Music DJs who may have been following along… Can we have a celebratory playing of the winner please?
6 November 2023
dr DEsperate
The Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings have both reached 4 Superb Owls without winning one.
6 November 2023
GORDON BURNS
Hats off to the web (and other IT) skills in organising all this again CtSO. Very smooth. And much fun.
On a personal note, I’ve added another important voting loss to my perfect life-long tally (student union elections don’t count).
6 November 2023
BAD LOSER
Thanks for doing this again Chris: I’ve not found any pics of the trophy presentation though.
Oblong is right winner, as I’ve come to accept that Terminus is destined never to perform as it should on the big occasion.
How many bands out there have their best song on their 15th album? My top 10 features songs from 1987, 1991, 1999, 2002, 2005(2), 2014, 2018 (2) and 2022 which is a pointer as to why they have retained and grown their fanbase.
Here’s to 2027 where, hopefully, there’ll be another 10 or 11 names in the hat.
6 November 2023
Cream cheese and chives
Ted Croker, Adam Crozier, David Davies, Mark Palios, Bert Millichip and Alan Hardaker. Gianni Infantino, Sepp Blatter, Joao Havelange, Stanley Rous and Jules Rimet. And then there is CtSO. We salute you-possibly from the town hall balcony. Thank you. What a tournament! Faultlessly administered and played in the best possible spirit, it has been a treat to follow through the dank days of Autumn. The fans are the real winners as I’m sure I’m not the only one who rediscovered some songs I play less often than others. As the dust settles, we can all count our blessings that we know of this wonderful band who – fingers crossed – will continue to produce new material to accompany us on our own journeys to the front of the bus. It was the final I wanted but also dreaded but feel confident that OOD will not be celebrating in some ghastly Jack Grealish type way but rather will probably give EAOR a few days to get over the disappointment and then ring it up suggesting they go for a pint . I have no doubt that in the post final media crush, EAOR would have been the first to congratulate the victor. The butcher’s window may be dressed with daffodils and celandine but he still keeps a tennis racket under the counter.
6 November 2023
MULDOON LIVES!
I demand a replay, oh I chose OOD. Top job CTSO.
6 November 2023
Chris The Siteowner
@BL: You haven’t seen any pics of the trophy presentation because I took them on my 110 Instamatic and hadn’t been down to Boots to collect them. But wait! The first one is here. Interesting that DALL•E is insistent that ‘oblong’ means some sort of blob shape, so I had to describe it as “cuboid of dreams”.
6 November 2023
Transit full of keith
What can you say? At the end of the day, a tournament was held, a winner was chosen. AOR left everything on the pitch there. Over the moon for the Oblong lads.
I voted for the bridesmaid again, but OOD is an amazing song and worthy winner.
Thank you for putting this together Chris. Like crosswords in newspapers, and games such as Wordle, I suspect that the Lux Familiar has eaten up hundreds of people hours in a fabulously pointless way
6 November 2023
The harbinger of nothing
Cuboid? That’s taking it to another dimension. It fits better than Rectangle of Dreams though.
The second image is more like Cuboid of Nightmares.
6 November 2023
CHRIS FROM FUTUREDOOM
Dangerously close to the cursed ratio as well.
6 November 2023
Geoff Greensmith
Thank you CTSO for putting this excellent tournament together. Well done. Whilst explaining the dilemma of who to vote for in earlier rounds to my wife, she remarked “I’ve been to see HMHB with you more times than I’ve seen bands that I actually like”. The irony of that quote exacerbated by the fact her favourite HMHB song is Bad Review.
6 November 2023
Darzzr
Glad that OOD came out on top, albeit by a slim margin there!
Maybe we can keep pushing it into a four-dimensional Tesseract of Alternative Consciousness.
6 November 2023
Poobleby
Happy with that. OOD is one of their best and, while not my absolute favourite, is well up there, slightly behind Terminus (the PSG of LFC).
Copious thanks to CtSO for a richly entertaining and brilliantly run competition. Honorable shout out to Dr D; superb owls. Never heard that before; made me laugh out loud.
6 November 2023
Johnny kwango
The open top bus parade (#22 above) is a very disturbing image. Especially worrying is the person in the yellow tee-shirt who has a bagel for a head: Half Man Half Bagel.
Just needed 7 folk to vote the other way and EAOR would have won by a nose (pressed against catgut).
Maybe next time.
6 November 2023
Jetwash the viceroy
A decent winner, though I’m still disappointed that neither Terminus nor Slipping the Escort got far. Maybe it’s just me who likes the morbid ones? Anyway, thanks to CtSO for putting all the spadework in.
6 November 2023
Mate of the bloke
A good competition, played in a spirit of fair play. I would’ve been down to William Hill to put some money on the winner, but I didn’t want to have suffer the fools waiting for them to weigh-in at Newton Abbot.
6 November 2023
JasON
Has this been checked and ratified by VAR ? Let’s not get managers and heads of state all worked up and lashing out obscenities at the after match interview.
6 November 2023
Lux inferior
Everything’s VAR.
6 November 2023
Kemtrail brian
Really happy this has won. I want this played at my funeral………. But not just yet.
6 November 2023
JD O’GLOVES
Thanks for running the dilemma once more Chris. Congrats to OOD, a great final and worthy winner for such a newbie track however I thought there was more intrigue in the pool games, obviously.
6 November 2023
Low drone
Very happy with the winner, what a great song. My funeral songs are Oblong as the intro and Chatteris as the outro. My wife was not happy declaring it would happen over her dead body, ‘no, over mine actually’ was my quipped response, I then suggested Moody Chops as an alternative. Small risk of going back to Betamax over that one!
6 November 2023
Quantocks checker outer
@CtSO. Comment #10. Firstly thanks for the superb organisation of the whole thing. Secondly – a Greatest Hits album! The big cheeses at HMHB Towers should get onto it pronto what with the Christmas market to be tapped and all that. Maybe a *special* bonus track? The band are going to need that Eno Collaboration like never before.
6 November 2023
Transit full of keith
‘Multitude’ for a funeral, I reckon. I don’t think I’d select ‘Boxoctosis’ by the Fall, but it’s an entertaining thought.
6 November 2023
EXXO
@Mate of the Bloke
The lyric is very much ‘of its time,’ as for a number of years now Hills, like most firms, pay out on first past the post.
Most punters in Hills will by definition be fools, but don’t forget it was the winners who used to have to wait for the weigh-in.
6 November 2023
Free parker pen
I voted for the winner so obviously I’m pleased although the other finalist is the song I’d always vote for until Oblong came along. I was wondering how the votes broke down on a regional basis. Was Oblong the favourite of those of us like myself who are familiar with the places mentioned?
6 November 2023
No chi(m)ps allowed
So EAOR falls short again, beaten by a short head. Congratulations to Oblong, a deserved winner. 👏 Great fun and great work @CtSO. At a loose end now? Why not try underwater hockey, administered by the British Octopush Association. I kid you not
7 November 2023
Bad loser
@QCO. That would be quite a cynical thing to do.
However, a DVD to replace my long unplayable 1986 live VHS would be more than welcome. No idea how many you have to sell to make this viable though.
7 November 2023
Lord leominster
@Free Parker Pen
Recognising my own bias towards Little In The Way Of Sunshine, I too wonder about a regional bias for OOD. For me, it’s not even the best song on TVY.
7 November 2023
Audrey S. Euphemisms
@Free Parker Pen (40)
Possibly so, but my own personal experience as a man that grew up in South East London (not far from the Deptford Abyss – or Crypt as it was in real life), and now lives in the South East of Ireland, is that I’ve never been to the Wirral.
In fact have only been to Merseyside twice in 55 years (once to a wedding in Gateacre, and once to see Charlton lose at Goodison Park). So, for me the universal aspects of the song certainly outweigh the regional ones.
However, since I first heard the song I have developed a hankering to make a pilgrimage to the Oblong and walk the trail to find the places mentioned in it.
7 November 2023
dr DEsperate
@NCA I mentioned Octopush on the tracklisting of my spoof 2018 HMHB album ‘Ilfrapool’ (geddit?), for which the initial letters spelt out APRIL FOOL: Track 7 was called ‘Octopush Doping Scandal’. (Unfortunately the real ‘Fuckin’ Hedge’ album was announced just before April 1st that year, thus ruining the gag.)
In an episode of ‘Red Dwarf’, Rimmer watches an old TV news programme with a report on the English national underwater hockey team’s tour of Titan.
7 November 2023
REDLORNIE
A worthy winner, but AOR coming in such a close second just goes to show the consistent quality of the songs over 30 years. Carry on!
7 November 2023
Clash City Rocker
Thanx CTSO, another great LFC culminating in a close final result. Both songs would have been deserving winners. Heres to the next one.
7 November 2023
EXXO
The issue of ‘Oblong’ and geographical affiliation is one that is surely only in its infancy. It’s wonderful song, an epiphany about epiphanies, and so it clearly has the universality that Audrey and others have lauded. It could be about getting away from the obvious and the asinine down anyone’s way, and it deliberately chooses not to list all the beautiful Wirral coastal views it might have listed, but comes back to the “could be anywhere” of anyone’s local estate, local dog-walking field and primary school.
But at the same time it is a beautiful anthem set on the Wirral, and so it will attract Wirralians over time. They will be proud of it. Their local knowledge will undoubtedly add to their sense that the Bard’s epiphany is their own. Thor’s Stone may have been a magical special place to them as a child; the shoreline by the Leasowe light may be where they go for that bracing wow of perspective. There will certainly be many locals over the years who come to HMHB through ‘Oblong of Dreams,’ if it achieves the local fame it merits, and because of that and its up-beat musical as well as lyrical accessibility, out of step with much other HMHB output, there will even be those who hold it dear and yet who don’t like most of their other stuff. “Bias” (@Leommy) will not be the word that best sums up their love for a song that feels like it’s about their identity.
Over the years its stand-alone popularity may even come to cause issues for those who wish to organise song popularity contests. I can’t find the thread from last week now, but there were a couple of people who hinted at predictions that this may have been the last time that a song like AOR could ‘compete with’ Oblong. I don’t know if they meant they thought it was just bound to grow in popularity anyway, or whether they were hinting at what I am imagining as the future for this song, but either way they have a strong point.
7 November 2023
No chi(m)ps allowed
@Dr.D, sorry only been on this site since rediscovering the band earlier this year, just before my non identical twin (no relation ) and I paid a road trip pilgrimage to Cambridge Junction back in April. What a great gig that was and, what a road trip. We stopped off at Stamford on the way home, and yes, it does have a bridge. And a 300 year old creaking wooden gate, which does,in truth, creak when opening and closing. They don’t make carpenters like they used to. Strangely for such a small settlement, Stamford has an amazing array of places of worship! @AS.E, I too was thinking of making that walk. Maybe someone here with good local knowledge could organise it, for next year when Spring has sprung. Not so much a cake walk but a Biscuit walk. Of course it would have to be a circular walk or an oblong tour, starting and finishing at a decent house of alcoholic refreshment. ( other beverages should be available ).
7 November 2023
No chi(m)ps allowed
And yes underwater hockey is a bizarre sport. The puck must weigh a ton/tonne.
7 November 2023
Gipton teenager
Thanks for organising LFC’23 CtSO, much fun and intrigue. My favourite ‘won’, which was nice, but the mind boggles that a song yet to be born may one day ‘beat’ it.
7 November 2023
EXXO
@Chimp.
If there is a singular walk, it is 17 miles minimum, call it 18 miles minimum to start and finish at a pub (but there is no part of it that couldn’t be mountain biked in dry weather). If you can find a group of Biscuiteers who are both capable and willing of that I will gladly guide you (though hip and ankle issues will mean I have to bike a lot of it ahead of you. I can’t walk that far in a day anymore, no matter how much turmeric you give me).
It would be much better with a car and 4-5 short circular walks from 4-5 parking points points. I mapped such routes out it for a poster called ‘Quality Janitor’ (see posts 169-181 in the song thread), and he was glad I did.
Someone hire a bus and suggest a charity and we could do an an Oblongathon. Biscuitism has come a long way since the Dontgiveafuckathons of yore.
7 November 2023
Gipton teenager
@Exxo – nicely composed an considered post above. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has tried to emulate OOD and composed a memory of an oft-walked journey of their own. Mine is the Meanwood Valley Trail, which I’m sure you know well. I have done this walk dozens of times, often alone, with 40 years’ of memories being a constant companion. For me ‘Oblong of Dreams’ is truly a work of genius.
7 November 2023
Gipton teenager
I was writing my post while you were posting 52 then Exxo.
7 November 2023
Quantocks checker outer
For me, who’s never been to the Wirral in his life, the sentiments in OOD always evoke the day I spent walking every path, field, canal tow path and river bank recalling my carefree 70s childhood in the small Wiltshire village I grew up in, just before we had to relocate to Cov with my dad’s job. All very Laurie Lee I suppose. Too young for an overturned Viva though.
7 November 2023
No chi(m)ps allowed
@EXXO, thanks for the info. Researching as I txt. 👍
7 November 2023
Pirx The Purist
I want a compilation of all the Radio 1 (& 6) sessions. There are tracks (and versions of tracks) in there which deserve a proper release.
7 November 2023
Old tige
A million thanks, Chris. Well done. What a great lark, and great way to explore the catalogue. I just wish UfO was more in favor. It’s the backbone of my greatest hits list.
Most memorable comment of the tournament was #52 of the Baguette Results, quote:
“Surely the feelgood story of the cup so far is Visitor for Mr Edmonds. It took on other songs without even being music, and won 8.6% of the time.”
@Exxo Given enough notice I am totally up for the Oblongathon.
8 November 2023
dr DEsperate
@PtP: So far the only radio compilation is the HMHB Peel Sessions LP. It came out in 1988, so pre-dates the launch of R6M by 14 years, but does include ‘Epiphany’, ‘Mars Ultras’ and ‘Mr Cave’, as well as a few covers..
8 November 2023
Pers rug vendor
For me, the result was never in doubt. Unfortunately I don’t have the education or vocabulary to articulate the feelings this wonderful song stirs within me or why it brings a lump to my throat every time I hear it.
8 November 2023
operation less prix victim
Was Oblong a grower or did it leap fully-formed from the disc as a potential crowd fave?
8 November 2023
Cream cheese and chives
The idea of an Oblongathon is tempting indeed. I did some of the Bunnymen’s Crystal Day in Liverpool in about 84(?). I fancy this would be more fun. Less overcoats too.
8 November 2023
EXXO
Quick! Run! Hide! Here come the Biscuiteers, with that look in their eyes that says “Let’s do a symposium!”
That’s fantastic Exxo – sounds like the Scousest day ever. I look forward to watching the video once I’m done pretending to work for the day. Also nice to see a reference to Victor’s Salon – the infamous Vicious Victor who would ask what you wanted before invariably giving you his signature flat-top.
8 November 2023
EXXO
@Paul. Pity the video is only concert footage. they should have spliced in a documentary about the day, especially the ferry, the flat-tops and the fry-ups. But I was very struck, as I was at the time, about how live stuff from ‘Heaven up Here’ sounds like Joy Division (especially ‘All My Colours’).
@Dr. D – the time travel in that Peel sessions comment is more mind-bending than ‘Persian Rug Sale.’
8 November 2023
Cream cheese and chives
@Exxo Thanks for posting the Crystal Day footage. It was a top show and a complete contrast to the last couple of times I have seen them where McCulloch has been a prize arse. My recollection of the day itself is of a lot of shambling and leaving long queues but it is a long time ago. I’ve read Will Sergeant’s two books and the band he references most for the Bunnymen is The Fall.(He comes across as a good fella too.) I always think of the Bunnymen as having a romanticism that is born of having a sea to gaze out upon. The Mancunian bands have always had a more claustrophobic inward looking vibe. Either way, it’s a grand video. Thanks again.
9 November 2023
professor Abelazar Woozle
@OLPV – Oblong was an immediate “wow” for quite a few of us, I had it down as a potential cup winner after my first few listens and commented to that effect on the album chat thread last year.
Regarding the AI-generated image in #22, I don’t know which is more disturbing – the bagel-head or the person in front of the bus with three arms and no mouth…
9 November 2023
Paul Coleman
First time in my life I have voted for a winner!! OOD is almost religious to me, the ending brings a tear to my eye, both my children went to the school with the daffodils and I have spent my life on the oblong (was even a governor at the school for a while). However for two songs to be so close with 30 years between them is a massive testament to timeless song writing, long may it continue!!
9 November 2023
Third rate les
Paul – well said.
I’ve never been to the Wirral and it has that effect on me.
10 November 2023
Sean Tristham
Is this real?? I’ve been with this band from the beginning. Trumpton Riots E.P. DHSS to trouble over Bridgewater. Then lost my way a bit, got bit samey samey for me. Still dont get why Achtung Bono is so revered by Half Man fans. Then the return of MY Half Man. No one cares and the Voltarol Years, simply genius. Like the beginning but with better instruments and sound quality. Same sardonic lyrics waxing but entwined with a fuck you i’m happy to be me rhythm. P.S. no I hate Nerys Hughes??
25 November 2023
Sean Tristham
Sorry again, I am really sorry, but really. I’ve reviewed those songs. Where are the following, Seal Clubbing I left my heart in Papworth General (did the lads know about Jimmy Saville) Venus In Flares and my fave Reflections in a flat
(All got the same chance as the rest in the Baguette Dilemma Round! – CtSO)
Chris The Siteowner
Well, although I wasn’t as confident as our analyst and bookie, I still didn’t expect it to be quite that close! Perhaps the real winners are a band who can write songs that good, thirty years apart…
5 November 2023
Audrey S. Euphemisms
AOR pushed OOD all the way, but I think on balance that it was the right result. A battle of the Titans ending with a worthy winner.
Thanks for the quoting me on the results page Chris. I really was in a quandary over that vote, but it it seems I backed a winner for once (Charlton Athletic and Republic of Ireland fan here – not used to being on the winning side of anything…).
5 November 2023
Paul W
Indeed, what a tribute to the span of greatness. Hopefully there’ll be more new song soon to make that span even longer before the next Cup.
5 November 2023
two fat feet
Well I thought it would be close, but not THAT close. But it does mean that for the third successive tournament, AOR is the song that ran the eventual winner closest.
Final tournament ratings (see previous post-tournaments for explanation) :
Oblong (w) 1000
AOR (f) 953
Light (qf) 852
Chatteris (2) 786
JDOG (sf) 754
NSD (2) 724
Bell (sf) 662
Trad Arr (qf) 636
Bob Wilson (2) 568
Trumpton (2) 560
DPAK (qf) 503
Vagaries (1) 493
24HGP (1) 442
MMM (1) 428
Terminus (1) 422
Tending (2) 390
Evening Sun (qf) 389
Look Dad (1) 334
Bad Wools (2) 322
Dickie Davies (1) 319
Titmus (1) 308
Bottleneck (1) 297
Paintball (1) 284
Outbreak (1) 282
Restless Legs (2) 270
Swing (2) 269
Broadstairs (1) 259
Knobheads (1) 254
Eno (1) 223
Purists (1) 221
Time Flies By (1) 203
Gargoyles (1) 177
5 November 2023
Sid
Well, it’s a narrow victory, but it’s a victory for the horse I backed.
I can’t imagine anyone really being too upset by this result. Both incredible songs, and while it’s a damn shame that they can’t both win, one had to come out on top. And while I personally think the song I prefer won out in the end, it’s hard to deny the other contender had one hell of a staying power behind it. I love Oblong Of Dreams and The Voltarol Years all around, so I’m pretty happy with this
A great little competition all round!
6 November 2023
Sid
Also, can we have a brief moment of commemoration for the poor songs not released in an album, which I feel really drew the short end of the stick here. The power of the electric drill as a musical instrument cannot be ignored.
6 November 2023
dr DEsperate
Good game, good game.
6 November 2023
Abbers
Can we do it again please?
6 November 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Yes, in 2027! (Please note that rights may have been bought by a middle-eastern oil state by then!)
6 November 2023
Chris The Siteowner
@TFF: Gotta say, the first 11 in your rankings would be just about exactly the First XI songs I think best represent the band – a Greatest Hits album of sorts. Oblong, AOR, Light, Chatteris, JDOG, NSD, Bell Rings, Trad Arr, Bob Wilson, Trumpton and DPAK. I’d be happy to have that lot fighting in the trenches for me. They’re also 11 of the top 12 in the Baguette Dilemma Round, the other being 24HGP, which I’d happily have on the bench.
6 November 2023
PAUL F
Thanks again Chris for this quadrennial distraction from the less entertaining matters of dispute that make up everyday life.
Meanwhile – does anybody have a suitable sporting analogy for AOR’s ability to run multiple winners close without ever landing the big one? Jimmy White perhaps?
6 November 2023
Chris The Siteowner
Mayo?
Colin Montgomerie?
Holland?
6 November 2023
The harbinger of nothing
The JDOG 2027 campaign starts here.
Thanks for organising it all, Chris. It was fun, and I’m glad the new song beat the old one. There was more intrigue in the pool games though, I thought.
6 November 2023
The harbinger of nothing
P.S. To any 6 Music DJs who may have been following along… Can we have a celebratory playing of the winner please?
6 November 2023
dr DEsperate
The Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings have both reached 4 Superb Owls without winning one.
6 November 2023
GORDON BURNS
Hats off to the web (and other IT) skills in organising all this again CtSO. Very smooth. And much fun.
On a personal note, I’ve added another important voting loss to my perfect life-long tally (student union elections don’t count).
6 November 2023
BAD LOSER
Thanks for doing this again Chris: I’ve not found any pics of the trophy presentation though.
Oblong is right winner, as I’ve come to accept that Terminus is destined never to perform as it should on the big occasion.
How many bands out there have their best song on their 15th album? My top 10 features songs from 1987, 1991, 1999, 2002, 2005(2), 2014, 2018 (2) and 2022 which is a pointer as to why they have retained and grown their fanbase.
Here’s to 2027 where, hopefully, there’ll be another 10 or 11 names in the hat.
6 November 2023
Cream cheese and chives
Ted Croker, Adam Crozier, David Davies, Mark Palios, Bert Millichip and Alan Hardaker.
Gianni Infantino, Sepp Blatter, Joao Havelange, Stanley Rous and Jules Rimet.
And then there is CtSO. We salute you-possibly from the town hall balcony. Thank you.
What a tournament! Faultlessly administered and played in the best possible spirit, it has been a treat to follow through the dank days of Autumn.
The fans are the real winners as I’m sure I’m not the only one who rediscovered some songs I play less often than others. As the dust settles, we can all count our blessings that we know of this wonderful band who – fingers crossed – will continue to produce new material to accompany us on our own journeys to the front of the bus.
It was the final I wanted but also dreaded but feel confident that OOD will not be celebrating in some ghastly Jack Grealish type way but rather will probably give EAOR a few days to get over the disappointment and then ring it up suggesting they go for a pint . I have no doubt that in the post final media crush, EAOR would have been the first to congratulate the victor.
The butcher’s window may be dressed with daffodils and celandine but he still keeps a tennis racket under the counter.
6 November 2023
MULDOON LIVES!
I demand a replay, oh I chose OOD. Top job CTSO.
6 November 2023
Chris The Siteowner
@BL: You haven’t seen any pics of the trophy presentation because I took them on my 110 Instamatic and hadn’t been down to Boots to collect them. But wait! The first one is here. Interesting that DALL•E is insistent that ‘oblong’ means some sort of blob shape, so I had to describe it as “cuboid of dreams”.
6 November 2023
Transit full of keith
What can you say? At the end of the day, a tournament was held, a winner was chosen. AOR left everything on the pitch there. Over the moon for the Oblong lads.
6 November 2023
Chris The Siteowner
I think they’re taking it a bit far, too be honest. Footage is now coming through of the open top bus parade, and they’ve gone surprisingly nationalist.
6 November 2023
Jim in the norwegian seA
I voted for the bridesmaid again, but OOD is an amazing song and worthy winner.
Thank you for putting this together Chris. Like crosswords in newspapers, and games such as Wordle, I suspect that the Lux Familiar has eaten up hundreds of people hours in a fabulously pointless way
6 November 2023
The harbinger of nothing
Cuboid? That’s taking it to another dimension. It fits better than Rectangle of Dreams though.
The second image is more like Cuboid of Nightmares.
6 November 2023
CHRIS FROM FUTUREDOOM
Dangerously close to the cursed ratio as well.
6 November 2023
Geoff Greensmith
Thank you CTSO for putting this excellent tournament together. Well done. Whilst explaining the dilemma of who to vote for in earlier rounds to my wife, she remarked “I’ve been to see HMHB with you more times than I’ve seen bands that I actually like”. The irony of that quote exacerbated by the fact her favourite HMHB song is Bad Review.
6 November 2023
Darzzr
Glad that OOD came out on top, albeit by a slim margin there!
Maybe we can keep pushing it into a four-dimensional Tesseract of Alternative Consciousness.
6 November 2023
Poobleby
Happy with that. OOD is one of their best and, while not my absolute favourite, is well up there, slightly behind Terminus (the PSG of LFC).
Copious thanks to CtSO for a richly entertaining and brilliantly run competition. Honorable shout out to Dr D; superb owls. Never heard that before; made me laugh out loud.
6 November 2023
Johnny kwango
The open top bus parade (#22 above) is a very disturbing image. Especially worrying is the person in the yellow tee-shirt who has a bagel for a head: Half Man Half Bagel.
Just needed 7 folk to vote the other way and EAOR would have won by a nose (pressed against catgut).
Maybe next time.
6 November 2023
Jetwash the viceroy
A decent winner, though I’m still disappointed that neither Terminus nor Slipping the Escort got far. Maybe it’s just me who likes the morbid ones? Anyway, thanks to CtSO for putting all the spadework in.
6 November 2023
Mate of the bloke
A good competition, played in a spirit of fair play. I would’ve been down to William Hill to put some money on the winner, but I didn’t want to have suffer the fools waiting for them to weigh-in at Newton Abbot.
6 November 2023
JasON
Has this been checked and ratified by VAR ? Let’s not get managers and heads of state all worked up and lashing out obscenities at the after match interview.
6 November 2023
Lux inferior
Everything’s VAR.
6 November 2023
Kemtrail brian
Really happy this has won. I want this played at my funeral………. But not just yet.
6 November 2023
JD O’GLOVES
Thanks for running the dilemma once more Chris. Congrats to OOD, a great final and worthy winner for such a newbie track however I thought there was more intrigue in the pool games, obviously.
6 November 2023
Low drone
Very happy with the winner, what a great song. My funeral songs are Oblong as the intro and Chatteris as the outro. My wife was not happy declaring it would happen over her dead body, ‘no, over mine actually’ was my quipped response, I then suggested Moody Chops as an alternative. Small risk of going back to Betamax over that one!
6 November 2023
Quantocks checker outer
@CtSO. Comment #10. Firstly thanks for the superb organisation of the whole thing. Secondly – a Greatest Hits album! The big cheeses at HMHB Towers should get onto it pronto what with the Christmas market to be tapped and all that. Maybe a *special* bonus track? The band are going to need that Eno Collaboration like never before.
6 November 2023
Transit full of keith
‘Multitude’ for a funeral, I reckon. I don’t think I’d select ‘Boxoctosis’ by the Fall, but it’s an entertaining thought.
6 November 2023
EXXO
@Mate of the Bloke
The lyric is very much ‘of its time,’ as for a number of years now Hills, like most firms, pay out on first past the post.
Most punters in Hills will by definition be fools, but don’t forget it was the winners who used to have to wait for the weigh-in.
6 November 2023
Free parker pen
I voted for the winner so obviously I’m pleased although the other finalist is the song I’d always vote for until Oblong came along. I was wondering how the votes broke down on a regional basis. Was Oblong the favourite of those of us like myself who are familiar with the places mentioned?
6 November 2023
No chi(m)ps allowed
So EAOR falls short again, beaten by a short head. Congratulations to Oblong, a deserved winner. 👏 Great fun and great work @CtSO. At a loose end now? Why not try underwater hockey, administered by the British Octopush Association. I kid you not
7 November 2023
Bad loser
@QCO. That would be quite a cynical thing to do.
However, a DVD to replace my long unplayable 1986 live VHS would be more than welcome. No idea how many you have to sell to make this viable though.
7 November 2023
Lord leominster
@Free Parker Pen
Recognising my own bias towards Little In The Way Of Sunshine, I too wonder about a regional bias for OOD. For me, it’s not even the best song on TVY.
7 November 2023
Audrey S. Euphemisms
@Free Parker Pen (40)
Possibly so, but my own personal experience as a man that grew up in South East London (not far from the Deptford Abyss – or Crypt as it was in real life), and now lives in the South East of Ireland, is that I’ve never been to the Wirral.
In fact have only been to Merseyside twice in 55 years (once to a wedding in Gateacre, and once to see Charlton lose at Goodison Park). So, for me the universal aspects of the song certainly outweigh the regional ones.
However, since I first heard the song I have developed a hankering to make a pilgrimage to the Oblong and walk the trail to find the places mentioned in it.
7 November 2023
dr DEsperate
@NCA I mentioned Octopush on the tracklisting of my spoof 2018 HMHB album ‘Ilfrapool’ (geddit?), for which the initial letters spelt out APRIL FOOL: Track 7 was called ‘Octopush Doping Scandal’. (Unfortunately the real ‘Fuckin’ Hedge’ album was announced just before April 1st that year, thus ruining the gag.)
In an episode of ‘Red Dwarf’, Rimmer watches an old TV news programme with a report on the English national underwater hockey team’s tour of Titan.
7 November 2023
REDLORNIE
A worthy winner, but AOR coming in such a close second just goes to show the consistent quality of the songs over 30 years. Carry on!
7 November 2023
Clash City Rocker
Thanx CTSO, another great LFC culminating in a close final result. Both songs would have been deserving winners. Heres to the next one.
7 November 2023
EXXO
The issue of ‘Oblong’ and geographical affiliation is one that is surely only in its infancy. It’s wonderful song, an epiphany about epiphanies, and so it clearly has the universality that Audrey and others have lauded. It could be about getting away from the obvious and the asinine down anyone’s way, and it deliberately chooses not to list all the beautiful Wirral coastal views it might have listed, but comes back to the “could be anywhere” of anyone’s local estate, local dog-walking field and primary school.
But at the same time it is a beautiful anthem set on the Wirral, and so it will attract Wirralians over time. They will be proud of it. Their local knowledge will undoubtedly add to their sense that the Bard’s epiphany is their own. Thor’s Stone may have been a magical special place to them as a child; the shoreline by the Leasowe light may be where they go for that bracing wow of perspective. There will certainly be many locals over the years who come to HMHB through ‘Oblong of Dreams,’ if it achieves the local fame it merits, and because of that and its up-beat musical as well as lyrical accessibility, out of step with much other HMHB output, there will even be those who hold it dear and yet who don’t like most of their other stuff. “Bias” (@Leommy) will not be the word that best sums up their love for a song that feels like it’s about their identity.
Over the years its stand-alone popularity may even come to cause issues for those who wish to organise song popularity contests. I can’t find the thread from last week now, but there were a couple of people who hinted at predictions that this may have been the last time that a song like AOR could ‘compete with’ Oblong. I don’t know if they meant they thought it was just bound to grow in popularity anyway, or whether they were hinting at what I am imagining as the future for this song, but either way they have a strong point.
7 November 2023
No chi(m)ps allowed
@Dr.D, sorry only been on this site since rediscovering the band earlier this year, just before my non identical twin (no relation ) and I paid a road trip pilgrimage to Cambridge Junction back in April. What a great gig that was and, what a road trip. We stopped off at Stamford on the way home, and yes, it does have a bridge. And a 300 year old creaking wooden gate, which does,in truth, creak when opening and closing. They don’t make carpenters like they used to. Strangely for such a small settlement, Stamford has an amazing array of places of worship!
@AS.E, I too was thinking of making that walk. Maybe someone here with good local knowledge could organise it, for next year when Spring has sprung. Not so much a cake walk but a Biscuit walk. Of course it would have to be a circular walk or an oblong tour, starting and finishing at a decent house of alcoholic refreshment. ( other beverages should be available ).
7 November 2023
No chi(m)ps allowed
And yes underwater hockey is a bizarre sport. The puck must weigh a ton/tonne.
7 November 2023
Gipton teenager
Thanks for organising LFC’23 CtSO, much fun and intrigue. My favourite ‘won’, which was nice, but the mind boggles that a song yet to be born may one day ‘beat’ it.
7 November 2023
EXXO
@Chimp.
If there is a singular walk, it is 17 miles minimum, call it 18 miles minimum to start and finish at a pub (but there is no part of it that couldn’t be mountain biked in dry weather). If you can find a group of Biscuiteers who are both capable and willing of that I will gladly guide you (though hip and ankle issues will mean I have to bike a lot of it ahead of you. I can’t walk that far in a day anymore, no matter how much turmeric you give me).
It would be much better with a car and 4-5 short circular walks from 4-5 parking points points. I mapped such routes out it for a poster called ‘Quality Janitor’ (see posts 169-181 in the song thread), and he was glad I did.
Someone hire a bus and suggest a charity and we could do an an Oblongathon. Biscuitism has come a long way since the Dontgiveafuckathons of yore.
7 November 2023
Gipton teenager
@Exxo – nicely composed an considered post above. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has tried to emulate OOD and composed a memory of an oft-walked journey of their own. Mine is the Meanwood Valley Trail, which I’m sure you know well. I have done this walk dozens of times, often alone, with 40 years’ of memories being a constant companion. For me ‘Oblong of Dreams’ is truly a work of genius.
7 November 2023
Gipton teenager
I was writing my post while you were posting 52 then Exxo.
7 November 2023
Quantocks checker outer
For me, who’s never been to the Wirral in his life, the sentiments in OOD always evoke the day I spent walking every path, field, canal tow path and river bank recalling my carefree 70s childhood in the small Wiltshire village I grew up in, just before we had to relocate to Cov with my dad’s job. All very Laurie Lee I suppose. Too young for an overturned Viva though.
7 November 2023
No chi(m)ps allowed
@EXXO, thanks for the info. Researching as I txt. 👍
7 November 2023
Pirx The Purist
I want a compilation of all the Radio 1 (& 6) sessions. There are tracks (and versions of tracks) in there which deserve a proper release.
7 November 2023
Old tige
A million thanks, Chris. Well done. What a great lark, and great way to explore the catalogue. I just wish UfO was more in favor. It’s the backbone of my greatest hits list.
Most memorable comment of the tournament was #52 of the Baguette Results, quote:
“Surely the feelgood story of the cup so far is Visitor for Mr Edmonds. It took on other songs without even being music, and won 8.6% of the time.”
@Exxo Given enough notice I am totally up for the Oblongathon.
8 November 2023
dr DEsperate
@PtP: So far the only radio compilation is the HMHB Peel Sessions LP. It came out in 1988, so pre-dates the launch of R6M by 14 years, but does include ‘Epiphany’, ‘Mars Ultras’ and ‘Mr Cave’, as well as a few covers..
8 November 2023
Pers rug vendor
For me, the result was never in doubt. Unfortunately I don’t have the education or vocabulary to articulate the feelings this wonderful song stirs within me or why it brings a lump to my throat every time I hear it.
8 November 2023
operation less prix victim
Was Oblong a grower or did it leap fully-formed from the disc as a potential crowd fave?
8 November 2023
Cream cheese and chives
The idea of an Oblongathon is tempting indeed. I did some of the Bunnymen’s Crystal Day in Liverpool in about 84(?). I fancy this would be more fun. Less overcoats too.
8 November 2023
EXXO
Quick! Run! Hide! Here come the Biscuiteers, with that look in their eyes that says “Let’s do a symposium!”
https://pennykiley.substack.com/p/echo-and-the-bunnymen-crystal-day
8 November 2023
paul F
That’s fantastic Exxo – sounds like the Scousest day ever. I look forward to watching the video once I’m done pretending to work for the day. Also nice to see a reference to Victor’s Salon – the infamous Vicious Victor who would ask what you wanted before invariably giving you his signature flat-top.
8 November 2023
EXXO
@Paul. Pity the video is only concert footage. they should have spliced in a documentary about the day, especially the ferry, the flat-tops and the fry-ups. But I was very struck, as I was at the time, about how live stuff from ‘Heaven up Here’ sounds like Joy Division (especially ‘All My Colours’).
@Dr. D – the time travel in that Peel sessions comment is more mind-bending than ‘Persian Rug Sale.’
8 November 2023
Cream cheese and chives
@Exxo Thanks for posting the Crystal Day footage. It was a top show and a complete contrast to the last couple of times I have seen them where McCulloch has been a prize arse. My recollection of the day itself is of a lot of shambling and leaving long queues but it is a long time ago.
I’ve read Will Sergeant’s two books and the band he references most for the Bunnymen is The Fall.(He comes across as a good fella too.) I always think of the Bunnymen as having a romanticism that is born of having a sea to gaze out upon. The Mancunian bands have always had a more claustrophobic inward looking vibe.
Either way, it’s a grand video. Thanks again.
9 November 2023
professor Abelazar Woozle
@OLPV – Oblong was an immediate “wow” for quite a few of us, I had it down as a potential cup winner after my first few listens and commented to that effect on the album chat thread last year.
Regarding the AI-generated image in #22, I don’t know which is more disturbing – the bagel-head or the person in front of the bus with three arms and no mouth…
9 November 2023
Paul Coleman
First time in my life I have voted for a winner!! OOD is almost religious to me, the ending brings a tear to my eye, both my children went to the school with the daffodils and I have spent my life on the oblong (was even a governor at the school for a while). However for two songs to be so close with 30 years between them is a massive testament to timeless song writing, long may it continue!!
9 November 2023
Third rate les
Paul – well said.
I’ve never been to the Wirral and it has that effect on me.
10 November 2023
Sean Tristham
Is this real?? I’ve been with this band from the beginning. Trumpton Riots E.P. DHSS to trouble over Bridgewater. Then lost my way a bit, got bit samey samey for me. Still dont get why Achtung Bono is so revered by Half Man fans. Then the return of MY Half Man. No one cares and the Voltarol Years, simply genius. Like the beginning but with better instruments and sound quality. Same sardonic lyrics waxing but entwined with a fuck you i’m happy to be me rhythm. P.S. no I hate Nerys Hughes??
25 November 2023
Sean Tristham
Sorry again, I am really sorry, but really. I’ve reviewed those songs.
Where are the following,
Seal Clubbing
I left my heart in Papworth General (did the lads know about Jimmy Saville)
Venus In Flares
and my fave
Reflections in a flat
(All got the same chance as the rest in the Baguette Dilemma Round! – CtSO)
25 November 2023