This is the sleeve of I BEG TO DIFFER. The original is by Irish artist John Nolan - someone I've known for nearly a decade. I first met him in St Stephen's Green, Dublin - and have since kept in touch.

I BEG TO DIFFER - is at the factory - look up to the sky and you'll see a chimney belching - that's the new CD being made ( by talented craftsmen).
There are 22 tracks - they are:
1. South Africa House.
2. Kafkaesque.
3. A Boy With A Penchant For Open Neck Shirts.
4. Pink Triangles.
5. Credit.
6. But.
7. Red Flowers.
8. Boxes.
9. Lake Superior.
10. There Is Nothing To Keep Us Here.
11. Sugarside.
12. Love Will Blow Up In Your Face.
13. Letters Of The Alphabet.
14. Yellowhouse.
15. King Cupid.
16. Helen Come Home.
17. Tina Weymouth's Smile.
18. She Loves Me Like A Brother.
19. The King Of The Manchester Baggy Scene.
20. Oh No, You're Pregnant.
21. Mark, What's The Score ?
22. Do You Remember L-L-Longwick?

I am David Beckham's Hairdresser.

Back street salon next to a back street abortionist,
I was going nowhere with my radical plans for hair.
I cut Harry Kewell's quiff into the shape of a peacock,
Then the M62 into Lee Sharpe's sideburns.

Word got round all over the cotton mill towns of the north-west,
I was commissioned to work on Callum Best ( he tipped poorly).
A double page spread in FHM was followed by a four page pull out in the Rochdale Echo.
My time had come.

The Town Song ( £5 pair of shoes)

Went down to the town,
Had a bundle of cash and a determined outlook,
Went down to the town,
I was unknown - and that suited me.

In the town, I stifled a yawn,
Threw up my dinner on a resident's lawn.
In the town, I bought some new shoes,
Cheap enough , cheap enough to loose.

The security men in their bespoke suits,
Stopped me at a barrier they'd made from old oil cans.
It reminded me of "At The Barricades" by Spandau Ballet.
Yes, it was that serious.

You spur me on, son.
Your spur me on.
Your spur me on, son.
You point out all the things that must be done ( and I thank you for that ).

Word has reached me in Dorset that Top Of The Pops is to cease trading . What (exactly) is happening to the world? Melody Maker & Sounds long since closed their doors - John Peel never came back from Peru - now TOTP is going. To be fair, I hardly ever watch it - and when I do, it's with the sound down whilst playing my own choice of music. For instance, I'm watching it now - a group called Wolfmother seem to be pretending it's 1973 again ( quite why anyone would want to do that is beyond me - I was at the real 1973, and let me tell you it was no tea party). I'm playing The Affectionate Punch by The Associates - a very good record. TOTP tonight is being hosted by two dizzy blonde birds who seem to be laying the irony on with a trowel, all knowing looks and wry smiles. To be fair pop music is for the young and gormless - fortunately I still qualify for the latter.

another mark e smith wannabee,
you, yeah you
take your place in the queue
your pickled wits from the graveyard shift
on salford 96.2fm.

all that static from nylon shirts,
smoking 60 a day until your sinuses hurt.
your mother's hands are raw from cleaning the front step,
the front step where you spit and shit.

another mark e smith wannabee,
took the national express from coventry.
kept a fly in a jar for appearances sake
did almost everything for appearances sake.

I Beg To Differ.
That's the name of the retrospective release. The recordings have just been mastered and re-mixed etc - all ready for release. The cover/sleeve etc is being put together now - it'll be out in a month or so.