The CAT Club (Classic Album Thursdays)

The CAT Club in association with Route Publishing presents a long playing vinyl record . . .BOB DYLAN – BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOMEBob Dylan’s fifth album Bringing It All Back Home was released in March 1965. The introduction of electric guitar into his sound set off a wave of controversy that came symbolically crashing down at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester fourteen months later when some wag shouted ‘Judas!’ Ian Clayton, author of the bestselling memoir Bringing It All Back Home, was in a fascinating conversation with Ian Daley of Route publishing, who have re-issued CP Lee’s classic book, Like The Night to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the legendary concert.This event took place on 14th May 2026 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.ukYou can follow us on Facebook and Instagram.Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a classic vinyl album:THE WEDDING PRESENT – GEORGE BEST with special guest DAVID GEDGEWe were absolutely delighted to welcome Wedding Present songwriter and singer, David Gedge to talk about one of the great debut albums, 'George Best.'“George Best triumphantly confirms that unique standing, being both a surprise and a thing of beauty” (NME 1987).“The boy Gedge has written some of the best love songs of the rock ‘n’ roll era. You may dispute this, but I’m right and you’re wrong!” – John PeelIn the interviewer’s chair was AMANDA COOK.“I had a really enjoyable time at the CAT Club. Everyone was very friendly and the event was meticulously planned. The amount of research and preparation that had been put into my appearance by Amanda, Rev and the CAT Club team was staggering!” David Gedge.This event took place on 26th June in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.ukHappy Trails.

A CAT Club presentationAN AUDIENCE WITH JOHN ALTMANJohn Altman has four Lifetime Achievement Awards and four Grammy Participation Certificates. He has composed music for over fifty movies – winning, and being nominated for BAFTAS, Golden Globes, Golden Reels and Emmy Awards long the way for Titanic, Monty Python’s Life Of Brian, Goldeneye, Hear My Song, Sheltering Sky, Léon: The Professional, RKO281, The Roman Spring Of Mrs. Stone, Little Voice and No Time To Die.A gifted arranger, John has worked on 19 platinum albums, including George Michael's 1989 album Faith, which won several Grammys (he was also nominated for The Rutles film, All You Need Is Cash).Some of the artists he has written for include Simple Minds, Barry White, Tina Turner, Björk, Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Pretenders, Rod Stewart and Michael Jackson.As an in-demand woodwind player, he has played with artists as diverse as Prince, Nick Drake, Muddy Waters, Peter Green, Kevin Ayers, Amy Winehouse (whom he mentored) and he was also musical director for Hot Chocolate and Van Morrison. As a jazz musician and band leader John has played with Chet Baker, Slim Gaillard, Quincy Jones, Bud Freeman, Les McCann and many others.A renowned raconteur, Altman’s acclaimed autobiography, Hidden Man was published in 2022 by Equinox.This terrific CAT Club gathering saw JASON BARNARD in the interviewer’s chair doing a splendid job opposite the truly wonderful JOHN ALTMAN.Please note: John was also our guest for George Michael’s Faith album. Podcast also available and well worth a listen!Happy TrailsThis event took place on 24th April 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.ukThis podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a classic vinyl album:COMBAT ROCK – THE CLASHReleased in 1982, ‘Combat Rock’ covers old ground with almost gleeful energy, stakes out new territory with confidence, and delivers more than enough timeless classics to make it stand proudly next to any of their earlier work.With special guest CHRIS SALEWICZThe author of Redemption Song: 'The Definitive Biography Of Joe Strummer,' Chris Salewicz was an intimate friend with Joe Strummer for over 25 years. An NME golden era veteran, he has written seventeen books, including acclaimed biographies of Paul McCartney, Bob Marley and Jimmy Page. The first group that Chris saw was the Beatles.CHRIS MADDEN was in the interviewer’s chair.This event took place on 16th January 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.ukThis podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.Happy Trails.

The CAT Club presents a classic vinyl album:GRACE JONES – SLAVE TO THE RHYTHMwith special guestBRUCE WOOLLEYBruce Woolley co-wrote all the songs on Grace Jones’ classic album from 1985, 'Slave To The Rhythm' and he plays guitar, bass and keyboards on the album, as well as singing background vocals.His band, Bruce Woolley & The Camera Club, recorded 'Video Killed The Radio Star' first, a song Woolley co-wrote with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes.Woolley’s songs have been recorded by Cher, Erasure, Tori Amos, John Farnham, Donna Summer, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Dusty Springfield.He is also the co-founder of The Radio Science Orchestra that composes for major films, television and radio. Bruce Woolley has worked with Brian Eno, Sly & Robbie, Nile Rodgers, Thomas Dolby and many others.JASON BARNARD was in the interviewer’s chair opposite the delightful Mr Bruce Woolley and a splendid time was had by all.This event took place on 27th February 2025 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.ukThis podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.Happy Trails.

A CAT Club presentation in association with Strange Brew podcasts: AN AUDIENCE WITH KEN SCOTT“The venue, the team and the audience were all wonderful and made my presentation at the CAT Club totally enjoyable. Thank you everyone!” Ken Scott.Here’s a lovely write up from our good friend Elliot Smaje (he of Wall of Sound Records fame) about the final CAT Club gathering of 2024. Following on from the great Phill Brown just a few weeks prior to this event we saw another producer/engineer – the legend that is KEN SCOTT on the CAT Club stage in The Robin Hood's Pigeon Loft in Pontefract before another sold out audience . . ."Tonight's CAT Club ends a magnificent year of events with yet another triumph. Entertaining and engaging from start to finish, Ken Scott, along with the insightful interviewing skills of Jason Barnard presented us with 13 tracks that served as an overview of his extensive career in the world of music. Whilst looking at the list, one might conclude that it's a case of being in the right place at the right time, but it is clear from Ken's modest recount of his history that he has achieved what he has firstly by knowledge and also by passion. Maybe he was fortuitous to have found an industry that was still in it's infancy in discovering new sounds and techniques and technology and was still very open to being a place where the enthusiast was welcome to come in and have space to prove themselves, but he still had to prove his merit in being able to do that. The fact that he was in the mix on Beatles recordings very quickly and progressed up the ranks of responsibilities is a testimony to that ability. And as he also said, there's a percentage of being able to get on with people in there too and it was abundantly clear that Ken charmed the room within minutes with his insider stories of the making of these great records. Also of note is the diversity along the length of his career, starting at EMI Abbey Road and working with the likes of The Beatles and then to Trident Studios and collaborations with Bowie and Lou Reed. Then on to the likes of Elton John and Supertramp before exploring the world of jazz fusion and latterly Americana. But ultimately Ken was a great listen and I sure that we could have happily heard hours more of the same because ultimately as fans, hearing about things first hand is always that nth degree better. Thanks to Jason Barnard for great interviewing, Rev Reynolds for keeping us all in order, Drey for sound and making the ladies luurve, Lee and Stacey for hosting, Amanda Cooke for new found raffle technique and Liz Wheeldon for being book mistress for the night. The CAT Club has been like Crufts this year. It's attracted the best, the cream ( and the sons of!) the best of breed, the pedigree and the pedigree have loved being here. The CAT Club has become pedigree chums. Here's to 2025." Elliot Smaje.Very special thanks to JASON BARNARD of Strange Brew podcasts for his stint in the interviewer's chair and for all the time and effort he put into this one.This event took place on 12th December 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.ukThis podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons.Happy Trails.

AN AUDIENCE WITH IAN RANKIN A Life in Music . . The superb Inspector Rebus novels are littered with musical references throughout, so we were delighted when legendary award winning author, Sir Ian Rankin agreed to come along to talk about his own life with our favourite art form. Originally, Ian’s friend (and also a best selling Scottish author), John Niven was to be the interviewer, but an important business trip to New Orleans came along and alternative arrangements had to be made. The CAT Club’s very own AMANDA COOK stepped into the breach and made us all so proud of her. After a brief chat about Ian’s latest blockbuster release, ‘Midnight and Blue,’ the musical tastes of John Rebus did indeed feature in a fascinating evening with a true giant of the wonderful world of literature. Ian took us on a personal journey through his life explaining how music played such an important role along the way. As well as being a great novelist, Ian is also a great raconteur with a terrific sense of humour and he captivated the sold audience for over two memorable hours. Special thanks to Amanda Cook for a terrific stint in the interviewer's chair. This event took place on 21st November 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk Happy Trails.

NEBRASKA – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN A CAT Club presentation in association with the E Street and Strange Brew Podcasts. Recorded on four-track cassette in his New Jersey bedroom, 'Nebraska' has proved one of Springsteen’s most enduring works. A raw, haunted acoustic record populated by lost souls searching not for salvation through music, but simply a reason to believe. JASON BARNARD & JEFF MATTHEWS headed up our panel. Jason’s Strange Brew Music podcasts are in the top 1.5% in the world. Jeff is the host of the acclaimed E Street Cafe podcasts and veteran of around one hundred Springsteen live shows over 43 years. It was a fascinating event with a special live performance of the title track by Liverpool legend and one of the finest singer/songwriters on the current music scene, Robert Vincent. This event took place on 12th September 2024 in the Pigeon Loft at The Robin Hood, Pontefract, West Yorkshire. To find out more about the CAT Club please visit: www.thecatclub.co.uk This podcast has been edited for content and for copyright reasons. Happy Trails.