by Geoff Bailie
When I speak to friends who are prog fans, I often find that we love the same music, but for different reasons. Some are deeply interested in the sound and production; others are moved or drawn in by the lyrics; for others still, it might be the presence or performance of a particular musician or instrument. Indeed, all of the above can equally be reasons why someone doesn’t like a particular song or album.
Many of those conversations prompt me to return to a piece of music and listen again, armed with a new perspective and an understanding of what makes it special to someone else. That’s why, if you have any interest whatsoever in the music of Big Big Train, you need to get this book!
If you own any of Kingmaker Publishing’s previous books, you’ll already know that this will be a colourful and enticing blend of words and pictures. In this case, it features numerous archive photographs of the band, along with historical artefacts and key illustrations relating to the songs’ lyrics and themes. If you’ve ever wondered what the Brave Captain, Winkie or the Winchester Diver looked like, you’ll find them here.
The accompanying words come from Andrew Wild – an author with a long list of excellent music books to his name – and R. Douglas Helvering, aka The Daily Doug, whom many readers will know from his YouTube reaction channel. Andrew provides the book’s main text, drawing on interviews with a huge number of past and present band members, while Doug offers musicological insights into more than 40 of the band’s songs.
Perhaps it’s worth mentioning what the book isn’t. It’s not a biography, yet it contains the whole story of the band, including many details I hadn’t previously encountered despite having read Grant Moon’s excellent official biography. Nor is it a hagiography. The band members – and particularly Gregory Spawton, the one constant member throughout its history – are at times constructively critical of their own work. They speak in the spirit of craftspeople wishing they could have produced a better final result in circumstances where resources, equipment, time or experience were sometimes lacking.
Although the book contains detailed musical analysis and technical terminology, it strikes an effective balance. Knowledgeable readers can engage with its depth, while the time-coded commentary helps those with little or no musical background to follow the discussion. In his analysis of “Victorian Brickwork”, for example, Doug relates the musical shifts to the song’s narrative and lyrics. Explaining one passage, he writes: “The melodic notes are the same as earlier in the song, but the changes in instrumentation suggest a change in perspective, with David’s performance shifting the emotion to grief.”
I’d strongly recommend that anyone who buys the book try listening along with one of the commentaries. You may not know an A-flat from an F-sharp, or Lydian from Mixolydian, but there is still plenty here to enjoy. I’ve made a playlist and intend to work through them all!
For many fans, the David Longdon era was when they first connected with Big Big Train’s music. One of the text’s great achievements is that it doesn’t neglect the early years, while also recognising that many listeners have not connected with the material from this period – or, in the case of out-of-print releases, have been unable to do so. The book therefore moves through those years briskly, but not without offering insights into all the recorded tracks, as well as many that were never recorded, with contributions from Andy Poole, Ian Cooper, Steve Hughes, Sean Filkins and others. It also helpfully directs readers towards the “old songs” that anticipate the future BBT style, providing an excellent primer for anyone looking for the threads that run throughout the band’s history.
What really makes this book stand out for me is the revelation that many of BBT’s narrative songs are connected to personal memories, or that their subjects were chosen to express broader meanings. The book tells the story of Albert Ball in its section on “Brave Captain”, while reminding us of David’s childhood connection with the character. The fact that David’s father served in the Royal Air Force adds another layer.
Then there is “The Transit of Venus Across the Sun”, which is about astronomy but also explores the love story of the late Sir Patrick Moore, the UK’s most famous astronomer. The book also delves into two “lost” BBT albums: Station Masters, a project intended to remake a selection of earlier songs, and Hope, a concept album written after The Underfall Yard that never came to full fruition. BBT’s Passengers Club has already released some demos, and it’s wonderful finally to learn how the tracks fitted into the story. Perhaps one day we’ll get a complete version!
I’ve come this far without properly mentioning the remarkable images accompanying the text. Historical photographs are mixed with striking original artworks inspired by the songs’ themes. The book begins with individual reflections from each current band member on the art of songwriting and recording, and ends with a detailed musical examination of the album Woodcut.
We’ve already had Andy Stuart’s Woodcut – The Making and the Meaning, which provides a wealth of background on the album. Time & Tide covers some of the same ground, but its treatment is very much fresh writing, supplemented by Daily Doug’s commentary on the music itself. As I’ve already suggested, the ideal way to experience the book is to read it while listening to the tracks.
Given the songwriters’ love of history, it stands to reason that an in-depth book about BBT should feel like an encyclopaedia – and it does. But this isn’t an encyclopaedia that will sit gathering dust on a shelf. It’s a book I know I’ll return to time and again. It is full of detail that will enhance your enjoyment of music you probably already love, yet it is written and presented in a way that will keep you turning the pages.
I’ve read a great many music books and biographies over the years, and I can say with complete confidence that this one is a rare jewel – one that will illuminate the music in ways you never imagined.
Pre-orders:
https://burningshed.com/andrew-wild_r-douglas-helvering_time-and-tide_book
https://thebandwagonusa.com/products/abdrew-wild-and-r-douglas-helvering-time-tide-the-songs-of-big-big-train-book-pre-order
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