"I’m Gonna Be A Wheel Someday" by BOBBY MITCHELL and THE TOPPERS - A Review Of The 1997 Bear Family 2CD Box Set with Discographies...

“…Can’t Be Beat…”

Released March 1997 in a 12” x 12” box set – “I’m Gonna Be A Wheel Someday” by BOBBY MITCHELL and THE TOPPERS is on Bear Family BCD 15961 BI and features 47 tracks across 2CDs (5 previously unreleased).

The Louisiana Rhythm ’n’ Blues pioneer never managed an album of his own in his brief chart career - but Imperial, Ron and Rip Records of the USA put out a raft of his singles between 1953 and 1963 – all of which are here. There’s even a Northern Soul crossover fave in “Well, I Done Got Over It” on the obscure Sho-Biz Record label included (from 1959).

A 2CD jewel case is centred beneath inside a plastic tray within the box (55:59 minutes and 54:37 minutes) and the beautifully laid-out album-sized 20-page booklet provides a life history by New Orleans expert RICK COLEMAN. The text is peppered with photos of Bobby right up to the Eighties (1935 to 1989), there’s trade adverts, concert flyers, letters from Imperial Records, Dave Bartholomew’s Orchestra, a picture of Roy Hayes – the writer of his biggest hit “I’m Gonna Be A Wheel Someday”. The session-by-session breakdown on Pages 18 and 19 by JOHN BROVEN, RICK COLEMAN, WALTER DeVENNE (who also did the Tape Transfer and the excellent Remastering) and Bear Family’s own RICHARD WEIZE provide all the insider info you’d need (as well as those songs that are now lost). However for fans - here’s a simpler Bobby Mitchell Discography in release date order referencing where the tracks are on the box: [7/1] = Track 7 on Disc, 1/2 = Track 1 on Disc 2 etc:

1.     Imperial IM-5236 (released 1953)

I’m Crying [1/1] b/w Rack ‘Em Back [2/1]

[Note: ”Rack ‘Em Back” appeared on the Various Artists LP “Hitsville, USA” in 1959 on Imperial LP 9084]

2. Imperial IM-5250 (released 1953)

One Friday Morning [7/1] b/w 4 x 11 = 44 [8/1]

3. Imperial IM-5270 (released 1954)

Baby’s Gone [9/1] b/w Sister Lucy [10/1]

4.     Imperial IM-5282 (released 1954)

Angel Child [4/1] b/w School Boy Blues [12/1]

5.     Imperial IM-5295 (released 1954)

The Wedding Bells Are Ringing [5/1] b/w Meant For Me [6/1]

6.     Imperial IM-5309 (released 1954)

I’m A Young Man [3/1] b/w She Couldn’t Be Found [11/1]

7.     Imperial IM-5326 (released 1955)

I Wish I Knew [15/1] b/w Nothing As Sweet As You [13/1]

8.     Imperial IM-5346 (released 1955)

I Cried [14/1] b/w I’m In Love [16/1]

9.     Imperial IM-5378 (released 1956)

Try Rock And Roll [17/1] b/w No, No, No [20/1]

10. Imperial IM-5392 (released 1956)

Goin’ Round In Circles [22/1] b/w I Try So Hard [21/1]

11. Imperial IM-5412 (released 1956)

You Are My Angel [19/1] b/w I’ve Got My Fingers Crossed [23/1]

12. Imperial IM-5440 (released 1957)

You Always Hurt The One You Love [2/2] b/w I Would Like To Know [4/2]

13. Imperial IM-5475 (released 1957)

I’m Gonna Be A Wheel Someday [5/2] b/w You Better Go Home [6/2]

14. Imperial IM-5511 (released 1958)

I Love To Hold You [3/2] b/w 64 Hours [1/2]

15. Imperial 5558 (released 1959)

Hearts Of Fire [8/2] b/w You’re Going To Be Sorry [7/2]

16. Sho-Biz 1005 (released 1959)

Well, I Don’t Got Over It [9/2] b/w Just Say You Love Me [10/2]

17. Ron 337 (released 1961)

Send Me Your Picture [11/2] b/w You’re Doing Me Wrong [12/2]

18. Ron 342 (released 1961)

Mama Don’t Allow [14/2] b/w There’s Only One Of You [13/2]

19. Imperial 5882 (released 1962)

My Southern bell [18/2] b/w When First We Met [15/2]

20. Imperial 5923 (released 1963)

I Don’t Want To Be A Wheel No More [21/2] b/w Got To Call That Number [19/2]

21. Rip 576 (released 1963)

Walking in Circles [22/2] b/w You Got The Nerve [23/2]

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED and exclusive to this box:

18/1 – I Fell For You (recorded January 1956)

24/1 – How Long (Must I Wait) (recorded April 1956)

16/2 – I’ll Fiddle While You Cry (recorded September 1962)

17/2 – Oh Yeah (recorded September 1962)

20/2 – I Never Knew What Hit Me (recorded January 1963)

Musically somewhere between those other two Imperial giants of New Orleans R’n’B – Fats Domino and Smiley Lewis – Mitchell had the same kind of tenor-baritone voice and that delicious mischievousness to his personality. Stuff like “School Boy Blues” (“…You say I’m just a school boy…go back and learn the rules…”) and his Little Richard vocal hiccups in “Goin’ Round In Circles” are great fun. And his “real gone cat” gem “I’m Gonna A Wheel Someday” is legendary amongst collectors. The Chuck Berry-ish appeal of “Try Rock And Roll” finally saw him dent the US Rhythm ‘n’ Blues charts in March 1956 –rising to Number 14. A song I particular love is “Mama Don’t Allow” – it was first aired by JULIA LEE in 1951 on Capitol – even J.J. Cale did a stunning version of it on his 1981 “Shades” album. Here Mitchell gives it a brassy feel. Very nice…

In 2014 it’s sad to say that the likeable Bobby Mitchell is largely forgotten now. Well not if the mighty Bear Family has anything to do with it. A lovely release – and classy like the man himself…

"The Beatles In MONO" by THE BEATLES (2009 EMI/Apple 11CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Is There Anyone Wants To Hear My Story…" 

In truth - when the Beatles 15-strong album catalogue finally went on worldwide sale in properly remastered form on the 9th of September 2009 - the Stereo box set not only looked flimsy and naff - it containing little inside to aesthetically please once opened. Inside a matt black and red lanky card wrapper - you got the 15 piddly gatefold sleeves of the albums (as per the individual releases - no repro artwork) and a booklet. For the money it always felt to me like a presentation let down. But the smaller hard-card MONO variant was an all-together different beast - not just sonically - but especially visually. Here are the one-channel details...

Released 9 September on Apple 5099969945120 - "The Beatles In MONO" by THE BEATLES contains the following 11 CDs (one is a double):

1. "Please Please Me" - March 1963 UK debut LP on Parlophone PMC 1202 (33:19 minutes)

1. I Saw Her Standing There

2. Misery

3. Anna (Go To Him)

4. Chains

5. Boys

6. Ask Me Why

7. Please Please Me

8. Love Me Do [Side 2]

9. P.S. I love You

10. Baby It’s You

11. Do You Want To Know A Secret

12. A Taste Of Honey

13. There’s A Place

14. Twist & Shout

2. "With The Beatles" - November 1963 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1206 (33:55 minutes)

1. It Won’t Be Long

2. All I’ve Got To Do

3. All My Loving

4. Don’t Bother Me

5. Little Child

6. Till There Was You

7. Please Mister Postman

8. Roll Over Beethoven [Side 2]

9. Hold Me Tight

10. You Really Got A Hold On Me

11. I Wanna Be Your Man

12. Devil In Her Heart

13. Not A Second Time

14. Money

3. "A Hard Day's Night" - July 1964 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1230 (31:01 minutes)

1. A Hard Day’s Night

2. I Should Have Known Better

3. If I Fell

4. I’m Happy Just To Dance With You

5. And I Love Her

6. Tell Me Why

7. Can’t Buy Me Love

8. Any Time At All [Side 2]

9. I’ll Cry Instead

10. Things We Said Today

11. When I Get Home

12. You Can’t Do That

13. I’ll Be Back

4. "Beatles For Sale" - December 1964 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1240 (35:09 minutes)

1. No Reply

2. I’m A Loser

3. Baby’s In Black

4. Rock And Roll Music

5. I’ll Follow The Sun

6. Mr. Moonlight

7. Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey

8. Eight Days A Week [Side 2]

9. Words Of Love

10. Honey Don’t

11. Every Little Thing

12. I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party

13. What You’re Doing

14. Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby

5. "Help!" - August 1965 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1255 (with Stereo PCS 3071) (69:14 minutes)

1. Help!

2. The Night Before

3. You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away

4. I Need You

5. Another Girl

6. You’re Going To Lose That Girl

7. Ticket To Ride

8. Act Naturally [Side 2]

9. It’s Only Love

10. You Like Me Too Much

11. Tell Me What You See

12. I’ve Just Seen A Face

13. Yesterday

14. Dizzy Miss Lizzy

6. "Rubber Soul" - December 1965 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1267 (Stereo PCS 3075) (72:50 minutes)

1. Drive My Car

2. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

3. You Won’t See Me

4. Nowhere Man

5. Think For Yourself

6. The Word

7. Michelle

8. What Goes On [Side 2]

9. Girl

10. I’m Looking Through You

11. In My Life

12. Wait

13. If I Needed Someone

14. Run For Your Life

Tracks 15 to 28 are the 1965 STEREO MIX of 1 to 14

7. "Revolver" - August 1966 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 7009 (35:33 minute)

1. Taxman

2. Eleanor Rigby

3. I’m Only Sleeping

4. Love You To

5. Here, There And Everywhere

6. Yellow Submarine

7. She Said, She Said

8. Good Day Sunshine [Side 2]

9. And Your Bird Can Sing

10. For No One

11. Dr. Robert

12. I Want To Tell You

13. Got To Get You Into My Life

14. Tomorrow Never Knows

8. "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" - June 1967 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 7027 (39:50 minutes)

1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

2. With A Little Help From My Friends

3. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

4. Getting Better

5. Fixing A Hole

6. She’s Leaving Home

7. Being The Benefit Of Mr. Kite

8. Within You, Without You [Side 2]

9. When I’m Sixty-Four

10. Lovely Rita

11. Good Morning, Good Morning

12. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)

13. A Day In The Life

9. "Magical Mystery Tour" - first released as a 10-track album ONLY in the USA in November 1967 on Capitol MAL 2835. It was a Mono and Stereo double 7" single 'EP' in the UK released in December 1967 with only 6 tracks. "Magical Mystery Tour" finally made it onto a 10-track album in November 1976 in the UK (37:07 minutes)

1. Magical Mystery Tour

2. The Fool On The Hill

3. Flying

4. Blue Jay Way

5. Your Mother Should Know

6. I Am The Walrus

7. Hello Goodbye [Side 2]

8. Strawberry Fields Forever

9. Penny Lane

10. Baby You’re A Rich Man

10. "The Beatles" [aka "The White Album"] - November 1968 Double-Album on Apple PMC 7067-8 (Disc 1: 46:20 minutes/Disc 2: 46:37 minutes)

1. Back In The U.S.S.R. [Side 1]

2. Dear Prudence

3. Glass Onion

4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

5. Wild Honey Pie

6. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill

7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

8. Happiness Is A Warm Gun

9. Martha My Dear [Side 2]

10. I’m So Tired

11. Blackbird

12. Piggies

13. Rocky Racoon

14. Don’t Pass Me By

15. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?

16. I Will

17. Julia

1. Birthday [Side 3]

2. Yer Blues

3. Mother Nature’s Son

4. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey

5. Sexy Sadie

6. Helter Skelter

7. Long, Long, Long

8. Revolution 1 [Side 4]

9. Honey Pie

10. Savoy Truffle

11. Cry Baby Cry

12. Revolution 9

13. Good Night

What's missing? Although issued in MONO in the UK - only 4 tracks from the "Yellow Submarine" album are included (see 9, 10, 11 and 12 on Disc 2 of "Past Masters" listed below) because the other mixes were essentially a 'fold-down' of the Stereo version (not true mono in other words). Both "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be" were only ever issued in STEREO - hence their exclusion. Fans will also notice that the "Help!" and "Rubber Soul" CDs listed above also feature (as bonuses) the 1965 George Martin STEREO MIX of those albums - mixed presumably from Mono sources. The "Past Masters" double CD compilation mops up the British 7" single and EP sides and any other stragglers and is laid out as follows...

11. "Past Masters"

Disc 1: 42:39 minutes (black and yellow Parlophone label on the CD)

1. Love Me Do (Original Single Version)

2. From Me To You

3. Thank You Girl

4. She Loves You

5. I'll Get You

6. I Want To Hold Your Hand

7. This Boy

8. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand (German sung "I Want To Hold Your Hand")

9. She Liebt Dich (German sung "She Loves You")

10. Long Tall Sally

11. I Call Your Name

12. Slow Down

13. Matchbox

14. I Feel Fine

15. She's A Woman

16. Bad Boy

17. Yes It Is

18. I'm Down

Disc 2: 56:26 minutes (Apple label on the CD):

1. Day Tripper

2. We Can Work It Out

3. Paperback Writer

4. Rain

5. Lady Madonna

6. The Inner Light

7. Hey Jude

8. Revolution

9. Only A Northern Song

10. All Together Now

11. Hey Bulldog

12. It's All Too Much

13. Get Back [with BILLY PRESTON]

14. Don't Let Me Down [with BILLY PRESTON]

15. Across The Universe

16. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)

Some rumours have said that the box is a limited edition of 10,000 - but EMI has never confirmed this - and in 2014 - it's still available to buy. The beautiful card repro sleeves contained within ape the British original vinyl albums with tasty details like inner EMITEX bags, black and yellow Parlophone Records labels, flip-back laminate sleeves and the full 'white album' compliment of fold-out lyric poster and the four gorgeous photos. The 44-page booklet explains how The Beatles recorded in MONO and why (their preferred sound) - it's a sweet read. The sturdy hard card white box was done in Japan so the attention to detail is magnificent. GUY MASSEY, PAUL HICKS and SEAN MAGEE - Grammy nominees for their beautiful and sensitive handing of such a precious catalogue - carried out the remasters at Abbey Road from original master tapes - and what a job they've done...

Right from the opening bars of "I Saw Here Standing There" - the raw power and central channelling of the MONO mix slams in the solar plexus. It's like hearing these overly familiar gems anew. It continues that way to a point where "Taxman" on Revolver and "Getting Better" on "Sgt. Peppers" are almost different animals to their Stereo counterparts. In fact to my ears it's "Revolver", "Peppers" and especially "The Beatles" that benefit the most. The White Album always had a 'weedy' weakassed mix in Stereo - here "Back In The U.S.S.R" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" come at you with unbelievable power. Particular favourites of mine are the delicate and lovely melodies of "Mother Nature's Son" and "Blackbird" and the sheer balls-to-the-wall menace of "Revolution" (released as a single around the album). Not to be outdone by the later years - the three-part harmony vocals on those gorgeous B-sides "This Boy" and "Yes It Is" are so direct too and the jangly guitar on "Ticket To Ride" sounds so clear. "Yesterday" and " Norwegian Wood" are startling in MONO too. And what a tune "Don't Let Me Down" is (B-side or not)...

A wonderful listen, beautifully presented and finally in 2014 - we got the sensational VINYL equivalent that has been rightly heaped with praise. What a band and what a great way to celebrate their enduring legacy...

"Ahead Rings Out" by BLODWYN PIG (2006 UK EMI 'Expanded Edition' 1CD Reissue - Peter Mew Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Nicking Handbags And All That..." 

Jethro Tull's first album "This Was" was released on the now legendary Island label in October of 1968 with MICK ABRAHAMS on lead guitar. Dissatisfied with the result, Abrahams left and was replaced by the brilliant MARTIN BARRIE. Abrahams then roped in JACK LANCASTER on Sax, Flute & Violin, ANDY PYLE on Bass and RON BERG on Drums and formed the delightfully named and much revered BLODWYN PIG (Abrahams himself handling lead guitar, vocals and all the principal song writing).

In the middle of 1969 - they popped into Morden Studios in Willesden in London and with Producer Andy Johns (brother of the famous Glyn Johns) promptly produced this much-loved gem. The "Blods" or The "Pig" as they're affectionately known over here in Blighty made only two albums before Abrahams finally went solo. 

Blodwyn Pig's "Ahead Rings Out" was their UK debut album in August 1969 on Island Records ILPS 9101 (Stereo Only). The America equivalent went out on A&M Records SP-4210 on their famous Tan label but with a different track line up on Side 2. 

This 'Expanded Edition' EMI CD Reissue and Remaster (as I outline below) will allow fans to finally sequence either configuration (64:44 minutes total playing time). The original vinyl album was housed in the now famous and revered 'head and headphones' gatefold sleeve on both sides of the pond (slight variant in the USA) and the album's witty and detailed liner notes are also reproduced in the excellent booklet of this June 2006 EMI Reissue CD (Catalogue No: 357 6852 - Barcode 094635768527).

Vinyl Versus CD:

Initial runs of the record were on the hugely desirable "Pink" Island Label Design here in the UK - followed by a second press on the "Pink Rim" Label. Both have been difficult to find across the years ("Ahead" was followed in the UK in April 1970 by their second and last proper album, "Getting To This" on Chrysalis Records ILPS 9122). "Ahead" was pressed up on a slab of a record for the time - I'd say about 200 grams. And while that felt meaty, unfortunately, like the mottled effect label, the vinyl here in the UK reflected the same. It’s an album (like Crimson, Traffic and Tull) that is notoriously difficult to find a good pressing of - pits in the surface etc... So to hear it after all these years in this stunning remastered CD sound quality is a genuine thrill.

UK LP track List with CD track numbers:

Side 1: It's Only Love (1), Dear Jill (2), Sing Me A Song That I Know (3), The Modern Alchemist (4)

Side 2: Up And Coming (5), Leave It With Me (6), Change Song (7), Backwash (16), Ain't Ya Comin' Home, Babe? (9)

USA LP track list with CD track numbers:

Side 1: It's Only Love (1), Dear Jill (2), Sing Me A Song That I Know (3), The Modern Alchemist (4)

Side 2: See My Way (8), Summer Day (12), Change Song (7), Backwash (16), Ain't Ya Comin' Home, Babe? (9)

Note: "See My Way" was released on their 2nd album in the UK "Getting To This" in April 1970

If I were to categorise how they sound, it would be early Tull but with a jazzier feel provided by Lancaster's superb sax playing. As a gangly teenager in Dublin, I was suckered into buying the album by the bluesy feel of their initial single "Dear Jill", but that song doesn't actually reflect what most of the album sounds like - rocking Tull with a jazz tint. I was a bit disappointed at first, but on replays their unique sound grew on me - to a point where I wore the record out - and would replace it sporadically through the years with VG copies - just to have a copy to play. The 2006 remaster is glorious - HUGE SOUND without ever being overbearing - just in your face and rocking. PETER MEW did the remaster at Abbey Road and his work here is fabulous. The Cockney Thief dialogue at the beginning of "Change Song" still makes me laugh (title above).

Track 10 is "Sweet Caroline", the non-album B-side to "Dear Jill" - their first UK 7" single on Island WIP 6059 in May 1969. Tracks 11 and 12 are "Walk On The Water" and "Summer Day", their 2nd 7" single in the UK on Island WIP 6069 in October 1969 and both were non-album tracks for UK buyers. Tracks 13 and 14 are "Same Old Story" and "Slow Down", their 3rd 7" single on Chrysalis/Island WIP 6078 from January 1970 and again are non-album tracks ("Slow Down" is a Larry Williams cover version). Track 15 is "Meanie Mornay" - a fantastic inclusion - it's a previously unreleased outtake from the "Getting To This" sessions while track 16 is the short "Backwash" (explained above). I'd have to say that ALL of the bonus tracks are just that - genuine bonuses - and for collectors - a thrill to hear after all these years languishing in obscurity.

The booklet has liner notes by the now 65 year-old Mick Abrahams - they're witty, humble and very informative. The artwork of the original album is faithfully reproduced along with some tasty European picture sleeves of rare 7" singles. There's even a photo beneath the see-through tray.

Abrahams made 3 solo albums immediately after Blodwyn Pig folded - first up was "A Musical Evening With Mick Abrahams" on Chrysalis Records in 1971 (ILPS 9147, often just referred to as "Mick Abrahams"), followed by "At Last" in 1972 (Chrysalis CHR 1005) and finally "Have Fun Learning Guitar With Mick Abrahams" on the privately pressed SRT Records in 1975. "Evening" and "At Last" are available on CD as are subsequent releases through the years. Of note to this re-issue is the excellent 2CD mini box set in 2004 which is called "All Said & Done" where he re-visits several tracks on "Ahead" with superb rocking results, including the great "Dear Jill".

Like Taste's "On The Boards" (1970), Free's "Fire And Water" (1970) and Fleetwood Mac's "Then Play On" (1969) - "Ahead Rings Out" is a classically great ROCK album of the period with tints of blues and jazz thrown in for good measure. I only have to see the cover and I get mushy. Buy this superb and alarmingly cheap reissue with confidence - and a top-notch job done PETER MEW and EMI...

"In The Loop" on BLU RAY - A Review Of The Armando Iannucci Film by Mark Barry...

“…Climb The Mountain Of Conflict…”

When Britain’s staggeringly inept Minister of International Development gets interviewed on Radio (a fabulous Tom Hollander as Simon Foster) – in between his babble about strides made with diahorrea - he rather stupidly seizes the opportunity to score some brownies points for himself by answering a question on American Military intervention in the Middle East. Knowing nothing about anything four miles past the pier at Margate – Simon spouts out the first sound bite that comes to mind. He says in his pint-sized wisdom that ‘war’ is merely “unforeseeable”.

Milking the obvious gaff and nondescript word - the media goes apeshit. But his monstrously foul-mouthed and fearless boss Malcolm Tucker who was listening to the broadcast in his offices (Peter Capaldi in full-on f-word fire-spitting form as Britain’s Minister for Communications) wants to string Simon up by a part of his anatomy that you really shouldn’t touch. Then at a policy meeting involving American Pentagon types and 10 Downing Street lackeys – Simon once again stumps up more inane wordage when name-checked by the American powerbroker Karen Clark who is heading the meeting (a superb Mimi Kennedy). His ability to sully International diplomacy seems to know no bounds – but outside on the pavement when he’s cornered by a canny TV crew about his “unforeseeable” comment – he really dips his feet into a vat of political excrement when he tries to talk his way out it with more beatnik-gibberish by saying “…to walk the road of peace sometimes we must climb the mountain of conflict…” Something needs to be done. So Simon and his bickering worker bee assistant Toby Wright (the ever impressive Chris Addison) are sent to America on a ‘fact finding’ mission. Naturally things can only get worse – and with any military manipulative luck – escalate into all out war…

The first thing you notice about “In The Loop” is the stunning acidic script – ball-breakingly funny, observant and sharp like a knife through a knob of rancid ministerial butter – its genius keeps coming at you in scene-after-scene and is tearful precisely because 99.9% of it is true. Throw in a troop of truly fantastic British and American actors relishing every delicious UN-PC second of it (the much-missed James Gandolfini and David Rasche are particularly brilliant) and you’re going to laugh and wince a lot. 

The BLU RAY picture quality is fabulous – defaulted to 1.85:1 Aspect ratio – the print fills your entire screen and is never anything less that spot-on. And the clarity slyly adds to the feeling of observing ‘real time’ madness while the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio gives the voices a chilling in-your-face immediacy. Subtitles are English and English for the Hard Of Hearing. The UK BLU RAY has exclusive interviews and Commentary with Writer Director Armando Iannucci and actors - Tom Hollander, Peter Capaldi, Chris Addison and Gina McKee. There’s a Trailer, Webisodes, Deleted Scenes and a Script to Screen Comparison features also.

In the horrifying times we find ourselves in – and with political correctness and cowardice seemingly poisoning every TV station – the world and frankly democracy itself ‘needs’ stuff like this. Besides any movie that has the lines –“…we’d like the presence of carbonated and non-carbonated water…” gets my vote.

“In The Loop” is the very best kind of political jabbing and like “Four Lions” deserves a place in the pantheon of modern-day satire masterpieces. Own it and thank the Gods for a sense of humour...