John Shuttleworth - The Yamaha Years (CD 2003)

Sheffield's lesser known rock Superstar the Walkley Wonder, John Shuttleworth, has put together this Greatest Hits Collection. Charting his career from redundant sweet factory Security Guard through to the dizzy heights of Radio 4 shock jock this selection of rock standards should please a wide selection of listeners. References from the mundane to the spiritual here touch on such sensitive subjects as depression, love, poverty, feminism, death and flatulence. All accompanied by John's beloved Yamaha synthesizer and, occasionally, TV’s Clarinet Man / Rock Impresario Ken Worthington.

Lennon-esq lyrics combine with Jean Michel Jarre-standard electronic melodies to give a veritable feast of musicality.

Or not...

Look, if you’re a fan of the man this is a wonderful album. If you’ve not heard of him but appreciate clever, gentle humour (no blue stuff here – oof..!), you’ll love it too. If you live in Sheffield like me you’ll undoubtedly know someone very similar to him.

And if you don’t like him, you’ll hate it.

That’s right