The Liner Notes Club

In this episode of The Liner Notes Club , Phil sits down with John Steel for a fascinating deep dive into the birth of one of Britain’s most influential bands.   John traces his journey from teenage jazz fan in industrial Newcastle to founding member of The Animals, recalling the early days with Eric Burdon, discovering American blues records brought over by merchant seamen, and witnessing the exp...

n this episode of The Liner Notes Club , Phil sits down with legendary drummer Bev Bevan and Joy Strachan-Brain for a fascinating journey through one of British rock’s most remarkable careers.   Bev reflects on his early days growing up in Birmingham, teaching himself to play drums, opening for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones with Denny Laine and the Diplomats, and the formation of The Move—inc...

In this episode of The Liner Notes Club, Phil sits down with legendary songwriter and punk pioneer TV Smith — the unmistakable voice behind The Adverts and one of the most enduring figures to emerge from the original British punk movement. From growing up with The Beatles and discovering the power of words through poetry, to forming his first bands in Torquay and eventually moving to London at the...

In this episode of The Liner Notes Club, Phil sits down with Des Tong — bassist, musical director, songwriter, author, and longtime driving force behind Sad Café. Des takes us right back to his earliest musical beginnings in Manchester, from learning double bass as a schoolboy under the influence of his pianist father, to cutting his teeth in soul bands, backing legendary American artists like The...

In this episode of The Liner Notes Club , Phil sits down with Bobby Elliott of The Hollies — American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Ivor Novello Award winner, and one of the most influential drummers of his generation. Drawing on stories from his memoir It Ain’t Heavy, It’s My Story , Bobby reflects on his early years growing up in Burnley, discovering jazz on shortwave radio, building a dr...