I don't want this to trawl on Jim, but my reference to Parker was that it was an opportunity to use his talents. I was making the point that opportunism isn't a dirty word. I'd be living in a much smaller house if I thought otherwise. McColl's standing or otherwise at that point is not the issue. Without the opportunity The BBC gave him, we would never have those wonderful songs. I could be wrong, but I don't recall any malice, chip on shoulder or class warfare in a single song of that work.

I don't pretend to have really known him, but the local archives have an unedited over five hours of interview we did where we touched on many subjects, and was chuffed to bits when he did a local concert, saw me, remembered who I was and asked if I would open, as his health wasn't up to it, and the organisers hadn't arranged floor or support singers.

If you are comparing, then the tape of me trying an opening question on Fred Jordan got played for its comedy more than anything. There WAS a grumpy old sod. He made up for it by answering a question about time to sing when he was younger by singing his pregnant pause version of Grandfather's Clock.

In any event, songs such as "only doing their job" are populist, cheap and playing to a crowd. Not exactly inclusive, are they? Yes, I did tell him to get fucked. But let's face it. He was an old man being less than nice to young impressionable singer songwriter for no helpful or artistic reason. I on the other hand was convinced I was only months away from the big break that never happened (in a rock band too at the time) and this old codger was telling me effectively that I would never get to drive a Rolls Royce into a swimming pool. I reckon get fucked was rather polite in the circumstances.