December 2002

Monday 9th December - Wednesday 1st January 2003

Last time we spoke, I had just played in the Speigeltent in George Square, Glasgow. The sad news of the Gilded Balloon burning down took a bit of the sheen away from those gigs...but I still glowed for a bit. Mostly because I knew I had my holiday coming up.


Monday 9th December I had a nice wee radio show to do whereby I had to choose 12 tracks and talk about why I chose them, what they meant to me...kind of Desert Island Discs type thing. Well...how is anyone going to choose 12 tracks? I mean its impossible! I've got hunners of CDs and discs and stuff...12 tracks? 12 hundred track more like. But no, I managed to narrow it down although it took longer to choose the tracks than it did to play them!

I started with Nevertheless sung by Harry Nillson...ah now there's a track - My Gran and Grampa used to sing it to each other when I was wee, which was lucky for me, since I had the sheer good fortune to hear one of the most amazing male voices ever - NO, NOT MY GRAMPA! - Harry Nillson. Of course, I managed to get Puppy Love in there too...that was a lot of fun - for me anyway!


Thursday 12th December Did I already mention that it was my birthday? Not much to say except...good food, good wine, good pals and excellent cards and gifts...mmmmmm birthdays are good.


Saturday 14th December Today was the day!!! The arrival of the dance show of the Judy Fielding School of Dance!

Judy is my good pal, she, along with my sis Julie, manages the merchandise side of Carol Laula and is the mother of Caitlin Rose. She runs her own children's dance school in Glasgow and every year she has a show, for which I have the ominous task of being the Musical Director. It sounds very grand and I gotta tell you, it IS very grand - usually with a lotta lotta laughing and crying thrown in. I love to see kids trying to dance then spotting their parents in the audience, forgetting the dance and just standing there waving. Sadly, this reminds me of my own dancing days. Picture it - the town hall in Paisley, my Aunt Helen Young's dancing display - and me - dancing!

I say sadly, because this is something for which I will never forgive my parents! Can you believe that they sent me (and my sister AND my brothers) there from the age of three until I was FIFTEEN YEARS OLD!!!!!! That wasn't a trial period to see if I liked it mum and dad...that was a TRIAL! With a life-time sentence thrown in! Okay, okay I know, I'm being a bit over the top, but, hey if you could see me dance...! Yep, a time-step in tap, no problem...but majorettes? MAJORETTES - why, why, oh why!

Anyway, back to Judy's show...needless to say, the star of the show was a little goddess called Caitlin Rose Fielding. Do I sound biased? Yeah, I know she's my goddaughter and all, but she can move...she's a wee star in the making...watch this space...

Anything after this date was really just melt-down. Work in the Paisley Partnership was slowing down, I guess that's the way it works in the real world - everyone winding down for the holidays - even drivers were more gentle to me on my wee moped

Well, that's how it felt for me anyway...


Wednesday 18th December Well, you know, I've had real luxury in my life...I've travelled lots of places, often on my own...so, naturally, its important to travel as lightly as possible - especially when you have two guitars in tow. So, don't ask my why, but I decided to take a big, gigantor case with me to Fuerteventura...I don't know, maybe I was afraid that Santa would come to my apartment and I would have loads of pressies to carry home!

Either way, we got to the airport (Russell, my neighbour, dropped us off at 5.30am! - How's that for above and beyond neighbourly stuff?). Anyway, it was fantastic...no queues...straight up to the check-in desk and 'Oh', said Pauline, in a school-teacher type voice, 'I'm afraid you're 4 kilos over the luggage limit!' (that was PRE-Santa!). Now, I was a wee bit hungover, having indulged in a wee bit too much holiday spirit the night before and I really wanted to kill Pauline! 'Okay', I said, head-throbbing, 'so, what can we do about it?' fully prepared to either pay some extra money, or even leave some of the crap in Glasgow. Then Pauline realised that this bag was between two of us. Okay, okay, it might be alright...if we were really lucky!

Well, folks, as it happens we were lucky, really lucky. Pauline informed us (head-teacher type voice now) that 'this time we'll let it go, and I hope you realise that not all other carriers are so lenient.' Now, I don't know if you've seen the movie High Fidelity where John Cusack envisages all these really violent scenario's, where Cusack and his pals are practically killing Tim Robbins for stealing his gal? Well, I'm not really a violent-type person, however, at that point, I became John Cusack and Pauline had just stolen my girlfriend and I ripped Pauline's heart out and passed it to all of the other passengers for breakfast!

Undeterred by my violent tendencies, however temporary, I went for real breakfast and then to Fuerteventura...

I wont bore you with the mundane details of a holiday which saw me lying on the beach reading loads of books and swimming and listening to Jingle Bells (!). Suffice to say, it was a wonderful holiday, the weather was fantastic and so was Fuerteventura. I once went to a wee place near Salou which was a wee bit horrible, in that the service trade had had it with British tourists and god forbid any of the said tourists would try to speak Spanish! However, we really tried to go for it in Fuerteventura, one of us having recently completed a course in Spanish and the locals loved it. It was really cool.

The place we stayed was a purpose built resort so, if I really wanted to, I could have an Engerrrlish breakfast every day...nope, thank you, I wanted a SPANISH breakfast whilst in Spain! We got a car and went after that Spanish breakfast every morning, followed by Spanish dinner every evening...luxury! It is a pretty spectacular island...some completely black, volcanic beaches in the South and then the most stunning sand dunes and sandy beaches on the North of the island where camels just happen past...yep, pretty spectacular...highly recommended to one and all.


January 1st 2003 We left Fuerteventura on the first. Through check-in, no problem, no baggage hassle and no live heart for breakfast - wonderful!

I dumped my gigantic luggage heap at home and headed straight out to my wee sister's for a siblings do. GREAT FUN.

As ever, its great to get away, but its always good to get home...especially to see my family, who are completely mental.

Since I got back, I've just been getting back into things. I'm chuffed (I think) at being asked to play the comedy festival, I'm also chuffed at getting the chance to sing with my mum again - well, officially that is, not at a family do...although, what am I saying? It's in Paisley, of course it will be a family do!

Also, I am so disgusted at the swell of war threat from George W Bush and Tony Blair. I don't think Saddam has the whole thing together from the neck up and I look at him and Bush and the similarities are frightening! Either these guys were bullied in school, OR their parents sent them to dancing school when they were two years old and they are still playing the Sharks and the Jets. Its okay for them though, they have Officer Krupke to take care of them, not so the poor folk that have to wear the tin hats. Its too down beat to finish on, but its real and its threatening and its people, real people all across the world - not politicians and presidents and prime ministers - who are going to be hurt.

Anyway, sorry about that. As I said earlier, I have a lot of Carol Laula stuff in the offing. A new album...maybe of covers (what d'ya think?)...new songs to be written for a new CL album, hopefully the states in April and a load of dates in England with Eliza Gilkyson in May time...watch this space.

I will update my diary with some other moped stories as and when they come in (I had to leave my moped in Paisley tonight as it was too windy to ride it home - poor wee Neo, the wee soul, do you think he'll be okay?) Meanwhile, take good care of yourselves and let's hope for a peaceful new year.

Cheers - Carol

ps - any requests for a covers album (ie - a load of songs by other people)?


Monday 25th November - Saturday 7th December 2002

So, we did London, we did Glasgow and we did Paisley - nice one! ...now for the past couple of weeks.


Week beginning Monday 25th November The Week after Hamishes Hoose in Paisley I mostly did work for the Paisley Partnership (PP). My boss and James Dean both enjoyed the gig a lot - brownie points for Ms Laula me thinx.

PP was fun this week. James, Div and I went over our big plans for next year, this was as exciting as I think it will be challenging - hopefully they'll extend my short-term contract so that I can, along with James and Div, kick some A** and get Paisley back on the map. I also had the chance to actually meet with Johnny Crossan - the singer from Stylus Automatic. Now this was a good meeting. He is a driven wee guy who knows exactly what he wants for the band. They are in the studio recording their new album just now, so we'll see what happens.

So, on the one hand I would like my short term contract with PP to be renewed and on the other, I don't! I wanna be out singing and touring and all that stuff. I should mention (if I haven't already) that PP are more than happy to give me a long leash and let me do my thing - I think they see it as any way of enhancing my career is a bonus for them - good attitude I think!


Thursday 28th November So, I had a meeting planned with management and agent today, to discuss singing and touring and all that stuff. However, David had to cancel because, very sadly his Dad died. George Rogalski was 49 years old, a drummer and percussionist of the highest and most professional order, not to mention a studio engineer and producer who did a lot of extra, free and gratis stuff for CL and David, just because he was a good guy who, liked the music, loved David and anything that he did involving music. He and David were good pals, as well as father and son, David's wife too, was good pals with George. This is a sad loss and I wish there was enough cotton wool to wrap around and stop the hurt, but, I guess not...I didn't know George well, I met him last Christmas and kept in touch via e-mail, however, knowing Mr and Mrs David, my heart felt heavy - my heart and thoughts are with you now guys...

I went to see Gomez in the Barrowlands that night...and thought Gomez were excellent. A wee bit mental, very tight, a wee bit pissed/stoned on stage and a whole lot talented. They were absolutely amazing. The venue was absolutely jam packed and there was a lot of that Big Country/Nick Harper testosterone thing going on...as well as that, there were guzillions of people who were ABSOLUTELY STEAMING...imagine paying all that money and getting so out of it that you can't remember how good it was - oops, am I getting old! (not yet Laula, but nearly!)


Monday 2nd December Now, today was going to be a strange one...I had been trying to arrange, for ages, getting together with Brian McGee (ex-Simple Minds drummer) to record The Fairytale of New York for Scoobie, the guys who released The Magnificent Seven. Finally I got it sorted out. I met Mr McGee and off we went for breakfast...and oh boy, can that guy talk - ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. I'm thinking, 'should I discuss the track that we were about to record'?...Hell no - he was busy talking about family do's at Christmas and retirement do's and how the whole Scottish culture has turned on its head and kids don't sing anymore at family parties and OH MY GOD...! I didn't even get to blame it on Margaret Thatcher (who's fault I think today's society is anyway) Nope, because Mr McGee was away talking about the Asian community...hmmmm...a long (but very vibrant) breakfast!

But, cutting to the chase (which I'm never really good at anyway) we finally got around to talking about the track. I didn't want to sing Irish, cos I'm not Irish, I didn't want to sing American cos the song doesn't lend itself to that style (I don't think) and I DEFINITELY didn't want to be Kirsty MacColl, cos who could/would be able to touch her interpretation of that song - not me...so I just sang Scottish-ish. Ah, its a magic song...I particularly loved the bit when I was able to sing 'ya scumbag, ya maggot, ya cheap lousy faggot, Merry Christmas yer arse, I pray God it's our last'. Is it just me, or does this remind anyone of those mental Christmases you occasionally had where your Gran and Grampa got pissed and had a mental fight and said stuff like 'ya scumbag...'? I LOVED IT. And looking back on those mental times...I loved them too - particularly the one where Julie dropped the peas all over the floor, and thought it would be a good idea to put them back in the pot so that no-one would notice...! except my parents did and it was my mum and dad's turn to have the mental fight...ah Christmas - I LOVE IT STILL...STILL...STILL!!! (I also feel compelled to tell you that I LOVE brussel sprouts - honestly - then and now!)

Anyway, we finished the track and I think the plan to release it may still go ahead this year...we'll see, and I'll keep you informed.

I also got a call from the Gilded Balloon to see if I would be interested in playing in the Speigeltent in George Square in Glasgow the weekend of 6th and 7th December...Hmmm a pub gig, in the middle of Glasgow on a Friday and Saturday night...sounds like hell...'Yeah, sure I'll do it!'. (Incidentally, the Gilded Balloon was housed in one of the most beautiful parts of Edinburgh and was to burn down the night I was playing in Glasgow - Thankfully no-one was hurt but it is a real blow to the old town of Edinburgh...some of the buildings that were destroyed were hundreds of years old.)


Friday 6th December So, gig time...

Alby was playing the show with me...well, playing the show and setting up and striking the gear and, apparently, taking centre stage in the Carol Laula show...we'll come to that later. But for a start, we couldn't get near the venue (thank god it was an acoustic show...imagine having to carry a drum kit from our hallowed parking space). However, when we did get near the venue, it was clear to see why we couldn't get close. George Square houses some of the most beautiful buildings in Glasgow, the City Chambers, the old post office and the old bank - absolutely stunning. And in the middle of the square, we were allowed a wee bit of heaven...kiddies rides, side shows, bars, helter-skelter, food concessions, the speigeltent and a big old ice-rink. Ocht, I love that kind of stuff...it reminds me of standing at Rockerfeller Centre in NY watching the most beautiful skaters in the biting cold...then I remember I am in Glasgow, a city I love...and I am happy that it is enjoying this type of stuff.

The speigeltent was ABSOLUTELY FREEZING...but, not to worry they had a wee heater at the bit of the tent where the icy draft was cutting through - oh joy. And, of course, the bit of the tent where the icy draft was cutting through, was right at the stage - oh joy, again. However, undeterred, we began to set up. At this point a guy came up, slightly embarrassed saying something like 'I hope you don't mind, but could you autograph my CD for me...I hate to ask...I know its a pain for you...' Eh? Now, let's get this straight - it is not a pain for me to give an autograph to anyone (even if they do think I'm Dana, as has happened in the past!) It is a pleasure...more than that, it feeds my ego no end and makes my head grow in size so that I am a grotesquely horrid human being - I LOVE IT! Moreover, when anyone rolls their eyes at being asked for their autograph, I suggest you kick them in the shins and tell them to get a real job where they actually have to WORK! This is music, this is why we do it...so that folk recognise us, so that folk enjoy what we do, so that we know we have an audience to validate all our ego trips - Lee, keep on asking, I am flattered that you did - especially when the CD you were carrying was Precious Little Victories - nice one!

Now, Lee had a slightly English sounding accent, so, of course I wanna know more...'where are you from?', 'do you live in Glasgow?', 'No? Are you up for work?' No folks, this is a guy who came from Carlisle for the show, fully intending to drive back home that same night. Now for those of you who don't know...Carlisle is about 100, or so, miles from Glasgow - is he MAD? I prefer to think of Lee as a purveyor of good taste - albeit a mad purveyor of good taste! But the guy has come up to loads of CL shows and made the drive back to Carlisle the same night - even the night we didn't stop playing in the Ferry, till 1am - he still made the long drive home - now, that is good, that is very good and much appreciated by me, wee CL who is complaining about having to carry a guitar four blocks cos I couldn't get a parking space.

However, that wasn't the only audience interaction we had that night...nope, a 'young chap', about 18-19 years old approached us, during sound check, or I should say, approached Alby...the bass player who didn't have a mic...or keyboards, asking if we had keyboards and could we play Chris de Burgh's Lady in Red, for Robin, his girlfriend...'ere she's ere, she's boootiful, n, she' wearin' red...see? can ye see 'er mate?'. 'let it ride Carol' I thought, he's had enough beer to drink himself to an early coma, he'll be off home in a minute...eh naw! The wee guy and Robin and their pals stayed and chatted for the whole evening...occasionally shouting things like...'any Fleetwood Mac?' or 'Neil Young'. Clearly then, this young chap had impeccable taste in music, so, I thought, yeah we'll do a Neil Young song. 'Helpless, helpless...' but young chap continued chatting so I thought I would just stick with CL tunes.

Of course, its a pub gig and what can you expect...gladly though, a good few folk managed down to see Carol Laula...we (or maybe it was just me) had a lot of fun. Carol and her boyfriend/husband, new CL converts, 'had just checked the website' and hotfooted it down to see the second half of the set - they couldn't make it down on Saturday cos they were off to Elton John, but wanted to see as much they could tonight. Well, they didn't half...it was a real laugh. It became clear throughout the evening that my next album had to be a dance one...clearly my tunes lent themselves perfectly to the banging bass that was cutting through from the ice rink PA, not only that, I managed to get the Oasis boys on stage to back me up on Little by Little.

I had a late visit ON-STAGE also, by 'young chap' who, after listening to my sing, talk and have a laugh with the audience, staggered onto the stage to ask ALBY if he'd '..r'member about the tune for R'bin'. Now, maybe its just me doing the mad feminist thing again...tell me what you think...but, there we are, two of us, on a stage both playing guitars and only one of us with a mic, naturally the one with the mic having addressed the audience, sang and talked all night...now why on earth would 'young chap' approach Alby, the one without the mic, who hadn't been talking (much) to the audience to ask him to play the song...? Clearly 'young chap' has some issues - I dunno, what do you think...West of Scotland male...difficulty with women...yep, I'm sounding like a mad feminist - tell you what though, it was a laugh. It was a hoot, kind of like Carol Laula does Basil Fawlty live...And we did a resounding rendition of Puppy Love. Pamela and Keith were there too, asking if I had tickets for DO - well, I think so...! We had to finish after about 90 minutes because my right pinky finger was absolutely numb from the cold!

Lee made his exit, telling me that he was 'just going to stay in Glasgow' that night so that he could come to Saturday's show too... I don't know if his pals Moira and Joyce persuaded him to stay, or if it was he who persuaded one of them to let him stay!

Incidentally, on the way back to the car, we say 'young chap' holding onto Robin for fear of falling over - he was doing that Billy Connolly thing where one of his feet was nailed to the floor! Anyway, he caught sight of Alby and I and yelled whole heartedly...'loved yer tunes missus'! Like I said...impeccable taste...!


Saturday 7th December So, gig time again, not only did we have the chance of more 'young chaps' enjoying Glasgow City Centre, and the ice rink bass lending a whole new dimension to Carol Laula, we also had the possiblity of being joined by the friendly fans of the Old Firm football teams - Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers...who were playing against each other that day - OH JOY. Is it just me, or do those guys take team support to a whole new level? A whole new ridiculous, crazy, mental, deadly level that will cost some people their lives...wear the wrong coloured scarf and you might get your throat cut! What is all that about? Can't blame that on Thatcher! Such unbelievable hatred is as old as the hills...it defeats me.

Anyway, get me off that one!

No Alby tonight, so, Big Stuart came. Same thing with the parking lark, except tonight we had downsized even more. Only one guitar each and a couple of CDs to sell. Arriving in George Square was, once again, wonderful. It was absolutely buzzing...families out for a nice wee night, young chaps out to test their liver, kids falling all over the ice...chestnuts roasting on an open fire...Jack Frost nipping...ah shut up Laula, you old romantic...

As well as taking less gear, I wore more clothes...layers and layers of the stuff, including my thermal underwear (always attractive) that I keep for my scooter. The result was that I was totally sweltered for the whole night. No problem with the cold then, not just that, but neither was there a problem with 'young chap' OR the Old Firm 'fans'. Just a load of CL fans who sang along to just about every tune.

Big Stuart played an absolute blinder - especially on I Bet U. There was a table of older folk who had obviously been skating and had come in for some food and beer and, as ever, I thought I would challenge Big Stuart to see how fast he could play that guitar line and of course he played faster than a fast thing. Out of the corner of my eye I saw one of the older guys getting ready to leave and when Big Stuart started to play the guitar line, he just sat down, mouth hanging open...I know that feeling when Stuart plays, its just nice to see such unbridled admiration for such a talented musician. It was a defining moment for me...at that moment I loved him, I loved having him in my band...then when Carole (a CL Fan) came up to the stage with a glass of wine for me which Stuart proceeded to drink...the defining moment was over, I realised I no longer loved him, and no longer wanted him in my band!!

As ever though, the big guy redeemed himself...I got some nice requests (as well as another glass of MY OWN wine)...Tragedy Waltz...which Stuart had never played (or maybe once) was requested and then he played it...amazingly! I had spent the morning thinking about Puppy Love and Donny, so I tried a rendition of the whole thing - what a laugh. As ever, Stuart busked along with me...then I had to busk along with him...to Le Freak by Chic. Goodbye self respect...it was a Carol Laula gig after all. Big George was there...singing at the top of his voice, and what a lovely voice it is...!

It was a great night, although too short, due to some technical hitches with my guitar, but when it was over...again Lee came to say hello and to buy another CL CD. Not only that, Patricia, a visitor from Chicago was in town and decided to come along...she knew me from having sung Big Yellow Taxi on the Big Country album and had missed me at Stuart's tribute gig in May, so she was well chuffed that she managed to see the gig - I was too. We didn't manage to hear the Oasis song but did get a little glimpse of Kylie's Can't get you out of my head which allowed me to show off my impersonation of her dance routine...well, I was saying about the self respect thing...!

So...that's me...I had a birthday this week...thanx for all your good wishes and e-cards...I had a really nice time and got lovely pressies to boot - AH MAGIC.

As I said, I am lucky enough to be away for Christmas and New Year in a hot place. I will miss all the mad family stuff I usually do too mind you...its usually nuts with my family and friends, but, this year has been a massive one for me, graduation, new job, new album too, to name mention a few things and so, no time to holiday, therefore, no time to catch my breath...I want to sit down and remember why it is that I'm so lucky and blessed with all the things that I have in my life and to remember and reflect upon what those things are.

If you are a Christmas type person, then I hope you enjoy yourselves...I know we can opt out if we wish, and if that's your wish then enjoy...however, we can't opt out of next year, whether we like it or not we have to live in the real world, paying real bills and eating real food. So, whatever you do next year, I hope that it is prosperous and fun and pleasurable and conducive to health and happiness.

All love and good wishes for 2003.

Carol