Michael Barber's complaints

[Harlequin_Games2]

Hello Michael,

I'll address this to everyone, as you have asked for public discussion. In
general we encourage everyone to discuss problems in private first, as its
often a misunderstanding or miscommunication.

I'm afraid that most of your complaints concern things that were decided
about 6 months ago and have been on the Front Sheets. I guess you didn't
read them. Please try to, as I did ask for opinions on it!

To be specific, the �1 / (50p) charge has been in place since our annual
look at prices every April. At the same time as bringing in that charge, we
also removed the fee for Special Services, reduced the fee for international
players, reduced the cost for 4th age games and set the turn cost to �3.90
across the board.

To answer your request for an account history: I'm afraid we no longer offer
this. The software we received from Allsorts when we took over the game was
bugged, and we did not receive the source code. Y2K has caused this aspect
of the program not to work and we feel that it is not worth the cost to fix
this. However we are looking to improve the accounting system, but we would
want to do this as a major overhaul of the whole thing. We'll keep everyone
posted on any developments (on the Front Sheets!)

I'm afraid we don't offer Direct Debit. We do offer a *fixed* monthly debit.
I did suggest that you needed a top up.

Allsorts offered a �10 float for all players. We removed this when we took
over. In our opinion not only did it cost us whenever a play did a dirty
drop, but it also actively encouraged players to run up a debt before
dropping. The effect of this is that they would not tell us when they were
dropping, meaning that their position was more likely to expire and ruin the
game for the other players.

You said that startup fees have increased, but that's incorrect. We now make
a loss on startups by charging only �10.

The credit card 'surcharge' has been debated extensively on the list. We
recently introduced an online secure credit card service. We are the only fi
rm in PBM to offer this. I hope that has improved your perceived value for
money.

We treat your complaints very seriously, but totally disagree about the
quality of service you recieve from Harlequin compared to other licenses or
Allsorts. When we took over, there were only 17 games running. Now there are
30. We believe that we have player-friendly phone times (we installed two
extra phone lines to cope!), a good presence at conventions, pubmeets and
roadshows, we run new and interesting variants, plus real time games in the
office, play the games avidly, advertise regularly in Flagship and European
magazines and make two attractive websites with a variety of resources.

I hope that you also think that our customer service is good!

Cya

Clint

···

****************************************************
                  Harlequin Games

       mailto: pbm@harlequingames.com
            www.harlequingames.com
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    CTF 2187 - Starquest - Crack of Doom
            Battle of the Planets - Exile
****************************************************
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Tel 029 2062 5665 12-6.30 Weekdays
Fax 029 2062 5532 24 hours

[Laurence_G_Tilley]

We treat your complaints very seriously, but

Oh dear. I wrote a long e-mail in support of all MB's points this
morning, but then deleted it for fear of stirring the pot. I'm very
pleased I did, because as you have systematically shot him down in
flames, then I would have been vaporised!

totally disagree about the
quality of service you recieve from Harlequin compared to other licenses or
Allsorts. When we took over, there were only 17 games running. Now there are
30. We believe that we have player-friendly phone times (we installed two
extra phone lines to cope!), a good presence at conventions, pubmeets and
roadshows, we run new and interesting variants, plus real time games in the
office, play the games avidly, advertise regularly in Flagship and European
magazines and make two attractive websites with a variety of resources.

Speaking personally, and I KNOW others' experience will be different. I
have to say that I got better value-for-money from Allsorts than I do
from Harlequin. I mean this not by way of a criticism of Harlequin, but
as a defence of the sacred memory of Allsorts R.I.P.

I'm sure more phone lines, pub meets and advertising are all jolly good
things, but they're not relevant to me. (I phone once in a blue moon, I
don't travel, I know it's a good game already.) But there were three
things which I got from Allsorts which I don't get from Harlequin:

1) Under Allsorts (as far as I can remember) I was not surcharged
according to my chosen method of payment.

2) Under Allsorts I hardly ever had order input errors.

3) Under Allsorts I was advised if my orders had obvious errors, like
missing "Required Info" or a conflict between Order code and order
number. It represented friendly personal service, and was a good
incentive to get orders in early.

Of these, 3 is the one which really stands out. I mentioned it once
before and was told that that was why the Allsorts guy was working every
hour that God sent etc. It doesn't matter. For someone like me, who
makes more order cock ups than Emperor Cock Up of the Pan-Galactic Cock
Up Empire, it made the difference between successful turns, and violent
self-abusive head banging on turn sheet day. That's why (if anyone's
interested) I'll always raise my head to defend them.

Regards,

Laurence G. Tilley http://www.lgtilley.freeserve.co.uk/

···

Harlequin Games <pbm@harlequingames.com> wrote

[Colin_Forbes1]

Laurence G. Tilley wrote:

I have to say that I got better value-for-money from Allsorts than

I

do from Harlequin. I mean this not by way of a criticism of
Harlequin, but as a defence of the sacred memory of Allsorts R.I.P.

Laurence, you can't be serious!! Although one of the Allsorts GMs was
a minor GMing god, the general concensus amongst most middle Earth
players I have spoken to is that Allsorts sucked, big time (though
not
as much as GAD).

<snip> there were three things which I got from Allsorts which I
don't get from Harlequin:
1) Under Allsorts (as far as I can remember) I was not surcharged
according to my chosen method of payment.

Haven't we been through this a million and one times? It's getting
boring. And yes, I think Allsorts did charge for CC payments. But if
they didn't then it's one more piece of evidence to suggest poor
business practices. If Allsorts were so great, then why are they no
longer active in PBM?

2) Under Allsorts I hardly ever had order input errors.

Cough, cough, splutter. Um, this is so far from my experience that I
wonder if we're talking the same company here. Allsorts had a new GM
or inputter every couple of months at times, and made all sorts of
awful errors. On several occasions they "lost" my turn, claiming
never
to have recieved it - even when it had been in the same envelope as
another turn which did get processed.

3) Under Allsorts I was advised if my orders had obvious errors,
like missing "Required Info" or a conflict between Order code and
order number. It represented friendly personal service, and was a
good incentive to get orders in early.

I have occasionally had this from ?Harlequin as well. I can't comment
whether this is a regular service, as I try very hard not to make
mistakes.

By the way, when Harlequin make a mistake I find them superb at
putting things right. Much better than most PBM firms, some of whom
(including some VERY big firms) won't ever correct a mistake.

For someone like me, who makes more order cock ups than Emperor
Cock Up of the Pan-Galactic Cock Up Empire, it made the difference
between successful turns, and violent self-abusive head banging on
turn sheet day.

The simple solution is of course to read through your orders
properly.
You've been playing the game for years Laurence, haven't you learnt
all the codes off be heart yet?

Colin.

[Laurence_G_Tilley]

I have to say that I got better value-for-money from Allsorts than

I

do from Harlequin. I mean this not by way of a criticism of
Harlequin, but as a defence of the sacred memory of Allsorts R.I.P.

Laurence, you can't be serious!! Although one of the Allsorts GMs was
a minor GMing god, the general concensus amongst most middle Earth
players I have spoken to is that Allsorts sucked, big time (though
not
as much as GAD).

It's rather sweeping to say "the general consensus" and I don't think
that you can back it with evidence. Like you, I play a lot and know a
lot of MEPBM gamers. I know one or two only, who would agree with you.
When Harlequin took over from Allsorts, everyone I played with seemed to
be in a state of shock, and even mild annoyance. Many had a loyalty to
Allsorts, and it felt a little like being sold out. I did say when I
started this one that I knew others would claim different experiences.
But I restate, in my own personal experience, I had excellent service
from Allsorts, and even pretty good service from GAD.

By the way, when Harlequin make a mistake I find them superb at
putting things right.

Yes, I agree with you. They always put their input errors right
promptly and politely. I know, because I use that facility rather
often...

For someone like me, who makes more order cock ups than Emperor
Cock Up of the Pan-Galactic Cock Up Empire, it made the difference
between successful turns, and violent self-abusive head banging on
turn sheet day.

The simple solution is of course to read through your orders
properly.

Thank you for that inspired advice, I had never thought of doing that.

You've been playing the game for years Laurence, haven't you learnt
all the codes off be heart yet?

Yus:
810 Fail2MvCmpy
520 Fail2InfOthr
525 Fail2InfYour
755 Fail2JnArmy
850 Fail2ReadCmpass w, w, w, not, e, e, e
948 TranUnitsNot% le 50

These are a few of my favourites.

Regards,

Laurence G. Tilley http://www.lgtilley.freeserve.co.uk/

···

Colin Forbes <colin@timewyrm.fsnet.co.uk> wrote

[bshushan]

Now, that last bit was _funny_.

b

"Laurence G. Tilley" wrote:

···

Colin Forbes <colin@timewyrm.fsnet.co.uk> wrote
>> I have to say that I got better value-for-money from Allsorts than
>I
>> do from Harlequin. I mean this not by way of a criticism of
>> Harlequin, but as a defence of the sacred memory of Allsorts R.I.P.
>
>Laurence, you can't be serious!! Although one of the Allsorts GMs was
>a minor GMing god, the general concensus amongst most middle Earth
>players I have spoken to is that Allsorts sucked, big time (though
>not
>as much as GAD).
It's rather sweeping to say "the general consensus" and I don't think
that you can back it with evidence. Like you, I play a lot and know a
lot of MEPBM gamers. I know one or two only, who would agree with you.
When Harlequin took over from Allsorts, everyone I played with seemed to
be in a state of shock, and even mild annoyance. Many had a loyalty to
Allsorts, and it felt a little like being sold out. I did say when I
started this one that I knew others would claim different experiences.
But I restate, in my own personal experience, I had excellent service
from Allsorts, and even pretty good service from GAD.
>
>By the way, when Harlequin make a mistake I find them superb at
>putting things right.
Yes, I agree with you. They always put their input errors right
promptly and politely. I know, because I use that facility rather
often...

>> For someone like me, who makes more order cock ups than Emperor
>> Cock Up of the Pan-Galactic Cock Up Empire, it made the difference
>> between successful turns, and violent self-abusive head banging on
>> turn sheet day.
>The simple solution is of course to read through your orders
>properly.
Thank you for that inspired advice, I had never thought of doing that.

>You've been playing the game for years Laurence, haven't you learnt
>all the codes off be heart yet?
Yus:
810 Fail2MvCmpy
520 Fail2InfOthr
525 Fail2InfYour
755 Fail2JnArmy
850 Fail2ReadCmpass w, w, w, not, e, e, e
948 TranUnitsNot% le 50

These are a few of my favourites.

Regards,

Laurence G. Tilley http://www.lgtilley.freeserve.co.uk/

Middle Earth PBM List - Harlequin Games
To Unsubscribe:www.onelist.com
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/harlequin.games/list.htm

[Harlequin_Games2]

It's rather sweeping to say "the general consensus" and I don't think
that you can back it with evidence. Like you, I play a lot and know a
lot of MEPBM gamers. I know one or two only, who would agree with you.
When Harlequin took over from Allsorts, everyone I played with seemed to
be in a state of shock, and even mild annoyance. Many had a loyalty to
Allsorts, and it felt a little like being sold out.

*** In some ways you were. They ripped us off something chronic. And their
old landlords. And despite offering to help and come up and teach us some
more they did not despite repeated requests. From what I saw they just
wanted to dump it as fast as they could and make a quick buck.

But I restate, in my own personal experience, I had excellent service
from Allsorts, and even pretty good service from GAD.

*** I might like to point out at this point that GAD and Allsorts were the
same people. They changed name after the whole GAD thing. Gad was the
nickname for the oldest Cleworth brother. Simon is his younger brother. We
only figured it all out some time after we acquired MEPBM.

For those one the list who are recent converts to PBM, or not British, GAD
arguably put more people off PBM than any other firm in the history of Brit
PBM.

SNIP

> 810 Fail2MvCmpy
520 Fail2InfOthr
525 Fail2InfYour
755 Fail2JnArmy
850 Fail2ReadCmpass w, w, w, not, e, e, e
948 TranUnitsNot% le 50

Yeh been there myself. Particular fav of the 850 order myself Closely
followed by 525/520 order...

These are a few of my favourites.

Clint

[Richard_John_Devereu]

>totally disagree about the
>quality of service you recieve from Harlequin compared to other licenses

or

>Allsorts. When we took over, there were only 17 games running. Now there

are

>30. We believe that we have player-friendly phone times (we installed two
>extra phone lines to cope!), a good presence at conventions, pubmeets and
>roadshows, we run new and interesting variants, plus real time games in

the

>office, play the games avidly, advertise regularly in Flagship and

European

>magazines and make two attractive websites with a variety of resources.
Speaking personally, and I KNOW others' experience will be different. I
have to say that I got better value-for-money from Allsorts than I do
from Harlequin. I mean this not by way of a criticism of Harlequin, but
as a defence of the sacred memory of Allsorts R.I.P.

I'm sure more phone lines, pub meets and advertising are all jolly good
things, but they're not relevant to me. (I phone once in a blue moon, I
don't travel, I know it's a good game already.) But there were three
things which I got from Allsorts which I don't get from Harlequin:

1) Under Allsorts (as far as I can remember) I was not surcharged
according to my chosen method of payment.

2) Under Allsorts I hardly ever had order input errors.

3) Under Allsorts I was advised if my orders had obvious errors, like
missing "Required Info" or a conflict between Order code and order
number. It represented friendly personal service, and was a good
incentive to get orders in early.

Of these, 3 is the one which really stands out. I mentioned it once
before and was told that that was why the Allsorts guy was working every
hour that God sent etc. It doesn't matter. For someone like me, who
makes more order cock ups than Emperor Cock Up of the Pan-Galactic Cock
Up Empire, it made the difference between successful turns, and violent
self-abusive head banging on turn sheet day. That's why (if anyone's
interested) I'll always raise my head to defend them.

Regards,

Laurence G. Tilley http://www.lgtilley.freeserve.co.uk/

RD: Here's my ten penn'orth:

I agree with Laurence about point 3. The one thing I will remember Allsorts
for is that the GM would phone you up if your orders contained obvious
errors or omissions. That was service above and beyond the call of duty and
I remember writing to Flagship to praise Allsorts for this.

I also recall (ok this makes 2 things) that Allsorts were available on the
phone if not 24 hours a day, certainly a lot more hours than Harlequin.
This is a REDUCTION in the level of service offered especially to
non-emailers!

So much for nostalgic, good old days, memories of Allsorts.

Regrettably, putting all the hours God sends into a business (even one as
small as PBM) is NOT enough to make a commercial success of it, which is why
Allsorts fell by the wayside and Harlequin are currently succeeding. The
fact that Harlequin have almost doubled the number of ME games being played
tells its own story.

It is in EVERYBODY's interests that the company running MEPBM does so on a
sound commercial footing. Full credit to Harlequin for accomplishing this.
Advertising, attending conventions, pubmeets etc are all good for attracting
new business, but none of it would have been any use unless Harlequin had
also convinced the hard core of veteran ME players that they were decent
GMs.

So we don't have such long hours during which we can phone Harlequin. So
Harlequin don't phone us up when we make a cock-up. These are sad losses,
but a small price to pay for now having a company we can rely on to run our
favourite game for the forseeable future.

But Clint, I WISH you'd phoned to tell me you can't REVEAL your own pop (why
not?).

Regards,

Richard.

[HENNING_RINDBAEK_LAR]

SNIP

> > 810 Fail2MvCmpy
> 520 Fail2InfOthr
> 525 Fail2InfYour
> 755 Fail2JnArmy
> 850 Fail2ReadCmpass w, w, w, not, e, e, e
> 948 TranUnitsNot% le 50
>
Yeh been there myself. Particular fav of the 850 order myself Closely
followed by 525/520 order...

> These are a few of my favourites.
>
Clint

Yep, West are left and not Rigth....... a particular problem I had while playing in Eriador so i switched to the Rhun area. There are still way to many pointy eared with sharp knives there but I got more money than my allies and enemeis can spend so who cares ;-).
Henning (LR 117).

[Richard_John_Devereu]

>> I have to say that I got better value-for-money from Allsorts than
>I
>> do from Harlequin. I mean this not by way of a criticism of
>> Harlequin, but as a defence of the sacred memory of Allsorts R.I.P.
>
>Laurence, you can't be serious!! Although one of the Allsorts GMs was
>a minor GMing god, the general concensus amongst most middle Earth
>players I have spoken to is that Allsorts sucked, big time (though
>not
>as much as GAD).

RD: Nostalgia can do strange things to one's memory. I fondly remember the
'good old days' when Allsorts would phone to tell you you had made a
cock-up, and were available on the phone 24 hours a day (well almost). But
I have to say I prefer an efficient (in every sense) GM to a friendly one
who allows his business to slide down the toilet like a dying Klingon.

When Harlequin, with the substantially increased sumber of ME games they are
running, phone or email us to tell us 'you have made a cock-up' they will be
perfect!

It's rather sweeping to say "the general consensus" and I don't think
that you can back it with evidence. Like you, I play a lot and know a
lot of MEPBM gamers. I know one or two only, who would agree with you.
When Harlequin took over from Allsorts, everyone I played with seemed to
be in a state of shock, and even mild annoyance. Many had a loyalty to
Allsorts, and it felt a little like being sold out. I did say when I
started this one that I knew others would claim different experiences.
But I restate, in my own personal experience, I had excellent service
from Allsorts, and even pretty good service from GAD.
>
>By the way, when Harlequin make a mistake I find them superb at
>putting things right.
Yes, I agree with you. They always put their input errors right
promptly and politely. I know, because I use that facility rather
often...

>> For someone like me, who makes more order cock ups than Emperor
>> Cock Up of the Pan-Galactic Cock Up Empire, it made the difference
>> between successful turns, and violent self-abusive head banging on
>> turn sheet day.
>The simple solution is of course to read through your orders
>properly.
Thank you for that inspired advice, I had never thought of doing that.

>You've been playing the game for years Laurence, haven't you learnt
>all the codes off be heart yet?
Yus:
810 Fail2MvCmpy
520 Fail2InfOthr
525 Fail2InfYour
755 Fail2JnArmy
850 Fail2ReadCmpass w, w, w, not, e, e, e
948 TranUnitsNot% le 50

These are a few of my favourites.

Regards,

Laurence G. Tilley http://www.lgtilley.freeserve.co.uk/

RD: Thanks for making me laugh Laurence. Not many emails do that!

Regards,

Richard.

···

Colin Forbes <colin@timewyrm.fsnet.co.uk> wrote

[Richard_John_Devereu]

It's rather sweeping to say "the general consensus" and I don't think
> that you can back it with evidence. Like you, I play a lot and know a
> lot of MEPBM gamers. I know one or two only, who would agree with you.
> When Harlequin took over from Allsorts, everyone I played with seemed to
> be in a state of shock, and even mild annoyance. Many had a loyalty to
> Allsorts, and it felt a little like being sold out.

*** In some ways you were. They ripped us off something chronic. And

their

old landlords. And despite offering to help and come up and teach us some
more they did not despite repeated requests. From what I saw they just
wanted to dump it as fast as they could and make a quick buck.

> But I restate, in my own personal experience, I had excellent service
> from Allsorts, and even pretty good service from GAD.

*** I might like to point out at this point that GAD and Allsorts were the
same people. They changed name after the whole GAD thing. Gad was the
nickname for the oldest Cleworth brother. Simon is his younger brother. We
only figured it all out some time after we acquired MEPBM.

RD: Well you learn something new every day. Thanks for the new perspective!

For those one the list who are recent converts to PBM, or not British, GAD
arguably put more people off PBM than any other firm in the history of

Brit

PBM.

SNIP

> > 810 Fail2MvCmpy
> 520 Fail2InfOthr
> 525 Fail2InfYour
> 755 Fail2JnArmy
> 850 Fail2ReadCmpass w, w, w, not, e, e, e
> 948 TranUnitsNot% le 50
>
Yeh been there myself. Particular fav of the 850 order myself Closely
followed by 525/520 order...

> These are a few of my favourites.
>
Clint

RD: Yeah, 850 is the one, e instead of w or vice versa. I never get mixed
up between n and s. Why is that? Glad to know I'm not the only one but
does anybody have the answer?

Regards,

Richard.

[Laurence_G_Tilley]

I forgot your classic though:
999 Fail2SendTrnSht
There's a memory to wipe the smile off.

A half memory of some track on an album in the 70's... Queen, ELO or
Pink Floyd or someone... about a sad little man called Norman or Stanley
or somesuch... it's more of a talk over than a song... he buys a blow
up doll from a "Special" Magazine. The word "Special" was said with a
slightly Northern, lisping, and definitively dirty-mac voice, which
always comes back to me when I see those dread words emblazoned across
page one... "A Special Service Turn" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!

Now, who can tell me the album and the artist?

Regards,

Laurence G. Tilley http://www.lgtilley.freeserve.co.uk/

···

Richard John Devereux <devereux@lineone.net> wrote

>You've been playing the game for years Laurence, haven't you learnt
>all the codes off be heart yet?
Yus:
810 Fail2MvCmpy
520 Fail2InfOthr
525 Fail2InfYour
755 Fail2JnArmy
850 Fail2ReadCmpass w, w, w, not, e, e, e
948 TranUnitsNot% le 50

RD: Thanks for making me laugh Laurence. Not many emails do that!

[Harlequin_Games2]

I also recall (ok this makes 2 things) that Allsorts were available on the
phone if not 24 hours a day, certainly a lot more hours than Harlequin.
This is a REDUCTION in the level of service offered especially to
non-emailers!

How long? Mostly curious. As far as I am aware I deal with emails fairly
often throughout the day and we are available phonewise from 12-6.30pm

But Clint, I WISH you'd phoned to tell me you can't REVEAL your own pop

(why

not?).

So that you don't do it accidentally I would guess. Like 810ing out of an
army that you are the sole Army commander disbanding the army. Just a guess
though. Not what the rule specify as far as I read it - but I'll take your
word on it.

Clint

[Harlequin_Games2]

When Harlequin, with the substantially increased sumber of ME games they

are

running, phone or email us to tell us 'you have made a cock-up' they will

be

perfect!

Tried it - could not get in touch. Also it took a lot of time. I would
like it if things get automated to make some changes - wish I could do all
the things I would like to do with the game.

···

[Harlequin_Games2]

Easy North is where your head is, east and west well I could never tell my
left hand from my right...

C

···

RD: Yeah, 850 is the one, e instead of w or vice versa. I never get mixed
up between n and s. Why is that? Glad to know I'm not the only one but
does anybody have the answer?

Regards,

Richard.

[Gavin_Wynford-Jones]

Harlequin Games wrote:

Easy North is where your head is, east and west well I could never tell my
left hand from my right...

Reminds me of a training course I once gave on WordPerfect. "Now press the
left arrow key. OK, try the *other* left arrow key."

Gavin

[Richard_John_Devereu]

> I also recall (ok this makes 2 things) that Allsorts were available on

the

> phone if not 24 hours a day, certainly a lot more hours than Harlequin.
> This is a REDUCTION in the level of service offered especially to
> non-emailers!

How long? Mostly curious. As far as I am aware I deal with emails fairly
often throughout the day and we are available phonewise from 12-6.30pm

RD: Certainly Allsorts took phone calls from 9am if not earlier, and I think
(altho I'm going by memory, and it was a long time ago) they were available
later in the evening too. The point is that most people don't get home from
work until 6.30pm or close to it, which leaves precious little time to
phone. I bet you you get a helluva lot more emails than phone calls! I
can't fault your response time to emails. I know you need to get away from
the office, just like everybody else. But I still pity the snailers (if
there are any left!).

>
> But Clint, I WISH you'd phoned to tell me you can't REVEAL your own pop
(why
> not?).
>
So that you don't do it accidentally I would guess.

RD: Eh? How on earth could you issue such an unusual order by accident? It
obviously didn't occur to GSI that a player might WANT to Reveal one of his
hidden pops to transfer it to a needy ally. I did! C'est la vie. Or
should that be c'est le mort?

Like 810ing out of an

army that you are the sole Army commander disbanding the army. Just a

guess

though. Not what the rule specify as far as I read it - but I'll take

your

word on it.

Clint

RD: Nah, nuffing like that at all mate.

Regards,

Richard.

···

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[Richard_John_Devereu]

>> >You've been playing the game for years Laurence, haven't you learnt
>> >all the codes off be heart yet?
>> Yus:
>> 810 Fail2MvCmpy
>> 520 Fail2InfOthr
>> 525 Fail2InfYour
>> 755 Fail2JnArmy
>> 850 Fail2ReadCmpass w, w, w, not, e, e, e
>> 948 TranUnitsNot% le 50
>RD: Thanks for making me laugh Laurence. Not many emails do that!
I forgot your classic though:
999 Fail2SendTrnSht
There's a memory to wipe the smile off.

RD: Bastard!

A half memory of some track on an album in the 70's... Queen, ELO or
Pink Floyd or someone... about a sad little man called Norman or Stanley
or somesuch... it's more of a talk over than a song... he buys a blow
up doll from a "Special" Magazine. The word "Special" was said with a
slightly Northern, lisping, and definitively dirty-mac voice, which
always comes back to me when I see those dread words emblazoned across
page one... "A Special Service Turn" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!

Now, who can tell me the album and the artist?

Regards,

Laurence G. Tilley

RD: Easy: 'Service turn' by the Specials!

Now YOU have reminded me of a track called 'Readers' wives' which was about
the awful pictures of ugly naked women sitting on the toilet which appeared
in one of 'those' magazines. Both the track and the magazine were crap.
No, I didn't buy either - I heard it at a mate's house. Honest.

Richard.

···

Richard John Devereux <devereux@lineone.net> wrote