Glossary entry for
London
Van mentions a number of London locations in his songs from the
Them albums,
the Bang recordings and
Astral Weeks:
Park Lane ("You Just Can't Win")
This is a north-south road on the Western side of London's West End (the
main shopping and Entertainment area of central London). It runs
alongside Hyde Park, and is known for its expensive hotels, casinos etc,
and is the area where wealthy overseas visitors are likely to stay.
Curzon Street ("He Ain't Give You None")
This is one a number of small streets behind Park Lane, next to
Shepherd Market which was known as a high-priced red-light
district for some of the visitors mentioned above (one Van-fan notes that
"It is the area of choice for rich Mayfair men to install their mistresses
in a flat"). Some printed lyrics spell it "Kersian" but Curzon seems to be more
logical.
Tottenham Court Road ("You Just Can't Win")
At the other end of Oxford St (London's the main shopping street) is
Tottenham Court Road underground Station. From here Charing Cross Road
Runs south towards Leicester Square & Trafalgar Square, and Tottenham
Court Road runs north towards Camden Town. This is an area of cheaper
shops and hotels (also the main centre for Hi Fi & Computer shops).
Camden Town ("You Just Can't Win")
An inner suburb just north of central London with a large Irish
population. There is a market on Saturdays & Sundays which is popular
with tourists.
Notting Hill Gate ("Friday's Child", "He Ain't Give You None")
Notting Hill is a suburb west of the city, with a multi-cultural
population, mainly West Indian (although less multi-cultural now). There is an annual Caribbean festival
which is England's nearest equivelant of the Mardi Gras in New Orleans
or the Rio festival in Brazil.
Also the location of the well-known Portobello Road Street Market.
The "gate" probably refers to one of the entrances to nearby Kensington
Gardens.
Incidentally, the house Mick Jagger lived in in the film "Performance"
was in the Notting Hill area, in Powys Square.
Ladbroke Grove ("Slim Slow Slider")
A long road which runs through the centre of Notting Hill.
Queensway ("Bring 'Em On In")
The main road in Bayswater, which is next to Notting Hill
Contributed by Van list member Alan Lloyd, in London, England
Part of the van-the-man.info unofficial website
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