Bus travel is the most commonly used form of public transport globally. According to the latest ONS data, 3.1bn bus journeys were taken in the UK last year compared to 1.7bn train journeys. In India and Brazil there are respectively an estimated 70m and 60m bus journeys taken every day. These are just a few examples.
Despite the essential support that buses provide to so many people all over the world there are people who look down their noses at them. I won't point fingers or name names but there is one particular blogger who takes a very uncharitable view of bus travel, apparently considering it not to be as chic as using trains, boats or planes.
As a regular bus user I feel the humble bus should be given the credit it deserves - a view shared by many musicians, of which the ones below are just a small selection. Please note the inclusion of some Mandatory Reggae Bus Travel.
If you missed this post about buses don't worry, there will be another one along shortlly.
"Number One Bus" - Nuru Kane
"Fourpenny Bus Ride" - Dantalion's Chariot
"Midnight Bus" - Betty McQuade
"Bus Route" - Tyler Childers
"Ina De Bus" - Professor Nuts
As Jonathan Richman once sang You're Crazy for Taking the Bus.
ReplyDeleteYours a frequent bus pass user.
And the Fatima Mansions claimed 'Only Losers Take The Bus'. Where does all this anti-bus sentiment come from?
DeleteWas your rockabilly brother not involved in a heated dispute with a bus in his youth?
DeleteA friend of his was lifted for shouting "Empty Bus Bastard" when it failed to stop for him
DeleteAh you did it, great stuff. Yes let's hear it for buses. The Hollies is a personal favourite tune too.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely something special about a good bus ride (top deck of course), the chance to see all those high up architectural features that we normally miss and peek into office windows in cities and all for just a few quid. Also recommend the No. 91 to Ipswich round these parts: overhanging tree branches whipping the windows, a hair-raising hairpin bend, funny little diversions to serve isolated hamsteds and some alpaca-spotting make it fun. Have to wait a bit longer to to get my free bus pass out here in the sticks but I'm looking forward to it.
hamlets, not hamsteds!
DeleteI'm glad you clarified that, I thought it was a typo for 'hamster'. I had an image of a poor little hamster becoming isolated from its herd and being left to the mercies of feral alpacas
DeleteOh no! Lonesome hamsters being preyed on by feral alpacas is not something you want to see from the top deck of the bus - the trauma!
DeleteCC might be more willing to take the bus if he knew it stopped at 82nd Street.
ReplyDeleteI have not yet played any of your tracks, I keep thinking about those bus journey numbers, and comparing the UK to India and . Brazil
ReplyDeleteso 8.5 million bus journeys a day in the UK.
DeleteThose 14 or so million aged 60 and above are getting good use of those bus passes
DeleteDantalion's Chariot lived up to the promise of the name
ReplyDeleteZoot Money and Andy Summers were in Dantalion's Chariot - I recommend 'Madman Running Through The Fields' for some great groovy psychness.
DeleteIf you'd not included the Hollies' Bus Stop I'd have had the ticket inspector come on and examine your ticket v-e-r-y closely. Great post
ReplyDeleteI own up to being 'Anonymous'
ReplyDelete