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Articles by David Hepworth

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The Word Podcast live on August 19th

July 6, 2014 David Hepworth 0

In response to public demand we’re putting on a recording of the Word Podcast live on August 19th. It’ll be at the Islington. Mark Ellen, […]

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Our first Manchester Word In Your Ear – with Stuart Maconie and Mark Ellen

May 9, 2014 David Hepworth 0

There’s nothing like speech. It’s amazing how many subjects you can touch on, buttons you can press, situations you can recall and pictures you can […]

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Keep May 19th free and stay tuned for a details of a second Mark Ellen show

March 6, 2014 David Hepworth 1

The show with Mark Ellen at the Slaughtered Lamb on May 12th has sold out but we’ll be announcing another one to take place a […]

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Revision notes for Sunday’s WIYE at the Lexington

November 27, 2013 David Hepworth 0

Here’s Rhodri Marsden’s piercing analysis of the umbilical connection between the words “waiting” and “aniticipating” This is “Build A House Of Love”, an Andy Gregory-arranged […]

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Did anyone take any decent pictures of last night’s show?

October 10, 2013 David Hepworth 0

I was somewhat preoccupied so I didn’t. Which is a shame because it seemed to go very well. Can’t tell you how much simpler it […]

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I’m 540 pages into Mark Lewisohn’s book…

September 24, 2013 David Hepworth 0

…so I’ve written about it here.

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A night playing records and talking with Richard Williams and Kate Mossman

September 17, 2013 David Hepworth 0

Last night Richard Williams and Kate Mossman were  guinea pigs for our experimental evening in the small upstairs room to the Betsey Trotwood. In my […]

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We’re back from our holidays

August 22, 2013 David Hepworth 0

News about two exciting shows in September and October coming soon. Keep the 16th of the former and the 15th of the latter free. More […]

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We few, we happy few, will be talking about those Duckworth Lewis shows for weeks

July 10, 2013 David Hepworth 0

Alex and I have just got back from Nottingham, having seen the Duckworth Lewis Method royally entertain the Playhouse Theatre with a slightly longer set […]

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Handful of new tickets for Duckworth Lewis at Lord’s on Monday!

July 5, 2013 David Hepworth 0

Because of public demand and media interest, Duckworth Lewis will now be playing two shows at Lord’s on Monday night and therefore we have issued […]

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The Word Podcast

Word In Your Ear
Word In Your Ear

David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and chums cast an occasionally jaundiced eye over the goings-on in the worlds of music and entertainment.

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Star Ratings – do we love/hate/need them? Five-star debate here! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
byMark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold

Star Ratings are now ubiquitous and inescapable and it’s not just music, films and books. Everything we encounter tends to be rated which colours our judgement before we try it. Choice can be paralyzing but do we read anymore or just count? Benji Wilson’s ‘Rate This Book: How Star Ratings Took Over the World’ traces their origin – back to 350 BC! – paints a picture of modern life and wonders here where we’re heading, along with …

 

… Aristotle’s 2,500 year-old system of star-rated animals

 

… how Michelin cooked up starred restaurants to get you to wear out your tyres

 

… can we spot fake reviews and the people who sell them?

 

… do we only tend to read one- and five-star reviews? And why writers hate the system

 

… the ingenious deceit of the Krays movie poster

 

… the value of reviews in a world where time and tickets costs are escalating

 

… “Star Ratings are the democratisation of criticism, the least-worst method”

 

… why a 2016 episode of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror now seems prophetic

 

… the “hidden hands” that manipulate the ratings system

 

… and mass Amazon ratings and the power of Mob Rule.

 

Order copies of ‘Rate This Book’ here: https://linktr.ee/newmodern_books#560826579

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rate-This-Book-Ratings-World/dp/1917923651?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock’n’Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear


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Star Ratings – do we love/hate/need them? Five-star debate here! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Star Ratings – do we love/hate/need them? Five-star debate here! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 11, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Brian Epstein & the Beatles – what he did and what he hid
June 9, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Are we nearing Beatles Overload? plus the rock star with the most children (41!)
June 8, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
The glorious story of Funk from James Brown to Off The Wall
June 3, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Leo Sayer has met everyone – rock legends, sport superstars, future presidents …
June 2, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Songs about sweltering heat, Willie Nelson’s braids and is vinyl now ‘luxury goods’?
June 1, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
How Daniel Lanois made those adventurous records with Dylan, U2 and Willie Nelson
May 29, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Siouxsie, Nico, Cocteaus, Shangri-Las, Bobbie Gentry … a celebration of the sound of Goth!
May 28, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Blondie and Clem Burke remembered by devoted pal Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s
May 27, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Nick Lowe’s miracle payday, Rock feuds and a giant inflatable Jarvis
May 25, 2026
Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
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