BOB'S FULL HOUSE

As our Christmas present to you, Record Collector spent several hours over several weeks in the company of this issue's editor: Bob Geldof, Knight of the Realm, Live Aid hero, sometimes conscience of the world, but deep down a music nut to the tips of his toes.

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Daryl Easlea went to deepest Kent to find out the tunes that have kept Geldof grooving for the past 74 years. Over the ensuing 21 days, we reunited in Essex and Cambridgeshire, continuing the conversation in shops, concerts and, well, at funerals... Meanwhile, as part of Sir Bob's remit to look after the commissioning and editing of the cover story and its numerous constituent parts, we have, on page 94, a tongue-in-cheek survey of 60-odd years of Christmas No 1 singles by Chris Roberts, from Band Aid to LadBaby and beyond. Then, on page 100, Paul McNulty, one half of the celebrated Consequences podcast, takes a forensic look at the genesis and influence of 1975's two standout singles, 10cc's I'm Not In Love and Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, tracing these two contrasting yet oddly similar creative forces as they revolutionised 70s pop in their joint annus mirabilis of 1975. On page 112, David Stubbs considers the impact of the 20 ultimate groundbreaking singles of the 70s, from All Right Now by Free to Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall (Pt 2). Finally, on page 158, we speak to the producer of Boomtown Rats' own contribution to the 70s stellar singles pantheon, Phil Wainman, about his role in the making of I Don't Like Mondays among other hits. Someone lookin' atcha: Ted Cummings & Daryl Easlea

Being in Faversham with Bob Geldof is a little like being with Frank Sinatra in Vegas. Everybody knows who he is: 50 per cent acknowledge him as we move around its quaint streets; the other half know exactly who he is but choose to shuffle by in a too-cool-for-school manner.

We begin at Hatter's Hall record shop, run by Les Best, an incredible cove who once was Lemmy's flatmate. Geldof shuffles through the amassed records, picking out one he wants in the photographs. We then stroll through the town to Saturnalia, another record shop, where Geldof engages in warm conversion with Elliot, its owner.