“The Hosting Couple CD was my introduction to the music of Robert Rotifer. We ‘met’ through the ether in the Autumn of 2012 after Robert had interviewed me online for his FM4 radio programme. We exchanged CDs, mutually appreciative behind the bicycle shed of creativity. I instantly fell in love with Robert’s nostalgic 'Creosote Summer' and was in no doubt it was the song I wanted to cover of his when I was invited by the Gare Du Nord team to record a song of Ralegh Long’s ('No Use') and one of Robert’s for their Ebbsfleet International project.
The song has a gorgeous end-of-summer languidity which I decided to wallow in even more by changing the tempo to a waltz rhythm. I also altered the lyric slightly. Robert sings of going back to school 'thirty years ago', and while people tell me I don’t look my age I thought the concept that I was at school in the early ‘80s rather pushing it a little! Early ‘60s, yes. So I sing 'fifty years ago'. I hope the Rotifer purists won’t balk at my liberal attitude to my ‘classmate’s’ poetry.” - JH
