I have had many a nickname in my time – Wee Johnny, Johnnyallan, Jono and HeyYouYaLazyFatBastard (wives can be so cruel) but the one I identify most of all with is Jake. I was christened that by one of my brother’s flat mates in the early seventies. I’m sure it’s after the Free song My Brother Jake.

Unlike Free’s earlier hit Alright Now this is not so much a guitar driven rock anthem as a rollicking singalong around the old pub piano. Not so much Mother Brown genuflecting skywards but her offspring reflecting on their siblings.

My Brother Jake was written by lead singer Paul Rodgers and bassist Andy Fraser and released in April 1971. It reached number four and remained in the UK charts for 11 weeks. Any publican worth their weight in pork scratchings would have it on their jukebox to this day. Fraser says it was written about his friend Horace Faith but the metre of  My Brother Horace didn’t quite fit.

A rolling upbeat on the old honky tonk and you’re straight into a couple of verses. Rodgers takes it up the octave at the end then belts out the foot stomping chorus. By this time you’re arm in arm swinging Gran around the pool room like a demented Dick Van Dyke. Let’s face it, Paul Rodgers could be reading the death notices and you’d still be head banging the soggy towels on the bar. The volume gets a bit louder as the rest of the band take up the rambunctious beat that has you conga lining past the pokey machines and out on to the main street. A few more choruses with Paul Kossoff cranking up his lead guitar to 11 o’rock, a short soulful coda and it’s all over in two minutes and fifty seconds.

You self consciously shuffle back to your table and notice all eyes focused on you.

Must be my round eh ?

And don’t forget Gran’s advocaat and lemonade !

I slouch over to the bar avoiding walking in front of the oche at the darts tournament.

Sorry, can’t serve you.

Why not ?

It’s 1972 and I know you’re only fourteen. I read the blog too ! Actually it’s 2023, you’re 65 and you’ve fallen asleep in your armchair again.

You’ve fallen asleep in your armchair again !

I hear my wife Pauline say.

Go to bed.

Laying my weary head on the pillow I can just make out Pauline singing quietly to herself in the bathroom.

My brother Jake, hat, shades, head in a daze .