All the usual features of an Everyman puzzle in this one.
Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed
definitions are underlined
Across
1 Chorister‘s ablution with regular purging
ALTO
The odd letters of AbLuTiOn.
4 Last two pieces missing from puzzle depicting lively dances
JIGS
JIGS[AW]
8 Cause aggravation – by rustling?
GET SOMEONE’S GOAT
A cd. ‘Rustling’ here needs to be understood in the meaning of stealing animals. The phrase is originally AmEng, for those who get exercised about such things.
11 Drink in a deceit, haplessly
ICED TEA
(A DECEIT)* with ‘haplessly’ as the anagrind.
12 Copper to steal from the French museum’s entrance? A concern
PROBLEM
A charade of P, ROB, LE and M for the initial letter of ‘museum’. P is for ‘penny’ or ‘copper’ coin.
13 Extra time, erroneously, in cabbie’s device
TAXI METER
(EXTRA TIME)* with ‘erroneously’ as the anagrind. This is a great and succinct anagram, but I can’t remember seeing it before.
14 Passed quickly – for feedback?
RAN BY
A dd. For the second definition, you have to take the whole clue as the definition, I think.
15 Doctor who may be a smoker
CURER
A much clearer dd.
16 Slap-happy greetings?
HIGH-FIVES
A cd.
19 Something tells you I’m not a horse, and that’s the point
UNICORN
Another cd. A UNICORN is a horse with a point.
21 Sample taken from cover (duet), Not Before Time
OVERDUE
Hidden in cOVER DUEt.
22 Thirtieth: then go bananas or behave appropriately?
HIT THE RIGHT NOTE
(THIRTIETH THEN GO)* with ‘bananas’ as the anagrind.
23 Most important thing is vintage cross
CRUX
A charade of CRU and X. CRU is ultimately derived the French verb croître, meaning ‘to grow’ and is used in expressions like Premier Cru.
24 A Freudian concept, to begin with, scarcely helps
AIDS
A charade of A, ID and S for the initial letter of ‘scarcely’.
Down
2 Chairperson suppressing pride?
LION TAMER
A cd. The classic cartoon image of the LION TAMER is with a whip and a chair. And lions come in prides.
3 Cavort around, ‘entertaining’ Everyman’s beginning to ham it up
OVERACT
An insertion of E for the initial letter of ‘Everyman’ in (CAVORT)* The anagrind is ‘around’ and the insertion indicator is ‘entertaining’.
4 Judge unwise: unripe berry used in booze
JUNIPER
A charade of J and (UNRIPE)* The anagrind is ‘unwise’.
5 Blast! Zero enthusiasm
GUSTO
A charade of GUST and O.
6 Assuming ‘geriatrics’ enfeebled, I’m seldom tolerant, primarily?
AGEIST
The initial letters of the first six words of the clue and a cad.
7 Smiley perhaps pulling in gut, short and stout
STUMPY
An insertion of TUM in SPY. The insertion indicator is ‘pulling in’. [George] Smiley was a secret agent in the novels of John Le Carré.
9 Heroic text’s adapted as scary film
THE EXORCIST
(HEROIC TEXTS)* with ‘adapted’ as the anagrind.
10 Funny one I loved in YouTube clip?
ONLINE VIDEO
(ONE I LOVED IN)* with ‘funny’ as the anagrind.
14 Pondered what lake’s surface may have done
REFLECTED
A dd.
15 Apprehended and, where hearings take place, heard
CAUGHT
A soundalike clue (‘heard’) for COURT.
16 Voodoo Child rocker Jimi ultimately bearing number that’s entertained?
HENDRIX
Given the crossers and the definition, the answer was never in doubt; but I struggled to parse this for the longest time. Since it’s a down clue, I think it is this: DRI for the final letters of ‘Child’, ‘rocker’ and ‘Jimi’, ‘bearing’ N for number, giving us NDRI, and all that inserted into HEX. HEX is a spell, so the insertion indicator is ‘in a spell’, in other words in HEX. And if someone is ‘in a spell’ or ‘spellbound’ then they are ‘entertained’. Others may have a different interpretation, including where the definition ends.
17 Artificial intelligence, mostly Grok for example, rising in former Soviet state
GEORGIA
A reversal (‘rising’, since it’s a down clue) of AI, GRO[K] and EG.
18 Appeared to be what you can do on Riviera
SEEMED
If you are on the Côte d’Azur, you can certainly SEE [the] MED.
20 To the rear, somewhat different
OTHER
Hidden in tO THE Rear.
Many thanks to Everyman as always for this Sunday’s puzzle.
I had also failed to come up with a satisfactory parsing for 16d, although as Pierre says the answer was always obvious. Pierre’s solution has inspired me though; I think it’s Voodoo= HEX with NDRI as per his solution inserted (entertained).
Thanks Pierre & Everyman
22a. HIT THE RIGHT TONE would be an equally plausible answer based on the anagram, (it was one I certainly considered); however, knowledge of Everyman’s penchant for a symmetrically placed rhyming pair comes to our assistance and the conclusion that the intended answer must be NOTE to rhyme with GOAT in 8a !
Thanks for the blog , I think Graham@1 has the final version for HENDRIX , not the best clue . The original track was actually Voodoo Chile , a shorter version based on this was called Voodoo Chil[e/d] ( slight return ) , depending on the record label . The shorter version later a UK single and now just Voodoo Chile . Complicated , but Jimi clearly sings Chile .
I think that Jimi sang chil’ as did Muddy Waters and others too.
VC and VC (slight return) couldn’t be much more different in arrangement, but with both relying heavily on a pentatonic scale with a characteristic dying slur to the dominant, descending across the augmented fourth to give a sinister character to the guitar riff. The words are clearly related though. VC Slight Return is, I think, probably the most explosive rock guitar composition ever.
Thanks to all.
Riviera in 18 Down I believe refers to an old type of sewing machine. Thanks for these explanations – I finished this week because I have been learning from this blog. Many years since I used to do this crossword with my family and I’m enjoying the challenge again each week.
I enjoyed this puzzle and STUMPY and SEEMED made me smile. The only one I couldn’t parse was HENDRIX and I’m still struggling to get my head around it. It seems that the definition is lost in a bunch of words which make us all immediately think of the same person.
[Etu@4 there is footage of this on Sounds of the Sixties . Voodoo Chile (SR ) , later Hey Joe then they go off-script , on a Lulu show off all places . Great to see the rapport between Jimi and Mitch Mitchell . ]
Couldn’t parse HENDRIX and I can see that the explanations given are pretty awkward. The ghastly “sound-alike” in 15d made me frown (as usual, these sound very different to me).
I actually did manage to parse HENDRIX, the same way as Pierre. I also wondered about Chile/Child.
Last two to parse for me were JIGS and AIDS. Everyman’s 4-letter words often cause a few from me too.
Rather easier than last week’s, but I did struggle with “someones” in 8A.
The Clapton/Winwood version of Voodoo Chile is much better than Hendrix’ version
Roz 7,
[Thanks for the reminder, I saw that Lulu show as it happened. The power was cut to the stage part way into JH’s tribute to Cream with part of “Sunshine Of Your Love”]
[Etu@11 yes it was a live show and overran , the best bit is when they are playing Hey Joe and Jimi forgets the words , so he sings – I forgot the words – . It is lucky a lot of this footage survives , most early TOTP was wiped . ]
I left HENDRIX for a while as I thought it was rather an obvious answer but after completing the rest if the puzzle it was the only word that would fit so I put it in. Incidentally, if anyone is interested, check out the version of Voodoo Chile on Electric Ladyland – stormin’!!
Dylan is hidden crossword style in Electric Lady Land.
Apart from the defining version of his All Along The Watchtower there are other nods to Jimi’s fellow great man on the album. And of course, not least, Jimi’s original hairdo.