Marlow Bottom Acoustic Club

Several people have asked about this tune that Rosie and I play. You can find the dots here: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/alan.jackson87/images/EricRocher.jpg

We expect mass participation next time we play it.

Despite the absence of several regulars, there was decent turnout a The Prince Albert for Glen’s final visit before heading south-west again. Glen herself hadn’t intended to sing this evening, but couldn’t resist it after Stuart had suggested that we might be able to fill a whole evening with versions of Daddy Fox. Stuart sang it to a different tune than we usually hear from Dick. Glen naturally responded with a version to a further different tune and later added Ploughboy Lads.

Perhaps for the first time, we had three songs from Stuart – his other two being There Was an Old Woman Who Swalled a Fly and Cyril Tawney’s Ballad of Sammy’s Bar. Delia’s songs were Johnny Todd and Soldier, Soldier.

All the above were unaccompanied, as were Dick’s Fair Rosamund, Turkish Men of War and The Card Song (Here’s To You Tom Brown) and Paul Simon’s Sound of Silence from John C.

Martin B had started with a lesser-known Paul Simon song – Wednesday Morning 3am and continued later with Robert Johnson’s Malted Milk. He finished the evening with the lovely You’ve Got a Friend by Carole King (via James Taylor), with almost everyone singing along and seeming to know all the words.

In Karen and Roger’s absence, Rosie and I plan to play some atypical songs at The Bottom Line gig at The Dog & Badger on Tuesday and gave outings (with varying degrees of success) this evening to The Ole Devil Called Love, Dream a Little Dream and Almaz.

On the pop song theme, David and Simon duetted on XTC’s Generals and Majors, which is probably not in any collection of folk songs from the Upper Thames (or Swindon). Their other songs were David’s own fine Islands of Steel and Steve Knightley’s Widdecombe Fair.

Andy took some time out from pulling together the music for Monday’s Beer Festival at the Crowne Plaza to join Richard for Lizzie Lindsay, You Are My Moonshine and the saucy Ball of Yarn, coupled with The Proudlock Hornpipe.

Naturally, we had some tunes too, notably from Paul, whom we hadn’t seen for a while. He started with Uncle’s Jig and St Lawrence Jig and later played Ty Coch (which is apparently Welsh for Red House) and the Polish Redower Polka. I was disappointed that Ty Coch was a polka rather than a slow blues.

Paul also joined in heartily with The Kerry Polkas, which was led by Rosie and me. We also played reels The Silver Spear and Sally Gardens.

Simon’s joining Roger to play for Herbaceous Border at Chippenham this weekend. As Simon gave us Upton Stick Dance this evening, I assume this will be part of the repertoire.

We’ll be at The Belle Vue in Wycombe on Wednesday 2ndJune. I hope we have a good a session there as we had last time.

Meanwhile, The Bottom Line will be down to three (Rosie, Steve, Alan) for the regular ‘first Tuesday’ gig at The Dog & Badger. We will be joined by The August List (Martin & Kerraleigh), so do try to come along to give them your support.

Several of our regulars will be playing at the Marlow May Fayre in Higginson Park on Saturday 29th May. Please come along and lend your support. Here's the schedule:

12:30-13:30: The Bottom Line Three (Steve, Rosie & Alan), Dick Frost

14:45-15:20: The August List (Martin & Kerraleigh)
15:20-15:30: Fred Cairns

16:15-16:40: Stuart Walker
16:45-17:15: Ye Expanding Waystrels (Andy and Richard)

On Wednesday, May 19th, 20 or so stout fellas and fellaresses squeezed themselves into the farthest recesses of the dining-room of the Bag and Dodger, and much joyous music and singing ensued.

First to vocalise his innermost thoughts was Dick, sometime upholsterer and veritable Doyen of the Buckinghamshire Balladeers, who launched himself into "I Have A Sister " with all the verve and gusto that only a former Light Infantryman could muster. This was followed by "Marcie", from the troubled pen of J Mitchell (Miss), performed nicely by Robin. Two tunes, namely "Shaskeen" ( sp. ??) and "Pigeon On The Gate" came from Alan & Rosie's corner of the room, and they also duetted on "Bang Bang", which, sadly, isn't a Swedish love song, but should be (IMHO).

The ever-dependable Richard led us in "Lovely Nancy", after which Martin & Kerraleigh entertained with "At The Bottom Of Everything" and "Wonderful Life", attributable to Bright Eyes and Felice Brothers, although which to whom, sadly, evaded my notes. Delia sang the Acker Peller (remember him ?) version of "Can Ye Sew Cushions ?" after which her other (and much better) half played, rather dashingly I thought, "Midnight On The Water" on his concertina, to which I contributed a modest accompaniment (blush). Dave & Alison Fennel performed the tragic and evocative "Take My Hammer", followed by "Red Guitar" (it says in my scribble).

Next, I almost hesitate to mention, came the turn of ourselves, yes Karen and Moi ! With an eye to the future and Bank Holiday Weekend's Chippenham Festival, whereat we shall be performing, with Simon Diegan ( !!) (blush encore), I essayed a quick "Upton Stick Dance" on tremelo harmonica, although Karen declined to demonstrate the footwork, after which we together performed "Across The Great Divide" by Kate Wolf. Debbie delighted with "Fling It Here", the great Muckspreader Disaster song, followed by The Other Martin singing "The Needles And The Damage Done", about the pitfalls faced by knitters with the DTs. Ian stuck to his traditional guns with "Spencer The Rover", and Terry shone with his version of Bill Caddick's "Unicorns".

After the interval, Dick re-started us with "The Peat Bog Stories" and Robin sang the "Sideboard Song ". Rosie and Alan then got greedy and were quite carried away with "The Tar Road To Sligo", "Tripping Up The Stairs", & "The Blarney Pilgrim" and a song, "People Being Sensible" (which they weren't). Richard's "The Football Match" amused, Kerraleigh and Martin (I'm tempted to call them "KLM" in future) pleased with "Arms Outstretched" & "Come On Billy", and John led us all in "Where The Robbers Retreat" in a dodgy (for me) key .Delia sang about the regretful Miss Otis, whilst Hubby declined his turn; I played "Portsmouth" on harmonica, and Karen & I rendered "This Old Town" as per the singing of Nancy Griffith. Terry probably did something else, but I missed it ( possibly went for a "cuddle "), Martin sang "Behind Blue Eyes", and finally (gasp!) Dave Fenugreek performed "Next Best Western", finishing off a splendid evening, aided my Mrs F and "Love Thee, Dearest, Love Thee" ( and I'm sure they do !)

We are busy preparing for Chippenham, so will probably miss this Wednesday at the Prince Albert, and next week we're in Gloucestershire and Lyme Regis, so see you all again sometime in June !!

Roger

It seems that most people who play at clubs like ours have a core repertoire that they choose from each week, trying not to sing the same song too often. This week, Dick gave the lovely Limehouse Lass, which he can sing as often as he likes as far as most of us are concerned, plus My Boy Billy, which seems to have moved from the fringe to the core recently. His third song was The Belle of Barking Creek, which I don’t think he’s sung in the ‘Marlow Bottom’ years.

Richard sang three songs that I don’t remember having heard from him before: The Rambling Comber (presumably learned from the singing of John Kirkpatrick), The One Thing or the Other and the somewhat saucy Bonny Black Hare (which was recorded by Steeleye Span) . Saucy didn’t quite cover Roger’s Ring a Ding Ding Dong, which probably has a rugby heritage.

We’ve heard The Wild Rover lots of times, but not to the unusual tune to which Ian sang it this evening. We have heard Durham Miners’ Lament, but I don’t think we’ve heard him sing Bold Richard to any tune. Ian had sung Three Jolly Rogues of Lynn (AKA Three Jolly Rogues Together) at one of his early visits to the club. Rosie and I learned this song from a nursery rhyme tape by Rick Kemp and Friends, on which it was sung by Maddy Prior, and have sung it a couple of times at the club before this evening’s rendition.

Grandmothers featured in a couple of songs: Didn’t I Dance from Glen, about three generations of women looking back at their younger days and Bill Withers’ Grandma’s Hands from Rosie.

Fred played a set of three marches: The Girl I Left Behind (AKA Brighton Camp); Garryowen and Bonny Dundee. As far as I know, whistles made of plastic pipe have yet to be adopted by any military band in the western world. But you never know. They don’t tend to have guitars either, so Roger’s British Grenadiers was fitting.

Fred also played the tune C’est La Vie, by Stackridge. They were a little-known, and very quirky, band from the 70s who, in a slightly different formation as The Korgis, had a massive hit with Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime. I saw Stackridge live as a support band at Bristol Colston Hall a couple of times around 1971. As it happens, the current line-up played there a couple of weeks ago.

We only heard Stuart singing along to others’ songs this week. Delia struck out on her own to sing Bonny Labouring Boy with an excellent concertina intro and outro.

Both Simon and I were wrong about Lindisfarne’s Meet Me on the Corner - it hit the charts in early 1972. It was the first song Steve sang in public, at Chesham Folk Club not long after its release. Tonight’s version had plenty of singing along, as did Unison in Harmony.

Martin and Kerraleigh continued their quest to find songs or artists with unusual names with Brad Haunts a Party by Nina Nastasia. More conventional titles were My Home is the Sea (Superwolf), Cape Canaveral (Conor Oberst) and Rise Up with Fists (Jenny Lewis),

We also heard:

• Dave H: Weatherman, The Age of Steam
• Karen and Roger: The Sun’s Coming Over the Hill (Karine Polwart)
• Karen, Roger and Steve: Lowlands
• Simon:Oranges in Bloom, Enlist for a Sailor
• Delia: Faraway Tom
• Rosie and me: Three polkas (Captain Byng/Peg Ryan’s/Maids of Ardagh)
• Me with some help from Richard (and perhaps Fred): Lord Inchquin
• Glen: Success to the Farmer
• Fred: Oh Sir Jasper

We’re at the Dog and Badger next week, where I anticipate the usual good turnout.

Compared to our last session at the Belle Vue we had a splendid turnout this time and instead of everyone having to dredge their memory banks for 4 songs we only had to remember 2.5 songs this time.

As usual Dick opened the batting with 'Let Union Be' which got us all (well nearly all) in good voice. Dick's later and more oiled offerings were 'Jones' Ale' and 'Broomfield Hill'. Richard, sporting his piano accordian let rip with 'Two Lovely Black Eyes' (with topical words) and later with 'Bold Reilly' and '50 Years Ago'. Mandolin wizard, Robin gave us the Scottish traditional song 'False False' and later followed up with some very fancy picking on 'Byker Hill'. His 'piece de resistance', however, at the end on the night was 'Delila' (Tom Jones has nothing on this version).
Helen's lovely voice enraptured us all with 'Divided Country' (Bing Lyle), 'May Morning Dew' and 'Grey Dawn'. As normal Ian's great unaccompanied voice wafted over the pint glasses to the assembled throng with three ditties; 'Hal-an-Tow', 'Trees They Do Grow High' and 'Pleasant and Delightful'.

Dave sang his self-penned 'Funfair Comes To Town' and again sported his melodeon skills with 'Morgan's Run/Tune With No Name' and 'Bear Dance'. Martin and Kerraleigh came armed with yet more obscure songs (well obscure to those of my vintage anyway). Learning even 1 new song a week is certainly beyond my aged brain cell but Martin and Kerraleigh seem to learn 4 new songs each week with ease and Kerraleigh's beautiful voice gave us 'Madeline Mary' (by Bonny Prince Billy; would he have made a better fist of things in 1745?), Yellow By The Sun (Low Anthem), 'Easy Does It' (Will Oldham) and the self-penned 'Old Song' and 'Death Penalty'. This last song relates to an odd law, still in force in a forgotten US state, where the penalty for jumping off a building is death!

Alan and Rosie gave us the traditional 'Valse Eric Roche', with great melodeon and mandolin backing, 'Dark End Of The Street' and 'If Love Is A Red Dress' (Maria Mckee). Rosie also showed off her linquistic skills with 'Labour On Principle' which was sung in impeccable Norfolk. Martin sang the Chris Smither blues 'Surprise, Surprise' and Neil Young's 'After The Goldrush' (note to self - try and learn the words). Debbie's wonderful voice entralled all present with Sting's 'Fragile' before Terry's equally wonderful voice burst forth with 'Vote For Me' (Dave Kendrick). Terry also sang 'Haul Away Girls'.

Simon's skill on the melodeon knows no bounds and was much to the fore with 'Lass Of Richmond Hill/Belle Vue' and the great singalong 'Time To Ring The Changes'.
Those lucky enough to only have to remember one song this week were John who gave us 'Lazlow Fair' and Clive who sang 'Alberta' accompanying himself with Alan's guitar.

A most enjoyable evening putting us all in a good mood for voting on the 'morrow.