For more on Albert Richardson and 'The Old Sow' see George Frampton's article in Folk Music Journal 2007 (V9 No 2). This describes the 1928 concert and recording of the song and suggests that Richardson had learned it 'from the tradition'. These recordings together with his work with Jack Hylton and Lesley Saroney and his radio and TV appearances brought the song into the repertoire of many country singers, including, as George describes, Jim Copper. I think we sometimes underestimate the influence that recordings and radio had on singers growing up in the thirties who went on to be the 'traditional singers ' of the sixties. Somewhat like the way that songs in the Nineteenth Century drifted between print and oral passage.

This is also true of the other songs that Richardson recorded: 'The Farmer's Boy' and 'Buttercup Joe'. My father learned Farmers Boy and The Old Sow from old 78s in the family home. I never asked him for details (dammit), but I think it is safe to assume that, as a Sussex boy, he would have been a Richardson fan (though he also loved Lesley Saroney and sang some of his songs as well).

Now, I wonder if I can persuade Ken to sing it tomorrow evening?

Happy New Year!

Martin Graebe