G'day to the Antipodean contingent:

cobber: I have the Oscar Brand version of Charlotte the Harlot on a tape made from one of his "stereo demonstration" LPs, which I heard about 1966. I'd have to go back and listen to be sure of the tune he used ...

Hrothgar: The same Oscar Brand LP (there were two - Bawdy Cowboy Songs and Bawdy Sea Songs) has something called (~) All About Turds - or A Song About Turds, which is another version of the one you mention.

Bily the Bus: Yes ... we do remember that a lot of Yanks were at the goldfields - but we haven't forgiven "The American Revolver Brigade" from withdrawing from the Eureka Stockade, which was the signal for the Redcoats to attack!

Anyway, the really big infusion of American songs to the Australian goldfields came from the touring American troupes such as Christy Minstrels and Black-face ("Nigger") Minstrel Shows that rushed out here to carry on their efficient, no-dig, gold extraction techniques.

Regards,

Bob Bolton