I first heard this song done by Mike at the Alhambra at Bradford in the 70s Although I grew up on the east side of the hills, my family history as far back as can be traced was working class Manchester so I've always felt a connection to the work of Mr Harding and especially this song.

As others have said here, Mike was a great entertainer and a songwriter worthy of far more recognition that he ever achieved. King Cotton is an immensely powerful song and I'm grateful to have recently discovered it on youtube. His chosen career as a broadcaster was him simply selling out in my book but nothing will ever match the huge cock up he made when he criticised the quarrying industry in the dales and said they should be forced to close. For a nouveau-rich townie to turn up and criticise people for making a living out of the only commodity they had to sell was too hypocritical for me and I've tried my best to avoid him ever since.

King Cotton though. Brilliant, utterly brilliant.