Know exactly what you mean Richard.

The way I look at it is this.

In England , there are two sorts of folksingers. Theres the ones that embrace regionalism - the ecky thump/willie eckerslike northerners and the come all you sail-i-ors southerners. And then theres the bohemians.

Brimstone, Lockran, davy Graham lead the latter group. men with solid working class background, but with no great affection for the same. Folk music is sort of aspirational music for them - an artform they can relate to.

There was always something a little crazy about the sight of Davy striding down Greek Street in his sombrero - but something I respected. he wasn't going to the only coloured kid growing up in a rough Leicestershire village/ he set out to be an exotic and it was a ballsy attempt at it.

Ultimately all the exotics are going to end up a bit like Hancock in The Rebel or the Punch and Judy Man - sort of ridiculous. England is just that sort of place. Cuts us all down to size.

I always adored Davy Graham's image. But it was the style I liked rather than the substance. I always hated the forays into world music as much as I dislike Froots doing the same now. It always seems unmemorable.