Singing from the floor J P Bean

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 13 Sep 22 - 12:21 PM

Think I'll track down the F Bruce book.
Recently enjoyed Mike Heron's recollections and, of course, Ronnie Browne's.

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: Gavin Paterson
Date: 07 Sep 22 - 08:36 AM

Singing From The Floor is a valuable book, whatever may be missing.

I bought it book when it was first issued. I wasn't close to being "there at the time" and I learned a lot from this book. What was lacking, for me, was a decent look at the Scottish scene of that same period.

I mentioned this to Fraser Bruce, suggesting he was ideally placed to write the Scottish perspective. But it took the sad passing of his two friends, Gordeanna McCulloch and Anne Neilson, within weeks of each other, to get things moving.

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: GUEST,The Sandman
Date: 07 Sep 22 - 07:14 AM

above post was mine

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 22 - 07:14 AM

Perhaps its problem is that its claim to be a "history of British folk clubs" raises expectations which it fails to deliver.Nevertheless, it is surely a good thing that there is some record, however flawed and incomplete, of the folk club scene. quote
I agree

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: GUEST,Howard Jones
Date: 07 Sep 22 - 04:37 AM

I haven't read the book, but I recall it receiving mixed reviews when it came out.

From what I can gather, it falls between two stools. It isn't simply the author's personal recollections of the folk scene at a particular time, the author went to some trouble to interview many of those involved. However neither is it a comprehensive fully-researched history. Perhaps its problem is that its claim to be a "history of British folk clubs" raises expectations which it fails to deliver.

Nevertheless, it is surely a good thing that there is some record, however flawed and incomplete, of the folk club scene.

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: Stanron
Date: 07 Sep 22 - 03:33 AM

Surely the book was never intended to be definitive. It sounds like one persons' experiences and collected anecdotes from a life on the UK folk scene. That sounds perfectly valid.

I've not read it but if I come across it I will and I don't expect to be disappointed if some of my favourite singers are omitted.

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Sep 22 - 03:10 AM

JP Bean came to see me when he was researching his book and I gave him some stories and contacts. It’s not the definitive book on “folk singers” but interesting in its own way.
“The Folk River” by Fraser Bruce is a very detailed work from Scotland’s aspect.

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: GUEST,The Sandman
Date: 07 Sep 22 - 01:21 AM

The book was published by Faber and Faber Limited, usually abbreviated to Faber, an independent publishing house in London, so it would have had good distribution , a good thing for the uk folk scene despite the books few flaws ,

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: GUEST,The Sandman
Date: 06 Sep 22 - 01:42 PM

From the point of view of balance and interest, bearing in mind there were 20 pages on Ewan, it might have been a good idea to have asked Peggy or Jim Carroll about how Ewan approached his song writing, Instead of dwelling on negatives such as his name change. nobody questions Johnny Handle or Ralph Mctell.
I an still dumbfounded at the omission of leon Rosselson

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 06 Sep 22 - 09:09 AM

A very enjoyable book, I thought.

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Sep 22 - 03:53 AM

At least he documented some of it for which I for one am grateful. I enjoyed what there was, and no I never got a mention either.

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: r.padgett
Date: 06 Sep 22 - 02:34 AM

I have this book from 2014 ~ Bean was a regular I believe in the Three Cranes in Sheffield in the 1960s ~ not sure where Birmingham fits in here

and yes I agree there seems to be chunks missing ~ Bean collated much of the content from others and jumped to more up to date artists of the 2000's and present

Dave Eyre and Mike Wild may be able to assist and comment further

Ray

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Sep 22 - 11:26 PM

Don't answer anonymous trolls, Dick.

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: GUEST,The Sandman
Date: 05 Sep 22 - 10:40 PM

A divisive comment, a generalisation and stereotyping of all protestants. if a person had substituted norwegian, it would be deemed racist
or hindu or muslim, it would be considered religous intolerance, so much of importance[ the years of the uk revival between1980s 1990s onwards left out of the book] and remarks like this included

Subject: RE: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Sep 22 - 05:20 PM

"what a bigoted and negative and ignorant comment" - otherwise known as an "opinion".

Subject: Singing from the floor J P Bean
From: GUEST,The Sandman
Date: 05 Sep 22 - 03:41 PM

Review.
A Curates Egg
This is supposed to be a history of UK Folk Clubs, It seems to have a majority content of london and to a lesser extent Birmingham, it also is heavily focussed on the sixties and to a lesser extent the seventies and and then skips to the 21st century, and skips a generation, to their children such as nancy kerr, lisa carthy ben paley.
ignoring many of the song carriers of the 80s and 90s, such as Jez Lowe, Steve Turner Nick Dow Chris Foster Pete Coe Brian Peters Wilson Family, Bill Caddick Peter Bond Paul Metsers Alistair Anderson keith hancock Richard Grainger Damien Barber all of whom were backbones of the 80s and 90s folk club scene. we have twenty pages about Ewan MacColl, nothing about songwriters Leon Rosselson, nothing about Graeme Miles, Ed Pickford, Jez Lowe, Ron Angel AnnLister KEITHmARSDEN and more who were prolific wrioters in the 80s and 90s.
some predictable negafivity from bob davenport about MacColls name, but he does not criticise Johnny Handles name change, plus another stupid remark from Bob Davenport about his visit to the newprt folk festival in the USA[ WHAT IS THE RELEVANCE OF THIS TO UK FOLK CLUBS] Quote "they were having these workshops for instruments a real protestant thing they couldnt just enjoy the music" what a bigoted and negative and ignorant comment
the 21st century has shown that workshops on the internet and other wise are good ways to improve, and my god there are a few singers in singers clubs that could with a few workshops on presentation and learning words
No, this book,imo gives a london and birmingham centric view of the sixties and early seventies folk clubs gioves the impression there were no new song carriers in the 80s and 90s and nothing happened then till about 2005, where were the missing 25 years, and all those song carriers and song writers.
I will be positive and say it is not a continuous history of uk folk clubs, and at best is a curates egg and at worst is a divisive and only partly accurate view of uk folk clubs.
A good subject matter but not dealt with in much depth. I Was There   
Dick Miles