Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog-finished!!!!

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Artful Codger
Date: 17 Jul 10 - 01:53 AM

Does EFDSS have a more central page linking to the relevant note pages, one that folks can create a static bookmark for, instead of having to search separately for each song?

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 04:46 PM

frsh

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 06:26 AM

Jon's given us a terrific Child Morris today. Listen!

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 07:47 AM

It's really rather depressing to read some comments on this thread.
It's a free world guys. If Jon wants to set up a website and sing a song a day, why not?
What harm is it doing?
If you don't like it, don't listen. It's very simple.
To those people who are telling him to do more electric stuff, or strictly accapella. Tough.
It's his project, and he will do what he feels is appropriate.
As some have said, Jon is doing sterling work for the community in the part of the world he lives in, alongside his more high profile work with his various bands.
So, I applaud the idea behind this song-a-day project. How many of you would attempt it? Not me, that's for sure.
And as for saying that it's all about publicity, well. Don't make me laugh. You obviously don't know Jon.
If you don't like Jons voice, Don't listen.
It's that easy

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 09:16 AM

I don't want to complain about someone complaining about someone complaining, but I think that's a bit of an over-reaction. Jon said at the start of the project that

the bulk of the songs on this site are songs that I sing unaccompanied.

and

I have always thought of myself as first and foremost an unaccompanied singer so it was quite a shock to me to realise that, although I have now made 10 albums, I have never included a solo unaccompanied track on any of them.

so I don't think it was unreasonable for some of us to express a bit of disappointment when Jon posted up a series of accompanied songs - particularly when we've also praised the stuff we liked.

But really I'm just posting this to refresh the thread and draw attention to the site, and that rendition of Child Morris in particular.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Roberto
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 09:32 AM

The Folk Song a Day has become a very special daily date. So many excellent recordings, from the Banks of Red Roses to the Rain it Rains. It is an amazing present, I do thank Jon Boden.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 09:36 AM

JB talks about the project in yesterday's Grauniad.

Yes, Child Morris is fab.

---

Text of article added so it won't get lost. -Joe Offer-

---

Colin Irwin guardian.co.uk,
Wednesday 28 July 2010 22.15 BST

A few weeks ago Jon Boden, the current BBC Folk Singer of the Year, went to a friend's home studio in Sheffield and recorded an unaccompanied version of the famous old folk song The Larks They Sang Melodious (alternatively known as Pleasant and Delightful). On Midsummer Day (24 June) he posted it on a new website he'd created and embarked on the first step of a strange and demanding odyssey, in which he vows to record and post a different folk song every day for a year.

A far cry from his more familiar role as extrovert frontman with the 11-piece folk big band Bellowhead, the Folk Song a Day concept has already attracted accusations that Boden has either lost his marbles or become a shameless self-publicist. Yet behind this novel initiative lies a serious intent, which poses profound questions about the changing role of song in society. Namely, have we lost the joy of singing for its own sake, and the social benefits of community, self-expression and identity that go with it? And, if so, can they be recovered?

Time was when locals would get together in pubs, private houses or at public gatherings, joining in song as a matter of course. Stimulated in part by many inviting anecdotes of these occasions from England's most revered traditional singers, the Copper Family, several of the early British folk revivalists of the 1960s were driven by the dream of breathing life into old folk songs and restore them to community life. These revivalists achieved much, notably a nationwide circuit of clubs, which attracted devoted enthusiasts and supported a network of professional musicians as folk music blossomed into a thriving art form. But in a fast-moving world, their original ideals were strangled by the march of television, communication and globalisation – with the inevitable decline in pub culture and community spirit itself – and some of those early performers such as Norma Waterson consequently now regard the revival as a failure.

Yet a vibrant new generation of folk musicians have imaginatively reinvigorated the genre in recent years. The title of Jim Moray's award-winning 2008 album, Low Culture, was a deliberate expression of what he felt folk music should represent. "The tradition isn't something out of the ordinary, it's the very definition of ordinary," he says. "If folk is the music of the people then it's surely wrong to treat it as 'high art' that should be preserved unchanged. Folk music is low culture."

Similar thoughts occupy Boden. He says he regards himself primarily as an unaccompanied singer, despite his membership of Bellowhead, but insists that A Folk Song a Day is a serious effort to raise the profile of social singing. He has also launched a monthly Saturday night folk club encompassing an informal singaround at his own local, the Royal Hotel in Dungworth, which is already embedded in folk music lore as one of the South Yorkshire pubs maintaining a unique local carol-singing tradition of songs exclusive to the area.

"The Dungworth carol singing is extraordinary, but it shouldn't be extraordinary," says Boden. "People who wouldn't do it in any other context go to the pub at Christmas and sing those songs properly – really, really loud. But then you get to the end of the carol season and you think, 'Why the hell don't we do this all year?'"

So he decided he would do it all year – and the Dungworth experiment seems to be working as villagers with no interest in the formal folk song movement descend on the bar to exercise their lungs on a round of populist chorus songs, such as The Larks They Sang Melodious and others that have made early appearances on Boden's site.

"I'd love to see more singing sessions in pubs – ideally unaccompanied – without the pub getting freaked out," Boden says. "The biggest challenge is to get a pub to turn the TV or jukebox off, but the chance is there to find a common cause because pubs are under so much threat. Some people feel uncomfortable – they think their space is being invaded, and if you suddenly enter a random pub and burst into song you're more likely to be thrown out than be bought a drink. I've certainly been told to shut up on occasions. You have to get people used to the idea. It's not the fault of the song, it's the fault of lack of song. People get paranoid about singing in public and I think it stems from parents telling their children they can't sing. It happens a lot. You wouldn't tell someone they have an awful talking voice or they have bad breath, but there seems to be no problem in telling someone they can't sing."

There's no shortage of scientific research to support his theory that social singing is good for body and soul. Professor Graham Welch, the chair of music education at the Institute of Education in London, declares that everyone has the ability to sing and, irrespective of quality, it enhances our mood and reduces stress. "The health benefits of singing are both physiological and psychological," he says. "Music is very good for every aspect of you as a human."

One unlikely convert to the power of social singing is Brian Eno, who hosts regular a cappella singing sessions at his London studio with friends, who have included Paul McCartney. "It's all about the immersion of the self into the community and that's one of the greatest feelings," he says. "I stop being 'me' for a little while and become 'us', and that way lies empathy, the great social virtue."

Yet the only public places you can have a good sing without risking ridicule or abuse are either churches or football grounds. Boden is an atheist who doesn't like football so he's opted instead for the pub-singing option and A Folk Song a Day podcasts. There were 6,000 hits for his opening rendition of The Larks They Sang Melodious, and interest has grown rapidly since, sparking lively debate on the comment pages, especially over his recent inclusion of Mercedes Benz, a gospel pastiche written by Janis Joplin, Michael McClure and Bob Neuwirth. Joplin sang it unaccompanied, and although Boden paradoxically adds a mournful concertina, he's happy to classify it as a folk song. "I learned it as a folk song at Forest School camps before I'd ever heard the Janis Joplin version," he says, amused by the fuss its inclusion has caused. "People criticise me for doing that but don't bat an eyelid about the Kipling-Peter Bellamy songs I have done."

He's got a whole year of this and knows that tougher terrain lies ahead, especially as his repertoire extends to only 200 songs and he'll need to learn more by next spring. There are also the practical problems involved in making daily recordings during forthcoming extensive tours with both Bellowhead and his other band, the Remnant Kings. "I should have got an iPhone when I had the chance. I might have to borrow one to record stuff when we're on the road. But it's really interesting and it's nice not to have to worry about commercial pressures. Apparently I'm No 1 in the music podcast charts. I've no idea what that means but it sounds good."

Jon Boden can be heard daily on afolksongaday.com

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 12:44 AM

Actually, Thinking about it in a practical way, considering the amount of travelling/gigging/recording that Jon does, there are going to be days when he has to put 15 or maybe 20 songs in "the can" so to speak!
Mind you, it might be fun to here him do a Child ballad whilst driving down the M1!
That wouldn't be accompanied!
(In the UK you can get arrested for using a mobile phone whilst driving, I'm not sure if the same applies to singing!)

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: mikesamwild
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 07:13 AM

The Coilin Irwin piece in the Guardian seems to imply that he , or Jon or other folk people think people have stopped singing communally in pubs etc.(as opposed to in upstairs clubrooms)

In my experience song and tune sessions, working mens clubs, acapella, unplugged, open mic, acoustic nights, karaoke, post rugby club songs, singing on the chara, etc etc. Noone queried the relevance of Mercedes benz as opposed to 'Folk' tunes. they just went into the eclectic bag and got selected or rejected by the community process.muisc

have been going strong and continued the tradition of tune ups, free and easies and singalongs since I can remember and I'm 70.

I welcomed the folk revival but never stopped singing what I'd grown up with and which accompanied most of my social activities.

My partner and I have had two pubs where singing went on every night in the public space as well as a folk club upstairs.


By the way who is writing the notes to the songs on Jon's web pag?

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: mikesamwild
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 03:47 PM

Re the notes Fay Hield says its someone from Proper Distribution called Chris (I think)

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Zhenya
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 12:27 AM

I just found out about this project and then found the Mudcat thread here. I go to a singer's group where we sing mainly traditional music, completely unaccompanied, both solo and songs with choruses.

Sometimes new people join us who have heard a bit of this music and are interested, but don't know where to find songs. I think Jon Boden's project is a great resource, and I just sent out the link to several people. Not only renditions of the songs, but background information and additional links as well. I'm happy to listen to these songs myself, and I think this is a great introduction for people just starting to listen to and sing traditional music.

Subject: Song a Day-- Jon Boden
From: GUEST,schlimmerkerl
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 08:36 AM

Just that--

http://www.afolksongaday.com/about/

Subject: RE: Song a Day-- Jon Boden
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 08:46 AM

Schlimmerkerl - you're a bit late catching up. There's already a thread on this here !

Kitty

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 08:47 AM

Refresh....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: evansakes
Date: 14 Aug 10 - 05:23 AM

Jon's played his googly today (that's 'thrown a curveball' for you lot in the USA)

Several firsts with today's offering....

1. There are TWO songs up there today.

2. There's also a video.

3. He's got someone helping him out (Dan Plews)

4. AND (joy of joys!) there's even a little vocal harmony!! Even better....it's Canadee-i-o

http://www.afolksongaday.com/

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Ralphie
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 01:50 AM

I did ask Jon at Sidmouth how (knowing his considerable touring commitments) did he find the time to do this project? He juist smiled and tapped his nose!!! Need to know basis obviously!
I'm convinced he's either got a voice double, or came up with the idea a looooong time ago,

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Will Fly
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 04:07 AM

In recording terms, there are so many good portable recording devices of quality available these days, so the actual process of creating and downloading the songs may not be too arduous. My guess is that the greater part of the project is finding and trying out the new songs before recording them - and that's where Jon may well tap his nose!

I love this project. I think it's an excellent role model for would-be singers and performers, and Jon's one of the good guys - a dedicated and talented musician. If he gets some publicity from the project as well, then why not? It's his living, like any other.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: mikesamwild
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 07:42 AM

He told me recently he has to go to a friend's studio so it's not home recording.


I wonder whether it's a long standing project.

I noticed quite a few years ago when I was bidding on eBay for old LPS etc, that I was up against him. At the time you could investigate who your opposition was on the bidding war!


At the time I wasn't too keen on Jon's voice, much as I love Bellowhead etc,   but I am now, and I wonder if he set out to concsciously work on it. Quite a while ago I was ssaying to people 'I think he's found his voice.' Certainly on The Floddplain Album I was most impressed as I was at several club solo performance.

Of course all singers have to develop their voice and their personal style and technique.


I just hope we get some more good young male and female singers coming through.

Instrumentalist are thick on the gound.




Which young singers on the 'folk scene' do people rate at the moment?

I have afew favourites but they are thin on the ground

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Ralphie
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 11:06 AM

"Instrumentalists are thick on the ground"
A lot of them are thick standing up too!!

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Will Fly
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 11:27 AM

That's why I always sit down to play...

(Ralphie, wash your mouth out).

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 04:48 PM

Which young singers on the 'folk scene' do people rate at the moment?

I have a few favourites but they are thin on the ground

Cue shameless plug. (I'm not young, but I am new - I was hardly singing this stuff at all until a couple of years ago.)

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 04:18 AM

Just checked where I have downloaded them to and Jon seems to be up to 100 songs.
Note to self - Must find time to have a proper listen.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 08:35 PM

I set my Itunes for daily downloads, but seem to be missing a lot, even after "Get All" downloaded a good few today. And some are no longer available on streaming.
Missing 14, 24-29, 31-53, 55-61, 63-65, 67-69 abd 104 onwards. Why??

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Reinhard
Date: 14 Oct 10 - 06:44 PM

I download the blog's songs manually with iTunes and haven't missed any yet.

But I have also bought the past months' download albums. They are supposed to have a higher bitrate than the blog tracks, and they aren't really expensive at less than 10 Euro per month, i.e. about 30 cent per song. That might be a good way for you to fill the gaps.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Roberto
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 05:33 AM

What happened today? First day without a new song...

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Reinhard
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 02:01 PM

It was just a tad late waiting for the bonfire to be lit.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 02:38 PM

Jon's recordings for July, August, and September are available on Spotify, and they can be purchased at emusic.com. I'll bet they're available at the other usual MP3 outlets.

Good stuff.

-Joe-

---

I can't find the June recordings - are they available for purchase somewhere?

Here are the June songs: June 24: The Larks They Sang Melodious June 25: Farmer’s Toast June 26: Young Roger Esquire June 27: One Night As I Lay June 28: Earl Richard June 29: White Cockade June 30: Rose In June

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' - July
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:15 PM

Here are the July songs: July 1: Tyne of Harrow July 2: The Hunt is Up July 3: I Wish that the Wars were all over July 4: Blackwaterside July 5: Barbara Allen July 6: Cruel Mother July 7: Chickens in The Garden July 8: Across the Line (The Sailor's Way) July 9: Pretty Cock / As I Stood under my Love’s Window July 10: Banks of Green Willow July 11: Danny Deever (Kipling)(not at Mudcat) July 12: Mercedes Benz July 13: Rambling Sailor July 14: Yellow Roses July 15: Big Steamers July 16: Lucy Wan July 17: Come Write Me Down July 18: Bloody Gardener July 19: Go and Leave Me July 20: The Rain it Rains (Nothing at Mudcat) July 21: The Stonecutter Boy July 22: Sally Free and Easy (Cyril Tawney) July 23: Young Edward In The Lowlands July 24: The Days Of ‘49 July 25: Tha’ Lowks A Proper Swell Lass (nothing at Mudcat, and Reinhard had trouble, too) July 26: Banks of Red Roses July 27: A Blacksmith Courted Me July 28: Maid of Australia July 29: Child Morris July 30: The Old Songs July 31: Tom Padget

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' - August
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:15 PM

Here are the August songs: August 1: (Now) Westlin Winds August 2: Two Young Brethren August 3: The Land (Kipling) August 4: Greenland Whale Fishery August 5: Brown Adam August 6: Shepherd of the Downs August 7: Derry Gaol August 8: Frankies Trade August 9: Ca the Ewes August 10: Two Pretty Boys August 11: Cruel Knife (Jealous Lover at Mudcat) August 12: Nostradamus [by Al Stewart] (not at Mudcat) August 13: Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy August 14: Bold Sir Rylas August 15: Dream of Napoleon August 16: Live Not Where I Love August 17: Polly Vaughn August 18: Saucy Sailor August 19: Abroad For Pleasure (Holmfirth Anthem) August 20: The Oggie Man August 21: Golden Glove August 22: Country Life August 23: Rolling Down To Old Maui August 24: Jordan Is A Hard Road August 25: Leave Her Johnny August 26: Doleful Dance of Death August 27: Lord Randal August 28: Bonny House of Airlie August 29: Yorkshire Couple August 30: William Taylor August 31: Yarmouth Town

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' - September
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:15 PM

Here are the September songs: September 1: The Prentice Boy - not much on this song at Mudcat (from Marrowbones) September 2: Light Dragoon September 3: London Waterman (Charles Dibden) - nothing on this song at Mudcat September 4: Noah’s Ark Shanty September 5: King of Rome September 6: On a Monday Morning (Cyril Tawney) September 7: Fakenham Fair (needs better information) September 8: Rambling Robin September 9: In The Shade Of The Old ‘arris Mill September 10: Sleep on Beloved September 11: Hey John Barleycorn September 12: Fathom the Bowl September 13: Water Is Wide September 14: The Rigs of the Time September 15: On Board (a) 98 September 16: Oats and Beans and Barley September 17: Rickety Tickety Tin September 18: The Bush Girl (Henry Lawson) September 19: The Lord Will Provide September 20: NaCl (Sodium Chloride) September 21: Down Where The Drunkards Roll (Richard Thompson) September 22: The Trees They Do Grow High September 23: Blood Red Roses September 24: A Begging I Will Go September 25: (Blow The Winds High-O ) Ten Thousand Miles Away September 26: Sparrow September 27: Three Ravens September 28: Waltzing Matilda September 29: Brisk Young Widow September 30: All Of A Row

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' - October
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:16 PM

Here are the October songs: October 1: Prickle-Eye Bush October 2: The Huntsman - not at Mudcat October 3: Deep Blue Sea October 4: New York Girls October 5: The Jersey Girl (Tom Waits) October 6: The Poor Man’s Labours October 7: Bay of Biscay October 8: Gallant Hussar October 9: The Constant Lovers October 10: Hunting the Hare October 11: Courting Too Slow October 12: The Dawn of the Day (not at Mudcat) October 13: The Sheepstealer October 14: Marrowbones October 15: Old Joe Clark October 16: (The Death of Poor) Bill Brown October 17: My Johnny’s Gone to Hilo October 18: Sea Coal October 19: Pretty Nancy of Yarmouth October 20: Close the Coalhouse Door October 21: All For Me Grog October 22: The Santa Fe Trail October 23: Jock Stewart October 24: The Death Of Queen Jane October 25: The Good Old Way October 26: Doffing Mistress October 27: Blackleg Miner October 28: Goodnight Irene October 29: Mad Family (not at Mudcat) October 30: Dig My Grave October 31: Tam Lin

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' - November
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:16 PM

Here are the November songs: November 1: Spectre Review (Die nächtliche Heerschau) November 2: His Name Is Andrew November 3: (Up to the Rigs of) London Town November 4: Spencer the Rover November 5: Cob a Coalin November 6: South Australia November 7: Love At The Five And Dime November 8: Boston Harbour November 9: Mary Ann November 10: A Chat With Your Mother (F-Word Song) from Peter & Lou Berryman of Wisconsin November 11: If You Want To See The General November 12: Bruton Town November 13: Rose of Tralee November 14: I’ll Go With Him Wherever He Goes (Do You Love an Apple?) November 15: See, See The Cape’s in View November 16: Hard Times (Come Again No More) November 17: Unfortunate Lass November 18: Cholera Camp (Kipling) November 19: I Once Was a Fisherman (Barry Dransfeld) November 20: My Johnny Was a Shoemaker November 21: At Jacob's Well November 22: Poor Fellows (Nothing at Mudcat - from Bellamy's The Transports November 23: Warlike Lads Of Russia November 24: Fire Marengo November 25: Grey Goose and Gander November 26: The Weaver and the Factory Maid November 27: Sweep Chimney Sweep November 28: Farewell To Old Bedford (in the DT-no discussion) November 29: Cold Blows The Wind (The Unquiet Grave) November 30: The Brown Girl

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' - December
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:17 PM

December is upon us....

Here are the December songs: December 1: Babes in the Wood December 2: Hark Hark - another Sheffield carol, with no info at Mudcat. December 3: Snow Falls (John Tams) - nothing at Mudcat December 4: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (Pentonville) December 5: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (Sweet Chiming Bells) December 6: Come All You Weary Travellers (Not at Mudcat) December 7: Mistletoe Bough - once again, not at Mudcat December 8: Cells (Kipling/Bellamy) December 9: The Boar's Head Carol December 10: A Roving on a Winter's Night December 11: Spout Cottage - nothing at Mudcat. These carols are killing us! December 12: Poor Little Jesus December 13: All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name - not at Mudcat December 14: The Holly and the Ivy December 15: Remember O Thou Man - not at Mudcat December 16: Jingle Bells (not your usual version) December 17: Mount Moriah December 18: We Wish You a Merry Christmas - see Reinhard's page December 19: Awake Arise Good Christians - not at Mudcat December 20: While Shepherds Watched (Lyngham) December 21: Stannington - not at Mudcat, but see Sheffield Carols December 22: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (!) December 23: First Noel - unusual melody December 24: Shepherds Arise December 25: On Christmas Day December 26: The King December 27: O Little Town of Bethlehem - name of the melody?? December 28: Little Pot Stove December 29: I'd Like to Tell to You December 30: Rocking Me Babies December 31: Cornish Wassail Song

Oh, and don't miss Simon Holland's Properganda Alternative Advent Calendar. Simon is doing a lot of the work on the "A Folk Song a Day" project.

---

Happy 2011!!

January 1: January Man

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:17 PM

Yes Joe! We love this thread too!!! :)

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Reinhard
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 03:36 PM

The October songs will be available for download on November 7 (according to Amazon). The June songs will be released together with the June 1-23, 2011 songs in July 2011.

Parallel to Joe's lists you can also find a song list on my A Folk Song a Day page.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 03:54 AM

It's interesting to see the songs Jon chose that are not purely folk songs. His choice for Sunday was Love at the Five and Dime, by Nanci Griffith. It's a lovely song, and he does a great job of it.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 04:38 AM

Well, I think it's a real shame that Jon's including so many songs that aren't folk songs, however good a job he does on them (his version of David Ackles' "His name is Andrew" was stunning). There are few enough places dedicated to bringing folk songs to a wider audience as it is.

But I don't want to detract from the project, which is quite extraordinary & includes some fantastic performances - refreshing my memory from the lists above, I'd put Queen Jane, Boston Harbour, Bill Brown and Tam Lin in my highlights of the series so far.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 08:00 PM

I've tried to link each day's recording to pertinent information at Mudcat. We have information on almost all of the songs Jon has recorded for this project. Follow the links, and you'll find some terrific stuff.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 02:58 AM

Superb! Many thanks, Joe - you're a star.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 12:43 AM

I was so proud of us because I was able to find Mudcat threads or Digital Tradition entries for almost all of the songs in Jon Boden's A Folk Song a Day project. Guess we need to get cracking....

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: GUEST,erbert
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 01:38 AM

I only know Jon Boden for his work in Bellowhead,
one of my favourite recent bands,
but he's starting to get on my nerves a bit on the latest CD and TV promotion appearances.

I've been aware of his name for a few years but just haven't found time or inclination to explore his back catalogue.
So, out of fairness I've just been checking out brief samples of his solo CD
"Songs From The Floodplain";

yeah ok, I'm interested enough to explore further...

It's a voice not unlike countless 1970's prog and glamrock/artrock LP's I've enjoyed over the years..
and seems to me to be better integrated and more appropriately bedded into the soundscape of "Songs From The Floodplain"

So lets see how I can catch up on these 'songadays' for a better perspective,
and check out ebay for a cheap copy of his solo CD.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 04:36 PM

The song for December 15 is another carol, Remember, O Thou Man. We have very few of these carols at Mudcat. I was thinking maybe we should make an effort to post them, but5 maybe there's no need. There's a Website called Hymns and Carols of Christmas that does excellent work on carols. Why duplicate their efforts?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Reinhard
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 12:27 AM

I just downloaded the December MP3 album from Amazon. Did Jon release it early so that we can hear all of it at Christmas?

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: GUEST,elfpix
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 11:06 AM

The Tam Lin is thus far definitely the very best of the output in my opinion. I love having the daily dose arrive in my iTunes Podcasts folder. I wish I'd caught on to this project when he started. I'm shy a month or so at the beginning.

I must say, however, that the uniformity of his voice makes listening to a whole group of them much less than pleasant to me. I'm always relieved when he lets an instrument or another voice into the mix. For that reason I can't imagine actually purchasing an entire CD of the project.

As a very traditionally oriented folky I'm only tepid on Bellowhead, even though I understand most of its sources and references. As a '60s folkie, even a '50s folkie, my tolerance for the integration of folk and rock is still pretty small and a big piece of me really resents the importation of all that gloss and light show from the rock scene. What's wrong with just performing the music with humor, gusto and skill?

It is interesting to me to watch the links grow between Jon and John. I wonder how John feels about this all, as he hews closer to the more traditional presentation in his late middle age. Brass Monkey will never be Bellowhead.

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Cllr
Date: 19 Dec 10 - 11:54 AM

I first listened to Squeezy and Scratchy live at the Manchester extravaganza half a dozen years ago and later in various incarnations mainly at Sidmouth FF, as a mainly unaccompanied singer i cannot praise enough the FOlk song a day project.
I Recently saw Bellowhead at Oxford on the hedonism tour and i was completely blown away by JB's amazing stage presence (and the rest of the band) I had to rush off and buy tickets for the NYE gig at South Bank. What a fantastic range within the folk scene an i can't get enough of it!

Cllr

Subject: RE: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' blog
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 03:07 AM

I've been buying these monthly albums from emusic.com, but they don't have November OR December....

Subject: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' - January
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jan 11 - 05:48 AM

Happy 2011!!

Here are the January songs: January 1: January Man January 2: Daddy Fox January 3: Old Brown's Daughter January 4: Peggy Bann January 5: Apple Tree Wassail January 6: Pilgrim On The Pennine Way (by Pete Coe - nothing at Mudcat or Reinhard's Website) January 7: Captain Ward January 8: Otago January 9: Peggy Gordon January 10: In the Month of January January 11: The Snow It Melts the Soonest January 12: Off to the Epsom Races - not at Mudcat January 13: Ruins by the Shore - not at Mudcat, but you'll like this link. January 14: Days Gone By - by Jon Boden, not at Mudcat January 15: Smuggler's Song (Kipling/Bellamy) January 16: Lowlands January 17: Five Hundred Miles January 18: Maria's Gone (Ritchie Family) January 19: Ballina Whalers January 20: The Last Leviathan January 21: The Cuckoo January 22: John Ball January 23: I Drew My Ship January 24: Two Magicians January 25: Some Tyrant Has Stolen My True Love Away January 26: Bungay Roger January 27: My Son John January 28: Banks of the Nile January 29: Anachie Gordon January 30: I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen January 31: Dark as a Dungeon (Merle Travis)

Subject: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' - February
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jan 11 - 05:50 AM

Here are the February songs: February 1: Sheffield Apprentice February 2: Won't You Go My Way February 3: Clyde Water February 4: The German Musicianer February 5: Cold Blow And The Rainy Night February 6: When First I Came to Caledonia February 7: King Henry Was King James’ Son February 8: Queenie (Strip Polka) February 9: (Young) Simon John February 10: Rolling Down to Rio (Kipling/Bellamy) February 11: Hanging Johnny February 12: Butter and Cheese and All February 13: Don't Go Out Tonight, Dear Father February 14: Cupid's Garden February 15: Young Banker February 16: Donkey Riding February 17: I Sowed the Seeds of Love February 18: Over the Hills and Far Away February 19: Bird in the Bush February 20: Shoals of Herring February 21: Grey Funnel Line February 22: A Pilgrim's Way February 23: Widow's Curse February 24: Maid and the Palmer February 25: Sir Patrick Spens February 26: Fiddler's Green February 27: Captain Wedderburn February 28: Oor Hamlet

Subject: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' - March
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jan 11 - 05:50 AM

Here are the March songs: March 1: The Lakes Of Pontchatrain March 2: Four Angels (Kipling) March 3: Willie's Lady March 4: Worcester City March 5: Swansea Barracks March 6: Wife Of The Soldier March 7: Bold Fisherman March 8: Sweet Mossom March 9: Corduroy March 10: Weaver’s Daughter March 11: Plains Of Mexico March 12: Farewell Sweet Lovely Nancy - not the Copper Family Song March 13: Take This Hammer March 14: Dalesman’s Litany March 15: Billy Don’t Weep For Me March 16: Springfield Mountain March 17: The Green Fields Of America March 18: Jack Orion March 19: Turkey Rhubarb March 20: Horn Fair March 21: Lovely On The Water March 22: All Hail A Brighter Day March 23: Adam And Eve March 24: Scarborough Fair March 25: Turtle Dove March 26: Tommy (Kipling/Bellamy) March 27: Ye Mariners All March 28: Whiskey Is the Life of Man March 29: Maid on the Shore March 30: Juniper, Gentle, and Rosemary March 31: Lemady

Subject: Jon Boden: 'A Folk Song A Day' - April
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Jan 11 - 05:51 AM

Here are the April songs: April 1: One April Morning April 2: Rose In April (Kate Rusby) April 3: There Once Was A Lover And He Loved A Lass (Shakespeare)-not at Mudcat April 4: Brave Wolfe April 5: The Banks Of The Tees (Graeme Miles) April 6: The Gaol Song April 7: The Roman Centurion’s Song (Kipling) - nothing at Mudcat April 8: The Port Of Amsterdam (Jacques Brel) April 9: Palaces of Gold (Leon Rosselson) April 10: Lord Bateman April 11: Payday (Roger Wilson) April 12: John Blunt (Child #275) April 13: John Barleycorn April 14: Gentleman Soldier April 15: Copshawholme Fair April 16: Seven Yellow Gypsies April 17: A Week Before Easter April 18: Sister Josephine April 19: Bellman April 20: Maid in Bedlam April 21: Dust to Dust (John Kirkpatrick) April 22: The Recruited Collier April 23: I Am A Youth That’s Inclined To Ramble April 24: Pace Egging April 25: Sheepshearing (Drink, Boys, Drink) April 26: I Know My Love By His Way Of Talking April 27: Geordie April 28: New York Mining Disaster 1941 April 29: Auld Triangle April 30: Reynardine