Fame at last Les Barker!

Subject: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 01:59 AM

Yes, Mr Barker has made the heights of fame, after this, it's downhill all the way, til he's left with nothing but the sheep and a ghostly giggle....

Mr Barker's eulogy on 'The Shipping Forecast' was aired on Radio 2 at about 6.35am today, October 14th. It would have been more appropriate to do 'Harold' seeing as how this is the 146th anniversary of the battle of Hastings but it was a great way for us Brits to start the day none the less.

This does not bode well for my work colleagues for the rest fo the day!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 02:26 AM

Sarah Kennedy read her "Brussels Sprouts" out last Thursday. It was one of those moments when you can't really believe you've heard the name "Les Barker" at 7.15am on Radio 2! As she would say, I had my "leg in a pant" and nearly fell over with surprise! It's all on a charity double CD in aid of computers for the blind, called "Guide cats for the Blind" - Osmosys OSMO CD 020/21. It was apparently released about a month ago. It's also got the likes of Cyril Tawney, Roy Hudd, Bernard Wrigley, Martin Carthy, Mark & Lard and Nicholas Parsons on it, to name but a few.

I've got it on order from Amazon cos none of the stores in York had it, although HMV said that as I was the second person to ask for it, they'd better get some in. Unfortunately I can't get up to York this week, so it had to be Amazon.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 02:30 AM

In case there's any doubt - it's 37 of Les's works read by various people, and with the first and last tracks (Guide cats for the blind/Deja Vu) read by the man himself. I got a print out of the list from Les Barker's site.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 02:36 AM

Hope my secret Santa is looking at this!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: The Barden of England
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 02:58 AM

I know the guy who put this all together. It's for a charity to help pay for software to enable partially sighted people to use computers, to use the internet etc. I don't know if any partially sighted people are Mudcatters, but I'll let Clive Lever (it is he that got this project going) know that you've shown interest in the CD. It has Terry Wogan, Sir Jimmy Young, Paul Gambachini, June Tabor and many, many others - all of whom gave their time and permission for free, and most of all Les Barker gave the poems. An incredible gesture from an incredibly nice man.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: okthen
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 03:08 AM

Well done LtS, only 791 years out, quite understandable really, I wasn't there either.All in all it's not that I mind them invading, it's the fact they never left.How would they have felt if we'd stayed on in 1944? I think we should deport ALL illegal immigrants starting with the Normans.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 03:43 AM

Guide cats for the blind? My favourite charities are Eating Dogs for Anorexics and Vomiting Dogs for Bulimics.

RtS
(I'll get me plastic mac'...)

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Gurney
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 04:44 AM

Hey, okthen, who are you calling 'illegal immigrants'? Normans? They are just Sven-come-latelies! Start with the Beaker Folk. you can tell them by the purple noses and the little crease across the bridge of the nose, caused by glasses.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 05:10 AM

Incidently, Clive Lever is one half of the duo "Sic Transit" - he plays keyboard (and is partially sighted) - the other half is Don Thompson who some catters might have met at our BBQs. They come from the Maidstone area and perform some very amusing songs and parodies themselves.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 05:43 AM

Trips of the tongue that 1857 The battle of Hastings and all that, can we presume you weren't quite awake when you posted Lizzie

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Bassic
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:26 AM

Thank you Liz for reminding me about 1066 and all that. It explains why the A1 was so busy at the weekend, Harolds Ghostly Army heading south from Stamford Bridge it was, and the road works of course. Couldnt get an Ox cart, horse or National Express Bus ticket for love nor money!!

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:33 AM

What hasd the 4x4 broken down then, Bassic ?

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,efnMagazine
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 04:59 PM

Excellent CD - I had to find somebody else to review it as I ran out of superlatives.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:10 PM

OK, maths was never my strong point, I forgot the odd millenia.

But it's still a bloody good CD and an even better idea!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 02:23 AM

And Sic Transit are actually on it, performing "Sidney".

'My CD has not yet arrived...'

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Amergin
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 04:15 AM

i sang his roseville fair parody at sunnycamp....i started singing it and everyone was singing along....then they realised i went in a different direction and was singing a totally different song...was very funny.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mooman
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 04:49 AM

Not to mention "Shitting Dogs for the Constipated" Roger (OK, I won't!).

Sounds like an excellent CD and a great cause...I'll order meself a copy.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Snuffy
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 08:58 AM

Blind Dogs for the Guides?

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,KB
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 09:05 AM

thin dogs for the fat?

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 10:45 AM

Sh*gging dogs for the impotent !

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dead Horse
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 03:05 PM

That reminds me.
I met up with Mrs Franklin the other day, and she was asking after her husband, believed to be stuck in the Milton Keynes area. Any catters spotting Franklin in Stoney Stratford please give her a call.

The fate of Franklin no tongue can tell,
Around Northampton, they all know him well!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Don Thompson (1/2 "Sic Transit")
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 03:17 PM

The generosity of the inimitable Les Barker is justifiably legendary, and it should also be noted that we got an immediate yes from 36 of the 40 people we asked to participate, and the 4 who could not were unable, rather than unwilling. We have been amazed at the level of support we have received, and are still receiving. Special thanks also to Richard Ellin of Osmosys, for putting up the money for production, and arranghing the whole process from our master to the retailers. Enjoy the result. It is quite special.

Don Thompson

Subject: Lyr Add: GUIDE CATS FOR THE BLIND (Les Barker)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 04:45 PM

Mouldy - why did you order the CD by snail mail? Was it to give it time to arrive?

I heard Clive Lever singing some wonderful songs at Sidmouth.

Guide Cats for the Blind is so gloriously surreal and subversive.....

GUIDE CATS FOR THE BLIND
(Les Barker)

The word futile springs to mind
Mission Impossible, yes that's
The attempt to harness for mankind
The intelligence of cats
You've made a basic error
Now let me expound
This master/servant thing's okay
But no, not that way round
We don't do the faithful subject
We don't do the daily grind
You never should have attempted it
Guide cats for the Blind

Give kitty so much trust
And we'll abuse the privelege
You think you're going out?
You're opening the fridge
You think I'm trying to help you?
I'm not serving man but Mammon
You think you've gained a faithful friend
You've lost a plate of salmon
I might lead you down the High Street
I'll be back when I have dined
We get very, very hungry
Being Guide Cats for the Blind

It can't be very pleasant
Of this I've little doubt
To have your head stuck in a catflap
Whether facing in or out
You could be here a day or two
With half you out in the rain
I've got to go, I've got things to do
Maybe I'll pass this way again
A dog would go for help
Cats are not that way inclined
Cats have better things to do than being
Guide Cats for the blind

Of some matters I am ignorant
But this I know for certain
The best place for a blind man
Is not halfway up a curtain
And why do they have to be
Up on a roof at 4am?
It's the perfect place for me to be
But what's in it for them?
It was where I had to go
And he just tags behind
I don't know why, only a fool would follow
Guide cats for the blind

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 04:49 AM

I bet that one of the conditions that Les insisted on was that LtS would not be allowed near any of the recording sessions. I've also had a horrible thought of Liz with a portable CD player and earphones, listening to it on public transport - perhaps if they have another of these exercises for a possible terrorist attack, they should try that as a scenario.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Sooz(at work)
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 08:04 AM

Les for laureate!
We played "David Beckham's Groin" to go with my brief spot to advertise the Gainsborough Folk Festival on Radio Lincolnshire last night. Come and see Les on Sunday afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Steve Benbows protege
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 01:16 PM

A brilliant c.d I bought my copy from Don at Sidmouth this year. Well worth every penny!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 06:18 PM

Dave - when I lived in Dorset and travelled up regularly by train to London, I'd while away the 3 hour journey with some Goon Show tapes on the walkman. I was asked to leave the carriage on one journey, and asked to take the headphones out so we could all listen on another.

In a similar vein - when in hospital after having Phoebe by Caesarean, Manitas brought me in my walkman (had to be lying flat on my back and not moving for 24-36 hours). Knowing full well I'd had about a dozen or so stitches in a very sensitive area, he bought me a present to cheer me up. He bought me a copy of 'A Cardi and Bloke' to play on my walkman... Sometimes I suspect Manitas of harbouring evil thoughts..... It's only by the grace of God and some bloody strong staples that I didn't literally laugh my guts out!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Folkiedave
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 07:05 PM

I had the Cd as a pressie for my birthday in August and it's brilliant. I am retiring tomorrow and I am reading out the great man's "Detritus" as a finale.

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 03:04 AM

My A level English Lit student daughter took my stash of his books into college yesterday. By general consensus the favourite was "Nobody Hugs a Hedgehog".

And my CD has not yet arrived...
...but Amazon did say it would be a week or two, dammit.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Guest: Clive Lever
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 11:35 AM

Hi all,   

it was I tho put the whole thing together. The idea started when I heard Les read Shipping Forecast at a gig in Maidstone and wondered what it would sound like with the Daddy of Dead Ringers, Brian Perkins reading it. It grew from there until we had ourselves a double album, though a single was originally planned. We expected more polite refusals than we got, which is a good sign in itself. In just over 3 months, the CD has laready raised well over 5000 pounds towards the project run by British Computer Association of the Blind. That project will bring computer accessibility to blind and partially-sighted people, many of whom are currently left out of the information society for one reason or another. I cannot thank Les and the others involved enough for their generosity. In Les's case, not only for allowing the poems to be used, but for the tireless wireless work he's been putting in on radio stations across the country, always promoting Guide Cats above his own work. We would never have expected or asked him to be that generous, so maybe I can return the compliment by urging you also to consider buying copies of the new Mrs Ackroyd Band CD, YELP! at the earliest available opportunity. It has a good version of Roseville Fair on it, incidentally. If there's ever a Guide Cats vol. 2, I would be keen to put Steve Tilston's Dipsticks and Seals on it, but you can find this one on Yelp! too.

If any of you are havingtrouble getting the CD, please consider buying one from the BCAB ourselves. You can find the details of how to do this by visiting www.bcab.org.uk, or by contacting me directly at [e-mail]. Please take note: we've discovered that in some of the high street shops, you'll be more likely to get a result if you ask for the compilation album 'Guide Cats for the Blind'. If you lead them to look under Les Barker though, , they don't find the CD under the dog001 thru dog017 list, and quickly lose the will to live. So don't fool them into thinking it's a regular Les Barker album. Please note that the British Computer Association of the Blind is not in a position to accept credit card payments at present, but hope to resolve this situation in the very near future.

One of my hopes was that as a by-product of the CD, Les would get wider recognition. He's a comic, a poet, and a folkie, yet in comedy circles and poetry circles you don't hear his name mentioned yet. One friend of mine actually cut himself shaving, as a result of being startled by the presence of Barker's work on radio 2.

Finally, if you're into Barker, and especially the Guide Cats album, and you're tuning in to your local BBC Radio station and not hearing it, then why not do us a favour by contacting them to request it.

Thanks again for all the great things you've been saying about the CD on this thread. Is there anyone out there who'd be able to send me the texts of any reviews from folk magazines? Being blind myself, Email is my best chance to read these reviews...and that's the point of the BCAB project. Had I not been one of the lucky minority of blind people able to afford and use a computer, the CD would never have happened. That's a measure of the fact that for a sighted person, the computer is a convenience. For a blind person it's a basic necessity. It's the only effective way we have to: read letters from sighted people and reply to them; pay bills independently; browse a shopping catalogue and shop for goods without sighted help; read our own newspapers, and so on. However, most blind people are missing out on this. The CD will raise funds to help us to change that.

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Gray D
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 09:20 PM

I saw that Les Barker once supporting Mrs. Ackroyd.

I wanted to shout out, "This isn't poetry . . . it's doggerel!".

But I didn't.

Gray D

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 02:45 AM

I had printed off the CD "contents" from the Les Barker website, including the label name and number. I waved it at the guy at HMV in York and that helped him locate it too. On the strength that 2 of us had asked for it, he decided to order it as he figured there would possibly be a demand for it. My daughter keeps looking at the list and spotting people who she likes. Mark and Lard doing "Jason & the Arguments" is intriguing her.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Sooz
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 03:37 AM

Well done, Clive its a great project. Its certainly getting Les noticed here in Lincolnshire as one of the local radio presenters has become a fan since hearing the CD and he seems to play a track every day! Good for the charity and great for Les.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Crystal
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 05:39 AM

My beloved father got a copy to review. AND HE GAVE IT TO MY BLOODY SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM INCREADIBLY ANGRY!!!!!!
AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! (I hope he reads this)
I do reviews, I'm the one who needs a laugh (a science degree is not funny at all) AND HE GAVE IT TO MY SISTER, A PERSON WHO IS STILL ALL BUT ILLITERATE!
I'm upset and I shall tell him so, not least because it means I'll have to buy my own copy now.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: WildRover
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 12:18 PM

Hi all,

the Guide Cats CED is also picking up some interest on the BBC Ulster programme with Gerry Anderson on weekdays 10.30 to 12.00 in the mornings.Many of the BBC local radio stations have been covering it. I'd love to know who is the Lincolnshire presenter who has become a fan.   

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 11:37 PM

What's the best way for those of us on the other side of the pond to get one?

Aloha,
Mark
(Actually in the middle of the other pond, where the state flag includes the Union Jack in its union, but that doesn't really matter, does it?)

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 12:13 AM

Mark - Good old Amazon will get it for you! Mind you, having said that, I've never actually looked at Amazon, but I understand that someone has ordered a copy from there.

Failing that, try Les himself at [e-mail] - if he can't get you a copy, no-one can!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Sooz
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 05:04 AM

Its Rod Whiting at Radio Lincolnshire 4pm to 7pm weekdays.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 02:42 PM

Mark - you have to look under the "various" artists section on Amazon, and type in Guide Cats for the Blind. Amazon UK has it listed, so you may have to get it through there if you're going via Amazon. If you look towards the top of the thread I have posted the relevant numbers etc on there.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,WildRover
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 06:47 AM

Hi Mark and all,

Americans, Australians and Canadians can buy the CD by contacting either [e-mail] and providing the man himself with your relevant details; or you can go to the Distributors, by emailing Frances Courtney. That's [e-mail]. It is also hoped that the CD will be made available at www.amazon.com some time in November. It's already available on www.amazon.co.uk.

Best,
Clive

-+

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Micca
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 06:53 AM

Mark, if you are stuck, contact a friendly UKer and we can work something out, ie a beneficial exchange of CDs? by mail!! this has worked well in the past, or on the other hand Contact Dick Greenhaus at Camsco, he might be able to get a batch!!

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: The Barden of England
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 06:54 AM

Clive - love the Mudcat name. How many versions of 'Wild Rover' is it?

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: WildRover
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 07:06 PM

Hi John,

to be honest, I've never stopped to count them. If you'd like to write privately to tell me how to start a new thread, we could go further into this debate.

Back to Barker, though: If any Mudcatters own record stores and want to stock Guide Cats, please contact Proper Music for more details. You could try [e-mail]. Although I'm keen for B C A B to get lots of money from the sales of the CD, I'm also anxious that Richard Ellin, the man behind Osmosys records, gets at least his money back, as he took a lot of gambles for us to make this happen. Also, I'd like to see this one up in the folk top ten along with Spiers and Boden and Kate Rusby etc. Then maybe, just maybe, we could get a play on Mike Harding! (smile) I hope when he does pick it up, he goes for Cyril Tawney. We asked if he'd be prepared to do either Lassie Free And Easy or the Sammy's Bar parody. He did both. They were both crackers, so they both made it to the CD. Why not play the game with me, like a fantasy folkball game. What celebrities can you imagine would do some of Les's poems? Who, for example, would you hear doing one of the Cosmo poems? You never know. If we reach a volume 2, your choice may be on it.

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 02:45 AM

Ok then, off the top of my head - "Cosmo the Fairly Accurate Knife Thrower" read by Paul Daniels (...and his lovely assistant Debbie?).

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 05:55 AM

I've heard several people do his silly poems and none of them are as good as the author, few people can grasp his sense of timing.

Having said that, I rather think the former UK Prime Minister John Major doing 'Captain Indecisive' would be good, if he could make up his mind to do it.

I'd like to hear more of his serious stuff - it's beautiful and hardly anyone in the UK knows any of it. Some of them have been turned into songs and audiences are stunned when they learn it's by Les. Maybe it's time he did some of those around the circuits.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 07:39 AM

Cosmo Prince of Denmark with Kenneth Branagh.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Bassic
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 09:20 AM

Read and hear Clive Lever`s interview, with excerpts from the CD, on BBC Radio 4 "In Touch" here

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dead Horse
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 01:06 PM

Jonathan Ross doing "Dachsunds with Ewections"

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: WildRover
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 06:40 PM

Hi,

I twied to get Jonathan Woss for the man next door's a burglar, but his agent said he gets inundated with requests like this and can't honour all of them, and hoped the project would do well, but... I can certainly imagine Paul Daniels doing Cosmo the fairly accurate knife thrower. Actually, there'd be almost no need for John Major to do captain indecisive, as Les wrote 'I demand to go on an assertiveness course' in similar mood but with J M in mind. How agreeable, as Rory Bremner would say.

Of course, there are several Ackroyd band compilations of serious material, most recently 'Some Love' and 'Airs of the Dog'. You'll find all the details on www.mrsackroyd.com...and Richard Ellin is thinking of doing his own compilation of Barker's serious love poems.

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 07:23 PM

Silly question - why is this not a "music" thread?