Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'

Subject: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: GUEST,Martin Gittins
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 10:07 AM

Hi, I'm trying to trace a 'Folk Ballad' type of thing, written by Graham Shaw, a musician who was around Manchester clubs in the 70's
It was broadcast (I think) on BBC Radio Manchester, possibly in the days of Alan Nixon's folk programme. I'd like to know if it was ever released as an L.P or if anyone has a recording of it or, basically any other information. Is Graham Shaw still around/ Any information welcomed.

Subject: RE: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: GUEST,Bruce Baillie
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 06:02 PM

Ah, Martin. I vaguely remember you as I once did a gig at your club, the Star in Salford with my old mate Martin Allcock. I don't know the song you're on about but did know Graham Shaw back in the seventies. Knew him quite well. As far as I know he's still around. In fact I saw him in a pub in Huddersfield having a drink a few years ago, he didn't look very well though, older than his years. Don't think he sings anymore though. He was the official poet for Huddersfield Town Football Club a while back. Martin Allcock may have more info on him but that's all I know.

Subject: RE: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 10:24 AM

Unfortunately I have no up-to-date news of Graham but I am glad to see that others know of his existence. I saw him once at a folk club most probably in Winchester in the 1970's and I even bought, that evening, his vinyl LP "I am the Minstrel". Like a fool I got rid of it, decades later. I can still remember his performance, and some of those from the LP. Such is life.

Subject: RE: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 10:31 AM

One of the songs on "I am the Minstrel" was "The Rabbit Man"

When I was just a lad
A good friend that I had
Was an old man who kept rabbits in a shed.

Despite his failing sight
He cared for them alright
...

The Council came one day
And took his land away
A filling station's what we need, they said

...

and the great chorus:-

They killed the rabbit man
When they took away his land
As sure as if they shot him through the head.
That barren patch of land
It killed the rabbit man
For the sake of ten square yards of land, he's dead.

Wow, what a song. It is the job of folksongs to be memorable.

Subject: RE: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 10:42 AM

This link is about Graham Shaw.

Subject: RE: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: r.padgett
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 02:24 PM

I am not sure but will check whether Graham is still with us!

he was Huddersfield based and a teacher, seem to recollect a song "Tin can squat"

Ray

Subject: RE: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 15 - 02:52 PM

Yes thank you Ray you are absolutely right. He said in performance that he was/had been a schoolteacher (I know the feeling!) and he was from Huddersfield.

Tin can squat.
Tin can squat.
That's a game we used to play
We'd kick the can and run away
Why don't they do the same today
Tin can squat

...

Television's claimed 'em
You never even see 'em playing hopscotch in the yard

Etc Please forgive my failing "memory"!.

Subject: RE: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: r.padgett
Date: 12 Mar 15 - 04:25 AM

My current search came up a blank and his last postings are well out of date

As far as I know he is no longer with us but if you know different???


Ray

Subject: RE: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: GUEST,Maartin Allcock
Date: 07 Sep 16 - 06:56 AM

Sadly Graham left us a while ago. I hadn't seen him for many years but the times I spent with him in 1978, including a five week tour of Brittany, are among my favourite memories. His album I Am The Minstrel features my very first recorded guitar solo (of many!). Seventeen Hours A Day was recorded by Harry Ogden at Piccadilly Radio Manchester and by Bill Leader at his studio in Greetland, Halifax. I was able to get a digitised cassette recording of from our mutual friend Jon Hirst, which I've tried my best to clean up, but it's still very noisy.

Subject: RE: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: GUEST,Gary Dimmock
Date: 07 Nov 17 - 07:29 AM

Hi
If this thread isn't over, I taught with Graham and we were good friends. He lived with me with is partner Caroline.
We went all over on his gigs and I still have his album.
Wonderful voice and incredible sense of humour.

Subject: RE: Graham Shaw's 'Seventeen Hours A Day'
From: GUEST,Phil Jones
Date: 22 May 21 - 05:17 AM

Graham was a very good friend of mine. We regularly and frequently played music together sharing and learning our guitar styles. I realise now he has long since gone to the great folk club in the sky. Our lives followed quite different musical paths, and the plague of time and distance took its toll. It would be nice to play music with him again. Phil