John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs

Subject: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: John Moulden
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 05:57 AM

I have for sale a single unbound and uncut copy of the above in the Broadside King (London, 1973) edition with a foreward by AL Lloyd. This was a facsimile reprint on high quality paper of the original 1891 edition. Despite its name the songs are almost all from ballad sheets.

It may be possible to obtain other copies and possibly other items from this same publisher.

There are circumstances attached to this sale which I would rather not air publicly (but the sale is will not for my profit) and ask that anyone who is interested will contact me privately.

John Moulden ([e-mail]

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Matthew B.
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 08:53 AM

I have that same book. Just a warning though. Most of the songs in it are not the type of sea shanty we're used to, but instead they're the ballads and other tunes that sailors sang on ship whether they were about the sea or not. Kind of like a "Top 40 hits" of the day that sailors (and landsmen) sang on board the ships as they did when on land.

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: SeanM
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 01:06 PM

You might consider putting it up for auction... establish a minimum bid and all that... we've got one on this site.

M

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Matthew B.
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 01:18 PM

But you might want to mention that the book has the lyrics but not the music.

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 05:40 PM

Could any of you enlighten me a bit as to who John Ashton is? I presume he is the same person in the Finest Kind song about Jack Ashton, right?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 05:56 PM

I have a book by Ashton called "Modern Street Ballads" , published in 1888 and covering songs collected in the first half of the nineteenth century. The fly leaf describes him as "Author of "Social life in the reign of Queen Anne"". I'm sure John Moulden can give us his dates etc.

The "Modern Street Ballads" is a nice book, with some good woodcuts. Thea contents are from broadsheets and include some inteeresting versions of well known songs.

Regards

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From:
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 06:45 PM

When Ashton says something 'is not of interest to the general reader' that means he expurgated it, and he was very quick to do such. His publications that I have are:
'Humour With and Satire of the 17th Century'
'A Century of Ballads'
'Modern Street Ballads'
'Chapbooks of the 18th Century'

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Graham Pirt
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 07:36 PM

Barbara

I don't think that Jack Ashton is the same as John Ashton, if you're talking about the song I think you are. Keith Marsden wrote a song called Jack Ashton about a chap in Leeds between the wars who told tall stories to the kids under the gaslights. He was what we called "tenpence, shilling". I don't know what "Finest Kind" is in your message but would be interested - performers? book?. Please enlighten. By the way I also have the book referred to in the thread. I got it from John Ashton, known as the Broadsheet King (if I remember correctly) when he performed at the Hull folk Club back in the 70's - Then again perhaps my memory betrays me!

Graham

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 08:29 PM

Ya, that's the song, and Finest Kind is an Ottawa (Canada) trio -- Ian Robb, Anne Downey, Shelley Posen. Sing wonderful harmony, a capella and otherwise. (Check our links, I got the CD from Folk Legacy after Joe Offer recommended it), Is "tenpence/shilling" the same as " tuppence off the shilling"?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Graham Pirt
Date: 06 Oct 99 - 07:42 AM

Barbara

Thanks, I'd like to hear their version. I still sing with Cockersdale which is the group formed by Keith to sing his songs. We still perform regularly in the UK and have been presenting a show of Keith's life called "Picking Sooty Blackberries" However, back to JOHN Ashton. I was fooled by my memory. John was not the Broadsheet King (and vice versa) I must try and remember now who the Broadsheet King is!

Graham

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Matthew B.
Date: 06 Oct 99 - 12:48 PM

So whatever happened to John Moulden, and why hasn't he posted anything?

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From:
Date: 06 Oct 99 - 01:30 PM

It was John Foreman who styled himself 'The Broadsheet King' in London in the 1960's. John Ashton's books on popular culture (ballads, chapbooks, +) were all published in the 1880's and 90's. 'Real Sailor Songs' is one of the most difficult of his works to come by.

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: John Moulden
Date: 06 Oct 99 - 03:27 PM

John Foreman was indeed the Broadsheet King. The reason why there has been nothing from me since the first post is that I have been transacting the business by private e-mail as I said I would. I have been bid $50 for a start - for further details or to place a bid (and I repeat, this sale will not benefit me in any way) contact [e-mail]

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Graham Pirt
Date: 06 Oct 99 - 05:09 PM

John Foreman - that's the man "If I can't have a proper cup of coffee in a proper copper coffee poy I'll have a cup of tea" tho' I'm sure that Didn't come from "Real Sailor Songs"! The book is a really nice production - if very large and difficult to fit on a bookshelf.

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 06 Oct 99 - 07:32 PM

Aha! Now I remember the book! I thought the title sounded familiar!

Regards

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 03:16 AM

Graham Pirt, I note you know something about "Proper Cup of Coffee", which I've been looking for (info, that is). Could you post it to me at [e-mail]? Thanks a million

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Graham Pirt
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 03:40 AM

Jon

It might be that the only bit I knew was what I quoted! However I think I know someone who may be able to help. Give me some time and I'll check.

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 03:56 AM

I've been wondering about the "Coffeepot Song" too, Jon. Did I understand it's in the Real Sailor Songs book? I couldn't find it there (great book, by the way. I really like the illustrations, but wish it had tunes for the songs.)

Let's start another thread and open the coffeepot song question to the forum - click here to a coffeepot thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 09:51 AM

Hi John!

$55.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: John Ashton: Real Sailor Songs
From: John Moulden
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 03:50 PM

Since I also made the original posting on Irtrad-l and Ballad-l, I regret I can only accept bids to my e-mail address.