Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle

Subject: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Angus McSweeney
Date: 03 Jun 97 - 09:42 PM

Songs to Ditch, songs not to Ditch, and all these great requests for lyrics! ...After reading a few and then getting back on the guitar I started thinking about what fun it would be to play with all the good folk that contribute. So I propose a folk circle...just add the song you want to play when it comes round to your turn in the circle. If we can't all play together maybe we can get an idea of the songs that would be played. We assume that all instruments are in tune and everyone is ready. I'll start off with an old favorite of mine, Key of C, I'll be playing guitar, and the song is "I Never Will Marry"

Please add your contributions, one at a time, and I think we can get a pretty good list of tunes here!

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 03 Jun 97 - 11:00 PM

My turn?

I'll do Kate Wolf's "The Lilac and the Apple". I have a bass voice so I'll do it in D starting at the A below middle C. A cappella for this one.

Frank Phillips

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: cleod
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 09:15 AM

Hmm, this sounds like fun...I'd do "Danny Boy", but I'm afraid to get thrown out by the audience >g<, so I'll just sing "The Cruiskeen Lawn" -- I do a pretty good tenor, for an alto, that is...^_^

cleod (happily quaffing)

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 09:54 AM

I'll sing "Suzanna's a funnicle Man" in A

Bert.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 09:58 AM

Hey we could do this for real
If Angus makes a cassette and sends it to Frank, who adds his song and sends it to Cleod......

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 12:30 PM

"I've rambled This Country Both Earlye and Late" on autoharp(ala Mike Seeger) in D

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bob Landry
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 02:20 PM

Even though I ain't no Stan Rogers, I'll offer "Fisherman' Wharf" in Am (acoustic guitar).

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 02:21 PM

That should have read Fisherman's Wharf

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Les Blank
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 02:45 PM

I frequently swap songs monthly with a small but very energetic group , so here's my contribution :

"The Cat Came Back" (in D) (( I do nine verses at last count

and am always on the lookout for additional ones !!))

If I'm asked for an encore, I'd do "Ramblin' Boy" by Tom Paxton

(in C).

I'm also very partial to "Delia's Gone" sung in dialect.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Scott Swinney
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 05:50 PM

I'd like to join you on "Ramblin' Boy"(probably the entire gang would) and then I'd contribute an old Paxton favorite of mine "One Time Only" in C. I'll be playing my 6-string but I appreciate the accompaniment. I wouldn't mind playing the 12-string when Les contributes "Delia's Gone".

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 06:29 PM

Dear Les Blank,

I, too, am a "Cat Came Back" fan and have plunked at it ever since first hearing Cisco Houston's version on an old Smithsonian folk collection. Since that time, I've come across some other verses and would be interested in swapping. If you're so inclined, please drop me your nine verses via e-mail to:

[e-mail]

and I'll see if I've any to add.

To all the Folks in the Circle:

My contribution on 6-string, in F and sung in baritone, is Stephen Foster's "Hard Times Come Again No More".

Who's next?

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: LaMarca
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 08:16 PM

How about us acaulpoco types? Let me cast a vote for being allowed to do some songs that DON'T have choruses. I like ballads; they aren't usually sing-alongs, but sure are fun to learn and sing. I can't tell you what key I sing it in, but my current favorite is "The Land" by Rudyard Kipling, set to music by Peter Bellamy. It's a tongue-in-cheek history of England in 8 or 9 double verses...

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Dave Murphy
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 11:11 PM

Maybe Sweet Williams Town to slow us down a bit and give the musicians a chance for an extra pint. Unfortunately, you'll have to listen to me in the seanos.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Jack
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 11:05 AM

I would do Schoolday Over by Ewan MacColl.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 03:30 PM

I like to add a little humor - how about Shel Silverstein's "Our House"? We used to sing it at camp, and the kids loved it.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Les Blank
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 04:33 PM

Scott Swinney: I'd be honored to have your help, especially on the 12-string. It's enough for me to handle 6 strings(seeing I only have five fingers on my hand !!) You guys who do the doubles have always amazed me. Maybe I can work up to it slow -- can I try eight strings to start ?

Mountain Dog: I first heard the old Cat in the mid 40's when The DJ's on WWVA, Wheeling, W.Va, Lee and Juanita Moore used to play it all the time, even sang along with the artist(s). Can you accept an attached file with E-mail ? I can handle Word (7.0) for Win 95, Notepad or Write. Otherwise I just send 'em as I can get to 'em.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Peter Timmerman
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 05:51 PM

"Skye Boat Song" in D.......Yours, Peter

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 05:59 PM

Dear Les:

I started out on 12-string with fewer than 12-strings... On my old 12, I usually found that by the time I got it cranked up to concert pitch, It'd be busted back to only 9 or 10 strings in a matter of minutes! And being a poor aspiring writer at the time (on the other side of W. -By God - Va. from you), it would normally stay that way for months or years on end. When I finallly got a 12 that would bear the strain of a full complement of strings, I was already used to the broader neck and the richness of the tone was a delight.

P.S. Word 7 for 95 is just fine for me. I look forward to receiving my first cat via e-mail.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Les Blank re: Cat Came Back
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 08:29 PM

Wonder of wonders !! I just found a slew of new verses in, of all places, the Digital Tradition !! Don't tell me this isn't nearly Oz !! Funny, how looking in DT is never my first idea -- Thank you dick g for putting up with the likes of me !

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Angus
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 09:21 PM

I hope everyone else is picking up as many great song ideas as I am! I think the circle's back to me, and I'm going to play "The Bloomin' Bright Star of Belle Isle" in the key of G. I don't know about you, but I'd like to see this thread continue for a while. If you haven't joined in, please do so and give us a song. Or give us another one if it's that time.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Jun 97 - 11:53 PM

then lets have a little gospel number...perhaps "Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet" in G (still autoharp...I had one guitar lesson one time....a 'friend' said he'd show me...he showed be a barred 'F' and said to practice that and he'd show me some more...so I play autoharp!)

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Peter Timmerman
Date: 06 Jun 97 - 10:02 AM

In the break you might want to see the film of the Cat Came Back. A Canadian National Film Board thing, I think. Yours, Peter

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Scott Swinney
Date: 06 Jun 97 - 07:26 PM

An old favorite of mine, "Changes", by Phil Ochs.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Frank in the swamps (Cathub)
Date: 06 Jun 97 - 08:22 PM

How about a little tearjerkin' mellodramy? I'm partial to the ballad of "Billy Venero" in C. It's better'n John Wayne when you're hangin' around a campfire.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: OLD FOLK
Date: 06 Jun 97 - 10:04 PM

My wife and I would like to join in with a 6 string and a mountain dulcimer Key of G "CAN THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN"

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: cleod
Date: 07 Jun 97 - 12:00 PM

I'm back in the circle, and now that I have the lyrics of Greensleeves...

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: rich r
Date: 07 Jun 97 - 12:34 PM

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Big Dave
Date: 08 Jun 97 - 12:42 AM

Can I join?

If so, I'll do my version of "Bright Morning Star", unaccompanied, in "guess the key".

Cheers,

Dave.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Angus
Date: 08 Jun 97 - 11:38 AM

Glad to have you in the circle, Dave. Everyone's welcome in this circle. I enjoy all the varied selections coming out of the woodwork. I'll add "Thirsty Boots" by Eric Anderson.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Jack
Date: 08 Jun 97 - 09:23 PM

If its my turn, I'd like to do Coats off for Britain by Ian Rosseloen. Its a great pro-labor sarcastic poke at the British "powers-that-be" in the guise of of one of those war-era moral boosting songs.

everyone now

Coats off Coats off Coats off for Britain There's a battle to be won!

Next!

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Frank Phillips
Date: 08 Jun 97 - 11:09 PM

If I get a second chance I'll do the Jeannie C. I'll do it right out of the Stan Rogers song book. Drop D tuning.

Frank

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bill Foster
Date: 09 Jun 97 - 08:11 AM

I would do "Old Shep" on the guitar, since that one always made me cry when grandpa sang it for me. I would also like to do "Meeting in the Air," which my family and I performed at Alex Haley's memorial service. I do it on the 5-string, clawhammer style.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 09 Jun 97 - 08:29 AM

Thanks Bill. Not many people have the courage to sing tear jerkers these days.
I'll stay in the mood and sing "While London Sleeps"

Bert

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 09 Jun 97 - 11:41 AM

I don't play an instrument, but I'd like to sing "Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues" in my very own key.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 09 Jun 97 - 12:42 PM

IF I could get over my nervousness in the company of so many accomplished folk musicians...

I'd do "The Lass of Glenshee"(a capella, in an alto key) because that's the song that stole my heart and plunged me into the world of celtic folk music.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Will
Date: 09 Jun 97 - 08:54 PM

I'll throw in Northwest Passage. Stan Rogers did it a capella, but I need the melody line on the guitar to drown me out.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 10 Jun 97 - 01:10 AM

Howdy Folks,

I've been singing a lot of harmonies and playing various instruments on many of your choices. I wanted to add some recorder to Cleod's Greensleeves (alto or tenor depending on key).

If I may lead one now, I'll use guitar for one of my recent favorites, Early by Greg Brown. We'll do the chorus twice each time through so that everybody can learn it and join in with lots of harmonies.

Then (since I've held off so long before joining in) I'd like to go a cappella for a short one in unison from the Shaker tradition. Let's do Love Is Little.

Allinkausay, Bill

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Peter Timmerman
Date: 10 Jun 97 - 11:17 AM

If I had the chords right (And I don't) I would like to contribute Tim Hardin's "The Lady Came from Baltimore". I heard him do it at maybe his last concert in England years ago. Which was a strange event. Maybe someone else around the circle and I could go off and figure it out and come back. Yours, Peter

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Angus
Date: 10 Jun 97 - 11:28 AM

Hey Peter! "The Lady Came From Baltimore" is one of my favorites. I've probably played it three times this week and I seldom encounter anyone who's ever heard it. I'd be glad to share the chords, but I'm in a bit of a hurry right now. Do you want me to e-mail them to you or start a seperate thread?

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Angus
Date: 10 Jun 97 - 11:30 AM

Oh yeah, another song. I'll stay in the mood and play a quiet little number called "Black Sheep Boy", also by Tim Hardin. 6-string, Key of D.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Steffan
Date: 10 Jun 97 - 12:19 PM

Well, if I sang I'd empty the hall, so I'd throw in an instrumental on the English Concertina at this point - other instruments welcome to join in. I'd probably do a minor key slow sad Celtic air, followed by a dance tune in the relevant major - lots of choices, here, and if I had to choose right now, they'd be Dark Woman of the Glen followed by Ewe with the Crooked Horn, but if you asked me tomorrow, they might be something different ... -Steffan

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 10 Jun 97 - 02:08 PM

Dear Angus, You could e-mail them to me at the above address when you get a minute. I guess that counts as leaving the circle and coming back! I certainly appreciate it. Beautiful songs. While you are on the thread, and speaking of Tim, do you know whether the live recording of TH is still available? Yours, Peter

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Angus
Date: 10 Jun 97 - 06:13 PM

Sorry, I don't know about the live recording. I have an old album of his from the late sixties. I includes Lady Came from Baltimore, Red Balloon, etc. Problem is I haven't had a turntable hooked up for years. Hey! To all you others contributing to this circle: remember, this is a FANTASY folk circle. That means your instruments ARE in tune and your voices sound GREAT! OK, enough with capital letters. But since I'm back on here, let me do one more. Now for something completely different: Long Time Blues by Mason Williams. Peter, heads up! I'm going to send you those chords now. Angus

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Jun 97 - 09:42 PM

Since I dredged up the words of "The Keys of Canturbury" last week, I've been singing it around the house....I think I'll add it into the circle now...I just re-listened to an old recording of Oscar Brand & Jean Ritchie doing it, he with a formal, slow rendering of his part,& Jean with a faster reply using a slightly different tune! Neat! The record must be over 30 years old, and it's probably been 25 years since I've played it...this forum sure makes me dust off some old favorites!

(I'm playing it on the Dulcimer...key of C...I hope some lady is following with the woman's part...my falsetto is bad!)

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Annie
Date: 10 Jun 97 - 11:21 PM

For a real gas...some night when you are all jamming put down your instruments and sing the "star spangled banner" everyone, as loud as you can. It's cool.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 11 Jun 97 - 05:31 AM

Dropping in to this world-wide circle, I would offer "The Traveller all over the World", as being appropriate.

"Come all you fellow travelling men of every rank and station

And hear this short oration which as yet remains untold..."

Unaccopmanied, of course - we search musicians before entry in our circles!

Regards

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Susan of California
Date: 11 Jun 97 - 04:10 PM

I think one that we could have fun with is "This Land is Your Land"...including the lost 'radical' verses, and I'd have my husband play his 12 string.

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Bob Landry
Date: 11 Jun 97 - 06:57 PM

Time for another go -- I'll grab my new 6-string and flat pick "Ragtime Annie" and 'The French Two-Step", two fiddle tunes that start with the same musical phraseology but end up in different directions. I'll do my best to make Jarvis Benoit (a great Celtic and Old Time fiddler from Janvrin's Island) proud.

Bob

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From:
Date: 12 Jun 97 - 12:08 AM

Susan, How 'bout sharing some of those "radical verses"? I'm only familiar with Arlo's...

As I went walking,I saw a sign And on the sign it said "No trespassing". But on the other side, it didn't say nothing, That side was meant for you and me.

I'll add a lovely little song (at least in my opinion). Tim O'Brien wrote and recorded this when he was with the bluegrass group Hot Rize, but it is no bluegrass tune. If you haven't heard it before I think your in for a nice surprise. It's called "Late in the Day", 6-string (it would be nice if someone could add a dobro), key of G.

And Bob Landry, what's the new guitar? Scott from Minneapolis

Subject: RE: Tune up: Fantasy Folk Circle
From: Peter Timmerman
Date: 12 Jun 97 - 10:04 AM

Now that Angus and I have sorted out "The Lady Came from Baltimore", it is contributed to the circle. Next, Doc Watson's version of "Alberta". Yours, Peter