'Good Morning Captain

Subject: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 09:04 PM

Request a tape of my 1957 record "Good Morning Captain"
"TETRA" LABEL, 45 rpm OR 78 rpm.
This is the only one of my records that I don't have a copy of in any format. Name on record label is :"Joe D. Gibson." mY STUPID EX manager didn't think that "Jody" was a real name. It was only distributed in New England, NY, NJ.and Penn. It sold 400,000 so there must be one around somewhere. The record itself would be a real nice surprise for which I'll pay 10 of ny latest CD"s
Jody Gibson
36 Charles St Apt 4.
Newport, RI 02849

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 10:59 PM

click here

It's up for bid on Ebay. Do you want to get into a bidding war with me? If you don't have an account there, PM me and I will get it for you. By the way, thay have you pegged as "rockabilly", hardly chantyman stuff. Another Captain to love and adore. Think Captain Kendall will mind?

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Mar 01 - 11:01 PM

Well then. Copy and paste. sp correction:they

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1420418123

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: GUEST,CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 02:22 PM

SINSULL.
i'M 72 YEARS OLD. I've done a lot of stuff. Bill Flagg and I coined the phrase, "Rockabilly" In, Oh 1956 or so. I was an Air Force T/Sgt Air Traffic Controller at the time. Part timed with Bill at the "Brown Derby" in Windsor Locks, Conn. on Sunday afternoons.
I didn't start sailing until 1967. I was hired to sing Folk Music at the newly opened "Black Pearl" Tavern here in Newport, RI. The tavern is named after the famous Hermaphrodite Brig "Black Pearl". At the time Both Brig and Tavern were owned by Barclay Warburton III. I didn't know a paintbrush from a "Shank-painter". ( The piece of rope used to tie the big Bower Anchor onto the standing rigging, by it's shank )
I knew nothing about Chanteys, although I did know a couple of Capstan Chanties and two long drag chanties, but didn't know that they were Sea Chanties. I had never heard a Sea Chantey sung properly until I met Louis Killen who was hired to do a week at the Pearl. Louis is not a chanteyman, but he dows sing them with the right feeling and flavor. I HOPE TO TELL YOU. lOUIS' singing style is, well, if Roy Acuff and Cyrill Tawney had a kid, he would sing exactly like Louis Killen. Anyway. Louis Got my attention. I spent a week sitting at a table in the "Pearl" enthralled by Louis singing and story telling. We became fast friends. He gave me the straight information on exactly what a sea chantey is. The subject was fascinating. I asked Capt Warburton to sign me on the "Pearl" Brig as a Greenhorn deck hand. Warburton's reply was, "Gibson, you were born a landlubber , you'll die a landlubber and whats more you have all the instrincts of a FARMER".
He invited me to go along as a passenger and watch "Intrepid" beat the pants off "Dame Patty" in the 1967 America's Cup defence. I asked the Capt. If I culd go aloft and watch the race from the foremast -foretopmast doubling. He hesitatingl gave me permission, and, when he saw that I was "at home" up in the riging, he changed his mind and took me on, not as a deck hand, but as a foretopman. Which suited me just fine.
with no pre-conceived notions about the relative merits of "square rigging" (rigged "square to the mast" vs fore and aft rigging, I caught right on to the tremendous superiority of square rigging. The only thing you can say about fore and aft rigging is that it's easy. You need a trained crew for square rigging to handle the braces, jib sheets, and fores'l tacks and sheets when you come about (change tack by bringing the head of the vesselthrough the wind direction) but, unlike fore and aft rigging, nothing is left "flapping around" the yards stay exactly at what ever angle to the keelyou brace them. This is a tremendous advantage. You can "Heave to" with all the sails set, by having the Mains'l and Main tops'l drawing while the formast sails are "Aback". This brings the vessel dead in the water with just the slightest bit of leeway. Then, when you are ready to go forward again, simply brace the foremast sails to draw, and away we go. You can sail backwards accurately, and if you have two square rigged masts, you can turn the vessel 360 degrees while standing still. This is called, "Box hauling" Needless to say, you never have to worry about not making it through the wind when you come about.
Enough of me trying to impress everysone with my vast knowledge of sea lore. Capt Warburton and I became fast friends. He was my mentor . and upon hios death, I became the "Black pearl"s Captain. Anyway I learned about chanteys, actually became a true Chanteyman, etc etc etc.
Well, you asked. Tell me something about yourself Sinsulls. I started professional singing in 1947 and I guess I know about 1500songs of every conceivable type, and I like all kinds of music (Rap isn't music) from Italian Opera Arias ("La donna e Mobile, from Rigoletto)to Bluegrass and eveything in between. I sing in Italian, Russian, Spanish, German, Japanese and Hebrew. Not to mention English. Long winded aint I.
I'll not bid against you for "Good Morning Captain" I'll settle for a disc or tape "dub" and will send you my latest CD in exchange. Tape can be reel to reel 15 IPS, 7-1/2 IPS or casette.
Thanks a whole lot.
JODY GIBSON
36 Charles St. Apt4
Newport, RI 02840

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 02:34 PM

Oh Lord. How many "characters" can the 'Cat handle???? You are one of a kind (or around here maybe one of three or four). Welcome Jody. And I will get the record for you. If you click on my name in this post, you will get a listing of everything I have ever posted in the Cafe - everything from size and shape of breasts (along with most of the women and some of the men ) to my taste in beverages.

Be careful about putting your address and phone #, etc. in the threads. Anyone can access us. And when you have a chance, tell us a little about your daughter - i believe she is a somewhat famous singer too...

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 02:48 PM

I knew this piece of trivia wouldn't go to waste:

TODAY'S TIP: SCUTTLEBUTT by Martha Barnette (SKUHT-ull-buht) (n.) In nautical language, a "scuttle" is an opening cut into a hatch or the side of a ship to admit air, and "to scuttle a ship" means to cut a hole in the bottom of a ship in order to sink it. That's the vivid image behind our use of the verb "to scuttle," as in "They've scuttled today's launch of the space shuttle."

Anyway, sailing ships once commonly kept their drinking water in a "butt," or "cask," on deck, with a small hole, or "scuttle," cut out of its side. The cask was therefore called a "scuttlebutt." Naturally, sailors would gather at the scuttlebutt not only to get a drink, but to gossip, much the way modern folks do around the water cooler or coffee machine. After a while, the name of the place where rumors were exchanged came to be applied to the gossip itself.

"The scuttlebutt is that there's a photo from his college days that shows the candidate dancing nude on top of a bar, but no one's been able to find it." PLEASE CONFIRM.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 03:27 PM

Wow! Another "gem"! Welcome to the Mudcat Cranky Yankee/Jody! Most interesting and would LOVE to hear more! Sins...nice reeling in! Thanks for the tip over on the Barry thread.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: GUEST,Roll&Go-C
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 04:35 PM

Too bad Newport's so far from Maine. We'd love to have you join us for some singing in Portland, and I'm sure our friends in Portsmouth would as well.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 07:52 PM

sinsull

Any relation to Stu'ns'l?,
I'm going to clik on your name, Mary. So my wife, Donna (MaFazoo) and I can get to know you better.
If you'll buy the record for me, I'll be eternally grateful. I'll pay for the record and give you a couple of my CD's. Let me know how much?
I have two daughters and a son who are all professional folksingers, and so's the wife who writes great songs. Joyce is very socially conscious in her work and active in many movements, most noticably getting herself and my granddaughter arrested for blocking the access to the Naval War College. Kate occasionally performs with her ex husband. Steven Snyder. David is called, "The Fishin' Musician". He's a commercial Fisherman and one hell of a performer when h3e isn't at sea. Commercial fishing is THE most dangerous occupation there is. I f you doubt this, get this weeks copy of "The National Fisherman" aweekly periodical devoted to Commercial fishing. Under "Coast Guard News" you'll see a list of those Lost at sea THIS WEEK. The reason for this loss of life is, they fish 'till they drop, sometimes as much as 20 hours a day. Because, they work on shares, so they only get about an hour sleep, every now and then. Sleepy, tired Seamen get careless and make deadly mistakes. He loves it. He told me once that there's something romantic about making your living at sea and something very satisfying about bringing good, cheap food to people. My kid's and grandkid's last name is Katzberg. I changed my name way back in 1947 for the same reason my buddy from Brooklyn, Elliot Adnopoz changed his name to "Ramblin' Jack Elliot". At the time, No one wanted to hear the kind of music we wanted to sing by a couple of Brooklyn Hillbillies named Adnapoz and Katzberg. This is not the case today. Donna and I sing under the names "Jody and Donna Gibson". and when a couple of Katzbergs join us, Donna calls us "THE K.G.B" "The Katzberg- Gibson Band"
Right out of a clear blue sky, Bill Flagg, (The original "Rockabilly") who I hadn't seen or heard from since 1957, called me on the telephone. He was also on "TETRA" label, in fact I sang backup harmony on his "Go Cat Go" which was a big hit. Anyway to make a long story even longer, he produces "Bluegrass Festivals". He was talking to Roger Sprung and mentioned that he'd like to find me, but didn't know where or how. Roger and I still occasionally work together (unbeknownst to Bill) and he told he knew where I am. Bill only remembers me from our gigs at the "Brown Derby" in Windsor Locks, Conn. I was the first person he ever heard play a 5 string banjo, and he wants me to do some "Clawhammer, Uncle Dave Macon, Marshal (Grandpa) Jones stuff at a couple of his festivals in Conn and Mass. The Granville, Conn. " Prospect Mountain Bluegrass Festival", Aug 17, 18 and 19. Also the Hartland Mass. Festival in Sept. He doesn't know it yet, but mixed in with the banjo stuff, I'm going to introduce Bluegrass fans to Nautical music, accompanied by banjo. "While Cruising 'Round Yarmouth" in 6/8 instead of 3/4 time does quite nicely with the banjo. "Can't you dance the Polka" could have been written for the banjo it fits quite nicely. In Uncle Dave Macon "Open C" tuning. E,C,G,C,G. Uncle Dave Macon did a couple of Water Dept. bits, "Sail away Ladies" is a well used "Railroad hand-car" Type windlass chantey. It has the perfect "one down, one up" rhythm for this type of windlass. Some sailors, who weren't aware that you'r supposed to "Push down, pull up" were working twice as hard as they had to by just, "pushing down" and letting it ride up, and thought that their windlass was faulty because it kept missing pawls. Of course, I don't play the banjo when we're bringing up the anchor, but it sounds just fine, when done as a song on stage. Dave Macon also did "Rock About My Saro Jane", another windlass chantey. The chorus to "Sail away Ladies Sail Away" is, DON'T SHE ROCK, DADDY OH, DON;T SHE ROCK DADDY OH, DON;T SHE ROCK DADDY OH, DON'T SHE ROCK DADDY OH. The chanteyman sings, "Don't she Rock?" and the sailors respond with, "Daddy oh" It's one of my favorites. Sounds like Rock and Roll to me, Which is the movement a seagoing vessel makes when it's under way. Forward and backwards is called "Rock" and side to side motion is called "Roll""Let's rock and roll", translates as, Let's get underway. An old Friend of mine, who was Boatswain on one of the ships in the last grain race (The "LawhiLL) in 1939, once described his ship's movement in a near hurricane as, a "Shake, ratlin' roll"pronounced "Shake rattle 'n roll" Ratlines (pronounced, "Ratlin'") are the rope ladder-like "Steps" that are seized to the shrouds and backstays, upon which the sailors climb when they "get on the stick".
As Jimmy Durante once said, "I got a million of them". I've got his nose too.
I'm sure long winded, aint I. Ma Fazoo has a few words to say here, TAKE IT AWAY, MA FAZOO.

Don't worry, dahlin', unlike my beloved husband, I'm a creature of few words. I just wanted to add that while I don't usually discuss my breast size, I can tell you that I once gave myself a black eye jumping rope without a bra. TA!

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 08:13 PM

Gave up jogging for the same reason Ma. Make sure you keep us posted on your performances in the "What's Going On" thread. it won't be long before you have a crowd of 'catters showing up to see. I think you'll fit in very nicely around here.
Sinsull is a combination of my mother's maiden and married names. Too long a story to tell again. And NYC is further from Portland than Newport but I made it there for a shanty sing. Think about it.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 30 Mar 01 - 11:25 PM

Are you the same Jody who wears a hat that says something like "HMS Redundant"? Or something like that? If so, I met you back in the summer of 1991 in either Massachusetts or Rhode Island, when you spent some time aboard the HMS Bounty replica I was crewing on that summer. Captain Davis was in charge. We sang some chanteys together, including hauling on a line to "Blow, Boys, Blow." What a great time that was! Let me know if that's you, eh?

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: Melani
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 12:16 AM

Great to meet you, Yankee. The idea of Roy Acuff and Cyril Tawney getting together to produce Louis Killen is fascinating, to say the least. And be long-winded any time you like.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: GUEST,Bardford
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 12:33 AM

I could listen to this thread all day. What a treat.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 12:39 AM

Jody, I think you are the same as I'm thinking of. You recommended to me the book "The Last Grain Race" by Eric Newby. I bought it when I got back home, and it's great! Ten years later and I can finally thank you for that recommendation!

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 12:28 PM

Chanteyranger.

That's me.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: GUEST,(my impression of) Kendall
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 01:12 PM

When I opened this thread, I assumed it was about me.

Buy my CD.

(my impression of) Kendall

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 03:36 PM

That's not Kendall. His "confuser" is broke.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Mar 01 - 03:37 PM

But buy his CD anyway.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 01:54 AM

"That's me."

Jody, I believe it's rare for you to be at a loss for words. :-)

Are you in touch with Capt. Davis? Do you have an e mail address for him that you could send me in a PM? That would be appreciated. What do you remember about your time on the Bounty in '91? That was my first experience on a square-rigged ship. What a summer that was. After that, I spent a little time in sail-training aboard the brig PILGRIM. (I'm "chanteyranger" because I'm a ranger and I sing chanteys, mostly aboard the square-rigged ship BALCLUTHA where I take part in demonstrations of sail-raising and such. She's docked, though - a far cry from sail-handling at sea).

Glad you're here on the Mudcat. Keep those posts coming. I don't remember you as "cranky" - so I'm not sure that moniker fits. You were the most upbeat person on that ship.

Best,

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 05:31 AM

chanteyranger.
I just had to see what a two word reply from me looked like.
Donna (MaFazoo)and I run into Joe Davis quite often. He lives in Newport also. Joe is easilly the finest s"Schoonerman" I've ever met. When he still had "Bill of Rights" Donna and I signed on for the "Tall Ships " race from Newport to N.Y.C. when they re-dedicated the Statue of Liberty.
While we were setting sail for the race, the Main Gaff came apart at the jaws from dry rot, So, we bought a long skinny "Douglas Fir" log and, using ship-adze, drawknife, chisel, mallet and plane we made a new one, including jaws, parrels and running rigging in one day. The next morning we lashed the sail onto the gaff, (the hoops were still seized to the sail and secured around the mast and the blocks and falls for the throat and peak halyardswere still reeved through, so all we had to do was seize the blocks to the gaff, lace the sail in place and stretch th3e head with the outaul and we were ready to get underway, one full day later than the other ships.
It was blowing a full gale when we finally got rockin' and rollin'. ALL the other race entrants had ducked for cover. But, NOT MY BUDDY JOE DAVIS . It's a fact, "When the wind blows, "The Bill" goes. Capt Davis stuck out his lower jaw, (as you've no doubt seen him do on occasion) Put "Bill of Rights'" rail in the water and went charging down Long Island Sound like a bat out of hell, scooted through "Hell Gate" like it wasn't there (The tide was perfect) and flew down the East River. I never saw a happier bunch of grinning "Anchor Clankers" in my entire life. we saluted "Gracie Mansion" NY's official Mayor's residence, with Joe's 4 pounder and my signal cannon as we roared past and were out of sight before anyone made it outside to see who it was. We dropped the hook between "Bedloe's Island (where the statue is) and Ellis Island, the best seat in the house. It was a good 4 hours before the second place finisher showed up ( Shenandoah) Everyone but the deck watch was sound asleep by then. That was easilly the best day's sail on a fore and after I've ever had.
I've only had two better, one on "Black Pearl" between Block Island and Nantucket on a good beam reach. We ran aground at the dock after being assured that there was "Plenty of water". The other one was on "HMS Rose" II, when we sailed her on her maiden voyage from Lunenburg Nova Scotia to Newport. We went through "Fundy" the day following the "May Hurricane" of 1970. We had to "Heave-to", to pick up the Boston Harbor Pilot who was in a Power boat, and we were clocked by the U.S Coast Guard at 12.5 knots tacking through the "Narrows" with the three biggest sails not set. (Mains'l, Main tops'l and fores'l) On the photograph that was taken and later published as a picture post card, ysou can clearly count two and a half " bow waves" (you can accurately estimate the speed of vessels by counting "Bow waves" and multiplying by 5, a method that sub-mariners use)
"Rosie" had no engines until years later. It looked as if every Cetacian in the Atlantic Ocean accompanied us on that trip. it was "horizon to horizon" "Flukes and spouts" with the Dolphins and Porpoises surfing on our bow waves. I don't know why, but this really made us feel good.
Did you know that the very shipwrights who had built "Bluenose", "Bluenose II" and "The Bounty" when they were a lot younger, built our "Rosie"? "Bluenose" is the schooner portrayed on the back of the Canadian Dime. How does it feel to be that closely connected to the Official Coinage of a world class Nation like Canada?
Oh by the way, Ranger, There was never an "HMS Bounty" There was, however, an H.M.A.V. "THE BOUNTY" (HIS mAJESTY'S ARMED VESSEL) "H.M.S." is very strictly reserved for "warships", which "The Bounty" was not.
H.M.A.V. "THE BOUNTY" is th only Official "Ship's name" I can think of that actually had the word, "THE" in it's registered name. i learned this from Capt William Bly's official report, "Concerning a mutiny aboard HMAV, "The Bounty" I think that Capt Bly was very much undeservedly maligned by Nordhoff and Hall in their work of complete fiction, Mutiny on the Bounty. The facts of History very loudly proclaim that William Bly was, if anything, overly conscientious about the welfare of his crew. He ALWAYS saw to it that his sailors were properl;y fed and taken care of in preferrence to his Officers. He was known to quarter seriously ill sailors in his own quarters while he slept in the Forecastle during the crewman's illness. He was also one damned good Navigator. He hit his projected landfall right on the nose after crossing thousands of miles of Open Pacific Ocean in the open longboat with The rest of his loyal crew. More than one of the sailors reported that he always was the last to eat or drink. He was later appointed "Governor General" of Australia. Ask any Aussie about William Bly's character. You'll probably be quite surprised at the answer you get.

BOB BOLTON, am I right or , what?

For the life of me, I can't imagine why Charlie Nordhoff (who was an American) was party to this . He did write a couple of very good Factual books (without Hall)about his life in the U.S Navy and His service on Merchant ships. Charles Nordhoff was a crewman on the U.S. Frigate that attempted to open up Japan to world trade just before Mathew Perry Who lived on the corner of 3d and Walnut Streets in Newport. I took one of my Japanese Karate students to see Perry's house. She said, "But, it's just a HOUSE". She had expected to see something much grander than "JUST A HOUSE".
CHANTEYRANGER:
Do you feel as if you're qualified to be in charge of the tasks you are "chanteying" for? I truly hope you do and that there are others who are likewise qualified. Then, THANK GOD, I'm not the last professional Chanteyman. and I'll gladly ammend the title of my CD "The last chanteyman" to reflect this. Or better still, stop distributing it. It.s already done it's job by interesting the City Government of Providence, ( mostly Mayor Cianci, who does a whole lot of the RIGHT things) in filming a history of Free African Sailors on American and British merchant ships and their tremendous cultural tradition of coordinating work by singing. This is where the Sea Chantey came from. The fact is that there were a whole lot of West Coast African Sailors signed onto British ( including colonial) merchant ships, because, THEY WERE NOT CROWN SUBJECTS AND THEREFORE NOT ELLIGIBLE FOR IMPRESSMENT INTO THE ROYAL NAVY. A ship owner was pretty sure he'd have a crew at the end of a voyage as well as at the beginning./ Then it was discovered that these guys were damned good seamen, and they had this thing where they could coordinate work performed by more than one sailor,by singing peices of music who's meter and structure were precisely fitted for this task. And, it caught on like wildfire. Their white shipmates caught on quickly, joined in wholeheartedly, wrote English lyrics and some melodies to these typically African "Call And Response" songs./ You can play just about any Sea Chantey mnelody on the "Calimba" which is tuned to the African musical scale, and, upon which you can't play other types of Emglish Language Folk music.
Hwew's the Clincher. DOES ANYONE, GIVEN THESE FACTS , SERIOUSLY THINK THAT A BRITISH ISLANDER CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF USING MUSIC AS A FUNCTIONAL COORDINATING TOOL, WHEN THERE WERE SO MANY AFRICAN SAILORS AROUND.?
I'm going to submit this message and then start another one so I don't wind up losing about 4 hours of writing when AOL kicked my ass off the net. see you in a minute.
Love and kisses, Jody Gibson

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 06:43 AM

Hi, Jody - Great remembrances of Joe Davis there!

I don't call myself a true "chanteyman," in the historical sense, even having had some square-rig sail experience, just "chanteyranger" as my Mudcat name, denoting a ranger who sings chanteys. I would reserve the term "chanteyman" in its purest form for the likes of the late Stan Hugill, and for others, such as yourself, who currently lead shipboard work at sea through chanteys or who have done that in the past, with a thorough knowledge of square-rig handling. I do sing chanteys, though, while leading dockside demonstrations aboard the BALCLUTHA in San Francisco that I mentioned, where we invite the public to learn the basics of hauling on a halyard and raising a sail to a long-haul chantey, and I host a monthly chantey sing. If I were to go to sea today, I would probably not rate anything more than an "OS," with my somewhat limited knowledge of sail-handling and knotwork, but then again, in the days of sail, if they didn't have an AB or bosun aboard who could sing chanteys, they would have to do with any crewmember who knew some, and there they would have their chanteyman. I do know about the proper BOUNTY title, but the replica was called, as I remember, (or mis-named, as the case may be), "HMS BOUNTY." When we were in port, giving dockside tours to the public, we tried to clear up the misconceptions about Bligh. It seems that Fletcher Christian's relatives back home wanted to clear his name, and so disseminated through writing their idea that Bligh was this monster, and that image of Bligh became the dominant one in the public's eye for many years. Truth is, he didn't believe much in flogging, and so only ordered the minimum number of lashes when a flogging was done, and, having sailed with captain Cook, adopted Cook's practice of provisioning the ship with sauerkraut in order to prevent scurvy. Oh, oh, Jody, now you got ME going. I better get to sleep.

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 06:48 AM

Well, here I am again. Only a few words this time (???) as I'm kind of tired. I finished a three hour gig lugging my damned heavy banjo around while I backed up my friend Mickey Scocchia (who now spells it, "Scotia")" at "Billy Goode's" here in Newport. I don't know what happened to his group, but, he was all alone, so Bill Lewis with his mandolaand I helped out. I had a really good time, only sang harmony to a couple of Mickey's songs amd played some banjo styles that I hadn't done in decades, and thought maybe I'd forgotten how./ Ragtime, old fashioned country, bluegrass three finger style, blues and of course clawhammer. I also did some of my unique (i think) "Schitzophrenic" stuff. I'll just describe what Paul Geremia calls my schiZzophrenic banjo style. (O.K. it's 0415, and I can't spell) My ever lovely and loving spouse , "MAFAZOO" just acquainted me with the fact that "The Bounty"'s ex Captain spelled his name , "William Bligh"
Paul Geremia , who lives in a wall in Newport, a very comfortable wall to be sure, called me up one day a couple of years ago and said he'd found a couple of Uncle Dave Macon's old records , "The wreck of the Tennessee Gravy Train" and "Between Heaven and Earth" upon which he played a banjo style that sounded, for all the world, like a "stride" (ragtime) piano. i went over to his "Wall" and, sure enough, Uncle Dave's banjo sounded like my dad's piano playing, which, I've been told, ( and lucky for me) charmed my father into my mother's heart. So, to make a long story even longer, I worked out a thumb, index and middle finger technique , with everything strumming or picking down, which pretty much sounded like the two records. Then, Paul cal;led me up two days later and said, forget it, it's two banjo's Sam Mcgee playing rhythm on the 6 string, (guitar banjo) and Uncle dave playing a rather easy two finger style on melody. So, wheneve we get together, we do the Wreck of the Tennesse Gravy train, and Paul calls it "Jody's Schizzophrenic banjo> Of course, Paul's hardcore Blues fans sit there with a blank look on their collective faces. the same look they get when we do, "The Royal Hawaiian Hotel" and when I can get him to do his "Walter Brennan" imitation on "Old Rivers". These are the moments that a folk singer lives for.
For all you Uncle Dave Macon fans up here in "Real Yankeeland" who don't understand a word That this fantastic , now dseceased performer mumbled over his great banjo playing, my daughter Joyce figured out the last lines of the chorus of "Between Heaven and Earth". they are (I think, and it'll do)

I'LL BET A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO A HALF A GINGER CAKE
i'LL BE HERE WHEN THE TRUCKS IS GONE.

swhich of couse he wasn't, but his music lives on.

A word of explanation for those of you who don't knw Uncle Dave Macon's history. He operated a "Mule and Mitchell-wagon freight hauling business.
Oh Hell, the entire chorus goes,
I've been waggonin' for over thirty years
And livin' on the farm.
I'll bet a hundred dollars to a half a ginger cake
I'll be here when the trucks is gone.
GOD I LOVE MY KIDS.

mafazoo JUST CALLED ME ,"kING NEBUCHEDNEZZER" BECAUSE I DO, BABYLON. Furthermore she has just threatened to hit me with a blivet if I don't clam up and come to bed.
but I just can't help myself from observing that "psychiatrists in Baghdad all know Hussein"
G'night I'll continue about African Sailors tomorrow.
Jody Gibson

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: kendall
Date: 01 Apr 01 - 09:00 AM

Welcome aboard Cranky Yankee. I will agree with you on one thing (at least) Lou Killen is one hell of a fine singer. And although the square rigger is more majestic, and is all you say, there is one advantage that the fore and aft rig has over square rig, and that is, the fore and aft will sail closer to the wind. Now, the matter of Lt. Wm. Bligh. If he was so concerned about his men, why did they take his ship? Then, when he became Governor of New South Wales, why did his officers mutiny and keep him under house arrest? of all the different tellings of this tale, I thought THE BOUNTY with Anthony Hopkins came closer to the truth than either of the other two.What do you think?

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: Anglo
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 09:40 AM

Very interesting to see Jody's thread here - if memory serves me right he (you, that is) learned how to sail a square-rigger by building one, something like a 14-footer, three masts, full rigging, that you used to sail around Newport harbour. And quite a sight it was!

So where can I find a copy of yoour CD?

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 08:02 AM

Anglo.
$10.00 (or equivelent) to
Rose Island Recording Co.
36 Charles St.
Newport, RI, 02840

This includes Postage and handling inside the U.S.A. I'll find out what the postage is to the U.K. and get back to you with a P.M.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 08:08 AM

Anglo.
$10.00 (or equivelent) to
Rose Island Recording Co.
36 Charles St.
Newport, RI, 02840

This includes Postage and handling inside the U.S.A. I'll find out what the postage is to the U.K. and get back to you with a P.M.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 08:08 AM

Anglo.
$10.00 (or equivelent) to
Rose Island Recording Co.
36 Charles St.
Newport, RI, 02840

This includes Postage and handling inside the U.S.A. I'll find out what the postage is to the U.K. and get back to you with a P.M.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 08:40 AM

Gee - and we thought Kendall had an aggressive sale technique...Hammer home that message CY! Or was that a hiccup?

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: kendall
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 08:43 AM

Agressive? me? naw, I was just expecting some folks to send an order for the CD they talked me into making! Some of you followed through.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 03:38 PM

I didn't do the multiple message thing on purpose. Im very new to computer handling.
AOL kept knocking me off the internet before I had a chance to submit a message, and lately they've been telling me they can't find the website. WHEN I'M ALREADY ON THE WEBSITE. So, my stuff doesn't get transmitted and I lose it all. I must have hit the "Submit" button more than once in an attempt to make sure it was sent. I'll not do that again. If anyone knows how to delete the redundant threads, please do so.
I'm working on a couple of "distributors" plus Dick Greenhause.
Thanks to the Mudcat, It appears that there may be other real chanteymen around, (YIPEE) so I've stopped making "The last Chanteyman" at least until I can modify it and change the name to something like"A history of Sea Chanteys". The other CD, "Spanning the Decades l956 to 2000" is sill in production, though I'm changing the insert so a photograph of me in 1956 cowboy suit and all, (sent to me by Bill Flagg) and a recent one of me sitting on a wharf are side by side on the cover of the insert. This won't take long. If I can figure out how to make a master copy on my computer. (I have a friend who writes programs, he's going to help me)

Anglo: I'm assuming that you are in the U.K.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: kendall
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 03:42 PM

So, why are you still with AOL? everyone I know who ever used AOL has either dumped it, or, they are still suffering from premature disconnection.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 03:56 PM

I keep telling you Kendall "It's user friendly!"

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 04:13 PM

I'm very seriously considering changing. The only reason I'm on AOL at present is, IT'S FREE CAME WITH THE COMPUTER.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 04:13 PM

I'm very seriously considering changing. The only reason I'm on AOL at present is, IT'S FREE CAME WITH THE COMPUTER.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: Anglo
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 06:25 PM

To answer your question, no, I'm in the US. I'll put a check in the mail when I can find a stamp and an envelope :-)

I'd also suggest that even if there are other chanteymen around, there's absolutely no reason why you should not call your recording "The Last Chanteyman" - it's a concept, and a feeling, and is as close to absolute truth as it needs to be. Personally, I think you've every right to it. Just my 2¢.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 01:42 AM

..and worth more than 2cents, Anglo.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 07:21 AM

On my CD, "Spanning the Decades" There are 4 new recordings of Jon Campbell's songs. One of them, "Providence Waltz" contains the phrase, "Not for Nothin'". A perfect example of how this phrase is used in the Providence Area,is:
(If "Anglo were living in, or from Providence, RI) The last sentence of his last reply would read, "Not fa Nuttin" I think you've every right to it".
This phrase is a hard one to translate, and, I've never heard it used anywhere but in the Providence Area. Just in case any of you ever hear "The Providence Waltz" Not fa nuttin' but I want you to understand it.
Also, Galilee is a commercial fishing port, part of Point Judith, RI. RE: Fredericks of Galilee.
"Foxwood (as in "Foxwood Polka")is a gambling casino located on the Pequod Indian Reservation in NE Connecticut.
"Keep on Fishin'" really happened.
Jon Campbell is a real kick in the ass. He spent a good deal of his adult life on "George's Banks" (commercial fishing) So, like Cyrill Tawney, you can pretty much assume that His songs have the ring of truth to them. There's another John Campbell song (complete Lyric) "Winnebecome Winnebego" in the thread about Camping.

Kissin' Time, San Antonio Rose, Man on My Trail, Company's comin', Hillbilly Fever,So You think You've got Troubles,and If You don't Know. were Parlophone recordings (EMI) done in 1959 & 1960 while I was in the USAF (T/SGT Air Treaffic Controller) and stationed in England at RAF Bruntingthorpe , Near Leicester and at RAF Lakenheath, in W. Suffolk. I had two different C&W Groups, The one from Bruntingthorpe was the first "integrated" C&W group to record for a major label. (Parlophone's USA partner is Capitol)I called both Groups "The Muleskinners" The Bruntingthorpe bunch can be heard on Company's comin', Hillbilly Fever and San Antonio Rose. All the others, even though they said "With The Muleskinners" on the label, were done with Studio Musicians. George Martin was my A&R Guy. I rotated back to the States in 1961. As I walked out of the studio, the Beatles walked in. (Oh Well)
All I have of the original recording of San Antonio Rose is a tape that I sent my Mother. (I only have one actual disc, Kissin Time -Man onb my Trail) Anyway, the first 16 bars of San Antonio Rose were Accidentally erased, so I pieced together some background to sing along with, namely the last two bars of the instrumental break as lead in , followed by the whole instrumental break. Then I ran what I have of the original. I Sang Harmony on the middle eight (with myself) the first time around, and then let the thing run. I bet yoiu can't find where the cuts and "Punch in"'s are. I know where they are, and I can't pinpoint them. I never expected it to turn out as well as it did.
That's All is a dead copy of Merle Travis's 1946 recording. It's easy to copy someone, the hard stuff is doing it the first time. Anyone. In 1959, The USAF didn't have the money to do their traditional "Tops in Blue" competition, live. They couldn't afford to send people all over the world to the different semi finals, so the had a Tape Recoreded contest. That's all was my entry into rhis sonstest. It was recorded in the Laundry room of AMQ (Airmen Married Quarters) 825A at RAF Lakenheath on a very fine German "Home Recorder". But, I had the edge, I knew how the commercial studios did their recordings and I used this experience well. Everything went through my Fender Tremolux Amplifier. I had a Martin D-28E Guitar (Their first electric) and a reasonably good (Ferrograph ) Mic. Joyce, Kate and David's Mother worked the controls and kept her eye on the recorder's meters. She did one Hell of a Job. It's the best balanced recoreding on the CD. Oh, by the way, It won 1st place.
All the other tracks on the CD, Farewell to Tarwaithe, Provcidence Waltz, Foxwood Polka, Fredericks of Galilee, Keep on Fishin', Heave Away Johnny, Paddy Lay Back, All For Me Grog and the "D Day" Dodgers were done in my Rose Island Recording Studio in Newport. Everything on these tracks is me. I play guitar, steel guitar, 5 string banjo, fiddle and Base Foodle (not a misprint, see insert) plus all the voices are me. Cheap aint I?
I used a 4 track 15IPS TEAC Reel to Reel for the background and harmony and harmony tracks, mixed them sang lead along with the result directly into a Disc Recorder.

Enough of this.
Jody Gibson.

Subject: RE: 'Good Morning Captain
From: GUEST,Roll&Go-C
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:58 PM

Glad to hear someone else has a deep respect for Jon Campbell. "Keep on Fishing" is exactly what happens, as confirmed again in The Hungry Ocean by fishing skipper Linda Greenlaw. "Tanqueray Martini-O" is also all too alive and well on them bounding billows.