Robin Hall

Subject: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 08:47 AM

I think I may tried to start this thread before, but myself and a friend are trying to find any information on Robin's last few years. Can anyone help us?

Nick

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Ballyholme
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 09:11 AM

Robin made several social trips to Northern Ireland in the years before his death and he turned up at a folk club I ran. He didn't sing for us but he agreed to be a guest on a radio programme I had and I recall him as being one of the most interesting people I had ever interviewed. His musical tastes were wide and, of course, his involvement in the early days of the folk revival made for some great stories. At the time I met him, he was doing some radio work in Scotland.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 11:13 AM

To Ballyholme...I don't suposse there are tapes of any of those interviews?

Nick

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Ballyholme
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 01:19 PM

Nick, to my shame, no.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Deckman
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 04:07 PM

I always enjoyed the record that he and Jimmie MacGregor made: "Two Heids Are Better Than Yin." CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 07:39 PM

There must be an older thread on Robin Hall, where a woman who'd known him was asking for info on his last few years. For some reason I can't find it, though.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,JP
Date: 06 Nov 04 - 02:32 PM

To Ballyholme

Just happened to find this thread. It will be 6 years on 18th since he died and so little is known about him - can you recall any more

I think I may be the woman referred to in the last thread

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 06 Nov 04 - 08:34 PM

JP, were you the one I helped to find the video made of the 'Glasgow Eskimos' show? I remember you were collecting stuff about Robin. Is it going to be made public in any form? A website, perhaps? That would be interesting.

Nigel Gatherer has put up a discography.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 04:48 AM

Missing from Nigel's discography is a single I produced and recorded of Robin in 1972. The A side was 'Mary Jane' and the B side was 'The Valley'. Jimmy (McGregor) never forgave me for recording Robun on his own!

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,JP
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 06:10 AM

Jim

Any chance that there are copies of that still around. I have the majority of what Robin ever recorded inc a BBc world service LP.

theballadeers.com is an excellent website already and I provided some info for that for Nick Kelly.

I still beleive that no one has really paid the respect to Robin that he deserved

JP

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 07:45 AM

JP, I'm afraid that's the only copy I have and it is slightly warped! (It lay in the sun for a couple of hours). I'll search around the house as it is very slightly possible there is another one and I'll let you know.
Robin was a wonderful singer and would have been better as a solo artist. He was very much under Jimmie's thumb and was easily led. Jimmie spent his money wisely (he could peel an orange in his pocket) but Robin tended to go for fancy clothes and gadgets. He was a tremendous talent and is sadly missed.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 08:43 AM

Robin under Jimmie's thumb ?? Sorry I don't believe it. I knew both of them and they both had strong characters of their own. I would agree however that Robin as a soloist was excellent on the old Scottish ballads. Unfortunately then as now solo unaccompanied ballad singers don't get much (any?) coverage, therefore Robin and Jimmie stuck to their recipe which worked for them successfully for a number of years.

And don't forget The Galliards.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 09:11 AM

Well, Hootenanny I don't know if you were ever their produced/director as I was. The Gallairds did make a nice sound if you liked that sort of arrangement, Jimmie's first wife being the female vocalist ... it was along time ago.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 02:53 PM

Hootenanny, I thought they were brilliant Robin and Jimmie, and the Galliards too. Their musicianship was always excellent as were the voices.
A little anecdote , if I may.
The first ever LP that I bought , with money earned from my very first employment, was "A-Rovin' " with these two "groups". I happened to be living in Stamford Hill, North London, at the time.
One of the tracks on the record was "Lamidbar" (?..memory) , the early Autumn evenings (1959) were hot and sticky, I used to have the window of my bed-sit open , very often, when playing my record "collection"(and betimes, playing along too). On one of the afternoons, I remember, I had to stop abruptly as I wanted to get to White Hart Lane in time for kick-off. Then I heard the roars of protest from the windows around me.......can't think why?

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: RolyH
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 03:08 PM

Also missing from the discography is a 10 inch LP," Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads" on the Collector label (JPS 4002) on which Robin sings songs from the Gavin Greig collection.
He was solo on this one as well.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 04:14 PM

Jim and Roly, thanks for the additions. I'll send them to Nigel. Jim, which label was the single produced for?

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Jim McLean
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 05:27 PM

Susanne, it was NEVIS RECORDS, my label (then).

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,JP
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 05:47 PM

Talking of wives - who was Robin's second wife? I know who the first was but the obituaries written don't have anaccurate record of that - the Times was awful got evrything wrong

Will look at Nigel's list and check against my collection

Favourite of all must be Bleacher Lassie .....etc the 1959 version is just amazing what a voice

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Strupag
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 05:58 PM

I got to know Robin in the later part of his life and I loved his free spirit.
The last programme that I can remember him doing on BBC Radio Scotland was "Making Minor Music". Now that title could be wrong, but it was a programme concentating on what kids were doing in Scotland musically and was a great wee porgramme.
He used to, occasionally, come up to the Chelidh Place in Ullapool and I have fond memories of having a late late drink while his wife,(Andrina - I think) was singing 50's songs with a beautiful voice.
Aye, Sadly missed and "Scottish Choice" is still and LP that I often play.

Andy

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,JP
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 02:20 AM

Thanks for all the info everyone.

Would just love to get hold of some of the radio programs and a TV show caled In Person made in 1966 -which I sadly missed - parts were in the measly 15 minutes the BBC made as a tribute.

Anyone out there with any access to such archive material - come on BBC open up your treasures.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 07:42 AM

I lost contact with Robin in the later years but I believe his second wife was a dancer on the TV programme White Heather Club which Robin and Jimmie hosted at that time.

Incidentally if anybody does know the whereabouts of Robin's beneficiary(s) I know that PPL in London has a small amount in royalties awaiting collection.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 07:59 AM

Jim McLean,
Just noticed your last posting. This is not an attempt to play one upmanship or such but I handled R & J's bookings in the early sixties, and spent time with them (and Shirley and Leon) in recording, radio and TV studios and on live appearances and at their homes so I guess that I got to know them just a little.

As you say, it was a long time ago.

By the way I tried the ballads.com website, it states "Up For Sale".

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 04:12 PM

Hootenanny, try The Balladeers!

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 10:19 PM

FYI--I've updated my Hall and MacGregor discography at TheBalladeers.

Nick

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,JP
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 12:54 PM

Today is the 6th aniversary of Robin's death. It was 7pm GMT) that he was found. Fans please join me in playing your favourite track tonight in his memory

also look at the http://www.theballadeers.com/welcome.htm

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: pavane
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 01:08 PM

I recently unearthed a taped copy of Folk Song Cellar from about 1965, introduced by Robin & Jimmy, and featuring The Young Tradition, and Isla Cameron accompanied by a young guitarist called Martin Carthy

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,JP
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 01:41 PM

I have an LP from the Folk song cellar for the World service

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Moleskin Joe
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:18 PM

I remember watching the 1986 World Cup Final with RH in the BBC Club. He was a vociferous supporter Of Argentina that day and made frequent references to the Malvinas which were an anti-Thatcher cause in those days.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,C.M.C. Aberdeen.
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 09:41 AM

I live in Aberdeen and remember that Robin married Isobel James a local girl ond dancer in The White Heather Club

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,sally lemonade
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 10:20 AM

I remember Andy Stewart on that programme

sal

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Peter the Squeezer
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 10:41 AM

Ahh - this brings back the childhhod memories. Cliff Mitchelmore on "Tonight", wathched on a tiny (by today's standards) flickering 405 line black & white TV. RIP Robin - and Lang may yer lum reek, Jimmy - on somebody else's coal.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,Chris B.
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 10:42 AM

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can we borrow or have a copy of the Folk Song Cellars mentioned above.

There are some already uploaded to TheBox.bz and also Mediafire - see: http://www.mediafire.com/?yw0edobn6yyg1

These do indeed feature Robin Hall and Jimmy McGregor.

Folks here are aware f the huge project to rescue Folk Song Cellars and a large no. of recordings have been discovered in New Zealand (thanks to Mitch and Robyn Park). Mitch reckons that eventually we'll have just about all that the British Library Sound Archives has.

So if anyone has any tapes or transcription discs please can we borrow them. In return we can offer to burn a CD of any MP3 files created.

Many thanks.

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: GUEST,Chris B.
Date: 04 Dec 10 - 10:26 AM

I hasten to add that access to the Folk Song Cellars and other folk orientated files are all free, and provided as a service to the folk community. See http://www.mediafire.com/?yw0edobn6yyg1 Incidentally if anyone is in touch with Jimmy MacGregor then we are happy to provide a CD or two of FSC for him (those that we have so far anyway).

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: Little Robyn
Date: 04 Dec 10 - 04:39 PM

Click here.

Robyn

Subject: RE: Robin Hall
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Dec 10 - 05:08 PM

Wow, great stuff.
Thanks Robyn.