Favourite Show of Hands track?

Subject: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: Billy Bones
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 06:35 AM

Just interested to hear other views. For us it has to be Country Life,
Cutthroats Crooks and Conmen, and Tall Ships and so many many more. These guys are so brilliant and so topical they should be running the U.K.! Put them in charge immediately.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 06:42 AM

I don't get it with Show of Hands. Two brilliant English musicians throwing it away on an obsession with dodgy 80s rock sung in even dodgier mid-Atlantic accents.

Country Life is so...ordinary and derivative. Try Maggie Holland's A Place Called England for a truer picture of what life is like in rural England today.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: GUEST,Strollin' johnny
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 07:55 AM

'Mary of Dungloe' of course! Not only a great song but a sop for the Trad. moaning minnies.

Have to agree with the Countess though - Maggie Holland's the dog's whatnots. Stunning.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: mooman
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 08:08 AM

'Fraid I'm with the Countess on this one.

Truly excellent musicians (I have seen them live several times) but with some decidedy dodgy material. I agree also with the comment on SK's singing.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: plum
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 06:27 PM

billy, i also love show of hands and for me its gotta be galway farmer - brill live

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: Cllr
Date: 14 Jan 04 - 07:09 PM

I have booked both in the past, both are brilliant and so different as to be difficult to have a sensible comparison. At the moment of writing this my favourite SoH is "I still wait" and MH "Mr Harding's Garden"Cllr

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: The Shambles
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 08:40 AM

As a live band they have been really something but I am not too sure what direction they are going now or whether I wish to go there with them. I see SoH advertised for a 2004 festival performance as being with a 'band'.

In truth I have tried very hard to think of a favourite recorded track but tracks on their records do not seem to stand out in the way songs on the live shows do. Too many fine songs to whittle them down to one - I think.

On to Maggie Holland. Was not 'Mr Harding's Garden' in fact co-written - perhaps I am wrong? Fine song anyway.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: GUEST,KB
Date: 15 Jan 04 - 09:19 AM

SOH are one of my best-top-favourite bands. I love the way they play their instruments, and love both voices individually and together. Massive use of echo gives them a very lush and haunting sound. Some of it tends to all sound the same though - but that's OK when its something I like so much anyway.
There does seem to be an element of love them or loathe them & not much in between - but they have a huge and devoted following so I don't suppose they're too worried. They are great showmen & create a warm live atmosphere.
Favourite tracks (at the moment):
Tall ships, Silver Dagger, Lovely Nancy & God Bless America.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: alanabit
Date: 17 Jan 04 - 06:27 PM

I liked them when I saw them here in Cologne a few years back, but I do still hanker for the days of Downes and Beer. Paul Downes is a magnificent guitarist and his voice is sufficiently different to Phil's to make them sound interesting together, and individually. For me, one of the main weaknesses of SoH is that Steve and Phil's voices are just too similar. I am dazzled by their musicianship and I like them as people. Steve has written some good songs, but I am not convinced that he has written any more memorable songs than half a dozen Mudcatters I could name - Rick, Jed Marum, McGrath or El Greko to name just a few. They don't have that natural edge of whacky humour which Paul and Phil used to have together either.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jan 04 - 01:21 PM

I saw them at the Prosessed Pea where they dont need amplification.
my two would be The Amada's and The Galway Farmer

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: buzzer64
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 09:54 AM

Cousin Jack!and Cousin Jack!

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: GUEST,bigdrummergirl
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 06:25 PM

for me its crazy boy as it sums up one of my sons perfectly

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: BTNG
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 08:03 PM

Maggie Holland's A Proper Sort of Garden was co-written with Jon Moore

Songs by SOH?

the very long acoustic version of Tall Ships and The Innocents Song, words by Charles Causley, music by Phil Beer

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 09:54 PM

I've not heard all their songs, and not wild about their music generally. But Widdecombe Fair is to me a fantastic song... still sends shivers up my spine when I sing it.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: GUEST,nickp (cookieless)
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 01:00 PM

Music to Innocents was (I recall) Johnny Coppin not Phil.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: I don't know
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 01:49 PM

Cousin Jack, Innocents Song, Country Life, Roots, Widdecombe Fair, Tall Ships, Crow in the Cradle, Galway Farmer and everything else they have done. I think the guys are great & Miranda adds that little something to the music & vocals. Long may they continue to entertain us. Prefer live to the C.D.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: open mike
Date: 07 Nov 10 - 10:32 PM

I read the thread title "favorite Sleight of Hand trick"

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: mattkeen
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 05:08 AM

Crow on the Cradle

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: alex s
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 07:10 AM

Crow on the cradle

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: CheshireCat
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 07:30 AM

Have to agree with alanabit's views above. Although I have a fair amount of SoH CDs in my collection I would give most of them up to have had Downes and Beer record some more over the years (although not more like Them Toad Suckers, please...). The recent-ish reunion CD recorded at Nettlebed had more atmosphere, for me, than most of the SoH stuff I've heard - and I have the live recordings and I've seen them on stage many times. Favourite tracks? Country Life - I don't find it ordinary or derivative, with apologies to an earlier poster; I find it articulates a lot of what people in my part of the countryside feel. Closely followed by The Man In Green and Widdecombe Fair.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: GUEST,Phil B
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 08:19 AM

Just to clarify and to fly a small flag. I worked extensively with Johnny Coppin in the late '70's and through the 80's. I played on most of his catalogue of albums, some of which are still available from him. One of his particular specialities is setting poetry to music and he covered many of the gloucestershire poets, especially the 1stWW ones. The song of the innocents is by the cornish poet Charles Causley. (Young master Jim is a distant relation) Causley is essential reading on my mothers side of the family. (Being falmouthians)My version of this piece is his melodic setting entirely with the exception of the tune at the end which is called 'Gwithian', one of mine.
Johnny has exerted a marked influence over my music and 'career'. He reminded me many years ago of songs such as 'Crow on the cradle' which I had originally known when first published in the early sixties and when I had no idea who Sydney Carter was or his significance as one of the few songwriters accepted into the so called 'Folk Revival'. The version I play is based upon the superb Jackson Browne one from the 'No Nukes' album in the mid 70's which also features the incomparable David Lindley whose fiddle playing has extensively influenced and shaped my own modest scrapings.

Johnny deserve3s checking out if you are not aware of him.
www.johhnycoppin.co.uk

He also hosts one of the best regional BBC folk shows on radio Gloucestershire.

Over and out.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: quokka
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 08:24 AM

I'm with buzzer64... it's Cousin Jack for me

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 05:35 AM

Someone cover up Mr. Beer's eyes...and ears! ;0)


There is only ONE song for me, at this Corporate Moment in Time!

'Arrogance Ignorance & Greed' - Youtube

Why?

Because it's bloody BRILLIANT, that's why!

Geez! I DESPAIR of my country at the moment, of our 'Mustn't Grumble' and 'Stiff Upper Lip' attitude, because The Corporate Bastards are shitting ALL over us, and whilst France is setting their country alight with anger and fury, we're sitting here a little 'down in the dumps' and just now and then daring to whisper to one another that all is not quite as it should be...?????????

Not *quite* as it should be?????!!!!!?????

Retirement up to 66!
Once paid jobs due to be forced on people to be done *unpaid* if they DARE to have lost their jobs!
Disabled people having their benefits taken away!
Thousands of jobs going!
Homes being repossessed!
ALL our bank accounts being taken over by the Government!
Bank accounts looked into to see what you're spending!
Hardly any bank loans being given out!
People crammed into trains with no hope of more carriages!
Vast train fares!
40 pubs a day closing!
Shops going down!
People going down!
Businesses going down!
Futures going down!
HOPE....going down.......................



And meanwhile.....

Footballers being paid ONE MILLION POUNDS A MONTH!
Bankers awarding themselves larger and LARGER bonuses!
A prime minister who surrounds himself with unnecessary staff costing a fortune, whilst telling us to cut back!
Corporate Bastards who take jobs abroad!
Terrible working conditions, no contracts, no regular hours, staff expected to be 'available' 24/7 for crap wages!


AND...WHO HAS ALL THE MONEY? WHERE ARE THEY? WHO ARE THEY?

**WHO** do we 'owe' all this TO?

WHY is NOBODY being brought to justice over this appalling state of affairs?????? Because The Corporate Bastards & Bankers United themselves are now behind the Governments throughout the world!

They now control OUR world! And we are sitting here, LETTING them do it!!

The New World Order...oops, sorry..'Global Economy' is here, folks.

"Give me control of a nation's money and I care not who makes the laws." - Mayer Amschel Rothschild         


So...GRUMBLE! Grumble SO hard and SO loud that the Rumbles from your Grumbles will reach right up to Whitehall & The Whitehouse and WAY beyond....


I promote this song wherever I go. Even got half the bus talking about what's happening...told them about 'the local lads' making a difference, told them all to google the song...

So.....spread it round as much as you can....




'Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed' - by Steve Knightley

All I wanted was a home
And a roof over our heads
Somewhere we could call our own
Feel safer in our beds
There was a storm of money raining down
It only touched the ground
With a loan I took I can't repay
And the crock of gold you found

At every trough you stopped to feed
With your Arrogance, your Ignorance and Greed.

I never was a cautious man
I spend more than I'm paid
But those with something put aside
Are the ones that you betrayed

With your bonuses and expenses
You shovelled down your throat
Now you bit the hand that fed you
Dear God I hope you choke

At every trough you stopped to feed
With your Arrogance, your Ignorance and Greed.

You're on your yacht, we're on our knees
Through your Arrogance, your Ignorance and Greed.

Toxics bring you tact and soul
Poisoned every watering hole
Your probity, you exchanged for gold

Working man stands in line
The market sets his price
No feather bed, no golden egg
No one pays him twice

To enter thrift and caution
Your only sound advice
You know you doubt yourself and meaning
And alone at every dice

At every trough you stopped to feed
With your Arrogance, your Ignorance and Greed.

I pray one day we'll soon be free
From your absolute indifference
Your avarice, incompetence
Your Arrogance, your Ignorance and your Greed.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 05:41 AM

And don't forget to promote this one too...because one of these Crooked Bastards was on my television this morning, promoting his book and telling everyone that 'water boarding' wasn't illegal, 'cos he checked with his lawyers...

Maybe he thought it was kinda like surfing?

Morals?????????????? Non-existant in that man's head, I think...


I expect that Bush & Blair will be comparing the fortunes they've made from their new books pretty soon now...

It's so, so sickening..

'Crooked Man'

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: GUEST,Mark Gamon
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 08:33 AM

I'm probably a bit late for this string, but I'd just like to pitch in for Show of Hands while I can. I'd never heard them until about a year ago, when a friend gave me the compilation Roots. Since then they've hardly been off my stereo. I listen to lots of different music - folk, blues, jazz, country and pop - so it takes an extraordinary band to dominate my listening so much. Sure, they come up with the occasional clunker, but when you're prolific that's going to happen. Bob Dylan's recorded a few turkeys along the way too. But the best of Show of Hands strikes a nerve in me that I didn't even know was there. Is it English? Is it British? Is it folk music? What is folk music anyway? No-one knows, and I don't care about the answer to any of those questions anyway. All I know is that three songs in at Cambridge Folk Festival this year, they had me in bizarre unexplained tears, playing a song I'd never even heard (The Dive, if you're interested).

Best song? There are too many, but if pressed I'd probably say that the instrumental break in Crow on the Cradle is one of the most achingly beautiful things I've heard in 58 years.

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 06:34 AM

Country Life
Cousin Jack
Roots
The Galway Farmer

Subject: RE: Favourite Show of Hands track?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 09:48 AM

All tracks are excellent.