The Spinners (English)

Subject: Fourum
From: Bill Sullivan
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 07:04 AM

Does anyone know anything about this Folk Group? They recorded some songs about Swaledale. Apparently they were schoolteachers from Darlington, England.

Subject: FOURUM
From: Bill Sullivan
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 07:09 AM

Don't know what happened there. FOURUM is the group I was talking about, not The Spinners

Subject: RE: The Spinners (English)
From: Ritchie
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 07:24 AM

Bill,

Did FOURUM perchance, all wear matching scarves,gloves,balaclavas and jumpers like what the Spinners did?

Ritchie

Subject: RE: The Spinners (English)
From: Bill Sullivan
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 08:13 AM

Never did SEE them but they didn't sound like a group that would wear such things. Their songs were mainly serious and the album I knew was almost totally focused upon Swaledale in the North of England.

Bill

Subject: RE: The Spinners (English)
From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 02:11 PM

The Spinners were school teachers at one time, but turned professional with a sort of easy-listening folk music which made folk quite accessible to a lot of people. Their versions weren't necessarily the best, nor their harmonies, nor their instrumental ability, but they put it all over with a certain charm, doing a lot of radio and TV as well as recording.

Wherever they originally came from, they were teaching in Liverpool, and they always looked out for material in the Merseyside area. They brought folk to the fore with their Folk at the Phil, which is the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool, where the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra normally play, so they opened up folk to a wide audience.

Tony Davis once handed out matching shirts for them to wear for an interview. It was pointed out that it was on the radio, but it made no difference. So the image was important to them.

They disbanded a year or two ago, after being together since the late 50s. I remember them providing the soundtrack for a film about the River Mersey and the sea traffic - late 50s/early 60s. Yes, they had their limitations, but they could also be great fun.

Shoh slaynt,

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: The Spinners (English)
From: Richard McD. Bridge
Date: 06 Dec 98 - 09:54 AM

Best of the Spinners available on CD from Castle. Above descriptions fair!

Subject: RE: The Spinners (English)
From: GUEST,Another Bobby Boy
Date: 07 Nov 05 - 09:36 AM

This response is 7 years late but what the heck!

Fourum were indeed teachers from Hummersnott Comprehensive School in Darlington, County Durham, England.

Originally formed as a kind of PTA activity they still perform today although one or two have now retired from teaching. They still raise money for the school as far as I know and have released several albums.

The line-up was: Jim Jack (Guitar, Vocals, Business Studies & Latterly Headmaster of Richmond School), Bob Hattersley (drum, tamorine, vocals, wise-cracks & Geography), Alan ?(Guitar, Vocals, Lyricist & Latin), Sandy Still (Banjo?, Guitar, Vocals & English).

One or two other teachers came & went over the years.

Long may they continue.

Subject: RE: The Spinners (English) & The Fourum
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 08 Nov 05 - 02:21 AM

Well,
glad that is cleared up!

This forum always delivers!