Lyr Req: songs by Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)

Subject: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GEST
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 10:44 AM

A.R. Scammell was the first successful recording artist in Newfoundland with his 1943 release, Squid Jigging Ground. Since 2002, I have tried to collect at least five of Scammell's songs in order to create an artist's listing page for him at GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador, but the fifth song has proven to be elusive.

Thus far, Squarin' Up Time, Shooting Of The Bawks, and The Six Horse-Power Coaker have also been archived.

The search has been extensive for Bakeapple Jam and A Sealer's Song from 1977. Any help with these or any other of Scammell's lyrics would be appreciated and a great tribute to this outstanding musician, teacher, songwriter, and poet.

Thanks, GEST

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 12:13 PM

Bakeapple Jam can be found in 'My Newfoundland' by A.R. Scammell, published by Harvest House of Montreal in 1966. It contains eight songs:

A Newfoundland Come Home Song
The Squid Jigging Ground
Squarin' Up
The Six Horse-Power Coaker
Bakeapple Jam
The Joe Batt's Arm Bully
The Caplin Haul
Long May Your Big Jib Draw

ISBN 88772 120 6

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 12:19 PM

Is 'A Sealer's Song' the one that begins 'The Block House Flag is up Today'? If it is, then it's in The Eighth Edition of Newfoundland Songs, 'compliments of Bennett Brewing.' There is not date, and appears to have been a freebie which drew upon Doyle's 'Song Book.' It has 22 songs in it, none of them attributed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GEST
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 12:20 PM

Thanks, Terry ~ Already knew that. Used edition = $20... Not affordable for a non-commercial, non-profit Web site originating on an island with only a small school library. Besides, only one song is needed to make the artist's listing page - any song other than the four alrady archived.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 12:27 PM

Don't quite understand - I took your message to mean that you didn't know where the words to Bakeapple Jam were........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GEST
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 12:38 PM

Terry ~ I have a copy of the pamphlet from Bennett Brewing which includes that version of Sealer's Song you cite. But, the proper song title according to the Encyclopedia of Canada is A Sealer's Song, apparently not the same from the description given in the Encyclopedia. If someone could prove otherwise, I could accept an attribution to Scammell for Sealer's Song, but I'm not convinced the songs are the same. :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 12:45 PM

Do you have Newfoundland Songs and Ballads in Print - First Line Index? It has 'The Block House Flag is up Today' with The Sealers' Song in brackets. It lists where it can be found but all the dates are pre 1977 so you are orobably correct that Sealer's Song is a different one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GEST
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 01:19 PM

Precisely correct, Terry ~

A snip from the Encyclopedia of Music Canada shows the date of A Sealer's Song as 1977:

{SNIP}
"After his retirement to St John's, Scammell joined the faculty of Memorial University where he taught English. He made the LP My Newfoundland (1974, Audat 477-9043). He continued to write songs (e.g. "A Sealer's Song," 1977) and to publish poems and stories about life in Newfoundland outports. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1987."
{/SNIP}

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GEST
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 03:57 PM

Thanks to Q, a fifth song by Art Scammell has been added to GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador and an artist's listing page in tribute to Newfoundland's first successful recording artist has been completed. Have a look:

http://wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/ascammell.htm

I appreciate everyone's help with this project. :)

Cheers,

GEST

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 05:02 PM

I believe I heard him at some Newfoundland festival and he sang a new song about the problems the fisheries were having..oh no..maybe it was about the Green Peace going after the sealers..I think that was it...mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arthur R. Scammell (1913-1995)
From: GUEST,Ardee Patterson
Date: 26 Jun 13 - 11:25 PM

He wrote the Town of Mount Royal High school song How We Love the Halls of Ivy. Wonder if this thread is still active. Can see him clumping down the halls with a little smile.