Kendall,

Thanks for the thread. Next time any of you good folk, who know him, get to see Ramblin' Jack, get him to sing "Muleskinner Blues" for his "furthest fan" (who never saw him). I've got it on one of my LPs, but the version I remember most, I only heard a few times - either a tape someone had from a Folk Festival, or a clear red-plastic, 10" Stinson LP, with RJ, Cisco, Guthrie, Leadbelly, Seeger (Pete), Lomax etc. Sounded like it was recorded live at a party - got wilder and wilder. Anyway, Ramblin' Jack's last yodel went on for-eeeevvvvvveeeeeerrrrrrrrrr. Finally - applause - couple more bars - then "I was j'st waitin' on ya". Best bit of TIC I ever did hear. I'll swear he didn't take a breath either.

What a man Ramblin' Jack must be to know personally!

Mind you, I learnt a few runs from him (2nd hand) - from Malcolm Price, who larned 'em off-of Jack, in the London days McGrath was talking of.

[Sidetrack] McGrath - you'd know Malcolm (& Redd Sullivan)? They were both "Resident Artist" at the "Poles Apart Folk Club" in Auckland (NZ) in 1967. If you run into them, say "G'day from Sam". The "Poles" was run by Curly & Stacey del Monte, whom you probably also "wot of" McG? Last seen in Auckland, best part of a decade back. I've just checked the NZ "White Pages". They aren't there - trust they are back in your neck of the woods...:(

Spaw - youse and me is always Ramblin' - I'll do some pickin' with ya "next time round" cobber - doubt we'll make it this innings

ANYONE - if you have the Stinson LP I rambled about above, please let me know. I'm sure I can flog a couple or three Yankee Dollars off a passing tourist to send, so you can mail me a cassette of it. Only heard it a few times 35 years back. It was magic!

Kendall, Dadgbe - give us more about the real guy - please!

Cheers - Sam