Weel,weel! Ah see there's a few trawlers in here tae.
Back in the early 70s ah spend a bit o' time on the road wi'STC an' if judgin' by the reaction o' the audience Tom wis a "STAR'
Ah mind ane time we were in London Ont. sharin' the bill wi' Hank Snow,Wilf Carter an' a few ithers wha's names escape me no.Believe it if ye like Tom stole the show.Tom is more of an entertainer than a musician.Wilf is a fine country singer but no' much o' a personality on stage.Hank did a wee bit o' chattin' wi' the crowd but it wis maistly aboot his son Jimmy bein' in the ministry an' an' the renovations tae the Grand ol' Opry.
After the show Wilf an' Tom showed a lot o' patience wi' the people who wanted their picture tae'in wi' them an' signin' autographes.Cannae say the same for Hank though.
If ye listen to Toms songs sung by someone wi' a half decent singin' voice it puts them in a different light.Ah must agree that he has an atrocious voice,but then again whit aboot Dylan?
Anither thing,Tom has also invested in a lot of singers who would otherwise[at that time]never be able tae afford tae record.Ye can include me in that!!
talkin' aboot voices.Ah also agree that John Allans leaves a lot tae be desired.Personally it goes through me like rusty nail!!However,he is a fine gentleman an' ah don't know wha' it wis that Clinton saw at the show but ah find it hard tae believe aboot the drinkin' as ah've been in his company in mah hoose an' ah can assure ye that he DOES NOT DRINK. As a matter o'fact ah had tae drink his share masel'
Gettin' back tae Tom.Ah think the big sellim' point wi' his songs wis the humour,a thing sadly lackin' nooadays.Ah also mind ane time bein' threw oot o' Steeles Tavern for sing a slightly of colour song ca'ed Cocka-doodle -doo.Ah didnae know that they had speakers doonstairs in the restaurant.Ye couldnae get awa' wi' much in Toronto in them days.
As regards Tom, in the words the great Ronnie Hawkins'I've come a long way for someone with very little talent'
Slainte LJC.