Nige, I am having a 2 month sojourn in the warmth of Syracusa Sicily. Back in Ireland in March. Sorry to hear of the family sickness. This might bring back a funny memory.
As this is a memories thread can I offer one of my favourite Halliard/Chelmsford stories. We had booked Arlo Guthrie for Chelmsford and he stayed in Woodham Walter overnight at Stu Wallaces place(where we published Folk Scene mag) He picked up a few readers letters and jumped on one from a State Penitentiary in the USA. He loved all the rules and 'cant does' at the top and picked up his guitar and turned it into a talking blues- 'You cannot write blasphemous words nor insult the governor etc.' We laughed a lot at his ability and thought nothing of it.
That night 1/2 way through his performance he said. 'I was a sitting there in Ashputtel, in Woodham Walter with Dave at the Folk Scenen Magazine and we came across this here penitentiary letter and I looked at that letter and read the words and said to meself this here makes a damn fine talkin blues and so I set it to the music an it goes somethin like this........ he sang the damn thing word for word and brought the audience to the verge of hysterical laughter. He had read it once composed it once and only ever sung it once- truly magic time! He also sang Goodnight Little Arlo by dad Woody! Great times
at lovely Chelmsford.
P.s Sorry to hear of the death of dear Johnny Silvo a fine & good man.