Brian -- I don't think Nic meant his "not ... entertainment" as any sort of put-down; but was just pointing out to Valerie that she, as a scholarly person herself, should appreciate that there was more to the singing of such singers than merely instant appeal. Remember too that we have ears attuned by custom to different criteria from those of the popular-music listener at large.

Many found Sam Larner 'entertaining' becoz of his humorous-intro-+-cante·fable style, which, tho I loved his basic material, I personally found something of a turn-off: "Just belt up & sing, why dontcha!", I would mutter under my breath, as he went off on his facetious & interminable & predictable & otiose (the song is funny enough to make its own point without needing the humour drawn to the attention of thickos like me, thank you!) "You know what old women are like don't you" shtick in the middle of "Butter & Cheese". Harry Cox never indulged in such distracting self-indulgences, & I think would have thought shame to do so. But, as always, in the indispensible formula of Abe Lincoln, as cited by Miss Jean Brodie et al, "For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like".

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