Tune Req: The Barleycorn (Ron Kavana)

Subject: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' tunes?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Jul 01 - 02:57 PM

Do you folks know the version I speak of? It's a live recording that I taped off T&S a LOOOONG time ago!

well, I desperate to know the names of the 2 tunes they launch into at the end of the song... and if anyone has links to tab for them on mandolin, guitar, or even just sheet music, I'd be forever grateful!!!!

;-)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Jul 01 - 03:43 PM

refresh... in hopes of getting a MUSICAL thread through the crap running down the walls here of late...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: Big Tim
Date: 09 Jul 01 - 04:08 PM

Ron Kavana? Home Fires album 1991?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Jul 01 - 04:09 PM

Is that's how it's spelled? You could very well be correct Bit Tim... Like I said, I taped it off the radio some few years ago, and have no other info on it except that it's Ron...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Jul 01 - 04:23 PM

You know, for a guy who's praises are sung so highly all over, I'm really surprised at Ron lack of homepage and discography...

Anyone else have more luck?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 09 Jul 01 - 05:53 PM

Have I got ya's stumped?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: Big Tim
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 04:28 AM

Clinton; I've now unearthed the Cd, having just moved house recently.

It's Ron Kavana, "Home Fire", 1991. Special Delivery Records 1043 (a division of Topic). The Barleycorn is track 8.

Ron is from Cork. He co-wrote the Pogues "Young Ned of the Hill" with Terry Woods and has also worked with Shane MacGowan. As a member of Alias he recorded an excellent double album of Irish rebel, reconciliation songs in 1998. Recently he has been busy producing various albums of old time Irish folksters, especially stuff recorded in the US in the 20s and 30s. A busy man and an excellent musician. That's about all I know about him. Try phoning 0181[London] 372 9129 or email, [e-mail]. (Detais from the double album referred to above). Hope this helps, Tim.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: GeorgeH
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 07:02 AM

He's also a most remarkable entertainer . . I wrote this somewhere else, within the last week, but I can't remember where . .

He has the legendary Irish "gift of the gab" without the sentimentality which too often detracts from that skill (or gift).

A little Ron story . . . Last time we saw him live was at a Folk Club in Cambridge. The compere made a reference to Cambridge Folk Festival, and some half-drunk pratt in the audience started haranguing him about how dreadful it was that Cambridge didn't book Ron Kavana, and what a genius Ron is . . . Mr Pratt proceeds to make a number of intejections into Ron's first set.

In the interval Mr Pratt falls asleep in his chair.

Second half starts; Ron completes his first number, audience start to applaud enthusiasticly. Ron immediately "shushes" them, indicating the sleeping Mr Pratt. Remainder of second half proceeds without audience applause, and much the better for Mr Pratt's non-participation.

Oh, and Ron participates in Tomas Lynch's CD "The Crux of the Catalogue" which, for my money, is the best Irish recording ever made . . (on Linecheck and not easy to find . .)

And I'd second Clinton's enthusiasm for Ron's version of John Barleycorn (I think that, too, has been discussed here before). Sorry, I lack the skill/knowledge to transcribe the tune . .

G.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 07:12 AM

I'd go along with GeorgeH, Ron Kavana is one of the best live acts I've ever seen.

Brian

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 02:16 PM

That's all well and good guys... but does no one know even the names of the tunes??

I'll email Ron if nothing else comes up...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: IvanB
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 10:02 PM

clinton, according to the discography here:

http://www.getmusic.com/AMG?album=103062

the tunes are Kerry Polka and Wren's Polka. Tunes by those names can be found at JC's Tune Finder, here:

JC's Tune Finder

Don't know if they're the same tunes on the album, but worth a try, I'd think.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 11:27 AM

Well... the 2nd tune sounds 98% like what the tune in the song sounds like, but all the versions of Kerry Polka are way off...

Anyone else got any suggestions?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: UB Ed
Date: 12 Jul 01 - 10:45 AM

I'm thinking your emailing Ron...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ron Cavenaugh's 'John Barleycorn' t
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 12 Jul 01 - 11:43 AM

I tried that and have got no response back... I wish he had a stronger online presence...

;-)