Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 21 May 11 - 06:21 AM

On Friday and Sat'day was Les Cousin
Ralph, Bert, Davy Graham - it was buzzin'
Seven and Six - remember that
To the bloke in a hat
That's one place I'm glad that I wuzzin'.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,WESTON GAVIN
Date: 25 May 11 - 04:10 PM

hOW SWEET IS TO BE REMBERED.YES I PERFORMED THE NAZ AND OFTEN SANG ALL NITE IN COUSINS.JACKSON FRANK WROTE/PERFORMED 'TAKE A BOAT TO ENGLAND BABY , TAKE IT TO SPAIN,WHEREEVER YOU GO THE BLUSES HAVE RUN THE GAME][PARAPHARSE]THE STORY CICULATED ABOUT JACKSON WAS THAT HE HAD COLLECTED A LOT OF INSURANCE LOOT FROM A DREADFUL INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT HE WAS CAUGHT IN. NOT THRU FOLK SINGING. HE WROTE COMPELLING SONGS.JUDITH PIEPE HAD I BELIEVE BEEN A AMBULANCE DRIVER IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR.SHE WAS A DEN MOTHER TO SCENE. I ATE AT HER PLAC.STILL SINGING AND PLAYINGE A FEW TIMES.SEEMS LIKE IT WAS IN OR NEAR THE BARBICAN.WHEN I ARRIVED IN LONDON IN THE SIXTIES I WAS THE LAST PAID PERFOMER AT THE ESTABLISHMENT DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET.I PERFORMED A ONE MAN SHOW OF LORD BUCKLEY AT EDENBURGH.HAAVE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM TWENTY ODD YEARS IN THE U.S BACK TO STAY.IF THERES A REUNION COUNT ME IN.MY E MAIL SITE ;[e-mail] STEWART BRILLIANT SONGWRITER.DAVY,ALEXIS,A LOT OF GREAT NITES.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 28 Jun 11 - 06:54 PM

Great thread, thanks for the memories.
I used to work at the Witches Cauldron in Belsize Lane NW3 during the 1960s, on the coffee machines and on the door. Also worked in a late night place called the Moon and Sixpence run by a wonderful Indian aptly named Mr Wise. I knew Mox really well - he used to crash at my place on a regular basis; usually coming in through the window in the early hours of a morning. He carried his harps in a small battered leather doctor's bag, and his toothbrush was tied round his wrist.
He played often with a mate of mine, John Lamont - who was a regular down the Witches. Other singers and groups who frequently played there were Alexis Korner, Jo-Anne Kelly, Champion Jack Dupree, Martin Carthy, Teddy Brown (also known as Johnny Christian), the Frugal Sound - who had a small hit with the Beatles' Norwegian Wood, Hampstead Ray Charles and the Jet Set, the 2 of Clubs (Bob Grant and Don), C-Jam Blues. I remember Savoy Brown playing there, and Duffy Power.
The Witches used to close quite early - after midnight, and everyone used to peel out to the Moon and 6d - and if the mood was right the musicians and singers jammed together along with anyone else who wanted to join in - like Rod Stewart when he first turned up on the streets of London well before joining the Faces, and a singer called Jimmy Justice.
I liked Klooks Kleek in West Hampstead- heard some great music there; Graham Bond's band, Long John Baldry, and a special evening when Jimi Hendrix dropped in on a John Mayall's Bluesbreakers' night and took up his guitar and played!
Anyone else out there from the Witches days and nights?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,DD
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 05:56 PM

Jackson Frank's accident was while he was in school (about age 13, I think) when a furnace exploded burning him badly.

At age 21 he received his compensation money and came over to England to buy a sports car- possibly that DB5, though I'm not sure.

He also performed (a lot) at Cousins along with all the other great folks mentioned here (Bert, John, Al, Mike, Long John, Wiz, Ralph, Paul, Sandy etc, etc, etc) and wrote Blues Run the Game which everyone played (and many still do: the last time I saw Bert Jansch at the Troubador in LA he played and sang it after a loving intro about Jackson) and Simon recorded for the Sounds of Silence album. His voice and songwriting were magic.

An all-nighter with JCF would usually bring out the best performers; plus Cousins was the place to be after a major folk act played in town. It wasn't just Paul Simon who came late after playing the Royal Albert Hall. So too did Bob Dylan and others.

Great days, er nights.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 06:18 PM

I used to read about you in melody Maker gavin. Does that qualify? I was a nerdy provincial at the time. Ban I be at the reunion?

al
http://www.bigalwhittle.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: pavane
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 01:49 PM

I went to the Witches Cauldron several times around 1967-8 but don't remember much about it at all, unfortunately

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Brenda
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 12:14 PM

Devastated at the news of death of Bert. He was part of my many happy memories of wonderful music and good times.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Lon
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 03:29 AM

Bert is gone. Many a Cousins allnighter with Bert, living on sandwiches and lager. Roy's in Ireland, Al is in Los Angeles. John was last in Ohio, I heard. Judith died in New Zealand. Who knows where Andy went. What am I doing here?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: theleveller
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 04:15 AM

I was listening on YouTube to Bert singing Jackson C Frank's Blues Run The Game and I had a sudden moment of deja vu. Does anyone else recall Jackson singing this with Bert adding guitar accompaniment one night at the Cousins, or is it my imagination?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 04:52 AM

My memories of the Cousins start around 1964 - when I used to hitch down to London from college in Leeds, mainly to see Jansch and Renbourn - and principally Davy Graham. The all-nighters were a must and became a regular feature of life when I moved to London in '68. I had the good fortune to jam with Davy at the club - Al Stewart serving coffee behind the bar, Andy on the door, etc. Other nights I jammed with Mox - harmonicas strapped like cartridges in a big leather belt over his shoulder, and long red hair and beard (Mox lives in France now and we exchanged greetings not so long ago via YouTube) - plus sessions with Alexis Korner and Duffy Power. Being young and innocent in those days, I always refused the little pill box that was passed around...

Other memories include performances by Mike Chapman, Wizz Jones, John James, Keith Christmas (who dated my sister briefly), the wonderful, unforgettable Jo-Ann Kelly (sometimes with Mike Absalom), a very rude and swollen-headed John Martyn, Mike Cooper, one Ian A Anderson, the Pigstye Hill Light Orchestra.

We got chucked out around 4am, if I remember rightly and were allowed to go around the corner to sleep in the Crypt until the tubes started running, around 6am. (For those who weren't living locally). When I then lived in London - in Bayswater - an early morning sunshine walk up to Marble Arch and then through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens back to the bedsit was always a pleasure.

My abiding memory is of going to the Cousins for the very first time, with my old Otwin guitar in its case, to see Davy Graham (my then hero) for the very first time. I hitched down and got into Soho in the late afternoon. Andy let me stash my guitar down in a corner by the bar while I went for a sandwich and a beer. When I got back - about 7-ish - there was Davy in the club by himself, tuning up and practising. He asked me to show him my guitar - bless him! -and we spent over 30 minutes playing and chatting. It's a moment I'll never forget - he was kind, encouraging, sober and a complete gentleman. Other things happened to him over the years, but that was a time to cherish.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: theleveller
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 06:18 AM

Will that is a remarkable coincidence. I moved down to London from Yorkshire in 1967 and must have been at the Cousins at the same time as you - I remember most of the people you talk about. I would also walk back to my flat in Bayswater afterwards (well, Notting Hill Gate, in Clanricarde Gardens, just off Bayswater Road). Happy days!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 06:26 AM

In my dim and distant, quickly fading memories, I seem to think that when I first went down to Cousins, the stage was facing you as you walked in the door, directly abutting the end of the bar counter.
Then it moved to be on the left as you walked in. Or am I mistaken?
I do remember that there was the lid of an old milk churn, the galvanised semi dome-topped type, which did duty (upside down) as an ash tray. I remember it because redd Sullivan threatened to crown a member of the audience, who talked all through his song, with said article.
I remember Jackson C Frank well, and still play and sing Blues Run the Game. I also remember him playing along with Bert, but I can't remember what they played.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 06:33 AM

Small world eh, Leveller? I know Clanricarde Gardens well - we used to live in Queens Gardens before we eventually moved out to Sudbury Hill. Did you ever get to the BBC Folk Club (Clanfolk?), which was held at the Marquis of Clanricarde in those days? I ran it for a year or so and booked people like The Thamesides, Ian A Anderson, Martin Carthy, the Yetties and many others. The pub was run by a big tough Irishman called Danny and the club was in the upstairs room.

My regular playing venue (and local hostelry) was at the Redan pub on the corner of Queensway and Westbourne Grove. We used to walk down to Portobello Road market every Saturday morning, then have a beer and a sarn in the White Swan on Bayswater Road and then fall asleep in a boat on the Serpentine in the afternoon if the weather was good!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 06:35 AM

John - forgot to say - in my day you went down the steps at no. 49, paid your cash to Andy, turned left into the clubroom - bar on the right and stage immediately left. There was a piano at the back of the stage that I never saw played - though I did see it fallen on to a few times by performers slightly the worse for wear...

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 06:40 AM

I think Ron Geesin played that piano there, once.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 06:44 AM

Quite right John - he would have done. I never saw him at the Cousins - always in other venues.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: theleveller
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 06:52 AM

Will, I went to the Marquis of Clanricarde a couple of times (it was in Sussex Gardens, near Paddington wasn't it? For a time I worked in Eastbourne Terrace)and I used to drink occasionally in the Redan and quite often at The White Swan (bit posh!) but our main local was The Mall Tavern in the corner between Bayswater Road and Ken. Church Street (when I got married for the first time I had the reception there). Moved out in 70/71 but it was a great time and a great place to live.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: theleveller
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 06:56 AM

Oh, and I remember playing on a couple of occasions at a folk club in the Royal Oak in Bishop's Bridge Road where I had a memorable (and subsequently very drunken) encounter with Alex Campbell.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 07:05 AM

Hmm, had a few of those.
Do either of you remember the Holy Ground in Bayswater? I used to go there occasionally. The aforementioned Mike Absolom played there regularly.
Yes, wasn't the young John Martyn an annoying bugger. ;-)

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,roderick warner
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 07:32 AM

Re the beat up old piano - I saw Champion Jack Dupree play it a few times.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: theleveller
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 08:00 AM

John, I can't remember the Holy Ground, but then I did spend most of my time in a drunken/stoned haze so memory isn't all that reliable :).

Will, I've just remembered that my old friend, the writer and filmmaker, Roger Deakin, lived in Queens Gardens at that time. Do you remember seeing a very nice blue Morgan Plus 4 parked there? That was his.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 08:40 AM

I do indeed recall a very nice Morgan in Queens Gardens! They weren't that common at the time - or now for that matter - and it did stand out. We lived at no. 57, in a bedsit on the ground floor back. Before that, we lived in Westbourne Grove Terrace, in a block of bedsits owned by Michael Winner's father, a property owner and developer. Just down the cul-de-sac from us was Dave Dee, of Dozy, Beaky, etc. fame.

Across the road from the Redan, on the opposite corner, was a block of '30s flats with balconies. John Mayall lived on an upper-floor corner flat and could regularly be seen lowering his amps and gear down by rope to the old blue Transit van parked below. Just down from the flats, in Queensway proper, was the very first coin-operated launderette in Britain - and it's still there. We used to do our washing there on a Wednesday evening, after work, and drummer and singer Ray Ellington would often be sat next to us, reading the Evening Standards, while his smalls went round and round. His underpants had "RE" embroidered on them!

The Redan, of course was the then home of Diz Disley - the landlord (Johnny Watkins) was an ex-singer and guitarist employed by the Tito Burns agency - and Diz would often come down and sit in with us for the hell of it.

I also recall seeing Mike Absalom at the Holy Ground - sometimes with Jo-Ann Kelly. And as for John Martyn, he was extremely unpleasant on many occasions. He was singing Jelly Roll Morton's "Winin' Boy" at the Cousins one night and announced, in a very smug and knowing way, that "winin' really means FUCKING! Yes - FUCKING!" One of my mates who was a drummer and of tough Cypriot descent, went up to Martyn and whispered in his ear. Don't know what he said but it quietened him down a bit... Nevertheless, annoying as he was, he was a fine guitar player!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: theleveller
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 09:11 AM

Ha ha. What a trip down memory lane this is turning out to be (apologies to everyone else)! Roger subsequently broke his Morgan in half whilst transporting a load of reclaimed bricks in it whilst rebuilding his derelict 15th century Suffolk farmhouse. John Mayall was a great bloke - he built doll's houses in his spare time- there was a certain groupie who I.....but that's another story. I also recall (a couple of years later) visiting Alexis Corner who lived somewhere in Queensway (can't recall where now) - he was the godfather of another friend and colleague and a truly nice bloke. I also remember the laundrette - went there on a couple of occasions when the one in the Gate was out of order. And the amazing Standard Indian Restaurant in Westbourne Grove. And, of course The Sun in Splendour pub......enough already!!!

Strangely, the one person I don't ever recall coming across personally was John Martyn. Mixed blessing!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 09:25 AM

Yes - apologies for all the reminiscing and name-dropping - but they were memorable days for a young chap in his early twenties, and it's nice to be able to mumble over them, through, my drool, on Mudcat, 45-odd years later...

Alexis Korner was a good bloke (didn't know he lived in Queensway) and a very influential blues man. He wasn't a particularly good guitar player - very average - but he did good work in the name of the music and helped many, many people. Also did a good radio show on the blues, after Mike Raven's stint on Sunday afternoon radio.

John Mayall trained as an architect in Manchester - probably built very smart doll's houses! I used to see the Bluesbreakers (with Mick Taylor at that time) at Klooks Kleek and at the old Marquee in Wardour Street. The band was the nucleus of Jon Hiseman's Colosseum, with people like Hiseman, Tony Reeve, Henry Lowther and Dick Heckstall-Smith in it. What a sound that was!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: theleveller
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 09:57 AM

Oh no, don't get me going on The Marquee....or it'll start the Soho reminiscences...lost days and nights in The French, the basement of the Amalfi restaurant, George Melly throwing up without getting off his bike, buying homemade pasta from I Camissa, jazz at The Pizza Express, oysters and Guinness at The Toucan Bar, hours, days and weeks in grotty film editing suites and recording studios, being thrown out of his guitar shop by the unpleasant Ivor Mairants, and a lifetime in bookshops in Charing Cross Road to say nothing of the music stores in Denmark Street.......(warning: nostalgia overload!)

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 10:09 AM

hours, days and weeks in grotty film editing suites and recording studios

Now... you didn't by chance know of film editor/producer/mover-and-groover called Al More, did you? Had a flat in Maida Vale and a studio in Wardour Street - a great pal of Bob Gofrey (who's 40th birthday bash we played for in a first floor room in some gaff by Cambridge Circus).

Soho... Soho... remember Gypsy Larry? the man selling roses who sold them from a tray while wearing a rose behind each ear, and then staggered around all afternoon pissed on the proceeds, while wearing the same roses?

Gawd, I'll be off on The Happy Wanderers next, and the drunken crowd in the Coach & Horses in Poland Street.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: theleveller
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 10:32 AM

Don't recall Al More but I probably met him, but I did meet Bob Godfrey from time to time, but I don't think I ever worked with him. Also worked with Nick Roeg, Alan Parker, Ridley Scott (whose partner, Sandy Watson, was TV Producer where I worked - just looking at a photo of us taken at a friend's wedding!) and collaborated on quite a few scripts with my good friend, horror film director, Gary Sherman.

Gypsy Larry - oh yes, now you mention it I do! Didn't go in the Coach and Horses after a....disagreement....with the landlord (me and a million others!). I spent many, many hours in the pubs of St. Martin's Lane: The Two Brewers, The Sussex, The Green Man and French Horn, The Trafalgar (which was burnt down by an IRA incendary bomb whilst I was in it), but not in The Salibury (too touristy).

I warned you not to get me going..........

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: theleveller
Date: 14 Oct 11 - 10:50 AM

"Didn't go in the Coach and Horses after a....disagreement....with the landlord (me and a million others!). "

Sorry, I'm thinking of the Coach and Horses in Greek Street - don't think I ever drank in the Poland Street one.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,keith degroot
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 05:33 AM

Searching for anything about my dear friend and lifesaver Judith Piepe and discovered this thread. I knew most of the folks mentioned .Amongst other things lived with Bert in Chalk Farm Rd.I wrote the notes on his first lp.My first allnighter ? Ken Colliers in Gt Newport St aged 13.Anyone recall Billy Mc Guiness from Finchs ? Love to read this stuff if a little tearful at the sad news of so many mates now gone .

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Guest-John James
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 12:15 PM

Great to read these fond reminiscences of Les Cousins. Our memory can get a bit fuddled thinking back..but great to read such spot on stuff from Bredda, Will Fly & Rick Norcross. I played at the club many times from '68 on, ran all-nighters spent many an afternoon upstairs in the flat with Mr & Mrs Matthew (english spelling!) leaning out the window, with Mr (Andy's Dad..Andy still in bed..it's after lunch!)Mathew telling me about the soho police and what was going on. Of course it all came out in a big Met Police scandal.

One Mic.One Leak hifi amp. great performers.great music. great audience.great times.great memories.
All the more poignant now, having attended Bert's funeral last friday.

John James
ps I've posted some cuttings from Andy's Melody Maker ads for Cousins on my website.
www.johnjamesguitarist.com

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 12:54 PM

Just visited your site John, wow that took me back. Ian Shircore, AND Frank McConnell, names from my Richmond days.
Thanks for the link.
(Saw Ian a year ago)

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Lon
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 04:54 PM

If anyone has a contact for Andy, I would be very grateful. And at this point, I will add in a hello from Perin, who I'm certain would not wish to be left out of this thread. Cheers. --Lon

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 05:48 PM

Remember John James very well - v good guitarist and v nice bloke. Although I can remember you having a row one night with a guy who sang falsetto! Will check out your website.
Its a pity we haven't got a facebook page for Cousins on which we can post photos of the days of our misspent youth. I have looked at a lot of the postings and think I can place people in my minds eye but photos would be such a help. A couple of postings mention a piano - no chance! remember that narrow stairway - no way we ever had a piano in Cousins. Before its inception as a folk club it was for a time a rythm and blues club. I well remember the cursing of the poor benighted players trying to get their amplifiers down that tiny stairway - drums used to have to go through the restaurant upstairs, the Soho Grill, and down the wider back stairs into the club. The restaurant was owned by Andy's Mum & Dad. They were very kind to a lot of people - a lot of free sandwiches passed over my counter at their behest. And I can remember a group from Leeds? being put up in the basement for a week when they ran out of money and were waiting to go to an audition with a big promoter. We would have been closed down if anyone had found out. (elf and safety!)
Another posting mentions Bert and Jackson C Frank playing together - yes , I remember it. I was so very lucky to be there listening to stonkingly beautiful music every night.
Another posting mentions Alexis Korner, not my favorite person must admit -I have to say my favorite memory of him was when Chas Chandler brought Jimmy Hendrix down on his first night in London and asked if he could sit in on a set. I still remember Alexis's face when Jimmy started to play. It was a picture. Bliss.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 06:49 PM

The piano ,for there was one,in Les Cousins was behind the stage, against the wall.Champion Jack Dupree played it for one, as did Ron Geesin.As you went in thro the door the stage was on your right and the piano behind that. Above the door on a shelf was the Leak amplifier..stand on the stage and stretch up.One mike stand,one mic, one spot light and swivel chair or stool. I remember sitting on the edge of the stage legs up on the guitar cases,knees jammed under the piano keyboard for the whole of Nick Drake's first set on our first gig together down the Cousins. I was under orders from our mutual pal John Martyn to "look after Nick,man". I didnt have to do that for the second set ..I could never get him to do one.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 07:16 AM

Oh, the piano was certainly present at the Cousins - as GUEST above says - at the very back of the stage, to the left as you went in. The very last time I ever saw Davy Graham play there was when he fell backwards off a high stool on the stage - right on to the closed piano keyboard...

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,roderick warner
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 08:53 PM

Definitely a piano - I mentioned above somewhere I saw Champion Jack play it.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Hokumsheik
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 09:57 AM

So it is true..
and it did happen
it wasn't just a dream
people say that I was there
so I must believe it's true...

I lived to tell the tale
thanks for all the memorys

Mox

BTW Still got the hair
regrown the mustache
never stopped playing

you can see what I've been up to here :
http://www.youtube.com/user/hokumsheik
http://www.youtube.com/user/harmopoint
(I'm the fat one in the middle!)

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 10:12 AM

Hi Mox - good to see you here! Do you still have bandolier belt for the harps?

Keep on blowing!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Hokumsheik
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 10:14 AM

Waists too large !!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Maggie
Date: 30 Jan 12 - 01:58 PM

I don't remember Les Cousins but I do remember the Witches Cauldrom in Belsize Park in the 60's. I spent many an evenings eating spaghetti, lovely memories.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jan 12 - 08:49 PM

funny, i remember going down the stairs then turning left, and the stage being on the left.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 02:51 AM

I recall going down the stairs, turning left and the stage being on the right; but I can't recall where you paid to get in! At the bottom of the stairs?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 04:47 AM

As you went down the stairs at the Cousins, there was Andy, sat behind a small table, taking the money. There was a door to the left - going into the club. The stage (with piano) was on you left, facing the back wall. The coffee counter was on the right, leaving a space to mill around in (or kip in if you fell asleep at the all nighters...).

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 04:49 AM

Somewhere in my dim and distant memories, I seem to remember that they did move the stage. First off it was almost directly ahead of you as you went in. Perhaps slightly to your right, with the coffee bar/counter immediately behind it. Then they moved it to on the left of the door. However, even as I type this I have doubts creeping in. It was all so long ago. 50 bloody years FCS!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 05:43 AM

Hi Mox,glad to see you"came out"at last!

Give me a bell,come to lunch,we"ll do the same as last time.

David C Carter

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: The Sandman
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 09:53 AM

will fly has it how i remember it, i reckon i wa going there about 66 or 65 or 67

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Will Fly
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 10:00 AM

Dick - same period as me. I stopped going in '76, when I moved down to Sussex.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 05:51 PM

Good to see Mox on the thread.   We had such good days and he is so part of my memories.   He may remember me as being very very slim. Regretfully I am no longer so slim.

Yes the stage did move. It was originally one room with the restaurant kitchen behind. When we started getting so packed it coincided with the restaurant business taking a dive. They had just changed the licensing laws. so the restaurant kitchen was moved upstairs, into the back area which had been a dining area used for parties when they were busy.   The stage, which was originally on the right as you walked in the door, with the bar running along the end wall, was moved to where the bar had been and the bar moved running along the left hand wall of the extension. The wagon wheel was moved to the side of the bar so became sort of the side wall of the bar and back of the stage.   They reused some of the red banquette seating from the restaurant in the new area, much nicer for people to kip on. I am sure Moxy will remember that - he used to come and sit and play and talk to me there.
I wonder what happened to Phil and his german girlfriend? She was working at I think, the Blue Angel?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 08:44 PM

When I was a kid at Leighton Park School in Reading,   my posh middle class friends had nearly all visited Les Cousins folk club in Greek Street, Soho - they had seen guys like Donovan, Paul Simon and Bert Jansch

By the time I got to college, I was aching to go there.When I started visiting Cousins as a college student - the star turns were ragtime guitarists - people like Ralph McTell and Stefan Grossman. Usually with a couple of trusty friends we would hitch up to London down the A1 on a Friday night - about 100 miles. We'd catch the 7-11.30 show.   Then walk round London all night and all the next day, until Cousins opened its doors again at 7pm. From midnight there was an all night session til 6am.

We slept in National Porttrait Gallery, or went endlessly round the circle line on the tube, trying to sleep a little.

Nearly everybody assumed we were there to get out of our heads on drugs. I don't say we weren't quite stupid enough to do that - if we'd ever been offered drugs there. However - the intoxication was more to do with being near something important happening. Personally I hoped by some kind of osmosis, I would become an artist like the fabulous musicians that I saw there - people like Wizz Jones, Davy Graham, Ralph McTell, Stefan Grossman, Al Stewart, Spider John Koerner and Derek Brimstone.

Excerpt from Grantham Days Page on my website http://www.bigalwhittle.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Hokumsheik
Date: 29 Feb 12 - 10:15 AM

I remember Mox

In fact I saw him this morning
shaving.................