Review: The Songwainers

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: srothman
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 07:21 PM

Sorry to poop this party but The Songwainers were never the same after Ken Langsbury joined them. When they were the splendid residents at the Victory Club in Cheltenham he was the club clown who adopted a risible yokel persona, with a bravura in inverse proportion to his talent, whose groan-inducing party piece was Susannah's A Funniful Man.

Having seen him perform fairly recently I can only say that Shakespeare's description of Cleopatra:
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety
may be exactly reversed in his case.

He was arrogant, tuneless and unable to enhance the already sub-floorspot ensemble of which he was a part.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Stuart Reed
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 01:25 PM

The Victory Club in Cheltenham was the first folk club I ever went to. I had come to folk music because I'd heard that some upstart called Bob Dylan had pinched House Of The Rising Sun from The Animals and then I heard covers of Dylan songs by Pete Seeger and Joan Baez whose wider repertoire opened up the doors of traditional music.

But nothing had prepared me for The Songwainers singing Spencer The Rover on my first visit - it was a life-changing experience.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,bcraswell
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 08:20 AM

I only ever saw the Songwainers with Ken Langsbury - Tom Addison took over from Ron Taylor I think. Ken to me was the voice that gave power to the group, if they were better before he joined they must have been out of this world!
Now years later Ken Langsbury is still in demand, I have just seen him at Sidmouth, the venue was full to capacity so some obviously think he still has something to offer.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Bob Burgess (White Horse Morris Men)
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 08:50 AM

Hi
I used to hitch hike back from Warminster to Cheltenham every Sunday night from 1968 to 1972, in the hope I'd get back in time to get to the Victory Club. Ken, Ron and Steve were superb - I remember Ron explaining their harmonies to me. At that time I was a student apprentice - 6 months with Dowty in Cheltenham, 6 months at Brunel University (Herga folksong club and morris) - I joined Gloucestershire Morris Men, and with Ken and others was founder member of Gloster Old Spot. The Songwaimers were a defining influence on my singing, as was Rod Stradling on my music....
I could go on reminiscing, but the Songwainers were the Victory....
BB

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Anglo
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 01:08 AM

Dear Guest Stuart Reed, I think you'll find The Animals recorded Rising Sun some considerable time after Bob Dylan did it. Just for the record.

And to get on track, The Songwainers LP will be one of my Desert Island Discs.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 10:39 AM

If you liked The Songwainers, you'll like The Claque: Tom Addison, Barry Lister, Dave Lowry and Sean O'Shea. They are doing an all-day ballad forum and evening performance for the Lewes Saturday Folk Club on Saturday 9th. April: see this thread for full details and a link to a booking form.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Max Johnson
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 10:52 AM

The Songwainers were a wonderful a capella group. I have their first (only?) album. I remember Mike Gabriel's singing - a lovely, clear voice.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: johnadams
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 04:35 PM

Both Ken Langsbury and Ron Taylor were Chris Coe's and my gig at Cheltenham Folk Club last night (26th Feb). Ken sang in his own inimitable style and Ron didn't sing although he did offer his services as a harmony singer on Chris's next album. (Wow - he sings an octave higher than her - can't wait to try some ideas out).

Any manifestation of the Songwainers would be worth listening to but most of us, of course, remember with fondness the early line ups including the one that recorded for Argo with Ken, Ron and the late Dave Stephenson.

I also thoroughly recommend The Claque - a first class outfit derived from the same roots as the Songwainers and carrying the flag forward in fine style.

Find CDs from them and member Barry Lister at:

Wildgoose Records

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Jim Redfern
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 01:27 PM

Yes,always pleased to laud The Claque.
Two of them are former Songwainers-Tom Addison,in the seventies and both Tom and Barry Lister in the reformed Songwainers in the early 21st.century.
Ron Taylor now singing with G and T with wife Maddy and the Graebes.
Put 'em all together!

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 02:16 AM

Here are some samples from The Claque's CD Sounding Now.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,???
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 08:56 AM

My great grandad is Ted Duckett.. Played in bolde forester.. I have his bones today! :) my grandad is joeseph duckett married to priscilla duckett mother to 9 children one of them being my mother.. :)

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 09:10 AM

Guest, give yourself a regular name and use it, or join Mudcat if you'd like to stick around to share and learn more! This is interesting stuff - it's nice to hang a name on whoever is posting it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: RTim
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 09:18 AM

I knew Ted Duckett from many years ago in Hampshire. He lived in Hythe, Hampshire and would often come with Dave Williams and play his bones at The Fo'c'sle Folk Club in Southampton, where I was a resident singer. I was born in Totton, near by; and the pub our Guest is talking about is The Bold Forester in Marchwood.
He would often accompany a singer from the back of the room on his bones, NO matter what type of song you were singing!!
Ted was also a great Step Dancer and he was filmed by the Reading Cloggies; I am sure there is a copy in the library at Cecil Sharp House.

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Barbaara
Date: 24 Feb 18 - 11:57 PM

Cambridge Ontario Canada. I have a warm memory of meeting
The Songwainers in Wells, Somerset in 1971. They joined my family and myself sitting and chatting on the lawn of Wells Cathedral. And since I, too, am a singer of Folk Songs, gave me a copy of their album. Unfortunately I neglected to get them to sign it. Now,in 2018, I'm enjoying hearing it on my old record player. I particularly like to sing their version of Robin Hood and the Three Squires.
I was 34 when I met them, am now 81.....

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,ChrisJBrady
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 09:42 PM

Tim Radford opined "Ted [Duckett] was also a great Step Dancer and he was filmed by the Reading Cloggies; I am sure there is a copy in the library at Cecil Sharp House."

Ted was researched by the Reading Cloggies - likely Peter Clifton and Anne Marie Hulme. The late Jennifer Millest might have also researched him. But all such research was unpublished and is now lost. What I am certain about is that no film was ever made. Maybe there was footage on a video taken by one Dot Cosh / Mulliner. But nothing was ever shown at the Reading Clog & Step Dance Festival, nor at any of the Cloggies' meetings. One Chris Metherell inherited all of the late Barry Callaghan's films - but even then I don't think that any footage of Ted was included (if any was made).

The now defunct Group still has funds in its so-termed Film Fund, the profits of the Festival went into this. But the trustees have long gone, and attempts to find out what happened to this met with a deafening silence. Any funds could be usefully spent in researching and publishing what there is of Ted Duckett (and others). But sadly no ex-members would be interested.

Indeed the work, research and memories of the Cloggies has long since dissipated. No-one remembers their 'Campaign for Real Reels' or for 'Putting Stepping Back Into Social Dancing.' There are no workshops in this, nor of such as traditional clog dancer Sammy Bell. Even his film has been consigned to the dusty archives of the BFI. I digress.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 10:08 PM

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,John Whitmore
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 04:00 AM

Oops. The linky thing didn't work. Paste this into your browser and it will give you access to the Argo LP tracks.

Songwainers LP

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Tracklist (from Discogs)

A1        Robin Hood And The Three Squires        
A2        The Three Knights        
A3        The Deadly Wars        
A4        Stormy        
A5        Tom O'Bedlam's Song        
A6        Old Jonas        
B1        News From Holland's Leager        
B2        Bright Phoebus        
B3        The Old And New Courtier        
B4        The False Fox        
B5        The Glittering Dewdrops        
B6        George Ridler's Oven        
B7        John Barleycorn

====

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Bill McMellon
Date: 08 Jan 20 - 11:45 AM

I used to hear the Songwainers every Sunday night in the Victory Club, for three years or so in the seventies. I was fifteen when I started going (the Charlton Kings Youth Club went to hear Nic Jones. Wonderful). And the Songwainers were wonderful too. I was much to shy and over-awed to sing. I haven't read all the above thred, but there is some-one who doesn't like Ken Langsbury. Well I couldn't disagree more. I always thought him a tremendous comic and singer, full of life. What was his song about the dragon? And there were all those monologues...Great stuff.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Feb 25 - 02:18 PM

Are any of the Songwainers still alive?

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Feb 25 - 02:22 PM

I think Ron Taylor is still alive

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: RTim
Date: 17 Feb 25 - 02:53 PM

Both Ron Taylor and Ken Langsbury are still alive....

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 17 Feb 25 - 03:22 PM

The people that made up the Songwainers were always changing; when I first went to the club the group was made up of Bill Spragg, Dave Stephenson (Steve), Ken Ilott and Martin Talbert. Then Ken Ilott and Martin Talbert left, and Sue Burgess joined; it was then that the group dropped the use of guitars and became a harmony group. But then Bill left and Tim Tanner joined. Then Sue Burgess left and a few months later poor Tim was killed in a motor accident.

All this happened over a period of about five years. As Steve was left on his own, I said I would join him to do the gigs that were left on the books. But then when they were completed, we decided to keep it going and asked Ron Taylor to join us. With his superb top harmonies, Steve's dirgey bass, and my questionable melody we had a great time together, and travelled the country round.

And then it Happened! Ken Langsbury's Stories

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Feb 25 - 04:40 PM

Tom Addison is still alive

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: r.padgett
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 01:55 AM

I said that "Suzanna's a funniful! man" was sung by the Songwainers at workshop (Steve Roud)in Whitby ~ I had seen them somewhere also sung by the BT advert lady!

At that workshop US gentleman was somewhat sceptical about my reminiscences ~ who was he?

Ray

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Peter C
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 02:34 AM

I saw Ken Langsbury perform last Friday (14th Feb. 2025) at ‘The Folk’ in Gloucester. He often comes to our monthly singaroud there. Absolutely brilliant…a real authentic National Treasure. An absolutely lovely man.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: r.padgett
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 11:55 AM

Maureen Lipman was the Jewish lady I referred to singing Suzanna's a funniful man ~ did the BT adverts

still struggling to place the group performance of the Songwainers ~ could have been in the 1970s at an early Barnsley folk Easter event ~ they do not appear to have recorded it

Ray