Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge

Subject: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: GUEST,Jon Wilks
Date: 30 Jul 26 - 06:03 AM

I've been reading a fascinating book written as a collaboration betweeen Rod Warner, Don Partridge and Pat Keene. It's called "Don Partridge & Company". It's about the street musicians/buskers who worked the cinema queues around Soho in the 1960s.

I am currently writing a book about Les Cousins, the folk and blues club, 1965-72, where some of these buskers often turned up.

I wonder if anyone has any memories of these people, or indeed of Cousins itself. There is a huge Cousins thread on Mudcat that has since gone quiet - I'm not sure how many of the participants are still with us - but I'd love to hear from you if you are.

Many thanks,
Jon

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jul 26 - 07:31 AM

i have memories of it , i remember someone used to play boogie piano as you entered , i believe it was derek brimstone.
there was no alcohol allwed but you could get tea and soup. and they had performers all night people like stefan grossman roy harper, maybe donovan,
the girls were better than the ones you met at discos, it was a great place

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 26 - 09:27 AM

Wow! That's an interest comment... "the girls were better than the ones you met at discos"!

Can you expand on that?!

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jul 26 - 09:46 AM

they were not flutes

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: Johnny J
Date: 30 Jul 26 - 10:00 AM

I am not aware of "flutes" in this context.

However, discos and nightclubs were never the best places to meet people. Music clubs, even ordinary bars(not the pick up ones) were invariably better.

As we get older, we all eventually realise that the best way to start a relationship is by getting to know people over a period of time. However, we were all young and foolish back then.
;-)

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jul 26 - 10:50 AM

flute is a slang used in ireland it relates to the empty space inside a casing

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jul 26 - 10:51 AM

fickle footlosse fancy free and foolish

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jul 26 - 10:59 AM

i rember a glorious eccentric called ron geesin whoused to recite mcgonagle and hit an empty kerosene can

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: GUEST,Jim McLean
Date: 31 Jul 26 - 02:42 AM

I remember Meg (Aitken) who busked around Soho. She always gave her headscarf a slight tug at the front while she sang. I have her autograph in an old book for some reason!

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: The Sandman
Date: 31 Jul 26 - 03:35 AM

Ronald Frederick Geesin is a Scottish musician, composer and writer known for his unusual creations and novel applications of sound. He is also well known for his collaborations with Pink Floyd and Roger Waters.

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: The Sandman
Date: 31 Jul 26 - 03:36 AM

Ron Geesin did play at the legendary Soho folk and blues club Les Cousins, performing there on Saturday, October 5, 1968.

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: The Sandman
Date: 31 Jul 26 - 03:44 AM

Donovan was an active part of the mid-1960s London folk scene anchored by the club. He famously gave a press and tabloid interview declaring that he "dug Les Cousins," which helped thrust the intimate basement venue into the wider public spotlight and drove massive queues to its weekend all-nighter events

Subject: RE: Origins: Soho Buskers: Old Meg & Don Partridge
From: The Sandman
Date: 31 Jul 26 - 03:51 AM

Don Partridge played at the Les Cousins folk and blues club during its mid-1960s peak, performing there as a one-man band around 1966–1968 before scoring his breakthrough chart hit with the song "Rosie".
The exact calendar dates for his individual performances are unrecorded, but he frequented the Greek Street basement club during the height of the London folk revival.Act: He performed as a novelty one-man band, wearing a guitar, harmonica, bass drum, and cymbal.Legacy: His connection to the venue is preserved on the compilation album Les Cousins: The Soundtrack of Soho's Legendary Folk & Blues Club.