Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 04 Nov 17 - 12:03 PM

Thanks Freddy
I think you are right about the 'wide' mills and 'industry's changed'. Thanks for taking the trouble to listen and report these corrections. When transcribing a song it is very easy to get an idea of what you think it is (or what you think it should be) into your head and then you can't see the (correct) alternative. Fresh ears have certainly helped in this case.

With regard to the 'boat names' Steve, I'll make further investigations along the line you suggest. I originally thought that these might be names of mills - as they 'still remain' and boats are unlikely to have done so, unless they are preserved by some organisation or loving owner. A preliminary search for mills in Manchester with these names was fruitless. The search continues - thanks all.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Nov 17 - 12:18 PM

Thanks for the updates.

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 04 Nov 17 - 12:33 PM

Does anyone have a recording or the lyrics of these two songs by the late Mike Donald?

The Boatman's Song
Duke's Level

They were on an lp entitled 'North by North East'.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 04 Nov 17 - 03:06 PM

Please ignore the previous request.

I have a copy of the lp on order from the Discogs website.

In a thread related to Mike Donald there was mention of his lps on sale on eBay at very high prices. The prices on Discogs seem very reasonable in comparison.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 04 Nov 17 - 04:21 PM

I can't recognise any songs from Mikron Theatre Company, who still travel the waterways. They released the following LPs;

Last Run - Songs Of The Canals & Waterways Of Great Britain - PBR 5001 1977
I'd Go Back Tomorrow ALLEMANDE - ALP1001 1979
Mud In Your Eye MIKRON - MTC1 1981

Jim Woodland Mkron Songs

These two CDs are now available;

Ruby Recording CD A sparkling collection of songs recorded live at Marsden Mechanics as part of our ruby celebrations.

Live at Standedge CD We brought together cast members from five years of Mikron for this vibrant and beautifully orchestrated collection of songs.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Nov 17 - 04:40 AM

tune - Bolinder - written by Tom Kitching - he guested on the CD Red House (Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer)
I have the CD
There are other tunes - some original in my videos of canal restoration. One song - Legging Boats.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 05 Nov 17 - 05:38 AM

To henryp

At the moment I deliberately haven't included any Mikron songs. I persuaded myself that they might not like them disseminated via my website and haven't bothered to seek the necessary permission. In truth I might have just viewed their inclusion as 'rather a lot of work'. When I started the site I still had a full time job and spare time was short but for the last few years I haven't.

Shamefully, I will contact them in the next few days and see what their view is. I'm a great fan of the Mikron Theatre Company and saw them just a few weeks ago. Highly recommended.

To Mr Red

Leaving aside the fact that the site is 'songs' of the waterways and much as I am a fan (dreadful word) of Tom Kitching, I have a slight problem about including tunes. First of all, how to do it and secondly, how can a tune be about the waterways rather than just given a waterway related titled? If the tune you mention contains the actual sound of a Bolinder then I can see that overcoming my objection. I think I might have revealed my musical illiteracy here.

Thanks for the contributions and I'll be looking at your videos Mr Red.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 05 Nov 17 - 06:19 AM

Ian, It's a great collection. I didn't mean to prompt you into action!

Regards, Henry Peacock

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 05 Nov 17 - 11:46 AM

No probs Henry. In truth I think I've been neglecting the site recently.

Ian

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 05 Nov 17 - 12:55 PM

**how can a tune be about the waterways**

Easily. There are 2 examples on our new album.
A Dead Bod: Songs of the Humber Waterways.

'Sobriety on the Humber' is a melodic interpretation of.....well, you can read the notes on the website. It involves Chris Sherburn skippering a Humber keel in a force 8 with passengers on board. By Bill Sowerby, it's also an absolutely cracking tune played on mandolin and whistle.

'The Flying Lock key' is also a melodic interpretation of an outing on a narrow boat. I think you can guess what it depicts. By Dave Hill, it is also a great tune played by Dave on accordeon.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 05 Nov 17 - 06:02 PM

I look forward to hearing these tracks when my copy of the CD arrives.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 08 Nov 17 - 03:17 PM

The Boatmans Song by Mike Donald (mentioned in a previous post) has now been transcribed for the Songs of the Inland Waterways website.

It was found on an lp entitled 'North by North East'.

If there are any more songs about the British Waterways out there I'd be pleased to hear about them.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 Nov 17 - 03:34 AM

I have quite a few recordings waiting for videos to put on:

I recorded Jim Mageean singing "Captains of the Waterways", but it was croweded and he has a powerful voice.

His worship & the pig sing a song "On the Cut"

the 'Ock 'n Dough Band sing - "Don't keep the company Waiting"

Pumpkin Pie "Cotswold Canal Song"

"Waterman" sung by Dennis Geere - I can't remember recording it or who he was.

"Bolinder" was composed to the rhythm of the eponymous engine. I have even danced to the tune. A rather nice tune it is. Tom owns a tanker narrowboat with such propulsion - emphasis on the pulse!

And my favourite is "Canal en Octobre" - I got permission from Frederic Paris to use it. I suspect it is just waiting for someone to put lyrics to it.

and a list I found on an ABC site (no record of where)

Ardrossan Canal.abc
BallyCanally.abc
BargeInn.abc
CaledoneonCanal.abc
DARKEYED canaller.abc
ErieCanal Stick Dance.abc
FarmingtonCanalSong.abc
GrandCanal.abc
PaddyOnTheCanal.abc
Raging Canal.abc

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 09 Nov 17 - 04:52 AM

Mark Dowding sings Following Olga to Lynn on his CD Brown Photographs

I help crew a tank barge, Lizzie's her name,
Following Enid, pulled by a stout chain

MP3 clip here - http://www.markdowding.co.uk/Following%20Olga.MP3

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 09 Nov 17 - 05:35 AM

Thanks to previous two posters for pointing me in the direction of some songs I need to track down.

I only had two of those mentioned already on the site :

On the Cut

Captains of the Waterways

So I'll be hunting down the rest as soon as I've a spare moment.

Ian

Subject: Waterway Songs v Waterway Tunes
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 09 Nov 17 - 06:38 AM

Waterway Songs v Waterway Tunes

btw there is an alternative thread for tunes(& songs)

/mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=144798#3348229?

Subject: RE: . Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 09 Nov 17 - 06:58 AM

Thanks Freddy,

Life's complicated enough so I'm going to stick to British waterway/canal songs for the 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' website. It does what it says on the tin.

No tunes for me and nothing American. No offence intended to USA citizens (bar one). I'd love to see DJ Trump on the back of a narrowboat (temporarily).

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 09 Nov 17 - 02:58 PM

Hello it's me again - this time with cookie reinstated thanks to Joe's help. Now I'll be able to spot when there are more postings.

I think I must have neglected the 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' site in the last year or so as I now have a backlog of songs to add. 'Following Olga to Lynn' will be coming soon.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 14 Nov 17 - 09:17 AM

Having recently added a large number of Johnny Handle songs to the Songs of the Inland Waterways website (some are still awaiting tunes from Johnny), he informed me yesterday that he is hoping to send me some canal tunes as well. I have a list of 15 that he has composed.

Johnny Handle is such a wonderful man (read his recent biography if you are unfamiliar with all that he has done) that I feel that I would now like to include these tunes on the website (if and when he sends them).

Has anyone got any suggestions as to the best way to make tunes available on websites. I have programs which can handle abc files but they are a few years old. Is there anything new that is recommended? Would downloadable pdfs be better?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 16 Nov 17 - 08:38 PM

As I just posted in the navvies song thread, I heard Brian McNeill do his song about the Forth and Clyde Canal, correct title "The Boys Who Broke the Ground" tonight at a folk club where he was guest. Unfortunately the YouTube of it is "video not available" but the lyrics were posted in another Mudcat thread some years back: The Boys who Broke the Ground

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 17 Nov 17 - 06:32 AM

Link didn't work for me (Error 404) but I found it by searching the site.

Thanks for pointing this out.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 17 Nov 17 - 07:13 AM

The Boys that Broke the Ground has now been added to the 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' website. It's a lovely song.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Nov 17 - 11:44 AM

Has anyone got any suggestions as to the best way to make tunes available on websites.

HTML5 handles them natively, but iPhones need a little help (don't ya just love that infalability! Myth, that is.) Or dd I mean obscure help?

FWIW if you need my take on audio playing on a website - it involves JavaScript. I can't remember what I did off hand but the simplified version is used on songs.mister.red
There is one I wrote about Caggy Jones - famed for using horses in the black country up to at least mid 1970s. I will re-visit i and see if it is up to snuff.

PM me and start a conversation..........

Subject: RE: Tune Req: British Canal/Waterway Songs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 Nov 17 - 08:37 PM

Thanks Ian: better link than mine!