Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show

Subject: Martin Simpson
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 03:00 PM

... on Jools Holland tonight apparently

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Brendy
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 03:10 PM

Watch it (or recorded highlights of it) online

B.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Nick
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 09:28 PM

And a very fine bit of playing it was too.

And I always enjoy K T Tunstall too

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 10:58 PM

Thanks for the link, Brendy. Listening now.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 04:48 AM

One number?? What's that all about?

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: jonm
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 06:29 AM

The one number thing is at least some exposure for a little-known acoustic/folk artist. Same treatment for Bela Fleck and Kaki King on previous shows.

There's a version of "Never Any Good" on the Later website, too.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 07:03 AM

I wish people wouldn't start threads with just the name of the person on its own - there's always a moment when I think "Oh no - he's not dead is he?"

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Brendy
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 07:05 AM

Absolutely. A bit of exposure is a step forward..., and Jools has always been good at that.
Interesting song to sing on such an ocassion, too.

Now that's guitar-playing, kat...!
Glad you got to hear him.

B.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 11:52 AM

IMO, he sang the right song - I don't imagine 'The Granemore Hare' or 'Fair Annie' or 'One More Day/Boots of Spanish Leather' would have grabbed the non-folk audience in the same way.
I just don't understand why Martin only got one song when that sack-of-kack shower 'Beirut', whose vomit-inducing 'singer' was effin' abysmal, got two.
Just a matter of taste, I guess.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Brendy
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 12:04 PM

.... matter of audience, ratings, and a whole lot of other criteria, I would imagine. I could quite gladly sit through 'Later...' and watch him sing one after the other.
Bob Harris, God bless him, tipped his hat to the Trad/Folk audience from time to time, in his day.

Oh.., I commend him for singing that song; considering the breadth of his repertoire. Is it his own?

B.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 01:07 PM

A version of Duncan and Brady

Mick

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 01:24 PM

Is it his own?

Never Any Good is a self-written song about Martin Simpson's own father, born on 1899 (so he said at the Union Chapel where we all got a CD of that and 3 other songs).

I imagine he was on Jools to plug Prodigal Son,

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Brendy
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 02:19 PM

I wish him all the best with it.

I love those kind of songs, though.
It must be the greatest tribute to a parent to be seen in those kind of terms, where they are not 'judged' by the 'normal' social mores.

Mick Hanly, on his album 'Warts And All' sings his own 'Uncle John', about a long lost uncle of his.

They are songs to make the hair stand on the back of your neck.

B.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 02:30 PM

Diane, Martin didn't do 'Never Any Good', just 'Duncan and Brady' (or at least that was all I saw - if I missed something it must be because I was bored into slumber by all the other crap on there - KT Tunstall excepted of course!) :-) :-)

It's a shame, because he has such a huge repertoire including some of the great Trad songs, and it would have been a real treat to hear some of them.

However, 'Duncan and Brady' was a shining star in a firmament of dross (except for KT who was her usual excellent self). Let's hope Martin gets some more exposure as a result of his appearance on 'Later'. But I'm not holding my breath.

All IMHO, of course!   :-) :-)

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Irene M
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 02:36 PM

My God! WHAT a stonking song!

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 02:36 PM

Hello Mr Person In The Backwoods
I didn't see the broadcast.
I somehow thought he was on Jonathan Ross, came in, turned on the intro, saw he wasn't and turned off.
Shame I missed KT Tunstall though.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Brendy
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 02:38 PM

Ahhh, confusion... I only saw the clip from the website; I assumed it was the song he sang last night.

I need a 70cm dish to get the Sky signal properly over here.
I can only get BBC & RTE in good weather...
... but I digress...

B.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 02:47 PM

Hi Diane, no problem, I somehow thought you didn't, and I guess there was a bit of 'cross-purposes' with other posts too?

I was very disappointed that he only did 'D & B' (especially as I'd been told by a mutual friend of mine and Martin's that he intended to do 'Never Any Good' on 'Later'. But I guess that's TV programme scheduling and timing for you!

Still, we should be thankful for the crumbs that fall from the table. And KT was good!
S:0)

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Brendy
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 04:24 PM

Anytime I do 'Your Cheating Heart', or 'Guess it doesn't matter anymore', (which is rarely, in fairness...) I try to emulate the man himself's versions.

He shines new light on old windows.

B.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: Santa
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 06:08 PM

I don't care for "D&B" - he should have given them "Andrew Lammie", with Alistair Anderson backing and all. Blow them away! But we don't get that kind of treat on the TV, do we?

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 06:19 PM

It sure is, Brendy!

I went to the link and found only "Never Any Good" and was in tears by the end of it. Fantastic. Then I clicked on the watch the whole show and had it on in the background until Martin came on and sang another, equally as good. Nice to see him there. Thanks, again, Brendy, for the link.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived
From: Brendy
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 07:34 PM

;-)

B.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 07:39 PM

OK guys. I'm confused! I didn't leave the room, and Mrs. Fenswoman assures me I stayed awake through the whole show, and I only heard 'Duncan and Brady'. Yet the link has 'D&B' AND 'Never Any Good' on it. Did Aliens come down and transport me away while he did 'Never Any Good'? Or was it cut from the transmission?

Please help me out here, I'm starting to think I'm losing it.....!!

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,John Robinson
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 08:00 PM

'Never Any Good' is in the "Web Exclusive" section John.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 08:21 PM

Ah, thanks John! I wuz starting to think they'd cut out part of my brain last month, instead of a chunk of pancreas!

Now they've apparently started to have seriously good acoustic guitarists/singers on there, in the next series they might do well to give Julie Ellison a gig! Or am I expecting too much of them?? :-)

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 04:38 AM

Jools Holland is an idiot! He talks too much. He introduced Martin as a singer/songwriter - which isn't a helpful decription( The odd song he and there doesn't count; for example, Nic Jones wrote the odd song but he'd never be described as a singer/songwriter). But, worst of all, after calling Martin a singer/songwriter he doesn't allow Martin to sing the one great song that he has written! Ridiculous!

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 06:42 AM

"I wish people wouldn't start threads with just the name of the person on its own - there's always a moment when I think "Oh no - he's not dead is he?""

Sorry McOH - guilty as charged; it's my sunny disposition and optimistic outlook on life that lets me down every time - I never think of such things. I promise to be more vigilant in future.

PS Thanks Joe for gettting me out of trouble...

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 06:51 AM

God bless Jools Holland and all he presents. Bollocks to all the Mudcat failures who can't see further than their ar................

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,John Robinson
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 07:02 AM

Tunesmith - in every recent interview I have read Martin is described as a singer-songwriter. It looks to me like he has "re-branded" himself. Given the current popularity of singer-songwriters I think it is a good move.

Backwoodsman - I have some stories to tell - but not here!

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 11:19 AM

What I don't like about Jools is that he is definitely the star of the show! And what is he? An average piano player - that's what he is! Every boogie-woogie piano piece he's ever performed, lumped together, isn't as interesting as Martin Simpson performing "Never Any Good"!

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 11:58 AM

What's the one great song he has written? Scuse my ignorance. Does Martin know he's only written one great song?

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 12:55 PM

If Martin has written anything else as good as "Never Any Good", please, please tell me! I want to hear it!

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: jonm
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 02:31 PM

By the same argument, should McCartney have stopped after Yesterday?

I would agree that 'Never Any Good' is his best song, and most of its competition in his repertoire are interpretations of traditional material, but there are other good songs he has written, we can debate semantics over greatness.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived
From: mattkeen
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 06:36 AM

Jools Holland is obviously a piano player, but more than that he is a professional and very successful broadcaster and the show has got his name on it .............. that , I think, makes him the start of the show.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 07:17 AM

God help us! That's the problem! Jools thinks he's the star of the show. You do, too. And so does the BBC! Crazy. If we listed the artists that have appeared on that show - in order of their talent, Jools would be near the bottom! It's time for a new face! Get rid of Jools!

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 07:53 AM

"If Martin has written anything else as good as "Never Any Good", please, please tell me! I want to hear it!"

Tunesmith, personally I think 'Deamtime' is one of the best song's he's written (it was also the first song I ever heard him sing live, at The Winning Post in York, must be around 12 years ago). You can hear it on his CD 'Red Roses' which, unfortunately, is spoiled by having his ex-wife Jessica Radcliffe singing on it, and she has a truly awful voice.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 07:56 AM

theleveller: Thanks for that. I must admit that I've always thought of Martin as a terrific guitarist first and foremost.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived
From: mattkeen
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 09:15 AM

Didn't say Jools was talented - just that it IS his show.


Martin Simpson's singing is much improved, and I am in the minority of not really liking his guitar playing. Fabulously accomplished as it is, just not my taste.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 09:45 AM

"I've always thought of Martin as a terrific guitarist first and foremost. "

For a long time, Martin thought of himself as a guitarist - he once said that that he didn't think he had a great voice so he ended up accompanying other singers like June Tabor. Personally I love his voice, especially his phrasing. Until I went to see him live, I didn't know he sang, having only heard his Leaves of Life and When I Was on Horseback instrumental albums. Like I said, Dreamtime was the first song I heard him sing.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: RamblinStu
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 08:20 AM

Thanks for the tip about the web site extra bits.
Last night I watched Martin Simpson doing Never Any Good, which I think is a brilliant song. I also enjoyed Duncan and Brady, nice guitar work, as you would expect.

I also enjoyed the rest of the show, as I do most weeks, not everything is to my taste, but then I'm sure Martin Simpson is not to everyone's taste either.

The criticism of Jools Holland voiced in this thread is beyond contempt; it shows the small mindedness that unfortunately continues to blight all forms of music including folk music.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Grab
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 01:22 PM

Jools Holland is presenting a live (or near-live) show. With that in mind, there's inevitable pauses between acts while the musicians and cameras get set on the next act. Hence JH talks to fill the gap - so does the compere at a folk club, if you notice. Personally I think he's a rather good piano player, but regardless of his own musical skills, he's a very good compere in maintaining a continuous flow to the programme without "dead air". This is the price you pay for a live show.

His format for the show is impeccable too. Live performance ensures we see musicians as they actually are, so we can tell who's good and who's just had a good producer on their CD. He also provides a place where musicians can do more unusual performances - live solo acoustic performances by big names are regular there. Where else would you hear that? And the range of music performed is enormous.

Jools Holland isn't there to serve folk music, he's there to serve the general music-listening public, and that means higher-profile artists get more airtime. You may be livid that Martin Simpson only got one song, but he has zero recognition outside folk music circles. Bert Jansch only got one song too, last time I saw him on there. Rodrigo and Gabriela only got one song as well, in spite of their truly jaw-dropping ability. And AFAIK Eric Roche never got on there at all.

People might ask "So should we be grateful for the crumbs from the big-league table then?" And my answer is yes, we should. Given a choice between one Martin Simpson song on live TV or no Martin Simpson at all, I'll take something over nothing. And nothing is almost certainly what we'd have without the very few John Peels and Jools Hollands ensuring we still get to hear some new, interesting stuff - if JH wasn't there, we'd have some faceless committee doing it and rebooking the same people time after time. That's what everyone accuses Mike Harding of - but if there's one thing you *can't* accuse JH and "Later" of, it's putting out the same thing every time.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 02:13 PM

I would like to think that Jools would have asked Martin what he wanted to do on his show. Martin, I would guess, would have said " Never Any Good", as that one song has accrued more praise than anything else he has ever done. So who decided that he would do "Duncan and Brady"? Maybe "Grab" is correct, and what Jools offers is going to be a lot better than any alternative that the BBC might come up with. But, Jools is a long way from my ideal presenter, and his choice of acts is a rather hit and miss.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Brakn
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 02:31 PM

Some acts are ok, some are not. I used to record it but don't bother anymore. I get the feeling that the "not so good" acts get the gig because they're on the same label as some of the "ok" acts.

I can't take the fawning.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 02:37 PM

The choice of acts, the songs they perform, and the number of appearances they get is probably controlled more by The Faceless Ones than by Jools himself.

I've not criticised Jools personally in any of my posts (at least if I have it wasn't intentional!), I simply wonder what it was that made 'Beirut' worth greater exposure than MH? You'll note that I have no problem with KT getting three as I believe her talent, and the quality of her performance, merit it. But 'Beirut'? Puh-lease!

IMHO. :-)

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 02:51 PM

My bet is that ole Jools says to Martin "You got 2.5 mins of air time Martin - what you gonna do?"
"I'd like to do my party piece Jools - Never Any Good"
"Can't do that Mart - I've timed it at 5.0 dead"
"Well I'll play it fast then"
"But it's a great story - you play it fast they'll miss the story line"
"So gimme 5"
"Sorry Martin - it's 2.5 and no more; what you got that'll fit?"
"Duncan and Brady'll come in at 2 mins 28 if I time it right"
"That's perfect - do that"

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 02:58 PM

If we had an Olympic Fawning Team, Jules and Parkinson would be like Seb Coe and that other bloke.

I'd just like to put in a word for the acoustic maters dvd series on Homespun - if you feel like a spot of Wizz, Martin or Martin - they don't half cheer you up.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 04:35 PM

excellent post from Grab 01.22pm

I have to take issue with the post from the leveller, where he alleges that Jessica Radcliffe Simpson has a "truly awful voice".

That is simply not true. Her voice has charm, and her songwriting abilities are exceptional imo.

have a listen to "Lilies of the Field" for example, can't remember which CD , but it is a cracking good song.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: jonm
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 06:14 PM

Duncan and Brady is probably the song from 'Prodigal Son' which best showcases his talents as a guitarist best in 2 1/2 minutes. I am glad he was also given the opportunity to record another one off-air, for which 'Never Any Good' was the obvious choice.

I think all of the one-off artists this series have had as brief a time.

Jools has an incredibly subtle sense of irony in some of his "fawning" comments where you get the impression he is less than enamoured with the performer - always people who DON'T get the website extras.

And why Beirut? They sell records, more than Martin, because their music appeals to some people. Maybe they are few and far between on a folk website, but nevertheless true.

If a few people go out and buy 'Prodigal Son' on the back of the Jools show, then Martin's profile - and that of folk music in general - will increase. To the benefit of us all.

Maybe if we all wrote to the BBC thanking them for the opportunity to hear the performances, next time he (or insert next folkie to appear) may get more exposure.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 07:49 PM

Never saw Martin Simpson before and have bookmarked the website and view the show/clip at least once a day. All the acoustic performances are great. As cheesey and uncomfortable as some of the interviews are they're interesting, nonetheless. Any show that exposes different forms of music to a worldwide audience in the way this one does is to be applauded.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived
From: mattkeen
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 05:20 AM

Jools only has a partial say in what goes on the show - he has a production team


I find it difficult to believe that anybody can still think that there is any correlation between media exposure and talent - sometimes they coincide and that is great for us types on here who like minority taste music.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Grab
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 05:43 AM

Some acts are ok, some are not

Sure. And then you don't buy CDs from the acts who clearly can't hack it in real life. :-)

The point is that bands do get a chance at it, almost regardless of experience and sales. So some obscure electronica folk get a slot and bore our tits off for 3 minutes with tinny bleeps and whistles - but so also does Martin Simpson get his 3 minutes to show the rest of the world what they've been missing. Or Bert Jansch, cleaned up and gig-ready again. Or Rodrigo and Gabriela, rocking out on flamenco guitars.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 06:07 AM

By and large I like to watch Jools Holland because some of the artists are top of their tier. Not always mainstream. Not always the best known - but sometimes very very good.

Sometimes they are truly awful.

But tastes differ. For example I don't "get" Sam Brown, but a lot of people think she is very good.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: dj bass
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 09:29 AM

I frequently watch Later, because it exposes me to music I wouldn't otherwise hear. I was already familiar with Martin Simpson and KT. Indeed, I'd been tipped off a week or so in advance about MS. There were, as usual, acts I want to know more about. However, I will not be revisiting Beirut or the horse band people.

I know someone who has been on Later more than once. The programme is recorded on Wednesday evening and is, as far as possible, done in one take. The changeovers are as you see them. Occasionally someone might make a mistake and start a song again, but in the main, what you see is how it was. I would not like to attempt what Jools Holland does in the programme. I don't know if others might do it better.

DJ

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 10:42 AM

The problem is that folkies like Martin have so few chances to show what they can do on a high profile tv show. I will say again, that if Martin could have been allowed to do "Never Any Good" and show his spectacular - and at one time unique - percussive guitar style ( where he flicks his fingers on the lower strings achieving a dynamic driving sound), then he would have gained at lot of new fans. If Martin chose "Duncan and Brady" over "Broke Down Engine" then he made a mistake. I know I hold great store by Martin's percussive guitar style but it was unique to him back in the 70s and he is still is the best at it. I remember that spectacular fingerpicker Adrian Legg saying that he felt very imtimidated at the thought of following Martin after he (Martin) had let rip with his percussive guitar style. Look at it this way: Nothing Eric Clapton did on the guitar was unique. Martin's percussive style was unique; and "unique" should be treasured because it doesn't come around very often!

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 02:18 PM

' Nothing Eric Clapton did on the guitar was unique.'

I'm not even a Clapton fan, but that's rubbish. You can hear Clapton's uniqueness in any group of musicians. That's why so many people have asked him to guest on their records.

Martin Simpson is great, you don't need to decry anybody else - we all know that.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 02:28 PM

Nothing Eric did - guitaristically - was new. Many of his solos were directly lifted from Albert King, Otis Rush, B B King etc. He simply reworked older material and then played it louder than the guys who inspired him! Hendrix, on the other hand, was an innovator. Eric is a lovely player but he didn't add anything new. I maintain that Martin did add something new.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 02:33 PM

I think I partly disagree, WLD. When Cream first broke bigtime, no-one but Clapton was doing what he dubbed "woman-tone", and that was unique.

Before that, say with the Yardbirds, he was pretty much any English electric blues guitarist: no Buddy Guy!

After that, he became pretty much any English soft-rock guitarist, and that is why so many people want him, he can fit in with anything. That, indeed, was a criticism levelled even in the "Cream" years, that he was very much a chameleon.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 02:54 PM

Richard Bridge: You're right. If Eric did bring something new to the table, it was his so-called "woman tone". Which makes the fact that he went on to abandon Gibson's and, with it, his much admired "woman tone". It's a stange old world.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 03:41 PM

the yardbirds stuff sounds pretty apalling nowadays.

Since then, I think his work pretty much speaks for itself. Obviously not to some people. But if his uniqueness was dependant on a single guitar tone, I don't think he would have enjoyed the career he has.

Clapton is a man of intelligence and imagination, though you wouldn't guess it from the recent autobiography. What the book does do is take you through his various achievements - and they are considerable. More than I had realised.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 04:15 PM

Not many musicians add anything significant to what has gone before. Clapton is a fine guitarist, a resonable singer and a good songwriter. But, while his "woman tone" - which was massively influential, his singing and songwriting didn't break any new ground.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 06:10 PM

Don't really agree tunesmith.

The way he re-imagined the Robert Johnson song crossroads: preserved the poetry; made it relevant for every violent and decadent society; preserved the irregularity of the rythms; made a format that would transport it asa performance piece, from folk clubs to stadiums - its almost as though he discovered a new form.

Probably the finest, most realised piece of folk rock in the world. Not just adding a backing - like the Stones did with Love in Vain.

Like I say, I'm not a fan (give me Robert Johnson any day!), but you must grant that Clapton has great creativity.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 07:08 PM

If I had been in Martin's position, with one song to do to blow away a studio audience and make waves among a TV audience who were unfamiliar with his material, the song wouldn't have been "Duncan and Brady, it wouldn't have been "Never any Good" (great song though it is) it would have been "Highway 61".

His live performance of this Dylan classic is absolutely amazing, the only other performer who even comes close to equalling it is Johnny Winter.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: jonm
Date: 20 Dec 07 - 03:34 AM

If I put myself in the position of a listener to the show who has never heard (of) Martin, if I were impressed by his playing, how would I feel to try to find the same song on disc only to discover it's 15 years old and availability is limited?

In his position, I would have looked at my most recent and readily available recording to choose material from; people can dig back later.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Dec 07 - 04:01 AM

the thing is Martin's not actually struggling to make an impact - he doesn't really need to co-ordinate his marketing strategy.

He knows the great masses aren't going to say, bloody hell! the new Robbie Williams! whatever he does.... and if you don't come back for more after seeing Martin, more fool you.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 20 Dec 07 - 05:38 PM

I don't think your hypothesis stands up, jonm.

a much more likely scenario is that the listener hearing Martin for the first time sees him play "Highway 61", thinks "holy shit, this guy is phenomenal" and decides to check out his recordings from start to finish, ending up buying one or more.

weelittledrummer is correct that he is not struggling to make an impact, there are enough cognoscenti to ensure pretty much sold -out venues wherever he plays.

however, I know Martin well enough to assert that he is, how shall I put it, not averse to making an extra bob or two whenever the opportunity arises ...

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: jonm
Date: 21 Dec 07 - 05:47 AM

I persuaded a couple of friends to watch the show on internet re-run to see Martin's performance. They are not folkies and had not heard of Martin. They were impressed and would each consider buying a CD, but not a whole collection, and would certainly see him live.

I'm sure Martin (who certainly would look for a bob or two as you say) would appreciate being able to fill larger venues and increase sales outsode the cognoscenti.

As with yourself, when I discover a new artist I do the research and might buy several CDs; others outside the folk genre tend to be different. I also agree that something like Highway 61 or Broke Down Engine would have been a magnificent showcase for his talent.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson on Later with Jools - archived show
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 07:11 AM

I asked Martin yesterday about his Jools Holland appearance and choice of song - he confirmed what most people thought; my imaginary transcript of his conversation with Jools wasn't far off the mark!