Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed

Subject: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Leadbelly
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 02:26 PM

Apart from sales figures resp. ranks from the british hit-parade, which do you think was your absolute favourite song, Lonnie recorded?
To me it was "Cumberland Gap", although it's not easy to make this choice.
Primarily, I think it was the swinging rhythm (Denny Wright!), its speed and-overall- the fact that this was the first time I listened to this "new" musical approach on the radio. As a young german in those days, I couldn't understand the entire lyrics completely. But the rhythm and Lonnie's voice made me crazy.

In the meantime, I know about all of Lonnie's songs. And there are lots of diamonds.   


Please tell us about your personally preferred song,

Manfred

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 02:39 PM

Grand Coulee Dam, and I still sing it too ;)

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Dave Illingworth
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 02:41 PM

My personal favourite is his first (1956) version of FRANKIE & JOHNNY
(not to be confused with later versions he recorded.)
Denny Wright, Micky Ashman and Nick Nicholls maintain a driving sort of blues-tango rhythm over which Lonnie turns in one of his most exciting and impassioned vocals.
It knocked me out the first time I heard it over 50 years ago -
and still does today.
(Originally issued on the "Lonnie Donegan Showcase" 10" LP, but reissued many times).

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 02:43 PM

Not my favourite singer by any means, but hearing his 'Diggin' My Potatoes' was a formative experience.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: john f weldon
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 03:14 PM

Funny Leadbelly didn't pick "Aint No Cane on the Brazos", which is my fave.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 03:23 PM

Apart from the hit parade 'Rock Island Line', which wasn't aimed for that anyway, I agree with Dave - 'Frankie & Johnny' Saw LD many times as a teenager.
Doc John

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: greg stephens
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 03:25 PM

I have a very soft spot for New Burying Ground.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: olddude
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 03:37 PM

I go with Grand Coulee Dam
it is wonderful but there are no bad songs from Lonnie, all diamonds

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 03:42 PM

Ham n Eggs

and

Seven Golden Daffodils (I would like to think they are on Lonnie's grave)

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Abdul The Bul Bul
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 04:14 PM

Couldn't choose between Jack O Diamonds and Jimmy Brown The Newsboy.

Al

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 04:18 PM

Jack O Diamonds was the very first 45 I bought. If my memory was correct Ham n Eggs was on the B side.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 04:48 PM

"Bring a little water Silvie" one of my favourites

Leadbelly you should remember that one, you must have written it before you were born.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 05:27 PM

Either "I Don't Care Where They Bury My Body" or Somebody's Diggin' My Potatoes", from the time when he used to fill in between sets for Chris Barber.

CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: greg stephens
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 05:42 PM

There's something special about those early Decca records, isn't there, before he moved to Pye Nixa.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 05:49 PM

Either Rock Island Line , or Nobody's Child for me .

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Will Fly
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 05:52 PM

I personally like "Rock My Soul In The Bosom of Abraham". He had a fantastic voice and he really let it rip on this one. "Seven Golden Daffodils" was also a great track. I had all his early records - lost them somewhere - then spotted copies at a record fair in Oxford and bought them all as a job lot!

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 06:34 PM

I'll go with 'Alabama Bound'

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: bubblyrat
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 07:09 PM

I liked "The Golden Vanity" and "The Battle of New Orleans".

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Roger Rettig
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 08:08 PM

Well - this is far too hard a choice; there were so many inspiring recordings from Lonnie in the 1950s.

The Decca stuff - while obviously of great interest - is a bit unpolished for my taste, but almost everything he did once he'd got Denny Wright on board, as well as Nick Nichols and Mickey Ashman, was worthy of note.

'Don't You Rock Me, Daddy-O' takes some beating; a great arrangement that still stands up today. 'Frankie & Johnny'? Of course! 'Rock o' My Soul' - excellent, but I never enjoyed Les Bennetts' guitar playing.

My two favourites are two less well-known tracks. 'I'm Just a Rolling Stone' and - the B-side of 'Fort Worth Jailhouse' - 'Whoa Buck'!!! Who remembers that one? Subtle, and Donegan at his very best! Even though that rather over-produced A-side had Les on guitar, 'Whoa Buck'
was an older track with Jimmy Currie playing the lead. Jimmy wasn't as good as Denny, but he could really lend atmosphere to a track, and he did wonders on this one.

Lonnie's voice? The best-ever in the UK!!!!!

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 03:31 AM

"Lonnie's voice? The best ever in the UK!!!" I despair!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Jon Dudley
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 04:08 AM

Loved Lonnie Donegan. A real breath of fresh air in my childhood after a musical diet of Anne Shelton etc. Cumberland Gap/ Battle of New Orleans were faves, but any number would do equally well for me.

Since you despair, Tunesmith, who in your opinion deserves the title? Like you I'm a little cautious about 'best evers'...who's your choice?

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Fidjit
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 04:17 AM

Nobody's Child

Putting on a Style

Chas

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: stevi
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 04:41 AM

Talking guitar blues!
I get the feeling he was singing from the heart on this track.

Steve

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Leadbelly
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 04:49 AM

"Leadbelly you should remember that one, you must have written it before you were born." (Dennis the Elder)

Absolutely agreed! There are lots of Leadbelly's songs which Lonnie performed. About 50% or more of his better known ones.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: cptsnapper
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 04:56 AM

Go Down Old Hannah & Walk and Walk & Talk With Jesus

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: BobKnight
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 08:25 AM

First record a bought as a kid was "The Mission of San Miguel." My first 45 too.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Roger Rettig
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 09:07 AM

From: GUEST,Roger Rettig
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 08:08 PM

Lonnie's voice? The best-ever in the UK!!!!!
-------------------------------------------------------------

""Lonnie's voice? The best ever in the UK!!!" I despair!!!!!!"
-------------------------------------------------------------
"Since you despair, Tunesmith, who in your opinion deserves the title? Like you I'm a little cautious about 'best evers'...who's your choice?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My contention is not so outrageous when you consider just how influential Lonnie was. He has to be responsible for sowing the seeds of appreciation of American roots-music in the minds of thousands of 'wanna-be' musicians in 1950s Britain.

I'd also add 'How Long Blues', 'I'm Alabammy Bound', 'Dead Or Alive', 'Lost John' and - from a later era - 'Michael Row The Boat Ashore'.

Lonnie Donegan was so far ahead of every other British singer of popular music at the time that it's almost laughable. When, eventually, we had others that could do justice to the genre (by the '60s?), you can bet on it that they owed something to Donegan.

I rest my case.....

RR

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Will Fly
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 09:14 AM

A lot of credit must also go to Chris Barber, who not only played with Lonnie on many of the sessions - which started out as interval fillers at jazz gigs - but also, through his keen appreciation of jazz and blues, brought people like Bill Broonzy to Britain. He was one of those who lit the flame that others kept alight.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Eric Armstrong
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 02:02 PM

I totally agree with RR, Lonnie & Chris Barber showed that there was another kind of music that was much better and much more exciting than the "moon in june" kind. Their example encouraged countless people to explore the pathways to folk and old time music.
Hard to pick a favourite song among so many great ones, however I can still recall the pulse racing excitement of listening to John Henry, Lost John & Dead or Alive

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Leadbelly
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 02:16 PM

"Lonnie Donegan was so far ahead of every other British singer of popular music at the time..." ---Rodger Rettig

Absolutely true, Rodger. Lonnie managed to create his success by American roots music as you said. He has had the ability to transfer this kind of music into a new area of popular music. Sometimes he underlined this approach by means of new lyrics.

Personally, I'm convinced about the fact that he has (had) a perfect voice for almost all the songs he recorded.

Concerning "Frankie and Johnny" I come to the result, that this was one of his outstandig performances. A real jewel. It never made the jump into the british top-ten/twenty. Perhaps, his version was a little bit too long for this programme in those days.

Last but not least: thus far, thanks for your participation to this thread. Isn't it funny, that this was initiated by a German?? But there's a reason behind this: in the 60's and even 70's Lonnie was comparatively popular in (Northern) Germany. Above all in Hamburg where he recorded many tracks with a skiffle group called Leinemannn.

Manfred

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 02:21 PM

Whether he had the 'best' voice or not, in the UK or anywhere, he conveyed a lot of excitement in his performances.

For that feeling of excitement, one of his best performances for me was another B side. Someone has already mentioned "The Golden Vanity" which was the B side of 'My Old Man's a Dustman' (oh dear!). The B side of "Battle of New Orleans" was the better side of the record, and is my favourite, though never seeming to feature in 'best of' compilations. It's a really driving performance of "Darlin' Cory".

Lhiats,

Bobby Bob,
Ellan Vannin

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Roger Rettig
Date: 03 Mar 09 - 03:33 PM

'Frankie & Johnny' couldn't have been a hit, because it was never a single, but it did - in a manner of speaking - make the charts. I believe that 'Lonnie Donegan Showcase' was the first LP to ever reach the singles lists!

Apart from reservations about the tone from Les Bennetts' guitar, I also enjoyed 'Darling Corey'. A spirited performance from LD! I love that 5th-minor chord at the eleventh bar of the chorus!

Another of my favourite Donegan vocals is his 1957 version of 'Muleskinner Blues'. The later version is marred by Van Morrison's amateur-sounding efforts. My favourite of his very earliest work is the excellent 'Ol' Riley'!!!

Roger Rettig

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 03:29 AM

Not favourites, but not mentioned so far, Steal Away and Lorelei.
Actually, Steal Away was good.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Will Fly
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 03:47 AM

Donegan's 'B' sides were always a treat. As others have mentioned, there was "The Golden Vanity", Darling Corey", "Seven Golden Daffodils", "Black Cat Crossed My Path First Thing Today" - all memorable and always unpredictable.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Mike Rogers
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 04:43 AM

Last year, after an interval of nearly 50 years, I bought a Donegan album. I was hugely impressed by his version of 'Ain't No More Cane On The Brazos' which I'd never heard before.

I was never impressed by his music hall type material but on the whole he was seriously underrated. His version of 'Times Are Getting Hard Boys' is very much a song for today.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Jorrox
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 05:01 AM

Bring A Little Water Sylvie - UK rockabilly!

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 06:45 AM

Lonnie's TV show "Putting on the Donegan" sometimes included a number done without the group - just him and his(acoustic)guitar. These songs, delivered without the usual show-biz trimmings, were a revelation. For a few moments Lonnie was a folk-singer, rather than a pop-star. His interpretation of Woody Guthrie's "Rambling Round" on one of these broadcasts still echoes in my memory, and it would be a worthy candidate for the title of "best song Lonnie ever performed."

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: matt milton
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 09:39 AM

I actually think Lonnie Donegan was much better when he sang slow songs. He would have made a good ballad singer. His slow bluesy songs (not that he did very many) were for my money head and shoulders above his other material.

Though Cumberland Gap does of course have great lyrics...

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 10:15 AM

Surely Lonnie is the perfect example of a British singer trying to sing American! Lonnie singing Rock Island Line is fine, I suppose - until you hear Leadbelly sing it! Lonnie was there first, but if you want to hear a fantastic example of the British singer singing roots American, listen to Jo Anne Kelly; again, the fact that she is indeed British, and not a black woman from the Deep South, rules her out of being considered a true great, but she does a marvelous impersonation.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 10:32 AM

Another B side "Gamblin' Man"

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Will Fly
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 11:57 AM

Tunesmith:
listen to Jo Anne Kelly; again, the fact that she is indeed British, and not a black woman from the Deep South, rules her out of being considered a true great

With respect - I understand exactly what you mean -Jo Ann didn't have an appropriate background. But... if you didn't know - if you just heard the voice - you wouldn't know the difference. I saw her in London in the late 60s many times - at the Cousins, Bunjies, etc. - and she was magnificent. :-)

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Roger Rettig
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 12:47 PM

'Rock Island Line' is not one of my favourites - either by Lonnie OR Leadbelly! Lonnie had not, at that point, brought any refinement to his craft or his singing style. That was to come later, and that was what - in my opinion - elevated him above even the original artists' versions of the songs that we've now come to associate with Donegan.

For me, this is a bit like comparing Elvis Presley's cut on 'That's Alright, Mama' with Arthur Crudup's version. Had it not been for Elvis, the song, and Crudup, with have remained a mere footnote in music history. Same with 'Mystery Train' (is there a better rock and roll record than that one???!) Like Lonnie on the songs HE resurrected, he just did them - better!

Lonnie, like Elvis, was possessed of a magnetic presence that evidenced itself through his vocal uniqueness. I think it's a tribute to Lonnie that he managed to transcend his English-ness when interpreting these songs, and overcome the obstacles of living in Manor Park in London's East End! Especially when there was NO-one else doing it!

Jo Ann Kelly? We can cite dozens of examples of singers and instrumentalists who have adopted an American roots-music style effectively and successfully in the last forty-odd years, but anyone out there who, like me, is around sixty-six years old now can easily remember what a wasteland British popular music was in 1955-56.

Lonnie changed all that - mainly through sheer hard work, talent and self-belief, but also, and as importantly - because of his charismatic presence. Ken Colyer may have had the notion first, and Chris Barber may have created a space for it to happen, but who was going to be 'drawn' to either of these somewhat lacklustre personalities?

Credit where it's due, chaps! I sometimes wonder if Lonnie hasn't garnered all the accolades he's due because he had a way of upsetting people he ran into - he could be notoriously 'difficult' at times - but this is surely an inconsequential detail now; I want to see him accorded his proper place in the musical scheme of things.

It hasn't happened yet, but I award full-marks to my old boss, Joe Brown, for 'championing' Lonnie Donegan's cause every chance he gets.

Roger Rettig

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: JohnB
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 01:24 PM

Being on dial up, I get lot's of time to think while things load.
Cumberland Gap was the one which was in my mind before the page even opened.
JohnB.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Leadbelly
Date: 04 Mar 09 - 02:01 PM

Thus far, nobody made a decision for "My Dixie Darling", "Puttin' on the Style" or-somewhat earlier- for "Wabash Canonball" or " Wreck of the old 97'". Is this because of the lyrics?
At least "Darling" and "Style" reached high ranks in the british chart(s). And Lonnie made a good job on his banjo.
The other ones, released on an EP, are dominated by the great skills of Denny Wright. It's a pleasure to listen to them still today.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Roger Rettig
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 07:28 PM

Hi, Leadbelly!

i can't single out either 'My Dixie Darling' or 'Putting On The Style' - they're a little bit contrived for my taste. 'Style' simply irritates me now, even though, as usual, Donegan's rhythm section - and his own banjo-playing - are working perfectly. No - I'm afraid neither of them are exceptional vocal jobs, in my opinion. I will qualify that by saying that I've always enjoyed that final verse of 'Dixie Darling' where Mickey starts playing that 'walking' bass pattern and LD raises the temperature a bit with his vocal embellishments.

'Wabash Cannonball' and, to a lesser extent, 'Wreck of the Old 97' sound as though they could have used a bit more preparatory work. They sound a bit like 'album fillers' to me (same with 'I Shall Not Be Moved' - I wasn't!!!); in view of the fact that the whole LP only took two days, I suppose that's hardly surprising!

A further note on Lonnie's voice....

Not long ago I was at an old friend's house and we were thoroughly enjoying playing some of Lon's old records. His young daughter came in the room expressing her irritation at LD's constant high tenor and its nasal quality. It made me think - and I can easily see how it would grate on someone less invested in the whole culture of the music.

One thing's for sure, though - you could never ignore him! Lonnie had a way of demanding your attention. He still has mine fifty years later.....

Roger Rettig

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: eddie1
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 03:46 AM

Way back, in the days of EPs (for those shorter in the tooth than I, they were about the size of a CD but………… Oh never mind!) I had one of Lonnie – the title escapes my fuddled mind as does one of the four tracks but the others were "Bewildered", "My Laggan Love" and "Kevin Barry" (The last, a song that could have got you lynched in several Glasgow pubs did once earn me several hundred dollars in a New York hostelry)
These tracks were not "mainstream" Lonnie and revealed a side of him that was from his Irish roots. They never got any airplay as a result but I wish I still had that EP.

Eddie

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Leadbelly
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 05:38 AM

eddie1--- The EP you're talking about is "Relax with Lonnie".
The missing title is "It is no secret" --any more now.

Roger---Many thanks for your comment!

Manfred

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: eddie1
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 05:46 AM

Thanks for that Leadbelly - "It Is No Secret" - Of Course!
I seem to remember some excellent guitar playing from Lonnie himself on that track.

Eddie

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Jorrox
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 08:06 AM

"I think it's a tribute to Lonnie that he managed to transcend his English-ness"

He did a bloody marvellous job hiding his englishness, seeing as he was from Bridgeton, Glasgow of Irish parentage.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Roger Rettig
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 09:25 AM

Eddie:

The tracks from 'Relax With Lonnie' are a little more difficult to find, which is surprising, given the plethora of Donegan 'reissue' CDs that exist!

They are, of course, on the comprehensive 'Pye In The Sky' Bear Family 8-CD box-set, but that might be more than you want to spend! See if you can find 'Lonnie Donegan: The EP Collection - Volume Two'. It's a Castle Records release from 1993 and its number is SEECD-382. I have seen it on Ebay from time to time, and I'm sure it'll crop up again.

It also has the tracks from 'Backstairs Session', 'Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group', 'Donegan On Stage' (the Conway Hall EP) and 'Yankee Doodle Donegan'; twenty-five tracks in all, and very informative sleeve-notes from Dave Radcliffe, who has forgotten more than most of us ever knew about Lonnie D.!!!

Yes; Lonnie plays a nice accompaniment to 'My Laggan Love' with some basic finger-style that makes full use of the open strings available in the key of E major.

Good luck finding the CD.

RR

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 12:02 PM

Ain't no more cane on the Brazos is one of my favourites too also Stranger Blues.

RtS

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Leadbelly
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 12:54 PM

Talking about "More than Pye in the Sky" I would like to say, that this is the best compilation of Lonnie's songs I'm aware of thus far. Following tracks are included:


TITLES
DONEGAN, Lonnie - Rock Island Line CD-1:
1: DONEGAN, Lonnie - John Henry
2: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Nobody's Child
3: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Wabash Cannonball
4: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Hard Time Blues
5: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Nobody's Child
6: DONEGAN, Lonnie - You Don't Know My Mind
7: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Midnight Special
8: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Precious Lord, Lead Me On
9: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Passing Stranger
10: DONEGAN, Lonnie - On A Christmas Day
11: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Take My Hand, Precious Lord
12: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Midnight Special
13: DONEGAN, Lonnie - When The Sun Goes Down
14: DONEGAN, Lonnie - New Buryin' Ground
15: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Worried Man Blues (& DICK BISHOP)
16: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Harmonica Blues
17: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Ballad Of Jesse James (& DICK BISHOP)
18: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Ol' Riley
19: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Railroad Bill
20: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lost John
21: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Stewball
22: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Stackalee (Stack O' Lee)
23: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Bring A Little Water, Sylvie
24: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Dead Or Alive
DONEGAN, Lonnie - Frankie And Johnny CD-2:
1: DONEGAN, Lonnie - How Long, How Long Blues
2: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Wabash Cannonball
3: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I'm A Ramblin' Man
4: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I'm Alabammy Bound
5: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Wreck Of The Old '97
6: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Nobody's Child
7: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I Shall Not Be Moved
8: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Rock Island Line
9: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O
10: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Cumberland Gap
11: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Love Is Strange
12: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Theme From Film 'Light Fingers' (soundtrack)
13: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Gamblin' Man (soundtrack)
14: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Gamblin' Man
15: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Puttin' On The Style
16: DONEGAN, Lonnie - My Dixie Darling
17: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I'm Just A Rolling Stone
18: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Jack O'Diamonds
19: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Grand Coulee Dam
20: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Hard Travellin'
21: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Ham 'N' Eggs
22: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Nobody Loves Like An Irish Man
23: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Sally Don't You Grieve
DONEGAN, Lonnie - Ain't You Glad You Got Religion CD-3:
1: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lonesome Traveller
2: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Light From The Lighthouse
3: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I've Got Rocks In My Bed
4: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I've Got Rocks In My Bed (alt.)
5: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Long Summer Day
6: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Sunshine Of His Love
7: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Times Are Getting Hard Boys
8: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Ain't No More Cane On The Brazos
9: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lazy John
10: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Betty, Betty, Betty
11: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Whoa Buck (Whoa Back, Buck)
12: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Shorty George
13: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Hard Travellin'
14: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Baby Don't You Know That's Love
15: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lonnie With Alan Freeman
16: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lonnie's Skiffle Party (part 1)
17: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lonnie's Skiffle Party (part 2)
18: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Darling Corey
19: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Bewildered
20: DONEGAN, Lonnie - It Is No Secret
21: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Hard Travellin'
22: DONEGAN, Lonnie - My Lagan Love
23: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Rock O' My Soul
24: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Aunt Rhody
25: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Tom Dooley
DONEGAN, Lonnie - Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour CD-4:
1: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Kevin Barry
2: DONEGAN, Lonnie - My Only Son Was Killed In Dublin
3: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Chesapeake Bay
4: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Ace In The Hole
5: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Fort Worth Jail
6: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Battle Of New Orleans
7: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Sal's Got A Sugar Lip
8: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Just A Closer Walk With Thee
9: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Ice Cream
10: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Fancy Talking Tinker
11: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Gloryland
12: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Goldrush Is Over
13: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The House Of The Rising Sun
14: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Miss Otis Regrets
15: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Take This Hammer
16: DONEGAN, Lonnie - San Miguel
17: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Jimmie Brown The Newsboy
18: DONEGAN, Lonnie - John Hardy
19: DONEGAN, Lonnie - John Hardy (alt.)
20: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Mr. Froggy
21: DONEGAN, Lonnie - You Pass Me By
22: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Talking Guitar Blues (US version)
23: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Talking Guitar Blues (british version)
24: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Golden Vanity
25: DONEGAN, Lonnie - My Old Man's A Dustman
DONEGAN, Lonnie - CD-5:
1: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I Wanna Go Home (The Wreck Of...) (edited)
2: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I Wanna Go Home (The Wreck Of The John B.)
3: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Take This Hammer
4: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Corrine, Corrina
5: DONEGAN, Lonnie - In All My Wildest Dreams
6: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Beyond The Sunset
7: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Nobody Understands Me
8: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Junco Partner (Junko Partner)
9: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lorelei
10: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Wreck Of The John B.
11: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Sorry, But I'm Gonna Have To Pass
12: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lively!
13: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Black Cat (Crossed My Path Today)
14: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Banana Split For My Baby
15: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Leave My Woman Alone
16: DONEGAN, Lonnie - (Bury Me) Beneath The Willow
17: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Beyond The Sunset
18: DONEGAN, Lonnie - When I Was Young
19: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Virgin Mary
20: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Just A-Wearying For You
21: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Ramblin' Round
22: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Have A Drink On Me
23: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Seven Daffodils (Seven Golden Daffodils)
24: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Keep On The Sunny Side
25: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Tiger Rag
26: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Michael, Row The Boat (mono)
27: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lumbered
28: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Michael, Row The Boat (stereo)
29: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Red Berets
DONEGAN, Lonnie - CD-6:
1: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Comancheros
2: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Party's Over
3: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Over The Rainbow
4: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I'll Never Fall In Love Again
5: DONEGAN, Lonnie - (It Was) A Very Good Year
6: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I'll Never Smile Again
7: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I'll Never Fall In Love Again (alt.)
8: DONEGAN, Lonnie - His Eye Is On The Sparrow
9: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
10: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Steal Away
11: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Good News! Chariots A'Comin'
12: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Born In Bethlehem
13: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho
14: DONEGAN, Lonnie - New Burying Ground
15: DONEGAN, Lonnie - No Hiding Place
16: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Noah Found Grace In The Eyes Of The Lord
17: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Sing Hallelujah
18: DONEGAN, Lonnie - This Train
19: DONEGAN, Lonnie - We Shall Walk Through The Valley
20: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Keep On The Sunny Side
21: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Pick A Bale Of Cotton
22: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Market Song (& MAX MILLER)
23: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Tit-Bits (& MAX MILLER)
24: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Losing By A Hair
25: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Trumpet Sounds
26: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Rise Up
27: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I've Gotta Girl So Fine
28: DONEGAN, Lonnie - It's A Long Road To Travel
DONEGAN, Lonnie - CD-7:
1: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lemon Tree
2: DONEGAN, Lonnie - 500 Miles Away From Home
3: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Cajun Joe (The Bully Of The Bayou)
4: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Fisherman's Luck
5: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Louisiana Man
6: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Interstate Forty
7: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Bad News
8: DONEGAN, Lonnie - There's A Big Wheel
9: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Dianonds Of Dew
10: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Nothing To Gain
11: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Lovey Told Me Goodbye
12: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Beans In My Ears
13: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Get Out Of My Life
14: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Blistered
15: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Bound For Zion
16: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Where In This World Are We Going
17: DONEGAN, Lonnie - The Doctor's Daughter
18: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Reverend Mr. Black
19: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Farewell (Fare Thee Well)
20: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Wedding Bells
21: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Won't You Tell Me
22: DONEGAN, Lonnie - My Sweet Marie
23: DONEGAN, Lonnie - After Taxes
24: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I'm Gonna Be A Bachelor
25: DONEGAN, Lonnie - She Was T-Bone Talking Woman
26: DONEGAN, Lonnie - World Cup Willie
27: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Ding Ding
28: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Leaving Blues
29: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Auntie Maggie's Remedy
DONEGAN, Lonnie - Over In The New Burying Ground CD-8:
1: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Leavin' Blues
2: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Bury My Body
3: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Diggin' My Potatoes
4: DONEGAN, Lonnie - When I Move To The Sky (& OTILIE PATTERSON)
5: DONEGAN, Lonnie - On A Monday
6: DONEGAN, Lonnie - (In The Evening) When The Sun Goes Down
7: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Midnight Special
8: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Railroad Bill
9: DONEGAN, Lonnie - I'm Alabammy Bound
10: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Cumberland Gap
11: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O
12: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Bring A Little Water, Sylvie
13: DONEGAN, Lonnie - On A Monday
14: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Old Hannah (Go Down Old Hannah)
15: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Muleskinner Blues
16: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Precious Memories (& DICK BISHOP)
17: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Brother Moses Smote The Water
18: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Ella Speed
19: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Glory (false start)
20: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Black Girl
21: DONEGAN, Lonnie - Glory

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 01:22 PM

Can anyone remember this? LD did a 78 singing a slow non-skiffle version of 'East Virginia' accompanied by a small orchestra, I think, and called 'Theme from the Passing Stranger'. On the other side was a harmonica piece by Tommy Riley called 'Theme from the Intimate Stranger'. After 50 years I may have confused those strangers, however.
Doc John

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Roger Rettig
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 01:56 PM

Quite right, Doc.

'The Passing Stranger' was recorded at Elstree Film Studios, Borehamwood in late-1954. It was released on Oriole Records. Ken Sykora and Bryan Daly played guitars. I'm not sure how this one-off single fitted into the scheme of things because I don't think it was released until 1956. Presumably Oriole thought that they might have a 'winner' in view of Donegan's success some time after the record was cut!

RR

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 02:05 PM

Thanks Roger, I'm impressed!

Doc John

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 05:14 PM

I have several early Donegan singles on 78rpm. I would sell them for £1,000 each!

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 10:18 AM

I'm not selling my 78 of Rock Island Line, it was Sheila's dowry!

RtS

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: eddie1
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 06:10 AM

While contributing to another thread, I was reminded that I was given a cassette of Lonnie which included "Sammy's Bar" written by Cyril Tawney and produced by a label called, I think, Shamrock Records.
Unlike Cyril's version, fairly slow and with feeling, Lonnie had speeded it up to a kind of country waltz rhythm which gave the song a whole new emphasis.
I later played it to Cyril who loved it and finally gave him the cassette to pass on to his wife/Private Investigator, Rosemary, to track Shamrock down as they had never been paid any royalties.

Eddie

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,berk
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 10:12 PM

So I was researching Lonnie Donegan. I will admit, that although I had heard his name, I had not known the entire story. What a talent! I couldnt help but think about possible songs he could have covered from Scotland. Wouldnt he have sounded great singing THERE ARE NO PUBS IN KIRKINTILLOCH? I just think his style would have fit perfectly.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: scouse
Date: 30 Mar 12 - 04:25 AM

Eddie 1, I go with you on this one ever since I heard Lonnie's version of "Sammy's Bar." I've never been able to get it out of my mind. Just super..
As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Mar 12 - 06:35 AM

I always like Digging My potatoes.

But he was pretty wonderful. Never knew you worked for Joe Brown, Roger.

Earlier this year I sent my Barbara Windsor song to him.

Got a very terse reply reply from his management. Not for Joe! scribbled on the ouside packaging.

Still at least a reply - that's some sort of courtesy in this day and age.

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 30 Mar 12 - 08:10 AM

'The shop steward of our union
Was up before the judge
Who sentenced him to eighteen months,
Our steward lodged a grudge:
'The maximum is twelve, m'lud'
The judge replied, 'What Rot!
You've always wanted time-and-a-half
And that's just what you've got!'

Now - name that one!

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Mar 12 - 08:20 AM

Lively

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 30 Mar 12 - 08:39 AM

Never a great Donegan fan, but he turned me on to the Blues with 'Ain't No Cane on the Brazos' - gawd luv 'im
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST,Andy Wood
Date: 20 May 15 - 10:16 AM

For my money - gotta be the original recording of Frankie and Johnnie. Granted it sounds as if it was recorded inside a cake tin using one very inferior mike but in terms of drama and delivery and the way in which Lonnie whoops and hollers and swoops is outstanding. OK - there are mistakes : he gives the lines "I'm going to leave you but I won't be very long...don't you wait up for me honey,don't you worry while I'm gone - I,m your man - I wouldn't do you wrong" to Frankie when they clearly are Johnny's ; he has Frankie's mother (eh?) coming to the scene of the shooting when she s clearly Johnny's ( she's called 'Mrs Johnson who tells Frankie "you killed my loving son Johnny - he' the only support I've got") and finally LD transposes the graveyard/rubber tyred-hearses verse and the one with Frankie sitting in a dungeon cell. But these are mere observations and not even niggles to hold against a true masterwork...

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 19 - 05:30 PM

Sloop John be which was ruined by the beachboys

Subject: RE: Best song Lonnie Donegan ever performed
From: mayomick
Date: 22 Nov 19 - 05:58 PM

GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)Just saw your post from 2012.

If you're still around ,is that a verse from My Old Man's a Dustman ?