tam linn child ballad no 39

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 04:39 PM

someone has suggested it came from DAVE AND TONI ARTHUR.

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: Jim McLean
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 09:58 AM

I also produced a version of Tam Lin in the 60s which I collated from versions in Johnson's SMM and sources in the British Library. It was recorded by Alastair McDonald and was intended as a backgroung track to a modern film version of Tam Lin featuring Iain McShane. Instead of horses, the film used racing cars of different colours and some magical scenes when Tam was turned into all kinds of weird creatures. The album, Tam Lim, which I produced and arranged, was released in 1970 on Young Blood records but I don't think the film saw the light of day.

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: Jeri
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 09:43 AM

Whenever I think I shall die unremarked and unremembered, there is the Tam Lin light bulb changing song.

Oi

(Will have to listen when I get on a faster computer.)

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 09:33 AM

As far as I know Tam Lin is essentially a Scottish ballad. The versions in Child, and the oral versions collected from Travellers in the 20th century, are from Scottish sources (I would be fascinated to hear that there were ever any traditional English/Irish/Welsh variants - but I doubt it).

Back in the 1960s Bert Lloyd collated a version from various Scottish sources and produced an Anglicised text. I heard him sing this Anglicised version, at Peterborough Folk Club, in about 1968. It proved to be a revelation to a young lad (as I was then) just getting into folk song.

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: Vic Smith
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 09:28 AM

The previous posting failed to mention who it was posted by - but this posting should give you a clue.

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 09:26 AM

Mike Waterson's version is reissued as Disc 1 Track 8 of the new Topic 7 CD set Three Score and Ten - an utterly glorious ten minutes and and fifty eight seconds. Mike's treatment could be the definitive one, but I have always had a great liking for the punk-influenced version by a young Pete Morton from his album Frivilous Love.

Do you know that this ballad even has its own website? You can learn more than you'd ever want to know about it at http://www.tam-lin.org/

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: Folkiedave
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 08:06 AM

When I get time I'll list the time tracks take Lloyd, Mike Waterson and Anne Briggs. But busy busy......

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 06:39 AM

At five mins, sounds like it may possibly an abridged version? Tam Lin's one of those I've hummed and hah'ed about due to length.
I have an abridged version (that might be same as Dicks one) somewhere I was considering learning (collected off the singing of a "Mrs. Somebody"), but the abridged song sounds a bit err "abridged" so it ends up being a song about the age old tradition of "pulling branches down" with a bit of shape-shifting at the end:

First she's sewing looking at the green woods - thinking about pulling on branches.
Then she goes into the woods to pull on branches.
Then Tam shows up and say's "'Ere missy stop pulling those branches down!"
She sez "It's my bleeding wood - I'll pull the branches down if I want!"
Then he has his will of her (without asking her leave) & she asks his name).
All of a sudden he's her true love but tomorrow's Hallowe'en & the 'gentry' ride.
He changes into all sorts of animals, and she saves him!

Otherwise, yeah, jolly nice.

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 06:31 AM

yes, Dave,
I think i got a version which I have probably processed from Billybob and Dave Bryant,who probably got it from Lloyd.
hey sedayne,like holly and the ivy,you get5 stars my friend.

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: Folkiedave
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 06:19 AM

did Bert Lloyd,touch this up?

When you say touch up I am not sure what you mean.

There are 14 versions of Tam Lin in Child. It has innumerable spellings and pronounciations.

There really is no definitive version of it to "touch up".

If you mean did he put together a version with verses and structure from other versions then he certainly did. He may not have revealed what version(s)he used to make another version. His privilege I would have thought.

It is only "Bert Lloyd's version" in the sense that he sang the one he put together(you can hear it on Classic Bert Lloyd, Fellside) and others may have copied it.

People do this all the time. As far as I am concerned it is the folk process.

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 05:42 AM

Ignoring the self-promotion aspects

Such cynicism from one so young! We really ought to think of YouTube as a Virtual Singaround on which to share our efforts in the company of those we wouldn't ordinarily get a chance to hear, or for them to hear us...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Un87fiduI

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: TheSilentOne
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 04:15 AM

oops that was VirginiaTam posting on TheSilentOne's pc.

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: TheSilentOne
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 04:15 AM

That was wonderful. What a way to start a Saturday in late September.

Thank you.

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 04:08 AM

Ignoring the self-promotion aspects it appears to be very similar to the Anne Briggs recording, although without back-to-back comparison I think the decoration is somewhat different.

I have not listened to all of it as I am rather in a rush right now.

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 04:03 AM

Tha's me Da and I'll brook no guff from ye!

Subject: RE: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 03:16 AM

Lovely stuff - but who's the cool dude in the shades and slicked down hair?

Subject: tam linn child ballad no 39
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 05:15 PM

three words,Fair Margaret ran,appear to have got lopped off this version.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyWSNjDAmEM
any information about this version would be appreciated,did Bert Lloyd,touch this up?