Ed McCurdy

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 13 Aug 99 - 04:17 PM

Lorne, don't go away without telling us how "Lunenburg" was.
Rick

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Lorne Brown
Date: 13 Aug 99 - 02:30 PM

Thank you for your messages of support for Ed. I'll "snail mail" them today, and I know he'll be wonderfully appreciative. Lorne Brown "The Ballad Project" Toronto

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Neil Stoneman
Date: 13 Aug 99 - 08:50 AM

Saturday mornings long ago. "Folk Songs for Young Folk" That gave me the itch that led to my first mail order guitar. Been picking, singing, ANDgrinning ever since. Thanks for the impetus. Get well.

Love and best wishes, Neil Stoneman

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: John Nolan
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 07:29 PM

Ed: Your Homeward Bound album, made in Halifax back in 1960, has been a treasure for almost 40 years. The Bonnie House of Airlie, Harbour Le Cou, Tickle Cove Pond and When the Caplin Come In are four favorites tracks which I learned from it, and still sing. (Your album arrived as a great Christmas gift that year from Newfoundland relatives, when I was living in Scotland.) Thanks for a tremendous contribution to traditional music, and may you have a steady recovery and more healthy years ahead.

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Doctor John
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 01:54 PM

Ed McCurdy - just you get well soon and join the Mudcat!! I collected some wonderful bawdy LP's in the 60's although they were pretty hard to get here in the UK. Recently a CD of cowboy songs arrived and very good it was too. Someone out there please release some of those old LP's. I never did manage to get the "Booze..." album. Dr John

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 11:50 AM

Ed,

No way can I tell you how I've loved "Blood, Booze & Bones".--Like Sandy & so many others, I learned a ton of songs from it and from "Cowboy Songs". Your rendition of the song "Bitter Withy" opened my eyes to what gems are out there lurking in the mists of antiquity: Indeed, songs about Jesus getting so ticked off 'cause the kids won't let him play ball with them that he kills 'em and gets whupped by his mom with a withy switch--those are few & far between. I had some fine times hearing you in Chcago at Richard Harding's first QUIET KNIGHT on Wells Street, a fine folk club. Just last night we were watching folk slides and there you were at the Old Town School Of Folk Music---and this morning I found this thread. Thanks again for all of the music---ranging from "The Colorado Trail" and "Yo Ho Ho & A Bottle Of Rum" to the Columbia "Mormon" LP and some of the raunchiest rhymes I've ever heard outside of one boozy night in Chicago with Alan Mills telling Yiddish jokes. Thank you for all of it, Mr. McCurdy.

A fan!! (Art Thieme--Peru, Illinois)

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 05:27 AM

Among the many things I don't know, I don't know Ed or his recordings, [but then I got to know Art & Rick's work through the Mudcat] but I too love that song, so get well soon, Ed and I echo Rick, get on the Mudcat, it's seriously addictive.

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: CeltArctic
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 02:06 AM

Thanks Lorne, for bringing us this news.

I'm glad Ed is recuperating. I have very fond memories of him when he performed at the Toronto Storytelling Festival years ago. I was in my late teens, and found myself being charmed by a very charismatic performer, and I've never forgotten the compliments he bestowed upon me.

It was a very special festival that year. I wish him and his wife all the best, and I hope he doesn't have to stay in the hospital long.

Moira Cameron, Yellowknife, NT., Canada

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 01:34 AM

And let's not forget, for the benefit of Catters who think it's a trad song, that Mr McCurdy wrote "Last Night I had the Strangest Dream". God I've sung that a thousand times.
I'll be playing at a celebration for a long time Toronto activist in a few weeks and I'll bet that song gets sung again. (maybe even twice)
Rick

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: John Hindsill
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 10:21 PM

Mr. Ed McCurdy, it is certainly wonderful to know you are still amongst us and recuperating well. I have been listening to, and own, many of your recording for nigh onto 40 years. In fact, one of your Elektra albums, "A Treasure Chest of American Folk Songs", made my all time ten favorite folk music albums on this Mudcat forum last week.

It would be fantastic if, when you are able, you could chat with Rick Fielding on his radio show; we in California can receive that show via internet.

Thank you, sir, for all these years of the pleasure of your (recorded) company.

Best wishes for your continuing recovery,
John Hindsill

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Pete Peterson
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 09:57 PM

Ed McCurdy! who sang Songs of Dalliance (when knighthood was in flower, and maidens lost their heads), had (when last heard by me) a wonderful deep voice, and who I once opened for at the Main Point, Bryn Mawr PA February 1964-- he won't remember it (nor how kind he was to me!) but I certainly do. THANKS Ed, and get well soon!

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 09:04 PM

Blood, Booze and Bones, eh? Learned every song off of that one. And how about Ballad Singer's Choice, my source for almost every ballad included on that LP, as well! I haven't seen Ed in many years. Used to talk with him on the phone quite frequently after he escaped to Nova Scotia (on his dime, fortunately!).

Give me a call, Ed, as soon as you're feeling up to it. We all owe you a great deal. Remember playing the Exodus in Denver? Once, when Judy Collins and I were both away from home doing gigs, Peter (Judy's then-husband) and Caroline (my still-wife) shared a baby-sitter for our David and their Clark, while they went to Denver from Boulder to hear you sing there. Damn, man! You were really worth the trip, too. Get well, lad, and get yourself on the Mudcat so we can enjoy your memories!

Sandy

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 06:02 PM

Hey Ed,

Get your Blood, Booze and Bones together and get out of the hospital. Thanks for the music!

Big RiB

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 05:20 PM

Ed McCurdy! Get out of that hospital right now. Go home and get on the Mudcat Cafe. If you ain't computerized, do it now. A year ago I was as negative towards computers as I was to microwave ovens. Well, I've learned! The computer is fun, fun, fun. and MUCH cheaper than therapy! Still don't have a microwave though.

You'll have a great time here. Sandy and Caroline Paton, Art Theime and Paul Mills are around. A couple of venerable folkies do some lurking and might be tempted to jump in for real if they knew you were here.

I even have a classical guitar to lend you for a cyber-song or too. The last time I saw you, you said my steel-string was not your cuppa tea. You did however show us some rather bizarre photos from a recent operation you had.

A lot of mudcatters (like me) owe you a great deal, and hope you start feeling better.

Rick

Subject: RE: Ed McCurdy
From: Ian HP
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 04:54 PM

I'm sorry to hear Ed is not too well. I still play his old LPs from looong ago, and still love them. Please pass on my kindest wishes.

Subject: Ed McCurdy
From: Lorne Brown
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 04:14 PM

Ed McCurdy, venerable folksinger who used to sing on CBC radio in Canada long, long ago, is currently living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is 80 years old.

I've just recently returned from Halifax where I spoke to his wife. Ed is recuperating in the hospital from abdominal surgery, complicated by a poor heart. He also had pneumonia. All seems well now, however, but he will still be in hospital another 10 days or so.

His spirits would be buoyed by any messages of goodwill; I'll copy them and mail them to him.

Lorne Brown