Info/discussion: Bob Davenport

Subject: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 06:09 PM

Somebody worth discussing?

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Rog Peek
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 06:29 PM

Still recall seeing Bob at the Brunel University Folk Club late '66. It was my first year at Brunel and I was new to folk music, was I impressed!

Rog

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 08:12 PM

Keep it up Dickie!

One day someone might ask the same question about you! LOL

Bob's a great guy.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 07:19 AM

I always felt there was anice guy. I didn't really understand the way he delivered songs. I think he felt a bit defensive, maybe intimidated by the more overtly commericial folksingers like myself and folkclubs of that ilk.

You felt he knew what he was going on about and he was probably doing it pretty well - but it wasn't easy to get into if weren't a member of the cognoscenti. Someone like Johnny Handle seemed to be able to explain similar sort of material and make it available to a wider audience.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 09:46 AM

Why the past tense? Have I missed something? Bob was alive and well when I last saw him in May.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 10:14 AM

I supppose co you don't see him around with the frequency that you did at one time

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 10:54 AM

He is 80 years old FFS

Dave H

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: peregrina
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 11:04 AM

A galvanizing, powerful singer: no added sugar or e-numbers-worth travelling to hear.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 02:38 PM

A very influential performer and a caring friend. He is his own man and what you see is what you get, no frills, committed politically. He entertains me and I don't ask for anything else. He's just as happy filling a room with his no-nonsense voice as being accompanied by one of his many bands of musicians.

Oh, and I'm very particular who I listen to.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 02:42 PM

He was the person to whom I was told to listen when I first became interested in traditional folk song; and I'm pleased that I did!

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 02:51 PM

Big Al
Bob Davenport and 'intimidated' don't really fit at all!

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 03:49 PM

Perhaps uncomfortable is what I meant.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 05:49 PM

Okay, I'll buy that.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 06:19 PM

I think he is worth discussing, he has been on the folk scene for over fifty years, he has been involved in running folk clubs as well as performing solo and with the Rakes and has made a lot of recordings.
I admire him.
I think he is an honest person as well as a a good performer.
In my opinion he should have had more recognition.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 06:21 PM

oh guest guest, feck off with your assumptions.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 07:15 PM

Interesting!   Say more GSS.   What should we be seeing in his work?

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 08:32 PM

Sorry Dickie

Touch a nerve again have we?

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 08:43 PM

Guest guest
why must you infest
Our lovely mudcat
and make us depressed.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Wheatman
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 02:31 AM

I great singer who influenced me a lot in the late '60s (singing style that is). A man with strong opinions who does not suffer fools gladly. I still re-visit his piece Open-ness of Tradition published in Sing Out which seem to embrace his very personal view of the "folk scene" at the time with very strong opinions. It takes all sorts. Gan Canny Brian

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 02:41 AM

I think as a performer he has the abilty to engage and interest people who are for want of a better word[non folkies]in a non folk club context.
He has a varied and extensive repertoire and a powerful voice, I have seen him solo and with the Rakes and also Roger Digby,and on those occasions I thought he had a good stage presence, Moving Day which is a song I like, is one, I always associate with him.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 03:03 AM

Not to put a too heavy a hand on all these paeans of praise
We were in the Musical Traditions Club in central London a dozen years ago, where the guests were two superb Irish women singers, Roisin White and Therese Mullan.
For those not familiar with her, Therese is a lovely Irish language singer from the Aran Islands, and that night she was thoughtful enough to give short explanations of her songs for the benefit of us non-Irish-speakers.
Following the interval we could hear somebody two rows behind us speaking quite loudly while she was making her introductions, and after a while it became obvious that this was deliberate.
We asked the culprit to stop and was told in no uncertain terms that "I came to hear ******* singing, not ******* talking; I thought we'd got rid of all this **** back in the sixties."
We weren't the only ones who didn't appreciate Bob's input into the evening as we were thanked later by several others for having silenced him.
Sorry.
Bad hair night maybe?
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 04:12 AM

He used to sing a song that I think was written by Willie Scott about The Shepherds Life, the song had a cracking tune good words and chorus it must have been fairly unusual for traditional singers to write their own songs,The only other one I can think of is Bob Roberts.
slightly off topic, I think it is strange that Bert Lloyd has been criticised for writing material and passing it off as traditional, but traditional singers are somehow exempt from this criticism, it just exposes more of the nonsenses of the uk folk scene.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 05:39 AM

That'd be

"I'm a shepherd and I rise
E'er the sun is in the skies....."

Then I darent try to remember and type all the borders words in the next few lines but the last line of the verse is

"But I wish the cold east wind would never blow

Great whether sung by Bob or the late Willie

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Vic Smith
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 06:08 AM

Sorry about the thread drift but -
Kevin wrote:-

"That'd be

"I'm a shepherd and I rise
E'er the sun is in the skies....."

Then I darent try to remember and type all the borders words in the next few lines but the last line of the verse is

"But I wish the cold east wind would never blow."

Well, that song he called The Shepherd's Song and was not written by Willie but was learned from his brother Tom who learned it in his turn from Willie Graham of Langholm.

If there is indeed another song called The Shepherd's Life, then I would dearly like to know of it because I have never heard of it in a lifetime of interest in Willie's singing.

Surely there are lots of traditional singers that are also known to have written songs? Of the top of my head - Belle Stewart, Jane Turriff, Lizzie Higgins, George Belton. Almeida Riddle, Jean Ritchie....

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 09:18 AM

And IIRC Vic is the opening track on Jack Of All Trades Vol 3 of the Folk Songs of Britain. A wonderful recording where Willie sings whilst shearing, talking to the sheep and trying to keep his dog quiet at the same time.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Vic Smith
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 12:16 PM

Well, not quite, GUEST. The opening track of Jack Of All Trades Vol 3 of the Folk Songs of Britain. is Bob & Ron Copper sining The Jovial Tradesmen

The track you must be thinking of is track 4 which has "shearing, talking to the sheep and trying to keep his dog quiet at the same time" is Jimmy White of Yellington, Northumberland singing The Canny Shepherd Laddie.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Vic Smith
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 12:20 PM

.... oh! and Bob & Ron Copper were, on this occasion, "singing"!

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 01:56 PM

I think there's too much 'serious' criticism in English folk music. After all none of us are 'in it for the money' - few are even in it for a bare living.

We all sort of do our best. I tend to think its okay to be catty and bitchy - but the sort of 'serious' criticism you hear aimed at serious minded people like MacColl and Lloyd, whom onw feels did their best - I think its a bit shit.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 02:39 PM

I agree.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 05:46 PM

Jimmy White of Yellington, Northumberland singing The Canny Shepherd Laddie.
   He later went on to become a snooker legend.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 07:53 AM

You're right Vic.

Wrong track number, wrong song and wrong singer. Thank god I was cookieless and nobody noticed it was me.

Oops!

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 11:05 AM

Vic,
Surely there are lots of traditional singers that are also known to have written songs? Of the top of my head - Belle Stewart, Jane Turriff, Lizzie Higgins, George Belton. Almeida Riddle, Jean Ritchie....
    that is not what I call a lot, it is a few compared to those who have not.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST,Trevor Sheridan
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 11:31 AM

As far as I'm concerned Bob (along with Reg) has done an incredible amount of good work in promoting and introducing excellent traditional music for the last fifty odd years. The Fox was great in the mid 60's.....and for you Vic, Will Scott and Sandy Scott sing "The Shepherd's Life" on the Folkways LP 'THE BORDERS"    same as "The Shepherd's Song"

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Vic Smith
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 11:35 AM

...Johnny Doughty, Ray Driscoll, Jack Elliott, Cyril Philips, Joe Rae, John Strachan, Gordon Hall, Packie Byrne, Freddie Mackay, Nimrod Workman, Bill Donovan...

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Vic Smith
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 11:37 AM

Thanks, Trevor. I suspected that we were talking about one song with two titles.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 05:07 PM

There you are Vic,now you know.
Songspotting is a bit like trainspotting or butterfly collecting.

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 20 Sep 16 - 01:31 PM

Can I report that I did a night with Martin Clarke (of the Leeds Band) at the Musical Traditions Club in London last Friday.

I would also like to report that Bob Davenport and his daughter Catherine turned up, and both were in excellent form. Accompanied by Roger Digby on concertina Bob paid homage to the great Davy Stewart with a fine version of 'Bogie's Bonnie Belle'.

Great to see and hear again one of the major influences on traditional music over the past 50 plus years. Personally, I owe Bob a great musical debt and I told him so....

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Sep 16 - 01:50 PM

Bob Davenport.Glad to hear he is in good form

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST
Date: 12 May 17 - 11:55 AM

Bob was in action again a week ago at the Islington folk club at the Horseshoe in Clerkenwell

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 May 17 - 02:05 PM

Sock it to em ,Bob

Subject: RE: Bob Davenport
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 May 17 - 02:16 PM

Clerkenwell. that's where the folksong 'Blackberry Fold' originated.
Black Mary's Hole way back in the 17th century was a notorious highwayman spot where the Post office sorting house car park now stands.

Subject: RE: Info/discussion: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST,LynnH
Date: 13 May 17 - 03:46 AM

Bob singing "Memphis Tennessee" was amazing!

Subject: RE: Info/discussion: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 May 17 - 01:25 PM

"Subject: RE: Info/discussion: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST,LynnH - PM
Date: 13 May 17 - 03:46 AM

Bob singing "Memphis Tennessee" was amazing! "
I prefer the version by Chuck Berry

Subject: RE: Info/discussion: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 17 - 01:32 PM

Bob probably does too- a great respecter of traditional singers and musicians, whatever genre...

Subject: RE: Info/discussion: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 14 May 17 - 10:09 AM

Cambridge Folk Festival doesn't have many chart-toppers, but Jim Croce was at No.1 in the American singles chart with Bad Bad Leroy Brown when he called there in July 1973.

He and Maury Muehleisen were given an empty slot and the compere - Isla St Clair - allowed them to over-run. However, this was at the expense of the next performer, who happened to be Bob Davenport. He definitely wasn't happy to see the "bloody Yankee" taking his allotted time.

Two months later, Jim Croce and Maury Muehleisen died when their aeroplane crashed in Louisiana.

Subject: RE: Info/discussion: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 14 May 17 - 05:39 PM

Jim Carroll reported:

"We were in the Musical Traditions Club in central London a dozen years ago, where the guests were two superb Irish women singers, Roisin White and Therese Mullan.

"For those not familiar with her, Therese is a lovely Irish language singer from the Aran Islands, and that night she was thoughtful enough to give short explanations of her songs for the benefit of us non-Irish-speakers.

"Following the interval we could hear somebody two rows behind us speaking quite loudly while she was making her introductions, and after a while it became obvious that this was deliberate."

I was gob smacked to hear this. I first heard such lovely singing at the Willie Clancy Summer School - to which I went back year after year because everyone was so talented, friendly and accommodating. Invariably I heard real singing from the heart; and no-one drunkenly interrupted anyone. The disruptive individual - likely drunk - mentioned by Jim Carroll - frequently worked / works with one of the premier folk dance bands in the country, a member of which has just earned his doctorate for researching Irish singing, music and dance. Strange bedfellows indeed. Yet the crass individual at the Folk Club reportedly did his best to disrupt two talented women singers from Ireland because he did not like their singing. Narrow-minded idiot.

Subject: RE: Info/discussion: Bob Davenport
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 May 17 - 10:54 PM

the incident was nearly sixty years ago. i think theres a statute of limitations that covers what young folksingers get up to in pubs. at least i hope there is.

Subject: RE: Info/discussion: Bob Davenport
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 May 17 - 05:52 AM

Al, the incident appears to have occurred 17 years ago - Jim's 2012 post referred to an incident a dozen years previously - so would have involved a senior delinquent rather than a juvenile one....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Info/discussion: Bob Davenport
From: GUEST,Chris Lamb
Date: 15 May 17 - 07:31 AM

I wasn't present at the incident mentioned by Jim Carroll, but I have heard Bob sing many times over the past 50 years, and there have been a few occasions when he has been audibly chatting while other singers were introducing their songs. I have huge admiration for his singing, but his occasional lack of respect for fellow performers does diminish him as an individual in my eyes.

Subject: RE: Info/discussion: Bob Davenport
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 May 17 - 08:36 AM

I like Bob, But I think it is out of order to talk loudly and deliberately through singers introductions.
Roisin White is booked at http://www.fastnetmaritime.com">http://www.fastnetmaritime.com