Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)

Subject: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 11:21 AM

Yes.... 20 years old today,

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4 (There's a short technical explanation as to why the first thread was #4)

So much water under the bridge and so many names, ideas, songs, ... and just plain memories.
My first post wasn't until early November, but I soon added my share.

   My head if full of so many Mudcat stories that I'd have to get one of those speech-to-text programs to even make a start.

It was great to see "Young Max" at the Getaway, happily running sound and singing.... and promising once again the keep this crazy place around as long as anyone cares.

Let's keep caring..... ☺

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 11:26 AM

Happy birthday.

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: gnu
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 11:52 AM

Happies atchya!!!

Lovely little lilt, Rap.

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 12:01 PM

If you use our Messages by Date utility, you'll see our first posters:

Vivian Price         Battle of Decata        01 Oct 96 - 09:47 AM
Larry         Lyric Requests        01 Oct 96 - 12:02 AM
Max         The Mudcat Café        01 Oct 96 - 12:00 AM

Who were our earliest posters that are still there? Bill D and gargoyle were two, for sure. I'm a latecomer - not until January, 1997. In the first month, the most recognizable names are Max, Dick Greenhaus, Bert, and Susan of DT.

Happy birthday, everyone!

And thanks, Max.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 12:06 PM

Wellllll... they didn't quite have the tune, and they sang it at about double speed.... but they added a few verses.

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 12:14 PM

Happy Birthday. I have been here for quite awhile. Was reading long before I first posted.

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 12:25 PM

HBTYHBTYHBDM-CHBTY

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: bubblyrat
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 04:34 PM

It is my Birthday too, don't forget !! ( born 1st October 1947 ).

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 08:20 PM

You say it's your birthday?
It's my birthday too!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 08:28 PM

And happy Mudcat to anyone born - or not - on that auspicious day!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 08:40 PM

20 years... That's some birthday..

if internet years are anything like dog years, that's getting on a bit by human standards....

20 years ago I didn't even own a computer and was very resistant to the internet and it's encroachment on face to face contact and communication..

I still lived in East london, scrabbling a living as a photographic industry assistant/technician, artists model,
and guitarist & publicist in a short lived almost nearly famous for 15 seconds electro synth rock band.....

I'd just about completely forgotten folk music even existed...

Then I got sick of that lifestyle, moved back home to unsophisticated provincial Scrumpyshire,
and rediscovered my muddy cowshite & cider apple roots....

..and a few years later, whilst remembering my teenage enthusiasm for folk rock & Trad folk music, chanced upon mudcat.... 😜

Now I'm just a boring fat aging married bloke with dodgy feet and knees.....

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 09:29 PM

Mudcat's 20? Wow!
I wish I'd discovered it way back then!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Amos
Date: 01 Oct 16 - 11:28 PM

Here's to Saint Max, and his beautiful family.
And here's to Joe Offer, and all that he does.
And here's to the Mods, and the Elves, and their daughters,
Who make it the best forum ever there was.

And here's to twenty more years of indispensable folkie wisdom and lore.

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: GUEST,In good company
Date: 02 Oct 16 - 02:41 AM

I was a relative newcomer as Dave the Gnome in June 2000. Still, 16 years out of 20 ain't bad.

Happy birthday Mudcat and many more of 'em :-)

Just goes to show that wisdom does not always come with age...

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: bbc
Date: 02 Oct 16 - 01:59 PM

Last night, at the Sounding Board in W. Hartford, CT, USA, we celebrated Folk Legacy's 55th anniversary with a benefit concert featuring several of the Folk Legacy recording artists. I, first, met Sandy & Caroline, personally, when someone posted a thread on mudcat about a new BMT recording. I was working fairly close to Sharon, CT at the time & called to see if I could pick up the recording in person, rather than having to pay shipping & handling! I didn't realize, at the time, that I was inviting myself into a private home! It was the beginning of a warm friendship for these past many years--just one of the benefits mudcat has given me! Thanks, Max! It's been a blessing, being part of this community!

Best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Oct 16 - 05:11 AM

In 2002 I got my first computer, joined Mudcat & made it my homepage. I look in every day & only miss out when I'm away, or it was down!

long live Mudcat & Max.

Another long-lived folks site (tho not participatory ) is OzCatter Mark Gregory's Australian Folk Songs ... on the web since 1994 tho I don't look at it every day, just when Mark adds another song.

sandra

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: MudGuard
Date: 03 Oct 16 - 03:23 PM

Congrats, Mud Max!

My first post was in January 1999, only 17,5 years ago, so I am more or less a newcomer here ;-)

Andreas a/k/a MudGuard

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 Oct 16 - 04:46 PM

Hippo Birdie, Deer, Deer Mudcat!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: GUEST,Frug
Date: 03 Oct 16 - 04:53 PM

Well done to all the administrators, moderators and techno elves especially to Max. I'm just pouring you all a very large Irish in celebration.

Frank

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 03 Oct 16 - 04:58 PM

Well, knock me down with a feather! My very first post was on this very date, 3rd October 2000, and it was a lyric request for "Sam the Skull" which was rapidly supplied!
And I first heard about Mudcat from the guy who was then recording my 16-year old son's indie band! Firtunately he knew a bit about folk music too!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: Severn
Date: 03 Oct 16 - 07:33 PM

Thank you, Max, and wishing a happy birthday with many more years more to come to what has been a source of fellowship, fun, education, support in difficult times and many,many lasting friends, both seen and unseen. Thanks to the 'Cat and all who dwell or dwelt or even lurked within. I'm much the better off for the knowing of you all.....

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 03 Oct 16 - 09:46 PM

What Amos said.

[Well said, Amos!]

keep on pickin'
Dennis [hangin around this Café since '97]

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat!
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 Oct 17 - 01:31 PM

Happy Birthday Bubblyrat

Happy Birthday Mudcat


hey that rhymes, kinda

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Severn
Date: 02 Oct 17 - 03:05 PM

Happy birthday to you Mudcat, with a wondrous interruption-free year to follow!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 Oct 17 - 04:35 PM

Hippo Birdie, Deer Ewe!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Oct 17 - 10:55 PM

Somebody asked, so I did a study of the number of messages posted from September 2 to October 2 in 1997, 2007, and 2017. Here are the number of messages posted per month:

• 1997:   2,167
• 2007: 23,142
• 2017:   5,014

We've slowed down a bit, but we're still here.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 03 Oct 17 - 06:34 PM

& I've been around 15 of those years ...

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 04 Oct 17 - 02:29 PM

Gosh, I've been here 20 years!! I see that my first message was dated January '97, but I think I'd been a member for a few months before I actually posted, which would put me in the birth year. (Feel old, now...)

I first heard of it from one of the guys I played with every week, at a session in a lovely old pub facing over Cork Harbour from its south side (still there but no longer open, alas). (The pub, I mean, not the harbour...)

Happiest of birthdays to the 'Cat <3

Bonnie xxx

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Max
Date: 04 Oct 17 - 03:58 PM

I've been here the longest. :)

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: skarpi
Date: 04 Oct 17 - 04:27 PM

Hey hó jibbý jei oh jibbý ý jei , Happy birthday to all of us .
all the best Skarpi .

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Oct 17 - 07:10 PM

Max is the winner!

& so are we because of what he has done over the past 20 years.

Thank you, Max.

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Oct 17 - 10:18 PM

Hear, hear! Many thanks to Max!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Oct 17 - 05:10 AM

Nice to know that Mudcat can now drink legally anywhere in USA

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 02:27 PM

Today, the Mudcat Cafe is twenty-two years old.

Bubblyrat and myself,
born on the 1st of October,
are a bit older than that.
Happies to us.

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: GUEST,paperback
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 03:11 PM

Happy 2 & 4/5 anniversary,keberoxu

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Helen
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 03:38 PM

I was a lurker for a bit, not sure how long, but my first posting was in May 1997, so I missed the birth by *that* much.

What Severn said:

"Thank you, Max, and wishing a happy birthday with many more years more to come to what has been a source of fellowship, fun, education, support in difficult times and many,many lasting friends, both seen and unseen. Thanks to the 'Cat and all who dwell or dwelt or even lurked within. I'm much the better off for the knowing of you all..... "

I couldn't have said it better.

Helen

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 03:39 PM

Happy 2 little ducks Mudcat

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 08:55 PM

another year! thanks, Max

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 01 Oct 18 - 11:55 PM

What EVERYONE said! Thanks to Max, Susan, Dick & Joe for all the invisible iceberg stuff.

I think I sent in 90+ songs before my first post, which was Oct 1998, I think, about "workhouse songs", including the famous

'Twas Christmas Eve in the workhouse
And the frost was on the walls
When asked what they wanted for Christmas
The inmates shouted, "Balls!"

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Cappuccino
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 06:50 AM

Congrats and thanks, Max and Joe and others.   There must be so many stories from over the years... surely there's a book in this?

- Cap

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: C-flat
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 09:25 AM

Bit of a shock to realise I've been popping in and out of here since early 1999.
This place seemed well established when I arrived with online friendships and "in-jokes" as though it had been around for many years.
It was, nonetheless, a very welcoming and inclusive place to visit and has largely remained so.
There's been a huge amount of knowledge exchanged, songs shared and kindness given. I've benefitted from all of these at sometime or other.
Full credit to Max for creating and maintaining this place, even when it veered slightly off track from his original intention.
He's certainly stayed the course!
Happy birthday! Here's to many more!
C-flat

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: StephenH
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 10:50 AM

Yes, all best wishes, and thanks to those who keep Mudcat on course.
I've been popping in and out since very early on, joined once and forgot I had, now joined again and making daily visits.
Always something worthwhile looking at.
Thanks to all the erudite and interesting folks who post.

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: topical tom
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 11:50 AM

Happy Birthday, Mudcat! You have provided me with tons of information and pleasure. Max and Joe, you have made it a delightful venue.May Mudcat last many more years!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Helen
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 03:34 PM

Don't forget the birthday present

I'll be donating this arvo (after I get my pay) as a huge thank you to Max and Mudcat and all the Mudelves and Mudcateers, for all the fun, friendship, laughter, information, research, tunes, lyrics, and everything I have benefited from, over the last almost 20 but not quite years, here at Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: bbc
Date: 02 Oct 18 - 04:59 PM

Thanks, Max! Much information & many precious friendships!

best,

bbc

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 12:18 PM

Happy Birthday,
mighty, muddy Mudcat.
And many happy returns.

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 12:29 PM

Many happy returns, indeed!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: David C. Carter
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 12:37 PM

Many happy returns to Mudcat.

I first posted in Dec 05.

Time flies when you're having fun!

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 02:30 PM

When I was a lad my Mother would tell me that time went by quicker as she got older. Being as I knew everything I,naturally, scoffed at this idea.
Have I really been posting,albeit occasionally, since November 2000 !!!
Eeee!, the older I get the faster the time goes.
Happy Birthday Mudcat

Subject: RE: Happy Birthday Mudcat! (born October 1, 1996)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Oct 19 - 02:43 PM

Time flies when you're having fun!