New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg

Subject: New Books - Seeger / Bragg
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 11 Oct 17 - 09:55 AM

Two new books recently published by Faber which are not by Steve Roud.

Peggy Seeger's autobiography: First Time Ever and Billy Bragg's Roots, Radicals and Rockers. Both of these should be of interest to many mudcatters as they recall the era of the 1950's and 60's and the growth of interest in American music brought about after the success of Lonnie Donegan's 1956 "pop" hit.
I have only just started on Peggy's book and the Bragg book arrived in today's post. Skipping through Roots, Radicals etc checking the illustrations I notice a couple of errors in identity of musicians,
One photograph taken at the Roundhouse in Wardour Street, London shows Rambling Jack Elliott playing alongside Cyril Smith while Big Bill Broonzy looks on. It should of course be CYRIL DAVIES who led one of the most authentic sounding British blues groups in the early 60's. Apart from Big Bill Broonzy another onlooker is Doug Dobell owner of two specialist record shops at the time and also of the 77 Record Label.
Another photograph shows The Ramblers Skiffle Group which included
Peggy Seeger, Alan Lomax, Shirley Collins and Ewan MacColl. The caption is incorrect in identifying the clarinettist as Sandy Brown, It is in fact BRUCE TURNER who if my memory serves me right was a member of Humphrey Lyttelton's band at the time as was the correctly named Jim Bray the bass player. The text on the same page states that Turner was the man used on the recording session referred.to.
Another minor point is that Russell Quaye has lost the last letter of his name.
So far I have seen only one mistake in Peggy's book but that too is a minor point regarding her husband.

My apologies to those who find this to be nitpicking but I do it only in the interest of accuracy.

Subject: RE: New Books - Seeger / Bragg
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 12 Oct 17 - 07:18 AM

Are the books any good?

Subject: RE: New Books - Seeger / Bragg
From: Mark Ross
Date: 12 Oct 17 - 08:30 AM

I've read both and I think they're pretty good.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: New Books - Seeger / Bragg
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 12 Oct 17 - 02:03 PM

Irish Times review of hte Peggy Seeger one

Subject: RE: New Books - Seeger / Bragg
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 12 Oct 17 - 04:18 PM

Nitpicking time again.

I just read the review and saw a once familiar scene. A photo of Peggy performing at a folk club. I have two others taken at the same time.
The copy beneath states that it was taken at The Enterprise, Long Acre.
Wrong, try The Princess Louise, Holborn. Home of the Ballads & Blues Club.
The reviewer also speaks of Ewan MacColl's native Glasgow ????

Subject: RE: New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 13 Oct 17 - 05:19 AM

That review makes the book sound great. I'm really looking forward to reading it now.

Subject: RE: New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 13 Oct 17 - 06:05 AM

'Nitpicking time again.'


One would assume the caption was provided by the original photographer, Eddis Thomas when providing the photo in question to Getty images. Can't really blame the review or the Irish Times if the original information should be incorrect.

Subject: RE: New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 13 Oct 17 - 07:54 AM

Did I blame the Irish Times or anyone else ? I was just pointing out an error. The photograph was taken at the Ballads and Blues Club which at that time was held in an upstairs room of the Princess Louise in Holborn I was there almost every week at that time and later at the various other venues until the Ballads and Blues Club came to a halt in 1965.
On Eddis Thomas's web site you can see a number other photographs taken at the same time. Some of the shots include microphones which suggests that they were taken on the evening that the BBC recorded the session. The only time that I can recall the use of microphones.

Subject: RE: New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 13 Oct 17 - 09:15 AM

There are quite a few photos, taken on different occasions at the same location by the same photographer (unless MacColl changed his shirt four times on the night), all captioned as taken on at 'Enterprise Public House, Long Acre, London'.

see here

I have no opinion what is the correct location is either way but the photographer seems to have been working the same room regularly.

Subject: RE: New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 13 Oct 17 - 12:32 PM

Well like me he was probably there often. Folk Clubs were very rare at that time and the B & B Club attracted many good international performers. It was probably the first one in Central London and grew out of the Skiffle Club that had preceded it at the same venue.

If you care or can be bothered to look there is a photo among the many of Reg Hall and Scan Tester "taken at the Princess Louise." 1958.

Compare the wallpaper in the shots, I don't think they changed that as often as we all changed our shirts.

Subject: RE: New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 14 Oct 17 - 04:39 AM

£ photos of the Princess Louise

Definitely the same room. I haven't been there so I defer to you as to which of the captions are correct.

Subject: RE: New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Oct 17 - 06:36 AM

wow! out of interest Hoot, how old are you?

i remember the late Barrie Roberts (wonder if you ever knew that rather wonderful chap?) telling me that when he opened his skiffle and folk club at the Fitters Arms in Walsall in 1958, from six o'clock people queued around the block!

Subject: RE: New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 16 Oct 17 - 05:24 AM

Re my OP: I pointed out a couple of minor errors noticed whilst "skipping through" Billy Bragg book. One was regarding the spelling of the name Russell Qaye. Now that I am almost half way through reading it I find an explanation. The correct spelling is QUAY but Russell added an e at the the end to help people to pronounce it as he did therefore Russell QUAYE it is or was. My apologies.
Unfortunately three lines above this explanation it is mentioned that Russell's partner Hylda Sims worked at Collet's Record shop in Charing Cross Road. The period which is being discussed is the late 1950's. Collet's shop at that in was in New Oxford Street and did not move to Charing Cross until a number of years later. I am sure Bill Leader was managing it at the time, it's where I bought my first 10" acetate bootleg LP of a Moe Asch recording of Sonny Terry and Woody Guthrie.

I am enjoying this book very much and would recommend it to anyone who was around the London "folk/jazz/skiffle scene at the time or anyone who is interested in how the British interest in folk and blues developed. It is very informative.

On a very light note I would question the small sartorial section re Teddy Boy outfits Windsor Knots, Drapes and Brothel Creepers.

Subject: RE: New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Oct 17 - 07:35 AM

Big Al,

No I didn't know Barrie Roberts and have never been to Walsall. If you can remember queuing round block in 1958 then I guess you and I are of similar vintage.

Subject: RE: New Books: Peggy Seeger / Billy Bragg
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 16 Oct 17 - 10:58 AM

That post above was me. Obviously too early in the day.