Pop songs done in the 'folk style'

Subject: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 12:50 PM

I'm hoping that this can be an interesting and good natured thread :-)

There are some pop songs that lend themselves to being performed acoustically and in what I tend to term as the "folk style". I am not really sure I can describe what that style is exactly. Acoustic is part of it. More often than not quite laid back. Unobtrusive backing. A certain quality that I am sure most people can recognise. Anyhow, I have been to many different folk clubs and they all seem to have their own pop standards done in this style.

At Swinton, for instance, my mate Mike does a lovely version of the Beatles' "Blackbird". A number of our residents get together to sing "Meet me on the corner" A capella. "Blue Moon", played on tin whistle and mandolin, is tagged onto "Nancy Whisky". The vast majority of stuff at the clubs I visit is, of course, traditional and contemporary folk and so it should be. But I find it quite pleasant that some pop is given the folk treatment. It's almost like getting something from the music industry for free :-)

What do they do at your club? What do you do yourself? What have you heard and thought "that works!"? Not talking contemporary folk or folk that has made it to the mainstream here. Just out and out pop given a folk makeover.

DtG

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 01:03 PM

Ade Edmundson And The Bad Shepherds had their brief moment of media atttention
folkifying punk and new wave songs...

Old punks and their mates had been doing that for a laugh for years,
but Edmundson had the fame and showbiz/music biz contacts to act as though he'd invented the idea...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: The Sandman
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 01:05 PM

Colours, played on guitar or concertina can sound folk style, universal soldier both are pop songs, but sound bit folk style

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 01:51 PM

Steeleye Span recorded Buddy Holly's song ' Rave On ' unacompannied, it was excellent.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,LynnH
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 01:51 PM

Steeleye's a-capella 'Rave on'.

I seem to recall that somebody (Carthy? Burland?) came up with 'Pinball Wizard' to the tune of Claudy Banks.

What about June and the Oyster's treatment of 'Love will tear us apart'
(Joy Division)?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 02:06 PM

Performing copyrighted pop songs in a folk club ?

Just hope the PRS find out.

Just a thought.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 02:21 PM

There's also that recent Folk Disco CD..

Again, another fairly obvious idea many ordinary amateur folks have had a laugh doing over the years..

Some tracks work well, others don't...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Neil D
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 03:23 PM

Richard Thompson covered the Brittany Spears song "Oops I Did It Again" on his album 1000 Years of Popular Music (2006), and in addition included a medieval-style version titled "Marry, Ageyn Hic Hev Donne Yt"

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 03:34 PM

Just hope the PRS find out.

At the club I was most involved with the landlord paid the PRS live music fee. I know PRS representatives watch for any live music being advertised and insist that the appropriate arrangements are made.

Dick - Yes, I'd forgotten the Donovan stuff. Don't you think that could have been reasonably called contemporary folk though?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 04:10 PM

I was a teenage Donovan fan..

Back then he was definitely considered a 'folk' singer...

[it's basically his fault I'm a mudcatter...]

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 04:27 PM

Whoops,

My apologies, I should have checked that before hitting send. It should have read
"Just hope the PRS does NOT find out".

Even if the landlord does have a PRS licence do you not have to complete a form showing the copyright material that has been performed to enable the correct writer to get paid. That's how it used to be.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 04:53 PM

No,it's a blanket fee for a small acoustic music club. We toyed with the idea of only performing traditional music and filling in a form to that effect but the landlord was happy to pay the small fee as it was more than covered in extra beer sales. :-)

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 04:53 PM

'Some Other Guy', by Lieber/Stoller/Barrett and recorded by the Big Three and the Beatles, is a an out-and-out rocker, but works rather well played gently, all in 7ths, finger-style.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Marje
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 06:11 PM

Loads of pop songs from the 60s and early 70s lend themselves to the folk style, simply because for some years folk and pop overlapped: folk became almost mainstream, and was not regarded as a niche, minority taste. As the 70s progressed, the genres diverged and pop became more synthetic, with studio-produced sounds that couldn't easily be reproduced in performance without a lot of electronic razzamatazz. I could give examples but there are hundreds. When my daughters, in the 1980s, first heard the Beatles, they thought they sounded more like folk than pop.

In recent years there's been a bit of a swing back to a folky, acoustic sound, with songs that can be picked up and sung by a single guitarist or ukulele player. I am not well up in modern pop, but try songs by Ed Sheeran, Passenger, George Ezra, Jamie Lawson, Fleet Foxes, etc.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: The Sandman
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 08:44 PM

Dave, prformers who get paid should be filling in PRS AND NOTIFYING PRS OF THE POPSONGS AND THE COMPOSER

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 09:43 PM

The AC/DC hit, You Shook Me All Night Long, has been given the laid back, acoustic treatment by Australian folkies Dev'lish Mary, https://www.discogs.com/Devlish-Mary-Devlish-Mary/release/9777961

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: gillymor
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 10:35 PM

Top of my head, John Hartford did a fun version of Piece of My Heart which Janis Joplin had a hit with and I've heard the Door's People are Strange performed by more than one Bluegrass band and at least one Klezmer band.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 01:43 AM

Here's the Sensitive New Age Cowpersons take on the U2 song, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 01:49 AM

Actually, the Sensitive New Age Cowpersons did quite a few of these bluegrass versions of pop hits. Wander around Youtube, you'll find It's a Long Way to the Top, Let the Sunshine In, and Viva Las Vegas.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 02:40 AM

prformers who get paid should be filling in PRS AND NOTIFYING PRS

I didn't know that, Dick. I do know that there is a set fee paid by the owner of manager of the venue and this covered all live music at our club. Sounds like the PRS are getting paid twice for some songs! There was a thread about this type of thing some time back. I'll see if I can resurrect it.

Some good examples of folk artists and bands covering pop music above but I was thinking more along the lines of singers at folk clubs rather than recordings by professionals.

Any of you or your local singers perform folky covers of surprising songs?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 02:48 AM

PS to my comment about a PRS thread. I am not refreshing one because there are dozens! Put PRS in the filter box and select "All" to see what I mean. Maybe we shouldn't turn this into another one.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 04:20 AM

Our trio Reunion Lane have done Shout, by Tears for Fears. Great chorus, many folkies love it ( acoustic bass, guitar, duet concertina + 3 harmony vocals ). Wish You Where Here as duo with melodeon / guitar works nice.
It's coming back to that " what is ..." again. Judging by the recent visits to folk clubs outside my usual patch seems anything goes!

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 04:32 AM

There are lots of examples of folk versions of pop songs by bluegrass bands, from the Dillards doing Beatles covers in the sixties to Thunder and Rain doing Sweet Child of Mine only recently. But as someone has already suggested it’s nothing unusual given the blurring of the boundaries between the different genres of popular music, which is never a bad thing if it winds us purists up a bit.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Howard Jones
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 05:12 AM

PRS have a "pubs and clubs" process for small venues which aren't picked up by their other sampling methods. Members who play at these venues can submit a set list and royalties get paid. It does work, although I'm cautious about reporting some venues in case they don't have an appropriate PRS licence.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Howard Jones
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 05:15 AM

Swan Arcade often included a capella versions of pop songs, of which my favourite is 'Lola'.

In my view the Oysterband/June Tabor version of 'Love will tear us apart' is better than the original, which I find a bit emotionless in its deliver, but I know some will regard that as sacrilege.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 07:50 AM

Peter Bellamy, I think it was, used to finish The White Cockade with Since my love has left me I've found a new place to dwell/It's down the end of Lonely Street, it's called Heartbreak Hotel... (etc).

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 08:11 AM

Isn't there a bluegrass Dark Side of the Moon?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 08:22 AM

I think someone else did "The White Cockup" with verses from a number of pop songs. Possibly Fred Wedlock. Not quite what I had in mind but good fun all the same.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 09:46 AM

Mary McCaslin did some wonderful versions of pop songs in a "folk" style. I especially liked her version of the Beatles "Things We Said Today".

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 09:51 AM

The Spooky Men do some great acapella version of pop songs, like Dancing Queen.

I played an acoustic set at a Folk Heavy Metal concert this year, then did a folkish cover of one song from each of the eight bands that played. Surprising the great lyrics behind all the screaming, Questfest.

Daniel,

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: gillymor
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 09:52 AM

I used to perform "Red Rubber Ball", "He'll Have to Go", "Walking After Midnight" and "Big Iron" in the midst of a set of traditional tunes and songs and more contemporary "folk songs" with various partners.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Hootennanny
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 10:35 AM

Don't forget as one old pops song said:

"It ain't watcha do, its the way that you do it"

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 11:08 AM

I agree

...and that's what gets results

:D

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Stringsinger
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 11:34 AM

Most of the songs that we think of as traditional songs are usually attributable to an author/composer. One definition of a folk song is that it is a variant of an originally composed song. Dan Emmett, for example, wrote Old Dan Tucker and Dixie.
Stephen C. Foster write Angelina Baker which became Angline the Baker fiddle tune.
Maud Irving and Joseph Fillbrick Webster wrote Wildwood Flower before AP Carter changed it a bit. Woody Guthrie never wrote an original tune, nor did Dylan. They took supposedly traditional tunes for their texts. The tunes probably had composers too.

The "folk style" just means that the songs were played without amplification on acoustic instruments or were written on acoustic guitar. Remember that Old Dan Tucker, Hoosen Johnny, and even Barbara Allen (which resurfaced in print) were the pop songs of their day. Dixie certainly was. And I used to think Wildwood Fla-er was the national anthem of the South in the Fifties.

We Shall Overcome could fit the category of a folk song and to say it was popular is an understatement.

What we call folk songs of the future will probably be the Beatles' songs or maybe Elvis's. Or Dylan's.

There are so many songs written in the folk style such as by Paxton, Phillips, Ochs, Woody, Pete and the list goes on without being so-called "traditional". Elizabeth Cotton wrote Freight Train and Gussie L. Davis wrote Goodnight Irene.

The deal with folk and pop is that it's sometimes hard to separate them. What they have in common is that they are both accessible.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 11:46 AM

'Some Other Guy', by Lieber/Stoller/Barrett and recorded by the Big Three and the Beatles, is a an out-and-out rocker, but works rather well played gently, all in 7ths, finger-style - there's a wonderful guitar solo in the Big Three's version, likewise their version of Zip Up Yer Doo Dah!!

Some Other Guy!

Zip Up!

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 12:07 PM

There is a guy who calls himself "The Little Unsaid" and he does a grand acoustical version of Kate Bushs' "Waking The Witch"
Also does anyone recall a sitar player called, I think, Ashwan Batish who played country music. His version of white Lightning is fabulous. I have the album,but I don't think it has ever been released on cd.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Some bloke
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 12:45 PM

As mentioned above, just about anything tune wise can shoehorn Pinball Wizard lyrics in it, ditto Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.

Of course, other than music to accompany a raffle, the term 'folk' can be loosely applied and indeed is. A ballad about an event in history? Anything from "I don't like Mondays' to "Smoke on the Water" or songs that sum of prevailing social conditions and how people felt about them such as "The Killing of Georgie parts I and II" or "Rocket Man / Golden Brown / Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds / etc"

Not a pair of trousers anywhere near their tits there....

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 01:28 PM

The trouble about doing 'pop' songs in a 'folk' style is that it upsets the purists (especially in UK) & you wouldn't want to do that, would you?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 01:37 PM

Forget about the folk purists for a minute...

Anyone stopped to consider the feelings of pop and rock stars
having their songs abused by a bunch of amateurish folkie pillocks
with ukuleles and other barely learned xmas present folk instruments...!!!???

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 01:51 PM

I do know some Metallica purists who were highly offended:

Iron Horse - Enter Sandman

Oh well.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 05:45 PM

Smokey Robinson’s ‘Tracks of my Tears’ works very well, done gently with acoustic guitar, as does Deacon Blue’s ‘Dignity’.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 06:33 PM

Re Stringsinger's post above I think that just about describes how most if not all folk songs originate. If a song wasn't popular it would never be remembered by enough people to enable it to last. Unfortunately this simple straightforward logic upsets some people.

Regarding the feelings of pop and rock stars "tough titty", once you have made your efforts public you lose control of who and how your material is used by the people. Unless of course they try to claim it as their own and try earning from it.

Not trying to start an argument Frank but did Dan Emmett really write Dixie? Howard and Judith Sacks wrote a book "Way Up NORTH in DIXIE" where authorship is claimed by the Snowden family of musicians from Emmett's home town.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 02 Jun 19 - 06:53 PM

I used to do a few from the Rolling Stones repertoire: "Goodbye Ruby Tuesday", "Play with Fire".
Also some Proclaimers' songs: "500 miles" and "Sunshine on Leith"
Runrig: on the borders between folk, folk/rock and pop: "Precious Years", "The Old Boys", and if I could cope with the Gaelic "An Ubhal Ard" and "Cearcal a Chuain".
I'm only a session singer or rare "floor spotter" so not into big public performance stuff.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 02:29 AM

Phil Hare makes a good job of many pop songs including Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and medleying Planxty Irwin with Lola!

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 03:28 AM

Dave Burland used to do a great version of "Love of the Common People" in DADGAD, if my memory serves. I think he said his children had been playing the Paul Young version...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,LynnH
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 03:35 AM

Dick Gaughan used to do a mean version of 'Ruby Tuesday' if my memory isn't letting me down.

As someone else has already pointed out, what we now consider to be 'folk song' were the only the pop hits of their day 200 years or so ago.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 04:03 AM

RE: From: Neil D - PM Date: 01 Jun 19 - 03:23 PM

Richard Thompson covered the Brittany Spears song "Oops I Did It Again" on his album 1000 Years of Popular Music (2006), and in addition included a medieval-style version titled "Marry, Ageyn Hic Hev Donne Yt"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4WGsMplGxU

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 04:13 AM

Richard Grainger did a good folk sounding version of a Harry Chapin song The Shortest Story

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 04:18 AM

My friend, Simon Johnson from Grimsby, used to do a great folky-sounding version of Harry Chapin’s ‘Corey’s Comin’.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 04:58 AM

All these posts sound very healthy to me- good to hear that many singers are not making daft distinctions- it reinforces my view that a good song is a good song & that folk/traditional song is a style (or many different ones) rather than a repertoire.

mind you, I don't think singing a slavish copy of a pop song is a great idea, even with a 'folk style' whatever that is, there has to be a bit of individuality involved here.
There has to be some doubt about famous 'folk' singers who slot a pop song into their performances of 'traditional' songs- maybe it's a gimmick rather than anything else?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Iains
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 06:00 AM

There are many ways of categorizing a song, most of them subjective.
It would seem that putting labels on them and assigning them to various boxes is merely a convenience that allows a vast overlap.
Putting rigid definitions to somewhat arbitrary divisions results in an argument just waiting to happen. Better to just accept that different opinions exist and not get het up over it.
While academics may wish to discourse the bulk of humanity merely wishes to listen, or a small minority perform. If the song is not popular it dies. In the corpus of pop how many pass the old grey whistle test?
"yesterday" is over 50 years old. Do we regard it as pop or folk.
"Dancing queen" is equally as popular but I would argue it's impact is ephemeral whereas Yesterday plays on deeper emotions and to my mind give it greater longevity. My thoughts-others may have other conclusions.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Some folk
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 07:14 AM

If Harry Chapin were alive today, he'd be upset to be classed as anything but a folk singer...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 07:37 AM

Martin Carthy does the Bee Gees

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 02:14 PM

PFR - Re pop stars and ukeleles etc.

Check this out

Watch right to the end :-)

Enjoy.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 Jun 19 - 05:06 PM

Then there is that great Theo Bikel performance where he demonstrates how to turn anything (Ghost Riders in the Sky) into a folk song.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: StephenH
Date: 04 Jun 19 - 06:12 PM

Thanks so much for that link, Dave the Gnome, it made my day.
One of the best things I've seen in a long time - nice to see musicians really enjoying themselves!
then, of course, I got lost down the rabbit hole.....

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Jun 19 - 06:42 PM

the PRS doesn't bother collecting for songs that are used and logged by mainstream radio stations. unless you have a lot of plays.

they really don't give a tinkers turd about what goes on in folk clubs.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jun 19 - 04:25 AM

Folk & traditional song words are deep & meaningful while most pop song words are shallow & ephemeral so anyone who can bring the latter to the level of a folksong has achieved something useful.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Jun 19 - 04:34 AM

J admit all my early ideas about folk music were quite wrong.

At school we learned many real traditional folksongs in Singing Together radio programmes. However I would never have described them as folk songs, when I was a kid.

I suppose , the first time I heard music on the radio that I loved and heard described as folksong was The Kingston Trio singing Where have all the Flowers Gone?

I know now that my ideas were factually wrong. Tommy Roe's sentimental song The Folksinger, I probably would thought of that as folk music as well.

The thing is though, it was those radio friendly songs that were my first foray into acoustic guitar strumming. Those plummy voices with hearty piano accompaniment on Singing Together weren't the motivating factor.

So I don't sneer at people who think they're playing folk music when they try to strum out Ed Sheeran, or whatever. It's a start. And as Joey Fagan says in The Committments - I believe in starts!

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 05 Jun 19 - 04:36 AM

Folk & traditional song words are deep & meaningful

What, like in seven drunken nights or froggie went a'courting or the Tailor's britches or... Oh, I think you get the picture :-)

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,GUEST, Larry Poole
Date: 05 Jun 19 - 11:53 PM

I do a pop song from the eighties called "Banana Republics" written by Jimmy Buffett and Steve Goodman. I never heard the original (or havent heard it in thirty years) but learned it from a friend, who says I have now folked it (up?). I play it diatonically on a latin style harp, so I guess I have simplified the chords (and melody) slightly and play it as a medley with a Columbian melody (Tupinamba) which has my gringo version of a pasaje rhythm. The snide lyrics make it an "Unamericana" protest song in the best sixties tradition. Is it a folk song yet?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: BobL
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 02:24 AM

Buddy Holly's "It Doesn't Matter Any More" is one of the few out-and-out pop songs that works on a G/D melodeon. Any others?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: gillymor
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 06:51 AM

Wake the Dead, a band based in No. California, approaches some of the more accessible Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia songs from a "Celtic" angle and grafts them to traditional Irish and O'Carolan tunes. The instrumental work is stellar but the vocals can be a bit lacking, IMHO. They've recorded 2 or 3 CD's of this type of material.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: gillymor
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 07:22 AM

Did anyone mention Fox on the Run. I think it was The Country Gentlemen who turned the Manfred Mann song into a Bluegrass standard here in the U.S.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 07:23 AM

Downes and Beer used to do Fox on the Run as well

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 07:57 AM

Any fans of "Hayseed Dixie" around here?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 09:29 AM

When I pick up my concertina in a spare moment my fingers play whatever comes to them, mostly folk tunes, but they occasionally stray into all sorts of other genres. Not my fault at all. I'm not responsible for them as soon as they slip into those straps. As for style, they don't seem to know anything about that.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: gillymor
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 10:16 AM

Right, when I play the mandolin one of my warm-ups is that riff (sounds like an electric 12 string) that kicks off Herman's Hermits cover of Silhouettes. A scale exercise I do morphed into it.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 10:26 AM

I forgot this - Phil Beer sings The Hollies (Graham Gouldman)

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 10:59 AM

I occasionally play in a group called "Wee Five Folk"; acoustic guitar, banjo, baritone ukelele and me on my B/C box or keyboard, + limited percussion. Most of the repertoire is early pop stuff, Doris Day, Elvis Presley, Beach Boys, Buddy Holly, Beatles, Lonnie Donegan, Eagles, Kris Kristofferson, Simon and Garfunkel, etc, etc. A brief nod to some of our own songs and Scottish and Irishfolk, but the majority of each set list is pop.
Our audience is a couple of clubs for people with various disabilities, and they love it: and they know a lot of the words and sing along lustily.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,LynnH
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 01:38 PM

As a twist to the theme there was Dave Burland's piss-take of Martin Carthy's one time 'honking' singing style using 'Blue Suede Shoes' sung to the tune of, if memory doesn't fail me, 'The Banks of the Sweet Primeroses'!

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 02:29 PM

I've been known to sing the chorus of Chantilly Lace to the tune of the Parting Glass.

Steve - I accidentally discovered that the Smoke on the Water riff is easy on an Anglo :-)

I went on a quest to find my store mentioned version of "Superstition"

Here it is!

Enjoy.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jun 19 - 02:30 PM

Store=afore

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 19 - 08:59 AM

There are many songs from the era of early pop- define it yourself- which can be played on a basic melodeon or concertina & much more fun than many folk songs.
Sam cooke, Al Bowlly, Hoagy Carmichael, Lonnie Donegan, Dr Hook to name a few & did you ever hear Bob Davenport singing Memphis Tennessee or jim Bainbridge singing 'Rum & Cocacola' with his melodeon?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 07 Jun 19 - 09:44 AM

There's The Wurzels version of British Sea Power's "Remember Me":

Wurzels - Remember Me

That was on a vinyl release a few years back, and the "Other" side (double "A" side) was BSP doing a version of "Oi Am A Zuyder Drinker":

BSP - I Am A Cider Drinker

You can't call it a "rocked up" version, more a "heavily rocked down" version!

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 07 Jun 19 - 03:48 PM

Da Do Ron Ron is very easy (only 3 notes in it!) on my box, as is Doo Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Dum!

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Some glam rock bloke
Date: 09 Jun 19 - 02:15 PM

Fox on the run???

The Sweet

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Jun 19 - 11:36 AM

There's another Sweet song more appropriate for old folkies..

"Little Willy"...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Mo the caller
Date: 12 Jun 19 - 09:43 AM

I agree with the post that said that putting labels on things was an argument waiting to happen.
Yes, a good song is a good song.
And I enjoy all sorts of music BUT I prefer my folk mainly traditional, so labels have their purpose.
Just as if I go to a concert I'd rather hear Bach than 'songs from the shows'
Others are welcome to have other preferences.

What do people think about folk songs sung in 'choir style' arrangements? Our choir sings from the OUP book 'Folk Songs for Choirs' Arrangements by people like Grainger, Moeran, RVW. Don't sound much like folk songs to me.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer
Date: 13 Jun 19 - 01:20 AM

Several years ago we saw Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner sing 'Sympathy' by Rarebird, a Capella, pop or protest song? Who cares, what a gem. Don't Give Up by Peter Gabriel is working well in clubs with 3 vocals, guitars and concertina. Some pop songs were folk in style - Home Loving Man sung by Andy Williams I do, great chorus.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Jun 19 - 03:11 AM

Good point about the choir, Mo. It highlights the fact that sometimes the style in which a song is done is as important as the song itself. On that basis I think songs from the shows, pop songs or even folk songs would be acceptable at an orchestral concert as long as they were done in an orchestral style. Conversely, seeing as you mention a specific composer, there have been plenty of instances of classical music used in pop - It does not remain classical if done in a pop style. In my opinion.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Jun 19 - 03:12 AM

I should have added that there is a pop phrase that sums it up perfectly.

It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it :-D

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 13 Jun 19 - 04:51 AM

I've never attempted to define folk OR traditional music- here be dragons.

Some of the above posts give me some encouragement, as I've said for years that any kind of music is a STYLE (or many different ones) rather than a repertoire, and I still believe that.

Hear a song?tune, learn it, then make it your own & sod the PRS

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 13 Jun 19 - 12:10 PM

'Sympathy' by Rarebird, is imho one of the best naive protest songs ever
and should be a folk standard...

An old drippy hippy prog rock lyric just as relevant as ever...

The LP also happens to be one of the first rock records I ever owned when I was about 12..

It was in a clearance sale in Woolworths, and I liked the cover picture..

Just by pure coincidence, a few days ago I discovered a 1970s Soviet Bloc cover version
sung in Georgian...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Jun 19 - 03:21 PM

I could be a Muscat theme too

Half the world hate the other half...

:D tG

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 03:32 PM

Anyone who thinks American pop and rock are somehow above English folk and classical music (or Irish or Scottish, etc., for that matter) is a fruitcake, frankly; we can beat them, so don't join them

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 03:44 PM

WalkaboutsVerse - it's that kind of talk that exposes folks as out of touch narrow-minded nutters...

careful now...

A sensible person could say that much of American music owes a big debt to British and European folk music..
Roots, foundations that Americans have built upon, which enriches their modern music,
and makes it so good and appealing world wide...

Then you could pat yourself on the back for being so proud of our heritage folk music...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 03:57 PM

Things ARE bad, PFR - e.g., Mongolian throat singing sounds amazing but now the huge majority of young Mongolians set their lyrics to rap and pop, very sadly. If you love our world being multicultural, we have to be more militant.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 04:26 PM

.. militant...???
Banjos and AK-47s...

Don't worry, there's bound to be mongolian trad folk fanatics clinging on and complaiing..

What's mongolian for "mudcat"..
I'd expect they have their own forum just like this for folks like us...???

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 04:38 PM

Definitely not AK-47 type militancy, PFR! I wrote a poem about that - "Monopoly on Weaponry"

Traditions exist due to folks being impressed by how their own forebears did this - so many youth around the world are impressed, rather, by how young Americans do things. I worry.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 04:48 PM

Worry..???

I don't - ordinary folks can do both..
Continue their own folk traditions, and enjoy the music of other nations...
New and old..

We, all nationalities can co-exist through music much better than politicians and corporations want us to..

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 05:00 PM

"Continue their own folk traditions, and enjoy the music of other nations..." (PFR)...I agree with that 100% - enjoying listening to the music of other nations BUT practising my own good English culture, including English folks songs, hymns and carols.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 05:12 PM

Why on earth would anyone think that any type of music is "above" any other type? That is what causes conflict. Different people like different things. I don't "get" some types of music. Even some kinds of folk. That doesn't mean they are bad, just different. What is wrong with young Mongolians enjoying rap for heaven's sake? There is plenty enough room in the world for all tastes. For what it's worth young Mongolians are not all into rap anyway. Many are into Mongolian folk rock

Enjoy :-)

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 05:25 PM

But, as I say, Dave, I like hearing traditional Mongolian throat singing and want it to be kept alive.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 07:35 PM

Heard this tonight for first time in years..

Here's a pop song that really ought to be included in the folkified repetoire...

"Look inside
Look inside your tiny mind
Now look a bit harder
'Cause we're so uninspired
So sick and tired of all the hatred you harbor
So you say
It's not okay to be gay
Well, I think you're just evil
You're just some racist who can't tie my laces
Your point of view is medieval
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you very, very much
'Cause we hate what you do
And we hate your whole crew
So, please don't stay in touch
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you very, very much
'Cause your words don't translate
And it's getting quite late
So, please don't stay in touch
Do you get
Do you get a little kick out of being small-minded?
You want to be like your father
It's approval you're after
Well, that's not how you find it
Do you
Do you really enjoy living a life that's so hateful?
'Cause there's a hole where your soul should be
You're losing control a bit
And it's really distasteful
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you very, very much
'Cause we hate what you do
And we hate your whole crew
So, please don't stay in touch
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you very, very much
'Cause your words don't translate
And it's getting quite late
So, please don't stay in touch
Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you
Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you
Fuck you
You say
You think we need to go to war
Well, you're already in one
'Cause it's people like you that need to get slew
No one wants your opinion
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you very, very much
'Cause we hate what you do
And we hate your whole crew
So, please don't stay in touch
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you very, very much
'Cause your words don't translate
And it's getting quite late
So, please don't stay in touch
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you (fuck you)
Fuck you (fuck you)
Songwriters: Gregory Kurstin / Lily Allen"

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Jun 19 - 08:08 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=SN&hl=fr&v=yFE6qQ3ySXE

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 02:29 AM

Keeping something alive is fine Walkabout. There is room for everything and as long as something is liked, even by a small number of people, it will live. But don't think it is any better or worse than anything else. Trying to force something on someone else is the kiss of death.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 05:09 AM

PFR - I had a quick look at the Isle of Wight last night and thought Lily Allen could just as well be turning up at English folk clubs and festivals, with that voice and creativity of hers but, instead, Dave, she is one of so many English sucked into thinking American pop is the cool thing to get into, very sadly.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 05:46 AM

Why is it sad that any artists are doing what they want rather than being restricted by geographic locations and genres, Walkabout?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 05:47 AM

Oh, and 100 :-)

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 06:04 AM

"Imagine" (John Lennon) us all living the one culture..? I would hate that but it is increasingly happening through globalisation/Americanisation.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 07:11 AM

I think you are worrying unduly. Youngsters have always rebelled and western pop culture is an easy thing to associate with. Folk, Jazz, Blues and all the other minority genres have survived thus far and I believe they will continue to do so. We in the UK are probably most influenced by the USA yet our own culture is still holding its own and developing as we assimilate immigrants from all over the world.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 07:13 AM

BTW, just off to play for our local Morris side. My concertina has developed a leak so I will be playing a harmonica. How's that for local culture :-D

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 07:25 AM

Great - I think the only tune I could, almost, play for Morris on my tenor recorder is English Country Gardens, but I love watching and hearing it.

And hope your concertina gets well soon - is it an Anglo or English concertina?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 08:30 AM

Walkabout- did you learn it from the Jimmy Rogers (not the yodellerpop version from the US about 1957 or from the Morrismen?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 08:48 AM

Firstly, I said "almost" because I think I'd have to work on my metre to make it suitable for dancers and, frankly, I'd rather leave that to dance musicians; but the version in my repertoire of songs comes from Bert Clever's Fieldtown Dances and Jigs of the Morris Ring, and the lyrics (the exact same as Jimmy Rogers) from here.

(That took me back, as I did that sourcing way back when I was getting into folk around 2004; and, by the way, I used Mudcat for some of the other tunes and, where I could only find the lyrics, learn't the tune from a singer then, gradually, mimicked my own voice on the recorder, before writing down the notes in a kind of shorthand.)

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Mark Ross
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 09:10 AM

My partner in the '70's, Steve Cormier used to do COME ON KID, which I think was a hit for Frankie Laine.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 11:32 AM

It's an Anglo. I don't think it is serious but I just can't seem to seal it.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Pismotality
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 06:22 PM

Bobby Vee under his real name of Robert Thomas Velline recorded a remake of Take Good Care of My Baby in a "sensitive singer songwriter"
style in 1972, slowly the tempo considerably. Apart from throwing in a "Take good care of my lady" and omitting the verse "My tears are falling" the song itself has not been altered and it sounds pretty good - makes you wonder why Vee was so perky in the original.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 07:33 PM

I openly admit to being a Bobby Vee fan since even before I was a teenage punkfolkrocker,
and never knew that..
Cheers..

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 07:36 PM

T Vee

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: RTim
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 08:33 PM

I have ALWAYS been a Bobby Vee fan...a great singer in the 60's and a sad death later in life....

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Warwick Slade
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 04:46 AM

Last week, at our club in Wimborne, we have ‘folk’ versions of Mountain Greenery, Multiplication and Comfortably Numb. It is this eclectic mix that make a evening interesting and entertaining

On the other side of the coin Thin Lizzy gave us Whiskey in the Jar.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 05:08 AM

Indeed Warwick Slade. It seems that no one comments on pop, rock or classical acts playing folk songs but when a folk artist plays a pop, rock of classical song some people consider it sacrilage:-( I think we should live and let live and, as long as we enjoy the music, what does it matter what others think :-)

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 05:58 AM

T Rex in their original Tyranasaurus Rex incarnation were classed as psychedelic folk. Must have upset the traditionalists!

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,15 June 0830
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 08:42 AM

Walkabout- it seems that Robert Jordan wrote the words in 1958 for the old Morris tune which became Jimmy Rodgers' 1962 pop hit 'English Country Garden'. I know not who RJ was but I like the fact that you learnt his words from a pop source and the tune from the Morris Ring repertoire - a nice combination which proves the interplay between folk and pop, showing the folly of drawing lines?

Warwick Slade - sounds healthy that your club is OK with 'pop' songs such as you list- just hope a little 'folk process' was in evidence rather than slavish copies? Also re balance, I think it's a bit worrying that you think Thin Lizzy's 'Whiskey in the jar' could be considered a 'folk' counterweight to the songs you mention.


Sounds like ammunition for Jim Carroll to me!- be afraid.....

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 08:57 AM

To be clear, Guest, years ago, I got the words from the above-linked folk music site and found, yesterday, that they are the same that Jimmy Rodgers used when I web-searched that. Are we sure he didn't just go pop with the trad English lyrics - similar to Simon and Garfunkel with "Scarborough Fair"..?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,15 June 0830
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 09:05 AM

Doesn't sound like trad lyrics to me- as I said it was allegedly written in 1958- Maybe FOR Jimmy Rodgers or maybe not, but I think the words would be long-forgotten but for the pop hit?- it's a bit younger than Scarborough Fair, I'd say.

No criticism intended but the terms trad & folk are often applied without any real justification....

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 09:35 AM

"Jimmie Rodgers sang a well-known version ("English Country Garden"), which reached Number 5 in the UK charts in June 1962. The lyrics refer to several species of bird which are not native to England but are found only in the Americas." (Wiki)...For what it's worth, I think I'll replace those species with natives with the same number of syllables before I sing it again.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 10:02 AM

The best version is

"How many crows can you pick from your nose
In an English country garden
You pick 'em and you lick 'em and you roll 'em and you flick 'em
In an English country garden"

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 10:05 AM

I think I'd rather eat worms, Dave!

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 16 Jun 19 - 11:17 AM

How many tory c***s sat sipping Pimms
in an English country garden..
exploiting the gardeners
treating them like slaves
in an english country garden..
..etc..etc..

Hoorah for the folk process...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jun 19 - 09:56 AM

what is the **** rhyme for Pimms'?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 17 Jun 19 - 11:03 AM

I can immediately think of one.. but it's rude... and it's definitely not "hymns"...

Anyway, rhyming is our least concern so near to the end of human civilisation...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jun 19 - 11:33 AM

yes right- RAAB is apparently Dutch for turnip

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST,Snuffy
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 10:51 AM

what is the **** rhyme for Pimms'?

Quims

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 11:21 AM

Drinking Pimm's while playing the Sims?

Going to gyms?

Hacking off limbs?

Looking through horn rims?

Going to a chemists called Timms?

While acting on her whims?

Sure there are more...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 11:30 AM

Keep going DtG..

You're in the process of writing a new folk song for our times..

I'll imagine Ian Dury singing it..

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 02:20 PM

Quims- pretty obscure, that one- I've never actually heard it used in speech & I go to some doubtful places!

** it maybe is an anlgicisation of Irish 'Coom' or Welsh 'Cwm' or valley?

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 02:39 PM

I haven't got around to my replacement natives yet, but my Imagined English Country Garden definitely has nice limbs, to view while sipping Pimm's (or perhaps just an ordinary G&T).

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 02:44 PM

In my kind of west country garden we'd be sipping cider from quims..

Actually, I don't live that far distant from Glastonbury... hmmm...

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Jun 19 - 02:36 PM

Just for you, PFR

Anarchy

Should rattle some cages :-)

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Jun 19 - 02:38 PM

From the "Beginner's guide to English Folk" CD3 btw. So it must be folk!

:D

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 20 Jun 19 - 06:11 PM

I'm sure I heard Glastonbury began as primarily a folk festival, with one or two American rock acts from America.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Jun 19 - 03:46 AM

I know some folk acts have appeared there in the last few years. The Boat Band for one.

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 21 Jun 19 - 12:23 PM

...The Unthanks in 2015

Subject: RE: Pop songs done in the 'folk style'
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Jun 19 - 12:34 PM

Around 1976 or 77 our band of mates took a drive to Glasto
and found a free festival in a field with a band set up on a flat bed lorry..
There wasn't much of an audience.
But there were a few nudey hippy girls walking freely about.
Including two 16 year olds who were our college friends and backing singers...

We were told that was Glastonbury Festival...

The next and only other time I went was I think 1982,
when it had become a colossal sprawling alternative tented city...
More a part of the upper classes organised summer season events calendar
than a free spontaneous hippy happening...