seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording

Subject: “Farewell Johnny Miner” 1980s recording
From: Hornpipe
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 07:58 PM

I’m trying to identify an old recording of Ed Pickford’s sing “Farewell, Johnny Miner” from the 1980s.

I know Battlefield Band performed it, but the version I’m looking for was sung by an Irish woman with possibly another unaccompanied voice (or two) joining her in harmony. I can hear it in my mind’s ear but can’t remember who it was.

Does anyone remember this version? Unfortunately I donated my vinyl collection many years ago and I can’t find anything close to it on YouTube or other online resources.

Thanks in advance!

Subject: ADD:'Farewell Johnny Miner' (Ed Pickford)^^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 08:08 PM

I found lots of recordings by men, but few by women. Here's a live performance that's close to your description:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK6eEb35RUI

FAREWELL, JOHNNY MINER
(Ed Pickford)

Johnny Miner you were born

Never to see the rising dawn

Now it’s time that you were gone

Farewell Johnny Miner.

Chorus:

Farewell Durham, Yorkshire too

Nottingham the same to you

Scotland, South Wales say, “Adieu”

Farewell Johnny Miner

You’ve battled with the sliding scale

Lungs turned black and faces pale

Now your body’s up for sale

Farewell Johnny Miner.

Chorus:

Farewell Durham, Yorkshire too

Nottingham the same to you

Scotland, South Wales say, “Adieu”

Farewell Johnny Miner

Farewell John, don’t take it hard

Unemployment isn’t bad

They’ll treat you well in the knacker’s yard

Farewell Johnny Miner.

Chorus:

Source: http://www.ed-pickford.co.uk/farewelljohnnyminer.html

Subject: RE: seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording
From: Hornpipe
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 08:57 PM

Not it, unfortunately. It fits the description, but the version I’m looking for uses a different melody—which I just realized is the basically the same melody Martin Carthy uses for Jack Orion. I also think it might be in G minor.

But thank you so much for coming up with something that could have been it.

Subject: RE: seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording
From: Hagman
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 09:20 PM

Possibly this one? Geraldine MacGowan.... https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/geraldine-macgowan-anne-conroy/winds-of-change/

There's a link on Ed's page to a performance by her, which is presumably from this record - http://www.ed-pickford.co.uk/farewelljohnnyminer.html

Subject: RE: seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording
From: Hornpipe
Date: 31 Aug 23 - 07:35 PM

I just found it! Geraldine McGowan, sings it on her 1987 album “Winds of Change” with Anne Conroy. Turns out I did keep a copy of the vinyl LP after all, which was lucky because it’s not available anywhere in digital form. But it’s a nice version and really should be available to current ears.

Subject: RE: seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording
From: Hornpipe
Date: 31 Aug 23 - 07:37 PM

Hagman, yes, that’s it! I posted the above before seeing your message. But that’s the one. Thank you so much!

Subject: RE: seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording
From: Hagman
Date: 31 Aug 23 - 07:42 PM

Result!

Subject: ADD:'Farewell Johnny Miner' (Ed Pickford)^^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 08:08 PM

I found lots of recordings by men, but few by women. Here's a live performance that's close to your description:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK6eEb35RUI

FAREWELL, JOHNNY MINER
(Ed Pickford)

Johnny Miner you were born

Never to see the rising dawn

Now it’s time that you were gone

Farewell Johnny Miner.

Chorus:

Farewell Durham, Yorkshire too

Nottingham the same to you

Scotland, South Wales say, “Adieu”

Farewell Johnny Miner

You’ve battled with the sliding scale

Lungs turned black and faces pale

Now your body’s up for sale

Farewell Johnny Miner.

Chorus:

Farewell Durham, Yorkshire too

Nottingham the same to you

Scotland, South Wales say, “Adieu”

Farewell Johnny Miner

Farewell John, don’t take it hard

Unemployment isn’t bad

They’ll treat you well in the knacker’s yard

Farewell Johnny Miner.

Chorus:

Source: http://www.ed-pickford.co.uk/farewelljohnnyminer.html

Subject: RE: seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording
From: Hagman
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 09:20 PM

Possibly this one? Geraldine MacGowan.... https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/geraldine-macgowan-anne-conroy/winds-of-change/

There's a link on Ed's page to a performance by her, which is presumably from this record - http://www.ed-pickford.co.uk/farewelljohnnyminer.html

Subject: RE: seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording
From: Hagman
Date: 31 Aug 23 - 07:42 PM

Result!

Subject: “Farewell Johnny Miner” 1980s recording
From: Hornpipe
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 07:58 PM

I’m trying to identify an old recording of Ed Pickford’s sing “Farewell, Johnny Miner” from the 1980s.

I know Battlefield Band performed it, but the version I’m looking for was sung by an Irish woman with possibly another unaccompanied voice (or two) joining her in harmony. I can hear it in my mind’s ear but can’t remember who it was.

Does anyone remember this version? Unfortunately I donated my vinyl collection many years ago and I can’t find anything close to it on YouTube or other online resources.

Thanks in advance!

Subject: RE: seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording
From: Hornpipe
Date: 30 Aug 23 - 08:57 PM

Not it, unfortunately. It fits the description, but the version I’m looking for uses a different melody—which I just realized is the basically the same melody Martin Carthy uses for Jack Orion. I also think it might be in G minor.

But thank you so much for coming up with something that could have been it.

Subject: RE: seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording
From: Hornpipe
Date: 31 Aug 23 - 07:35 PM

I just found it! Geraldine McGowan, sings it on her 1987 album “Winds of Change” with Anne Conroy. Turns out I did keep a copy of the vinyl LP after all, which was lucky because it’s not available anywhere in digital form. But it’s a nice version and really should be available to current ears.

Subject: RE: seeking 'Farewell Johnny Miner' 1980s recording
From: Hornpipe
Date: 31 Aug 23 - 07:37 PM

Hagman, yes, that’s it! I posted the above before seeing your message. But that’s the one. Thank you so much!