Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: GUEST,Ron Adams
Date: 22 Mar 17 - 07:43 PM

Hallo, Pete, Sorry, three years late in replying. Great story !!

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: Bugsy
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 04:25 AM

Sad to say Ron, Betsy (Pete Betts) is no longer with us.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 09:13 PM

Yes, I had heard that too: sad news. But the song and the paper-and-comb playing goes on!

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: GUEST,Taff of the North
Date: 21 Feb 19 - 04:57 PM

I have just re-typed an "old" tatty copy of the song to send to my friends in a (70+) guitar group. I found this thread and enjoyed the comments.

Why did I look for my old copy? Last night at the "Pot and Glass", Egglescliffe, it was the final song which everyone enjoyed and sang along to. People were singing it as they left, including a lady who seemed to have some dementia problem, good songs stay in the memory.

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: rich-joy
Date: 21 Feb 19 - 07:41 PM

Always a good song in an "UGLE" (however it is spelt!!), at the end of a Folk Club night.

Here is Paul Lawler's version in Darwin, NT (Oz) from the 80s :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7PsCsWL6Pk
It comes in as Track 10 at at 34:24 (linked in description).

ENJOY!
R-J (Down Under)

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: GUEST,Ron Adams
Date: 27 May 20 - 05:14 PM

To Bugsy....thanks for that, So sorry to hear about Pete ( and I'm late yet again ! )

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 28 May 20 - 07:09 PM

The paper and comb goes on - see my post of 9th Oct 2013! Stonehaven Folk Festival still have the annual World Paper and Comb Championships (sadly no festival this year, thanks to Covid-19) - which keeps my friend and myself supplied with standard sized combs with old-fashioned toilet paper on which to play at the appropriate moment in the song: it is now almost expected of us by some in the know! A paper and comb in every bag!

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: The Sandman
Date: 29 May 20 - 02:38 AM

rip Betsy, in answer to your question
It is a Scottish expression developed after the habit of using newts to test the strength of whisky, rather in the way that that Mexican beer is tested using a worm. The idea is that if the newt is dead before it hits the bottom of the bottle, the whisky is strong enough.

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: GUEST,clemdane you tube
Date: 11 Jan 21 - 08:17 AM

Has anybody got a recording of this?
I recorder AJ way back in the 70's
Clem

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: cnd
Date: 11 Jan 21 - 08:20 PM

You can see a recording here: https://youtu.be/W7PsCsWL6Pk?t=2064

Subject: RE: Origins: They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore
From: JHW
Date: 12 Jan 21 - 05:56 AM

Well done Pete (RIP) something you will be remembered for. People may be forgotten once those who remembered them are gone but a Song is a lasting memorial. Indeed, ee how we could sing - singing for hours on end.