New England X-press on Fast Folk

Subject: New England X-press on Fast Folk
From:
Date: 20 May 00 - 10:10 PM

Were they a one-song group? I'm talking about a song that thrills me each time I play the tape I made of it off the radio: "Streets of Montreal." The group, sed the DJ was New England Express, on the Fast Folk label. Fast Folk we all know about. How about the song and the group. Info sure would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: New England X-press on Fast Folk
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 May 00 - 06:39 PM

Noone seems to have noticed this one.

Subject: RE: New England X-press on Fast Folk
From: GUEST,Ron Olesko
Date: 22 May 00 - 12:49 PM

If my fading memory is any guide, I seem to recall that New England Express consisted of a pair of brothers from Connecticut. They recorded a couple of songs for Fast Folk in the early 80's. I do remember seeing them perform. I remember a beautiful a nautical song, I think written by Jack Hardy. Perhaps it is the one you taped? It was a very moving performance. Now I will have to go to my "vault" and find the old Fast Folk records!! I will let you know if I discover anything! Thanks for reminding me of them!

Subject: RE: New England X-press on Fast Folk
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 22 May 00 - 09:51 PM

Found it! New England Express was (is?) brothers Rob and John Strachan. The song I was thinking about was a version they did of Frank Christian's Nancy Reynard. I have to dig deeper into my stack of Fast Folk records to see if I can find the Streets of Montreal that Harold mentioned. They were quite good - Simon and Garfunkel like vocals. Anyone know what became of them?

Subject: RE: New England X-press on Fast Folk
From:
Date: 22 May 00 - 10:06 PM

Ron, wow, you sure do pay close attention. Just how big a stack of 33rpm albums do you own? I've always wondered about you DJs. I know many of you play YOUR OWN recordings, you lug them from home, b/c you know the station does not own what you want to play. How would I even find a person who heard of New Eng Xpress apart from a newsgroup (or whatever Mudcat is) like this. Happy to be here typing and reading. Yes, come to think of it, they had that Simon and Gar. sound, but if they recorded in the 70's, so many were copying S & G. I find the song "Streets of Montreal" to be, like on my top 10. I recorded it from Jeff Davison's WFMU folk show with the crazy name "Shrunken Planet." It's on Sat AM 6-9. I'm a desciple. If you find "Streets of Montreal" play it and get back to me as to its impact on you. I TAPED the first 20 minutes of your 7am Sunday show. First impressions: Yes, it's celtic! I say, keep it vocal-- words are better than jigs and instrumentals (O'Carolin excluded) and that Art Jackson stuff, well, Fiona Richie played so much of that 5 years ago. But anyway, I'll be back for a 2nd listen next Sunday. BTW, what date did you start that show? -- Harold from Hawthorne

Subject: RE: New England X-press on Fast Folk
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 22 May 00 - 10:32 PM

I started The Sunday Session on January 23. I admit I purposely play more instrumentals on that show. I like to keep the folk songs on Traditions. I do enjoy the instrumental music and I am exploring at that hour of the morning. There are some incredibly talented musicians recording in Ireland and Scotland and I like to share it on Sunday Session, but your point is well taken. Folk SONG is very close to my heart, but the trad music needs to be heard by more people! (Another shameless plug - people can listen in at www.wfdu.fm )

I have over 1000 vinyl, boxes and boxes of tapes, and way too many CD's in my personal collection. In addition I have access to a couple of thousand recordings at WFDU.

Getting back to New England Express, I am remembering that they were a guest at one of our station fund-raisers in the early 80's. I will have to see if I still have a tape of that. You have me curious about Streets of Montreal!! They were part of the Fast Folk scene in the early 80's. The early editions of the records are still my favorites - lots of variety and great talent. In later years the records all started sounding the same - everyone seemed to want to be Jack Hardy or Suzanne Vega. (My opinion only!)

I hope someone out there knows what became of this group!

Subject: RE: New England X-press on Fast Folk
From:
Date: 22 May 00 - 11:39 PM

Ron, this is about Jack Hardy. Word comes down to me that he is a bully. A friend of mine, Robert Wolf (his CD name) worked and toured with Jack about 3 years ago. Robert Wolf survived the European tour. I saw Jack at the "Outpost in the Burbs" in Montclair. He and his lady friend were in fine voice. On my folk music radio shows I hear Jack's original songs and cringe at their incomprehensibilty. His version of "Finerio" (sp?) is a masterpiece and I told him so when I xchanged words with him in Montclair. Jack H. used to be the boss of Fast Folk, as I have been lead to believe. What's his status today? -- U R a faithful correspondent. -- Harold from Hawthorne (formerly, Harold from Fair Lawn).

Subject: RE: New England X-press on Fast Folk
From: GUEST
Date: 23 May 00 - 09:35 AM

Hardy just released a new CD called The Omen. Some of his best songs in years! I haven't talked to Jack in a few years, but I would never think of him as a bully. I have always seen him as a playful yet deeply committed musician. He has worked very hard to nuture other musicians. Sure he has his opinions, don't we all?

As to being incomprehensible...well, a lot of musicians could fall into that catagory. There are volumes of books from people trying to decipher Bob Dylan's lyrics! Jack Hardy is steeped in Celtic mythology and has written some incredibly haunting songs.