Never heard of Alex Campbell

Subject: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: MARINER
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 12:18 PM

A friend who lives in Stockton on Tees was in Edinburgh recently. Being an old folkie he sought out a folk club, for his nights entertainment.He found one called Whistle--,( he can't remember the rest,I would hazard a guess that it was Whistle binkies?). Anyway, he had a great night of music. Except that when one singer asked for requests and my mate asked for a well known Alex Campbell song , he was shocked that the singer never heard of Campbell!!. Is this likely?. Any way to the purpose of my post. Where can I find a discography of Alex ansd is there any of his numerous albums available on C.D.?. The forum search is being less than co-opreative at this moment in time. Maybe it's not the searcher, maybe it's Sunday lunchtime wine ??.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Fiolar
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 12:40 PM

Try the following: www.argonet.co.uk/users/gatherer/scottish/artists/alexc.html Good luck

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: GUEST,Firecat in Berlin
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 12:52 PM

Don't worry, I haven't either!!

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: MARINER
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 01:36 PM

Firecat, you haven't what??.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 01:47 PM

Alex visited Toronto once. I've never seen a folksinger who so embodied "the mystique". I didn't even know that he was famous, and had so many albums and fans....he just "looked" so much the part! Was sorry to hear it when he died.

Rick

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 01:54 PM

Is there any video of an Alex performance anywhere? I think it'd be fascinating identifying how many mannerisms and performance techniques other people learned from him.(And from Derroll Adams, from whom Alex learnt so much.)

Someone should reprint Alex's little song-book/autobiography. Or better yet, do it as a CD - the tapes of him telling the stories in it could well exist still. And maybe others as well. Time is passing, now's the time to do it.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 01:57 PM

I've got that book McGrath. It's wonderful. Especially the tale about diving into the empty pool!

Rick

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Fiolar
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 02:06 PM

To Mariner. Sorry - "Good Luck" is not part of the contact point.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: MARINER
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 02:26 PM

Eventually got through to the argonet site, had tro go to the home page and work from there. Gatherer's site is excellent but it seems that none of Alex's albums are available on C.D, at least if they are they're not mentioned. It's notable that most of his albums were on "cheapo labels" like Saga and Society, many of them I have but due to those labels using cheap vinyl thay're well worn and crackly by now. That's also the reason it's difficult to pick them up 2nd hand in sny kind of reasonable condition.The old cheap vinyl didn't last too long.Wouldn't it be great if someone re-released Alex,Campbell stuff on C.D.?

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 02:38 PM

Hi Mariner. You're right. His stuff was all very cheaply done. He was never taken seriously by the "serious" British folk scene. I think he was considered too much of an'entertainer'.

Hi Album of 'Scottish Songs' on Topic, was wonderful. He mixed obscure traditional songs with well known ones and I think he was seen as too commercial for the 'folk' and too trad for the mainstream.

Rick

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: nutty
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 03:23 PM

There's stuff here that may be of interest

CLICK HERE

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: GUEST,Firecat in Berlin
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 04:19 PM

Heard of whatshisname, Alex Campbell!

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: MARINER
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 05:50 PM

Nutty, thanks for the site info.I notice one Alex Campbell C.D. among the vinyl. (Also gave me the idea to try to sell some of the "surplus to requirements" vinyl in my own collection)

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Lanfranc
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 06:39 PM

I knew Alex pretty well in the late 60s and 70s. The last time I saw him, we spent a whole day drinking scotch while we worked out how he could play "Going Back" in open G, which was all his arthritic hands could manage at that point. I'm pretty sure I've got some tapes of his live performances on reel-to-reel, recorded on my old Akai, but nothing to play them on. The only hope for video would be the BBC, but I'm not too hopeful.

He was a bit resentful that the UK Folk "hierarchy" never took him seriously, despite over 100 albums being produced in his lifetime. He died in Denmark, where he had settled in his later years.

Allan Taylor has probably done more than anyone to keep the flame of the "Guv'nor" alive and I commend his website http://www.allantaylor.com/

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 08:09 PM

Nutty's site is interesting but doesn't seem to give tracklists. (With 100 albums there must be some amount of double recording - or whatever you call it!)
John Dalton at Little Pot Stove Vinyl sometimes has second hand stuff. The April sales list lists 'Alex Campbell Sampler' for 8 pounds. Email John at

[e-mail]

if you'd like to subscribe. (No, I don't get paid for this!)

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: MARINER
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 01:00 AM

Jon, I know this is slightly off thread, but despite the fact that the vinyl in the cheapo records of the 60's seemed sub standard, they did open up a whole new musical world to young lads like myself. In rural towns and villages record stores were scarce and conservative in what they stocked. When Saga ,Society, Arc, et al came along they sold in local paper shops, sweet shops etc,( at 15/11).Their catalogues covered a multitude of musical genres. Cheap labels turned me on to Sonny& Brownie, Lightin' Hopkins,Sandy Denny,Johnny Silvo, various Doo- Wop groups, Roy Guest,Little Richard singing Gospel, Ray Charles, Homer & Jethro and a whole plethora of Country &Bluegrass,plus many others, as well as Alex Campbell.So I suppose I shouldn't denigrate them too much, they were a great source to the cash strapped young chaps of the time.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Anglo
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 02:48 AM

I remember one LP I used to have, Alex did it ages ago, pretty much straight Scottish trad, including a Glasgow Peggy with Martin Carthy on guitar. My memory fails me as to what else was on it, how much Martin played, etc. It may still be in my old next door neighbor's attic, three thousand miles away... I wish _that_ one was on CD.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 08:55 AM

The cheap vinyl records still sound pretty good to me. I've never noticed that cheapy vinyl deteriorates any more than expensive does. It depends how you treat the records. CDs are convenient, and they don't get damaged so easily, but the sounds no better.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: John J
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 09:01 AM

WHAT????!!!!

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Big Tim
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 09:54 AM

Way Out West, what a record, and at ten bob what a price.

Ewan McVicar writes in "One Singer, One Song" (1990) "I first met Alex in London in 1960. He had just returned from Paris where he had been a busking blind blues singer, complete with white stick. He had made a miraculous recovery in London and became a folk singer. Alex always mixed his songs and loved them all. He recorded albums of cowboy songs, Scots ballads, bluegrass and blues and blue material and a blooper or two. I got up a a folk club in north London where Alex was that evening's guest and sang "Maggie's Waddin". Alex was much taken with "Maggie". He asked me to come and sing it again at his next gig, after midnight that same night in the Partisan Coffee House in Soho, where one of the resident singers was a very youthful Long John Baldry. I saw Alex again years later in Glasgow. He was singing in one of our concert halls. The Ian Campbell Folk Group was on, so was another noted performer whose identity evades me. She had long lank hair, a long lank dress, sang long lank ballads, and her personality was rather short on joie d'eistence. Shall we call her Alanka? Anyway, Alex was filling the role of compere. At one point he complained about who was getting paid what. "Here's the Campbell Group, they all arrived in a Jaguar. Here's Alanka, she arrived in a Jaguar. And here's me, with the seat hanging out of my jeans". he turned round, and in the days before designer shredded denims, his native flesh was indeed in view. The last time I saw him was in the early 80s at the Glasgow International Folk Festival. Alex sat beside me, his vocal chords were so damaged he could not sing any more".

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: GUEST,Dita (at work)
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 12:48 PM

Loved the man. He was the only person I could listen to singing "Wild Rover" et al without cringing. He sang with conviction, passion and sincerity, all part of what Rick calls the mystique.
I think the albums refered to as "Scottish Songs" and "with Martin Carthy" are the two LPs and 1 EP he made for XTRA. Tracks from these were later compiled to form skw's Sampler. Occasional tracks from these records surface on Castle Communication's CD compilations, so they still have the masters. There's no reason why they couldn't issue a CD like the recent best of Matt McGinn.
I don't know of any other CDs, and I have been looking - the guy on nutty's link sounds like he's going to burn a CD off the vinyl and send both.
Must agree with McGrath, (is that a Mudcat first?), my XTRA, Society, ARC etc still sound as good/bad as when I bought them, they were inferior pressings, but have not deteriorated any futher.
Alex died in Denmark and was buried in Glasgow in the early days of January 1987. His gravestone,(paid for by his friends in Denmark),reads "Alex Campbell - So Long."
Alex would have loved the funeral. The graveside was a who's who of folk, Hamish, Alan, Dougie, Danny, Archie, Cilla, among the great and small. The family had asked a local minister to officiate. He had no idea who Alex was as a person. He looked up, saw Billy Connolly in his "audience" and flipped. He went into a tirade, all hellfire and brimstone, about how Alex was now burning in hell, with no chance to repent, and how we, and one of us in particular, had better give over our evil ways, and blasphemy, and seek forgiveness before it was too late.
We retired to the old Star Club, minus minister, and remembered Alex in song, story and drink - "Hell, Yes."
love, john.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Art Thieme
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 01:50 PM

I was picking at a festival in Middletown, Connecticut back in the very early '80's I think. Lisa Null rwas behind it. Alex was there and I was in charge of taking him on his booze runs to the liquor store because he couldn't get used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road. Actually, I knew of him from an LP I'd bought very inexpensively ($1.98) in a supermarket in Depoe Bay, Oregon in 1967 or '68. I loved his songs. He showed me it was O.K. to sing songs that others had tired of if one did them honestly and simply and in a straightforward manner with honest real conviction.

Old chestnut songs and even older jokes were always a part of my serious repertoire----a lesson I learned well from Alex Campbell.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 06:30 PM

I don't think I could like anyone who didn't love Alex Campbell. (Leaving aside those who never met him.)

I remember in a room over a pub, a tiny gig, but that was never a reason for Alex to put any less dedication into it - and Alex decided he was going to get each person around the room to come up with a song and sing it. And he did it too. Including Away in a Manger.

Personally I'd have been inclined to put that minister in the grave, and take Alex in his coffin along to the pub.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Micca
Date: 09 Apr 01 - 06:59 PM

I always remeber him in the upsatirs room of what was the "Scots Hoose" at Cambridge Circus in London singing ( and harmonising) the most ribald version of the Wild Rover with Noel Murphy( Murphs version) and haveing to pause ,frequently , to get his breath back from laughing..and what greater memorial, ? than someone who made you laugh??

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 04:19 AM

My abiding memory of Alex Campbell was one night in 1963 in FSCV in Montrose Street when he had the entire audience participating in a rumbustious rendering of "Old MacDonald Had A Farm". The place was in an uproar. I think everyone who ever saw him perform loved him. I've got about twenty of his LP's but they don't adequately convey the charisma of the man. Good Luck, Ian M.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Bugsy
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 05:14 AM

Big Tim, "Way Out West" was the very first LP I ever bought. Got it in WH Smiths. It was that album that got me singing folk music. I still have it today, and occasionally used to play it on my Folk radio show.

A wonderful interpreter of song.

cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 10:45 AM

To whom it may concern:

Alex Campbell was ...

A supreme entertainer who established instant rapport with audiences of all kinds, from infants to pensioners, from folk fanatics to complete newcomers to the music.

A magnificent interpreter of songs, who could make the familar seem fresh, and the obscure become accessible ... an alchemist whose magic touch could turn any material into gold.

A great educator, who usually introduced songs with a brief reference to the sources he got them from, and thereby alerted audiences to singers like Jeannie Robertson, Jimmie MacBeath, Jesse Fuller or Reverend Gary Davis, whom they might otherwise never have encountered.

An under-rated musician, who never sought to dazzle audiences with his instrumental technique, but simply used it unobtrusively to support his songs.

A marvellous teller of tales, whose stories could make you laugh, make you cry, and make you think - sometimes all three at the same time.

A warm-hearted and generous friend, for whom everyone he'd ever met was special - now gone from among us, but not forgotten.

None of the recordings I've heard have managed to capture the magic of Alex's best live performances. Even so, there must be enough good material available for someone to put together a CD, or perhaps even a boxed set with commemorative booklet. And judging by the response to this thread, there should be a market for it.

Musical entrepreneurs, where are you when we need you?

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Big Tim
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 12:28 PM

Bugsy : "Magic".

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 06:48 PM

Well said Mike.

There must have been some video recording at some point. Though I can't every remember seeing him on the TV. Typical. Maybe in Scotland?

But there must be a lot of hometaped audio around. Though I haven't got any, I'm pretty sure. Search your attics...

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 07:23 PM

WONDERFUL bloke. The only folkie who ever tampered with Tom Paxton lyrics to positive effect. (He sang "Fare the well, my rambling boy" instead of "Here's to you......")

I couldn't connect to that argonet site just now. Would this have anything to do with Arthur Argo, who managed the Humblebums (Billy Connolly & Tom Harvey) among others, and who I thought died many years ago? Or is it just a common name?

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 08:23 PM

Never saw him live, but my first ever folk LP was "Alex Campbell Live" which I bought in the 60's: hooked on folk music since! Tattie B

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Big Tim
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 05:08 AM

Fionn, there's a famous photo of many of the Scots folk greats, incl Billy Connolly, Hamish Henderson, Aly Bain, etc. in 1969, I think. Aly Bain said of it recently "the amazing thing is not that were were all gathered together at the same time but that we are all still alive". [Given the copious amounts of drink that we consumed].

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 09:03 AM

MCGrath, I don't think there is much, if anything to be had in Scotland, in terms of video.
The last time Alex was in Scotland was the Glasgow Folk Festival in 1984. There was a tribute concert at the Tron theatre, Ramblin Jack, Hamish, Iain Mac etc. Alex had no singing voice left, but he was in great spirits, and was touched that the festival flew him over. He did some MCing. I missed the gig as my band was playing elsewhere at the festival that night, but I donated my band's PA, as we were using a house system.
I think Denmark may be a better source of TV material, as has been already said, Alex was unfashionable in the 70's in Britain, but was much loved on the continent. Denmark gave him a pension, despite the fact, I understand, he didn't qualify for one. It seems thay loved the big man so much they ent the rules. So I would look for material in that direction.
love, john.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: GUEST,Dita (At work)
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 12:50 PM

Above from Dita forgeting he's at work again. love, john.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 04:38 PM

I believe his sons, robin and ali formed UB 40

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: MARINER
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 04:54 PM

Wrong Campbell ,fat B****rd, your getting Alex mixed up with Ian, whose sons went on to form UB40. Mariner

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From:
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 05:06 PM

I remember being in the back room of a pub in Edinburgh around '62/'63 when Alec, who was MCing and introducing Ian at that moment, suddenly broke off and stared towards the back of the room and muttered "another bloody Campbell" as Bobby entered the room.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: fat B****rd
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 03:49 AM

Thankyou, Mariner. I stand (or sit) corrected. Are you one of the Grimsby Mariners by any chance ?? all the best fB

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: GUEST,Ian McCann
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 11:07 AM

I was part of Alex's backing band in the early sixties along with Johnny Orange aka John Affleck. He paid us 7/6 a gig. I played on Way out West, Best Loved Songs of bonnie Scotland and several other albums. He was like a father figure, a kind and sensitive human being.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: The Sandman
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 11:20 AM

I think Denmark may be a better source of TV material, as has been already said, Alex was unfashionable in the 70's in Britain"
ha ha, I saw Alex playing to a full house at Dartford in 1974, he was a great entertainer, and was playing to a packed club

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 02:23 PM

He always played to packed houses in Walsall in the 70's ... unless that's just happy memories speaking!

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 02:30 PM

Blast from the past Ian. I have the Best Loved Songs and Way Out West right here. Did you get to meet the legendary Dave Laibman?

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 03:12 PM

I saw Alex Campbell live many times ~ always a great night.

This is Alex Campbell's son's YouTube channel. He said that he will be posting lots of his father's work on to YouTube and that he intends to get some of the out of print stuff out there again.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Bettynh
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 04:18 PM

Amazon has two albums for download or press-on-demand. Itunes has the downloads of the same albums for a dollar more each. This is USA, folks, maybe someone can look into the UK situation.

Youtube has lots of tunes, with enough searching:

This channel has several uploads. Search the righthand column for more.

This channel contains the entire "Alex Campbell 'Live" (1968) album.

This channel has several tunes, with a black screen.

This channel has several tunes, with attached stories. Search the right column for Alex Campbell.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Tunesmith
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 04:41 PM

I remember my brother, and a mate, going to see Alex Campbell in folk club in Birkenhead, near Liverpool, many years ago.
Well, this mate of my brother was really taken with Alex's performance, and cornered Alex after the show.
He asked Alex what he did for a living, but no mater how Alex explained it, this chap couldn't get it in to his head that Alex made a living out of singing.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: GUEST,Gealt
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:15 PM

I remember going to a concert in the Gate Theatre, Dublin late '63 or early '64. The line up included The Dubliners & Luke Kelly, Deirdre O'Connell (Luke's wife), Dominic Behan and Alex. Alex brought the house down & upstaged the rest of them
I heard after that Alex had difficulty getting into the Gate, in those days one did not go to the theatre dressed in denim jacket & jeans.

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 07:45 PM

"Names that once we held so dear
Are unknown to the young ones here"
"Fading voices" Harvey Andrews

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 08:15 PM

"CRM" (Alex Campbell, Alan Roberts, Dougie Maclean) on CD at Amazon UK & US

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dougie-Maclean-Alex-Campbell-Roberts/dp/B0002CH982/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1323040816&sr=1-1

Track Listings
1. Trooper And The Maid
2. I Lo'e Nae Lassie But Ane
3. Jute Mill Song
4. Her Fa La La Lo
5. John Anderson My Jo
6. What Wouldna' Fecht For Charlie
7. Leis A Lurighan
8. Bonnie Mary
9. Rattlin' Roarin' Willie
10. Little Song
11. Miss Elisabeth Campbell
12. Alick C. MacGregor
13. Jock Stewart

Also listed on CD are "Alex Campbell at the Tivoli Gardens"

Track Listings
1. Cindy's Crying
2. Candy Man
3. Needle Of Death
4. Tom Thumb's Blues
5. First Time Ever
6. The Time Has Come
7. Where I'm Bound
8. Champion At Keeping Them Rolling
9. Long Gone From Home
10. Strolling Down The High Way
11. He Was A Most Peculiar Man
12. Sally Free And Easy

and "Alex Campbell in Copenhagen"

Track Listings
1. Colors
2. Rambling Boy
3. The Oggie Man
4. 1913 Massacre
5. Been On The Road
6. Verdant Braes O'Skreen
7. John Riley
8. Lang A' Growing
9. Whistling Rufus - Double Eagle
10. Roll Down The Line
11. Leaving Of Liverpool

Amazon's Alex Campbell Store lists 53 tracks available as MP3 downloads. Some of these are duplicates from different albums (but might still have been recorded on separate occasions).

MusicStack lists about thirty different titles available, mostly LPs, from £5 to over £100.

I saw Alex a couple of times at Blackpool Folk Club at the King's Arms, early seventies. After the second time, when he managed to consume a whole bottle of whisky during his set, I swore I would never go to see him again. A few years after, a gigging singer friend who had "discovered" Alex persuaded me that, straightened out, he was still a performer to be reckoned with. At the Raikes Hotel (about 1980?), he was certainly on form and produced a great night. He and local residents the Taverners had a running competition to try to remember how many folk clubs each had helped to start (and sometimes to close down!)

There was a copy of Folk Review magazine mid-seventies that included a breakdown by Alex Campbell of his year's income and expenditure (total about £3000 as I recall). That's turnover, not profit! Not a lot, even back then.

Ross (no relation)

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: GUEST,Iain
Date: 08 Mar 15 - 05:01 AM

I vaguely remember back in days of yore seeing Alex Campbell perform at the Surbiton Assembly rooms, then being run by Derek Serjeant. This would have been somewhere around the early-mid sixties

Subject: RE: Never heard of Alex Campbell
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Mar 15 - 05:38 AM

Alex Campbell was funnier than Ewan MacColl, but not such a good songwriter.