Daft Compilations

Subject: Daft Compilations
From: Doctor John
Date: 16 Apr 01 - 04:21 PM

Seen on a CD compilation of "Traditional Scottish Ballads", Ewan McColl's "Dirty Old Town." Now it's arguable whether that's a "traditional ballad" or not but wasn't Ewan McColl, Jimmy Miller and Dirty Old Town about Salford. Sounds a bit English to me. Any other unlikely inclusions in compilations spotted? Dr John

Subject: RE: Daft Compilations
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Apr 01 - 09:15 AM

I've seen the same song on various Irish compilations! It was, as Doctor John points out, written about Salford. I can even show you the gasworks croft - I drive past it twice a day. I guess the Dubliners or Pogues recording of it must be the most famous though so people tend to think it is about Dublin. In principle I guess it could be applied to any industrial town in the world!

Cheers

Dave the Salfordian Gnome

Subject: RE: Daft Compilations
From: guinnesschik
Date: 17 Apr 01 - 10:05 AM

Gee, I once read it was about Glasgow, and usually add that when I intro it. I heard it on a Pogues CD! Thanks for the info. I stand corrected.

;-)g'chik

Subject: RE: Daft Compilations
From: Peter T.
Date: 17 Apr 01 - 10:11 AM

I always found the Chess records of Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf etc., labelled "The Real Folk Blues" pretty amusing.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Daft Compilations
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Apr 01 - 12:08 PM

any industry that can label music from the 70s as 'oldies', would have no trouble translating 'famous' into 'traditional'.......Ewan MacColl's stuff may very well be trad someday, but sheesh!

Subject: RE: Daft Compilations
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 17 Apr 01 - 03:37 PM

Heck, he wrote it as theme music for a play. The original had a clarinet in it, I'm told. Traditional indeed.

My favourite:

"HOOTENANY with FIVE STRING BANJO"

Pete Seeger? The Kingston Trio?

Nope.

THE STANLEY BROTHERS!!?!

Rick

Subject: RE: Daft Compilations
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 18 Apr 01 - 05:25 AM

The clarinet was played by the late and wonderful reeds player Bruce Turner (aka the Dirty Bopper) of Feetwarmers, Turner Jump Band, Humphrey Lyttleton band, Acker Bilk band etc.
RtS (jazz nurd)

Subject: RE: Daft Compilations
From: Bernard
Date: 18 Apr 01 - 06:31 AM

A (very!) vaguely similar theme here

Subject: RE: Daft Compilations
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 18 Apr 01 - 07:35 PM

I was in the audience at the premier- London, 1952. Joan Littlewood (Jimmy Miller's ex) was either in it or had helped write/produce it. Can't even remember the name of the play, but I do remember, "Dirty Old Town..."

Perhaps the song is so memorable because almost every region has its "dirty old town."