hall and mcgregor

Subject: hall and mcgregor
From: GUEST,Big Jock
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 06:09 PM

I remember bopping to a great kids album by Robin Hall and Jimmy McGregor when I was a nipper in Dumfries. I'm now living in Toronto and about to have my first boy. I have been trying to track that record down, with no success. It featured classics like the Jeelie Pieces Song and Three Craws. Anybody out there help?

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: GUEST,little john cameron
Date: 06 Jul 01 - 06:33 PM

There lyrics are in the mudcat Jock.Unfortunately Robin died in 1998.Here is bit from the net at the time. ljc
Robin Hall Lovers of Scottish folk music were saddened to hear of the sudden death last week of Robin Hall, one half of the successful duo, Robin Hall and Jimmy McGregor. They became well known as a result of a regular spot on the BBC TV "Tonight" programme and they were the prime movers in the folk revival movement of the late 1950s and the 1960s. Robin Hall had to overcome polio as a child in Edinburgh and met Jimmy McGregor in London. They were encouraged by Paul Robeson at an early stage in the partnership. They sang together for 20 years until Robin Hall decided he had enough. Robin Hall enjoyed life to excess and was part of the "protest" movement of the 1960s - and was criticised for wearing a CND badge on BBC television. He married and divorced twice and had three children.

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: john c
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 12:15 AM

Does anyone have the words to Fitba Crazy which I think they used to sing?

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Nerd
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 05:32 AM

I've got an album by Hall and McGregor called Two Heids are Better than Yin," which has got Three Craws and a medley of kids songs. But it's not a kids' album per se. Could this be the one? If so it was released in US on Monitor Records with no date, but onviously in the late 5os or 60s It's an old scratchy LP. Amusingly, a small blurb on the technical specs required to play the album states: This recording will never be obsolete. The guy who wrote that probably thought HE would never be obsolete, too!

Steve

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 07 Jul 01 - 09:14 PM

Is the album in question--"Kid's Stuff"--DECCA ESC 2161 released in 1974? I'm a big Robin and Jimmie and have pages about them on my website: www.theballadeers.com

Nick

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Jul 01 - 09:05 AM

Curmudgeon here.
Robin and Jimmie also performed with Leon Rosselson and Shirley Bland as The Galliards. I have one album by this mix along with Twa Heids..

Robin and Jimmie were special in that they were able to use fine musicianship without damaging the roots of the songs.
And for John C...

He's fitba crazy, he's gaen clean mad,
The fitba's robbed him o' the wee bit sense he had.
It'd tak a washerwoman his claes tae rub an' scrub
since our Jock becam a member o' that awfu fitba club.

The first match he went tae play, I went tae see mysel
They'd twa half bricks for the goal posts and a tin can for the ba.
The Prince o' Wales was there himsel wi a his ladies fair
When oor Jock ran oot an kicked the ba right up intae the air.
Repeat first verse.

This text wass from Personal Choice by Ewan MacColl.

Good songs to all -- Tom

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Jul 01 - 09:25 AM

In the middle of the field a Hampden, the captain said McGraw, ye'd better tak this penalty or we'll nivver win ata'. He took forty paces backward and shot of frae the mark, the ba' went soarin' ower the stand and landed in New York.

His wife says she'll divorce him she'll mak him look a sicht, if he disnae keep frae fitba kicking in the bed at nicht. Fur he cries her Charlie Tully and ither names sae braw, last nicht he kicked her oot the bed and shouted it's a goal.

By the way Big Jock drove round Lake Ontario and visited Toronto and Niagara, did the full tourist bit the falls the CN tower etc. great plac gobsmacking tower.

Cheers Jock

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Sooz
Date: 08 Jul 01 - 11:59 AM

I vaguely remember a song called "messing about with your liver" does anyone know the words?

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Jul 01 - 12:39 PM

50 ways to lose your liver? jock

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 09 Jul 01 - 07:22 AM

Was "50 Ways to Lose your Liver" ever recorded? I remember seeing Billy Connolly sing it once. Very funny song.

Murray

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: GUEST,Big Jock
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 04:47 PM

Nick wins the prize - Kid's Stuff from 1974. Now to track the bloody thing down. Incidentally, Nick's web site (www.theballadeers.com) was tremendous - obviously a real labour of love - and well worth a visit.

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 09:46 PM

Jock--Kid's Stuff is fairly tricky to find--I would suggest gemm.com. There's a great dealer from Scotland, named Adam Begg--with great prices. He might have a copy. If you want his email address let me know. Also, thanks for the kind words about the site.

Nick

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 11:14 PM

50 Ways to leave your LIVER!!?? I'm larfin' my ass off here! Got to hear this!

Ahhh, all my scratchy old vinyl Robin and Jimmie records. Most virtually unplayable now.

Rick

Subject: RE: Hall and Mcgregor : Fitba ' Crazy
From: GUEST,Big Tam
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 04:48 PM

I've been researching 'Fitba' Crazy ' for my son and come up with this version which combines the original Music Hall theme of the late 19th Century with Hall and McGregor's modern version.

Noo ye a' ken my big brother
His name is Jock McGraw
He's lately joined a fitba' club
For he's mad about fitba'
He's twa black een already an'
Three teeth oot by the root
Where his face became connected wi'
Some other fellow's boot

Chorus

Oh he's fitba' crazy
He's fitba mad
His fitba' capers robbed him
O'the wee bit sense he had
It would take a dozen servants
His claes tae patch and scrub
Since oor Jock became a member   
O'that terrible fitba' club

Noo the first match that he ever played
I went masel' and saw
They'd twa hauf bricks for goal posts
And a tin can for a ba'
The Prince o' Wales was there himsel'
Wi a'his ladies grand
So our Jock he got an egg box
And erected a grandstand

Chorus

Of a' the fitba' clubs there are
Jock swears they are the best
Ye ought tae hear him brag aboot
How time has stood the test
They've challenged a' the ither clubs
But nane'll tak' them up
Since they beat the Blind Asylum
For the Silver Plated Cup

Chorus

In the second half at Hampden
The Captain said 'McGraw
Ye'd better tak' this penalty
or we'll never win at a'
He took forty paces backward
and shot off from the mark
The ba' went soarin' mightily
And landed in New York

Chorus

His wife says she'll divorce him
That's if he disnae keep
Frae kickin' up a rumpus
Playin' fitba' in his sleep
He cries oot it's a corner kick
Mair nonsense just as droll
He kicked her oot o' bed last nicht
And shouted 'It's a goal '

Chorus

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 06:58 PM

Excellent post, Big Tam.

I will be learning this one

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 02:53 PM

Jimmy McGregor is still about and occasionally plays at the session in Wintergills in Great Western Rd in Glasgow.

Adam McNaughtan does Fitba Crazy on his CD Last Stand at Hampden I t'ink

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 03:04 PM

And it was played on BBC Radio 2 this evening - Sung by The Beverley Sisters (Who had NOTHING to do with 'ull , btw ) with a verse added
about Teddy Bev being married to Billy Wright !

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 03:12 PM

Just a few wee additions, which you can use or not use as you see fit. Some of the words in this version have been 'anglicised'





Noo ye a' ken my big brother
His name is Jock McGraw
He's lately joined a fitba' club
For he's mad about fitba'
He's twa black een already an'
(Three teeth oot by the root)
[Teeth knocked frae his gub](gub= a Glasgow slang expression for mouth)
(Where his face became connected wi'
Some other fellow's boot)
[Since oor Jock became a member o' that terrible fitba club]
Chorus

Oh he's fitba' crazy
He's fitba mad
[And the fitba game has ta'en away, the little bit o' sense he had]
(His fitba' capers robbed him
O'the wee bit sense he had)
It would take a dozen (servants) skivvies]
His claes tae (patch) [wash] and scrub
Since oor Jock became a member   
O'that terrible fitba' club

Noo the first match that he ever played
I went masel' and saw
They'd twa hauf bricks for goal posts
And a tin can for a ba'
The Prince o' Wales was there himsel'
Wi a'his ladies grand
So our Jock he got an egg box
And erected a grandstand

Chorus

Of a' the fitba' clubs there are
Jock swears they are the best
Ye ought tae hear him brag aboot
How time has stood the test
They've challenged a' the ither clubs
But nane'll tak' them up
Since they beat the Blind Asylum
For the Silver Plated Cup

Chorus

In the second half at Hampden
The Captain said 'McGraw
Ye'd better tak' this penalty
or we'll never win at a'
He took forty paces backward
and shot off from the mark
The ba' went soarin' mightily
And landed in New York

Chorus

(His wife says she'll divorce him
That's if he disnae keep
Frae kickin' up a rumpus
Playin' fitba' in his sleep
He cries oot it's a corner kick
Mair nonsense just as droll
He kicked her oot o' bed last nicht
And shouted 'It's a goal ')

[His wife says she'll divorce him, she'll mak him look a sicht
If he disnae keep frae fitba kickin' in the bed at nicht
Fur he cries her Charlie Tully**, and ither names sae droll
Last nicht he kicked her oot the bed, and shouted IT'S A GOAL]

Chorus

**Charlie Tully was a famous Glasgow footballer in years gone by

Giok

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Nick
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 08:08 PM

Now that has taken me back about 30 years when I briefly went out with Shirley when she lived in Chalk Farm in London after she had split from her husband. Very nice, attractive woman with a very stunning daughter.

Nice memory.

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 06:25 AM

Okay shoot me down in flames but, do I remember a line about

It would take a thousand women to rearrange his brain......


was it

when he gets too lod to play, he'll surely go insane.....

never sung it, but used to watch tonight.

Milions of memories flood back...Fyffe Robertson, Robin Day, Derek Hart, Cliff(of course), the very good looking one who wrote a book about hoboes and died young, Alan Whicker......after such knowledge what forgiveness,.....?

I think I've got three craws on a cd somwhere if someone wants a copy. I'm moving hopefully soon, but I will look for it for you.

al

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 12:27 PM

Kenneth Allsop was the man that wrote Hard Travelin, the book referred to in the above posting. I believe he suffered severely from a war wound (loss of a leg I believe) and sadly decided that he'd had enough. It was a sad loss. Another very good book of his was about the Chicago mob and the mafia.

Subject: RE: hall and mcgregor
From: Scrump
Date: 03 Jan 07 - 02:37 PM

Does anyone know the words to "50 Ways To Lose Your Liver" as mentioned earlier in this thread? Sounds like a song I ought to know!