Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales

Subject: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: pavane
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 10:21 AM

Does anyone know anything about a Welsh group, Porterhouse, who made one LP in the early 1970's? The only reference I turned up on Google was a passing mention in Taplas. I did hear one of the album tracks on Folk on 2 some years ago, but that's all.

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 10:34 AM

I think they cut only one, but I wouldn't steak anything on it, although I doubt they really were an A1 group or really cooked as that would be rare.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: pavane
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 10:53 AM

OUCH. The reasons that I ask are
a) They came from Neath, which is where I live and
b) A friend has just discovered them and is asking for info
They are certainly rare, tho.
any info about the record would also be useful, e.g. label, catalogue number, copy for sale anywhere.

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 10:54 AM

Sorry pavane.......

I've been looking around.......Any other info to help in the search.......a song name or something?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 02:39 AM

The songs on their album included Hal and Toe, Hares on the Mountain, Bide Lady Bide (The two magicians), Sovay Sovay, White Cockade, all traditional stuff, so you can't really trace them that way!

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: sian, west wales
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:22 AM

Why not get in touch with Keith at Taplas. I'll bet he'd know. There's another guy - Gary Melville? - who used to work for Agenda TV who knows everything there is to know about obscure Welsh recordings ... but I don't know where he is now. Maybe HTV?

sian

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 06:18 AM

The recording is actually in English, of mainly English songs, though.

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: sian, west wales
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 04:05 PM

So? Welsh band, recording (?) in Wales? Gary would still know - and I think he's from ... Resolven, maybe? Or Pontardawe. Anyway, the general Swansea bay area...

sian

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 04:35 PM

Sounds like a band I should check out.

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 06:12 PM

The information I do have is that the lead singer, (a girl with a very deep voice), and one other member, are still living somewhere in this area, and at least one group member has died. The songs were sung unaccompanied close harmony.

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 07:19 PM

I have tried every search setup I can think of and although there is no shortage of hits on some punk band and a lot of other stuff, I can find nothing on the group you're looking for. Sorry pavane.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 09:10 PM

I'LL Check on the Names, my memory is Playing tricks at present.The "Girl" now kives in Swansea ,or did up to a couple of years ago.The two men were from the Bridgend area ( Certainly one of them,I shall put my thinking Cap on If I can find itand come back to it! Mike

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: pavane
Date: 28 Jul 01 - 12:15 PM

Glyn Neath, I was told for one of them

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: pavane
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 02:35 AM

Further information. I have found a copy of their album 'Bide Lady Bide' for sale on an Italian web site. According to that, it was on the Cambrian UK label, and dated 1972.

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: Llanfair
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 03:33 AM

I wonder if it was recorded at the studio at Foel, which is just up the road from here?
I'll pop into Mid Wales Music today, and see if anyone has heard of them.
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: sian, west wales
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 05:36 AM

Didn't Sain buy up the Cambrian rights? I may be wrong, but if they did, they might know.

sian

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: GUEST,Gari Melville
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 06:25 AM

The album "Bide Lady Bide" by Porterhouse was released on the Pontardawe based label Cambrian in 1972, catalogue no MCT 216.

Track Listing:

Side 1
Hal on tow
Turkey Rhubarb
Hares On A Mountain
Savoy
Bide Lady Bide
Wondrous Love
White Cockade

Side 2
Lowlands
George Fuller Song
Admiral Benbow
Cloddy Banks
Tommys Gone To Hilo
King Arthur's Servants
Coventry Carol
General Taylor.

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: Anne Lister
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 12:52 PM

I have a copy of it! And I remember them well, although have no idea of their present whereabouts.

Anne

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: GUEST,guest Ifor
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 09:36 AM

Ah Porterhouse!
Wonderful singing by a fine trio.
Steff Thomas was part of the band which formed while she was at Barry Teacher's training college [ circa 1971 ] and the two male singers came from the Vale of Glamorgan.
Steff is now living in Swansea and is still singing but as far as I know as a member of a choir.
One of the other singers sadly died a few years ago.
Ifor
we were at college together.

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: pavane
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 09:49 AM

Small correction to the track list:

Savoy should read Sovay (As in "Sovay, Sovay", or the female highwayman)

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: Dame Pattie Smith EPNS
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 09:09 PM

I used to go to Bridgend Folk Club back in the early 70's and Porterhouse were regulars there. I knew them very well. They did wonderful harmonies and I'll always remember the goldfish song;
The Goldfish is a solemn bloke,
he very seldom drowns,
he just keeps going round and round,
and round and round and round.
And round and round and round and round,
and round and round and round,
and round and round and round and round,
and round and round and round....................aah memories!

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: GUEST,Tania
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 12:47 PM

Porterhouse consisted of 3 singers, Steph Tovey (Thomas) originally from Chipping Sodbury (now living in Swansea), Robin Lloyd who lived in the Green Dragon, Llancadle, and Tony David from North Cornelly (Nr Bridgend). Robin died in about 1993. Tony has retired to Cornwall and spends most of his time on his boat fishing (he is my Dad!). My Dads favorite group at present is Coope, Boyes and Simpson so you may want to check them out! Brilliant!!

The LP Bide Lady Bide was recorded at the George Sharland Studio at Cardiff in 1972.

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: GUEST,MaggsE
Date: 30 Aug 13 - 07:08 AM

Hi Tania - I had my precious (signed) copy of Bide Lady, Bide stolen in the mid 70s; the tape of the LP I acquired later was stolen from my car; not lucky! I was in college with Steph and went to all their concerts I could. Is there anyway of getting a copy of the original? (in any format) Thanks

Subject: RE: Any info about Porterhouse, 1970s Wales
From: GUEST,John Morgan
Date: 10 Sep 13 - 07:18 PM

Hello,

I recall listening to Porterhouse at the Coach and Horses in Bridgend in the early 1970's. I still have their record Bide Lady Bide which I've digitised and put on my MP3 player. Such is the quality of the singing that it transcends time and place!

If there's anything I can do to help anyone get to hear what a brilliant trio these three folk heroes were, then happy to help. Try emailing me at [e-mail].

Sad to hear that Robin has passed away, but Tony and Steph are still with us.

Best wishes