The Mudcat Café

Subject: The Mudcat Café
From: Max
Date: 01 Oct 96 - 12:00 AM

I thank you all for all your kind emails. Many are full of wonderful information and information requests. They all induced me to create this forum to share with the rest of the world. For I think we're all in it for the same reasons... the enjoyment of this art form called music.

I hope you all enjoy this new service. It is still very new, so some debugging may be needed.

Thanks again,

Max D. Spiegel - Publisher - The Mudcat Café

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From:
Date: 02 Oct 96 - 03:43 PM

Thanks very much for picking up the Digital Tradition database! It has been a favorite and much used site on the web. And the message forum is a great idea. A much needed source for folk music fans!

Warm Regards, -Shawn

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From:
Date: 03 Oct 96 - 08:30 PM

Max... Congratulations and great job! Looking for tunes is one of the most frustrating of obsessions for a "play by ear" Hammered Dulcimer player, like myself. With the help of people like yourself to find the music to some of these fascinating tunes I hear & the remarkable assistance of a particular piece of software which will play back that music so I can "hear" it....who knows how far I can go..eh?

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou...... Lucy Anderberg Northern Ill.

I will pass this address onto members of our group. (H.A.N.D.S.)

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From:
Date: 11 Oct 96 - 10:35 AM

Hello Max, I have told all my musicain freinds (and it seems some not so friendly) all about your beautiful site here at The MudCat Cafe. Again I would like to wish you all the best .

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Dale Rose
Date: 15 Oct 98 - 06:29 PM

Sometimes we need to be reminded of things. Thanks again, Max, Dick, Susan, and all those nameless (to me) people who help get the good news out there to us all.

Message located with Max's nifty new search feature.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Zorro
Date: 16 Oct 98 - 06:55 AM

I'm not sure what I did during pre-Mudcat, but I didn't enjoy it quite as much I'm sure. The Cat is the second thing I look for when I get on line. The first is my e-mail so that I might check my status with a certain lady. It goes up and down in a hurry. Keep up the good work. You are much appreciated.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: The Shambles
Date: 16 Oct 98 - 03:34 PM

As a fairly recent visitor to your establishment I would like to say thank you very much for all the help and pleasure that I have found here. Don't know why it works so well, just glad and grateful to you that it does. The new search bit has opened up a lot more too. The coffee is bad though!

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Oct 98 - 04:24 PM

Looks like it took me until January 5, 1997, to find this site after the Xerox site shut down. Gee, I sure was slow back in those days. I checked to see how many messages I've posted since then - this is #2149. I didn't realize I was quite so talkative...
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 16 Oct 98 - 06:53 PM

Keep it up, Joe; your batting average is the stuff of the Hall of Fame!

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Maj Marvelous
Date: 16 Oct 98 - 07:31 PM

Many Thanks to Mudcat for getting me in touch with one of your own, The Oldtimer, Gene. His assistance to me has been unheralded. Thanks so much

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 16 Oct 98 - 08:33 PM

G'day,
I'm the same as Zorro, while I read my emails, Mudcat's loading in the background, it's the default home page in my browser.

Congratulations Max, on all your hard work and continuing innovation.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Big Mick
Date: 16 Oct 98 - 10:02 PM

Max,

You know how I feel about the opportunity to network with all these fine people. You, by your developement of the Mudcat Cafe, have given me access to friends around the world. I am indebted to you.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Oct 98 - 10:45 PM

I suppose I found Mudcat in about Nov96...(having Dick G to send me there...)been being resident "purist snob" ever since...*grin*....what an amazing place!! Knowlege, humor, music....guess I'll stay for awhile...

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 12:43 AM

Max,

Given an amount of personal isolation recently that I never thought I'd experience, this site has kept me able to be puttin' my two cents into the folk world in a way that keeps me giving back stuff that I've so graciously been handed for free by so many selfless mentors and womentors over the last 40 years. The give and take--the yin and the yang of it---the karma---that's what's happening here. Every time we give, we get! Hell, Mudcat is more fun than chocolate. And much less fattening. You'd think I could learn that better than I have!!!

Love to y'all,

Art

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: BSeed
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 03:11 AM

Max, I hope you finally found your name in my song--the "Missing the Mudcat Blues" were inspired by my real sense of panic when you shut the threads down briefly last Sunday. I don't know how it could possibly be as good as it is. --seed

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: BSeed
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 03:13 AM

Or to put it another way, "It feels so good it must be sinful." --seed

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: BSeed
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 03:14 AM

Hey! Was that a kicker for a country song? --seed

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Big Mick
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 01:03 PM

We have all been giving accolades (and rightly so) to Max for giving us the land upon which we have built the city. But reading Art's post above, reminded me that it's only land and buildings, or a site and hardware, without all of you. Let me begin by saying that Art Thieme has enriched this site by his presence from the beginning. And he has enriched my life by his acts of kindness (he knows what they are) in a very personal way. I have found in him, a true friend in our cyberspace town, and it is people like him that have taken the great gift of the Mudcat and given it life. The same goes for Joe O., Roger H., Bseed, Frank i.t.s., Barbara, Harpgirl, Alison (I grow faint just typing her name in ***GRIN***), northfolk, BillD, Alan of Australia, Graeme, Maelgwyn, The Shambles, Dale Rose, Takeo, Zorro and on and on.

So in addition to the thanks we seem to be spreading for Max, I want to add my personal thanks for all of you for enriching my life.

All the best to all of you,

Mick

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Barbara
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 02:09 PM

The Friend speaks my mind. (That's Quaker for 'ditto')
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: BSeed
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 02:33 PM

How right you are, Mick. The people make the Mudcat, and Max brought us all together. I nominate him for sainthood--not that agnostics pull much weight with the Vatican. --seed

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 02:55 PM

Two very important names were mentioned way up above in this thread, and I want to make sure they're not forgotten - Dick and Susan started the Digital Tradition Folk Song Database some ten years ago, before many of us had even touched a computer. They're not as noisy or noticeable as some of the rest of us, but their guidance and vast knowledge has been with us all the time. Besides all that, they seem to be genuinely nice people.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 04:43 PM

I had the pleasure of meeting Dick and Susan, Joe, and they are genuinely nice people. I walked into a large room at a strange camp trying to figure out how I register for this Folk Getaway. This guy walks up to me whom I don't recognize and says "Hi, Roger!" with much enthusiasm and pleasure in his voice.

Of course, I was wearing my Mudcat T-shirt and it's easy to suspect that I wear a 3X. That's all the information Dick needed to guess who I am. He and Susan took time to introduce me to the other Mudcatters who were about. Sunday night we had a short chat about the joys of Mudcatting and about the folks we wish could have come (see Big Mick's listabove and include Big Mick).

I am grateful to each and everyone.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: BSeed
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 06:46 PM

I've been dreaming lately of a Mudcat convention--kind of a reunion of people most of whom have never met. I think Chicago is the best place, fairly centrally located in the US, and most important, the home of Art Thieme. A motel with a meeting room or three, and of course a bar--we want our Irish brethren and sistren to attend. Or a park near the city where we could have an outdoor festival..."You can say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...." --seed (not the quote; that's lennon, of course)

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Jenny
Date: 18 Oct 98 - 12:04 AM

Roger ... I'm so jealous! I was all registered and set to go to the Getaway and had to cancel at the last minute due to my grandmother's passing away. Dick and Susan were to be my roomies. It sounds like you had to kind of "time" I was looking forward to. I'm already setting my sights for next year. I found this site last February and look forward everyday to reading, contributing, and sometimes lurking (when I'm just too tired). This site has all the elements of a good song ... joy, humor, sadness, sin, sex, empathy, sympathy, and a great melody! I've had the pleasure of communicating with some of the "Cats" outside of the threads, and have gotten to know them a bit better. So ... hats off to the inspirations of them that made it happen. BTW ... thanks for all the kinds thoughts about my grandmother ... it meant so much to me. Jenny

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 18 Oct 98 - 01:01 AM

While Joe Offer credited Dick and Susan (above) for founding the Digital Tradition database, I'd like to give credit also to Dennis Cook, whose data base was merged with Susan's to form the original DT. Dennis isn't a Mudcatter (yet, at least), but he was at the Getaway mentioned by Roger and Jenny above.

Roger--sorry I didn't get to meet you at the Getaway. Dick mentioned to me that you'd arrived, but I had to leave fairly early on Sunday.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 18 Oct 98 - 01:38 AM

Greetings to all from New Westminster, BC, Canada, where we've just had the good fortune to meet and host Dick and Susan. Aren't they wonderful? This is my first posting but I'm sure not the last. Our Vancouver Folk Song Society will shortly be posting our entire Archive listings to the net at geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/3254. We run Retreats in Summer and Winter and Mudcatters would be more than welcome.

Salut, Jon

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 18 Oct 98 - 10:54 PM

I just got this conputer so I'm new to typing but am so very happy to find ypur site.Thanks for all the hard work that shows in it all.I'm just starting on my second{vanity pressed} CD and am so happy to find out who wrote the things I'm doing .It makes one look less foolish when calling BMI and ASCAP,though still just as broke. I still don't get the arangement fees. Say you are inspired by Rye Cooder's arangement of Leadbelly's Irene Good Night but do something else with it Who do you pay.I guess this should go in the new tread dept.buthere I am. Huge thanks again!....

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Art Thieme
Date: 18 Oct 98 - 11:11 PM

SEED,

You are a huge perspiration to me too.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: BSeed
Date: 19 Oct 98 - 12:59 AM

Gargoyle, Peoples' Park is an interesting suggestion for a festival--we could get a lot of the Telegraph Avenue street people, many musicians among them. People have been known to camp there, as well, usually in blanket rolls next to their shopping carts. Of course, the police roust them from time to time... --seed

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 20 May 00 - 09:34 PM

This is the beginning. The first Thread in the Mudcat Cafe, and a snapshot of some of the Pioneers. See anyone you know? This thread will be in the Mudcat Classic Threads FAQ.(oh, Joe O, please erase this post, if you would.)

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 May 00 - 10:00 PM

Note that there were only four messages posted to this thread in 1996, and then nothing until it was resurrected in 1998. You will find a few familiar names in the 1996 posts - Gene Graham and Bill D, for two. A person named Gargoyle joined early on, too. I think it was December 1996 that I discovered Mudcat.
Nice place, I'd say.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 20 May 00 - 10:28 PM

Art, I guess we differ in priorities.
For me it is chocolate first, Mudcat second and everything else is 3rd or less.
Can't thank you enough Max
Sincerely,
Little Neo

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From:
Date: 21 May 00 - 01:32 AM

Out of curiosity, when did the Digital Tradition database show up here? I don't remember the first time I showed up here. It had to have been after Xerox dropped the DT.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 May 00 - 03:10 AM

George - Max's message in the thread on the History of the Digital Tradition makes me think that the forum came after the Digital Tradition came, but that there was a Mudcat before the database came here.
Max or Dick or Susan, can you give us the straight poop?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: bbelle
Date: 21 May 00 - 03:42 AM

It was nice to see this thread again ... thanks ... Jenny

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Peter T.
Date: 21 May 00 - 10:31 AM

Can you bronze a thread?
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 21 May 00 - 11:15 AM

I don't know how in the world I ever came upon this site but it certainly was my lucky day! You "regulars" are the stuff heaven is made of. Too bad I have a day job otherwise you couldn't tear me away. S.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 May 00 - 11:43 AM

This quote was put in the 'Just do it' thread, by McGrath of Harlow on 19th May 2000. It seemed to sum up the Mudcat.

"I am inclined to think that a hunt for folk songs is better than a hunt for heroes". Beethoven.

I have not seen any direct contributions to the forum from this Beethoven person, but he/she does appear to know what they are talking about.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Art Thieme
Date: 22 May 00 - 12:46 AM

Aye, I guess Camelot is still here in the misty haze of these latter days after all. Many of us are some bloodied but our heads are still unbowed. And the knights and fair damsels seated at our own 'round table' -- the whole world 'round here in cyberspace -- are still what make the wonder of this place -- this Cafe -- the close to perfect nourishing oasis we needed on an often nasty and dry landscape. Shame on me if I ever lost sight of the fact of it's existence. Max, you pulled Excaliber from the depths of the lake yet another time. HERE is as good a place as any for us searchers to hunt after AND FIND that elusive whisp of philosophy we call the Grail. It is right here, you know -- lurking in different threads for different folks. Some of those threads have yet to be written - but no doubt about it -- the whispy Grail thing is there obscured and covered as always in white and/or red samite. It's "blowin' in the wind" for us to notice, grab and keep in our heads and in our hearts.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Dale Rose
Date: 22 May 00 - 01:04 AM

So well put, Art, that I don't have the words. Thank You.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Peg
Date: 22 May 00 - 02:49 PM

Lovely words, Art. (hence the name)

The grail imagery is fitting.

Peg
channelling Percival

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Amergin
Date: 22 May 00 - 03:25 PM

Speechless at your words, Art. Beautifully put. Thank you, Max, for setting this Cafe up. It's a great place.

Amergin

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Max
Date: 22 May 00 - 07:26 PM

Thanks all, the SuperSearch does allow us to find jewels over the years huh? I vividly remember the day I posted that message. Life sure was different for me then. I must say I stumbled upon my 2nd greatest creation that day (the first being my daughter). Your kind words then and now make all the effort over the years not only worth it, but some of the best time I have ever spent.

Joe, I am not really sure the exact date that I got the DT. I know I first contacted dick and got ahold of the DT somewhere between May and October 1996.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Amos
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 02:58 PM

Well it's now 2004, and it has been almost eight years since you made that kick-off, Max. Somehow, you've kept it going through thick and thin. I gotta hand it to you, it has been a wild and wonderful ride, but a richly beautiful result, in sum, and greatly, greatly appreciated.


A

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Megan L
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 03:18 PM

there are days when getting in the door is a challenge, but it is always worth the effort. Thank you Max for a site full of warmth and fascination.

Meg

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Arkie
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 03:49 PM

Max, thanks for creating a gathering place for folk with our peculiar interest in music. I know it has been a challenge but it has been a fantastic ride. Your efforts along with Dick and Joe and the others who have pitched in are much appreciated.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: fat B****rd
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 04:11 PM

Yes indeed, many thanks Max. But where are all the people from 1998-2000 ?

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: harpmaker
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 07:45 PM

Max, 'tis great. Well done!
Art, Thanks.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: Mudlark
Date: 23 Jul 04 - 12:34 AM

I no longer remember how I came to the Mudcat, but I'll never forget the wonderful friends I've made here, and the pleasure of having a comfortable, folkie place to hang out, when I'm in need of company or a music hit, or have a question, musical or otherwise, that needs answering. A truly remarkable resource. Thanks to all that have made it possible, and keep it going.

Subject: RE: The Mudcat Café
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Jul 04 - 02:34 AM

"It is still very new, so some debugging may be needed. "

... and de buggers are still around ....