Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: Tyke
Date: 18 May 11 - 09:52 AM

I often wonder what happened to Grahams fretless bass Guitar that was nicked. His brother Steve Jones Built it for him oh and Steve Jones is playing in Addingham on the 2nd of June.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Ani mcneice
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 04:38 AM

I have just found a copy of the album made in 1971
I have just posted some photos of it on my facebook page!

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Jon Strong
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 11:42 AM

Been in contact with Martin and I'm trying to sort out a few gigs for him in the Yorkshire area sometime in the New Year, can anybody help?

Cheers Jon.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Emer Nugent
Date: 05 Dec 12 - 12:00 PM

Martin Carter AKA Spida has a new you tube video for his song Cheese on Toast, great fun song, perfect when you have the munchies!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmf123S4dQU

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 13 - 10:54 AM

Hi i worked for Martin and Grahams manager in the late seventies,and printed flyers for them, met them once in the printroom at battersea, South london where they stored some of their equipment , nice easy going guys and good musicians but had no idea what happened to them until i read other peoples memories.steve

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 13 - 11:10 AM

hi,again! just googled Graham Jones name and found two bands who have a bass player with the name of Graham Jones, 'Bassa Bassa' and 'The Amber Sleep'both on you tube, hope that helps?steve

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 06:34 AM

Last time they played at Wrea Green, I asked Graham about the bass as he seemed to be playing it again. He told me that he'd had another made, which was the one he was playing. The strange thing was, that shortly before the Wrea Green gig, his original one had turned up, so he had two of them.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,John Warr
Date: 22 May 14 - 06:41 PM

Nice to hear that Martin and Graham are still about. Last saw them in the mid 1980s at Leeds Folk Festival. I recall that Peter Bellamy made the Bacca Pipes recording of Martin, I have the tape in a pile ready to copy to mp3. The Hermit album was always pricey on the second hand market in the early 80s it would appear on Record Collector for about £500. Which was strange as Geoff Bowen still had a load of unsold ones. Colin Cripps made the mp3s available about 7 years ago:
http://coventrymusichistory.typepad.com/blog/2007/05/the-hermit-mountain-ash-band.html

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,stevie
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 09:50 AM

Has anyone got a copy of Somewhere in Japan/No More Nagasaki that they can send me or put on youtube? I've hunted but cannot find one and am really keen to hear it! I'd be eternally grateful! Thanks.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: konig
Date: 31 Mar 18 - 04:30 PM

Does anyone hear have an Mp3 of Martin's first album 'Something New' from 1971. Would very mcuh like to hear it.
Thank you.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: konig
Date: 02 Apr 18 - 10:54 AM

Did happen to get in contact with a fellow in France that has a copy of Martin's first album "Something New," and he has sent me only a couple of tracks so far that sound really awesome, am waiting on the other 10 tracks from him; but listening to these, as they sound so good, am also interested in getting a copy of his send album as well "Up's and Downs" if anyone also has a recording of this, it would be great. I am just an old collector who likes to listen to song's conveniently. Thank you in advance!
Richard

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Simon Jones
Date: 04 Apr 18 - 12:52 PM

This thread may now be long redundant but just a few weeks back I came across a an excellent cover of his first album from 1971, Someone New. it was pristine but sadly without the record and the bloke selling it had no idea where the disc was. On the back however it stated that Martin was first a rock guitarist who 'discovered' folk and thus wandered in that direction. He recorded for Tradition Records based at the time in Macclesfield, Cheshire, just down the road from where I live. Fortunately the God of record collecting was watching me as when a few days later on a visit to a Manchester music store, what did I come across in the discount box but a perfect copy of Martin's second album Ups and Downs in it's green sleeve which notes on the back that he's a 'maturing talent who mixes his own songs with traditional material,' as indeed he does with gentle backing from guitar, fiddle, mandolin and flute. It makes quite an engaging package!
Both Martin and Graham Jones did indeed play on the Yorkshire collective folk rock album by The Mountain Ash Band, The Hermit. It was as rare as hen's teeth until it was given a CD reissue by Vinyl Tap in 1995. One final point, I seem to recall reading years ago in a long gone copy of Folk News that Martin and Graham had their guitars taken from a gig they were playing in Yorkshire. Wonder if they ever got them back?
Just thought you'd like to know. Simon Jones fRoots.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Keely Grattan
Date: 22 Apr 18 - 02:33 PM

Interesting thread.
Graham Jones played with Leeds Eastern European Folk band Caravanserai for many years. I was lucky to work with him and he is a fabulous musician. I'd love to hear the recordings he did with Martin Carter. As far as I'm aware he is still living and playing around Leeds.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Nat Clare
Date: 24 Apr 18 - 03:00 PM

Hey I loved that duo. Saw em loads in the seventies at small folk clubs last time in Stockport at the little boozer whose name escapes me as do all copies of their vinyl!! Dead jealous of the Manchester find!

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Ilkley exile
Date: 18 May 18 - 10:06 AM

https://spida1.bandcamp.com/

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Ilkley exile
Date: 19 May 18 - 01:01 PM

I have tried to contact Spida through the link on the site above but got no response. He had a heart attack August 2017, was hoping to have a bypass surgery Sept, nothing since. The link above has links to pay for tracks, I am sure I am not the only person who would hope things are OK with him. A talented man, and very humorous.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Malcolm Payne
Date: 14 Jan 19 - 03:59 PM

Hi all -

I check in every year or so at this page, and was surprised to read of Spida’s heart attack in August 2017, as I had actually managed to track him down briefly in October 2017 via Facebook, and he sounded fine, at least “on screen”. He told me that he’s living in Belfast now, after spells in Spain, Holland and New York, gigging in Ireland and a bit in Scotland. Says he’s still writing and recording. I definitely had a secondary motive for tracking him down, i was trying to get the lyrics to his amazing song “To the Brim” which him and Graham used to finish sets with back in the early ’80’s. Just one of the loveliest tunes I’ve ever heard, and I still remember the melody and chords etc to this day. He told me he remembers it, but when I wrote a follow up message begging him for the lyrics, I didn’t hear back. And i’m not on FB any more, but if Martin or Graham are ever on here, I wish you both the very best . .   Malcolm

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Steve Taylor
Date: 16 Mar 20 - 07:33 AM

Hi Malcolm, are you still wanting the lyrics to “To the Brim”. I have a recording of if.
Steve Taylor
[e-mail]

Subject: Lyr Add: To the Brim (Martin Carter-Graham Jones)
From: cnd
Date: 17 Mar 20 - 10:37 PM

Lyrics to "To the Brim" per the recording shared with me by Steve Taylor:

I hide in the shadows when I am blue
No, you can't see me, oh, but I can see you
And I am silently watching you
Watching your scene
Come on now
Come clean

Now go and find me the ocean where swallows do swim
And I will give you my laughter
You can take all my sunsets
I will deliver my river
And I will fill you
Oh yes I will fill you to the brim

Now kindness is fine, as I am sure you will agree
Even a drifter has given to me
And I take the coin in exchange for the key
To follow the sun and be free

So now go and find me the ocean where swallows do swim
And I will give you my laughter
You can take all my sunsets
I will deliver my river
And I will fill you
Oh yes I will fill you to the brim

Here on this high road, well I look for the signs
Keeping a keen eye on the people passing by
Me, in the shadows
And you in the light
I said come to my window tonight

And I will give you the ocean where swallows do swim
And I will give you my laughter
You can take all my sunsets
I will deliver my river
And I will fill you
Oh yes I will fill you to the brim

So I hide in the shadows when I am blue
No, you can't see me, oh, but I can see you
And I am silently watching you
Watching your scene
Come on now, please
Come clean

So now go and find me the ocean where swallows do swim
And I will give you my laughter
You can take all my sunsets
I will deliver my river
And I will fill you
Oh yes I will fill you to the brim
Right up to the brim
To the brim

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 12 Oct 21 - 03:19 PM

Late to this conversation. I knew Martin when I lived in Bingley in the '70s. They played at Bingley College more than once. I have a recording of Martin at the Bacca Pipes in Keighley, from around '85 I think. I also have two CDs worth of material from Matin and Graham if anyone is interested. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Carter and Graham Jones
From: GUEST,Tony Hardy
Date: 31 Oct 22 - 01:17 PM

I came across this forum randomly and see it goes back many years. I met Martin & Graham at Poynton Folk Club in my teens and was involved with them for several years getting them folk club bookings when a lot of clubs didn't want to know about contemporary music. They played several times at Exeter University Folk Club (73-76) and I met them again when I moved to London. They had a manager and some support for a year or so (I guess around 1977-78) but nothing ultimately came of it. They also had a great supporter in sound engineer Greg Jackman (someone else I should look up). I lost touch with them eventually and have looked before for info about where they are both now. Reading this thread has been invaluable but I do hope Martin's by-pass operation was successful and he's still around. It's a little worrying that the trial runs cold in 2017. I think the Bandcamp page for Spida is dormant as they has been nothing posted for 7 years. I have some Carter & Jones songs from the 70's on cassette tapes - mainly live recordings in clubs. Graham's bass playing was something else. I'll have to dig it out to remind me of song titles but I remember they often opened with "Roger & Me", a song about Martin's guitar and I also particularly loved "Market Day in Montpassier" (spelling might not be right but it was about a small village in Frances near the Dordognes and its special tourtiere pies with prunes & custard!) If everyone has any kind of update I'll check in here and can also be contacted via my music website www.fifty3.net