Marilyn Middleton

Subject: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 01:26 PM

Saw Marilyn at the Cornwall Folk FEstival long ago
With the help of Tony at Maidenhead I managed to track her down in the Malvern Hills where she does B n B
This Friday 28th March she will be giving a rare but unforgetable performance at the St Albans folk Club ,at the Comfort Hotel.
Talents such as hers are rare, great songs ,great delivery and a fun person.
All budding female singers must see her.
Come on over if you're free, there's a lovely welcome awaiting.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 02:12 PM

Yeah - but she sings jazz...

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 02:27 PM

Marilyn has a very good Jazz clarinetist for a partner and DOES sing jazz She also does a very good job with a wide varity of Folksongs,
even some unaccompanied stuff.To Imply that an artist should be in any way avoided because what they perform does not fit with YOUR personal taste does not strike me as a sensible approach.Marilyn is
a very good professional artist,and has never to my knowledge done a bad folk club booking.I might even try to get up there myself.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Tig
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 03:35 PM

I first saw Marilyn quite a few years ago at Warwick, and last saw her last year at Chester. Don't knock her unless you have actually seen her. The stuff she does is incredible.

Go if you can!!!!!

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,skippy
Date: 23 Mar 03 - 05:10 PM

her performance is "awesome"!
you must go & hear this lady!
please don't miss this chance to see this rare talent, if you are disappointed I will give you your ticket fee, trust me I am not involved with the running of any folk club so I have nothing to gain in saying that she is "awesome"
Regards Skippy

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 12:45 AM

Whoever can---GET THERE! The lady is a top-class talent-package. And she's not all jazz; if you like material by Stan Rogers, or would like to hear the finest rendition [in my humble opinion] of "Bedlam Boys are Bonny", get your request in early. And a blues number or two or three isn't beyond her either.And "breezy", if you can remember, tell her that big Boab frae Bourtreehill still listens to "The Man in the Moon" now and then!

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Singing Referee
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 04:12 AM

Sounds like we're on to a winner on Friday.
Might even get Ann along!

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Alio
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 05:56 AM

I used to book her each year when I ran the Cross Keys FC, and you could always guarantee a full house when she appeared. She is fantastic! I'm just sorry that she doesn't seem to get to the Manchester area any more, nor many festivals.
Ali

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Mr Red
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 07:21 AM

She sings blues as well. I don't know for sure but I would bet on her being at the Upton Jazz Festival which is on the same w/e as the Alcester and Arden Festival (ex Redditch).

Upton upon Severn is 5 miles from Malvern and the Jazz do is BIG. Too crowded for me even if I wasn't at Alcester.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 24 Mar 03 - 08:56 AM

GUEST guest your way off.
I know what she can do.I took a friend to see her and he just fell headoverheels.
I know I've got one of the very best coming and she is so easy to talk to.
Well said Terry, though I doubt you'll make it.btw shes married to Steve Mellor and has made an album with him and Grant Baynham
But she'll be playing guitar on Friday.
And that voice and interpretation, cant wait.
It'll be a friendly and enjoyable evening.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 25 Mar 03 - 10:35 AM

Does she still do Harris and the mare?

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: harvey andrews
Date: 25 Mar 03 - 02:05 PM

Yes she does. She sang it at one of my school concerts last year.She's unique!

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 12:33 PM

Just spoken to the gal herself and her 'Doll's House' repertoire is ready to be heard by a new set of listeners.
Its going to be a gas of a night.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: My guru always said
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 02:30 PM

Looking forward to it Breezy!!!

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,Ross
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 04:24 PM

Is she gorgeous, sexy & single?

And can she cook pie & chip for an exhausted quantity surveyor who toils all day counting bricks?

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 05:10 PM

She also gives singing lessons, thats why she'll be back in Malvern by mid-day Sat so she wont be in French Row.
I'll be re-booking her.
She's going to rock n Roll at 11.00 so as to liven up for the last hour!!
She'll be there early so come and meet her,doors open 7.45.
Ross, you'll be sorry if you dont come and experience the M.M. show, guru wont forgive you.
Once seen and heard, I've even got Herb coming up from Teddington by train, and Laura booked 6 tickets.
Get on board,you know we want to see you at the Comfort,it would warm guru's heart, and to our other 'sings'too.
J

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Ross
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 07:01 AM

I've got my greatest ever excuse for not coming Friday

I'm taking my 85 year old Auntie to Heathrow who is flying to Darwin, Australia to visit her son, whose main hobby is sailing & fishing in shark & crocodile infested waters

Oh & they have jellyfish that can kill a large baby via the phone - in the infested waters (not down the supermarket)

Will come along soon

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 08:30 AM

so? big deal,be there.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 01:37 PM

Can she do "Basin Street"?

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 02:14 PM

she does the lot

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,Dave Roberts, Salt Town Poets
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 02:52 PM

Hi,
I thought I'd already posted this once, so if it's double posted, sorry.

Excuse my ignorance, but is the Marilyn Middleton you're referring to the same lady I once knew as Marilyn Middleton Pollock?

Has she dropped the Pollock, to employ a rather odd turn of phrase?

DR

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,Pollock
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 05:07 PM

Yes

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,Dave Roberts, Salt Town Poets
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 05:19 PM

Ta.

In that case, I can endorse everything that former correspondents have said.
Marilyn was at Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival a few years ago and was sensational.
Highly recommended.
DR

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 08:15 PM

I know, thats why I tracked her down, and she's playing tonight.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Singing Referee
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 04:01 AM

Less than 12 hours to go 'til Marilyn Middleton appears at the Comfort Hotel, Holywell Hill, St Albans, so I thought we should get this thread back to the top of the list.

Ref.

PS What a great song breezy!

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 09:53 AM

sold 2 more tickets in the 'Row' this a.m. for Marilyn.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 08:25 PM

the gal done good

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Piers
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 03:32 AM

What a voice!

Piers

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 06:26 AM

Bloody amazing lady. Breezy, she was all you said and lots more. For the first time, I might accuse you of understatement! I observed closely in the first half, being sat right next to her, and
- her technique is amazing (but then she teaches singing to actors, so we shouldn't be surprised - yet I was)
- her voice is gorgeous (appreciated much better live, the recordings may be great but they don't do justice to her natural harmonics)
- her expressiveness left this supposedly passionate Greek reeling
- and as for energy, I just wish my 17 year old daughter had 1% of Marilyn's.

The patter was great, too; no element in her performance left me less than enthusiastic.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH A VOICE LAST NIGHT

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 06:31 AM

And, "GUEST,Guest", if you read this, yes, she does sing jazz. Little of it came out last night (though I bet none of us would have minded if we heard more, such was the quality); but there was plenty of blues; and trad and Stan Rogers too; and other quality songs.

So, don't judge her summarily like that; do your ears a favour and go to her next live preformance. Word is that she wants to return to the folk circuit a bit more than in recent years.

So, club organisers, pick up the phone and call her.

Breezy has already booked next year's date with her.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 03:19 PM

El Greko, you experienced what I fell in love with all those years ago in 1989.
At mid-day today she was back to teaching at her home in the Malvern Hills.
Perhaps she'll come to Burcot Village Hall on the 12th of April and who knows 20th Sept!
Imagine ,Johnny Collins and Marilyn Middleton!!!!!!!and you and me!

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 07:47 AM

My Dear Mr El Grecko, I've heard and seen Marylyn Middleton more times than you have had hot dinners and I am well acquainted with her jazz and folk recordings for Fellside and Lake and also her jazz performances some years back on BBC Radio 2. I am well aware that her range incorporates jazz, gospel, traditional and contemporary folk, Bessie Smith type blues and '20s pop songs. You and Leadfingers et al are making incorrect assumptions about my taste and also my views. You have no need to be so partisan. Given the dearth of talent in folk clubs, both floor singers and in many cases, paid performers, and the non-critical audiences that indulge their lack-lustre performances, I would think that MMP would be like a revelatory breath of fresh air. And by the way, she sings jazz... like the real thing.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 08:10 AM

I feel adding to this thread is not going to acieve any thging,but I
feel constrained to reply to 'Guest'.The implication of your 'But she
sings Jazz' post is that the Folk audience not should be interested.
   Thatis why I posted what I did and if you do not like 'ASSUMPTIONS'
contained within,hard luck.You choose to post anonymously on to Mudcat
and can then sit back and enjoy the reactions of people who CAN be contacted by other members safe in the knowledge that you can stir up any crap you want to with NO possible comeback.
    I normally prefer to ignore posts by anonymous guests,but made an exception in this case.Obviously from the tone of your final post I
made a mistake as you were plainly just trying to cause trouble

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,George Clunbury
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 11:21 AM

Ref:
My Dear Mr El Grecko, I've heard and seen Marylyn Middleton more times than you have had hot dinners.

How on EARTH does he know this?

GC

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 02:11 PM

not last week though!

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 03:27 AM

Clearly, "GUEST, Guest" does not know me, for (unfortunately) I have indeed had more hot dinners than he imagines...But joking aside, "GUEST,Guest", Leadfingers' response mirrors my thoughts, because your initial post in no way reflects your subsequent one. Indeed, the initial post could not be construed as anything other than a challenge to the folkies to "appreciate" MM.

Never mind...I will happily align myself with your second post (bar the hot dinner reference), then we're all agreed that MM is a great lady, which surely is the heart of this thread.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 10:04 AM

Such diplomacy !
Come to Stortfolk this Thursday and subject yourself to the 'El Grecko English Folk-song experience'

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,Marilyn Middleton
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 12:00 PM

Yes, that's me. I did drop the Pollock and Mr. Pollock as well, ten years ago.

To those that don't know me, or used to know me, I tech theatre vocals at Stagecoach, am involved in much theatre both amature and professional and still go out and sing once in a while in Traditional Jazz as well as folk.

The gig at St. Albans was great. Chris is a wonderful guitar player and we had a great session. Much thanks to John who runs himself to death for the club.

I'm still here and will be around a few places this coming year.

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,boab
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 06:35 PM

Told you they're doin' somersaults over you, Marilyn! [I mean, of course, in the emotional sense, not the athletic----] Ate any good mushrooms lately?
Boab

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: My guru always said
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 05:18 PM

Mushrooms? Now you're talking!!

Back to the plot though, I echo all compliments to MM. Fab singer / performer!

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: breezy
Date: 03 Oct 04 - 11:21 PM

Hello Marilyn, I was at the Folk on the Moor tonight and I see you will be there on Sun 17th June 2005.

Now how can we get Chris to take another Cornish holiday?

thank for a terrific evening, see you and hear you soon

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: GUEST,Penny Bowden
Date: 01 Nov 10 - 02:18 PM

I was her tour manager this October (2010) on a holiday she took to Lake Garda and Tuscany which finished yesterday and immediately recognised a very special personality.

She was travelling under the name of Mellor, and had such a zest for life I thought there was something special there. As with these type of trips, where I'm on the run all the time and looking after 40 plus people, it wasn't until the last day that I twigged.

This is when, having said she gave singing lessons, she sang to me by way of thank you in front of the majority of her fellow travellers. It was unaccompanied, and even though she was suffering from some kind of lergy, was as clear as a bell. I was honoured, to say the least, that even though she wasn't supposed to sing, she did that for me.

Then someone told me her professional name and I, as a folk fan, remembered her from folk-going days and the radio.

It just shows you that you never know what talent you have on board a coach load of travellers who were on what was an action-packed budget trip.

So, Marilyn, if you read this, from one professional to another - I salute you!

Penny (Newmarket Seven Cities joint leader of the Frog Coach!)

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Rockhen
Date: 01 Nov 10 - 03:51 PM

Sorry to be a bit dense and I only skimread the rest of the thread...is this the same Mariln Middleton who sang Wild Women and Nobody Knows You on an album once? I would love to know where I can have a listen to more from you, if so, Marilyn. I used to do a version of Wild Women when I was in the Wild Wolds Women because...we just had to, with a title like that. I had a CD with it on and other tracks but someone borrowed it and I was really disappointed because I never got it back..

Subject: RE: Marilyn Middleton
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Nov 10 - 04:10 PM

Mrs Marilyn Middleton Mellors has a web site for her Singing Teacher activities . Amazon woul probably also be a good source for her CDs!