Review: The Songwainers

Subject: Review: The Songwainers
From: red max
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 05:25 AM

"The Songwainers" (1971) Argo ZFB 31

Side One
Robin Hood and the Three Squires
The Three Knights
The Deadly Wars
Stormy
Tom O'Bedlam's Song
Old Jonas

Side Two
News From Holland's Leager
Bright Phoebus
The Old And New Courtier
The False Fox
The Glittering Dewdrops
George Ridler's Oven
John Barleycorn

Apparently The Songwainers were mainstays of the Cheltenham Folk Song Club, and on the evidence of this LP it must have been a good place to hear some fine songs. As far as I know this was their only recording, but I'd like to hear otherwise. These chaps may look like The Yetties' less handsome cousins, but they were a great bunch of singers, their powerful voices carrying this unaccompanied (save for a little percussion) album with great aplomb

What makes this LP such a favourite of mine is the choice of material, most of which I've never heard elsewhere. Even the familiar opening song of Robin Hood switches midway to a different melody, a refreshing twist. Other highlights for me are The Old And New Courtier, a compelling chant, and The False Fox, a nursery rhyme set to an original tune. Best of all, though, is the brief reading of Old Jonas, in an squawking accent thicker than clotted cream

Does anyone know what the singers are up to these days?

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 09:56 AM

Was my friend Tom Addison with the Songwainers?

Sal

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 12:27 PM

One of my all time favourite a capella groups! They only produced the one album, as far as I could find out (and I looked extensively for others on the net over the years). I bought it in vinyl some 25 years ago, and it is still one of my prized possessions and firmly in my top 10 albums of all times.

I also saw them live a couple of times in the early seventies. They consisted of Ron taylor (tenor), Dave Stephenson (bass) and Ken Langsbury (one of the richest baritones and the craftsman of their wonderfully "weird" harmonies). Unfortunately Ken died quite a few years ago; so I heard.

I don't know what happened to Dave; but I do know that Ron Taylor joined with Graham and Eileen Pratt and Sue Burgess in 1976, to form "Regal Slip". They in turn produced an album called "Bandstand" in 1981 (again wonderful sound, if a little more "clinical"). Regal Slip restarted touring a couple of years ago, and you can probably catch them at some festival in the UK.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 04:21 PM

Tom was indeed with them. And IIRC I thought Dave was seriously ill (with cancer) about 5 years ago, but I may be confused about that - perhaps it was Ken.

Ron was singing with Geoff Gillett in recent years, but I haven't heard much of the two of them of late.

Mick

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 17 Apr 03 - 03:48 AM

I only ever saw them once, at Loughborough Festival in ... 1972? I was very impressed, but didn't have the means to get to see them again. Not only great singers, but great entertainers too.

Steve

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Melodeon
Date: 17 Apr 03 - 07:18 AM

Ken Langsbury is alive and very well, in fact he was singing in Stroud last tuesday(and is as wonderful as ever). Unfortunately Dave Stephenson died a couple of years ago.

   Viv

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 17 Apr 03 - 12:41 PM

My apologies to Ken for writing him off...clearly the rumours were premature!And sorry to hear about Dave.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Kate Haworth
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 09:42 PM

Ken Langsbury IS alive and well and as his daughter i can vouch for that. the songwainers reformed with a new line up a couple of years back and released another (long awaited) album. More recently Ken has founded another singing trio - "Roger Jenken's tumbrle" which, if they ever record any material, is definitely worth a listen.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 10:41 PM

I have since met Ken (Sidmouth 2006) and rejoiced in the error of my ways - his voice as good as ever, if not even better with maturity. I will seek out "Roger Jenken's tumbrle", if only to learn how to pronounce it!

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Little Robyn
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 01:33 AM

Were they the group singing 'Suzannah's a funicle man' at Wells FF in 1972?
If so, I recorded that - but there was a dog that barked every time they did the whistley bit.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 04:40 AM

I'm sure that would have been them....I can almost hear it now.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Squeezeme
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 05:16 AM

Me too....brings back fond memories.

Funny the way some things stay in your memory for nearly 35 years, but I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning!
Might have been "Bacon, acon, idly ....pork"

MC

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 06:32 AM

He did a wonderful story version of "King John and the Abbott" last time I played Cheltenham. A club with resident performers second to none, by the way.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Saro
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 01:23 PM

Ron Taylor is also very much alive and singing with Jeff Gillette - they have a new CD out on the Wildgoose label, and they sound glorious.
Saro

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 02:50 PM

Yes indeed, a fine duo. And among the aforementioned regulars at Cheltenham.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 03:25 PM

Mention of the Songwainers takes me back quite a lot of years to my early bookings at the club they ran in the Victory Club, Cheltenham. They had a man named Bill Spragg with them then. Later came Tony Tanner who sadly met his death in a car crash. Dave Stephenson MC'd the nights at the Victory, vigorously wielding an auctioneers hammer when introducing the singers. It was a great place to sing at because of the marvellous lead given by the Songwainers enthusiasm and gutsy style. Other regulars there included a young Pete Coe, and Sue Burgess, later of 'Regal Slip'. I was running the Cardiff Folksong Club at the time and booked the Songwainers in as our first guests. They sang their familiar traditional songs then, but also some modern material including a satirical number called 'The Royal Mating Season', a great laugh as I remember. They later guested for me when I ran the Nottingham Traditional Music Club, and went down a storm. Ken Langsbury was with them by this time, 1967/8-ish. It's a long time since I sang in Cheltenham but I will never forget those terrific sessions at the Victory Club. I'm most pleased to know that the name of the Songwainers is being carried on, and that memories of the originals are still green.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 04:32 PM

Tom Addison sings at the Globe in exeter Newtown, second Friday in the month.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 11:29 AM

Tom Addison, yes, I'd forgotten he was a Songwainer at one time. Tom is one of the gereat 'undiscovered' singers of England. It's time somebody recorded him.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 11:34 AM

The CD released two years is a prized possession. Quite simply the finest harmony singing since the hallowed days of Swan Arcade.

Ken Langbury and Roger Grimes were/are threatening to run a Volunteer evening session at Sidmouth next year. as organiser of the lunchtime session, I await with great interest. Tom and barry have become good friends of mine in organising Sidmouth over the last two years.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: BB
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 02:22 PM

Ken said he was going to run an evening session at the Volunteer this year, but when we went up there, there was no sign of it. Hope it works out next year.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,basa
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 10:03 AM

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Basa
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 10:09 AM

I was at Cheltenham folk festival last weekend and heard Ken lansbury sing "The Blacksmith"? or "Dear Balinda" wonderful Does anyone have the words to this song

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Basa
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 01:16 PM

Does anyone know how to contact Ken Langsbury ex Cheltenham Songwainers Basa

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Emily Stephenson
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 04:33 PM

Hi there, I'm not sure if anybody still checks this thread but I just wanted to say how great it was to read the lovely comments about the Songwainers and associated groups. I am Dave Stephenson's youngest daughter and yes I am sorry to say he died nearly 8 years ago from cancer.

Thank you all for your lovely comments, the Songwainers in all their various forms (does anyone also remember the era with Mike Gabriel by the way?) were a great bunch of guys, I remember creeping out of bed on Monday nights and sitting on the top step of the stairs listening to them practice, something which all my siblings did at one time or another!

On the last question of getting in touch with Ken, I am sure my mum still has some numbers somewhere, if you email your details to [e-mail] I will ask her to pass them on to Ken. Likewise if anyone wants to ask anything about the groups, please feel free to contact me :)

-Emily Stephenson

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: RTim
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 04:52 PM

Two weeks ago I was showing Steve Jordan the film made at Christchurch Folk Festival in 1973 that features The Songwainers singing Polly on the Shore, while riding on board a boat off Mudeford.
The film also features some of the preformers of that year incl. The High Level Ranters, Dave Williams, Ted Duckett, Dave Kettlewell, Myself & Helen Woodall, etc etc and lots of dancing and talk about the festival, etc..
Very eerie to see oneself 34 years ago!!

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Sean O'Shea
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 04:58 PM

Tom Addison now singing as part of The Claque,recorded on Wildgoose label for release this year.Cecil Sharp House,Feb 12th.Chippenham Festival,May 23rd

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 07:10 PM

Ken Langsbury was guesting at Herga last night with Roger and Jen, and we had a great evening, thanks!

They sang The Deadly Wars, Stormy, and John Barleycorn from the Songwainers.

Ken also sang "Belinda" (written by Ogden Nash - I've also heard it sung by Kat Graebe, who learnt it from her dad, Martin).

Ken gave me his email address, which is his name followed by [e-mail]. He and Barry Lister will be celebrating their significant birthdays this year in August at the Balfour in Sidmouth.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 07:20 PM

PS I didn't know, until Ken mentioned it last night, that he was actually born not far away from Harrow, in Ealing, because his parents were living in Northolt at the time. They very sensibly moved back to Gloucestershire when WW2 started.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Guest Barry
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 05:41 AM

I managed to get The Songwainers an unlikely booking at the seriously unfolky Surrey University on November 30, 1977 -- but unfortunately my chums and I, the only likely audience, had a ceilidh gig that night and couldn't go! However, the University radio station recorded most of the gig, which was tremendous despite the minuscule attendance. My tape of it has long since gone the way of all flesh, but I keep meaning to try to and find another, as we all had copies. This was in the post Langsbury and Taylor days, of course, but they did some super stuff nevertheless. I already knew about them from radio broadcasts and the Argo record before I actually saw them at the folk club in Sandhurst in, I'd guess, August or September that year.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,hilary palmer (WETTON)
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 05:31 AM

I knew the Songwainers when Tim Tanner was with them. After his untimley death Ron joined them and I am still in touch with both and have some ancient tapes recorded at gloucester folk Club.Still enjoying my treasured LP

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,strad
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 04:30 PM

The Gloucester Folk Club was my introduction to the folk club scene back in 1967 (hells teeth! 40 years ago!) It was a great club in the cellar of a local authority building I seem to remember, and there were many excellent guests played there, especially the Songwainers, as well as Pete Coe, and it's where I first met and heard Packie Manus Byrne. Ron Taylor was one of the clubs' main singers. It was the only dry club around in those days, so there was no dutch courage to be had before you floor spot.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,John Whitmore
Date: 15 Jun 08 - 02:52 PM

I was a violinist with the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orhestra in the late 1960s and we made a couple of albums for the Argo label conducted by Previn, Tippett, Bliss and Herbert Chappell. The producer was Fred Woods with engineering by Kevin Daly. When I left Leicester for University (Surrey) I contacted Fred and went to sit into one of his sessions at West Hampstead. It was a folk group called The Songwainers. I remember how talented they were. I also remember Fred being concerned that it was taking a long time to get the music in the can. The sound in the studio sounded very nasal and distorted with too much left/right separation for my taste. I bought the LP, abosolutely loved it but hated the technical quality of the nasal recording. I've heard nothing of The Songwainers until I stumbled on this web item. Happy memories. Can you get this LP on Cd by the way? I would like to hear it again.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: johnadams
Date: 15 Jun 08 - 03:10 PM

Happy days of large record companies with large budgets taking an interest in folk music.

Kevin Daly had moved up to producer by the time I got to Decca with the Druids. Their 'folk stable' at that time consisted of Ewan and Peggy, The Yetties, Vic Gammon's Garret Singers, and (I think) The Clutha or one of those Scottish trad groups. Fred Woods had moved on to his magazine - Folk Review.

I got the Songwainer's album from Decca as a comp and it's always been one of my favorites. I picked up a privately digitised CD copy in Oz a couple of years ago. In the absence of a commercially available CD I'll keep an eye out for it and dub you a copy - it can't be too far away.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Silas
Date: 15 Jun 08 - 03:16 PM

Used to see them as guests at our club (Falcon- Stafford) many years ago - who could forget their rendition of "Who's Pigs are these?"

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,John Whitmore
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 01:51 PM

I would love a digitised copy of the Songwainers CD. Please contact me via email at [e-mail] and I will give you my address and arrange to sort out how to pay you. Many thanks!!

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Geoff Thomas
Date: 27 Sep 08 - 10:49 AM

I had my copy of the Songwainer's LP borrowed (STOLEN) by a Scally (SUPPOSED FRIEND whom I shal not name - HOPE YOU'RE READING THIS, DAVID NORTON FROM BRIDGEND, SOUTH WALES, age 59 and a regular CHURCHGOER) some twenty five years ago (I'm not one to hold a grudge, me.

The whole LP was excellent but I particularly miss the eccentric Carol in praise of Charles the First and in support of the Monarchy, "George Ridler's Oven"; "The Old And New Courtier", a lament for lost values and Traditions, was also wonderfully produced; I also knew every word of "Holland's Leager" a paean of praise for one of the most famous brothels of the 17th century.

For words and explanantion of 'George Ridler' go to http://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/english/georgrid.htm

There are many references to Mistress Holland and her brothel. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland's_Leaguer for a bare bones account.

Anyway, if anyone has a Copy they could burn onto CD for me, I would be very grateful and would gladly pay costs for its transportation etc.

Thanx Geoff Thomas

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 05:07 PM

I remember doing a track for the Songwainers albumn in 1971? at the Decca Studios London with Trevor Crozier the track was called Lloyd George's Beer I think and I was playing a borrowed bass trombone from Bob Kerr and we had a difficult time recording because the lads had already done their 3 part acapella version and we had to add banjo and trombone to it. Well by the 3rd verse the lads had slipped up from A to Bb which was fine for me but Trev had to hang on for dear life till it became too painful and then slipped up to the new key!! needless to say it was not featured on the albumn   which was a shame because I thought it added just that extra drunkan element!! Anyone know the existance or sad demise of dear Fred? He produced the one and only Bye,Bye Bob (a lament for the passing of the shilling) also 1971 by Broken Consort
Brian Cooper

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Derek schofield
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 07:22 PM

Fred Woods moved to Nantwich in Cheshire where he continued to edit Folk Review, which stopped in the ... err .. was it late 1970s? Early 80s? He then ran a bookshop, and did a doctorate at Keele on Winston Churchill. By then he lived in Crewe (a few miles from Nantwich). One of the last times I saw him was at Peter Bellamy's funeral. Fred sadly died sometime in the 1990s.
Derek Schofield

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,John Whitmore
Date: 23 Nov 08 - 04:42 AM

For the attention of Geoff Thomas. Hi Geoff, LP transfer to CD of the Songwainers album is in the post to you. Hope you enjoy it.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 02:35 PM

A DL of this fine album is now on
http://time-has-told-me.blogspot.com/

---

Please note that anonymous posting is no longer allowed at Mudcat. Use a consistent name [in the 'from' box] when you post, or your messages risk being deleted.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: rich-joy
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 05:15 AM

The afore-mentioned DL from the Time Has Told Me blogspot, was my introduction to The Songwainers (well, I am from Down Under!) - and I love it!!!
Gotta track down the duo CD mentioned above, now ...

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Emily Stephenson
Date: 26 Jun 09 - 08:04 PM

FYI, if anyone is interested, I do have some recordings of Dave Stephenson formerly of the Songwainers on CD, recorded at Cheltenham Folk Club over the years. There are some nice tracks on there including a couple with Sue Burgess and Tim Tanner.

If anyone would like a copy, please feel free to email me: [e-mail]

I am so pleased to hear that people are still listening to their music :)

Full track list:
1. The Oggy Man (Cyril Tawney)
2. Bulls of Speewah (from the poem by R.C. Pierce)
3. Introduction to The Grey Silkie of Sule Skerry
4. The Grey Silkie of Sule Skerry (trad.)
5. My Singing Bird (trad.)(with Sue Burgess and Tim Tanner)
6. The Banks of the Sweet Primroses (trad.)
7. Down by the Tanyard Side (trad.)
8. Two poems?
9. The Banks of the Roses (trad.)
10. The Outlandish Knight (trad.)
11. Admiral Benbow (trad.)
12. The Cruel Mother (trad.)
13. The Shooting of Dan MaGrew (Robert Service)
14. Diesel and Shale (Cyril Tawney)(with Sue Burgess and Tim Tanner)

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 06:54 PM

Just stumbled across this whilst checking out Ken after seeing a revue of a new record in EDS mag.
What memories it brought back.
I was in Cheltenham in the late 60s and went to the Victory Club plus another one, the name escapes me, by an old swimming baths.
Possibly Alstone Baths? It's a long time ago. :-)
I remember Mike Gabriel and the Frazers? amongst others.

I still get to Cheltenham from time to time, usually paying my respect to the Bayshill amongst other places.

Cheers

Tony

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 07:05 PM

Tony - by "the Frazers", do you mean Ruth, Fi and Jo Fraser? In addition to being singers and musicians (eg Old Swan Band) the Frasers and Jackie and Siobhan Gabriel danced with England's Glory, as did Marianne Glover... Keith and Ken of course danced with Old Spot.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: RTim
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 07:12 PM

Mike Gabriel also danced with The Spot.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 07:19 PM

Thanks Tim - I was going to include Mike in the list, but had a senior moment....

Other members of Old Spot included Bernie Cherry and young master Glover....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,John Whitmore
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 03:58 AM

I've uploaded the Argo album. Just go to the link to access the MP3 files. Enjoy it!!!!

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,John Whitmore
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 04:00 AM

Oops. The linky thing didn't work. Paste this into your browser and it will give you access to the Argo LP tracks.

Songwainers LP

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 05:09 AM

This thread brought back some memories.

I saw the Songwainers at Sidmouth - 1971 ? 1972 ? - anyway, the first last and only time I have been at Sidmouth, and it was worth it for the Songwainers alone. If I'm honest, I don't recall any other guests from this time at Sidmouth.

A couple of years later they were booked as main guests at South Manchester Traditional Music Centre (SMTMC), the Southern Hotel, Chorlton. SMTMC was organised by several old friends,

Dickon Spencer and Sue Beckman come to mind.

I have taught my grandsons "Whose Pigs are These ?" as a round between the three of us.

Thank you, Songwainers.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,p.powell
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 06:51 PM

Whos pigs?

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: srothman
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 07:21 PM

Sorry to poop this party but The Songwainers were never the same after Ken Langsbury joined them. When they were the splendid residents at the Victory Club in Cheltenham he was the club clown who adopted a risible yokel persona, with a bravura in inverse proportion to his talent, whose groan-inducing party piece was Susannah's A Funniful Man.

Having seen him perform fairly recently I can only say that Shakespeare's description of Cleopatra:
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety
may be exactly reversed in his case.

He was arrogant, tuneless and unable to enhance the already sub-floorspot ensemble of which he was a part.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Stuart Reed
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 01:25 PM

The Victory Club in Cheltenham was the first folk club I ever went to. I had come to folk music because I'd heard that some upstart called Bob Dylan had pinched House Of The Rising Sun from The Animals and then I heard covers of Dylan songs by Pete Seeger and Joan Baez whose wider repertoire opened up the doors of traditional music.

But nothing had prepared me for The Songwainers singing Spencer The Rover on my first visit - it was a life-changing experience.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,bcraswell
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 08:20 AM

I only ever saw the Songwainers with Ken Langsbury - Tom Addison took over from Ron Taylor I think. Ken to me was the voice that gave power to the group, if they were better before he joined they must have been out of this world!
Now years later Ken Langsbury is still in demand, I have just seen him at Sidmouth, the venue was full to capacity so some obviously think he still has something to offer.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Bob Burgess (White Horse Morris Men)
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 08:50 AM

Hi
I used to hitch hike back from Warminster to Cheltenham every Sunday night from 1968 to 1972, in the hope I'd get back in time to get to the Victory Club. Ken, Ron and Steve were superb - I remember Ron explaining their harmonies to me. At that time I was a student apprentice - 6 months with Dowty in Cheltenham, 6 months at Brunel University (Herga folksong club and morris) - I joined Gloucestershire Morris Men, and with Ken and others was founder member of Gloster Old Spot. The Songwaimers were a defining influence on my singing, as was Rod Stradling on my music....
I could go on reminiscing, but the Songwainers were the Victory....
BB

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Anglo
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 01:08 AM

Dear Guest Stuart Reed, I think you'll find The Animals recorded Rising Sun some considerable time after Bob Dylan did it. Just for the record.

And to get on track, The Songwainers LP will be one of my Desert Island Discs.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 10:39 AM

If you liked The Songwainers, you'll like The Claque: Tom Addison, Barry Lister, Dave Lowry and Sean O'Shea. They are doing an all-day ballad forum and evening performance for the Lewes Saturday Folk Club on Saturday 9th. April: see this thread for full details and a link to a booking form.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Max Johnson
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 10:52 AM

The Songwainers were a wonderful a capella group. I have their first (only?) album. I remember Mike Gabriel's singing - a lovely, clear voice.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: johnadams
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 04:35 PM

Both Ken Langsbury and Ron Taylor were Chris Coe's and my gig at Cheltenham Folk Club last night (26th Feb). Ken sang in his own inimitable style and Ron didn't sing although he did offer his services as a harmony singer on Chris's next album. (Wow - he sings an octave higher than her - can't wait to try some ideas out).

Any manifestation of the Songwainers would be worth listening to but most of us, of course, remember with fondness the early line ups including the one that recorded for Argo with Ken, Ron and the late Dave Stephenson.

I also thoroughly recommend The Claque - a first class outfit derived from the same roots as the Songwainers and carrying the flag forward in fine style.

Find CDs from them and member Barry Lister at:

Wildgoose Records

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Jim Redfern
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 01:27 PM

Yes,always pleased to laud The Claque.
Two of them are former Songwainers-Tom Addison,in the seventies and both Tom and Barry Lister in the reformed Songwainers in the early 21st.century.
Ron Taylor now singing with G and T with wife Maddy and the Graebes.
Put 'em all together!

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 02:16 AM

Here are some samples from The Claque's CD Sounding Now.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,???
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 08:56 AM

My great grandad is Ted Duckett.. Played in bolde forester.. I have his bones today! :) my grandad is joeseph duckett married to priscilla duckett mother to 9 children one of them being my mother.. :)

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 09:10 AM

Guest, give yourself a regular name and use it, or join Mudcat if you'd like to stick around to share and learn more! This is interesting stuff - it's nice to hang a name on whoever is posting it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: RTim
Date: 14 Jan 12 - 09:18 AM

I knew Ted Duckett from many years ago in Hampshire. He lived in Hythe, Hampshire and would often come with Dave Williams and play his bones at The Fo'c'sle Folk Club in Southampton, where I was a resident singer. I was born in Totton, near by; and the pub our Guest is talking about is The Bold Forester in Marchwood.
He would often accompany a singer from the back of the room on his bones, NO matter what type of song you were singing!!
Ted was also a great Step Dancer and he was filmed by the Reading Cloggies; I am sure there is a copy in the library at Cecil Sharp House.

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Barbaara
Date: 24 Feb 18 - 11:57 PM

Cambridge Ontario Canada. I have a warm memory of meeting
The Songwainers in Wells, Somerset in 1971. They joined my family and myself sitting and chatting on the lawn of Wells Cathedral. And since I, too, am a singer of Folk Songs, gave me a copy of their album. Unfortunately I neglected to get them to sign it. Now,in 2018, I'm enjoying hearing it on my old record player. I particularly like to sing their version of Robin Hood and the Three Squires.
I was 34 when I met them, am now 81.....

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,ChrisJBrady
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 09:42 PM

Tim Radford opined "Ted [Duckett] was also a great Step Dancer and he was filmed by the Reading Cloggies; I am sure there is a copy in the library at Cecil Sharp House."

Ted was researched by the Reading Cloggies - likely Peter Clifton and Anne Marie Hulme. The late Jennifer Millest might have also researched him. But all such research was unpublished and is now lost. What I am certain about is that no film was ever made. Maybe there was footage on a video taken by one Dot Cosh / Mulliner. But nothing was ever shown at the Reading Clog & Step Dance Festival, nor at any of the Cloggies' meetings. One Chris Metherell inherited all of the late Barry Callaghan's films - but even then I don't think that any footage of Ted was included (if any was made).

The now defunct Group still has funds in its so-termed Film Fund, the profits of the Festival went into this. But the trustees have long gone, and attempts to find out what happened to this met with a deafening silence. Any funds could be usefully spent in researching and publishing what there is of Ted Duckett (and others). But sadly no ex-members would be interested.

Indeed the work, research and memories of the Cloggies has long since dissipated. No-one remembers their 'Campaign for Real Reels' or for 'Putting Stepping Back Into Social Dancing.' There are no workshops in this, nor of such as traditional clog dancer Sammy Bell. Even his film has been consigned to the dusty archives of the BFI. I digress.

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 10:08 PM

Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,John Whitmore
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 04:00 AM

Oops. The linky thing didn't work. Paste this into your browser and it will give you access to the Argo LP tracks.

Songwainers LP

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Tracklist (from Discogs)

A1        Robin Hood And The Three Squires        
A2        The Three Knights        
A3        The Deadly Wars        
A4        Stormy        
A5        Tom O'Bedlam's Song        
A6        Old Jonas        
B1        News From Holland's Leager        
B2        Bright Phoebus        
B3        The Old And New Courtier        
B4        The False Fox        
B5        The Glittering Dewdrops        
B6        George Ridler's Oven        
B7        John Barleycorn

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Subject: RE: Review: The Songwainers
From: GUEST,Bill McMellon
Date: 08 Jan 20 - 11:45 AM

I used to hear the Songwainers every Sunday night in the Victory Club, for three years or so in the seventies. I was fifteen when I started going (the Charlton Kings Youth Club went to hear Nic Jones. Wonderful). And the Songwainers were wonderful too. I was much to shy and over-awed to sing. I haven't read all the above thred, but there is some-one who doesn't like Ken Langsbury. Well I couldn't disagree more. I always thought him a tremendous comic and singer, full of life. What was his song about the dragon? And there were all those monologues...Great stuff.