Obit: Miles Wootton (1934-2019)

Subject: Miles Wootton
From: chouxfleur
Date: 25 May 03 - 05:34 PM

I was talking to his Woottonship yesterday and suggested recording some of his huge collection of unrecorded songs and poems. He has a file at his home with countless songs never before aired. I think he should do it. What do you think?

As many of you know Miles no longer plays or performs in public, although I think Hille may have worked a miracle by getting him to read some of his very funny poems at a Fringe event in Worthing in a few weeks. Anyone in this area watch out for news cos it will be a rare appearance.

We also talked of releasing both his albums (The Great Fishfinger Disaster and (the very rare) Sunday Supplement World) on CD. What do you Mudcatters think? Any interest for this material from out there?

Chouxfleur

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Leadfingers
Date: 25 May 03 - 06:17 PM

Anything new from Miles would be extremely welcome in my corner.I am
possibly one of the last people outside the Brighton area to book Miles and that was TOO long ago.A C D of Miles old stuff would be an addition to the now very dodgy cassettes I have in my collection.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Micca
Date: 25 May 03 - 07:08 PM

Yeah, I am interested in CDs I have a VERY old tape of "Sunday supplement world" That has some of my fave Wootons on it, Multigrab and Unibrew, the gnome, and The delightful, "Take me back to eastbourne"!! yes please..

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 May 03 - 01:41 PM

I am sure thet a LOT of people would be interested in hearing a good collestion of Miles' material, both old and new.
We still regularly hear people doing versions of various of the oldies, some culled from records from other artistes such as Fred Wedlock. It would be nice to have access to the originals.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck!

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: chouxfleur
Date: 26 May 03 - 06:01 PM

OK, we'll try. Miles is very good at saying yes to something today and no tomorrow.
I will do my best to get him to record the 'new' stuff and put the vinyl to CD. I'll keep you all posted.
choux

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,Colin Andrews
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 06:43 PM

I'd be very interested in previously unrecorded stuff from Miles. I have both his LPS from the time I was living in Sussex

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 04:18 AM

Yes, I'd be interested in a CD reissue of the old albums (I only have one of them) or a CD of new material.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Lanfranc
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 05:28 AM

Threads are SO much more fun when they aren't in chronological ordure!

I have a few old tape copies, FW versions and a Miles LP, but I,too, would like more of Miles songs on CDs, especially if otherwise unissued.

Alan

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: vectis
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 02:31 PM

Yes I'd be interested in his stuff on CD. It's a great pity we can't get live performances any more they were such good fun.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,miles wootton
Date: 15 Mar 08 - 11:16 AM

Have cd compilation out. Ten quid including p&p.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: vectis
Date: 15 Mar 08 - 01:11 PM

How do we get the dosh and our addresses to you Miles. We can't send Personal Messages to GUESTS, sorry.
Hope to see you over at Seaford one day soon
Mary

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 15 Mar 08 - 04:02 PM

Me too.

I'm one of those who regularly perform items from Miles' repertoire, and would love to have a CD collection.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,Acorn4
Date: 15 Mar 08 - 09:04 PM

Saw Miles W about thirty years ago at a club that used to run in Preston Circus, Brighton. He was one of the great comical/satirical figures contemporary with Mike Harding, Jasper Carrott, Jeremy Taylor etc - still one of the greats although some of the songs have inevitably dated a bit. I heard the "funny customers" song done at a club only last week - my favourite always used to be "The Village Production of Hamlet" - which I'm 90% certain was one of his, although correct me if I'm wrong here.

I think he should DEFINITELY record those songs- otherwise they run the risk of vanishing into the great recycling bin of history

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: breezy
Date: 16 Mar 08 - 05:53 AM

Go for it

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,Adrian
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 07:25 AM

I am thinking of recording 'It's not much fun being a gnome' set to a tune I wrote but need to know who the publisher is in case it sells a zillion copies. Let me know at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,Stuart Reed
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 05:29 AM

Re Miles' CD - he can be contacted direct: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 11:00 AM

But WHY rewrite the tune ? Isnt Miles' tune good enough ??

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,The Singing Gnome
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 09:03 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A13FuixaquU

there's a new version here especially done for children, with miles' blessing. have fun!

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: breezy
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 12:48 PM

dear Guest Adrian

Hang on, as well as M W

Derek Brimstone also recorded 'The Gnome' why back when

The tune is well gnome in folk circles, so if you havent heard it, further research is required before you go any further.

so guest Adrian , sign up to the cat, P m me for a gnome phumber and I'll sing it to you.

Next gig sunday 9th nov at the Plough, Leverstock Green , Hemel hempstead

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 19 Oct 08 - 12:57 PM

Or you could get the CD from CAMSCO. Obviously, a last resort.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,cait oliver
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 04:24 PM

Please, does anyone know Miles Wootton's email address? I need to get copyright permission to use his Pub Song in an upcoming Scottish novel. My email address is [e-mail] Thanks so much for any help.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Vic Smith
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 04:44 PM

Cait,
I have emailed it to you.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 06:17 PM

Why do people post questions in threads without reading through ??
Stuart Reed put his E Mail in earlier !

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 01:06 PM

How do you know that Cait didn't read the thread?

Stuart Reed put his E Mail in earlier !

Nearly 2 years ago, and these things change...

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 01:22 PM

It's been a puzzle to me why people ask questions that have been answered earlier in threads, and I haven't found out why. I think perhaps they got to a thread by a search engine and see only part of the thread or just one message - but I don't really know. Whatever the case, I've learned that it happens frequently, so there must be a reason.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: mileswootton
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 03:08 PM

.to many who have asked (thanks) my email is

[e-mail]

I have a CD on sale and am thinking of making another

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: mileswootton
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 03:11 PM

Thanks. My address is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: mileswootton
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 03:37 PM

I have a CD available. "The Least Worst of Miles" Ten quid including P&P. Miles Wootton.
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Will Fly
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 03:29 PM

I was chatting to Miles this afternoon in the Mitre in Britain. I hadn't seen him since the old folk days in the Marlborough and the Springfield. Miles mentioned that he has at least a CD's worth of material that he'd like - as he put it - "to lay down before I lay down", and we may get together in a few weeks time to make some recordings. (He'd heard some of the recent recordings I've done with Chris Wolferstan and thought I was OK for the job). So - watch this space and, with luck, there'll be some more of Miles's wit and humour around for us all.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Acorn4
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 05:04 PM

Have got volume 1 and will certainly purchase volume 2 when it becomes available - one of the original pioneers of folk humour.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 06:30 PM

Me Too !! Miles has always been one of the writers I would steal songs from .

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,Phil B
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 08:49 AM

Will. You record it, I'll master it. Be great to have some Wooton material out there again. I used to do 'Senile Delinquent' with my old mate Colin Wilson way back at the beginning of time. Miles is a songwriter of great wit and perception. Give him my regards.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Will Fly
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 09:50 AM

Will do, Phil. I'll await his decision as to when he wants to get cracking.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Vic Smith
Date: 16 Jul 12 - 10:37 AM

Phil and Mike - this could be just what Miles needs! He is certainly in need of a bit of a boost at the moment. Go for it!

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,synbyn
Date: 17 Jul 12 - 08:53 AM

definitely!

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,Chris Newman
Date: 17 Jul 12 - 09:09 AM

Please give Miles my best - haven't seen him for a very long time - and put me down for a copy of the CD when it comes out.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 Jul 12 - 09:29 AM

Hi Chris - I'll certainly do that.

(And let me say here, as I did when we were there, that your recent set at the Hawth in Crawley was sensational. Memories of the Redan, eh?)

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,John Pole
Date: 12 Oct 18 - 02:07 PM

Miles is very ill indeed in the Royal Sussex County Hospital (12 October 2018) Emerald Ward.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Acorn4
Date: 12 Oct 18 - 02:15 PM

As a writer of comic songs and occasional parodies he was a very early influence on my own writing.

I remember seeing him at the old Preston Circus club in Brighton and laughing my socks off.

One of the pioneers of folk comedy if not the originator. I bought one of his CDs when his songs were transferred from vinyl to CD and we had a bit of a chat on the phone.

Some of his songs are still done in clubs, though often, unfortunately not credited to him.

I don't know if there is any possibility of him pulling through this but the outlook doesn't seem that good from the post.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,FANTUM
Date: 12 Oct 18 - 06:31 PM

Oh yes if Miles is up to it get everything recorded.I can add the new ones to my collection of one
But everything must wait till Miles feels better

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Oct 18 - 04:05 AM

I see Miles from time to time at the Mitre in Brighton (his local), when Wolfie and I play there on a Sunday afternoon. He has indeed been looking increasingly frail, it's sad to say. One can only hope for the best.

I also have fond memories of the Stanford Arms club at Preston Circus - many great performers like Miles, Paul Downes, Stuart Reed and Tim Broadbent.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,John Pole
Date: 14 Oct 18 - 07:59 AM

Miles is now very seriously ill in the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Emerald Ward. How long he will last is not certain, but friends are visiting.

(Sorry I find I’ve repeated myself , didn’t realise my post was there. )

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Bugsy
Date: 19 Oct 18 - 10:05 AM

Any news on Miles?
I've never met himbut sang a few of his songs and always remeber Derek Brimstone s version of " The gnome"

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Will Fly
Date: 19 Oct 18 - 11:32 AM

Miles is still in the Royal Sussex - with his beer being rationed by the nurses! His visiting friends have been instructed by the ward staff not to bring him any more as he had a hidden stash in a bedside cupboard...

Still not very well - but still capable of raising a smile!

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Oct 18 - 04:57 PM

Hi folks - I have SUCH a lot to thank Miles for - he was my French teacher in 6th form at school and we used to push the desks back at the end of double French on a Tuesday afternoon I think and create a mini folk club there and then - playing guitar laughing singing - got me through. If anyone is nearer or visiting please give him my very very best wishes. Love and harmony - Paul Wilson

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 01:52 AM

I hope he has a speedy recovery, i enjoyedparticularly his song about the pub selling crap food and the customers all dropping dead

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 24 Oct 18 - 04:00 AM

and those great lines...
“No dirty barrels here
We only sell hygienic beer
Safely paralysed within this aluminium drum.”

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,John Pole
Date: 16 Dec 18 - 03:55 PM

Miles is now in a nursing home in Hove and glad to see
visitors but gravely I'll.

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: GUEST,chouxfleur
Date: 30 Dec 18 - 04:28 PM

Subject: RE: Miles Wootton
From: Bugsy
Date: 30 Dec 18 - 10:49 PM

I truly hope that there is some chance of recovery for Miles.
He's   one of the good ones.

Cheers

Bugsy