Fame at last Les Barker!

Subject: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 01:59 AM

Yes, Mr Barker has made the heights of fame, after this, it's downhill all the way, til he's left with nothing but the sheep and a ghostly giggle....

Mr Barker's eulogy on 'The Shipping Forecast' was aired on Radio 2 at about 6.35am today, October 14th. It would have been more appropriate to do 'Harold' seeing as how this is the 146th anniversary of the battle of Hastings but it was a great way for us Brits to start the day none the less.

This does not bode well for my work colleagues for the rest fo the day!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 02:26 AM

Sarah Kennedy read her "Brussels Sprouts" out last Thursday. It was one of those moments when you can't really believe you've heard the name "Les Barker" at 7.15am on Radio 2! As she would say, I had my "leg in a pant" and nearly fell over with surprise! It's all on a charity double CD in aid of computers for the blind, called "Guide cats for the Blind" - Osmosys OSMO CD 020/21. It was apparently released about a month ago. It's also got the likes of Cyril Tawney, Roy Hudd, Bernard Wrigley, Martin Carthy, Mark & Lard and Nicholas Parsons on it, to name but a few.

I've got it on order from Amazon cos none of the stores in York had it, although HMV said that as I was the second person to ask for it, they'd better get some in. Unfortunately I can't get up to York this week, so it had to be Amazon.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 02:30 AM

In case there's any doubt - it's 37 of Les's works read by various people, and with the first and last tracks (Guide cats for the blind/Deja Vu) read by the man himself. I got a print out of the list from Les Barker's site.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 02:36 AM

Hope my secret Santa is looking at this!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: The Barden of England
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 02:58 AM

I know the guy who put this all together. It's for a charity to help pay for software to enable partially sighted people to use computers, to use the internet etc. I don't know if any partially sighted people are Mudcatters, but I'll let Clive Lever (it is he that got this project going) know that you've shown interest in the CD. It has Terry Wogan, Sir Jimmy Young, Paul Gambachini, June Tabor and many, many others - all of whom gave their time and permission for free, and most of all Les Barker gave the poems. An incredible gesture from an incredibly nice man.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: okthen
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 03:08 AM

Well done LtS, only 791 years out, quite understandable really, I wasn't there either.All in all it's not that I mind them invading, it's the fact they never left.How would they have felt if we'd stayed on in 1944? I think we should deport ALL illegal immigrants starting with the Normans.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 03:43 AM

Guide cats for the blind? My favourite charities are Eating Dogs for Anorexics and Vomiting Dogs for Bulimics.

RtS
(I'll get me plastic mac'...)

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Gurney
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 04:44 AM

Hey, okthen, who are you calling 'illegal immigrants'? Normans? They are just Sven-come-latelies! Start with the Beaker Folk. you can tell them by the purple noses and the little crease across the bridge of the nose, caused by glasses.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 05:10 AM

Incidently, Clive Lever is one half of the duo "Sic Transit" - he plays keyboard (and is partially sighted) - the other half is Don Thompson who some catters might have met at our BBQs. They come from the Maidstone area and perform some very amusing songs and parodies themselves.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 05:43 AM

Trips of the tongue that 1857 The battle of Hastings and all that, can we presume you weren't quite awake when you posted Lizzie

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Bassic
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:26 AM

Thank you Liz for reminding me about 1066 and all that. It explains why the A1 was so busy at the weekend, Harolds Ghostly Army heading south from Stamford Bridge it was, and the road works of course. Couldnt get an Ox cart, horse or National Express Bus ticket for love nor money!!

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:33 AM

What hasd the 4x4 broken down then, Bassic ?

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,efnMagazine
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 04:59 PM

Excellent CD - I had to find somebody else to review it as I ran out of superlatives.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:10 PM

OK, maths was never my strong point, I forgot the odd millenia.

But it's still a bloody good CD and an even better idea!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 02:23 AM

And Sic Transit are actually on it, performing "Sidney".

'My CD has not yet arrived...'

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Amergin
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 04:15 AM

i sang his roseville fair parody at sunnycamp....i started singing it and everyone was singing along....then they realised i went in a different direction and was singing a totally different song...was very funny.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mooman
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 04:49 AM

Not to mention "Shitting Dogs for the Constipated" Roger (OK, I won't!).

Sounds like an excellent CD and a great cause...I'll order meself a copy.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Snuffy
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 08:58 AM

Blind Dogs for the Guides?

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,KB
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 09:05 AM

thin dogs for the fat?

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 10:45 AM

Sh*gging dogs for the impotent !

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dead Horse
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 03:05 PM

That reminds me.
I met up with Mrs Franklin the other day, and she was asking after her husband, believed to be stuck in the Milton Keynes area. Any catters spotting Franklin in Stoney Stratford please give her a call.

The fate of Franklin no tongue can tell,
Around Northampton, they all know him well!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Don Thompson (1/2 "Sic Transit")
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 03:17 PM

The generosity of the inimitable Les Barker is justifiably legendary, and it should also be noted that we got an immediate yes from 36 of the 40 people we asked to participate, and the 4 who could not were unable, rather than unwilling. We have been amazed at the level of support we have received, and are still receiving. Special thanks also to Richard Ellin of Osmosys, for putting up the money for production, and arranghing the whole process from our master to the retailers. Enjoy the result. It is quite special.

Don Thompson

Subject: Lyr Add: GUIDE CATS FOR THE BLIND (Les Barker)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 04:45 PM

Mouldy - why did you order the CD by snail mail? Was it to give it time to arrive?

I heard Clive Lever singing some wonderful songs at Sidmouth.

Guide Cats for the Blind is so gloriously surreal and subversive.....

GUIDE CATS FOR THE BLIND
(Les Barker)

The word futile springs to mind
Mission Impossible, yes that's
The attempt to harness for mankind
The intelligence of cats
You've made a basic error
Now let me expound
This master/servant thing's okay
But no, not that way round
We don't do the faithful subject
We don't do the daily grind
You never should have attempted it
Guide cats for the Blind

Give kitty so much trust
And we'll abuse the privelege
You think you're going out?
You're opening the fridge
You think I'm trying to help you?
I'm not serving man but Mammon
You think you've gained a faithful friend
You've lost a plate of salmon
I might lead you down the High Street
I'll be back when I have dined
We get very, very hungry
Being Guide Cats for the Blind

It can't be very pleasant
Of this I've little doubt
To have your head stuck in a catflap
Whether facing in or out
You could be here a day or two
With half you out in the rain
I've got to go, I've got things to do
Maybe I'll pass this way again
A dog would go for help
Cats are not that way inclined
Cats have better things to do than being
Guide Cats for the blind

Of some matters I am ignorant
But this I know for certain
The best place for a blind man
Is not halfway up a curtain
And why do they have to be
Up on a roof at 4am?
It's the perfect place for me to be
But what's in it for them?
It was where I had to go
And he just tags behind
I don't know why, only a fool would follow
Guide cats for the blind

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 04:49 AM

I bet that one of the conditions that Les insisted on was that LtS would not be allowed near any of the recording sessions. I've also had a horrible thought of Liz with a portable CD player and earphones, listening to it on public transport - perhaps if they have another of these exercises for a possible terrorist attack, they should try that as a scenario.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Sooz(at work)
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 08:04 AM

Les for laureate!
We played "David Beckham's Groin" to go with my brief spot to advertise the Gainsborough Folk Festival on Radio Lincolnshire last night. Come and see Les on Sunday afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Steve Benbows protege
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 01:16 PM

A brilliant c.d I bought my copy from Don at Sidmouth this year. Well worth every penny!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 06:18 PM

Dave - when I lived in Dorset and travelled up regularly by train to London, I'd while away the 3 hour journey with some Goon Show tapes on the walkman. I was asked to leave the carriage on one journey, and asked to take the headphones out so we could all listen on another.

In a similar vein - when in hospital after having Phoebe by Caesarean, Manitas brought me in my walkman (had to be lying flat on my back and not moving for 24-36 hours). Knowing full well I'd had about a dozen or so stitches in a very sensitive area, he bought me a present to cheer me up. He bought me a copy of 'A Cardi and Bloke' to play on my walkman... Sometimes I suspect Manitas of harbouring evil thoughts..... It's only by the grace of God and some bloody strong staples that I didn't literally laugh my guts out!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Folkiedave
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 07:05 PM

I had the Cd as a pressie for my birthday in August and it's brilliant. I am retiring tomorrow and I am reading out the great man's "Detritus" as a finale.

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 03:04 AM

My A level English Lit student daughter took my stash of his books into college yesterday. By general consensus the favourite was "Nobody Hugs a Hedgehog".

And my CD has not yet arrived...
...but Amazon did say it would be a week or two, dammit.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Guest: Clive Lever
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 11:35 AM

Hi all,   

it was I tho put the whole thing together. The idea started when I heard Les read Shipping Forecast at a gig in Maidstone and wondered what it would sound like with the Daddy of Dead Ringers, Brian Perkins reading it. It grew from there until we had ourselves a double album, though a single was originally planned. We expected more polite refusals than we got, which is a good sign in itself. In just over 3 months, the CD has laready raised well over 5000 pounds towards the project run by British Computer Association of the Blind. That project will bring computer accessibility to blind and partially-sighted people, many of whom are currently left out of the information society for one reason or another. I cannot thank Les and the others involved enough for their generosity. In Les's case, not only for allowing the poems to be used, but for the tireless wireless work he's been putting in on radio stations across the country, always promoting Guide Cats above his own work. We would never have expected or asked him to be that generous, so maybe I can return the compliment by urging you also to consider buying copies of the new Mrs Ackroyd Band CD, YELP! at the earliest available opportunity. It has a good version of Roseville Fair on it, incidentally. If there's ever a Guide Cats vol. 2, I would be keen to put Steve Tilston's Dipsticks and Seals on it, but you can find this one on Yelp! too.

If any of you are havingtrouble getting the CD, please consider buying one from the BCAB ourselves. You can find the details of how to do this by visiting www.bcab.org.uk, or by contacting me directly at [e-mail]. Please take note: we've discovered that in some of the high street shops, you'll be more likely to get a result if you ask for the compilation album 'Guide Cats for the Blind'. If you lead them to look under Les Barker though, , they don't find the CD under the dog001 thru dog017 list, and quickly lose the will to live. So don't fool them into thinking it's a regular Les Barker album. Please note that the British Computer Association of the Blind is not in a position to accept credit card payments at present, but hope to resolve this situation in the very near future.

One of my hopes was that as a by-product of the CD, Les would get wider recognition. He's a comic, a poet, and a folkie, yet in comedy circles and poetry circles you don't hear his name mentioned yet. One friend of mine actually cut himself shaving, as a result of being startled by the presence of Barker's work on radio 2.

Finally, if you're into Barker, and especially the Guide Cats album, and you're tuning in to your local BBC Radio station and not hearing it, then why not do us a favour by contacting them to request it.

Thanks again for all the great things you've been saying about the CD on this thread. Is there anyone out there who'd be able to send me the texts of any reviews from folk magazines? Being blind myself, Email is my best chance to read these reviews...and that's the point of the BCAB project. Had I not been one of the lucky minority of blind people able to afford and use a computer, the CD would never have happened. That's a measure of the fact that for a sighted person, the computer is a convenience. For a blind person it's a basic necessity. It's the only effective way we have to: read letters from sighted people and reply to them; pay bills independently; browse a shopping catalogue and shop for goods without sighted help; read our own newspapers, and so on. However, most blind people are missing out on this. The CD will raise funds to help us to change that.

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Gray D
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 09:20 PM

I saw that Les Barker once supporting Mrs. Ackroyd.

I wanted to shout out, "This isn't poetry . . . it's doggerel!".

But I didn't.

Gray D

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 02:45 AM

I had printed off the CD "contents" from the Les Barker website, including the label name and number. I waved it at the guy at HMV in York and that helped him locate it too. On the strength that 2 of us had asked for it, he decided to order it as he figured there would possibly be a demand for it. My daughter keeps looking at the list and spotting people who she likes. Mark and Lard doing "Jason & the Arguments" is intriguing her.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Sooz
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 03:37 AM

Well done, Clive its a great project. Its certainly getting Les noticed here in Lincolnshire as one of the local radio presenters has become a fan since hearing the CD and he seems to play a track every day! Good for the charity and great for Les.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Crystal
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 05:39 AM

My beloved father got a copy to review. AND HE GAVE IT TO MY BLOODY SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM INCREADIBLY ANGRY!!!!!!
AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! (I hope he reads this)
I do reviews, I'm the one who needs a laugh (a science degree is not funny at all) AND HE GAVE IT TO MY SISTER, A PERSON WHO IS STILL ALL BUT ILLITERATE!
I'm upset and I shall tell him so, not least because it means I'll have to buy my own copy now.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: WildRover
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 12:18 PM

Hi all,

the Guide Cats CED is also picking up some interest on the BBC Ulster programme with Gerry Anderson on weekdays 10.30 to 12.00 in the mornings.Many of the BBC local radio stations have been covering it. I'd love to know who is the Lincolnshire presenter who has become a fan.   

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 11:37 PM

What's the best way for those of us on the other side of the pond to get one?

Aloha,
Mark
(Actually in the middle of the other pond, where the state flag includes the Union Jack in its union, but that doesn't really matter, does it?)

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 12:13 AM

Mark - Good old Amazon will get it for you! Mind you, having said that, I've never actually looked at Amazon, but I understand that someone has ordered a copy from there.

Failing that, try Les himself at [e-mail] - if he can't get you a copy, no-one can!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Sooz
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 05:04 AM

Its Rod Whiting at Radio Lincolnshire 4pm to 7pm weekdays.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 02:42 PM

Mark - you have to look under the "various" artists section on Amazon, and type in Guide Cats for the Blind. Amazon UK has it listed, so you may have to get it through there if you're going via Amazon. If you look towards the top of the thread I have posted the relevant numbers etc on there.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,WildRover
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 06:47 AM

Hi Mark and all,

Americans, Australians and Canadians can buy the CD by contacting either [e-mail] and providing the man himself with your relevant details; or you can go to the Distributors, by emailing Frances Courtney. That's [e-mail]. It is also hoped that the CD will be made available at www.amazon.com some time in November. It's already available on www.amazon.co.uk.

Best,
Clive

-+

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Micca
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 06:53 AM

Mark, if you are stuck, contact a friendly UKer and we can work something out, ie a beneficial exchange of CDs? by mail!! this has worked well in the past, or on the other hand Contact Dick Greenhaus at Camsco, he might be able to get a batch!!

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: The Barden of England
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 06:54 AM

Clive - love the Mudcat name. How many versions of 'Wild Rover' is it?

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: WildRover
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 07:06 PM

Hi John,

to be honest, I've never stopped to count them. If you'd like to write privately to tell me how to start a new thread, we could go further into this debate.

Back to Barker, though: If any Mudcatters own record stores and want to stock Guide Cats, please contact Proper Music for more details. You could try [e-mail]. Although I'm keen for B C A B to get lots of money from the sales of the CD, I'm also anxious that Richard Ellin, the man behind Osmosys records, gets at least his money back, as he took a lot of gambles for us to make this happen. Also, I'd like to see this one up in the folk top ten along with Spiers and Boden and Kate Rusby etc. Then maybe, just maybe, we could get a play on Mike Harding! (smile) I hope when he does pick it up, he goes for Cyril Tawney. We asked if he'd be prepared to do either Lassie Free And Easy or the Sammy's Bar parody. He did both. They were both crackers, so they both made it to the CD. Why not play the game with me, like a fantasy folkball game. What celebrities can you imagine would do some of Les's poems? Who, for example, would you hear doing one of the Cosmo poems? You never know. If we reach a volume 2, your choice may be on it.

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 02:45 AM

Ok then, off the top of my head - "Cosmo the Fairly Accurate Knife Thrower" read by Paul Daniels (...and his lovely assistant Debbie?).

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 05:55 AM

I've heard several people do his silly poems and none of them are as good as the author, few people can grasp his sense of timing.

Having said that, I rather think the former UK Prime Minister John Major doing 'Captain Indecisive' would be good, if he could make up his mind to do it.

I'd like to hear more of his serious stuff - it's beautiful and hardly anyone in the UK knows any of it. Some of them have been turned into songs and audiences are stunned when they learn it's by Les. Maybe it's time he did some of those around the circuits.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 07:39 AM

Cosmo Prince of Denmark with Kenneth Branagh.

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Bassic
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 09:20 AM

Read and hear Clive Lever`s interview, with excerpts from the CD, on BBC Radio 4 "In Touch" here

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dead Horse
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 01:06 PM

Jonathan Ross doing "Dachsunds with Ewections"

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: WildRover
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 06:40 PM

Hi,

I twied to get Jonathan Woss for the man next door's a burglar, but his agent said he gets inundated with requests like this and can't honour all of them, and hoped the project would do well, but... I can certainly imagine Paul Daniels doing Cosmo the fairly accurate knife thrower. Actually, there'd be almost no need for John Major to do captain indecisive, as Les wrote 'I demand to go on an assertiveness course' in similar mood but with J M in mind. How agreeable, as Rory Bremner would say.

Of course, there are several Ackroyd band compilations of serious material, most recently 'Some Love' and 'Airs of the Dog'. You'll find all the details on www.mrsackroyd.com...and Richard Ellin is thinking of doing his own compilation of Barker's serious love poems.

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: BS: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 07:23 PM

Silly question - why is this not a "music" thread?

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 07:50 PM

ZAP!!! It's a music thread. (The gossip content is far to low for this to qualify for BS.)

I love his stuff! (I'm also signed up on an e-mail list for him, the last message having been posted in February.) I have Oranges & Lemmings and one the name of escapes me - is the wren song on that one? (Asking myself. Everybody else, please ignore). It's just too hard to get his recordings here. I have a short attention span - see it/buy it. If I have to order it, there's just too much thinking involved.

Liz, I have 'Wings of Butterflies' and 'Stones of Calla-whatsit' and I love them.

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 07:56 PM

Now that I've looked at it, I notice the last message to the e-mail list was from Clive, talking about this compilation CD!

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 11:08 AM

Jeri, I see from his tour schedule (here) that Les has a couple of stops in Pennsylvania around the turn of the year. Perhaps he'll add a venue that's more local to you . . .

Now THAT's how to get Les Barker CDs!

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 04:17 AM

Will he have Guide Cats? My bet is yes, but I don't know. I'll ask Clive.

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 25 Oct 03 - 02:26 PM

I once had Mrs Ackroyd sitting alongside me in a folk club!!

Les is at the Valley Folk Club, in Pontardawe nr Swansea on the 19th December.

Let waking dogs tell the truth!!

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 11:39 AM

I also got a copy in Sidmouth, having enjoyed a lot of Clive's and Don's (and John's and Kitty's) songs. I also saw the man himself in the big marquee, at which people were queing up to get in (one out, one in). I said the CD would keep me going on the long trek back to Edinburgh but was warned not to play it in the car in case of accident (i.e I would be laughing so much that I would no longer be able to control my vehicle!! - true enough!!)

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Oct 03 - 06:51 PM

I've slept in the same bed as Mrs Ackroyd, although I never met her.

LTS

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 09:25 AM

Were you being bitchy then Liz ?

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:00 AM

I think you need to paws a little and think of whom you squeak....

LTS

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 11:16 AM

Well - Mrs Ackroyd was a bitch.

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 05:25 PM

And to think, she slept in my husbands' bed.

LTS

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Wysiwyg (Don Thompson
Date: 28 Oct 03 - 11:53 AM

How about Ian Duncan-Smith as "The man who is everywhere else"
          Ian Paisley "I demand to go on an assertiveness course"
          Tom Jones "Tie a yellow gibbon"
          Joe Stead "There's a hole in my bodhran", oops, sorry, it's
          a banjo.
          Jack Dee "The Marie Depreste"
          Billy Connolly "Belle's bonny bogey"

Watch for vol. 2
Wysiwyg

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 12:42 PM

Hi Don

Do we yet know whether Les will have Cats with him on his US tour, to sell?

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 05:45 AM

Sorry Richard,
Haven't heard from Clive yet. Still recovering from hols, I think. I am sure that Les will take some along, and if he doesn't have enough, he will take orders, as we know that he bought a number to resell. I'll confirm when I've made contact.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 03:20 PM

Further news on Guide Cats CDs. I have now contacted Wildrover and he is in contact with Les. He will post result personally

Wyziwyg

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: WildRover
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 04:23 PM

Hi all,

I EMailed Les to find out if he'd be selling any Guide Cats CD's on his American tour, and he replied as follows:
"
I've already mailed my CDs ahead - my visa won't arrive for months yet, so
I have to arrive looking like a tourist - and there's no guide cats in it;
purely because most of america won't have heard of any of the people on
the CD; they have heard of me. You can only take so much product on
foreign trips, so I have to be selective.

Les
"
However, the American distributors, City Hall Records, inform me that they would expect it to show up, some time in
November, on Amazon.com, CDNow, Borders.com, Towerrecords.com.
Perhaps if any of you actually find it their, they could report back to me either privately or via this thread.

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 02 Nov 03 - 02:31 AM

My CD has STILL not yet arrived...does this mean I had better start reading War & Peace...watch the postman get knocked over as he crosses the road to my house!

I wonder if its arrival in November with Amazon.com has anything to do with why Amazon UK have just told me I have to wait yet another 1-2 weeks for it! (How ironic if it has to be routed back to the UK from the States. It would be nice to think that it was because they had sold out and were awaiting new stock).


Andrea

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Micca
Date: 02 Nov 03 - 05:34 AM

Andrea, it may be delayed by the POSTAL STRIKE as it probably has to come through London from Amazon!!1

Subject: Hi Andrea,RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: WildRover
Date: 02 Nov 03 - 06:04 PM

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 03 Nov 03 - 01:56 AM

No, Micca, I had already thought that, but it did say something about "obtaining" it within one to two weeks.
Ah well, as they say, I'll appreciate it all the more when I get it!

Andrea

It will be interesting to see if the Bowser & Blue CD I've ordered direct from the artists in Canada arrives any quicker. (There's a very, very tenuous link to the Mrs. Ackroyd band here...)

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: WildRover
Date: 08 Nov 03 - 07:43 AM

Andrea,

the distributors, Proper Music, went out of stock a couple of weeks ago, at the worst possible time, i.e. during the UK Postal strike. I was informed yesterday by Richard Ellin, the Osmosys proprietor, that they have now been re-stocked. If you encounter further delays in trying to buy the CD through online shops, here's what to do. Visit the BCAB Website, that's www.bcab.org.uk, click on the 'Learn More about Guide Cats' link, then send an Email. This will bring you back to me and I'll see if I can sort it. You can get them directly from me, but I'd also like to find out about specific instances of customer frustrations, so that I can make sure the record company and the promotor do all they can to keep the retailers on their toes.

More fame: Les received further exposure when Ed Stewart played Charlotte Green's Voicemail on his radio 2 programme last Sunday. Gerry Anderson gave good coverage on BBC Ulster yesterday, and GMR's Alan Beswick has been featuring the CD regularly this week. Now we're going for the big one. Any Togs and Tygs on the list, perhaps you'd put a request for a play on Terry Wogan's breakfast show. Email [e-mail] but do so in isolation from each other, and don't say you've been sent! (smile)

Finally, Richard Bridge, please accept my apologies if I don't reach you in time. You will gather that I've rectified my computer problems. Hope I haven't duplicated the efforts of a busy man.

Best,
Clive
Guide Cats Producer

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Nov 03 - 10:39 AM

Beat you to it - I've requested that the TogMeister play his particular piece but so far, no joy.

LTS

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Nov 03 - 01:42 PM

I have as bidden emailed. Just don't tell the man I never listen to his show, and have no idea what this tog and tig business is all about.

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: WildRover
Date: 08 Nov 03 - 06:07 PM

Liz,

well done, but advice I've given is that they're probably not allowed to play their own tracks at the beeb. I can think of one DJ from radio 1 whose career on the station ended abruptly after he revealed that he'd voiced over a then hit record having just played it on his own show. TOg and Tyg are Terry's listeners:
Terry's Old Geezers, Terry's Old Girls, Terry's Young Geezers, Terry's Young Girls.

So now ya know. Actually, I think Custard Creams would sit well in his show.

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 09 Nov 03 - 02:33 AM

The first one I heard was Sarah Kennedy's "Brussels Sprouts" on her own show. She apologised for playing her own, but she'd left the cd at home and all they could get hold of was a tape of her contribution.

Thank you for the information about the distribution, Clive, hopefully it will be here shortly.

Andrea
(and the cds from Canada DID come!)

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: open mike
Date: 17 Nov 03 - 03:46 PM

i see Les Barker is coming to California
so perhaps some of us across the pond
will finally see what this bloke is all
about.
from a radio producer:
>I am a huge fan of Les Barker, for those who have never heard of him
>turn out for this one you will not regret it. I play a great deal of Les
>on the air.
>
>
>
Les Barker is also doing a Fiddling Cricket show in San Jose on Sunday.
Details below.


The Espresso Garden is a very intimate venue, seating about 85 in the
current configuration. Just the perfect size for a spoken word artist
like Les Barker.

AT THE ESPRESSO GARDEN CAFE. Call 408 294 3353 or email
[e-mail] for Fiddling Cricket Concert reservations.


Les Barker
Sunday 23rd November, 4.30pm. $14
British Poet, Parodist, Humorist. Our only non-musical event.


 Maybe the best writer of parody and wordplay the English
speaking folk world has heard.  Dirty Linen


Les Barker writes strange poems and comes from Manchester. He
was an accountant before he became a professional idiot. He has
written 70 slim books, which sell in large numbers at his gigs
because people cant quite believe what they just heard. His
poems have spawned a number of folk heroes: Jason and the
Arguments, Spot of the Antarctic, Cosmo the Fairly Accurate Knife
Thrower He also has several solo albums with titles like Up the
Creek without a Poodle, which contain poems with titles like
Guide Cats for the Blind and Dachshunds with Erections Cant
Climb Stairs. Les has travelled the length, breadth and height of
Britain (as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, the US and
Canada) performing (?) at major folk festivals and small clubs.
Audiences inevitably end up in hysterics. Hes very hard to
describe, but here is only one of him, so come hear him. A sample
can be heard (supposedly co-written by Mr Barker and Mr Bush,
An Odd Kind of Ultimatum, at his website, www.mrsackroyd.com)

Snazzy is presenting Les Barker, british comic poet, on the 22nd and
Check www.snazzyamericanamusic.com.

Saturday, November 22nd - Les Barker & Roy Zimmerman @ The Kuumbwa Jazz Center

All Ticket orders must be purchased separately from merchandise orders.

There are no shipping charges on ticket orders (Although they will appear on your order, you will not be billed for shipping on ticket orders). You will pick them up at the concert venue "Will Call".

Tickets are NOT sold online on the day of the show, but may be available at Etc Etc Etc, or over the phone from Patty the ticket master at [phone]!
Tickets bought at the door will be $2.00 more than tickets bought ahead of time.

There is a $1.50 per ticket service charge with a minimum of $3.00 service charge per order
   
Les Barker & Roy Zimmerman @ The Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Saturday, November 22nd - 7:30 PM
$19.00


i found this on the strawberry music festival chat list.

any one know who roy zimmerman is? bob dylan's brother?

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: open mike
Date: 17 Nov 03 - 05:47 PM

refreshing this to be on top by concert announcement thread

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 17 Nov 03 - 06:06 PM

Les is wonderful... I had never seen him untill a coupla weeks ago, and my... he turned my mind over... and over... and over... such a joyous countenance, and the laughter all around him is really kind and good natured... and so much of that laughter, that some of it just won't go away... and who would ever want it to? It's like he jump started my sense of humor... 'cause my battery was dead. ;^)

Thanks Les! ttr

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 18 Nov 03 - 09:05 AM

I got my copy of the CD from Don Thompson at "The Fenn Bell" session the weekend before last - it's great.

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Dave Swan
Date: 18 Nov 03 - 09:42 AM

The Fiddling Cricket is a great place to play (we were there last weekend) and I'm looking forward to seeing Les Barker there this weekend?

Will you be there Laurel?

D

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 18 Nov 03 - 03:50 PM

I was very suprized... shocked, in fact... to find out that there is a 'Fiddling Cricket' Club. I'd never heard of it... untill a coupla days ago... Even more stupifying to me, is the sheer coincidence of of my reference to 'Cricket Mansion' and fiddling in the meaningless thread... This was bizzar, unplanned, and totally unintended... I promise and assure you... Good Luck, and Best Wishes... ttr

Subject: Wildrover
From: GUEST,Wildrover
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 12:27 PM

Hi Richard,

through a radio listeners' email group I run, a campaign is rising up as follows:

1. To pledge a donation to Children in Need if Richard Allinson (Radio 2) can play Dave Cash and the Five Guide Cats of Arijaba with Detritus at around 10.37pm this evening.

2. To pledge a donation to Children In Need if Terry Wogan plays 'Sprouts' by Sarah Kennedy' leading into the 8 o'clock pips.

The email addresses are:

[e-mail] and [e-mail] .

That's 10.37 tonight and about 7.55 tomorrow morning GMT, in case you'd be listening on the internet from abroad.

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 21 Nov 03 - 07:25 AM

Oh about 10 years ago I went to a folk club to see a band I like way back then only to discover they had cancelled for some reason or other but instead they had at very short notice managed to book this poet guy. We were going to leave but as I still had a full pint and had driven a bit sat and listened. It was Les of course, and I sat where I was. Still think of it as one of the best nights out I ever had. Now iI have lots of his books of verse and have lost count of the times I have seen him and the total is still rising, I cant say that about many other acts on the Folk Circuit.
Keep it up Les.

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 05:49 PM

Hi Clive

Sorry to miss your post. I was at what turned out to be the last Dog and Bunny

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Wildrover
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 03:32 PM

Hi all,

just thought I'd post some updates on the Guide Cats CD, as it garners more funds for the BCAB, and hopefully makes a megastar of Mrs Ackroyd's master.

The Gerry Anderson show on BBC Ulster continues to champion Detritus, playing it virtually every second day on his Monday to Friday schedule. You can now visit www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland to check out the playlists. Because of the demand this has generated, some people have complained to the programme that they've contacted RNIB Belfast to find out more, but they hadn't heard of the album. I've corrected this, and if you're in Belfast, you will soon be able to drop in to 40 Linenhall Street and buy the CD direct from there. But as Gerry says: 'The album should be available everywhere, so if your shop says they can't get it, it means they can't be bothered, so keep on at them. The Catalogue number is OSMOCD020/021 on the Osmosys lable." When you buy from RNIB Belfast, £8 will go to the British Computer Association of the Blind, and £2 to RNIB Belfast, so you support two charities in one. You can also drop in to the RNIB's London offices at 105 Judd Street and buy it there. Note that neither of the RNIB branches can currently sell by Mail Order.


B C A B are still working to get online credit card payment facilities, but in the meantime, if you want to pay by Credit Card, you can do so by phoning Techno-vision Systems Ltd during office hours on 01604 792777, or by emailing [e-mail]. Techno-vision systems are one of the country's leading suppliers of computer access hardware and software for blind and partially-sighted people. They don't normally sell records, but they've stepped in to help the Association.   

The CD has now sold well in excess of 1000 copies, raising more that ten thousand pounds to kick start a computer awareness days project to benefit present, and with any luck an increasing number of future blind computer users.

As a postscript, if there are any other visually-impaired Mudcatters out there, you might like to know that as from the Jan/Feb edition, it is expected that Folk Roots will be available from the Talking Newspaper Association of the UK. The latest edition contains a joint review of Guide Cats and the Mrs Ackroyd Band album, Yelp.

Best,
Clive

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: mouldy
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 02:50 AM

I'm pleased to hear it's doing well. I took pot luck a few weeks ago at HMV in York (they who had initially said they'd get "a few" copies in) and they had plenty. I asked one of the shop assistants for it, and he knew exactly what I was on about. I think they'd filed it in with "humour".

Remember, people...it makes an ideal Christmas present!

Andrea

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 03:55 AM

Thanks to understanding relatives who are used to my esoteric tastes my Xmas goodies included CDs of "Guide Cats for the Blind" (must learn some of the monologues), North Mississippi All Stars, Corey Harris, Peter Green and the latest James Lee Burke paperback. Herself got Capital Gold Rock Legends, Jools Holland: Jack o' the Green and Eva Cassidy: American Tune. Our Xmas and New Year car journeys were thus sorted musucally.

Thanks for drawing the Les Barker to my attention, I already had and loved Tubular Dogs.

RtS

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 06 Jan 04 - 06:26 PM

I am disgusted that no-one of my acquaintance bought me this CD for Christmas.... I can only assume that they thought I'd already have it.

Anyone want to be early for my birthday?

LTS

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Nemesis
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 05:32 AM

Just for the AIRPLAY record

SpiritFM (south west Sussex) www.spiritfm.net .. having also been solidly plugging this for months on their brilliant Roots around the World programme on Sundays 7-9pm

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 05:50 AM

I got it for xmas...Its wonderful!!

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: cptsnapper
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 03:23 PM

Desmond Carrington played Sarah Kennedy reciting " Brussels Sprouts" on his show this evening.

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Fran
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 04:18 PM

Available on Listen again here

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 06:36 PM

Work is in hand for the 4th volume of this - tiny weensie hint, it's my birthday on Sunday and I'm still missing volumes 2 and 3...

LTS

Subject: RE: Fame at last Les Barker!
From: GUEST,Cally
Date: 10 Sep 08 - 09:40 AM

In my opinion Volume 3 knocks the spots off Vol 2.
Les has also brought out his 1st poetry book in Welsh - called Dogfen.