Jim Moray....

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Dead Ant
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 04:44 PM

Glad we are keeping you amused Santa.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 04:51 PM

'I'm interpreting traditional songs in my own way, he [Jim Moray] says, 'But I don't even feel it's innovative. I just make music that's influenced by everything around me.' Uncut, current issue.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 04:55 PM

'I'm interpreting traditional songs in my own way,' he [Jim Moray] says, 'But I don't feel it's innovative. I just make music that's influenced by everything around me.' Uncut, current issue. Not innovative, different and worth a listen I say, but hey if you don't like it go listen to something else as Countess Richard says. I'm sure no-one will mind.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 05:43 PM

"He's just twenty-one but he's single-handedly turning the English folk music world on its head."

Opening words of his biography on his website. I disagree.

'I'm interpreting traditional songs in my own way,' he [Jim Moray] says, 'But I don't feel it's innovative. I just make music that's influenced by everything around me.' Uncut, current issue. Not innovative, different and worth a listen I say,

So do I!!

Regards,

Dave

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 05:54 PM

I'm really astonished at all these guest-type people about. A mere 5 months ago, I joined Mudcat to throw in my 2p worth at a collection of folkier-than-thou, blinkered and insensitive contributors who took it upon themselves to attack and malign an artist who I knew slightly and admired greatly.

I joined because I couldn't quite see how to sign in as a guest and because some things needed to be said in defence of Jim Moray who wasn't even in the country at the time to speak for himself. Since then, I have contributed to a number of discussions, meanwhile observing with a certain amount of horror the narrow-mindedness and petty venom of some people associated with this forum towards any artist whose approach did not accord with their bizarrely narrow conception of what traditional music actually is.

Really, I just don't understand why some of you are here when you are so unprepared to welcome and encourage brilliant new artists with approaches to music that may not have occurred previously to you. I have in mind here not just this thread and its equally acrimonious predecessor, but also that on the Young Folk Awards running concurrently on this forum.

I'm convinced that some of you actually want the music to die with you. I predict that you'll be disappointed...and I really don't care.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 07:33 PM

At his Preston concert, Jim got out his acoustic guitar and said, "Before I alienate you..." Alas, it was too late.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Santa
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 04:24 AM

In addition to all my other faults, it seems I'm unable to distinguish between nerds and geeks. So I apologise to all uber-geeks in the audience, and especially grovel to Alpha Geek herself.

Otherwise unrepentant, I query what "being out of the country" has to do with comments on the internet? For what its worth, Mudcat is a US-based website, with contributors from Australia to Guam (even if that it doesn't look far on my school atlas).

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: greg stephens
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 04:35 AM

The so-called "controversy" on this thread seems to vanish when you look at it. All seems rather reminiscent of Nic Jones related threads a year or so ago, which turned into squabbling very quickly: not by general argument, but by artfully inserted inflammatory statements. Well, it certainly helped generate publicity.
What we have on this thread is a lot of people who like Jim Moray, a lot who dont, and some inbetweenies. Hardly an unusual or inflammatory state of affairs. The only strange factor is one person who calls her or his opponents blinkered, insensitive, narrow-minded, petty, venemous etc etc.
    It is difficult ignoring this sort of thing, but those of us who want to discuss an interesting topic have to do the best we can to recognise, and thenm ignore, the stirring.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 11:17 AM

Hello again!

Guest_DearMe asks "where is Mike of Northumbria…?"

Well, Mike has a day-job, a family, and various time-consuming hobbies … but he still visits the Mudcat occasionally. So, a few more thoughts from the Deep North...

Perhaps it might help to resolve this argument if we tried to separate two issues which keep getting tangled up here. One is that contributors to this thread have widely differing estimates of the quality of JM's work. The other is that a number of our correspondents are seriously annoyed by JM's promotional material, and by some of the media comment on him.

On the first point. Those who like what JM does are free to attend his concerts and buy his records - those who don't are free to stay away, and spend their pocket money on other people's CDs. Both groups are entitled to express their opinions (though I'd be happier if some of those opinions were expressed less aggressively). But while discussion and analysis may change what people think, they rarely change how people feel. At some stage, we can only agree to differ, and move on to other subjects.

On the second point. I don't think the journalists and radio presenters who made extravagant claims for JM's significance were bribed or coerced. I believe they were making honest value-judgements (even though I may not share their values). As to the publicity material distributed by JM and his management – well, they are engaged in a commercial venture. If they have made good choices, they will prosper: if not, they won't. The market will decide. That's show business, folks.   Those of us who don't like the hype are free to mock it, or to ignore it. Eventually the tides of time will wash the dross away, and leave the gold for posterity.

And my own opinion? Well, I think that JM is a promising new talent, who deserves encouragement – and some constructive criticism where appropriate. Praising him as folk's new messiah, or slagging him off as a worthless poseur, are equally unjust, and equally unhelpful. So far, most of what I've heard from him sounds more like work in progress than the finished article. But he clearly has something fresh and interesting to contribute, and I'm sure he will continue to evolve and improve. Meanwhile he is giving quite a few people a lot of pleasure. Good luck to him say I.

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,another disillusioned guest
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 11:53 AM

I am not an old fogey, I am not anti the technical and electronic gadgetery of Mr M's performance.... I simply do NOT like his singing voice which I find intensley irritating and the thought of being subjected to a whole album of it makes me cringe!

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,doh
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 08:36 PM

Another Disillusioned Guest, have you read a single word of the message above? If you have nothing constructive to say....

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: black walnut
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 10:00 AM

I like Jim Moray in live performance and on CD, and when I played the CD in the car for my folk-ballad hating 19 year old son, he asked me to give him a copy for Christmas.

There's not only one way to do something well.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: John Routledge
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 10:12 AM

Spot on b.w.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 10:19 AM

GUEST COMMENTATOR, you will never get a reply from Mike Harding if you criticise him, only if you complement him.
I sent him quite a few emails and only got a reply from his producer Jon Leonard, however he did write an article for the Living Tradition magazine and slagged me off publicly.
eric

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Lidy
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 03:00 PM

I have issues with Mr Moray as a person but I will still stand up in his defence as a musician: I put on his records and I am amazed. It's just nice to have something a bit different in the record collection. Forget the hype, he's only human, and Black Walnut's right. Maybe we should just create a new genre for him and then we won't all have to get so het up about what he's doing in folk. As for whether he's a poseur or not, those who have been following him for a while (his career, not like round his house going through his bins) will probably agree that he's come a long way in confidence and technical skill in a relatively short period of time. If it's not your cup of tea, I have to agree with the Countess, it's hardly as if you're being forced to listen to it. Give a young man a chance! And my advice is to keep checking out his new stuff even if the previous recordings didn't stir something in you- I can't imagine he'll be sitting still in terms of interpretation for long.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 04:00 PM

Yep. Lidy's right. Give the guy a break, one that he really deserves after nearly two months on the road when the gigs I saw were a great success musically and technically and received with acclaim. Why on earth should some of you continue to begrudge Jim Moray his success?

As Lidy says, he won't be sitting still for long. No one's going to laugh at you for being a bit late in checking out his new ventures. He's far from fully formed yet.    You still don't want to listen? Your loss.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 08:04 PM

I like Jim Moray very much. I first saw him with the Oysterband some months ago and thought "Wow!!!!!!" I've seen him a couple of times since then. He's different. He's refreshing. Some of the remarks in this thread have been really personal and nasty.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Colin.O
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 05:42 AM

Wow - that someone who has only been on the circuit for about a year (
Being new on the circuit he has still a lot to learn - but imagine where he'll be then?

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: Beardy
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 04:21 PM

I refer to the question posed in the original post...in my opinion....a nerd with a MIDI who cant really sing that well.

I saw Jim 4 times at various festivals during the year and cannot understand the fuss being made. I have seen the 'uture of folk music' many times during years of listening to folk and attending festivals. Martyn Bennett was proclaimed when he released ' Bothy Ballads' and Dr Didg has been using samples and loops for years.

However whilst I dont like Jim Moray myself I see no reason why others cannot appreciate his interpretations and vocal style nad a festival programme that appeals equally to everyone would be unique in my opinion.

Variety is what we crave; we can then judge for ourselves.

Stewart

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: tartan babe
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 05:15 PM

Is what Jim doing innovative?

Just because people in the folk world generally dislike electrickery, doesn't mean to say that what he does is new. Hearing that he was nominated 4 times for radio 2, made me quite annoyed. Are there really so few musicians out there that were worthy of being nominated.

What Jim does is good, but in the grand scheme of music things, it's not new and it's not innovative. I'd rather hear what Martin Bennett does. He doesn't try to to be innovative, he just fuses different styles.

Having said this, does Jim really think he's being innovative. I doubt it. Jim probably had to put innovative in his program notes just to try and get old bearded folkies to take notice of the demon electronics.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 14 Dec 03 - 05:50 PM

Martyn Bennett's work might best be described as a fusion of Scottish traditional music with the contemporary club scene while Jim Moray is reinterpreting English traditional music. A contrast is perfectly feasible but a comparison nonsensical.

Whapweasel or perhaps Chumbawamba might bear comparison with Martyn Bennett as Alasdair Roberts might with Jim Moray.

I too feel Martyn Bennett deserved a Folk Awards nomination, if only for his "innovatory" overlaying of Jeannie Robertson onto a dance track.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 04:12 AM

Tartan Babe check out Jim's own view on the question of innovation, above in this thread or in the current issue of Uncut.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 07:14 AM

Apart from a 21st. Century Stylophone how exactly is Jim Moray re-interpreting English folk music?

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,COMMENTATOR
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 07:30 AM

Thanks to "eric the red",
                         I`m somewhat dismayed to learn I`m not the only one who has been dismissed by M.H. but at least I feel in good company. As you have read my, criticism of him was that he described the J.Moray CD as "fantastic". One would have thought he would have had the balls to reply and defend his choice of adjective. If this is truly how he feels then one can only assume his emotions for certain other singers and musicians with whom we are blessed must be beyond desciption.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 07:38 AM

The number of musicians mixing traditional folk recordings with other dance rhythms and various computer stuff can now be numbered in the thousands rather than hundreds; perhaps we should be a little cautious about the way words like "innovative" are sprayed around.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 07:11 AM

So Nerd with a MIDI it is then!

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 07:17 AM

...who actually CAN sing well, as Anahata said. And who can produce musical arrangements that work.

So that's full circle. Now can we draw the line?

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 07:20 AM

But that's only your opinion - - so no!

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 07:25 AM

Not just mine, by any means. But what more can there be to say till his next venture. It really won't be long......

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 07:27 AM

And the publicity machine grinds on...and on..and on..

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: fiddler
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 07:40 AM

Time for a tirade.

Why is everyone so opinionated and bigoted!

Sorry - a few have been honest and said don't like it and left it there.

He's (JIM) filling Gigs, concert halls and selling CDs - is it the old adage folkies don't like success stories

Or he thought of it B4 you did

Or there are a few inferiority complexes out there I don't know.

Or plain deadly sin - green eyes and envy!!!

I like folkies (myself included) 'cos we are tolerant and easy going not usually bigoted and opinionated but this thread throws all that to the wind! - Bit like the Young folk awards one!

Fortunately there is a lot of good stuff on here too!

AND He's got you all ranting and raving for well mover a week or two recently - I bet that sold a few tickets etc. so that osme could see what all the fuss is about so we are all part of the publicity machine!

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: treewind
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 09:26 AM

The publicity machine...

Jim obviously has a natural talent for publicity. By training, instinct, paying for it or sheer hard work, he knows how to get himself promoted.

I think that's why some people here are suspicious or jealous. But just because some airheaded teeenage slut can be turned into a pop star by the "Music Industry", doesn't mean that anyone who has a good publicity operation has no talent, nor otherwise.

The trouble with fame and publicity is that it's a two edged sword - everything you do, good or bad, gets talked about and exaggerated.

In the other JM thread, I objected to the hype, not because he's bad (he isn't) but because there are lots of other performers around who are great singers and musicians and are almost unheard of. Perhaps one lesson to be learnt is that a bit of careful self promotion doesn't do any harm - unfortunately it's something that a lot of "purist" folkies don't believe in very much. As someone who has recently made the transition from a "floor spot + resident band" supporter of his local folk club to part of a duo that does paid gigs, I've had to learn that process step by step, and it's hard work (and still learning, all the time).

I think it's great that he's aroused the interest of some "folk-hating" teenagers. Let's hope that new interest gets them listening to other folk material with a new understanding. Every little helps...

Anahata

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: fiddler
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 02:41 PM

hear hear (or is it here here) Anahata

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Dan Abnormal
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 06:32 AM

I really am puzzled by this thread. The basic points seem to boil down to:-
1."Jim doesn't have a very good voice" (well, neither did Bert Lloyd...),
2."The publicity material talks about him in good terms" (but wouldn't it be daft to have a press release that said "Jim Moray is distinctly average...". And for that matter, I'm sure Jim himself never wrote that.)
3. "The media writes about him, and not Tom/Dick/Geoff" (Yet, for years the folk world has bemoaned the lack of press coverage for traditional music, and when some comes along its somehow evil..)

Like the Countess, I think I can see now that its not traditional music that people are interested in preserving, but 'folk music' as a static genre. I thought it was all about making sure the ancient music of England was still sung and didn't disappear. Obviously I was wrong. So, lets sort this out once and for all - what Jim does is not really folk music as such is it? Its rock music using traditional songs. Because if folk music means conforming to such a narrow definition then I'm not even sure I want to consider myself a folk fan anymore.

Oh, and the comments about "422. Ola, the Pack et al" nearer the top of the thread made me chuckle... If only you knew...

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,spittal B
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 03:11 PM

Looking at JM's bookings for the next twelve months I'm glad to see that there are more excellent bands who want hm to appear with him than there are knockers on this site. When the folk performers like the Oyster band are asking for him to support them I feel they may no more than the armchair moaners, Keep at it Jim

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 18 Dec 03 - 04:17 PM

Never had any interest in hearing or seeing Jim Moray - until this thread!

I'll def. check him out now - might also help with the MIDI programming course I am doing next year!

All the best
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: Spittal B
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 08:54 AM

Saw Jim do an acoustic set recently, Early one morning with jim on acoustic guitar backed by two fiddlers was excellent. His voice like many singers just takes some time to get accustmed too.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: Spittal B
Date: 11 Feb 04 - 11:45 AM

Congrats Jim on two awards, Best Album and the Horizon award
look forward to the next CD

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Eccosse
Date: 11 Feb 04 - 12:04 PM

I recently saw Jim at Celtic Connections were he was support for Karine Polwart. I had never heard of him until this point and now I can't get away from him in the press - they love him!

Personnally, I simply cannot see what the hype is about. I thought he lacked the charisma needed to be "front man" performer, his voice was rather weak. The person sitting next to me actually fell asleep it was so monotonous.

Although I can appreciate what he is trying to do, his recent success at the Folk awards in my opinion was unjustified. Perhaps in a few years once his voice has matured may I feel different.
m-c

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: Spittal B
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 06:03 AM

I see that Sweet England has made it into the Indie top 40
and amazon top 100 well done jim, What now the Video??

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 09:07 AM

On accepting his best newcomer prize at the BBC Folk Awards ceremony, Jim Moray said:

"I'd like to thank all the people who know absolutely nothing about folk music who've bought my record."

And that just about sums up both the positive and the negative aspects of the situation.

On the positive side, thousands of young record buyers who rarely listened to folk music before are now being exposed to traditional tunes and lyrics. With luck, some of them may eventually move on towards wider musical horizons.   

On the negative side, people who know a little more about folk music will have heard JM's most distinctive techniques used before (and better) by others. (For example, on Martyn Bennett's "Bothy Culture" or Altar Native's "Cumbrian Odyssey".)    It's understandable if some of them believe that JMs fame is greater than his talents merit. But it's also unfair and short-sighted.

Unfair, because JM has clearly got talent - even if it isn't quite as massive a talent as some of his cheer-leaders would have us believe. And short-sighted, because anything that introduces folk music to a larger audience is a good thing.

Having seen JM, as well as heard him, I can now understand his appeal better. He has exactly the right look, the right style, and the right attitude to attract a young following.   The way he dresses, the way he carries himself, the way he addresses his public - they all proclaim "I'm one of you … you could be me!" And that, more than any other factor, is what attracts a mass youth audience. The music has always been secondary.

Think back a few decades. What did the grown-ups say about Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and many others? "Unwashed snotty-nosed kids, who mumble illiterate lyrics to banal tunes and can't even play their instruments properly." And up to a point, that was true – but it didn't matter to us because they were young, we were young, and the times they were a-changin', or so we thought.   

Today, when listening to digitally remastered classics of the '50s and '60s, I can hear the technical deficiencies I missed the first time around. But the best of those recordings still convey the energy and the commitment that captivated me then. I wish I could stay around long enough to find out which of today's hit recordings JM's generation will be re-purchasing in updated formats when they've grown grey and affluent. But in the here and now, I think the best advice for members of my generation is, as the man once said to our parents,

"Don't criticise what you can't understand,
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command."

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 10:39 AM

I love the Jim Moray CD, but........when the accordian player in our band said Moray's singing voice reminded him of Frank Spencer, I can see what he means.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: Beardy
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 10:46 AM

JM can be seen in the Celtic Connections programme on BBC4 this weekend.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: treewind
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 10:48 AM

"I'm one of you … you could be me!" And that, more than any other factor, is what attracts a mass youth audience. The music has always been secondary.

Wise words as usual from Mike of Northumbria.

The mystery of Jim's sudden rise to popularity despite debatable musical qualities (I'm not expressing an opinion, just observing that there is disagreement generally) has been partly solved for me by recently finding out how he went about promoting his first recording. The methods of the pop music industry are expensive, but they produce results. They are also appropriate for the target audience that he clearly wishes to attract.

The current fRoots article says he's feeling somewhat overwhelmed by it all. I'm not surprised. I don't think I'd want to launch a performing career for myself with such force even if I could afford it. I've just had a recording session, a local radio interview and two gigs all in the space of three days and that was quite enough excitement for me - I need a weekend off!

Anahata

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,KB
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 11:19 AM

Terry - that Frank Spencer thing is a right bummer!

There was an episode where Frank sings "Early one morning just as the sun was rising" - and Jim's rendition is SSSSOOOO similar that it cracks me up every time, even though it makes me hate myself....

Other than that, I think Jim is wonderful!

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: *Laura*
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 11:04 AM

this is very interesting. i'm actually fascinated by how some people are so fiercely defensive of him, while others umm.... aren't! wow - i won't comment other than to say i was beginning to worry that i was the only one of my opinion! (whatever that may be) now i am reassured.
Thanks guys!

x

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 08:46 PM

Well I finally heard him on BBC4 this week.

I don't think I'm a musical bigot in any sense affecting this debate (yes, I have some dislikes, country included, but that is not relevant to Moray) and I listen to a range from unaccompanied trad English folk to fairly heavy metal, albeit not much modern "urban" (metal is urban too, and so is punk, but they never seem to be labelled that way).

It all seems a bit much to get too worked up about it. Fairly interesting (but not shatteringly interesting) arrangements. I don't really think a visual element in the presentation of music can be thought of as groundbreaking - I went to several "multimedia happenings" in the 60s.

But it isn't all that wonderful, and I agree with those who say he is an unimpressive singer - not "bad" but his voice is not good and not interesting. In summary I am underwhelmed. I damn him with faint praise.

There again that does not mean he will be uninfluential. Dylan may well have been a considerable commentator and songwriter (and minor poet) but he must have been one of the worst singers ever. He made his own songs almost unlistenable, until someone else sang them.

And Johnny Cash, as a singer (as distinct from song stylist) was worse. No pitch, no tone, no range. Little scansion.

If Moray fails as badly as both of them he will do alright, but I will still be fairly unimpressed.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 10:33 AM

It's going to be an on-going "problem". With so little young talent entering the folk field, anybody who arrives with even a modest talent is going to have an inordinate amount of praise heaped up on them. Back in the 60s, Jim Moray wouldn't have caused any ripples at all.

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 11:11 AM

"With so little young talent entering the folk field..."

That would be a field on the planet Zog? Folkworks and Shooting Roots are not yet operating there but when they do there'll be hordes of (possibly green) young players, dancers and singers revelling in and restoring to relevance whatever consitutes their traditional inheritence. Just as is occurring here now in festivals and community venues everywhere. Not so much in the clubs though with Victor Meldrew-inspired throwbacks to put them down.

" Back in the 60s..."

Yeah. I cringe to remember a lot of what we got up to then in what went under the name of a 'folk scene'. Those who were good (and are still with us) are still up there doing it. Had Jim Moray been around way back then perhaps the Peter Paul & Mary and Seekers lookalikes would have been despatched sooner, on a tidal wave rather than a ripple.

PS Bob Dylan *can* sing...

Subject: RE: Jim Moray....
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 29 Feb 04 - 01:46 PM

At my local folkclub in the sixties, there were two performers who were so much more talented than Jim Moray. They never got very far on the wider stage for various reasons, but they had it! Back then, the numbers attending folkclubs must be 100 times more than now, and subsequently, the amount of " talent" to draw from was vast compared with today. No, I dismiss all the computer tech thing. If the Jim Moray of today - with just a guitar, got up at my local way back when, he wouldn't have been considered anything special.