Lyr ADD: Messing About on the River

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: Dita
Date: 12 Jun 03 - 08:53 PM

Ah Ewan, Ewan, the memory is going.
Josh made two albums, one for Pye and one for Transatlantic.
The Pye one is the one with "Messing about on the River" and is split between folk and country songs. The Transatlantic album had Archie Fisher on it, and is a lot harder hitting, featuring songs such as "No Damn Good" and "The Ballad of Lee Harvey Oswald."
The only other recordings of his I have found are on Top Rank, which issued some EPs and singles of the Reivers and a solo EP of Josh.
Pan Records of Glasgow, reissued some of the Reivers sides as a single and coupled your "Talkin Army Blues" with "Talking Guitar Blues". Was that a staight reissue of the hit? Was it on Top Rank?

Your old friend, John McCreadie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 12:31 PM

OK, given that explanation, "Trots" makes sense. I was always under the impression that a trot line was a method of fishing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: GUEST,Tim the Cameraman
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 03:53 AM

Hello everyone!

What a fascinating read I've just had on this page...

Myself and my three children are having their first boating holiday in August on the Norfolk Broads. I first enjoyed the one and only experience in 1974ish.

So I was searching the internet to find the lyrics of the wonderfull song I remember as a kid listening on the old valve radio (also remember it on family favourites) so we could all sing it whilst on the boat holiday.

I first tried looking for the mp3 on Kazaa(.com) and winmx(.com) without success. Then tried a search in google and thankfully found this page and all you wonderful people!

Thanks to you all I now have the mp3 and a set of lyrics with amendments, so I thank you all for making our boating holiday one to remember.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: GUEST,JamesB
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 02:01 PM

Thanks so much to Kyle (any relation to Josh?) and everybody really. I've been after this track for years. I believe I must have had it on record as a kid in the late 70s. It's the only way to explain my emotional attachment to this song. I've been looking for it for a while on and off but never found an MP3 of it until now. Anyway now all I've got to do is figure out the tab for it. Given that I can hardly play a note it's going to be interesting!

Thanks again!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: GUEST,Kyle MacRae
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 02:47 PM

Hi James

You're very welcome -- but sorry, no guitar tabs to hand. Josh was my uncle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: Jim McLean
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 06:31 PM

Hi Kyle,
I was a good friend of Josh's and his family. He had a sister (and also coincidentally also his wife) called Sheila. Could Sheila have been your mother?
REgards,
Jim Mclean

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: Dita
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 10:12 PM

My biggest regret.

One day around 1990, Danny Kyle and I met for a coffee in Byres Rd in Glasgow, as we sometime did when he was working at the BBC.

He told me that a couple of guys were persuading Josh's widow (?Sheila), to sell Josh's twelve string, but he felt the price offered was poor.

Knowing
a) my fondness for Josh and his music, (and my quest for his records),
and b) the fact that I could usualy raise the money when I wanted to buy an instrument,

he wanted me to buy it, so Josh's widow got a fair price, and so it would stay in good hands.

As my accursed luck would have it, it was at the one point in my life when I had no spare cash, nor means to obtain some quickly.

So I had to let Josh's guitar pass, and every time I come across something like this thread, or one of his records on ebay, I give a little sigh.

John.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: LadyJean
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 11:22 PM

My sister was in Blackfriars, at the University of Chicago. She played Ratty in a musical version of "Wind In The Willows", and sang about the joys of "messing about in boats". She also tap danced. We were very surprised. We didn't know she knew how to tap dance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 02:06 PM

Hi Jim

Close. Sheila was my aunt; my dad was Josh's older brother, Rod. All three are now sadly dead.

And hi John

Josh's ex Sheila is alive and well. I wonder what happened to the guitar in the end? Josh (or uncle Iain, as he was to me) gave me a ukulele when I was a kid and taught me one tune: 'Oh dear, what can the matter be', of all things. I dearly wish I had kept that, too... but it did inspire me to take up guitar a little later.

For what it's worth, my understanding is that Josh always loathed 'Messing About on the River' -- although he appreciated the exposure and income -- but maybe you or Jim or somebody else in here would know for sure?

My own paltry collection of Josh's records extends to the Transatlantic album (see thread.cfm?threadid=6792#966651 above), which I've since converted to MP3, and a few scratched singles. I've always wanted a copy of the Johnny Ramensky song, though, and I've never managed to hear the Emmettones material at all. Anybody know where such records can be found?

Cheers

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: akenaton
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 03:55 PM

Hi Ian I live in Argyll and saw Josh perform many times. He was a real minstrel and out of the same mould as the great Alex Campbell,although slightly different in style . Iv alway been a big fan of josh, and his penchant for americana is very popular right now.
Iv got most of his recordings,and you might be interested in one which hasnt been mentioned....."Tonight at the Attic"...Josh Mcrae Matt McGinn..Danny Kyle and Davy Spiers.
Josh sings       "Last thing on my mind"
                   "Yuri Gargarin"
                   "Saccos lost letter"
                   "Freedom come all ye"
ACTION   FMC 926    1964..
                           Best Wishes Ake.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: GUEST,Karen
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 05:18 PM

Any chance somebody could give us a wee "biog" about Josh McCrae ?

I note that Jim Mclean and Ewan McVicar are mudcatters... any info on them would also be nice.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 02:19 PM

Kyle, if you'd be happy with a tape of the Ramensky song I could make you one. I copied it from someone's album 'Josh MacRae' (1960) - probably a friend in Glasgow, or maybe Hamburg. Let me know via eMail: skw at worldmusic dot de.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: Jim McLean
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 05:51 PM

Hi Kyle,
I knew your Dad, Rod, and your Grandma, I used to drive Josh sometimes to his mum's house ... I actually fixed her telly once! I'm sorry that your Dad and aunt Sheila have passed away. Another coincidence, my wife took the sleeve photo for the Transatlantic record and we have other shots taken that day if you're interested. I agree with you that Josh was mildly embarassed by the 'pop' song Messing ...' but not unduly so. I had a few Emmettones EPs but they have gone walkabout at various new year parties in my house. I also have, by the way, a pencil portrait of Hugh McDiarmid done by Josh. Few people know that he was an acomplished artist. He was an art teacher and did some wonderful crayon portraits. A self prtrait is owned by Marion Blythman and used to hang in the Blythmans' house in Rouken Glen before Marion moved to Leith.
Regards,
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: Dita
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 06:10 PM

Kyle,

I can do you mini discs or CDs of what I have of Josh's, seeing as your family and none of it is available.

I've got the Pye album (with Ramensky) and singles, Top Rank EPs of him solo and with the Reivers, the Attic album, and "Ding Dong Dollar"
an album of anti-polaris and republican songs. Josh is strongly featured, and is on the cover in the company of Nigel Denver and Hamish Imlach.

Jim McLean gave detailed info on who sang what on this uncredited 1962 Folkways album in a thread somewhere in Mudcat. Perhaps someone more computer literate than me can make a blue clicky. (Your mission should you chose to accept it ...........)

Get in touch
[e-mail]

I'll be proud to give back a little of what Josh gave me.

ps I agree with your thoughts on "River", Josh was commited to his music, and the message in the songs. He also seemed to have an intuitive grasp of the link between Folk and New Country, 30 years before the world discovered Roots Music.

Tony Hatch was a means to an ends. If someone asked you to make a record for Pye you said "YES". He never recorded anything as lightweight before of after, no follow up in the same vein, as was the norm at the time.

love, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: GUEST,Kyle MacRae
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 04:11 PM

John, that would be fantastic. I'll contact you seperately to discuss. I'd also like to pass on copies of these recordings to a couple of cousins of mine (Josh's son by Sheila, his first wife, and his neice), both of whom I'm sure would be very grateful to hear this material. Somehow or other, precious little vinyl survived in the family over time, although I did somehow end up with a couple of Josh's Dylan albums ('The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' and 'The Times They Are A-Changin'').

That Ding Dong Dollar link is, I think, thread.cfm?threadid=49837#754599

On your last point, perhaps 'The Wee Ferry' (that crosses the Clyde) qualifies as another relatively lightweight exception. I have the single floating around somewhere. It's a song I've been unable to find any reference to on the web or in here -- must dig it out and see who wrote it and which label it's on -- but perhaps you remember it? (They're no very bonny, for streamline they lack/ They're the same at the front as they are at the back... They're clever wee boats, you can bet your last pound/ They go backwards and forwards without turning round... The sea is the place for romance, so they say/ But the ferry has always had its part to play/ For many a man and his bonny wee bride/ First met on the ferry while crossing the Clyde... etc). Ridiculously catchy!

Many thanks again

Kyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 04:24 PM

Hi Jim

Coincidences indeed! That would the house in Ashcroft (Drive?), I guess?

My copy of the Transatlantic album is sadly coverless but I've seen the original and would love to see some more pics from the same shoot.

And you're absolutely right -- Josh was by all accounts a fine artist. My mother still has a couple of his oils and I well remember a fine, 30-second pencil sketch of me as a youngster. I've still got it... somewhere.

Cheers

Kyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: Jim McLean
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 04:37 PM

Hi Kyle, yes I think that was the address and as to the song The Wee Ferry, it was written by Jim Wallace and recorded on a PYE single 7N.15926. If you email me, [e-mail] I'll send you some scans of pics. My wife still has the colour contact sheet in her files. There's also a great black and white, grainy, picture of Josh she took at the recording (in the studio). He has a sort of Frankie Sinatra pose, with cigarette and hat!
Cheers,
Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: GUEST,Heather
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 05:36 AM

I am most grateful for then infomaton about Messing about on the river sung by Josh Macrae, I am doing an assignment on Small river boats and wanted to know who sung this song, when and the words you have all answered these questions. Thanks
May your painters be long and the river be gentle!
Heather

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: GUEST,LaZahurda
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 12:47 PM

I've only just picked up on this thread. Haven't been able to download the mp3 file - can anyone help please

Subject: RE: Messing About on the River
From: Riverwind
Date: 12 May 04 - 10:17 AM

I am looking for the mp3 of Messing about on the River by Josh McCrae,
does anyone know of a site I could get it from?
Would really appreciate it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: GUEST,Graham
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 05:21 AM

Where can I buy the sheet music for "messing about on the river"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: messing about on the river
From: cptsnapper
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 01:18 AM

Hullo,

Some trivia regarding the song: it's my understanding that when Josh recorded it he wasn't able to play the guitar because he'd done something to his hand & the playing was actually done by Rena Swankie of the Reivers. Funnily enough she later moved to Bedford & the album cover has a picture of a bridge over Bedford river.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing About on the River
From: GUEST,Richard
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 11:10 AM

Hello

6 years after this discussion started, its still going!!

The mp3 link is fantastic. Thank you. The discussion about the words amusing.

Thanks all for an informative read and for saving my life with that link.

Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing About on the River
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 May 23 - 05:27 PM

Joe - do cleanup

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Messing About on the River
From: GUEST,Ian Hendrie
Date: 20 May 23 - 04:17 PM

The lyrics and two recordings (by Josh McCrae and a video by Gavin Paterson) can be found on the Songs of the Inland Waterways site at https://www.waterwaysongs.info/Songs/M/messing_about.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Messing About on the River
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 22 May 23 - 06:47 AM

Does anybody else here remember the followup single? The watery sounds of Messing About, which acted as the percussion section, were replaced by the sound of someone rhythmically planing wood.

"It's time to stop messing about in the river,
And try the new hobby called do-it-yourself."