Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)

Subject: Mike Donald
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 06:30 AM

I have a couple of albums by Mike Donald who lived in Skipton Yorkshire. These are
1. Yorkshire, songs of Broad acres
2. Bugs Eye View (with Bob Siddall)

I believe Mike is now dead (could someone confirm?), but did he make any other albums?

Thanks
LL

Subject: RE: Mike Donald
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 01:58 PM

surprised no one could help with this, And there's me thinking Mudcat was the font of all wisdom!

Subject: RE: Mike Donald
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 02:00 PM

HA!!!

Subject: RE: Mike Donald
From: Ed.
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 02:18 PM

This page mentions that Mike "died at an early age" as well as giving a little background information.

Subject: RE: Mike Donald
From: Grampus
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 02:28 PM

I have a (not very good) copy of his record 'North by North-East'
Track listing:

Land of the Pennine God
Boatman's Song
Geordie Lad
Nevison
Travelling the Newcastle Way
Tinker
Dukes Level
Roseberry Topping
Doug the Bug

Subject: RE: Mike Donald
From: open mike
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 02:40 PM

a web search of this site
brings up this:
Mike Donald, of Skipton, who died at an early age, was one of the first to extol the glories of the Settle-Carlisle line in song. Mike was northern area manager for E J Arnold Ltd, a Leeds-based firm of education suppliers and publishers.

He wrote the first of several songs about the Settle-Carlisle in 1970. He told me it had taken him just ten minutes to capture the spirit of the men who built the line - whose job was to "lay another rail".

I played a very small part in the success of that song, for Mike had been inspired by reading a book on the subject in which I was a joint author, charged with writing the historical aspects. Going to great pains to ensure the song was historically accurate, and finding it hard to believe that trains had actually been blown to a halt by gales at Ribblehead, he asked old drivers about it and found this was so.

The song led to Mike's first television appearance. Soon afterwards, he was writing songs with a social context. I recall in particular that entitled Land of the Old and Grey. It told of young people who were having to leave the Yorkshire Dales through economic necessity.

He composed that song while returning to Skipton from Appleby by train. When I was there recently, I had the company of a friend whose background is in Bradford. I refer to Tony Freschini, railway engineer, who is playing a significant part in the current track refurbishment project.

The golden sleeper is not of solid gold, of course, but has been produced by Coral Rail and installed by First Engineering to mark the installation of one million steel sleepers. I could imagine Dave Goulder or, indeed, the much lamented Mike Donald, writing a lively song about that.


and this about the Yorkshire Dales Skipton Festival
http://www.countrymusic.org.uk/festivals/skipton-review-2003.html
no connection with Mike Donald but a music event in the area he was from.

Subject: RE: Mike Donald
From: Ed.
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 02:45 PM

which is the same page that I linked to above...

Subject: RE: Mike Donald
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 08:37 PM

Many thanks.
Theres another LP I have to now try and find

LL

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: GUEST,John Goacher
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 10:38 PM

I used to sing with Mike in his first duo, and was with him at Border Television for his first TV appearance (mine too).

We both ran a folk club in 1970 at the Manor House Hotel in Thornton-in-Craven, West Yorkshire on Thursday nights.

I am now in Florida and just learned from this site (March 25, 2009) that Mike is no longer with us. While we parted in bad spirits some 38 years ago, I think of him often and remember his love for Yorkshire history and the songs he wrote.

Sithee.

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: Swaleman
Date: 10 Apr 09 - 10:16 AM

I have a collection of 3 Mike Donald LPs and two of his song books. Does anyone have the words of 'Geordie Lad' i.e the last line of the first verse which goes;
He worked from the Humber to Old Peterhead
And he knew all the ports of call
He drank with the lads in the dock-side inns
Talked to the ......... and ..........'
it sounds like dye men and johns but that doesn't seem quite right.

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: Darlodave
Date: 20 Aug 09 - 05:40 AM

Can anyone provide the lyrics of Mike's song Geordie Lad please.

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 20 Aug 09 - 07:53 AM

I looked in his North by North-East songbook, but Geordie Lad isn't included. Maybe someone else wrote that one?

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: nutty
Date: 20 Aug 09 - 08:15 AM

There are two of his LP's for sale on ebay - but one at £45 and the other at £90.

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: GUEST,Mike Donald - Forum
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 11:05 AM

***********************************************
*
ayup. i've set up a forum to discuss the music of Mike Donald.
if anyone has any information then please join and
enter the Forum part through the "Board index" link at...
http://mikedonald.freeforums.org
*
***********************************************

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: The Doctor
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 05:08 AM

I have the LP 'Songs for Humberside', which is Christopher Rowe and Ian Clark, and the EP 'Folk Train', those two plus Mike Donald. I've put them on to a CD. PM me if you're interested in copies. Tracks are:

Humber Bridge; Poor Mrs Jones; The Abercrombie Plan; King Billy's Lament; The Man who put the Halt in Haltemprice; OHU2; Gloria Victoria; Keep your hands off Haltemprice; Land of Green Ginger; Hull's Best Friends; The Moving of the Wilberforce Monument; King's Town.

Settle-Carlisle Railway; Visions of Cumbria; Night Express - North Bound; The Permanent Way.

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 04:32 PM

I would like a copy of the cd you mention. I have been trying to find folk train for years. Please advise how I may obtain a copy.
Thanks
Frank Balme

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: GUEST,Gramondo
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 10:58 AM

Mike Donald - Facebook Group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=289507574390

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: The Doctor
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 04:34 PM

Frank Balme, I have a website, www.peter-taylor-folksinger.co.uk. You can contact me through that and I'll sort out a copy for you.

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: The Doctor
Date: 14 Sep 10 - 10:46 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: GUEST,Chris Stobart
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 03:31 PM

How and when did he die?

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: GUEST,kath wiggans
Date: 02 Nov 17 - 02:07 PM

Does anyone have a copy of the words and music for visions of cumbria please .

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: GUEST,Jerry Crossley
Date: 03 Nov 17 - 09:55 AM

Yes, Visions of Cumbria is in a songbook called Travelling the Northern Road, which I have an ex-Library copy of. I didn?t steal it, but bought it when they had a clearout years ago. It has four verses and a melody line notated in Bb.

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 11:19 AM

Any Chance of putting the 4 Verses up on Mudcat for us all to see

Subject: RE: Mike Donald (singer from Skipton Yorkshire)
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 03:05 AM

Visions of Cumbria

Bow Fell and Great Gable
The swan, teal and the swift
Calder Hall and Keswick
AmblesideI love you best

Ch - Copper, coal and iron
       Poets and mining men
       Factories, lakes and mountains
       Visions of Cumbria

Workington, Whitehaven
Travelling the Lakes Express
Maryport’s unemployment
Smoke clouds in the West

Fox, deer and salmon
Lorries grinding up Shap
Vickers’ yards at Barrow
In memories, old men go back

Slater’s Bridge in Langdale
Climbing the Kirkstone Pass
Tales of Scafell climbers
And the railway to Ravenglass