Lulu - a revelation!

Subject: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 07:53 AM

The second instalment of 'The Blues' was all about the UK blues scene, and very good it was too, but what was totally unexpected was the bit at the end with Lulu singing.

I've always dismissed her as a MOR waste of space, but this was something else entirely.

What do others reckon ? And who else is there with unrecognised talents ?

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 08:09 AM

If you can get a copy of the Duane Allman's Anthology Volume 2, you will get Lulu singing Dirty Old Man backed by some of America's finest Muscle Shoals musicians, including, of course, Duane Allman. Well worth tracking down.

How she came to be recording with these worthy musicans, God alone konws, but this one track is better than anything on the Dusty in Memphis album by Dusty Springfield. I wonder if there is an whole albums worth of material they could release on CD, or if one already exists and which I have managed to overlook? Intruiging. It is a shame that Lulu did record such a lot of tacky pop rubbish because she had a great R'n'B voice.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: MC Fat
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 08:12 AM

Lulu used to do a lot of bluesy stuff in the 60's along with the excellent Maggie Bell. She has always had one helluva voice.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: mooman
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 08:21 AM

I agree.

I've heard her do some excellent bluesy stuff. She's a great singer.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 08:48 AM

I saw her at Scunny baths when 'Shout' had just dropped out of the charts ('64 or '65???) with her band 'The Luvvers'. Solid wall-to-wall R&B. Fantastic. :0) :0) :0)

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: Peter T.
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 08:48 AM

If you get the DVD, you can get a couple of extra cuts of her singing. She was indeed great.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: mooman
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 08:58 AM

Is still...so I believe!

(;>)

moo

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 09:07 AM

And a li'l darlin' too! :0)

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GLoux
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 09:13 AM

Hey, I have no clue who Lulu is and am very curious...help!!!

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 09:17 AM

Is she still banging that drum?

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 09:19 AM

No problems with Lulu and her ability to sing but the film was supposed to be about the British blues scene. Why Lulu and what the hell was Tom Jones doing in this film and why devote so much time to him, not to mention Van Morrison.

Cyril Davies got one mention in passing despite the fact that although he unfortunately died in early 1964 he had a great influence on the British blues scene and used to pack out the Marquee on Thursday nights. So much so that another young unkown group fronted by Mick Jagger was brought in on another night in the week. Long John Baldry was also singing blues around the folk clubs in the very early 60's and took over the Cyril Davies Allstars after Cyril's death. It was this band that backed Buddy Guy on his first visit to the UK in February of 1965 and Little Walter on his firt UK appearance in 1964. Also I believe that John Mayall was incorrect when he stated that John Lee Hooker was the first to do a club tour here. I'm pretty sure that he was precededed by Memphis Slim, Little Brother Montgomery and Speckled Red Terry & McGhee and maybe more.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: mooman
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 09:19 AM

Here you go GLoux!

Lulu

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GLoux
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 09:33 AM

Thanks to mooman. Where have I been, under a rock?

-Greg

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: open mike
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 11:18 AM

atomic kittens?

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 12:12 PM

Hootenanny - you're absolutely right BUT - they're all fat/bald/ugly old men and Lulu's gorgeous. 'Nuff Said!

JUST JOKING, KEEP CALM! :0)

Johnny :0)

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: MARINER
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 03:25 PM

I agree with you Hootenanny. The programme was a bot of a bummer from my point of view. I mean, Tom Jones singing blues? Whatever he is, a blues singer he is not.The whole show could have done with a little more music.And a little more of the type of people you mentioned.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: Gurney
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 04:52 AM

And the reverse. Somewhere I have a tape of Ottile Patterson in a pub and singing Irish-style folk. Generous, too, encouraging others, not all of them practised, to sing.

If some-one didn't know Lulu, I should explain that Ottile was a well-known Jazz singer, based in London.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: jude
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 05:46 AM

Why were Lulu, Tom Jones and Van Morrison included in this documentary? Apart from the fact they'd have instantly trebled the viewing figures, I'd have thought these three singers were pretty nigh perfect illustrations of the influence the British blues boom had on the pop music of the 1960s - it would be tragic (not to mention insular) if it was viewed purely in isolation.

JM

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 08:12 AM

family tell me she used to come round to my grans in Dennison and sing. I can remember lots of family singing/drinking nights but to young at the time. Although I have this funny memory about a girl and trying on lots of wigs on one night. Dont ask!

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 08:15 AM

that should be Dennistoun.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 05:45 PM

I've got a Chris Barber CD and Ottile Patterson sings on that. She's bloody good. How come she is not more widely known?

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: Gurney
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 03:48 AM

Penguin Egg, I should think she is not so widely known because she sings mostly jazz, and that is a genre that gives more recognition to musicians than to singers. As is right and proper.
I wonder if she still sings? She must be getting on in years. Does anyone know?

I used to go to jazz clubs until they started politely clapping ALL the breaks, which ruined the ambience for me.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 03:59 AM

I seem to remember Lulu, and Barbara Dickson, were both contemporaries, and indeed competitors. They both used to go in for the same talent contests, around the west of Scotland, back in the bad old days.
John

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 04:04 AM

I was surprised Ottilie and Beryl Bryden were missing (archive footage must exist) and George Melly was only a talking head, not singing.
Ottilie gave up touring with Chris when she was diagnosed with epilepsy (in the late '70s, I think). We last saw her at the 100 Club when she turned up to sing with the band as a one-off around that time. I think she did a coulle of the Barber 40th anniversary tour gigs but not the Reading one we saw, she wasn't on their 50th anniversary tour we saw recently. She has recently recorded an album of Irish songs.

RtS

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GUEST,Ballyholme
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 01:42 PM

I'm a little surprised at the objections to Van Morrison's appearance on the show. The early Them featured a lot of blues material and I recall seeing Morrison guesting with The Jim Daly Blues Band in Belfast in the mid 60s.

In more recent times he has continued to feature blues in his concert set and his work with the late John Lee Hooker can't be overlooked.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: Peter T.
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 04:42 PM

It was Van Morrison/Them's version of "Baby Please Don't Go" that sent me off to the real blues,many years ago. But it is still a great record -- he is a terrific blues singer, maybe the only white guy who could carry it off.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 06:20 AM

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllllllll.............

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: el ted
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 06:35 AM

Lulu, hmmmmmmmmmmmmm I would.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 07:01 AM

I spent the 1960's deliberately avoiding the tidal wave of pop dross by immersing myself in the recordings of the likes of Leroy Carr, Willie McTell, Son House, Robert Johnson, Lonnie Johnson et al. In recent years Lulu and Tom Jones have cynically dabbled with every type of music and collaborated with currently fashionable performers, attempting to resuscitate their flagging careers. Blues is just another instance of this. Go and listen to the real thing, please.If they love the blues so much why didn't they have the integrity to perform and record it before now?

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 01:32 PM

Sorry Guest, but you are very wrong including Lulu in your put down post. She was belting out blues, and R&B, long before she ever made a record. It's a bit like the adjunct, 'don't believe everything you read in the papers' don't think that some people had no existing form before you heard their first hit record.
John

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 04:35 AM

Yes on relection maybe I was a bit harsh and I wouldn't deny either Tom Jones or Lulu their remarkable voices, but perhaps we have different notions of what Blues is? I also know that there is a stong partisan feeling for Lulu North of the Border and why not? She is a talent. But for me Son House is a blues singer, representing the Real Thing. Lulu and Jones are pop singers who have a go at imitating the Blues and for me there is a huge difference. I've always regarded British Islanders attempts at Blues as Black influenced White Boy Rock n' Roll, R & B it was called and The Luvvers were a good example, a good enough genre in its own right and certainly it was creative and threw up some remarkable pioneering guitarists who in fact went on to forge music rather independent of the Blues. Lulu parted company from her backing band, The Luvvers, as soon as she saw how much dosh she could make out of singing commercial and shallow stuff like "To Sir With Love" rather than R & B. It was also a sensible move to ensure a longer career in Show Business. Early in their careers both Jones and Lulu committed to going down the pop road and both have made millions - literally - by performing in that area of music and now perhaps feel financially secure enough to dabble in Blues, a music they both enjoyed listening to and related to. Nothing wrong in that, but not, I suggest, the Real Thing. As a writer in the London Times wrote about that particular film, Lulu and Jones might cover Blues but you don't hear any covers of Boom-Bang-a-Bang and Delilah by Howling Wolf. Anyway, I have to say it: the TV companies in England really piss me off. During the late 1960's and '70's we all had to endure The Lulu Show and the Tom Jones Show Show (And and indeed the Val Doonican Show,) at a time when some of the finest Black American Blues performers were touring the UK: T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker, Fred McDowell, Son House, Dr Ross, Muddy Waters Johnny Shines, J B Lenoir, Arthur Crudup, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Reed, Howling Wolf,The Rev Gary Davis and many, many others. But you didn't see any "Fred McDowell Hour" or "T-Bone Walker Hour" did you? What an opportunity there was to get these performers in the can for posterity and to broadcast as entertainment at the time. Now it seems this kind of stuff is acceptable as one-off programmes on, lets face it, a minority channel. Consider too all the Folk performers they missed. Lulu, to her credit, had The Jimi Hendrix Experience on her show and it is a measure of how rare this kind of footage from English TV is that it is regularly trawled out as one the only bits they have. Peace.

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: Nerd
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 11:34 AM

=Lulu's certainly multitalented, but I heard she barks just like a dog. Boy, she sings the blues too?

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 11:54 AM

Be realistic GUEST, Williamson, Wolf, Crudup et al, great though they were, wouldn't have drawn a huge audience in the UK. Jones, Doonican and Lulu did and therefore, in an industry where numbers count, they got the gig.

Regrettably, like folk, the blues is and always will be a minority interest in the UK, and it therefore will tend to be relegated to one-off 'sampler-type' shows or more regular slots on minor channels.

It's very similar to the long-running and equally pointless 'Media Coverage of Folk Music' and 'Is Mike Harding Rubbish' kind of threads that seem to abound on Mudcat - we'd all love to see real folk and blues presented regularly on mainstream radio and TV but it ain't gonna happen without a sea-change in the way those media are run.

Johnny :0)

Subject: RE: Lulu - a revelation!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 03:42 PM

There's only one way we will get the best of folk, or blues, maybe even decent early jazz stuff too, and that's on a subscription channel, and that won't happen until we lobby, and sign up for it. I'm afraid it's all down to filthy lucre.
John