Lonnie Donegan

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Will Bakker
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 11:28 AM

I think the title was "Ain't no more cane on the Brazos". If you want to find out what CD's Lonnie made, go to I heard Lonnie will be appearing in Hastings, England on the 18th of October. We try to make reservations, go through the Chunnel with our middle aged skiffle group and see our hero for the first time!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Will Bakker
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 11:32 AM

O, those blue clicky things! cdnow.com

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Fiolar
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 11:55 AM

Lonnie is alive and well and is due to appear at the folowing festivals. International Dance and Music Festival, Belton House, Nr Grantham, Lincolnshire, July 13th to 15th 2001; Brampton, Carlisle July 20 to 22nd 2001; Sidmouth in August 2001 and Stroud Fringe Festival September 5th to 9th 2001. There are probably others.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 04:38 PM

Never mind pick a tune or two, Jump down turn around pick a bale of cotton..........pick a bale a day. Saw him at Sidmouth a few years ago as above-mentioned: looking forward to the repeat performance this year! Anyone remember "Saturday Skiffle Club" on the radio - preceded the longer-running "Saturday Club"? Tattie

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 06:37 PM

Thanks Fiolar. Grantham's just a few miles down the A1 (or A52) so I'll definitely catch that one - along with my nine-year-old daughter, who will be able to tell me whether he's cool or not. (I think she'll give him the thumb's up, though she' heavily into Elvis at the moment.)

Mary/giac, I was brought up by parents who were heavily into classical, and believed that "pop" led only to the depravity of the Teddy Boys. My first awareness of wht I had been missing was when a couple of kids jived to "Putting on the style" at our primary-school concert. I was addicted at first hearing, and on to a slippery slope that ended in tuning a crackling valve radio to 308 (Luxembourg) under the bedclothes in the small hours. God knows how many times I had to listen through Doris Day, Perry Como and ads for Sunsilk shampoo just to catch the occasional LD track.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 06:40 PM

That should have been "208" of course, in cse anyone's trying to tune in now. (And sorry about teh other typos - I'm going to have to start reading this stuff before I post.)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 04:42 AM

Bazza, that tune is available on one of the several year 2000 CD reissues of Lonnies LP's with added tracks.This one is "Lonnie...Plus" available at Amazon etc. It also has a group of Irish songs on.
RtS

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Hooverman
Date: 10 May 01 - 01:56 PM

Great, found a Lonnie thread that's active! Have been collecting for over 20 years. We will be catching him in Sarfend in Oct 2001 hopefully.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Andreas Huner
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 06:09 AM

Hello, as a recently developed Lonnie Donnegan Fan and not a native english speaker, I d like to get some written lyrics - if possible of the tracks of "Talking Guitar Blues - Best of .." CD. Did anyone write them down or can give me a source? ty!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 01:12 PM

Hi, Andreas - here's Talking Guitar Blues and "Chewing Gum" and "Dustman". What others would you like? If you search for "Donegan" on our DigiTrad and Forum Search (supersearch), you'll find other information about him, and probably some lyrics.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Marymac90
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 06:56 PM

Does...

yer...

chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

If yer mother says "Don't chew it!" do you swallow it in spite?

Can ya ketch it on yer tonsils? Ken ya heave it left and right? Ooh, ooh!

Does yer chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

On the...

bed-...

-post

o-

-ver

NIGHT!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 08:15 PM

And he's just finished another tour including storming gig at Sidmouth. Tattie B

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: scouser 52
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 10:18 PM

Long before the Beatles...perhaps about the same time as Elvis. Lonnie Donegan introduced American folk & blues music to the United Kingdom. As a kid growing up in Birmingham, I got a paper route, saved me coppers and bought a "spanish guitar". Almost 40 years later, I'm still playing guitar (not the same one), and I'm still listening to and singing Lonnie Donegan songs.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 02:20 AM

Cyril Tawney's comment on Lonnie's rendition of "Sammy's Bar"----"the best version ever!" [ It was delivered in slow waltz tempo.] BTW---Lonnie was a wee Glasgow boy------- Boab

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: AliUK
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 07:20 PM

I used to have one of those old compilation records that used to be put out by Pickwick or K-Tel back in the early seventies when I was about ten and I played the hell out of My Old Man's a Dustman. I thought it was one of the funniest things I'd heard, it wasn't until later that I began to search out other stuff by Mr. Donegan that I discovered that he didn't just write funny stuff. I just hope that someday he will receive the accolades that he really deserves and recognition for what he actually did for music ( and still does). though his actings a bit dodgy. ( I remember him in Call me MR. and Bergerac)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Big Tim
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 01:55 AM

Does anyone remember the old single on the Pye label featuring "Kevin Barry" and "My Lagan Love", by Lonnie Donegan?! (1959). If I didn't still have it I would think I was imagining things.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 03:53 PM

Not only did Lonnie Donegan headline a concert at Sidmouth, but he hung around the festival afterwards and watched the Haddenham Hoofers hoofing. He's still really into folk music.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From:
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 06:46 PM

Can anyone please please pleeeease give me info on the following:

A contact address (email) for Lonnie

Forthcoming gigs he may be doing.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 08:21 PM

I think the guitarist who played with Lonnie Donegan in the early days is worth a mention. His name was Denny Wright, and he was GREAT. Somewhat similar in style to Grady Martin, played a big Guild F-hole single cutaway, just a phenomenal country/jazz players.

The Lonnie Donegan Show used to be on STV at 10.30pm on Fridays. I can remember hitch-hiking sixty miles as a youngster to see the show, as we didn't get STV in our neck of the woods. When I eventually got the chance to see Lonnie live in Edinburgh in 1965 I can remember how bitterly disappointed I was that Denny Wright wasn't playing with him. But LD was actually a very effective guitarist in his own right. He played a small Martin, probably a 000-18. That was the first Martin I had ever seen in the flesh, so to speak.

Murray

Murray

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Oct 01 - 09:15 PM

Chalk up one more who came to folk music in large part because of Lonnie Donnegan. I still do Whoa Back Buck more or less the way he did it. Less, mostly, but I always loved his version. Most of all, I like him because it sounded like he was having a great time, singing. No hused, reverent rendering of a thoroughly researched version of an ancient ballad. Lonnie went for it, almost toppling over in excess by the end of the song. My kind of man.

Praise excess!!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 24 Oct 01 - 03:41 AM

http://www.jazzuk.com/donegan.html will get you current details. Denny Wright, Les Bennets, Dickie Bishop all played guitar with Lonnie at times and are featured on his famous recordings.( "I say, I say Les.")
Denny is a fine jazz guitarist and Les had his own skiffle group, Les Hobeaux. Dickie played with all the trad and skiffle groups in the 50s (Barber etc), had his own group, the Sidesmen, and composed "No other Baby" done (too fast IMHO) by the Vipers and resurrected recently in a slow electric version by Paul McCartney, it's also joined my "repertoire"!
I didn;'t get to see him at Guildford but friends who were not previously fans reported back he was the best thing they heard there.
RtS (Lonnie fan- as you may have guessed!)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 24 Oct 01 - 03:52 AM

P.S. Most of what I know about guitars (which isn't much!) I've learned from record sleeves and the Mudcat but I understand Lonnie was one of the first people in UK post-war to play a Martin which cost him something like £20 at the time, which led to it being known over here. The website I referred to in my last post mentioned Martin were going to produce a LD model (presumably one where the strings break at least once per performance!).
RtS (His autobiography "All Roads lead to London" was published in 1997 by Souvenir Press but I've not been able to find it and it is now out of print, if anyone sees a reasonably priced copy let me know, couldn't find one in Hay on Wye earlier this year!)

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: MC Fat
Date: 24 Oct 01 - 04:25 AM

Lonnie is playing Sheffield City Hall tomorrow (thurs 25th Oct) and in honour of his appearance there's a skiffle night at the Red House,Solley Street,Sheffield on Saturday night (27th) with the Red House Skiffle Band

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 24 Oct 01 - 04:36 PM

Joe, I tried your link to Talking Guitar... and was told I was not authorised to access the site. I posted the lyric myself on the forum earlier this year.
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 24 Oct 01 - 04:37 PM

On this very thread!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 04:02 AM

Last night, just to prove what a NEW MAN I am, I let Herself decide what to slip in the old CD player,she, proving why we are still together after nearly 32 years, chose a skiffle compilation. Then, (which I shall call in my defence if she's found buried under the patio) she had the temerity to stop me joining in: "I want to hear Lonnie Donegan, not you." she said. Well! My flabber has never been so gasted. OK, so she proved yet again she's a woman of taste and discrimination(well she married me didn't she?) but I went off in a huff and did the washing up to Dick Gaughan on Mike Harding's Radio 2 Folk show. That'll show her!
( Ipreferred Lonnie, though!)
RtS

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,will bakker
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 05:41 AM

On thursday the 18th of October the Mudfield Skiffle Group drove from Holland to the Channel tunnel to finally see a concert of the guy we listened to for so many (40) years, in Hastings. And I can tell you, it was great! He had a very good band with him. It seems he has only been getting better through the years. He is touring England at the moment, appearing 5 days a week. You wouldn't say this guy is 70 years old! I made some nice photo's. If anyone is interested I can put them on the net, but I need some advice how to do that. If you are in England go see this concert! If you want to know where and when:

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Will Bakker
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 05:45 AM

Go to www.artists2events.co.uk. By the way, I am a member!!!!

Subject: Lyr Add: TALKING GUITAR BLUES
From: GUEST,Tom L.
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 10:48 AM

Hi Alan B,

"Here, if you want to get in trouble let me tell you how to do it,
Get yourself a guitar and then your right into it,
You play all day and you play all night,
People say you'll never learn to play the thing right,
Always groaning at you,
moaning,
won't let you get practice

So I bought myself a guitar about a year ago,
Man said I could learn it in a week or so.
Gave me a little book, Picker too,
said 'here you are mate, it's up to you.
Dirty rotter,
cost me 10 nicker,
all the loot I had.
Good guitar tho,
Called it a pluckit.

So anyway, spent me doh
and I couldn't let it all go to waste you know,
So I took the book guitar and all,
And I went back home where the trees are tall,
Down in Woodford.
Good place to be if you got a guitar,
Pretty rotten if you ain't.

So for weeks and weeks, I worked hard,
Tried to learn a few main chords,
book says they're easy as ABC,
but cor my fingers were killing me.
Got sore on the ends,
Couldn't hold the strings down,
Wanted to pack up,
Cor I felt rough.

But I Kept on playing with all me might,
I could see Mum's hair was turning white,
Her face was lined with discontent,
She said her patience was pretty near spent,
She was nervous,
Ears ringing
wanted to scream,
Couldn't get no relief.

But Sister she took it worst of all,
Cos she got married the following fall,
She said for love but I got me Doubts,
I reckon the guitar drove her out.
She's a game girl,
Just couldn't take it,
You know, Limit to everything.

Dad he took it a different way,
He said U can turn your Mum's hair grey,
Drive your sister away from home,
But U or me boy's gonna start to roam,
And I ain't going -
never intend to.
You figure it out,
so I did Fast.

Anyway next day I had me clothes all packed,
Slung the guitar across me back,
Caught meself a great long train,
Searched the world for me share of fame.
Aint found none,
Just hardships,
messing about,
skiffle,
Tommy Steel."

I think that's pretty much how it goes - I was listening to it yesterday on an LD compilation CD which I think is called Talking Guitar Blues. That song on the case is called 'Talking Guitar Blues (UK version)'. Hope that's a help. I'm glad other people listen to LD, I play a lot of traditional folk music, but I've been a big fan of his ever since my dad gave me that CD a few years ago.

Tom L, age 17, Newcastle.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Upstreeter
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 01:05 PM

Just fallen into the Lonnie Donnegan thread...good stuff. I too went to the great Skiffle night at the Albert Hall..fine performances from all especially LD and Nancy Whiskey whose version of Freight Train I still love after all these years. Surprise of the evening for me was Joe Brown, sans 'bruvvers' jamming away on mandolin and fiddle and a damned fine job he was doing...ignoramus that I am, I never realised what an excellent folk instrumentalist he was. Did anyone see the lengthy documentary about Ramblin' Jack Elliot? From memory he wasn't too complimentary about LD who was I reckon THE seminal influence on so many Brit bands of the 60's. Clearly not so to US musicians who already had Elizabeth Cotton, Woody, Cisco, Leadbelly et al. What Donnegan did was introduce us to this wonderful music and for that he can't be thanked enough. If anyone gets a chance...go see him!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 03:02 PM

1 thread, 1 lyric, 2 postings of same lyric, and 1 link to same lyric elsewhere. Not even a long thread!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Squeezy
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 03:08 PM

He is appearing in Kings Lynn, Norfolk this weekend! Still going strong.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Upstreeter
Date: 26 Oct 01 - 04:13 AM

Well, Keith A of Hertford, I'm still trying to work out if you've put me in my place.I expect you have, for terminology is clearly not my strong point. Am I in a thread? Did I respond to something in a thread? Where was the lyric and its double posting (and in whose postbox)? And how long is a thread?, let alone a piece of string. Was there a point about LD or are you saying that its all been said elsewhere? I suppose none of this really matters in the great scheme of things but I'd like to know in order to maintain the correct etiquette.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Donegan 3
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 09:50 AM

Saw Lonnie twice on his recent tour (Hastings/Gravesend) What a performer .Lonnie's influenec on Popular Music is immeasurable

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Mr Red
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 10:46 AM

GUEST,Upstreeter
Welcome to the Mudcat, and your first lesson in Mudcatiquette
It is so much less embarrassing to find out what is usuall here it saves you the displeasure of not feeling welcome. You are welcome, of course.
register and no one else can use your name.
tell us about yerself.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 11:57 AM

Moe Asch used to tell a great story about how Lonnie Donegan once tried to sue Folkways for royalties on the songs he wrote in the fifties that Leadbelly recorded in the forties.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 01:26 PM

Yes I must admit to being of the LD vintage myself, I learned "Great Grand Coulee Dam" from his singing long before I ever heard of Woody. In the 60s I used to go to a folk club in Hounslow, at a pub called either The White Bear or The Brown Bear I think. Anyway the residents were "The Strawbs", who had previously been "The Strawberry Hill Boys", but were obviously trying to get away from bluegrass. They had a big hit with "Part of the Union", which some trade unionists adopted as a theme tune, obviously they hadn't really listened to the words. They also backed Noel Murphy on his LP "Nyaaaah", this recording session lasted from 8:00 pm, till about 3:00 am and the amount of alchohol consumed became an industry legend. Anyway to get back to the point, LD used to turn up regularly at this club, and do the occasional spot, I was awe struck, to actually meet the great man. Glad to hear that he's still blowing them away.
Failte.....Jock

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: fat B****rd
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 01:34 PM

Hello, Happy New year. If you want to know all about the Skiffle Scene in England and elsewhere then read SKIFFLE by Chas McDevitt published by Robson Books.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Chris Davis- USA
Date: 29 Dec 01 - 10:31 PM

I only know skiffle from what I have read of British Invasion bands and their roots. About twenty years ago, or so, the oldies channels were playing "Rock Island Line", and "Does your Chewing Gum lose it's flavor" by Lonnie Donegan, so I know those two songs.

I heard Paul Mac's version of the Viper's "No Other Baby". I don't know if that counts as true skiffle or not, but I loved the slow, brooding quality of the tune. I looked up the Viper's Skiffle Group(??) on Allmusic.com, and one of their CD's looked very interesting. They seemed to have no trouble mixing skiffle with American R and R. After all, they have some of the same roots.

One day I will get a compilation of fiftie's British skiffle, because I am intrigued by this period musically, both in the states and in the UK/Ireland.

And Heck, Lonnie is only one year older than Johnny...

Cash, that is.

Skiffle on!!!!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Will Bakker
Date: 30 Dec 01 - 08:52 AM

After I visited the Hastings concert (which was great) I ordered the 8 CD box "More than 'pye in the sky' at Bear Family Records in Germany. It has everything you always wanted to know about Lonnie... A big book with hundreds of photos, a discography, biography, carefully edited and printed.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Donegan 3
Date: 30 Dec 01 - 11:13 AM

Re Fifties Skiffle there are 2 sets of double CD's available in a series called As Good As It Gets . There are about 60 tracks in each set.Lonnie, Chas and the Vipers etc good listening , good value.Think they are from a Dutch company but got mine in the UK.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Chris Davis
Date: 31 Dec 01 - 12:28 PM

Donegan3, I belive you were speaking to my post. Regardless, thanks for the info. Truly, there is a magic in that era that will forever be tapped into, musically speaking, that is.

"Oh, the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road

The Rock Island Line is the road to ride"

Happy New Year to all

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Deckman
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 10:26 AM

Merry New Year all you L.D. fans. You might appreciate this bit. Here I am, living in Washington state, USA, a half days drive from the Grande Coulee Dam, and today I still sing the version that L.D. recorded years ago. He made a strong influence over here also. I well remember his version of Rock Island line. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Big Jim
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 04:15 PM

As a disk jocky on a small public radio station in the middle of the USA, I regularly play Lonnie Donegan, The Vipers, and a number of other off-beat (in the USA, at least)artists. The Wurzels, Shag Connors and the Carrot Crunchers, et al. And I play stuff that is more tradional like the Copper Family and more modern like Gary and Vera Aspey. Johnny McEvoy, Sweeney' Men, Martyn Wyndham-Read, Ian Campbell Folk Group, and a bunch of others have a place on my show. But, of them all, Lonnie remains my favorite. The audience seems to appreciate these performers, and I am constantly trying to find material by them. Needless to say, I search eBay often since none of the stuff is available in the USA!

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Donegan 3
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 01:37 PM

Listening to Lonnie I find the music as exciting as when I first heard it as a kid, hope you others feel the same

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,ta2
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 04:03 PM

lonnie donniegan................british 50's skiffle,,,,,,,summer hols at blackpool and brighton...........greasers on promenade with guitars singing................elvie flicks on brylcreamed hair......fish and chips and motor bykes

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: BanjoRay
Date: 05 Feb 02 - 05:59 AM

My summer was totally made at Sidmouth last August. I was playing some Old Time tunes on my banjo in the Bedford hotel when I became aware of someone standing behind me enjoying the music - it was Lonnie. We talked banjos for a while. I asked him where he found all those great old tunes, Cumberland Gap, etc - he said "same place you do!". He'd dug up a lot of old records and listened to them.
The guy totally changed my life back in the late fifties and it was great to finally meet him - a really nice bloke.

Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: Deckman
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 04:46 AM

That's a nice story. Over the years, I have managed to meet just about all of my heros. It's great when they turn out to be nice people, as well as heros. I have met a few that have dissapointed me, but what the heck ... life's a crap shoot, eh?

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Tracey Dragonsfriend
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 01:16 PM

If you look around the £3.99 CD racks in discount shops in the UK, (and many European countries too - definitely Germany & Sweden) you will find (inexplicably) many fine Lonnie Donegan CD's. I've recently bought 3 this way, all excellent, including Talking Guitar Blues. So check out the local Poundstretcher, Supersaver, QD, Booksale, Quidland, County Bookshops, etc - you'll be surprised what a range of great CD's turn up there.

Subject: RE: Lonnie Donegan
From: GUEST,Donegan3
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 01:14 PM

Re Tracey Dragonsfriend ,there are of course some good value CD's available and I believe all Lonnie's albums were released on CD in a series called LONNIE 2000 all the orginal tracks plus bonus tracks EXCELLENT