Nutters in Folk Clubs

Subject: RE: Nutters in Folk Clubs
From: G-Force
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 08:46 AM

I remember (better not name names) a professorial type who used to read self-penned poetry. It all started well but after a few weeks we realised the content was becoming extremely dubious. Eventually it descended into downright porn and we had to ban him, but it made for a more exciting evening than usual!

Subject: RE: Nutters in Folk Clubs
From: Acorn4
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 09:04 AM

Way back, I remember a weird experience which happened at a local club just after the singing of the ferry, "Herald of Free Enterprise" at Zeebrugge.

This bloke obviously wanted to be the first to pen a song on the subject of the disaster. He stood up in yellow wellies, sou'wester and lifeboatman's hat. He started his song:-

"Oh, the Herald of Free Enterprise she sail-ed on the sea...."

Which continued for the obligatory forty two verses detailing the tragedy.

He collared us in the entrance at the beer break and asked "Did you like my song?"

We muttered something complementary as I recall.

He then went on to tell us that there was a young girl, who was thought to have been drowned, but later proved to have survived being washed up alive further down the coast.

"Do you know", he said, "It ruined my song. I had to re-write four verses."

He didn't quite say "They should have thrown her back in!" but this certainly semed to have been implied.

Subject: RE: Nutters in Folk Clubs
From: Acorn4
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 09:06 AM

...sorry "singing" should have read "sinking" in first line - must proofread better!

Subject: RE: Nutters in Folk Clubs
From: Anne Lister
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 05:48 PM

Does anyone remember Johnny London? Used to come to various London clubs in the mid eighties with a guitar plastered in magazine pics and sing all sorts of eccentric songs? He wrote a tribute to Anonyma, I remember, which had the memorable line of "I'd rather listen to Anonyma than Madonna any day".
And if you remember him, do you know what happened to him?

Subject: RE: Nutters in Folk Clubs
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 07:14 PM

The late Paul Connor who frequented clubs in the Manchester was NOT a nutter as I'm sure Brian and others on here who knew him will testify but some of the stuff he wrote and the way he performed it was sheer top drawer nutter stuff. I wish I had a few more recordings of him than the couple I have.
My favourite piece that he did and that I can remember and recite on occasion is his version on Skewball:

Oh Skewball was a racehorse
I thought he was fine
He wouldn't drink water
He only drank wine

I backed him with silver
I backed him with gold
And the rest of my story
Is easily told

For now I'm a pauper
And you'll follow suit
If you back a racehorse
That's pissed as a newt

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Nutters in Folk Clubs
From: Brian Peters
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 06:24 AM

Paul Connor was certainly an eccentric, with his unkempt appearance and unexpectedly cultured accent, but his performances of his own poems ranged from bonkers to truly spine-tingling.

Do you remember the one he did comparing the colours of the Autumn leaves to those of the tramcars belonging to different companies, that used to run in Manchester and Salford? Lovely. Or the one about 'The Better Part of Eccles'?

Subject: RE: Nutters in Folk Clubs
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 12:52 PM

I suppose there is a difference between performing an off the wall act and actually being... errr.. off the wall, ceiling, planet etc.

The North & Midlands festivals in the late '70s and early '80s had a young lad wandering around going by the name of Aardvark. Those who remember him may chuckle. Those who don't.. well, it takes more than I am capable of typing to explain him.