Folk goes pop.

Subject: Folk goes pop.
From: Alec
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 02:31 PM

Whilst I ,personally, was not particularly keen on the recent T.V show "Jam & Jerusalem" I always hesitated before switching off or switching over until after the opening titles ended.This is simply because I adored what Kate Rusby did with The Kinks' song "We Are The Village Green Preservation Society".Another in vaguely similar vein I remember was The Sandpipers ,Spanish language,version of "All My Loving"
Does anybody else have any favourite Folk or Folk style reinterpretations of popular songs from the last 50 years or so?
Might be able to burn myself a nice compilation C.D. out of this.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Bernard
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 02:48 PM

Well, there are already such albums in existence - 'The Reel and Soul Association' and 'Rubber Folk' to name but two!

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 03:00 PM

Richard Thompson's interpretation of Britney Spear's "Whoops, I Did It Again" is not to be missed, though he's admittedly not in his folkie persona when he performs it.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 03:06 PM

Phil Downing, an old friend of Llantrisant Folk Club, did an amazing unaccompanied trad sounding version of the Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar"

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Alec
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 03:08 PM

Thanks both Reel & Soul didn't quite do it for me.
Embarrasing admission,after being so long delayed,the fact that "Rubber Folk" had finally been formally released had goe completely under my radar.*Embarrased grin*.
RICHARD THOMPON!?!? "WHOOPS,I DID IT AGAIN"!?!?
I'll certainly give that a listen!

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: alanabit
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 03:26 PM

You should hear his "Dear Janet Jackson".

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: GUEST,Ken Brock
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 03:28 PM

Roy Zimmerman, formerly of The Foremen, does a hilarious medley of Beatles songs as though they were Celtic. He hasn't put it on any of his CD's as he hasn't gotten mechanical rights as a medley, which can be difficult.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 05:24 PM

Noel Murphy recorded an Irish Gaelic version of McCartney's "When I'm 64". And they thought "Rubber Folk" was a new idea.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: bubblyrat
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 05:25 PM

I had an LP of Beatles music performed by Bluegrass group " The Charles River Valley Boys ",and it was AMAZING !! I wish it was available on CD.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: ClaireBear
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 06:42 PM

Here is a link for "Oops!" graciously provided by NPR. Of course I spelled it wrong; what do I know about Britney Spears songs?

Anyhow, it actually is an acoustic performance, so maybe it is folkie after all. (But let's not go there, shall we?)

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: melodeonboy
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 07:09 PM

When I first saw the title of this thread, I thought it was a slightly sneering reference to the Radio 2 Folk Awards!

(To be fair, many of the awards given this evening were not for pop music.)

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Alec
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 02:51 AM

Thanks for the link ClaireBear.Simply amazing.
melodeonboy I can see why you would think that.I really wish I had thought of a better title for this thread.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 03:33 AM

Steeleye Span set the ball rolling with their version of the Buddy Holly song ' Rave On '

eric

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Captain Ginger
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:06 AM

Spiers and Boden do a great version of Tom Waits' 'Innocent When You Dream.' You'll find it on YouTube from a set at Wallingford.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Jim McLean
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:27 AM

I can remember Luke Kelly doing an amazing version of Tom Jones' Delilah in a club in Denmark Street, London, in the 60s.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:33 AM

Working on the principle that Jimmy Hendrix did an electric version of Bob Dylan's All along the Watchtower, I worked up a clawhammer old-time banjo version of Purple Haze. It worked pretty well.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Stu
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:48 AM

Plant and Page's version of 'Gallows Pole' from the live album 'No Quarter'.

Not pop, but better.

I agree Richard Thompson's version of 'Oops I did it again' by Britney Spears is actually pretty good.

Hayseed Dixie's first album is the dogs, though more bluegrass than folk.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:52 AM

I forget who it was now, but I saw someone do a 'folky' version of a Kylie Minogue song Can't Get It (or was it 'You'?) Out Of My Head (IIRC). But it was not intended to be taken seriously :-)

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:53 AM

A few years back there was a band called The Joshua Trio, who did bluegrass versions of U2 numbers.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 04:55 AM

When Kylie first arrived after leaving Neighbours, our own MC Fat spent about a year trying to get I Should Be So Lucky introduced into the folk tradition.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 05:04 AM

Welcome to the Hotel Connemara!

By whom?

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: jiva
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 05:17 AM

George Welch does a beautiful, gentle, slow version of 'She Loves You' (Beatles) - it can be quite magical when the room fills with the sound of singers/performers adding harmonies on the fading 'yeah, yeah, yeah'.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Bernard
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 05:33 AM

Les - that would be my Eagles tribute band with an Irish slant - The Eejits!

I'm also thinking of an Oasis tribute band - Obesis! We'll do 'Don't Look Back in Hunger'...

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 05:50 AM

Maybe Bernard

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: DaveA
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 06:22 AM

And just to pique the interest of Aussie catters, Al Ward - convenor of the Blue Mountains Folk Festival & suberb guitarist & songwriter - does wonderful acoustic versions of Tom Waits 'Shiver Me Timbers" & "San Diego Serenade".

I just wish he'd record them.

Dave

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: GUEST,John Robinson
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 06:31 AM

Dave Burland's version of the Boomtown Rats' "I don't like Mondays", although he sang "silicone" rather than "silicon" ...

Emily Slade covered the Burland version.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 06:35 AM

River Deep Mountain High
You've lost that loving feeling
Hey Jude
A Whiter Shade of Pale

To mention only 4 from De Dannan

Now, what is that album called?

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 06:38 AM

Of course Martin Carthy made a stab at that Gilbert O'Sullivan song. I forget the title, i do remember talking to Paul Downes shortly afterwards, and Paul absolutely idolised Martin - but he was young enough to catch the vibe of quite how drippy GOS was and asked him why he'd recorded it.

Allegedly Martin prodded him in the chest with a forefinger, enunciating, be-cause its won-derful song!

I have seen the man for a while, it it still in his set?

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 07:32 AM

What song was it (the Gilbert O'Sullivan one)?

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Splott Man
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 07:36 AM

Nothing Rhymed

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 08:22 AM

Mention of Martin Carthy reminds me he covered Heartbreak Hotel and New York Mining Disaster on his album Signs of Life.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 08:26 AM

Nothing Rhymed? Typical of O'Sullivan, never was much of a lyricist.

Just kidding :D

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: bubblyrat
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 11:30 AM

Didn"t Fairport Convention do a Dylan number ? -----In French ??

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Scrump
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 11:48 AM

Yes, they did several other Dylan sings too.

(Si Tu Dois Partir = If You Gotta Go, Go Now)

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Splott Man
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 11:55 AM

It was their only brush with the singles charts

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 12:01 PM

They got to number 17 with Suzanne - didn't they?

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Alec
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 12:08 PM

Guinness lists Si Tu Dois Partir as their sole U.K. chart entry.
(No 21 July 1969)

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: pdq
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 12:09 PM

The Charles River Valley Boys record "Beatles Country" (1966) was re-issued by Rounder (1995) as SS41.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Songster Bob
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 12:10 PM

The late Jonathan Eberhart, here in Washington, used to do the folky version of rock songs a lot. The best was one I may have suggested to him, which is "Bye-Bye Love" (Buddy Holly) as a bluegrass stop-time waltz. Try it. It works wonderfully, especially with the vocal harmonies.

Bob

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: NoMattch
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 12:12 PM

I always liked Dick Gaughan's "Ruby Tuesday"

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 12:20 PM

Fairport even got on "Top Of The Pops" with "Si Tu Dois Partir". I remember seeing them.
"De Danann" did a whole album, as mentioned above - "Hotel Connemara" - but the only one that worked for me was "Hibernian Rhapsody" - an instrumental version of "Queen's" "Bohemian Rhapsody" - very clever.
Dave Burland used to sing "Willie & The Hand Jive", I seem to remember.
"Battlefield Band" recorded "Creedence Clearwater Revival's" "Bad Moon Rising", and also made a fair stab at Sting's "We Work The Black Seam". Pat Kilbride recorded that too.
But only the late, great Gordon Duncan could play "Thunderstruck"
[ I think it was ] - by "ACDC" on the bagpipes !!

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 12:55 PM

Greg Brown and Bill Morrissey covered "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
They include some lyrics that aren't in the Stones song and it makes more sense.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Ernest
Date: 08 Feb 07 - 01:47 PM

Here`s a Bluegrass/Western Swing Band from Berlin who did a whole album of pop songs: "Jukebox Favourites" - Purple Rain is one of my favourites...

http://www.hotstrings.com/cds.html

Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Splott Man
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 03:44 AM

The City of Newcastle Pipe Band do a stonking version of We Will Rock You

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Scrump
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 03:59 AM

Well, if you're talking massed bands - various concertina bands and brass bands have performed a lot of pop songs over the years. A few examples are available on CD.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: SqueezeMe
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 04:08 AM

The Barra MacNiels do my favourite version of The Ballad of Lucy Jordan.

MC

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Folkiedave
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 04:59 AM

There was an LP made by.well let's call them the "Fairport Crowd" and it is still one of my favourites.

Gerry Conway, Dave Mattacks, Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, Linda Peters (later Thompson), Trevor Lucas, Tyger Hutchings and one or two others.

That's be The Day; Don't be Cruel; Locomotion; Willie and the Hand Jive; Jambalaya; When Will I be Loved; Nadine; Sweet Little Rock and Roller;   plus one or two others.

As a dealer in rare vinyl I just happen to have a shrink wrapped (i.e. unplayed) copy for £8.00. Hours of enjoyment......

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 04:59 AM

Back to the Kinks where the thread started remember Swan Arcade's "Lola"

And I first sang "A little help from my friends" in a folk style in a club in 1967/8 just after Sgt Pepper's release.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Scrump
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 05:06 AM

I heard a guy play Eleanor Rigby in a folk club last year (sorry, I forget his name - is he here?) and I (and others probably) winced when he announced his intention to sing it. But his folky arrangement of it went down rather well.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: RolyH
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 07:17 AM

Gerry Conway of Fairport used to do a version of Sandy Nelson's " Let There Be Drums"

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Mark Ross
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 12:00 PM

At a party in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago somebody did a version of Dylan's 'IF YOU GOTTA GO, GO NOW, OR ELSE YOU GOT TO STAY ALL NIGHT"(I think that's the title)in French which gave it a Cajun feel. Best version I've ever heard.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 01:43 PM

All of which proves in no uncertain terms, that today's folksingers are nothing if not decent open minded chaps.

Tolerant and good natured, they don't mind lowering themselves to play music which could be construed, in other circumstances, as complete crap - if the audience is a bit stupid and can't lay itself open to the profound cultural experience of our wonderful tradition.

Hip Hip for today's folkies!

Support the Folk Revival and keep live music really condescending!

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Alec
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 02:52 PM

Not sure about the condescension weelittledrummer.
I have the privilege of living in an area where tradition is alive.
Though not always recognised as such Kathryn Tickell (for example)
is the "product" of a living tradition which will always be special to me.
She also performed on a single by Sting.
The songs of Geordie Ridley have a very special place in the affection of people in these area (They are certainly considered Folk locally)but he was pretty much the mid-Victorian equivalent of a pop singer/songwriter.
In truth I never served in Nelson's Navy or worked on a farm in Victorian England but I admire songs by people who did.
I also see my life reflected in another musical form.
"Something in the way she moves attracts me like no other lover"
Know how that feels.
"In the chilly hours & minutes of uncertainty..."
Had my share of those.
"Thank you for those days,those endless days,those sacred days you gave me."
If I could say one thing to my long-desd parents that would be it.
As I said in another current thread I believe it is possible to appreciate contemporary & traditional music.
It is also possible to incorporate them both in a single repertoire.
That which is worth conserving is worth conserving whether it was written in 1666 or 1966.
Just my view.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: fat B****rd
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 03:24 PM

At Ashley Hutching's 50th the band played FBI. I heard it on the radio. but I just know they did that walk.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 06:58 AM

Saw Jet do a gig at a Warners Holiday Break last year. Absolutely bloody fantastic. I went out and bought a bass guitar the next day. Just had to have a go at some of that before I passed off the mortal coil.

There were beat groups from all over Europe, who'd signed up for the holiday break just to pay homage to the man and get their tattered EP's and LP's signed by the man.

He's a little old bald guy now in his 70's, but he hi-kicked his way through FBI!

He talks a bit like Derek Brimstone.....he said, I lives in the Isle o'Wight these days. Ev'ry time I get the ferry, I wish I was Cliff Richard - then I could walk across......

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:06 AM

The Halliard used to sing a version of 'Green green Grass of Home'. We re-wrote some of the lyrics to turn the song into a comedy number...it was funny in 1966!
                  Nigel P.

Subject: RE: Folk goes pop.
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 08:57 AM

And then there's Beatlegras, who play Beatles tunes bluegrass style. Check out the instumental intro to Eleanor Rigby on the "Listen to CD cuts" page.
- Phil