Ray’s chat 20

Shirley FOLK at the RED LION
RAY’S CHAT
Hi Folks

It’s RAYS CHAT TWENTY.
Hi There Folks:
What a GREAT night we had last night: it was one of those nights that really BUZZED!! Great Floor singers, and the Gem of the evening was SCARECROW. What a Night!! I reckon the Folk Club gets better and better.

Well: I hope you are enjoying exploring the Folk Music World with me. Well I’m having FUN I can tell you.
Do you remember way back in RAYS CHAT SIX
I talked about JONI MITCHELL?
And how I was lucky enough to see hear her at THE JUG OF PUNCH!! WOW This is a real trip down Memory Lane.
We are talking about more than 60 years ago.
I guess there are not so many of us left from then!

In CHAT SIX I suggested the Joni Mitchell song THE CIRCLE GAME. BUT I chose it performed by TOM RUSH.
So NOW let us hear JONI sing Her own song;
Put in: JONI MITCHELL THE CIRCLE GAME 4.5
There are lots of versions to choose from; But I liked this 4.5 Minute Version.
Almost a million people had viewed this when I tracked it.
A Great Song that has been sung by many all over the World:
But you won’t hear better than Joni singing her own song.
Unfortunately Joni is unlikely to ever perform again
As she is very ill.

Yes it was in RAYS CHAT SIX that we had TOM RUSH singing Joni Mitchells song THE CIRCLE GAME. He was just 21 then; just starting a long career.
I was so lucky to have seen Tom; a superb guitarist.
He is still singing today at the age of 77.
And still Wowing his Audiences
He played guitar with a technique I had never seen called bottling; when they break the neck off a bottle and wear it on the finger to slide up the guitar string making as sort of Hawaiian Guitar sound. It was MAGIC.
Tom is another of those truly GREAT Artists that we just Don’t hear enough of: Just listen to his version of NO REGRETS.
He wrote it and lots have sung it; but you won’t hear it better than Tom Singing his own song he recorded in 1978
Yes Put in:
NO REGRETS by Tom Rush music video 4.10

Another Singer I want to chat some more about we just touched on in Rays Chat Three. Was JUDY COLLINS
When we had her singing TURN, TURN, TURN.
Judy was born in the USA in 1939: So She is now 78 and still writing and singing. Judy was Classically Trained; but chose to sing Folk Songs; and indeed became a strong part of the PROTEST MOVEMENT, in the 50’s, with people like Pete Seeger; Joan Baez, Woody Guthrie and so many others.
Judy was a BIG name in the FOLK REVIVAL Scene.
But She was also BIG in SHOW Business:
I am sure you will remember her singing SEND IN THE CLOWNS from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. A Superb Song superbly sung,
BUT NO: I am not choosing that song.

I have found a song on You Tube; that I had never heard by Leonard Cohen; Yes the guy that died just last year.
I have JUDY and LEONARD singing together a song HE wrote:
Put in: THAT’S NO WAY TO SAY GOODBYE 4.38
Don’t miss this chance of hearing JUDY:
She really is one of the VERY BEST singers and there are lots more Songs out there you can hear her singing.
TRY: SOMEDAY SOON (Oh Lovely); ​
and another Great MORNING HAS BROKEN
and another very famous one BLOWING IN THE WIND. And she has lots more out there for you to listen to.
Yes JUDY Is the GREATEST!.

Oh the Old Days come flooding back. There were so many really good Groups and performers back in the 60’s
Well just think of; PETER, PAUL AND MARY.
THE DUBLINERS. THE CORRIES. THE CLANCY BROTHERS and one of my favourites THE KINGSTON TRIO.. and Lots more:

And Don’t forget our own THE SPINNERS.
We always had a GREAT Night when the SPINNERS came to THE JUG OF PUNCH:

Yes lets hear something from The SPINNERS from about that period;
Put in: THE SPINNERS DIRTY OLD TOWN 3.20

I have mentioned Two Groups from the early days who always impressed me: and who’s records I bought
THE CORRIES and THE KINGSTON TRIO.

Yes The KINGSTON TRIO were always good for me.
I was never lucky enough to see and hear them live.
But I had many hours of enjoyment listening to their recordings. (Which I still Have)
They were An American Folk Group that lasted very many years; although there were member changes during their life.
One song I like them Singing is the
Ian Tyson Song “Four Strong Winds”.
So put in:
THE KINGSTON TRIO FOUR STONG WINDS 2.58
Lovely Song by the Kingston Trio.
BUT: there are lots of good versions out there for your enjoyment.

And for my Choice of song that the Corries do so well is sometimes called “Will Ye Go Lassie”;
PUT IN:
THE CORRIES – WILD MOUNTAIN THYME 4.47
You will go a long way before you hear it sung better than this.. Just lovely gentle singing. YES one of my most favourite Groups.

Yes I think maybe next time we
Will look back at some more
Of the Old Folk Scene
Nice
chatting to You
​ RAY