TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Thought this photo might tickle a few fancies : -

Friend and Edale Folk Train Organiser Gerry Bates has sent me this to present a copy to Swarb tonight when Whippersnapper play at Coal Aston Village Hall.
A very young Martin Carthy opposite a dishevelled Swarb with Tommy Gillfellon of The High Level Ranters deep in rehearsal for ....... what ?
Gerry reckons it was taken in Whitby circa 1970.
I love the cloth upholstered stacking chairs which I remember as de rigueur Folk Club Pub equipment in those days ("we're up 3 flights of stairs in the back room")

Wonder if Swarb will be wearing the same leather coat this evening - you can check that our from your front row seat Amethyst !

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I'll do just that Pete!!

Fantastic photo.
I didn´t catch an acoustic Swarb until the early 80`s but it was a lovely experience!

They might not be rehearsing, they might have just been having a session.

Plus I don't think Swarb looks so dishevelled - he looks pretty cool to me!

Jules

lovely pic thank you

It is a lovely photo.  

Just my opinion of course, but it looks like it was taken a good few years before 1970 to me.  By 1970 Swarb was long haired, sideboarded and dude-ified wasn't he (just look at the Maidstone video).  It's more likely to be from the Swarb and Carthy 1967-early '69 period isn't it (Byker Hill et al)

You're correct david! Swarb has the same jacket on on this 1968 album cover doesn't he?


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Actually Swarb's hairlength and facial hair stylings seemed to change with disquieting frequency!

Having said that, I think you're right.

Jules

All of it's before my time, but wouldn't the trouser bottoms suggest it was a bit earlier too?
I'm sure folkies have always maintained a style all of their own, mind, so I may be wrong.

swarbs over-liberal application of brylcreem would have it about '67 i reckon

Unless that's just good honest sweat.  Or rain.   ;D

Jules

I gave a copy to Swarb on Friday, he and Jill seemed to really like it but didn't make any comment of specific dates. Nice bit of research on the album cover and jacket though, well done.

Looks like the same jacket on Rags Reels and Airs too (1967 again I think)
Disley definitely takes the award for snappy dresser here.

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Ed, you're on the mark there !

Maybe this should be the start of a new topic,
Folk performers and their regular clothing/spot the jacket competition ?

Bob Dylan worse the same coat on the sleeves of Blonde On Blonde, John Wesley Harding and Nashville Skyline!

Jules

'67 or '68... certainly no later...

Thread drift....just realised (by looking at my vinyl copy) that the Rags Reels and Airs photo was taken by John "Hoppy" Hopkins who was Joe Boyd's partner in crime at UFO. Joe produced the record & wrote the sleevenotes. They seem to go on eBay for about 17 quid (vinyl copies of Rags Reels and Airs, not beige Millets jackets!)

Re said jacket, that seemed to be replaced by one of them fringey Wild Bill Hickock efforts around 1970 and he terrified my future mother in law by walking in to her shop wearing an Afghan about 1971. "Quick Minnie, the hippies have hit Hertfordshire, sell your house NOW!!"

Copies of Rags Reels and Airs on the Bounty label sell for 30 GBP and up..

that Jacket folks was a treasure   £2 6shillings and 4 pence from the army and navy stores. And not quite so much of the dishevelled please!  anyone who wants to copy the look has to have had a colourful three weeks awake with purple hearts (ask your Dad Ollie) white lightning, blue leapers  and brown bombers!!  swarb  

 ;D ;D ;D

Bloody hell, Swarb, you were the Elvis Presley of the Celestial City!   :o

Jules

How VERY Cecil Sharp...  ;)

So these would all be Child Ballads then.