1. Who are you and where are you from? Hallo Sir Robert. How to start. I am Gilp (But you can call me Jimmy) I come to you from Glasgow via Dumfries via London via Essex via Kingston upon Thames via Huddersfield,via Leeds via Derby and back to Dumfries 200 yards away from Rabbie Burns Mausoleum (which in my humble opine.......is an abortion) I was an apprentice plumber at 15,at 16 an apprentice Welder/Pipe Fitter (Oh,I was born in 1949). I was licky enough to be an early early Dylan fan and even luckier to have Martin Carthy tell me a bit about him in 1963 when he came to our house searching for my Older Brother who then ran the local Folk Club........I knew there was a booking mistake but I took this gaunt man in a cloak with hood,and a Guitar,to the pub I knew my brother would be in. I was 5foot2/3 or something,but Martin mentioned Dylans name and I had just got Freewheelin from a source. He told me about Nottnum Town and Randalls Farewell and it all made perfect sense.....afriend of my brothers even bought me a pint in the 'snug'.
Little did I know that Martin was going to eat MY supper,sleep in MY bed and eat MY bloody Breakfast before disappearing into the mist with a swish of the cloak and hood. I have seen him and The Watersons in concert a few times since.......but never have I been able to lay my claw upon his shoulder and say........FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.
Any way,as life goes on I ran away (literally) to London to fight the Vietnam War and Civil Rights and CND Campaigns and I remember in Hornsey Town Hall in Crouch End.1968/9 going to see FC (Neil Innes and Robots were a brilliant opener) and later, somehow I bought a Full House Album from Swarb.....only when I got home did I discover there was no Album in the sleeve......I am sure it wasn't deliberate but I reckon Swarb and Carthy owe me.big time.
I ended up as a Lecturer in Sociology and then took early retirement through ill health and a bad case of Anti Thatcherism, came to Dumfries, met a woman from Hell .,ended up in deep Debt and now live skint but happy,with my Border Collie Minx,in a Council House.....the 2nd to have been built in the UK.
2. What made you join Talkawhile? As a member of The Dylan site All Along The Watchtower I read a post about Swarbs Lazarus. I assumed,having read his Obit, that it was cuttings from the floor,snippets or discarded material. I posted same and was (still am really) astonished to hear that Swarb was alive and kicking...........very few times is it given to a man to hear a dead ma alive and doing his thing.........Amazingly I was listening to Dylan singing 'Girl from The Red River Shore where he sings about a guy bringing people back to life. That stunned me,The Jungian synchronicity still has me in its thrall.
After that I felt I just HAD to come here.And thanks to Billy who gave me the link......here I am.
3. What do you know of Fairport Convention and/or Cropredy if anything? I first 'knew' about FC from Si Tu Doir Partir and Swarb from Ian Cambell Folk 4,I was always interested in them,the way they used Dylan songs in an unique way and because Richard Thompsons auntie comes from Beeswing.
I also have been to Cropredy 3 or 5 times........I do remember Steve Gibbons and The Dylan Project..........that was a bonus............but every time I saw FC and even when,for reasons so mangled to get into, I sang with Albion Country Band on Stage in Dumfries and then RAN to South Sheilds (among 15 others) over night to sing with Benny the Whale and Bob the Gob.I knew this was THE RIGHT THING TO DO and still do,though I wish I could run instead of plod and sway like an elegant Portigese Galleon trying to get into port in a brisk wind.
4.I like All Folk Music.from the strictures of McColl, though I harbour grudges to Jean Ritchie,Hamish Henderson The Stuarts o Blairgowrie,The Behan Family,Irish folk song was big in my family, we were Celtic supporters,I still am, but they were big Catholics,I aint. I loved ballads and it was easy to go from there to Lonnie Donnegan,Leadbelly,Woody,Hank Williams and then Dylan and Carthy, to FC and now I love everything that I like....I mean I love Lucinda Williams........but don't turn on the telly when X Factor is on please.
5. What was the last gig/festival/recital/concert that you attended? What was it like?
April 2007. Dylan Glasgow. Some think his voice is cracked beyond repair......I think he's putting us on again....because I heard some lovely lines sang beautifully,where he forgot he was in the frog chorus.
Its always mighty to see a genius ply his trade.
6. What was the last CD that you bought? Would you recommend it?
Swarbs Lazarus....I would say that the Government should issue it to every home in the land....it truly is a tremendous disc.
7. Complete the following sentence:
“Tonight, Sir Robert, I am going to be my all time favourite singer ……. (Bob Dylan) and I will
sing: ' The Talking Hey Martin Carthy DaveSwarbrick you owe me Blues..........................' (name of song)
