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www.tftw.freeuk.com £1/19/11d - £2.00 - €3.00 - $3.75 Covering all types of roots music including Issue No. 50 Rock'n'Roll, R&B, soul, jazz, folk, October 2006 country and A stitch in time saves an embarrassing open-fly situation much more somehow she did. Delnora’s voice also was quite Gospel in Castor high and operatic sounding, and rode way over the top of Ethel’s voice which was more urban, and I am sure would not sound out of place on an Village, early Atlantic or Specialty label compilation. Peterborough When Ethel mentioned she had been chosen to play Mahalia Jackson for a large production stage 10 August 2006. autobiography the audience “congregation” showed their appreciation. To say the ladies sang Built in C. 1128, the magnificent St. Kyneburgha with gusto would not be an exaggeration, and church in the village of Castor, Lincolnshire., before the first half had finished with “Joshua” and hosted another successful Gerard Homan USA the tumbling walls, their confidence was up and roots music promotion, with Ethel Caffie-Austin we were all singing along. and Delnora Roberts from West Virginia. A refreshment table had been set up centre Advertised as a gospel evening, Gerard was quick church and it was quite novel to see the queue to point out that this was without the popular lining up for beer and sandwiches! “R&B” feel but would be a musical educational introduction to the many variations of this secular music. The seating in the cavernous church soon filled up including my chauffeur for the evening Dave Carroll, and local Woodie, Paul Waring. Ethel Caffie-Austin Delnora Roberts So with Ethel at the vintage piano, which somehow survived the pounding of Little Willie Come the second half, and accompanying the Littlefield a couple of months previous, and cacophony of their voices and amplified piano, Delnora standing by her side, this was to be the Delnora was now beating and shaking the setting for the evening. Both ladies were tambourine, and zipping the wooden washboard. obviously quite over-awed in the magnificent Delnora explained that just 3 years previously she surroundings by giving occasional reference to the had suffered a life threatening illness and had “cathedral”, but Ethel was quite at ease explaining been told that that would she not sing again. After her ancestral slave and musical background. one particularly emotional song she did eventually break down. However when the music started, Delnora, singing with no accompaniment, was off key, and I Ethel introduced us to many gospel styles, and became a little uncomfortable believing she was with a rolling piano introduction to “Gospel Train” not going to hit those loud high notes – but we got as near as we were to get to an “R&B” 1 mover ‘n’ groover. As an aside, an underground tunnel still exists in Memphis which is open to tourists, although I It was interesting to learn that “Gospel Train” as doubt that you will see it advertised by the city often quoted in many sacred songs, actually fathers. refers to the underground train tunnels built by the slaves as means of escape, for example to the The evening, as expected, included many sacred Mississippi levees. Many of the “shouts and “black” songs and “white” hymns originating from hollers” were coded communications across the the Deep South, and I for one came away, cotton fields that a “gospel train” would be leaving perhaps not “saved” but a little more educated in that night – “Climb aboard”! the origins of gospel music. Ken Major Eastside Skiffle Band Wee Willie Harris Rick Richards and his Skiffle Group 2 gendarmes providing an excuse for the then president of France, General DeGaulle, to ban Dan Brown Rock'n'Roll shows from the stages of Parisian theatres says, “HOLD although eventually, albeit DA THIRD reluctantly, changing his mind upon being persuaded by the PAGE!” French Elvis, Johnny Halliday. British born American rocker Vince Taylor who, frustrated by making no Good morning folks. Welcome to Issue 50 of headway in the States, fled 'Tales From The Woods'. If someone had said to to London in the late fifties me when we put out Issue 1 on a single A4 sheet to try his luck, a regular that in not too many years we would be putting out sight seen performing in a sixty plus page magazine with a small array of Soho’s “2is” coffee bar and regular contributors and a couple of dedicated other like-minded behind-the-scenes helpers who devote so much establishments. He would of their time, and indeed energy, to this bible of find his most appreciative roots music, I would have no doubt laughed it off, audience in France where not believing for a second it was possible (I recall he would settle for some considerable time. Till saying that it was a total waste of time and nobody this day, many half-decent establishments that would be interested– H). If that isn’t enough to stock second hand records in French towns and take in, to actually celebrate the 50th issue with a cities lay testimony to Taylor’s brief but glorious party at a West End pub that has a private time spent in the French spotlight. upstairs room reserved for 'Tales From The Woods' functions… pinch me folks… I'm Of course the doyenne dreaming. of the tragedy, the little sparrow, the lady who Issue 50 is very much dedicated to the great Jerry suffered in her little black Lee Lewis with a dress, Edith Piaf, no number of his recent doubt performed at this UK/European shows historical venue more reviewed; in particular times than could be we welcome aboard covered on many hands, young Daniel White to tearing out her heart to the 'Tales From The her adoring public and Woods' family, whose whose untimely death in Parisian review of Jerry the early sixties created Lee features in the the biggest funeral ever issue’s prime spot. witnessed in a European Yours truly was at the city, completely stopping the Parisian traffic from Paris show and I can north to south, east to west, the grief stricken vouch for its brilliance, French public paying their farewells to a national one whole hour of near- institution. vintage Jerry Lee. Wonderful too to be in Scenes not repeated until many L’Olympia, a venue of years later in that pretty so much history, traditionally mindset Sussex virtually all of roots seaside town of Eastbourne, music’s greats have when thousands thronged the played L’Olympia over streets to pay their last respects the years. The scene of a to The Great Goosetti, the famous Rock'n'Roll riot at mystical goose from the vaults the birth of the sixties of British music hall history when the legendary (check out the 'Tales From The Gene Vincent, at the Woods' website) or troll back through your back peak of his powers, issues … can’t remember when it was. Can you drove the audience into Harry? (Issues 6 and 11 Keith – H). Bloody long such a Rock'n'Roll time ago, I know that… the road has been rocky hysteria that they had to for some of us since then. be hosed down by the 3 I need to apologise yet again for the late arrival of to do so. A sparse crowd, embarrassingly Issue 50. It should have been falling through your noticeable in the surroundings of the Rats. Vince letter boxes a month ago but bear with me folks, I put on a wonderful show lasting a little under two do my best; there has simply been so much going hours. on in the world of 'Tales From The Woods' with all the gigs, social events etc. I just sort of ran out of time. I promise to do better with the Christmas issue which will definitely be out around the Christmas/New Year period. In fact, as you read this I will be preparing my pieces for issue 51. Still, lots to talk about. The year of 2006 has certainly seen a whole lotta expansion going on for 'Tales From The Woods' meaning its promotions side. On a hot steamy The following week at the official 'Tales From The evening in London’s Covent Garden at the Woods' function room at the King & Queen, we Freemason’s Arms (despite the name of the were proud to host the daughter of Linda Gail venue none of the folks were requested to roll up Lewis, niece of the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis. their left trouser leg) whilst paying homage to Tickets sold out a little over two weeks in British Rock'n'Roll music heritage in the presence advance. With Jerry Lee playing in town the following night capturing a number of European of Wee Willie Harris. and nationwide UK fans we could not fail on this one. MaryJean enraptured the packed bar for over 90 minutes - a 'Tales From The Woods' success story. © Paul Harris More than one review in our glossy competitors and friends suggested in their opinions that 73 year old Wee Willie was a hit of the Skiffle night way back in January. For those that did turn out, no doubt such words were justified; it was obvious by the reaction of the sparse but highly © Paul Harris appreciative audience that you had a ball. I know also that Wee Willie holds a place especially “Gig of the weekend” our friends at TimeOut reserved in your hearts. To illustrate that fact a promised; an inventive and passionate guitarist kind soul amongst you picked up the tab for and songwriter, praised via the blues websites, Willie’s parking fine, bestowed upon him by some former B B King sideman playing our capital city, merciless Jobsworth whilst we were unloading starved of blues.

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