Atlantic Fisherman's Song (DADGAD)
Everything I know about fishing as discovered at the local chip shop! I wrote this in the 1970s and I think the rise and fall of the melody mirrors the rise and fall of the sea.
Binney's Leap
A True Harlequin Tale. Linda Greatorix ran the Harlequin pub on Johnson St, Sheffield for many years and was a true patron of acoustic music in the city. She and Mike Wild were talking about putting together songs and stories about the pub (now long demolished as part of the Ring Road development) and told the tale developed here. Mike gets credit for 'promot-i-on' in the final verse. The song is almost entirely true - except that I don't know that Martin Binney was 'portly'.
Bloody Orkney Standard
One thing I like to do is find a song and develop it. This one had about 2 verses in the original, so verses 3 and 4 are mine, along with the arrangement. If you get bored - count the swear words
Cindy's Song Open G capo 4
When I was lecturing at Sheffield University in the 1970's, Cindy was one of our American exchange students. I believe she went on to set up a commune.
Curly Williams DADGAD
Again I found this with a couple of verses, wrote some more and devised the tune.
Dale Dyke Dam Disaster
Still in the Guiness Book of Records as the worst dam disaster in England, the Dale Dyke Dam burst its banks on the night of March 11th 1864 and produced the first Sheffield Flood. I used to take children on a Flood Walk when I was teaching and used this song as the basis for their school work.
While I was recording this at Yellow Arch Studios, the engineer (Robin) said he remembered recording it before, when he worked at Red Tape Studios! If you are the couple who recorded it then, or you know them, please get in touch.
Dot Com Millionaire (Open C)
My lad Sam joined a computer software company and was convinced they were going to get bought out and so make his fortune - we are still waiting. This song wrote itself following our conversations.
End of the World (Open C)
A happy little song of mine - reminds me of the sandwich board purveyors of doom you used to see frequently in town on a Saturday.
I Like Bananas (Open C)
Think Bonzo Dog Band and go back a bit to Spike Jones' City Slickers, but back even further and you get the Hoosier Hot Shots (try them on You Tube). This song of theirs is another for which I have added extra verses. Credit to Dave Young for the last line of verse two.
In Praise of the Landlord
Written in the early 1970s but this doesn't really excuse the sexism! The name of the pub landlord should be substituted for 'Alphonse' wherever this is sung.