A Scottish folk song involving a tale of love between a soldier and a woman. An Irish captain is rejected, because Peggy has no intention to marry a foreigner or a soldier. The captain soon dies due to either a broken heart or battle wounds, possibly both. The historical context is unclear, though the song may allude to the 1644 capture of the Fyvie Castle. 

Like many folk songs, the authorship is unattributed and there is no strict version of the lyrics, though William-O and Peggy-O are the named captain of the Irish dragoons and the beautiful Scottish girl from Fyvie, in most versions recorded. 
Often titled 'The Bonnie Lass O' Fyvie' or in this case 'Peggy-O' it's been recorded by so many artists and has the knack of sounding just like a song by that artist. Check out different versions: Bob Dylan's 'Peggy-O', it's undoubtedly him, Simon & Garfunkel it's very them and likewise today's track by the Grateful Dead is totally them. 

The video helpfully has the lyrics of this tale of woe pretty Peggy-O & William-O (and some typically excellent Jerry Garcia guitar playing). And is probably an America version ?

   

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary.
Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out !
Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

Back last January on Burns Night I mentioned having a few more songs to share at certain times of the year. Here then is one of the most famous love songs associated with Robert Burns, 'My Love is like a Red, Red Rose'. 

Five Hand Reel recorded their beautiful version in 1978, Dick Gaughan taking the vocals for this rendition of the classic Scottish poem. "As fair art thou, my bonnie lass"

  

Connection up the dots from the last three weeks... 

Singing many of his own compositions Jason McNiff is quick to recognise his musical influences. Often playing Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Jackson C. Frank, as mentioned last week and also the songs of Townes Van Zandt. 

I'm not overly familiar with much of his work but I heard this song almost 20 years ago now and it's stuck with me. The song was written back in the 70s and recorded by Townes Van Zandt in 1978, it was covered in 1998 by Lyle Lovett on his album of cover versions titled 'Step Inside This House'. 

Townes Van Zandt died in 1997. The video is a tribute to him.

The song is called 'Flyin' Shoes' - version by Lyle Lovett > 

Connecting - Pentangle with Bert Jansch, to Jason McNiff and now Townes Van Zandt

   

'Folk, Blues & Beyond' is the title of a 1965 album by British folk revivalist and fingerstyle acoustic guitar legend Davy Graham. 

It's also the title chosen by Jason McNiff for his regular Thursday music nights at our local pub. These have been running since last September and the format of Jason playing either side of a different guest has been really good. Needless to say I'm a regular, so I've seen him quite a lot and as a fan jokingly call myself a 'Niffy'.  

I did feature him two years ago as a Friday Star Track (click link for this), mentioning the connection to his time at the 12-Bar Club in London studying the guitar playing of Bert Jansch. Who in turn had been inspired by Davy Graham. 

I have a number of favourite songs, plenty of newer ones, but I really like this old one from 2000, recorded in a closing down tape studio in Wandsworth. 'Off the Rails’ has a nice video of images of London from back then (and somewhat curiously photos of New York). It has a catchy chorus and lyrics that deal with life on the road (or train stations in this case) as he name drops Waterloo and the Thames while paraphrasing a Jackson C. Frank song 'Blues Run the Game', that is part of his current setlist and he tells us he'll sing that song till his dying day. 

> 'Off the Rails' written by Jason McNiff - great song ! 

AND as if by magic I've just come across some archive footage [for Onlinetv by Rick Siegel] of Jason at the 12-Bar Club singing the Blues > 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpPcRUgE1r0&list=RDQpPcRUgE1r0&start_radio=1

   

Going back to our last Vinyl Night up at The Cove, my Fairlight folk compadre Steve played a track off an LP by Pentangle. 'Willy O' Winsbury' came on and I recognised the tune but all the lyrics were different. That's weird I thought. 

Unbeknown to me a very familiar Fairport Convention song off the 'Liege and Lief' album uses the same melody as the traditional folk song 'Willie O' Winsbury', Richard Thompson having written new words to 'Farewell Farewell'. You live and learn.

Here's the celebrated folk group Pentangle (Jacqui McShee on vocals, with John Renbourn, Bert Jansch guitars, Danny Thompson on bass and Terry Cox drums), with Willie or Willy O.

The video is from a live tv show in 1972 and is really good quality. 

FYI: And the Fairports Farewell version is here. 

   

From Hastings Rock Radio (last week) to 'Hastings is Music' this - see yesterday's Photo post. 

As part of my monthly 'undiscovered artists' slot, take a listen to The Gasoline Gypsies. 

They are a highly acclaimed, award-winning roots-rock band from Michigan, frequently identified as an independent, unsigned act. Named one of the "Three Best Unsigned Bands in America" by JBL (the American audio equipment manufacturer) on their website and they have won multiple Detroit Music Awards. Their records are self released. 

Four part vocal harmonies, dual lead guitars, with a tasty rhythm section built on drums, bass, and keys make up the music of The Gasoline Gypsies. 

I really like the voice of lead singer Caleb Malooley, and got the chance to tell him so, when I saw them perform. Especially like this track 'Broken Arrow' featuring some great guitar work from Neal Love.

Check out other YouTube videos ‘ Hard Livin’, ‘Come Down To The River’ and 'Playing With Fire'.