60 odd years ago I saw this guy play this on a Sunday night at the Sunderland Empire; I had no idea what he was singing about, but years later this song caused uproar and the Guitar player backing also came to the NE with Count Basie and then this guy arrived in the NE a few years later, I always think these three songs songs are related, beyond the farm gates, I also had a conversation with the latter in a pub in Newcastle prior to his appearance at the City Hall and a mirror played its part golden days.
Apologies for the late reply, but at one time my weekly routine included ending on a Sunday night at the Sunderland Empire, this could be a live show or a classic film depending on the season. And often the interludes in the bar were the best bits. During this time I saw many unknown acts to me , including Bukka White, Sonny Terry and Brownie Magee and Roland Kirk to name a few off the top of my head. A lot of unknown Blues men were touring England at the time following the interest shown by the British music scene on the blues. I also saw The Butterfield Blues band another band unknown to me at the time playing alongside the Count Basie Band in a Newcastle Theatre around this time. Then later one night in The Theatre Tavern I had the pleasure of a conversation with Don Van Vliet about Newcastle Brown , surrounded by the glitterati, its a night I for one will never forget, so I thought I would link these three tracks , always thinking they were somehow connected, if only in my mind. (PS I can't understand music or football for that matter , only relying on pure instinct often obscure ,so am as often wrong as right).
Cheers Clocky, that's the first time I have heard Bukka White and the first time I have really listened to Captain Beefheart. I really enjoyed those two tracks and I can see where you make the connection. I tend to do a lot of reading about Dylan's songs and look for influences in the songs that he has ripped off, poetry and classical writing he has been influenced by and finally what he is actually referring to in the lines of his songs. Pete Seeger said that he loved Maggie's Farm and that it was influenced by the old folk song Penny's Farm. I can't argue with someone as knowledgeable as Pete Seeger but I don't get the connection. Dylan's Hard Times in New York is a direct lift from Penny's Farm, but I don't see Maggie's Farm in it. From what I have read, "Maggie's Farm" is the folk music scene in Greenwich Village and he's telling them that he's done with it and branching out into a new direction prior to the 1965/66 World Tour. Listening to the three songs on repeat, I reckon it's Michael Bloomfield's guitar work on Maggie's Farm that stands out and drives the song, as does the guitar playing on the other two songs. I am probably miles off track though, being tone deaf and a lyrics man to boot.
You are so right the media will see to that. Incidently I was a mate of Pete Robson's a founder member of The Toy Dolls back in the day and he still owes me a pint .
Heard this tonight, lovely old cheesy song from nearly 50 years ago ... ... still sounds good, great electric piano.
I was never into this type of music as a teenager but looking back maybe I should’ve opened up my musical taste a little bit more. Anyway, probably my favourite song by THL
