Davey Graham - Folk Britannia

[@v1u1ant]

I saw Davy Graham in one of his last concerts in Kendal. He had been in Romania trying to find almost forgotten folk music. The first half hour he played his well known music, played really badly. Half the people left. When he came back on stage he looked at the crowd and said "Right thats gotten rid of all the non-believer, now lets get down to the serious stuff" He played a whole bunch of ballads, stuff i cant even imagine being able to play. Great guitarist. RIP

[@NeilThompson30]

Had a pint with Davey at a pub in Camden in 2000 - great bloke - I was doing a gig and he got up and played a few instrumentals

[@trashmunjohnsonofficial8163]

that must have been absolutely amazing! what was he like? great honor

[@WillFlyGuitar]

It's good to see some footage of Davy playing "She moved thro' the fair". The original recorded version came out on a 45rpm Extended Play (7") vinyl, with songs by the Thamesiders - recorded, I think, at Cecil Sharp House. I saw Davey several times in the 60s - mainly at the Cousins allnighters in Greek Street, and gigged with him on one occasion. He was very kind and very patient - but was, and is, a very complex man. Huge thanks for posting this.

[@Jonpriley]

For anyone who wants to see this in better quality (correct aspect etc) - as well as the rest of this episode of the series - go here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3-3pJ6weJ2kpaM. This excerpt begins at 21:40.

[@plevyman]

Wow, that version of She moved through the fair... unbelievable. Interesting comment from Martin Carthy.

[@jonwatson6918]

I saw him a couple of times in the early days at the Gyre and Gimbal. Back then he used to cover his left hand with newspaper so us wannabees couldn't see what was going on.❤

[@EliezerPennywhistler]

Wonderful! Robbie Basho was doing similar things on guitar in the USA.

[@neilus]

yup...particularly when you hear how Davey struggled terribly with alcohol and drug addiction through much of his life, im sure the royalties from a few songwriting credits (Stairway to Heaven ffs!!) would have helped Davey no end and at least would have shown him the courtesy, respect and recognition DG so clearly deserves..."BOOO!!! to you Mr. Page!!"

[@ej8030]

never heard anyone else mention the stairway connection - cry me a river right? i worked it out myself so it must be true! every young kid with a guitar in the early sizties would have had the guitar player album. who the fuck are taurus anyway?

[@TimTimmenycharoo]

ah this was a great documentary, nice one

[@dylanakent]

Davey Graham where Jimmy Page got everything.

[@logue444]

I would love it if you downloaded this whole documentary on to You Tube, since we didn't get it in the US and it's not available on dvd. This is just excellent! RIP Davey.

[@jsilence418]

Hey listen to Davey Graham's version of " she moved through the fair" it's just like jimmy Page's " white summer" only Grahams was first and so much better.

[@danarrow]

Thanks for posting this. Rare footage I have not seen before.

[@ianmcgeachy]

Great stuff...on arguably the originator of all modern acoustic guitar style.

[@BarryPennock]

Pure genius.

[@marcushamblett]

Davy's most common, but by no means only, tuning is DADGAD - which many credit him with 'inventing' or at least bringing to this country. I'm pretty sure that's what he's using on She Moved Through The Fair (or She Moved Through The Bazaar as his version is sometimes known due to its eastern flavour). Angi / Anji is in standard. Hope this helps.

[@elasticmoon]

does anybody know where the footage of shirley collins is from? and if it's available somewhere?

[@christfersmart1]

I think it's interesting that Carthy speaks about Simon on this clip too. I think it's funny that Paul Simon credits Davy Graham for Anji on the Sounds of Silence LP when in fact it is almost a note-for-note copy of Bert Jansch's arrangement including the incorporation of "Worksong". Hmmm.

[@rhymeocerous]

Jansch and Simon's renditions are altogether markedly different in style and tone. Bert's is looser, wilder and more elemental, Paul Simon's is flamenco tinged, more refined and rhythmic.

[@christfersmart1]

@@rhymeocerous I agree that Simon's version is more refined as you say. I actually think the SoS LP is a great album.... But Simon's version is clearly informed by Jansch's version. What is great about it is that he makes it more accessible to a more casual listener of acoustic guitar music. With a bit of Spanish flourish chucked in..... PS was no fool

[@Gettheledoutstyle]

so the one guy saying jimmy page stole stairway from davey graham.. shouldnt it be more true to say spirit stole taurus which is the song people say jimmy got the intro from.. its A COMMON PROGRESSION!!! PAGE DIDNT STEAL STAIRWAY.. HE influenced this into white summer definately.. black mountain side was taken from jansch but it sounds to me like jansch got alot of hints on how to write blackwater side from this song.. they say jansch owes a debt to graham as does page on certain stuff

[@elasticmoon]

Does anyone know where the old footage of Shirley Collins is from?? Or better yet, does anyone have it?? I would LOVE to see that whole performance!

[@ym2413a]

Well not exactly. They're string instruments, But plucked strings do have a very percussive sound. :)

[@TracyFClark]

R.I.P

[@ianmcgeachy]

@ari1234a Okay. You have a good point. I tip my hat to Davy myself, but oin truth..maybe Davy in Europe and UK, and John Fahey in the US & Canada, (especially I mean),..they both were originators and ingenious in approach.

[@hanghang71]

@catweasel28 and what led zep song sounds like the davey graham bit

[@jsilence418]

Much better than the white summer it inspired, great post !

[@afterthought9]

@neilus As much as I love Jimmy Page and Led Zepp... I recently read the wikipedia article on blackwaterside... there is a heading 'alleged influence from davey graham' !!! no alleged about it. Anyone with ears can hear its a straight copy, which is fine, but what isn't fine is as you say, he didn't credit him. One listen to white summer/blackmountainside or whatever, and you can hear Jansch's versions of "The waggoner's lad" , "Blackwaterside" and daveys "she moved through the bazaar"

[@Vingul]

«She moved through the bazaar» LOL

[@hcwright10]

Anyone know how to get a hold of this on DVD?

[@mhfpchp]

Does anybody know how the last song is called?

[@MrNic]

search nicolas and the iceni vassal song. they write great folk music which has echoes of davy, drake and denny.

[@subterranean47]

ahhh where is part 2

[@clemalford9768]

any more?

[@hanghang71]

@catweasel28 i meant the first song you hear her singing

[@NikDonaghy23]

how the hell does he get that sound out of the guitar??

[@zeppage4]

Lol sounds like Black Mountain Side, I guess this is where the song came from. Great song...

[@christfersmart1]

Er, I meant accompaniment. To add, Paul Simon uses a similar excuse for his theft of Martin Carthy's "Scarborough Fair", a song that Carthy found and arranged, almost exactly like the one that PS copyrighted in his and ART GARFUNKEL's name. Git.

[@bbst4]

The piece is a traditional song itself - it's silly to be playing these blaming games. Jimmy created the rain song entirely by himself -- he's done great things. Granted - he picked up this piece -- he played around with it quite a bit in his years. We all have influences and roots ;)

[@ippusor]

who is the guy at 1:20?

[@mhfpchp]

Does anybody know tha name of the last song ?

[@chebghobbi]

It's been over a decade since you left this comment, but the answer you were looking for is Proud Maisrie, from the album Folk Roots, New Routes.

[@christfersmart1]

To say that Jimmy Page didn't steal Bert Jansch's song is ridiculous. Davy Graham himself has described Jansch's "Blackwaterside" as a masterpiece. To use the excuse that the guitar part was written as an accompinament is Led Zep-fan apologia of epic proportions.

[@DANNYK678]

scottish father, guyanese mother

[@themightychicken]

This documentary showed Davey's true talent. I went to see him play recently and unfortunately he was so drunk he couldn't keep it together at all, according to others there it wasn't an unusual occurance. It was very sad to see..

[@gculloty87]

2006 I think.

[@ari1234a]

@ianmcgeachy Dont forget John Fahey.

[@hanghang71]

the song shirley collins is singing sounds like bob dylan's dream

[@Kolkoscon]

i have a dream

[@bonzo6880]

yep Pagey stole this from Graham, black mountainside from Jansch, and stairway from Cry Me a River by Graham as well.

[@MrTaylorN]

Well Jimmy changes like 2 notes... but pretty much!

[@neilus]

Massive thumbs down to Jimmy Page here, as far as i can i remember DG always had "traditional,arr. Davey Graham" on his credits whereas JP always seemed to claim he wrote them, pretty out of order if you ask me...DGs influence on JP was massive and i find it pretty disgusting that he never gave him the recognition he deserved

[@kingcutt7312]

Dick Gaughan I think

[@dommccaffry3802]

Heroin blunted his drive and focus unfortunately, but before that he wasvan innovator

[@Powderfinger07]

Next I'll learn 'The Rain Song' was ripped off also. Jeesh!

[@paulatB2B]

Or Ten Years Gone ...

[@hannibal3blue]

Nic chapman

[@cdo808]

get over it mate...