Lonnie Donegan - The Trouble with the Fifties.

www.lonniedoneg... Lonnie Donegan interviewed by Michael Aspel and performing with, Joe Brown, Chas McDevitt, Shirley Douglas, Bert Weedon with Lonnie's original bass player Micky Ashman. www.paulgriggs.com

[@ernestjupp1462]

Given the chance, I would return to the 1950s in a flash ! The age of innocence, wonderful music, Saturday morning pictures and FUN.

[@janetpowell2762]

No bames🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@soniaglasper5502]

We knew every song word for word on Top of the Pops. We knew every group and every singer. They were the best times ever.

[@ozzie-sk9dh]

Shout out for the legendary Bert Weldon who taught us all how to play the guitar.

[@davidk3729]

a G, a C and a D. What more could you need. God bless Bert Weedon. Then on to minor chords so we thought we could play the blues. My favourite Lonnie Donegan song; original by the legendary Woody Guthrie. "Grand Coollee Dam". Great lyrics.

[@michaelscales5996]

Before Lonnie there was NO music. Then we had Rock Island Line ! Suddenly the country lit up.

[@brianletter3545]

". . . there was NO music . . ."The Dorsey Brothers? Scott Joplin? "Glenn Miller?" You haven't lived. I was (and still am) a big fan of Lonnie Donegan, Eric Burdon & the Animals, Dusty Springfield and many, many more!

[@josiesurridge8425]

My era and very proud to be part of it, 50s 60s 70s music today cannot compare.

[@noelaves3326]

At 78yo my fondest and greatest memories are the 50 & 60's era, As Lonnie said, Happy/Fun Times

[@MsJoanie47]

I met Lonnie Donegan 60 years ago - my mum was in hospital and he was visiting the then secretary of his fan club. He was very kind to a scared little girl and I'll never forget his kindness. A very special man.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Omg, that's a beautiful story that won my heart over for Lonnie. I grew up in the 70's and 80's and Jimmy Page was a huge influence on me (I play guitar). It was only a couple years ago that I was even aware of Skiffle, and the first Skiffle band I saw was one a young Jimmy played in. That is how I ended up here, fully enjoying the wonderful heartfelt music of Lonnie and others.

[@martm216]

Must have been a great experience for you. A lovely guy.

[@kathydominick1582]

Loved him

[@tommyrockon]

Lonnie ... best front man in the business... R.I.P. mate

[@Rikkyhardo]

I grew up with these guys ... then came the Stones and Beatles when I was a teenager. What brilliant times ......

[@edwinfischer3238]

You must be around 70: Congrats😀!

[@ericrose3877]

The ever youthful LONNIE DONEGAN!!

[@pemj7360]

I was brought up listening to all this type of music . Even though I was in 1968 . And I still love this music today. 2023 we have very little real talent these days just manufactured rubbish

[@katakisLives]

Thats a lot of era defining talent in one room! Lonnie Donegan really started something special in the 50's inspiring countless skiffle groups that would go on to be some of the great bands of the 60s and of course Bert taught most of the guitar greats how to play.

[@armyoldsweat]

I'm 82 not previously having seen this video 'The Trouble with the Fifties'. Absolutely great!! You'll have to forgive a sentimental old fella......towards the end I was clapping, shouting and sobbing my socks off with joy. Thanks a million, made my day.

[@daddydave3541]

Same as mate .

[@famouspogs]

im 28 just getting into it, from one of the colonies. love you, take care!

[@iainwinter6291]

with you all the way!

[@johneee3]

Another 82 year old in NC USA. Lonnie had hits that were played here on the radio many many years ago.

[@sagbrady8414]

You would be so proud of your son..he is fantastic too

[@shirleylane131]

Some of our national treasures remembered! Joe still rock and rolling......what a great artist,.............see you in September,can't wait!!!

[@josephippolitom.d.519]

jack givens

[@patdoyle3686]

Lonnie⭐Donnegan ⭐what a fantastic performer⭐ a one off so talented⭐ and a real nice person too ❤💚💙💜💛

[@brianpope5243]

What wonderful days these were, some people say you are saying that because you were young & everybody was happy then, but no these were generally loverly days, I was lucky to be a teenager in the 50s , apart from the music it was much safer, the media have made these days worse printing bad news Bad news sells papers, that’s all you hear about now, but I put my music on & I drift back to the fabulous 50s😎

[@ducky63]

As a guitar player myself I was floored one day when my girlfriend told me Bert Weedon is her Uncle. Three years ago we went to visit him at his home. It was amazing to meet and talk with him. Before dinner we slipped away to his music room and played some guitar together. He was playing a parker fly, how cool is that! He said at the age of 87 it was a nice and light guitar for him to manage. Legend.

[@hulverfarm5132]

I am not a guitar player myself but Bert Weedon "taught" so many to play, an amazing feat, leading to players like Paul Gilbert, who probably wasn't a Bert pupil, playing like he does, kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYjPmqWrhr9seM0, Yellow Matter Custard, While my Guitar gently Weeps.

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

Fantastic talent and way ahead of his time, a real star

[@daveinespania]

One of the biggest stars of the fifties, Five feet five and a half -

[@trevorpettingill4871]

held an audience in the palm of his hand what a star

[@pingpong5000]

Thanks for this Paul, i agree the 50's and the 60's music was fun, unlike now were its just about money and "look at me look at me" types of toneless twots! It was about enjoying the music of which we had so many types or styles, home grown and from all over the world. I luv Lonnie's comment about inspite of the old farts at the BBC and great to see Bert after so many years and i'm not missing out Joe Brown, i'm using his videos to learn the Uke. Happy days

[@alreadyou]

best time of my life,had my first band when i was 17,now in to my 14th band,just got back fron u,s a,thanks lonnie,,,

[@martm216]

Good old Lonnie Donegan

[@MrMal1956]

Bert Weedon passed away yesterday, all the angels will be playing guitar boogie shuffle R.I.P Bert ........M

[@ritaseymour8116]

They were brilliant days.It wasn't a crime to be old. Nobody was left out .That's what it seemed like to me anyway.Before everybody wanted to "get on "whatever that was. THAT'S WHAT SPOILT IT ALL.

[@tomhaskett5161]

Wonderful Interesting to see Joe playing the fiddle.

[@georgegoodyear9631]

Thanks for the nostalgia.

[@Caspar33]

Very much enjoyed - thanks. Lon had everything.

[@2011littlejohn1]

I don't think of the 50's as a fun time and I do remember it very well as I was 16 in 1959. To me it was more of a rebellious explosion. This was illustrated by the music, the first real youth culture, a demand for a radical change in morality, clothing and ideology. The guitars had a hard edge a good example would be the sound of Move It.

[@daverogers816]

Never be anything like this anymore ! sad the times and music was much less complicated

[@fincaman2]

The late 50s were the start and insperation of the greatest ever musical era the 60s

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Not just the 50's, but the 40's, 30's and 20's all had a profound impact on music of the 60's. The reality is that classical, jazz, blues and country music all had a major impact as well, and if you trace the influences of those genres, you can easily go all the way back to the first person (or probably an earlier ancestor than a human even) who hit a stick against a rock rhythmically.

[@GasFinger1]

THE 60S REALLY DID SET THE BAR FOR BRILLIANCE

[@raycooke312]

just look at the smiles on their faces. happy people doing what they love.

[@Cloudberry46]

Great stuff! Oh, come back fifties and sixties! We live in such mediocre times today.

[@adoreslaurel]

Innocent days, in the 40's I was sent off on the bus at 4 and half years of age on my own to go to Kinda, do that today to your kids and you would be in court in no time.

[@alancrook1034]

Joe Brown always looks happy.

[@dorismay4411]

Alan Crook not a nice man when me and a friend saw him in Portsmouth

[@paulharvey7275]

Fantastic thank you

[@joluttringer4450]

Nice to see and hear my "master" as skiffle singer and banjo player with my close friends Chris Barber and the late Pat Halcox. We miss Lonnie, Pat...From France : Jo Luttringer (my nickname by Chris "le petit détective".

[@johnmckenna1823]

That was just wonderful!

[@Yataniss]

What an energy! Thanks for sharing!

[@andrewjames6676]

Got the original recording of The Battle of New Orleans - gave it to a friend to remember me by.

[@katakisLives]

I wouldn't say that! John Lennon and his first band the quarrymen owe a great deal to Lonnie Donegan and the wave of skiffle bands that he inspired! the idea that a bunch of dudes could just get together with a load of guitars and play had a profound effect on the development of rock and Lonnie Donegan was a major part of that! (and we all know the huge significance of Bert!)

[@alanthedrum]

Just look at their faces. They would have paid for the privelege of performing. These are people who are really enjoying themselves.

[@georgestyer2153]

Great compilation..Thanks Paul

[@michaelholmes4374]

As Lonnie said fun what a performance bless them all love it

[@johnito2232]

Apache was written by Jerry Lordan. Bert Weedon recorded it but the Shadows version was released first, to become their No: 1 hit in the '60's.

[@rickmartin5132]

Brought tears to my eyes!! ('52 raver)

[@tectorama]

Absolute magic, and not a digital sound enhancer about. Although they didn't exist when this was recorded. Ask on of today's superstars to sing live like that, and they wouldn't have a clue.

[@annpartoon5300]

thanks now to watch the whole show

[@jmjmservices]

its a pitty the bbc wernt as interested in jimmy saville rather than lonnies odd bad word in a song !!!

[@massonman9099]

Or Uncle Mac!

[@axeman2638]

bump

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

Jimmy Saville had the BBC in his back pocket.

[@andrewdrabble8939]

Now this is music

[@davidpbailey]

RIP Lonnie. Very much missed.

[@chrisst8922]

I think this is actually live.

[@rogeralsop3479]

Wonderful bloke - Lonnie I mean.

[@lenniecapuano521]

the 50s were awsome times i was born in 40s

[@peterwood-jenkins3634]

Lonnie was always moaning about Royalties and basically he recorded Tradisional Songs very good singer and great act bit of a winjer though could do with some one like him around today, all we get is factory made boy bands with small voices thanks simon

[@tablettwentytwo1750]

Totally Agree. Seemed a bit of a narcissist too. He failed to mention the 'hits' he covered: Battle of New Orleans, Johnny Horton; Diggin My Potatoes - Leadbelly/ Little Walter. Love is Strange- Mickey and Sylvia. Always cited them as 'his' recordings. I'm no patriot, by why the heck he would cover a rebel American anthem is beyond me. Perhaps his Irish lineage and purported hatred of anything British? Mere conjecture on my part. His version of Rock Island line is tiresome and contrived,, but there again, - 50, 000 Donegan fans can't be wrong! Johnny Duncan is my go to skiffle man. Lonnie no doubt viewed him as an upstart. Yours, Puttin on the style, Quin.

[@AndrewNeale-go9eq]

Just great.

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

0:30 there were no fights in the 50s? that is debateable

[@braaimanook]

Bloody British Bloody brilliant

[@ericrose3877]

What a great Hit Parade.

[@annpartoon5300]

a wooden box with a broom handle a d a string a washboard and thimbles an acustic guitar and you had a band

[@briartlaw]

Thank,s for posting GREAT . 5 *******..

[@rogeralsop3479]

Wonderful jacket!

[@antonywalker3582]

He showed top bands there stuff

[@vangelovan]

Spot on. I remember seeing four girls tearing each others' hair out. Lonnie probably missed that bit!

[@Rickenbackerglory]

@AbuAvital This was broadcast in 1992

[@benoni4545]

The trouble with the fifties was lack of money, or maybe that was the saving grace?

[@BernieHollandMusic]

@tongapuss thank you !

[@bcpme8637]

Born from the New Orleans blues

[@countorlock100]

The "Battles of New Orleans" is the original "God Save the Queen". Genious

[@famouspogs]

who was the rockabilly haired guy nearly half way through. seemed nice, I'd like to hear his music if anyone knows.

[@SuperDavec1]

I think you must mean Bert Weedon. He's well known amongst guitar players for having written "Play In A Day' for budding guitarists.

[@TheTongapuss]

Stops dead on 3.28 and I cannot get it to play any more, is this just my computer?? Have tried pushing it along but it reverts to 3.28, doing my head in!! Bert mentioned below, who remembers Ollie Beak!!

[@splodgen]

I grew up on the music of Lonnie Donegan and Bert Weedon. But for Lonnie to say the kids just had fun, well was he forgetting the Teddy boys whose fun was to go around and terrorize people with cut throat razors? And the fifties were also a time of much hardship for working class families.

[@stupendous1068]

I always expected Lonnie to talk with more of a Scottish brogue.

[@jrgboy]

Lonnie was born in Glasgow in 1931 but 2 years later his family moved to East London so he is more of a cockney

[@selecterjd9785]

anyone know the name of the instrumental song, second to last I believe, I'd like to hear the original but am not familiar with it? Was it a Lonnie Donegan song also?

[@selecterjd9785]

I think I figured it out; Bert Weedon - Guitar Boogie Shuffle ( 1959 ) Please feel free to let me know if I mistaken with my 30 minutes of internet research or to confirm.

[@atomicflash1753]

He's correct

[@Khultan]

@splodgen I believe no single person can be the spokesperson for a time, genre, event.

[@ronowen39]

why no tommy steele in this show he was a big part of the late fifties

[@williamredfern2683]

He is not very popular now , he changed his act , it did not go down well with some fans ,

[@jrgboy]

I don''t think the fans forgave him for moving to the US..

[@johnmorgan5495]

What did that guy in the Tartan jacket say " rebirth of British culture" !!! What ? American Rockand Roll, black American Blues and Folk tunes , Country and Western ? What is he talking about !

[@jimyoung6271]

The world needs more Skiffle.

[@neilgardiner5544]

any idea of the year?

[@480720]

Anybody else spotted guitar giant BRUCE WELCH of THE SHADOWS at 01.39....??????

[@tongapuss]

@bernieholland775 Couldn't have put it better myself. Absolutely right.

[@andy654shaz]

i agree with your comment ,i love the 50s rock n roll scene mainly the american rockabilly blues etc but it does not mean they were the best times / era or the best played music there are some great artist out and about today lets not forget some of the crooners were brought in to cover black american songs ,and what a mess they made of them but it wasall about money not young kids going wild drugs women beer ,oh i forgot that didnt happen then

[@graysight]

in case anyone wonders the music: kzbin.info/www/bejne/faexg6aKfq-bnsU and kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXq7gaGbhNOfqdk

[@stevengaber7977]

I wonder how many Brits know where the Cumberland Gap or the Rock Island Line are?

[@Mooney174]

Aptitude whilst dropping an impressive amount of names might like to know that Hank Marvin would be very surprised to know that Bert Weedon wrote Apache

[@stratac30]

No he didn't, it was written by Jerry Lordon. Jerry Lordon was on tour with Cliff and The Shadows in early 1960 and offered it to The Shads as he felt it would suit their style. it had been recorded earlier by Bert Weedon but not released and Jerry Lordon didn't like Bert Weedon's version of his tune. As we now know the Shadows version of Apache changed the whole face of British rock music for ever.

[@peter3471]

Jerry Lordan,, not Bert Weedon,.Bert Weedon did record his version before The Shadows but for some reason .. not released

[@GoonerBob42]

@@stratac30 Factually, you're correct, but I take issue with your last comment that the'Shadows version of Apache changed the whole face of British rock music'' - that honour belonged to numerous American acts who came along well before British singers and groups copied them.

[@tony13a]

Why?.It's our history to i can accept that, as someone once said " The rev war was Americers first civil war" We were both on each side.

[@jamesallen6767]

I was commiserating with my mother about the supposed hardships of WW2? She said, "oh no dear". "It was great, parties every night". .... Schooled! Thanks Mom xxx

[@Memnoch67]

I've not heard anything good about the BBC one thing that sticks out is my memory of how they dogged Bon Scott saying things that were assumptions. Not many people know he died of Auto asphyxiation, he fell asleep drunk inside a running automobile.

[@mikelheron20]

Anyone who looks back at the fifties with fondness wasn't there. I was and it was a dire decade. When the 60s arrived it was like emerging from a long dark, miserable tunnel into the sunshine. As someone has pointed out, there was gang violence but not from Mods and Rockers. They weren't invented until the 60s. In the 50s it was bicycle chain, flick knife, knuckle duster wielding Teddy Boys you had to avoid.

[@Joe_vette]

Is that joe Biden..

[@GereDJ2]

Lonnie Donegan was my first awareness of anything British as far as Pop music. The only exception would be 40s artists like Vera Lynn and such. My first reaction upon hearing him do this song was " hey, this Limey did a pretty good version of this old American Folk song..." He sort of opened the door for the hoards of Brits to repackage American music from Folk to Rock to Jazz. Well, not so much Jazz.. I have long maintained the best thing that ever happened to British and/or European Pop music was the USA. And, the best thing that ever happened to USA music was Negro, later called Race, then Black music, all derived and evolving from African influences in the nineteenth century. This is why I have always had a small bit of resentment for English music artists and their smug, condescending, egos and attitudes. Fact is, absolutely nothing was ever original or contributed by them other then their take and mutation on an existing type, form and style of music. In their defense, some English music artists actually do acknowledge this.

[@GasFinger1]

THE BEST THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO MUSIC WERE BUDDY HOLLY THE BEATLES AND BOB DYLAN

[@davidgibbs7232]

The fifties in one word ELVIS.

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

I like a lot of Lonnie Donegan's music, but I can't stand all this 'good old days' run down the current generation crap. Every decade has its high and low points and the 50s was no different. Lets not forget in the 50s innocent people were hanged, there were race riots (Notting Hill) and arguably more bigotry around than there is to today. And whilst crime may have been lower it certainly wasn't non-existent- he says kids just went out to have fun- what about the Mods and Rockers?

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

You were onto something, until you disparaged mods and rockers. At that point you became a complete hypocrite. :/

[@PapagenoMF]

Did he sing "In 1814 we took a little trip, along with Colonel PATTON down the mighty Mississip?" LOL. The British can always be counted on for one thing - massacring American music.

[@terryrainer2213]

Nope. He sings "in 1814, we took a little trip, along with Colonel Packenham down the mighty Mississipp ..." however, he condenses Packenham to "Pac-em" Major General Sir Edward Michael Pakenham was commander of the Brit. troops, and died at the battle from multiple US artillery grape-shot wounds.

[@ManMrBass]

Pure, no nonscience music!

[@ajay999999]

The Beatles still got rid of it.

[@GoonerBob42]

?? WTF??

[@GasFinger1]

bluntly put but essentuially accurate , they also took some inspiration from it buddy holly , presley the everly brothers etc

[@deejannemeiurffnicht1791]

Ha ha ha. The young guy in the tartan drape coat. Ha ha ha... "50s was the best.."? Yeh? How much was that doggie in the window?

[@davidk3729]

Jimmy Young was a dance band crooner. Last record was a boring toneless version of Unchained Melody. He recounted hearing some rockn'roll and asked his agent if that was the future. Being informed it was likely he packed up the singing and became a successful radio broadcaster.

[@ajay999999]

Thank god the Beatles got rid of all this.

[@GoonerBob42]

?? WTF??

[@Marakesh7]

And totally ruined music. The Beatles are rubbish as far as I am concerned.

[@ajay999999]

@@Marakesh7 Yes your much better