VCLT from Hedley: Another Fat Bearded Man Talking About Records..

[@soundsfromthewestcoast9939]

Good to have you back Rob. Some nice VCLT from the ever excellent Hedley. I must admit I was surprised that there was a Roy Harper album you didn't have! Strawhead are an enjoyable bunch - seem to specialise in songs from the period of the English Civil War. My good friend Brian from my Manchester days was a big fan of those country-ish singer-songwriters like Steve Goodman, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock (particularly) and while I could quite enjoy them they were not acts tgat I tended to gravitate to much. Can't go wrong with some Steeleye and Planxty! Always thought I should appreciate Willie Nelson more given his reputation, but to nick your term I find it all a bit too generic country which is not my bag. I am a fan of country rock though. I recently came across Sourdurent myself thanks to the same source - Hedley. After I did my video on French folk he recommended them to me. Really enjoyed them - track 4 on side 1 is my favourite. Can you send some of that surfeit of good weather you have in the Midlands up North please as we could do with it. All the best Pete. PS was watching a documentary film the other night which brought you to mind because I know you like Brazilian music - One Night in 67 - have you seen it?

[@robison5396]

Hi Pete Good to hear from you!. I think its' fair to say Hedley is a good judge of peoples' taste and I'm delighted with the records I shall be keeping and adding to the collection . Sourderent is certainly an interesting listen and will warrant further spins to really absorb fully. I don't believe I've seen that Brazilian film, so appreciate the heads' up!. Hope you're keeping well 😉 🙏.

[@baggyhi-fi8628]

Glad you had a restful summer Rob and glad to see you again up in the attic. Summer weather wasn't so good in the north, or at least it took a while to get going. Like the look of that Strawhead record. I have that Steeleye collection - its a lovely one.

[@robison5396]

Thanks John The Strawhead was a lovely listen..very enjoyable. I love the Tim Hart and Maddy Prior version of "False Knight On The Road"..much preferred it to Steeleyes' rendition on Please To See The King.

[@gavaxemanspins]

Nice one Hedley! Good stuff 🎉

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Welcome back Rob. That's definitely a Hedley-flavoured haul of records. He's also sent me a package recently, though the contents were of a slightly different variety...all will be revealed. I don't remember reading about Steve Goodman in that enormous Dylan biography I read recently - I'll have to go back and check. The Roy Harper cover design is horrendous isn't it, a real clue as to the decade it came from! I have Ladies Love Outlaws and it is a bit disappointing given how great the cover is.

[@robison5396]

@@jamesgriffithsmusic Cheers James I'll look forward to seeing what you've been sent. Yes, That Work of Heart sleeve is literally one of the worst I've seen from any artist..i think even Roy hated it, and he has said that this period of his career was the ' nadir' and a real low point. The reissue sleeve on Awareness however was like a tapestry design and much improved.

[@carltweed942]

Good to see you back Rob! I'm glad you've enjoyed your break. A Roy Harper album you didn't have? I find that hard to believe. I can understand why you eventually bought the demo version. So many artists from the 60s and 70s were blighted by 80s production. Hedley has been very generous. He has a knack of finding real obscurities that I'm sure I'd enjoy. I'm surprised you're not keeping Joe Ely's debut album. I picked that up on vinyl many years ago after the Clash mentioned him. I picked up one of his later albums on CD just the other week whilst going round the local charity shops.

[@robison5396]

@@carltweed942 Thanks Carl. I've only spun the Joe Ely once, so perhaps I'm being a little rash??. Theres' still one or two of Roys' albums I don't have..also alternative covers/ comps..some are quite rare and hard to find.

[@carltweed942]

@@robison5396 Coincidentally Joe Ely has posted a video for a new song called 'Didn't We Robbie'. It features loads of stunning photos taken when he toured with the Clash ... The track I remember from 'Joe Ely' is 'She Only Spoke Spanish To Me' too. I must dig it out and give it another listen. All the best.

[@MortenAastad]

Hiya Rob. Good to see a video from you again. Hope all the correct batteries got charged this summer. Cheers from Morten

[@robison5396]

@@MortenAastad Thanks Morten, hope you're keeping well 😉 🙏

[@MortenAastad]

@@robison5396 Thank you Rob 😊

[@michaelpdawson]

I had forgotten about that awful cover on the Roy Harper album. Didn’t that get reissued with a less gruesome cover, or am I thinking of the demo version? I don’t remember ever seeing that Steeleye Span collection, though I recognize the title. “Famous Flower of Serving Men” is a mind-blower, one of my favorite songs from the tradition…I spoke about it recently in my video about Liege And Lief. The Occitan folk record sounds interesting.

[@robison5396]

It is dreadful isn't it Michael..the reissue on Awareness was much more palatable and if I see one for the right price will probably pick it up, as I'm a Harper nut!. The French folk album is very different, musically frenetic and chaotic in places, I think it would be very much up your street. All the best.

[@stevecarlsonvinylcommunity9147]

Hedley was the first guy o ever comment on my Channel and was an early supporter of me. I have always appreciated everything he did to help me when I started.

[@robison5396]

He's a top bloke Steve, there's no denying that.

[@mikevinylspiral]

Hi Rob. That was some lovely vclt from Headley. Sourdurent sound really interesting, and when you compared them to Lankum I think I must give them a listen. Individually and Collectively is a really good album. It was my introduction to Steeleye Span. Cheers Mike

[@robison5396]

Cheers Mike Not certain the comparison with Lankum is wholy accurate tbh but definitely left field!. All the best Rob.

[@darcyska]

Great video - I really appreciate the eclectic tastes and always gives me new artists to check out

[@robison5396]

@@darcyska Thank you! Glad you appreciated it..yes, VC is always about new discoveries.

[@anotherfatbeardedmantalkin5893]

Well, more hits than misses is alright in my book. A bummer you had that Planxty album, and a shame the Joe Ely wasn't more to your taste. She Never Spoke Spanish To Me is a great tune. You seem to have anaversion to the pedal steel. Back when I was getting into alt country and Americana, I would scan the albums' credits to see if they had a pedal steel guitar. If they did, those albums were coming home with me. The lonesome sound of the pedal steel just eats into my soul...In a good way. Cheers - Hedley

[@robison5396]

@@anotherfatbeardedmantalkin5893 Thanks Hedley, it was fun playing these and your kindness was really appreciated. I think my appreciation of country music though still has a way to go!.

[@jamesgriffithsmusic]

Hi Hedley...you should check out the new Squeeze line-up in concert, they have a very tasty pedal steel player now.

[@Thevinylscavenger]

Hi Rob, I have gotten into a bit of country partly due to Hedley partly an interest in Americana and the whole road trip to backwards places...... Not big artists though. Doesn't sound like you are much converted. Still good VCLT is alive and kicking 😊

[@robison5396]

@@Thevinylscavenger No, not really a country music fan to be honest, but Hedley sometimes shows crossover artists that have a more folky edge and offer something a bit more, and those are the ones I'm always chasing after.