In smoky rooms above pubs; bare rooms with battered stools and beer-stained tables; where the stage was little more than a scrap of carpet and sound systems were unheard of; an acoustic revolution took place in Britain in the 1950s and 60s. This was the folk revival; where a generation of musicians; among much drink and raucous cheer; would rediscover the native songs of their own tradition; as well as the folk and blues coming from across the Atlantic by artists such as Leadbelly; Woody Guthrie and Big Bill Broonzy. Singing from the Floor is the story of this remarkable movement; faithfully captured in the voices of those who formed it by JP Bean. We hear from luminaries such as Shirley Collins; Martin Carthy; Peggy Seeger and Ralph McTell; alongside figures such as Billy Connolly; Jasper Carrott and Mike Harding; who all started their careers on the folk circuit. The book charts the revivals improvised beginnings and its ties to the CND movement; through the heyday of the 60s and 70s; when every university; town and many villages across the country boasted a folk club; to the fallow years of the 80s and 90s. The book finishes on a high note; with the recent resurgence of interest in folk; through such artists as the Lakemans; Sam Lee and Eliza Carthy. It is a joyous; boisterous and hugely entertaining book; and an essential document of our recent history stretching into the past.
2013-12-19 2013-12-19File Name: B00HFTUBIA
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Enjoyable read. Who knew grain elevators could be so ...By IAN DANICEnjoyable read. Who knew grain elevators could be so interesting?1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Who would be interested?By Connie McAJust the kind of book I like; linking anecdotes to history. A friend asked "Who would be interested in grain elevators?" and after hearing about the book; admitted that he might be. And was! These elevators enabled grain to be lifted from trains on to ships and transported around the world opening up the prairie states of both US and Canada. Our next trip is to visit Silo City and see them for ourselves.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. If you have any interest in grain elevators put this on your bookshelfBy GeorgeLI very much enjoyed this quick read; one of the very few writings which effectively conveys the setting and feel of actually working in a grain elevator. The authors experiences lean towards the grain handling industry in Thunder Bay; Ontario which I very much enjoyed as it was a giant of grain handling activity; but too often given only passing mention in histories and architectural reviews of grain elevators.
