Hamish Imlach live at “the Gallows” folk club, Herford, Germany 1972
Vložit
- čas přidán 4. 08. 2024
- Something different, a radio broadcast of Hamish Imlach from my old Folk club in Germany, recorded in 1972. Hamish was one of my early influences, I had the pleasure of meeting him several times and he was generous enough to teach me some blues. I have had the family’s permission to upload these performances. There is lots of commentary and Jokes from the big man and some great songs and blues. I have separated the tracks by different photos of Hamish, the track list is as follows: Scotland’s Sabbath day, The Oyster girl, Black is the colour, Early morning blues, Twa Corbies, Solid gone, Men of Knordart, Paddy lay back, Goodbye booze, Cod liver oil and the orange juice.
- Hudba
Hamish was a good friend of mine., a lovely man, with a heart of gold , and a laugh that could lift you no matter how far down you felt. We ( my brother and I ) were fortunate to share the stage with him many times. I gave up performing to get married in summer of 1969. When Hamish was performing here, I was sitting in my Married Quarter, in Minden, West Germany probably knitting. If only I had known, we could have met up and had a good catch up, as I wasn’t back in Scotland until after Hamish had died. He had a habit of sitting on a table in our local folk club, to perform,and he broke every one. Then one night when we were setting up the club , we went to lift the table into Hamish ‘s favourite spot, but we couldn’t budge it. They had had the table re-enforced with iron. Lol. Hamish I still miss you, old friend.
Lovely memories Anne, Hamish was a funny and immensely talented man ( he even influenced the great Davy Graham ) I was fortunate to meet him on several occasions while in Germany and got to jam with him on some bluesy stuff. I was there the night this program was recorded by BFBS, as can be heard from the recording he had an infectious sense of humour but also a unique guitar style. Greg Byrne my blues partner at that time and Pete Ferns the lead member of my a group I was in before that the “Gentlefolk” were at Hamish’s funeral. He is sadly missed
Hi Anne-May,
I loved reading your post. Meeting Hamish the first time is an experience no one could never forget.
My occasion was at the Windmill Hotel in Arbroath one winter's evening in about 1968 during the time I was an apprentice up at ‘The Condor’. I do remember it was snowing large damp flakes which didn't so much settle, more envelope you with their cold and dampness. I had been in the deserted foyer for quite a while, warming myself in front of a large fire when the front door burst open and standing there like some huge, snow-covered Yeti was Hamish Imlach! He steps inside the hotel, drops his guitar and bag onto the floor and shook himself like a massive hairy dog! "£*** me! That's not nice out there...." (or words to that effect) he says. and strolls over to the reception desk and smote the bell with a massive swipe and then wanders over to the fire where we stood like two men in a public urinal; acknowledging each other's presence but not speaking - I had been warned on many previous occasions not to open my mouth and let folk know I was English!
Eventually Hamish wanders back to the desk and gives the bell another hearty swipe and eventually someone comes and takes his booking - at this Hamish asked was the bar open and, having been informed that it wasn’t asked that it be opened and they he would like a half of lager. He then asks me if I would like a drink - I made the social faux pas of asking for a pint but I shouldn’t have worried, Hamish drank three pints to my two and we kept this up for an hour or so until folk started to arrive for the club.
I don’t remember too much else about the evening - as was frequently the case back in those days - but while researching this response to your post I notice that the Windmill Hotel is now the Windmill Christian Centre. Now that’s some change about!
So, now some 50+ years later, I’m still playing guitar and singing in the local clubs of south England although I only drink one or two pints at the most - otherwise I’d be up all night!
I still love listening to Hamish, Matt McGinn, Alex Campbell and Billy Connolly, all artists who had preformed at the Windmill back in the day, it reminds me of the halcyon days of my yoof. I hope your life is as colourful and eventful as mine has been.
Kind regards
Tony
The Glastonbury Ferryman.
@@tonycarey9731
Loving these stories folks!! Thanks for sharing! Tony, your description of Hamish as the Yeti is priceless! 😆
❤️ This! X
@@patcollard3635 ❤️ and this too! X
A rare find man. Its much appreciated. My uncle knew him and went to his funeral. Rest in peace Hamish. Legend
My pleasure, Hamish was a legend back in the 70s especially in Germany 👍
My goodness he was immensely talented, and hilarious to boot. His command of the audience here is priceless. I know of Hamish mostly through the musicians that he inspired and taught - greats like Bert Jansch, John Martyn, Robin Williamson, and so on. Not too shabby a batch of students.
Thanks for taking the time Ben, yes Hamish was well loved in Germany…and as you pointed out an inspiration to many of the great folk and blues artists from the 60/70s. I was lucky enough to get to know him and jam with him 👍
I saw hin in the 80s - they had booked a hall with 600 seats, but less than 10 people showed up. So we sat in the small bar there, drinking, smoking and singing with this great man (he was paid by the city's culture department, so it didn't matter that we only were around 10 people including the staff there). Unforgettable!
Sad that he often didnt get the credit he was due, I got to jam with him a couple of times, he always had time for his fans…a funny man and a gentleman…and a great blues guitarist 👍
Always loved The Cuckoo by Hamish at Glasgow Folk Centre.
One of my favourite tracks too Jimmy 👍
I love this guy
He was an excellent entertainer Barbara and a genuine guy
Hamish was from an era when folk music was exciting - sad to say much of what passes for folk these days just doesn’t compare. What a guitarist he was. Thanks for posting this for our enjoyment.
Thanks for the appreciation Jim, It’s sad that Hamish went before his time he was a fantastic performer and a gentleman 👍
What a performance could lift anyone's spirits. [class act].😂
Yep Hamish was a class act, glad I got to know him, if only briefly. Glad you enjoyed Colin 👍
one of the stalwarts of scottish folk sangs.
He was indeed Bruce and a Legend in Germany also in the 70s where I first met him. Wonderful guitarist and a genuine guy 👍
@@patcollard3635 he always sung in the....guid scots tongue.....no many do that nowadays.
@@brucecollins4729 Yep and he deserved a lot more credit than he received 👍
Had the privilege to play on the same bill at Viewfirth Folk Club Thurso in 1970. Previously I was a great fan having seen him live in Coventry in my youth. I had every one of his EXTRA albums, signed and illustrated by the great man himself. He is sorely missed. If you watch the film / tv called folk Routes you will hear Bert Janch telling of what a great influence Hamish was.
Yes a great performer and a lovely man, I shared the stage briefly with him in Germany and he was kind enough to show me a couple of his blues songs, I guess in some ways he started me off on Blind Blake (still my favourite ragtime hero and I still love to play his stuff) I’ve seen the Folk routes video a few years back, all the contributors Ralph, Bert, Hamish and Archie Fisher etc were all part of my learning curve…like you say Hamish is sorely missed, two of my muso mates were at his funeral, I wish i had known at the time. Thanks for the input Rod 👍
I once spilled some of a Tennants can down his Guild on the stairs outside GFC. He just laughed. What a guy !
Never heard of this guy until up popped Billy Connolly in another video advertising him. By the look of the Big Yin it must have been back in the 70's. What a find. So, so, sad to find he died so young.
Glad you enjoyed Phil, yea I first met Hamish early 70s, a funny guy but also a superb guitarist 👍
About 50 years ago.Great performance by Mr Imlach.
Thanks tom, yea he was a great musician and a great guy 👍
Wow I remember that night well, it as a wonderful night 22:19
Yep was a brilliant night, I’m glad BFBS were there to record it 👍
one of the greats
Was brought up listening to his tunes , my dad loved him so do I
Hamish was a great performer and down to earth guy, gone before his time 👍
What a marvellous voice and such a sweet guitar. Thankyou.
Thanks for taking the time, Hamish was a class act and a real gent 👍
What a great character wont see the likes again.
You got that right Brian, a larger than life character, brilliant musician and funny guy, deserved much more recognition 👍
Saw Hamish at the Isle of Wight folk club, Sloop inn, Wootton, in the late sixties. Brilliant. Also Gerry Rafferty and Billy Connolly as the Humblebums.
Thanks for taking the time Malcolm…He was a great entertainer and a wonderful blues guitarist and I was privileged to have known him and learned from him 👍
Thanks to the Duff Boy fa the Brig did i get to here this awesome big jolly man.Cheers bud
Glad you enjoyed William, Hamish was a legend 👍
This recording gave me so much joy, I found that version of Paddy Lay Back especially beautiful, been humming it for days, thanks for putting in the effort to share this, much appreciated 🙏
My pleasure just pleased that this recording has been saved for posterity, glad you enjoyed 👍
Thanks for posting. A brilliant document of an amazing performer.
Glad you enjoyed, Hamish was a big inspiration to me when i was starting out, a wonderful performer and a true Gent 👍
Great recording, Great artiste, Great guy, Great company!
Yep couldn’t have said it better Andrew 👍
Wonderful. Such a long time ago that I saw him live
He was an amazing performer and a really nice guy 👍
Now your taking the great Hamish imlach superb guitarist and good alround guy
One of my all time favourite performers Paul and sadly gone too soon
How come I've never heard of him before... Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure to share Daniel....Hamish was very popular in the folk clubs around Scotland and Germany from the early 70s until his death in 1996, he never really achieved the success that he deserved, he was a great performer, a hard drinker but a real gent too. he is sadly missed
What an upload , pure imlach magic , he was some man , WHAIR did yi find this ……GOLD DUST thankyou
Thanks Alex, it’s great to see Hamish still getting tributes…This recording was made at my local folk club while I was over in Germany, my old blues partner has access to all the original tapes from the club and is making transcriptions of them all, including Wizz Jones, Harvey Andrews, Archie Fisher, Tom Paley hand many more 👍
@@patcollard3635 great news , I must thank you , hamish was some man , everybody’s got stories to tell aboot the big man , and the best bit …….just a rerr human being , that played a great style of guitar once again ta .
@@alexmorris452 Couldn’t have put it better Alex, I have fond memories of Hamish because besides being a fantastic performer he took time to show me some of his blues riffs and was very encouraging to me and many other musicians at the club…I still play some of the ragtime and blues songs he showed me. It was a sad day when he passed, a true legend 👏
@@patcollard3635 I used to run folk nights in my youth , and I remember one night , we were gathering up all the cash to give him his £25 and I remember as if it was yesterday he was having a wee dram ( as usual ) and we were just about to count it out , and it was all two bob bits , half croons , tanners ,and thrupny bits , not a pound note , or even a ten bob note in the bag , he said it’s Aw right lads I’ll take it as it is . We were concerned that there wasn’t enough cash in the bag , he was having none of it , that’ll dae fine as it is . What a man , and that was in the gunner pub in edinburgh . in its hay day it had a bit of a reputation , I know because I done my trainee manager stint doon there for a year . It transpired hamish had a girlfriend not one hundred yards from the pub . Great days indeed , I have many happy memories with him , including getting him some hooch from one o ma pals in the bond , he loved that stuff , thankyou .
@@alexmorris452 You have some fine memories of Hamish Alex and from what you’ve said I can completely understand about the bag of silver and Hamish’s quiet acceptance. It was the way back then in folk clubs, not the money about then that there is now but boy did we have some great performers, the pool is much thinner now but still a lot of talent in the clubs that will never make the big time but could knock spots off the so call professional pop artists of today…or maybe I’ve just become more cynical in my old age LOL
Danke fürs uploaden; der alte Hamish Imlach verdient mehr Beachtung. Love this recording of "The Cuckoo" at 4:51.
Glad you enjoyed Fred 👍
Hi Pat! I used to run the Arminius Folk Club in Detmold '83-85, and Hamish was one of our hit guests! Bringing back fond memories........................and I often travelled to the 'Gallows' to do a stint or two!!
Hi that’s really cool, I may have played Detmold with “the Gentlefolk” a group I was in for a while in the early 70s ( memory not so good these days ). Nice to hear the “the gallows” was still going in the 80s..I left Germany in 73.. Hamish was a regular guest at the club and a favourite with the crowd 👍
This is great!!!
He was a great entertainer Steve and a great guitarist 👍
Cheers for this upload pat!
My pleasure Connor, glad you enjoyed 👍
Wow! I never knew this existed! Thank you for posting.
My pleasure, was a huge fan of Hamish 👍
Great music on great Channel 👏👏
Many thanks 🙏
WOW!! 👍
Highly rated by the late great Davy Graham Mike 👍
Happy Day's Pat. I was there that night in the Gallows. As I recall Hamish was nearly arrested as he tried to enter the barracks without proper ID I believe they had to call out the orderly officer. My memory is a bit fuzzy these days. Was the folk club in the attic above the AAC Squadron Block. I seem to vaguely recall a folk group from Shropshire on a different evening and I'll never forget the FANTA phone. One thing sticks out in my memory of my time in 4 Div was a large poster of a nun with a huge white hat adjusting her stocking top. What I can't recall was if that poster was in the folk club or in another attic bar in Wentworth Bks. Listening to Hamish brought back many fond memories for my wife and I and our time in Herford. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Archie great to meet another Herforder lol....your memory is probably better than mine but ‘m pretty sure the “Gallows” was in the attic as you suggest, I have a few photos of the club and some of the performers from those days...Doug Porter, Ken and Maria, Dave Steel, Dave Qually,,, Me and Greg of coarse. Also a lot of recordings (curtesy of Peter Lewis Jones via Greg Byrne) Besides Hamish there are some of the local acts Circassian Circle, Ken and Maria, Pat and Mike, Derek Foster....I think you get the point LOL. If you are on facebook I could share some of this stuff with you, otherwise you can always reach me via email..pdlcollard@hotmail.co.uk
Anyway you managed to stir a few memories from those long ago days, thanks for checking out my channel, Cheers Pat ...or Bob as I was back then 👍
@@patcollard3635 Hi Pat Great to hear from you. I don't do any social media except CZcams. Just don't have the time to keep up with all the messages. I don't think I spent a lot of time in the Gallows. My early days in Hammersmith 1968 was in the temporary NAFFI in the 1 SQN building then the New NAFFI bar and of course mustn't forget Mitzy's down town Creden Strsse / Neuer Markt next to the chicken takeaway. By the time I found the Folk Club I was married with a young daughter and was soon posted to Dortmund, so it was soon after Hamish visited Herford. The Attic Bar in Wentworth I only visited once so that's why I am so vague about it. I remember the band from Shropshire, because my neighbour came from Shrewbury and knew all the songs. The FANTA fone was a long wooden pole with bottle tops nailed to the stick. The guy bashing it on the floor in time to the music had his eye on the string curtain in the bar because it was covered in bottle tops.
@@archiecairns2731 My memories of those days are pretty vague but remember there was a lake not far from Bünde called the Hookemoor (probably not spelt that way) we used to go quite a lot, used to take the guitars and hire a boat and play on the lake (usually pissed LOL). You were over there before me I went to 2 Div 1970 and left in73, the Gallows was my escape from the drudgery and BS in camp 👍
@@patcollard3635 Hi Pat, Before I got married I did a lot of drinking mostly on camp but if not there at Mitzy's plus a few other places. I got a chance to work in the Officers Mess for a while, it meant living off camp in the junior officer accommodation on Vlothoer Str. across from the off mess. No guard or liter picking duties so I was up for it, at least for a while. After about four months the novelty wore off and I asked to return to the squadron. During that period I was weend off the drink, well not quite but I did ease off it a bit, less of a piss head than I had been. About then I started to take army life a bit more seriously,. Took a few courses B II at 22 Sigs Lippstadt, MPC III & II on Camp After I got married promotion and posting soon followed. I remember there was a swimming pool in the barracks although I never used it and one down in the town near the river which the wife and I went to a few times in the summer. When I was working in the officers mess me and my pal can't remember his name used to walk down to the Schnell Imbiss on Mindener Strasse at the river near the Chicken Bar for a couple of helpings of Currywurst & Pomme Frites. after we finished serving dinner to the officers. We also spent a lot of time in the SKC cinema in Wentworth Bks. Apart from the parades I was fortunate to escape most of the BS. I worked for a time in the troop store which meant I was out of sight out of mind. I got on well with the SSM, SQMS and our Troop OC he used to put the junior troop officers on my detachment and told them to learn from me. I thought that amusing giving instructions to an officer I was still a siggy then but I think my time in the mess earned me some recognition. I do miss the good times I spent in Germany and did return for a few reunions to Dortmund. I was on holiday one year with the family in Frankfurt and Koln and we travelled up to BMH Rinteln where my eldest daughter was born, then over to Herford and across to Holland.
@@archiecairns2731 Wow thats some memory you have Archie, sadly mine is very sparse from so long ago, remember mainly the music and Summer camps in Holland, a border patrol in Berlin (that was something) but mostly I remember the mates I made while I was serving, quite a few I have managed to get back in contact with...I dont think you ever form the same bonds in Civvy street as you did in the army 👍
Thank you so much for posting this!
My pleasure Manuel 👍
Heard him singing THE D-DAY DODGERS.
A great song, one which I used to do when I was in a group in Germany called “the Gentlefolk”
Very nice Pat! All the best to you my friend!🎷🎷
Many thanks Rob 👍
*******A few years ago here on youtube was circulating one live video of Hamish performing ''The Parcel Of Rogues''. It wasn't a concert on a stage, but in a bar or something, or a country club of some sort. This performance was so powerful, every word was like a hammer! But that video just disappear into oblivion. Does anybody remember it?
Wow, how cool is this. You can sure hear the Scottish in his voice. Great that you were able to meet him since he was a great influence. Really cool post Patrick. Glad the family gave you permission to do this. Love that pic around 3:43.
Thanks Mark, Hamish was a big influence on me when I was young and starting to get into blues ...his version of Black is the colour is my favourite and best bluesy version I’ve ever heard, thanks for listening mate 👍
Just as an aside to the discussion about the man and his music, the opening photo is one of mine, which I took at the “The Gallows Folk Club” in Herford, West Germany, when this live recording was made by BFBS.
He came a couple times, I’ll have to see if I can find any other shots in my archive.
Wow that’s really cool, I was there also that night and the other times that Hamish was over, I was in 2 Div Bünde at the time, I originally go the photo from Greg Byrne (my old blues partner) who probably got it from Peter Lewis Jones who ran the Gallows. Greg is busy transcribing the Reel to Reel tapes from the gallows onto digital media. Thanks for the info Paul …and the photo 👍
would you mind sharing a link to download the audio? great vidslike this have disappeared from youtube before, and this is such a gem
Hi Callum, I will find the original Audio file (before I separated the tracks ) and post it here for you, it may take a couple of days 👍
Thanks a lot for sharing this--they don't make 'em like that any more. Here's a link to a wee song that I wrote in memory of Hamish Imlach and Alex Campbell: czcams.com/video/01AjAsuV3xU/video.html
My pleasure Manfred, Hamish was one of my favourite musician friends, I’m listening to your tribute song as I’m typing, very good 👍
14.59 hilarious
Yep he was a really great entertainer 👍
I woke up at the age of 2 or 3 at the sight and sound of a flat steel guitar on the sideboard in the kitchen. One of my first memories.
Morning Pat, can I ask if you have any more of the round yin?
Hi Harry I will have to check the USB stick my mate Greg sent of recordings from the Gallows. If I find anything I will upload it here 👍
@@patcollard3635 cheers pal!
@@harryboch8727 my pleasure Harry 👍
Such a people's poet . But totally inappropriate nowadays
Yep a great performer with a heart of gold…definitely wouldn’t get on the BBC these days
I First became aware of Hamish in the Billy Connolly acoustic routes documentary...he didn't appear too healthy by then ...but he came across as a lovely man...hamish hamfatter a 3rd rate minstrel...akways made me laugh.
He was a true legend over in Germany and of coarse in Scotland, a real genuine guy and a fantastic blues guitarist…coincidentally I was watching that documentary last night, seen it a couple of times before but always enjoy..and respect from Davy Graham thats some accolade. Glad you enjoyed, enjoyed your 1 string Am ad lib btw 👍
@@patcollard3635 cheers sir...i love those classic players from the early folk scene....not a bad player amongst them...keep well sir
Thanks to the Duff Boy fa the Brig did i get to here this awesome big jolly man.Cheers bud
Only just seen your comment, thanks for taking the time Bill 👍