UK#5 SKIFFLE 78 CHAS McDEVITT "FREIGHT TRAIN/THE COTTON SONG" ORIOLE CB1352 V/V+

Description: A UK NUMBER 5 HIT FROM THE CHAS McDEVITT SKIFFLE GROUP feat NANCY WHISKEY ON UK ORIOLE 78 Although Charles McDevitt's skiffle group had only a short time at the top, they were responsible for a skiffle classic that must rate with Donegan's 'Rock Island Line' as one of the greatest anthems of the era. Perhaps there was something in its air that nurtured skifflers, but Donegan, McDevitt and Nancy Whiskey were all from Glasgow. Undoubtedly, the McDevitt Skiffle Group, together with Lonnie Donegan and the Vipers dominated the UK skiffle scene during the mid to late 1950s. Charles McDevitt was a skilled banjo player who had found work with Ken Colyer's former project, the 'Crane River Jazzband'. Ken Colyer's influence on the British popular music of that time should not be underestimated. During the early part of that decade his unit had been host to Chris Barber, Monty Sunshine, Lonnie Donegan, Beryl Bryden and Johnny Parker- who later joined Humphrey Lyttelton and was the pianist featured on 'Bad Penny Blues'. However, it was not long before Chas had formed his own group and was playing gigs wherever people could be encouraged to gather and listen. The venues included many of the burgeoning London coffee bars of the time- the best known of which was the 2 'I's in Soho- and dance halls as far out as the Ritz in Kingsbury. Anne Wilson played the guitar and sang folk music in the Glasgow area. One of the Scottish folk songs that she sang was 'The Calton Weaver', and featured the line "whiskey whiskey, Nancy-o". As a consequence, "Nancy Whiskey" became her adopted name. At about the same time that McDevitt was already beginning to progress in skiffle, Nancy and her boyfriend- amateur musician Bob Kelly- decided to try their luck as folk musicians in London and made the move south. "Freight Train"- an American folk song attributed to Elizabeth Cotton- was already an important part of Charles McDevitt's repertoire when Nancy Whiskey arrived. However, Miss Whiskey's vocal rendition proved to be a magic ingredient and the song soon found itself being played everywhere 'Freight Train' thus became a hit on both sides of the Atlantic and allowed Whiskey and McDevitt to find work in the US as well as Britain. They did so both together and as individuals- the partnership not surviving very long. The McDevitt group went on to record with other female vocalists, notably with Shirley Douglas. Nancy Whiskey formed her own backing group and had to survive a press scandal when it was discovered that she had started a family despite the fact that her partner- both musically and at home, Bob Kelly- was still encumbered with a previous marriage. Nevertheless, both she and Charles McDevitt managed to carve out modest musical careers mainly on the strength of 'Freight Train'. At the time of writing Charles McDevitt could still be found playing "Freight Train" occasionally, but sadly Nancy Whiskey died on February 1st, 2003. FREIGHT TRAIN (James- Williams) ORIOLE CB 1352 10" 78 rpm Entered the UK charts - 12/4/1957 Highest chart position # 5 - 18 weeks on chart Freight train, freight train, goin so fast Freight train, freight train, goin so fast I don't know what train he's on Won't you tell me where he's gone Don't know where he's headin for What he's done against the law Got no future, got no hope Just nothin but the rope Freight train, freight train, goin so fast Freight train, freight train, goin so fast I don't know what train he's on Won't you tell me where he's gone He lost his reason, lost his life He killed his friend in mortal strife He must have moved like the golden skies Just a-waitin til he dies Freight train, freight train, goin so fast Freight train, freight train, goin so fast I don't know what train he's on Won't you tell me where he's gone When he dies, just bury him please Way down the end of old Chestnut Street Poplars at his head and feet And tell them he's gone to sleep Freight train, freight train, goin so fast Freight train, freight train, goin so fast I don't know what train he's on Won't you tell me where he's gone B SIDE:- THE COTTON SONG UK ORIOLE CB 1352 10" 78rpm SHELLAC Condition - VG / V+ scuffs and marks but plays LOUD AND CLEAR HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO PICK UP THIS GREAT SKIFFLE CLASSIC! DON'T MISS OUT - BUY NOW! POSTAGE STUFF .10" 78 RPM RECORDS NEED CAREFULLY PACKING, AND I CLAIM TO HAVE THE BEST PACKAGING IN THE WORLD FOR DISPATCHING THEM!! THE GREG'S GREAT'S SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A SPECIALLY DESIGNED INNER BOX MADE OUT OF 1" THICK POLYSTYRENE, WHICH THEN GOES INSIDE A DOUBLE CORREGATED STIFF OUTER CARDBOARD CARTON. THE BOXES CAN TAKE UP TO 21 RECORDS, USUALLY FOR MAILING OVERSEAS, I RECOMMEND NO MORE THAN 7 IN A BOX, OTHERWISE IT GOES OVER THE AIRMAIL SMALL PACKET MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF 2Kgs WHICH CAUSES A LARGE HIKE IN POSTAL RATES. I SEND OUT ON AVERAGE ABOUT 30 PARCELS A WEEK AND DISPATCH IS NORMALLY DONE ONCE A WEEK - SO IF YOU HAVE AN URGENT REQUIREMENT FOR THE RECORD - BIRTHDAY PRESENT, WEDDING, FUNERAL etc PLEASE TELL ME AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO GET IT OUT FOR YOU QUICKLY.

Price: 9 GBP

Location: cambridge, Cambridgeshire

End Time: 2025-01-15T12:38:23.000Z

Shipping Cost: 31.73 GBP