One Man Bands

[Quarterquay]

This is a Radio 4 Programme by Tom Ravenscroft (son of John Peel I think)

All about one man bands... A really good listen.
Link >
One Man Bands

Sorry everyone,the ^ link is now dead,seems like I only just got to listen to the show in time myself.I just went back for a re-listen and as with many BBC radio programmes on iplayer it has a limited lifespan.Sometimes they get dug out again,hope so,it was a good one.

[AlanB]

I don't know if the following book has been under discussion here in the past but.....

www.thecountryblues.com/op-ed/book-review/

[Quarterquay]

Thanks Alan,that really looks like a good read.

[AlanB]

It certainly is and printed on high quality "glossy" paper which really does justice to the photos/illustrations. One reviewer jokingly stated that the sheer weight of it was liable to cause a hernia.

LATER EDIT. I'd completely forgotten that I had written a few lines about it thus:


Not being one who parts with his money willingly I took an expensive risk on the grounds that I couldn't see anybody else tackling the subject in my lifetime. This has just arrived after a six week journey from Victoria, BC, Canada. No expense has been spared in the choice of packaging which has ensured no damage whatsoever to the edges or spine whilst bumping around in a container in the hold of a ship.

The artefact - hardback, full colour cover, laminated boards, well bound (head-banded spine top and bottom) and gloss art paper which really does the numerous colour/black &white photos/illustrations proud. I really don't know how to describe the layout and design of the interior – every page of text has a border festooned with illustrations pertinent to the subject(s) under discussion.

For the "litmus test" I singled out some of my favourite OMBs – Jesse Fuller, Dr. Ross, Joe Hill Louis, Duster Bennett and Don Partridge – and all seem to have been thoroughly researched and well illustrated, many photos new to me. I'll be the first to admit that I've never heard of three quarters of those listed in this massive work. I'm astonished that there are in excess of 40 OMBs currently plying their trade in the UK – and have been doing so for a mighty long time. I've obviously led a sheltered life

This book may have set me back a serious amount of money but I think that such a brave enterprise as this deserves support.