John Conolly, Send us a Post Card, (Self released, 1999)

John Conolly Ranter's Wharf , (Self released, 2004)

If you have never heard of John Conolly, let me introduce you. John comes from Grimsby, on the northeast coast of England. He has been writing and singing folk songs for more years than I care to remember. You might say he is a real folk singer and one that was around in the revival era of the 60's. Indeed, his name appears on Sidmouth, and many other festival guest lists, even earlier than Martin Carthy. Many sing some of the songs he has written over the years not knowing who wrote them. Many, quite understandably, think some of his songs are traditional. This is mainly due to the style of writing and tunes he uses. I have lost count (and I am sure John has too) of the amount of times you see his world famous song 'Fiddlers Green' listed as traditional in the credits on other artists albums. Other masterpieces (or should I say folk classics?) of his include 'Punch and Judy Man', 'Out of Season', and let's not forget his monologue 'Albert goes to Cleethorpes'. Often teamed with Bill Meeks, the pair of them must have penned over 40 songs. The theme for many of them is taken from life's observations from living in a fishing port/seaside town. The two albums I have chosen to review here are from John Conolly's solo career. If nothing else they serve to demonstrate the wide diversity of this fine singer and entertainer who is justly revered by his fellow singers, not only for his song-writing skills but also for his charm and wit.

The first of the albums is Send us a Post Card , a themed album of mostly funny or satirical songs based on the music hall and the anomaly of the bawdy seaside post cards that originated in Victorian times (I think!). These are now very collectable, and most have the same or similar art form that was pioneered by James Bamforth & Co who have manufactured them for over 120 years. On this album John gives credit to some fine performers such as George Formby, Max Miller and Benny Hill whose cheeky, slightly bawdy humour kept alive the artistry of the old music halls. All fifteen songs on this album were written by John.

Humour has always been an intrinsic essential for any folk singer that works the circuit of folk clubs. It gives him or her the ability to hold an audience. Most performers have in their repertoire the odd funny song to lighten the set. On Send us a Post Card you have quite literally the opposite, that is, 13 hilarious songs and just two serious songs, these being 'Out of Season' and 'Punch and Judy Man', to balance the proceedings. Other songs have various themes, but my favourites have to be 'Smartarse', a song about what we all think about certain people that get on your nerves, particularly the ones that show off with their mobile telephones in public places. 'Send us a Post Card', the title track, looks at the lighter side of a British seaside holiday. 'Lady Morris-Dancer' is set to a blues rhythm that is self-explanatory. Shades of George Formby abound in the song 'The Bucket and Shovel Brigade', about a poor soul who takes a job in a sewage works -- it's absolutely hilarious! But in truth all the songs are good listening. The album was recorded live at the Crag Rats Theatre Holmfirth, so you can judge which is the best track by the level of laughter and applause!

On Ranter's Wharf we find John Conolly in a more serious mood with songs of the Sea, Rushbearing, Travelling People, and Ploughmen, to pick out just a few of the themes. Recorded in a plain fashion with just his guitar or melodeon plus a few guest musicians, the songs are sensitively done, a pot purée of the subjects he finds to write a song about. There are 19 tracks that include a new recording of 'Fiddlers Green' with some new verses. The album starts with an up-tempo version of 'Men at Sea', an old favourite song that reveals the secret of how one gets to become a Trawler Skipper. The album's title song, 'Ranters Wharf', comes next. It's a kind of Johnny on the shore song, but this one revives one of the many superstitions or beliefs held amongst fishing communities, that the Seagulls are reincarnated souls of fishermen lost at sea. At track 3 is 'Tom of Holmfirth', a song he was commissioned to write for the revival of the old custom of Rushbearing in the town of Holmfirth. Originally Rushbearing was a Church festival, but fell from favour with the clergy because of the riotous and lascivious behaviour it encouraged (bit like Morris dancing!!). 'Weary Winter' is the next song set against the background of Rushbearing. At track 5 is 'Brave English Ale' followed by 'Roundabouts and Swings', about the Gypsies, or Pharaohs as country people called them, as they are thought to have come from Egypt. The words are from a poem by Patrick Chalmers, circa 1930, put to music by Conolly. Another poem set to music by Conolly is 'The Emigrant'; the words are by John Maesfield and is on the theme of Irish emigration.

Another song with an Irish flavour is 'Landless Paddy'; inspired by some music he heard in West Cork, it is about a young man with his family about to set sail on the long voyage to "Amerikay". 'Sweet Thyme' is a well-known song and is a love song, co-written with Pete Mundy. 'The Widowmaker' is taken from Rudyard Kipling; Conolly uses the term the Widowmaker to describe the bitter wind that sweeps across the North Sea and brings winter weather that fishermen have learned to dread. My favourite song is one of the two on the album not penned by Conolly, but by Jim Hancock: 'Calling-on Song for the Ghosts of Miners Past', a song of sympathy for the miners of the ages.

It's ironic that as I write this review, I watched a video of the BBC 2005 Radio 2 Folk Awards on T.V. the night before. It occurred to me how different 'real folk' is from the performances of the record label 'star' professionals. Singers such as John Conolly may never be honoured in such away, although he has been singing for more than 40 years. With this in mind I was surprised to discover that none of his many albums have been reviewed before on GMR and I am pleased to put things right.

Truly, on Ranter's Wharf and Send us a Post Card there is a wealth of excellent songs that need to be heard. You seriously need to get these albums for your collection -- you won't be disappointed.

[Peter Massey]

No home pages found for John Conolly, but his albums can be purchased from Chantey Cabin Web site.