The Humpback Whale - Cover

[guitarmotion]

Beautiful rendition. You make me want to play in DADGAD some more!

[12Radius]

What year is yours do you know? Thanks. nice sound also.

[grendelrichard1]

A beautiful rendition of a great song. I have recently learnt Cannadee-i-o and, as a result, left myself nowhere to go. I like Nic Jone's version and trawled around Mudcat Cafe for the tabs. No disrespect to the many fine musicians there but, many give Nic's version in a similar tuning to Cannadee-i-o but think I prefer your version. I have had some luck in freeze-framing you and watching your fingers but wandered if you might send me the chords as diagrams. I would be ever so grateful. R

[Melarancida]

Beautiful cover (and nice vintage EKO)!!

[jeffreydebra1]

I liked this song when I first heard it on RIchard Shindell's CD. Mark does a wonderful job too!

[bonzodog10]

nice one mate. Get rid rid of the ovation though. got no soul : }

[mheads2]

Thanks for favoriting Fred :)

The Ovation is OK for rockier stuff but I now have the Martin D28-12 as the main instrument :)

[lombroso69]

Thank you, really good cover. Less essential from the Nic Jones version but I like it.

[DamianNixon]

brill.

[macinglis]

what tuning are you in ive been trying to figure this beautiful song out for years.  btw, your version is on par with shindell, who is my personal legend!

Well Done!!

[mheads2]

Thanks!

It's actually in DADGAD. I haven't played it live for ages - mainly because my partner Alex doesn't like the subject matter so I ahev to be somewhere where I'm playing solo!

I play 95% stuff in DADGAD.

I actually played support act to Mr S when he visited Gloucestershire in summer 2007 which was a fun and educational experience as well as an obvious privildege. I was trying to get Nic Jones along but they were having house moving problems and weren't able to make it. M

[MichaelFrances]

Absolutely awesome, would love to hear Canadee-i-o.

[mheads2]

Thanks Michael. I'll try and learn it in near future :)

[sivyjahoo]

Great song and a really fine version. I like this man'a voice and guitar-playing. What's his name? Has he got any recordings?

[ragandbone]

Penguin Eggs is one of my most played cds...thank you for this wonderful rendition

[mheads2]

Thanks! (and also for subscribing). All credit for this version must go to Richard Shindell as I actually nabbed it from his great 'South Of Delia' covers album :)

[cricketman94]

MY name's harry robertson lol

[brnbear99]

Do you have c.d.'s out at all? You play so very well!

I can tell that you have a ton of heart & a whole lotta soul!!

I wish you a LOT of good things in your music future!!

[mheads2]

Hi Julie, thanks. The only CD really is my collection of country rock songs and which have full-blown studio / band arrangements. (Search for me on i-Tunes - Mark Wilderspin). I am intending to try and do an acoustic CD this year but as usual am prone to procrastication rather than action!

[ajshakey2006]

nverr posted a comment on any video before, but i absoulutely love this. Is just amazing. thx for posting.

[mheads2]

Well then, I'm most honoured!

I hadn't heard it either until I found it on Shindell's 'South Of Delia' last year. Nic Jones' version however is the one that most people appear to revere (to be found on 'Penguin Eggs').

[burnzgotshot]

Why has nobody got nic jones on film?

[mheads2]

I don't know - will ask his wife.

[ponynose]

DADGAD isn't the tuning. No Capo is required. I would love to tell you what the tuning is. I can tune the guitar to what is required for a very close if not exact rendition of the Nic jones version. I haven't played it for a year or two. come back to this site over the next few days and I will post the tuning. I can remember that the G,B & E strings are tuned to the same note. The rhythm and melody are all played on theE ,A & D. The top strings give it a full sound.

[samjohncarter]

The tuning is 151511, i.e CGCGCC in C. On the record I think it's tuned down to Bb.

[01jocooper]

i tune to Gb Gb Db Gb Gb Gb

 and stick a capo on third

[mheads2]

True, the original isn't but I'm following Shindell's version.

[Legertymusic]

Lovely stuff! One of my favorite Nic Jones arrangements.

[rogthedodger]

Originally called the Ballina Whalers it was written by Harry Robinson, Nic improved it and provided the definitive version (as he did with so many songs)

[ichingiching]

Great song. Well sung and played. M:)

[fakeNRD]

Excellent playing and singing. Great to hear Nic Jones arrangements.

[Xenoliths]

Thats fantastic, and I like your vocals as well. Can you tell us what tuning you use and any tips? (I can see the capo at 7). Thanks!

[mheads2]

Thanks for the comment!

The tuning is in DADGAD.

It's almost completely poached from Richard Shindell who in turn has adapted his version from Nic Jones (I believe).

I'm useless at explaining how I play anything I'm afraid.

This was really quite complex to learn - I think mainly becasue fo the timing which is really pobably the most important aspect to this particualr song - or rather this version of it at least.

Just looked up Bouvet Island! :)

[Xenoliths]

LOL thanks for the fantastically quick response. I'm actually in Australia, just picked Bouvet Island on the list-reminds me to fix it sometime - you're one up on me, I actually don't know where it is. ;-)

Just watched this again and this really is great. I'm saving it.

Just as a comment, I think Jones' version is in one of his preferred tunings - (Bb)FFBbFBbC. Note that I tune the low E to F rather than down to Bb because my string gets too loose otherwise.

[mheads2]

Well it's midday here and I'm just catching up on some clips I haven't watched yet - Joe Walsh in particular.

If Wikipedia is to be believed then if you were on Bouvet Island it would be an exceptionally lonely existence - tho' I could understand the interest in whales :)

[biscotti54]

One of my fav cuts on South of Delia? Can anyone tell me how to play this? Excellent job by the way!

[Wmhohenzollern]

I have never heard this song! I really like it. Your performance has a Gordon Lightfoot quality to it.

[mheads2]

Thanks! You ought to try and hear Nic Jones' version on 'Penguin Eggs'. (Am having prblems including a link here as YouTube doesn't like me doing that but essentially it's nicjones dot net)

[TheCompleteGuitarist]

Excellent to hear this song, I guess you're a Nick Jones fan.

[mheads2]

Many thanks - I actually came across this song via Richard Shindell on South Of Delia and who's version is apparently closest to Nic Jones rendition. Have since been in touch with Mollie Music which is run by Nic's wife Julia and where all Nic's works can be found.