DIGGIN' MY POTATOES -1954 - Chris Barber - Lonnie Donegan

[Philbthebass]

fab and the sound and video too !

[harryandsimba]

How wonderful this still sounds after 57 years

I was delighted to find it here.Lonnie seems so relaxed and makes it sound

effortless.

[barri1940]

Would you believe, this is the actual birth of rock n roll, UK side of the pond.

[derekpara]

I was at this concert in 1954 and the Chris Barber and was a sensation, and when this skiffle group, with Lonnie Dogegan, played the crowd went wild. My friends and I immediately decided to form a skiffle group. I played a tea-chest bass made from a 3ft square tea chest with a broom handle and double bass string attached. Great days indeed.

[billgorrie]

Fer intrest..... Ah Played and sang this with 'The Rebels' in the Two 'I's Club in Wardour Street, supporting Adam Faith on his last night as a Skiffler. circa '57.

Them wuz fun times.....Yessir!

[Teddyb1939]

I remember this the 1st time around Lonnie really was a big star. he seemed to appeal to all sorts, good stuff.I remember dancing to this at the 7th feathers club in Nth Kensington.Lost John was my favourite song by Lonnie.Of course the whole of Chris Barbers band were in the 1st place Ken Colyers,have a listen to Colyer doing If I ever cease to love.

[rosietroy]

I still have this one - on a 78!!!! My mother used to tell me to switch it off as it was obscene,....she said. I didn't understand what she meant at the time....how innocent we were.

[alanvking]

@rosietroy Yes, my Dad had a fit when I listened to Three Dog Night's Mamma Told Me not to Come but he'd listen to the Andrews Sisters and Fats Wallers I want some seafood Mamma. Even earlier have a listen to Harry Roy's My Girl's Pussy from the 1930s. Its all in the mind !!

[execelsior999]

@rosietroy Some of us ALWAYS knew what the lyrics meant.

[jeanpeters100]

great

[DubWuffer]

my grandad was in a skiffle band, i was sat in his house the other day, hes on his last legs at the moment and he stuck this on his cd player, brilliant true legend.

[Erkele]

Just GREAT !!! - Erkele

[IPAWNMYQUEENS]

funny that this is irish.. i never been to texas but the voice and how he thinks thats so weird thats what i always imagined as cowboy song damn im so wrong lol

[Biasedturkey]

Thanks a bunch for posting that video.

I discovered that song in Belgium arount the 1970's from the great Belgian folk singer Ferré Grignard.

Merci

Jacques

[zaaritha]

New for me!

[greaserleo]

does 'diggin my potatoes' mean something else like 'teabagging'

[17260lujon]

it is a metaphor for someone who is dipping their wick where it shouldn't be dipped. Got it?

[Biasedturkey]

I like the explaination

LOL

Jacques

[greaserleo]

@17260lujon like putting something in the 'wrong hole'

[IPAWNMYQUEENS]

funny i just thought the same

[sturdle]

scarey this was done so long ago......

[arwoldee]

dbbroberts is spot on; whether anyone likes it or not, and despite the dodgy piano, this IS the very first UK Blues record. And it's freakin' MAGNIFICENT!!!

[socram70]

Its been available on CD for a while now. Love Pat Halcox's piano playing too.

[dbbroberts]

I was surprised that the BBC terrific documentary "Blues Brittania" did not include this track, or any mention of Lonnie, despite parts of an interview with Chris Barber. It was mentioned that Chris was the grandfather of British blues. Surely Lonnie was it's first popular vocalist.

[slappingpuppies]

One of the songs was "Diggin' my potato's " Elton liked Lonnie and appeared onthe album gratis

[tedandbrenda1]

Hard to believe that this was banned by the BBC, especially when you consider some of the cr#p they broadcast these days.

[dvpkid]

@tedandbrenda1 ya and what if rap was out then? head wold have explodid

[9mej]

the good old wash board sam song

[COLYERFAN]

I was a teenager when I first heard this one!

I'm still here! Al.

[DADRENO]

Still here and listening - 5/12/08

[identitytraveler]

a fav - awesome song

[gte2000]

I inherited the LP of this concert - also featuring Alex Welsh etc., from my late father. I love it and cherish it. I would kill to have been at concerts such as this. Alas i was not born till quite a few years later!

[dontdewcriz]

Leadbelly's version is better. This is nice tho.

[corksand]

Saw Lonnie perform this at the National Jazz Festival at the Festival Hall 1956?. Look at the bill, Chis Barber (+Lonnie's interlude act as it was then) Ken Colyer, Mick Mulligan fronted by jazz singer extraordinaire, George Melly. Ah! life was SO good then.

[Syd1940]

Had this on an 45 rpm EP when I was about 15. Over 50 years ago :(

Thanks

[MrBowsmith]

@Syd1940 Hi Syd, I performed this Friday last. learnt from the EP you refer to, which I'm pleased to say I still have.

[blackster]

Great song, this is actually the first time I've heard the Lonnie version. I know it from Heinz w/Ritchie Blackmore on guitar from 1963, a smoking hot version.

[BEATNIKCASS]

blackster..i heard that Heinz "went bush" in australia in '68 and joined the hippies...do you know if it's so??

[blackster]

Not sue what you mean by "bush" but if you mean gay, he was married, and passed away a few years back.

[BEATNIKCASS]

no blackster.. "going bush" in australian means "staying in the country a long time"---Heinz "was seen around" by hippies in the 70s...but it was probably a look alike.

[blackster]

Interesting, could be true.

[shanehampsheir]

banned by the BBC.Did wonders for its sales

[MYJIFFEY3]

Lonnie was great , but the early years were the best , and with Chris takes some beating ....... great days

[pietalpha2]

memories are made of these songs - my youth!!

[ArthurJimbo]

this guys so very good...makes me miss my ledbetter version of this song :(

[madwelshlive]

Just a thought. I had a 78 at the time with Chris Barber playing 'It's Tight Like That'. I think that was also banned. I used to practice table tennis against the living room wall to it.

'Oh listen here folks I'm going to sing a little song -- something something - it's tight llike that, oh it's tight like that'

Anyone got it?

[DADRENO]

I think it's on the back of "Ice Cream"? I'll have a look for it. Al

[maolchalium]

I liked Ic Cream. We all used to scream at the appropriate spots when it was playing.

Do you remember 'The Onions' ?. When the music paused ( is that a stop chorus? ) you were supposed to shout out 'ONIONS' but everyone shouted 'BO****KS'. Audience particpation way back in the '50s

[leoseries]

Yep! Someone once told me that his friend went into a record shop and innocently asked for "Humphrey Littleton's BO***CKS" Because he thought that was the title. I doubt if this was true but it was funny anyway.

[madwelshlive]

Pre 'Lonnie Donegan skiffle group' I think.

[DADRENO]

The record label says "Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group" but this was before Lonnie left the band and went 'solo'.

[BowdenCable]

I think 'When the Sun Goes Down' was on the other side.

[DADRENO]

Close! That's "In The Evening". I just found my 78 copy of DMP and the reverse is "Bury My Body". I used to annoy my chargehand on the milling section by singing this. He told me to "bloodywell cheer up!" Al

[anty66]

It doesn't get more "Vintage Donegan" that this. I too lost my 78rpm. Great stuff.... memories, memories.

[DADRENO]

Got this on a 78 but it's very scratchy! Thanks for the memories and photos. Also got Rock Island line! Well done Taff!

[DADRENO]

The personnel are:- Lonnie Donegan(Gtr), Pat Halcox (Pno), Chris Barber (Bass). Royal Festival Hall.

[discjok]

Hi Dadreno, Had the first 1954 concert LP but stolen. Colyer, Barber, Donegan Welsh, Mulligan , Melly. LP not available - any copy or info. found you thru potatoes. Know the High Force, Cauldron Snout area, Sister lives in Eggleston.