Sylvia Tyson: "Salty Dog Blues" (1963)

Sylvia Tyson sings "Salty Dog Blues" on "Hootenanny," November 9, 1963, accompanied by Ian and several others. This video was created by marrying a poor-quality VHS tape to an audio tape of the original 1963 broadcast.

There was a minor controversy surrounding this number. Nat Hentoff, in a scathing article about the TV series, wrote: "Only on 'Hootenanny' have I seen Sylvia of Ian & Sylvia break into a contrived and self-conscious shimmy which had nothing to do with the piece she was singing but was apparently motivated by the dictum that 'you have to MOVE when you're on television, baby.'" Maybe it's the poor video quality, but I don't see any evidence of a "shimmy" on Sylvia's part. You be the judge.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Ian & Sylvia
• Sylvia Tyson
• Salty Dog Blues
• folk music
• Hootenanny
• Nat Hentoff

[sensei48]

Several others - ok, well, through the grainy video we can make out at least the following: immediately after Ian Tyson begins, the next guitarist you see is Scott MacKenzie, later famous for "San Francisco"; next on 12, Bob Gibson, greatest of the pop-folk soloists; 2nd banjoist is Dick Weissman of the Journeymen, which also included MacK and the last banjoist, John Phillips, later Mamas and Papas leader. Only time I've ever seen JP on banjo.

[MikeH0714]

@sensei48: JP isn't there. Going down the line, it's Ian Tyson (6 string), Scott MacKenzie (6 string), Bob Gibson (12-string), Ian & Sylvia's guitarist (John Herald?) (banjo), Dick Weissman (banjo) and the final guy is the banjo player for The Wanderers Three, who were also on the show (they and the Journeymen sang the "Hootenanny Saturday Night" theme at the show's opening). On bass is "Hootenanny's" house bassist Norman Keenan.

[oatstao]

great clip, thanks for sharing. Someone on rhythm is off in the first 10 seconds.. nerves or experience?

[sensei48]

@MikeH0714 - Ooops - I neglected to thank you for the correction. Nice to know who's there.

[lethe51]

neat!

[Dunitlucky]

Wow she sings this song the very best.... just great!

[TruegrassBoy]

Pretty cute - I like it!

[corkpopfrance]

facial intention to shimmy at 1:14. So very thoughtful of Silvia to retain.

[haddockpaddock]

Nope, I see no shimmy. I'd like to see any more bits from the show, though, if you'd care to upload 'em! ;-)