Friends of Mine - Beggars Mantle (Harvey Andrews)

1986 0722 This song was a favourite in Beggars Mantle live appearances and recorded on their long unavailable album, "Home That I Love". This clip is from a session of songs recorded as "inserts" for the Border TV "Look Around" news magazine programme on 22nd July 1986. They're accompanied here on the Bass Guitar by Lorenz Cairns.

Beggars Mantle were a folk duo from Fife, working between 1983 and 1989 when Bruce Davies and Bill McArthur agreed to end their partnership. During their career, they did much TV work for STV, Grampian and Border. The broke up amicably at the end of 1989, Bruce to pursue a solo career and Bill to form Crann Tara, which he performed with until his death in 2002.

www.brucedavies.com

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Music

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• www.brucedavies.com
• Friends of Mine
• Beggars Mantle
• Harvey Andrews
• Border TV
• Bill McArthur
• Bruce Davies

[skipy936]

Greatest singer / songwriter this country ever had. Sadly so few of us know of his work.

[beggarsmantle]

@skipy936 Thanks for your comment. I totally agree with you. Ray Charles said something many years ago, referring to himself - "I never wanted to be famous...just great". It could easily apply to Harvey, I know that he is more interested in doing his job/craft well than in in being famous for it. I guess it's up to guys like us to make his name and songs more widely known.

[thebadguitarist]

Way back in early 1973 I recorded this song off the OGWT onto my little cassette recorder. The "high quality" tape snapped a few weeks later and I haven't heard it since. But I remembered how fine a song it was. It spawned a lifelong interest in the music of Harvey Andrews.

This is a great version, beautifully played and sung. Instantly a favourite with me. I'd never heard of Beggars Mantle before today but the videos I've been watching are superb and I've enjoyed them very much.

[beggarsmantle]

Wow, thanks for such a glowing comment. Harvey was a hero of mine for a long time and we are now good friends and have shared the stage and recorded together and written a couple of songs. He's one of the finest and most passionate songwriters the UK has ever produced; it's an honour to know him as a friend. I was involved with him on his albums, "The Journey" and "The Gift". All the best, Bruce

[MACHAWK123]

I stand before you quite correctly assualted. You are indeed totally right that if this song introduced anyone to Harvey's work that would in itself make your version more than worthwhile.

[beggarsmantle]

My response was never meant as an assault. It's obvious that you are a passionate supporter of him and his music , just as I am. If you're in the Midlands at the end of November this year, you might like to come and see us perform together.

[MusikHHClip]

@poorhaydon : "Why MY song?" This Song is from Harvey Andrews!

[SuperJsongs]

@skipy936 Er ever heard of Jon Martyn,Ralph McTell,Roy Harper,Al Stewart,Ray Davies.THE BEATLES, or indeed anyone other than a guy who managed to make a living as a folk singer.

[MACHAWK123]

Apologies, but I live in Leeds and don't use the motorised chariot so I'm afraid I'll miss your Midlands gig. It's a brave (and honest) man who can admit when he's cocked up and as such I do so, I had my condescending/patronising hat on and am more than old enough to (should) know better. Keep gigging.

[beggarsmantle]

A case of, "you can't please all the people all the time" and I respect your opinion, even if I disagree with it. I'm thankful that Harvey Andrews (the writer) was delighted with it as were a few thousand others in the 1980s who bought our album or heard us perform and for whom this was a favourite song. I'm also glad that we were able to introduce many to the work of such a great writer, just as The Batchelors did for many who, at the time, would never have heard of Simon & Garfunkel.