Programme Two

Jack Elliott

In this programme we hear Jack Elliott recorded with son Pete and daughter-in-law Pat at Whitley Bay Folk club on the 5th February 1966. The recording was made by William S. Butler, one time Director of Northumbria Tourist Board. It was later in 1966 that Jack died of cancer. The first edition of the magazine 'Folk Voice North East', several years later, published the following moving accolade - 'It seemed as if he had always been there and always would be there and there was a feeling, certainly at the Birtley club, of absolute disbelief that the lively happy man who had gone off to Canada a few months before would never be seen or heard again. He personified for many people everything that the Folk Club movement seemed to be searching for and things were never going to be the same again.'

Jack Elliott was born in Birtley, Co. Durham in 1907. He began work in the pit aged 13. This was at Harraton Colliery (Cotia), where he worked all his life and always lived in Birtley. As well as singing, he played jaws harp, guitar, mouth organ and banjo. An earthy singer with a ready wit, Jack's direct delivery was to influence the approach taken by many who participated in the early folk revival.



Programme Two - Playlist

1. MC's introduction - John Doonan
2. Night Visiting Song - Pat and Pete Elliott
3. Durham Gaol - Pete Elliott
4. Monday Morning Go To School - Pat Elliott with Pete Elliott (autoharp)
5. Seeing the Pope (story) - Jack Elliott
6. Little Chance - Jack Elliott
7. Rap Her to Bank - Jack Elliott
8. Jowl Jowl - Jack Elliott
9. Rabbie and Granny - Pete Elliott
10. A Begging I Will Go - Pete Elliott
11. Mary Hamilton - Pat Elliott
12. The Old Maid in a Garret - Pat Elliott
13. Johnny Bucca - Jack Elliott
14. The Spuggy - Jack Elliott
15. Verdant Brays of Skreen- Pat and Pete Elliott
16. Blackleg Miner - Pete Elliott
17. Miners Life - Pete Elliott
18. The Baron of Brackley - Pat Elliott
19. The Blantyre Explosion - Pat Elliott
20. The Parable of the lost sheckles (story) - Jack Elliott
21. Banks of the Dee - Jack Elliott
22. Strathspey (Brochan Tanna) - Jack Elliott
23. Lassie Wi' the Yellow Coatie - Pat Elliott
24. Ophelia's Song - Pat Elliott
25. Wild Mountain Thyme - Jack Elliott/All
26. Duke of Perth - Jack Elliott