Singabout - Journal of Australian Folksong, Volume 1, 1956

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Singabout 1(1), Summer 1956

earlier article on this issue
http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/singabout-vol-1-no-1-february-1956.html

The Bush Music Club was founded in October 1954 & published the first issue of Singabout in first week in January 1956. This issue included notice of BMC's First Annual Conference on Saturday 11th February at the International Seaman's Club. 

The final issue published was Vol. 6, no. 2, 1967. 

Volume 6 no. 3 was prepared but never printed and BMC then relied on the Newsletter until Mulga Wire started in 1977.

My copy belonged to a newcomer to BMC - J A Forbes? - who noted the meeting details on the cover (Trades Hall, Room 34A @ 8 o'clock)

According to a musician, he was also learning the concertina as the notation on the back cover shows.  

Thanks to early member Frank Maher for allowing issues 2, 3 & 4 to be borrowed & scanned.

extract from Newsletter 1(1), October 1955

Back cover - 15 months after it's foundation BMC had an enviable list of publications.

New Songs 

Cane Killed Abel by Merv Lilley    Music: Chris Kempster

Lament for the Gordons by David Martin     Music: John Arcott

The Rueful Rabbit words & music by Stan Walkefield

The Farmer up a Tree by Merv Lilley (tune Jimmy Riddle)

 Swish Goes the Crane by a WA Wharfy, Victor Williams

West of the Blue Mountains - anon contribution  (tune Galway Bay)

We Gave A Fair Go by Merv Lilley, another version of his popular Ho - Give a Go.

It's Lovely Down the Pit My Lad by Mick Lawson   Music: John Arcott

Wally the Weatherman by Wally Goodbody set to an old bush tune

Bound for Darling Harbour by Merv Lilley (music included) 

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Collected Songs

Bullockies' Ball

The Old Bullock Dray  (words remembered by Stan Wakefield from his youth)

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Best Foot Forward

The Circassian Circle

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Article

Singing Folk Songs by E. Lancaster, the first mention of singing in unison vs. singing in harmony. See a reader's response in Vol 1(2)

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Singabout 1(2) Autumn 1956 

 

New Songs

The Stranger by John Manifold

The Tricky Sixpence by Dick Hackett  (tune - The Worried Man Blues)

Eight Bells by Merv Lilly   (tune - Ring the Bell, watchman)

The Cornpicker's Lament  Words; John Meredith    Air - Lady Munro

(note)  Lady Munro is an unprintable ballad recently collected from a shearer to the tune of a variant of Roisin the Beaux.
A Man of the Earth by Jock Graham  Music by John Arcott
The Rabbiter by Stan Wakefield
The Station Houseboy by Ron Spain - music by Ron's 11-year old son Stephen Spain
Victory at Bowen by Ross Tracie, music John Arcott

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Collected Songs

The Overlander  reproduction of Bandicoot Ballad, no. 12.

The Hut That's upside Down - collected by John Meredith

Australia's on the Wallaby (collected in various locations)

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Best Foot Forward

The Armatree Brown Jug Polka
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From the Mailbag

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Singabout 1(3) Winter 1956

  

NEW SONGS
Bobby the Rep by Shirley Fletcher

Myxo by Ron Spain    Music; Beren Spain

Songs of Australia A song for children by Stan Wakefield

Shark Song by W J (Jim) Mann    Music: Jennifer Mann

Ameralia by W J Mann    Music: Jennifer Mann
The Motor Car A New song in the calypso style by J. Scott

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Collected Songs 
 Look out below! collected from Mrs Fielding of Dripstone, NSW
Young Les Darcy collected from Mr Arthur Buchanan of Maroubra, NSW
The Crocodile - collected from Mr Heather, Hurstville, NSW
Goorianawa - collected from Mr Croydon "Duke" Tritton of Gulgong, NSW.

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Best Foot Forward

Four Sisters' Barn Dance

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Singabout 1(4) Winter 1956

New  Songs

The Bishop and the Bullocky words & music by Gloria Fowler

Bogged at Little Billabong by Graham Ascott & John Meredith (tune Lazy Harry's)

The Rona's Last Trip by Merv Lilley   Music: John Arcott

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Collected Songs
 The Maid of Fainey - collected from Mrs Sally Sloane, Teralba NSW
The Kelly Gang - collected from Mr Tom Gibbons, Gulgong, NSW
Lord, Bless Charlie Mopps - collected by Redd Sullivan, 
The Union Boy - collected from Mr Bill Coughlin, Gulgong, NSW

 The Darby Ram - collected from Mr Jack Jackman, Parramatta NSW

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Best Foot Forward
Jacaranda Dance 


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Silvia Salisbury & Chris Kempster
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