Have you ever googled yourself? It’s amazing what you find. Fortunately I didn't find out that I was wanted in France for toll avoidance, or by the fashion police for crimes against style, but I did find out that I am available on Amazon, iTunes, eBay and youtube!
So in honour of the season, my giveaway to you is a secret from my dim and distant past. (Sorry - no freebies here!)
Back in 1972, in the days of cheesecloth shirts, batak print skirts and afghan coats that smelt so bad they would walk home on their own if you let them, a friend of mine asked me to sing in his take on the nativity at the local methodist church. I loved singing, was okay at it and was cast as Mary for the night. The following January, the same friend asked if I wanted to join his folk band. He was a keen song writer, drawing his inspiration largely from local legends and myths and wanted to move away from purely solo work at local folk clubs. The proposed band would be a trio - me singing, with Ken and another musician, Paul. Now Paul just happened to be drop dead gorgeous, so it would have been positively rude of me not to join!
 |
| Ah, the seventies! |
As an almost seventeen year old, studying for A levels, this was the perfect escape. We would practise at Paul’s house (!) once a week, and perform at our local folk club each Friday. Although I loved working on new songs (not just because it was at Paul’s house) and developing our ‘sound’, I never really felt comfortable in the spotlight of performing. I couldn't quite bring myself to look the audience in the eye, and seemed to spend all my time looking at my knees, with my long hair curtaining me from view. Nevertheless, I had a great time, making good friends in the process.
Our band, Midwinter, became quite well known locally, and, thinking back, I’m not sure how I got my school work done - we seemed to be always off gigging somewhere, and would also travel around in Ken’s old Humber car, seeking out old instruments to use on new tracks. We even made a demo tape at a local studio. Ken funded this himself (he was the only one of us in gainful employment)and we spent several hours recording our favourite songs, drafting in friends as erstwhile session musicians.
As with all good things, my time in Midwinter had to come to an end when, in 1974, I went off to study in Liverpool. I took part in an emotional farewell gig, and that, as they say, was that.
Or so I thought. I’d kept in touch with Ken over the years, largely through Christmas cards, but in 1993 he rang me out of the blue. By this time I’d almost forgotten I’d ever been in a band. It was consigned to the past with all the other daft things I’d got up to (I’m not going to list them - you’re only getting one secret!) Ken told me that he had sold our tape to some nerdy folk buff who had digitally remastered it (I never felt a thing) and released it on CD. It had had some minor success, and we were ‘big in Japan’ and Norway!
Unfortunately, there was no money coming my way, but I did get several copies with that year’s Christmas card to give to my family! I was sort of proud, but also vaguely embarrassed. Just as I had been uncomfortable performing, I was equally uncomfortable hearing myself sing, so the CD was consigned to the shelf and, again, I pushed it out of my mind.
Christmasses came and went, and each year Ken would send me a clipping from a random folk magazine, giving reviews of our recording - all of them shockingly complimentary. I also had the extraordinary experience of having to visit Ken so that I could sign old posters of the band to send to our German fan club!
Last year, I received a new vinyl pressing of our album with my Christmas card, and it was around this time that my daughter discovered that she could stream Midwinter on iTunes. She then took great delight in doing so at every available opportunity, playing our ancient music to her friends and family - we even provided the sound track for her New Year’s Party last year!
Last year, I received a new vinyl pressing of our album with my Christmas card, and it was around this time that my daughter discovered that she could stream Midwinter on iTunes. She then took great delight in doing so at every available opportunity, playing our ancient music to her friends and family - we even provided the sound track for her New Year’s Party last year!
That was when I googled myself. People actually made nice comments about my voice and our music, bemoaning the fact that we only made one album! Although I continue to cringe when I think about it, if I can steal myself to listen to a little bit, I suppose it isn’t too bad - in an ‘acid folk’ seventies kind of way. For years I have avoided telling friends and colleagues that I was in a band called Midwinter, but I suppose I am sharing my secret now because, underneath it all, I’m quite chuffed that Amazon actually sells an album of me singing, and that people seem to be willing to pay good money for it! Have a listen, see what you think - it’s my gift to you this Christmas! I hope it doesn’t make your ears bleed!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment