Very rare video performance by british pioneers of skiffle. Taken from old Russian (!) music movie "Девушка с гитарой" ("A girl with guitar") (1958). Song written by Joe "King" Oliver in 1926, lyrics slightly modified
Trip to Moscow. 1957. Moscow World Youth Festival. Played Gorky Park The Bolshoi, Red Square, Kremlin. Couldn't believe it was all happening. Made an hour film for Moss Films. Paid in Roubles. Useless. Came back laden with Russian hats, balalaikas, dolls in doll etc, etc. Great experience. Jimmie MacGregor.
This must be from their Moscow tour in 1957.. Also with them on that gig was Peggy Seeger, Pete's sister who played with them at the Princess Louise, their original London base. When we changed trains to the wider tracks at Brest Livost,, Peggy played on the train roof to a large crowd,, She later played at the Bolshoi, and sitting in Red Square. I met Peggy recently,, and she confirmed my memories. Hylda is still doing the odd pub gig. Peggy is currently touring. with her two sons.
It's really interesting, last year there was a great program on Russian radio dedicated to the band and 1957 tour based on correspondence with Hylda, with some other songs played, it would be great if you guys could share some stories as it's quite extraordinary IMHO. This music movie was very popular at those times so in general whole generations of Soviet people had an idea how Skiffle City Ramblers look like. Don't think it was anywhere else in the world
I believe they temporarily took Peggy's passport because of that visit. Shirley Bland and I were invited to Hungary where we sung on Radio Budapest and were given a weeks holiday on Lake Balaton. No bad, Eh? (Discovered to my astonished that Radio Budapest was run by an old friend; one Charlie Coutts who used to run Ardgartan Youth Hostel where I was a frequent visitor.Jimmie Macgregor.
I'm going to start an indy skiffle band with rag-time and big band components. We're going to sing about, I don't know, the sufferage of the 20th century. That sounds good, we'll be rich after the first album.
Original by King Oliver: Hello Central give me Doctor Jazz He's got what I need, I'll say he has When the world goes wrong and I've got the blues He's the guy who makes me put on both my dancin' shoes The more I get, the more I want it soon I see Doctor Jazz in all my dreams When I'm in trouble bounds are mixed He's the guy who gets me fixed Hello central give me Doctor Jazz slightly modified by SCR
