AN EXCELLENT PLAYING COPY OF THIS GROUND BREAKING SKIFFLE RECORD FROM LONNIE DONEGAN ON AN ORIGINAL UK DECCA 78

LONNIE DONEGAN and his Skiffle Group

Lonnie Donegan Real Name: Anthony Donegan Birth Date: 29th April 1931 Birth Place: Glasgow

Lonnie Donegan was widely acknowledged to be the 'King Of Skiffle'. A situation that came about more by chance than by design for Donegan did not invent the music nor was he responsible for its introduction onto the British music scene. However, he was responsible for its popularisation and it is beyond doubt that he was the greatest influence on those musical performers who would follow him in the 1960s to bring about the 'beat boom', 'the group sound' and establish Britain as an important force in popular music.

Donegan was already an accomplished banjo player with the Chris Barber jazz band when the opportunity to provide a 'skiffle' break during the band's stage performances arose. One of the more popular numbers that Lonnie performed was 'Rock Island Line'- a song that he had taken from American bluesman 'Leadbelly' and provided with a new flavour of his own making. The issue of this number as a single proved so popular that Donegan had the temerity to ask Barber for a substantial raise. As Chris did not want to turn his band into a skiffle outfit the request was refused and Lonnie set out on his own.

With his energy and dazzling skills on the fret he was already a popular musician with audiences. This, together with his extrovert originality and humour, made him an even more popular recording artist. A long series of chart successes followed which inspired other competitive groups all over the country. Skiffle was sufficiently simple and cheap enough for any youngsters to get started. These would include some of the most famous popular musicians of the era including John Lennon! His rather battered copy of this record, which I have held in my hands, is still owned by one of the original members of the Quarry men skiffle group who bought it from John when he was a bit hard up for ten bob!

ROCK ISLAND LINE

Entered the UK charts - 6/1/1956

peaked at #8 - 22 weeks on chart

 

also reached #2 in  the US Billboard charts - the first british record to do so!

[The chorus is the only part sung, the rest is spoken]

Now, this here's the story about the Rock Island line
Now, the Rock Island line is a railroad line
And it runs down into New Orleasn
And just outside of New Orleans is a big toll gate
And all the trains that go through the toll gate
Why, they gotta pay the man some money
Less of course, they got certain things on board
Then they okay, then they don't ever have to pay the man nothin'
And right now, we see a train
She's comin' on down the line
And when she got up here to the toll gate
The-a depot, he shout down to the driver
He want to know what he got on board
So he say a
What you got on board there, boy
And the driver, he sing right on back
Down to the depot agent
Tell him what he got on board
The got a way of singing

I got sheep, I got cows
I got horses, I got pigs
I got all livestock
I got all livestock
I got all livestock

And the man say, well, he say
Your alright there, boy
You don't have to pay me nothin'
Just get 'em on through
So the train go through the toll gate
And as it go through
It got up a little bit of steam
And a, a little bit of speed
And when he sees me
On the other side of the toll gate
They, the driver shout back
Down the line to the man
'Course you don't hear what he say now
But home down the Rock Island line

I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron
I got all pig iron

He said, tell you where I'm goin', boy
Goin' down the Rock Island line, yes, yes
She's a mighty good road
Oh well, the Rock Island line
She's a mighty good road
Rock Island line is the road to ride
Ya, the Rock Island line
Is a mighty good road
And if you want to ride
You gotta ride it
Like you find it
Get your ticket at the station
On the Rock Island line
Well, I may be right
I may be wrong
I know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Ya,the Rock Island line
She's a mighty good road
Rock Island line is the road to ride
Ya, the Rock Island line
she's a mighty good road
And if you want to ride
You gotta ride it
Like you find it
Get your ticket at the station
On the Rock Island line

A B C, W X Y Z
Cat's in the cupboard
But he don't see me

Now, the Rock Island line
She's a mighty good road
Rock Island line is the road to ride
Ya, the Rock Island line
She's a mighty good road
And if you want to ride
You gotta ride it
Like you find it
Get your ticket at the station
On the Rock Island line

Hallaluah, I'm safe from sin
The good Lord's comin'
For to see me again

Keep it goin'

And the Rock Island line
She's a mighty good road
Rock Island line is the road to ride
Ya, the Rock Island line
She's a mighty good road
And if you want to ride
You gotta ride it
Like you find it
Get your ticket at the station
On the Rock Island line

The Rock Island line
She's a mighty good road
Rock Island line is the road to ride
Ya, the Rock Island line
She's a mighty good road
And if you want to ride
You gotta ride it
Like you find it
Get your ticket at the station
On the Rock Island line

B SIDE:- JOHN HENRY

 

DISC DETAILS: DECCA F(J) 10647  SHELLAC 10" 78rpm

CONDITION - EX-

 

  HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO PICK UP THIS CLASSIC SKIFFLE ORIGINAL  

DON'T MISS OUT - BUY NOW!!
 

 

ANY QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS  PLEASE GET IN TOUCH TEL 01223 872 937 OR DROP ME AN EMAIL

10" 78 RPM RECORDS NEED CAREFULLY PACKING, AND I CLAIM TO HAVE THE BEST PACKAGING IN THE WORLD FOR DISPATCHING THEM!!

 

THE GREG'S GREAT'S SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A SPECIALLY DESIGNED INNER BOX MADE OUT OF 1" THICK POLYSTYRENE, WHICH THEN GOES INSIDE A DOUBLE CORREGATED STIFF OUTER CARDBOARD CARTON. THE BOXES CAN TAKE UP TO 21 RECORDS,

 

USUALLY FOR MAILING OVERSEAS, I RECOMMEND NO MORE THAN 7 IN A BOX, OTHERWISE IT GOES OVER THE AIRMAIL SMALL PACKET MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF 2Kgs WHICH CAUSES A LARGE HIKE IN POSTAL RATES.

 

I SEND OUT ON AVERAGE ABOUT 30 PARCELS A WEEK AND DISPATCH IS NORMALLY DONE ONCE A WEEK - SO IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR RECORD WITHIN A WEEK IN THE UK, PLEASE DON'T BE TOO SURPRISED!! 

 

IF YOU REALLY HAVE AN URGENT REQUIREMENT FOR THE RECORD - BIRTHDAY PRESENT, WEDDING, FUNERAL etc PLEASE TELL ME and I WILL DO MY BEST TO GET IT OUT FOR YOU QUICKLY.

 

IF A RECORD ARRIVES CRACKED OR BROKEN DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS WITH THIS FANTASTIC PACKAGING I WILL REFUND THE MONEY IN FULL. - JUST SEND ME A QUICK SCAN - IF IT IS A VERY RARE RECORD I MAY ASK YOU TO SEND IT BACK OTHERWISE IT WILL BE YOURS TO KEEP OR DISPOSE OF.

Pay instantly with your debit or credit card through PayPal.

 

 

Powered by
Powered by