MY APOLOGIES, BUT THIS SITE WILL CLOSE BEFORE AUTUMN 09 DUE TO ENDING OF ALL GEOCITIES SITES BY YAHOO. I SHOULD HAVE SET UP ELSEWHERE BY THEN, SO PLEASE SEARCH FOR 'HAINES ROGAN' TO LOCATE THE NEW SITE.
The Josh Rogan Collection - 2009 ( and final ) Revised Edition
In order to provide better value, I have combined my shorter works into one book. These are : The Old Man's Trousers - Words and Music - The Happy Harold Stories - The Marble. Although each book is in free ebook format - see the links to each further down the page - the printed book is now available from Amazon.com ( USA ), click on the link immediately below.
The Josh Rogan Collection - The Old Man's Trousers - A pair of irradiated red striped ceremonial army trousers cause havoc in the Wiltshire countryside
The Josh Rogan Collection - Words and Music - A selection of Poems and Verses by Josh Rogan, and from February 2009, additional material by Alexandra Haines
Final 2009 Revised Edition ( and final ) 2009 Edition ) Now back on sale in printed form, but, on Amazon.com ( USA ) only. Click on the link below the cover image.
One to watch - Elbow Jane - great up and coming Wirral / Liverpool contemporary folk band
Please do take time out to learn about this great new-ish Folk outfit; they are the real deal. I heard about them via their percussionist and friend and former work colleague - Steve Finnigan. He phoned me to ask would I like to listen to their session on Stan Ambrose's Folk Scene on Radio Merseyside. I am glad I did tune in, as they are absolutely brilliant. You would think you were listening to a top of the bill international outfit, as their songs, singing and musicianship and the sound, are all far superior to that of most local bands in their comfort zone of say, the Parrot, on a wet Tuesday night in November. But - don't take my word for it - listen to the short previews on their own site, and then click on the Youtube link, you will soon see what I mean. To the lads - hit it big, fellas, you deserve it.
One to watch - The Black Diamonds - Reading based but Scouse led Skiffle and MOR outfit
If Folk and Skiffle bands are like local buses, then I am due a third phone call or email very quickly, as this also came out of the blue just before Stevie rang me, with an odd cosmic tie up.
Ian Lindsey is a good Thornton lad, fellow member of the church group I was in, and an excellent tenor, and equally excellent all round musician, and of course - and no doubt due to his Liverpool-Irish heritage, a damn good song writer and story teller. He is now based in Reading and is an integral part of a band that have achieved cult status and very quickly - The Black Diamonds. They provide a comprehensive night's entertainment, centering on skiffle, but taking on board (as well as the wash board!), most forms of popular music to make sure all go home happy. They are taking on an increasing number of bookings around the UK and the world, have appeared on TV a few times, and are sure to break through into the wider consciousness soon. And - rather novel - Ian, as well as Steve from Elbow Jane - were once in the same rock'n'roll /rockabilly outfit in Liverpool in the early 1990s. Cannot recall their name, but it was based on the Spectre style back up vocals, the type you hear from four or five lads around street corner fires in Philly etc, Doo wop de doo dah or something. (Steve / Ian - one of you let me know what it actually was! Ta) For fans of the musical Imagine, then Ian played the part of Paul in the 90s version with Andrew Schofield as John. To hear this great outfit, click on the links below.
Centenary of Scouting - Baden Powell - Ralph Reader - 1929 Jamboree film - Promotional Films from the W.O.S.M - Scouting for Boys - Gang Show Theme - Centenary Prayer - Bethlehem Peace Prayer
Stanley Holloway - Monologues and much more Click Here
The one and only Hank ' Luke the Drifter ' Williams Hank Williams
The Beatles
Seeing as I am from Liverpool, and seeing as I am a big Beatles fan, it was always inevitable that there would be several pages dedicated to them on here. See if you agree with me on my choices for their best tracks; on who is / was the 5th Beatle.
Here is the first of 2 Liverpool musicians who have kindly allowed me to promote and sell their wares on my online store at Lulu.com. Gerry Jones is a musician, singer and folk historian of many years' standing. As well as teaming up with other musicians in and around Merseyside to provide the music for dances and other celebrations, Gerry has also released an album of Liverpool folk songs, firstly as a prompter to provide the full lyrics to songs people could not quite remember, but then, after realising people were beginning to enquire about the CD more than he had envisaged, Gerry released it commercially, and is now sold all over Merseyside. Also, for the last 3 years or so, it has also sold steadily worldwide, as Gerry now has a POD outlet via my store on Lulu.com.
Please click on the various links to find out more: Please do take on board that from November 2008. the current economic climate has resulted in Lulu.com's overseas shipping /postal rates increasing very sharply indeed. The CD available from Lulu is manufactured in the USA, so instead, maybe go to Gerry Jones' own site to order from him directly. Of course there is still the download from Lulu.com; it is cheaper and you get it straight away.
Liverpool Lyrics - CD $15.00 US Dollars Plus P and P
Link to Gerry's Own site Gerry Jones Liverpool Lyrics Site and More
Another thing of interest about 'Uncle Gerry' - he is the inspiration behind the Liverpool Tart - the top selling cake in all of the branches of North Merseyside bakers and confectioners - Satterthwaites. Gerry unearthed an old Liverpool recipe, came up with the idea of adding a Liver Bird / Byrd icing design to the top of the tart, which then morphed ( due to cost implications ) into a heart; this was Satty's own take on the matter, rather cheekily but fondly celebrating Liverpool's very own Tarts with Hearts. More importantly, they are a nice snack, so do indulge next time you pass one of their shops. Tell 'em Uncle Gerry sent you - for the good stuff.
Liverpool's Freddie Baker - 'Closing of the Day USA' and more
Freddie is another great son of Liverpool; his musical heritage has been more mainstream than Gerry Jones', firmly steeped in the Liverpool Pop / Country / Easy Listening community - a veritable Scouse Balladeer. As Freddie's wares come in differing formats, it has worked best to give him his own separate page here, so just click on the link, and then peruse what he has to offer and then click on the links for more information.
Another great son of Liverpool now, John the Mersey Mouth Williams. Click on the link to go to John's great site where he waxes lyrical on life - his own and many others - and more, in Liverpool this last half century or so. I am sure that once you have scoured his site you will want to buy his book Liverpool Tales from the Mersey Mouth which has sold steadily in Liverpool and around the world for some years now. You may well find you do not agree with at least some of John's opinions / takes on life, I don't myself; but - you know he is being honest and has to be very well respected for that.
A 2 part tale - A Problem for Yam-Yam Gubbins. A green-grocer's new waistcoat not only talks, it won't shut up. What's more, his best friend's prize porker, after a lightening bolt hit the pig-sty, does nothing but entertain the rest of the farm animals with a comedy song and dance routine - incessantly. Something has to be done, but what? Find out, in early 09, maybe sooner.
Part 1 - The Critical Waistcoat of Yam-Yam Gubbins
Part 2 - Farmer Macarthur's Perky Porker
Plus - The Bubble Bringer. A naive mild-mannered mechanic gives up his job and his girlfriend, to sell soapy-bubbly stuff as part of a seemingly brilliant Pyramid Sales scheme. Or should that be scam? Again, find out in early 09.
Bobo of the Yard. The back yard that is. PC Bobo is a stuffed toy, but like all stuffed toys, comes to life when no-one is looking. Bobo finds out his owner is about to be conned out of his house and his livelihood, Bobo soon puts a plan into action, what this plan is exactly, you won't find out until mid 09.
Work in Progress / Rough draft - John Quicksilver and the Shattercane Murders ( or By Royal Appointment )Click Here
In 2005, Angel Editing opened for business, after the Director's Mark and Angela spotted a gap, a need really, in the market for quality assistance for the self publisher. Millions want to publish their works, whether fiction or academic, or even if it's a simple photo book to show Granny. But, many are hampered by the need to get help with anything from formatting the files to what is needed, or even the very basics, such as ' how do you spell ...?' or ' Should there be a comma or an ellipse there do you think?' This is where Angel Editing come in, they can help you do all this and more. Their natural territory is Lulu.com where they are an official service provider for members, but, the expansion across the 'net now see them geared up to helping anyone with a vent for seeing their work in print, whether members of Lulu.com or not. If you feel that novel is about to burst out of you but has nowhere to go, then, just click on the link below; you can make an initial enquiry, see what they can offer you, then if you are not sure, no problem, walk away, but I suspect this will not be the case once you have made that initial enquiry. Go on, give 'em a go, you won't regret it.
Firstly, one thing I forgot to mention earlier, Gerry and the Minesweepers would never have existed at all if it were not for the folk choir based at St. William of York's Church, the Speakeasy, we were all in it. To cut a long story short, we were extant, Helen Extant even, as it were, from 1976 to 1989, and around our Swan Song era, we seemed to be asked to do a lot of folky shows in and around Merseyside. These 2 tracks opened and closed a show in Mawdeseley Village Hall in 1988. And no, they were not the first 2 songs of the evening!
