Exactly 50 years on. The recording was made on a rainy day in Manchester (UK) on 7th May 1964. There is dispute about exactly where it was filmed, but TV producer Johnny Hamp says it was on Wilbraham Road, Chorlton Cum Hardey in South Manchester. The station was closed around 1959, but still had freight trains rolling through. I think it was closed permanently in 1967 and was knocked down. The site was used as a cycle way, with Safeway opening a store next to it (this is now a Morrisons). Over the last year or so, tracks have been re-layed and it is now part of Manchester's Metrolink Tram Station.
Around 11 minutes in, you can hear the rain battering down. Manchester has a reputation of being a rainy city (and here's proof). This lead to Sister Rosetta Tharpe to change the song originally meant for the programme to "Didn't It Rain". Hence the hilarity at the start of the song :-)
Hi mlw61 - can I add to your observations? The station was indeed called Wilbraham Road and did close in 1958 although you are quite right that trains were still running down that line including through passenger trains. Having a TV show there that evening would have been rather disruptive and they would have had to have diverted trains off that line. As it was a Thursday, it must have been extra disruptive. Just one detail: you have got the station confused wit Chorlton-cum-Hardy which is the one next to Morrisons. That one did close in 1967 although at Chorlton Junction (which is where St. Werberghs Road tram stop is), if you turned left then the next station was indeed Wilbraham Road. What would I give to have been there on that night!
The track list is: Muddy Waters: “Blow Wind Blow” Cousin Joe: “Chicken a la Blues” Cousin Joe: “Railroad Porter Blues” Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “Didn’t It Rain” Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “Trouble in Mind” Muddy Waters: “You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had” Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: “Talking Harmonica Blues” Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: “Rambler’s Blues” medley Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: “Walk On” Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”
James Taylor I do not have my DVD just now, to check that they're the exact same excerpts, but the footages from this 1964 "Blues and Gospel Caravan" were issued as bonus tracks in the American Folk Blues Festival DVD called "The British Tours".
Whoever thought this up and got it to happen deserves a medal.
Can you imagine any tv station showing something like this, in these days? I know I can't. Absolutely brilliant!
I've seen excerpts before, but it is great to see the whole program - thanks for posting! :-)
Ms. de Ronde,
Thanks for sharing this... I've seen many clips from this special and was always wondering about it.
James Calender glad you enjoy it.
Exactly 50 years on. The recording was made on a rainy day in Manchester (UK) on 7th May 1964. There is dispute about exactly where it was filmed, but TV producer Johnny Hamp says it was on Wilbraham Road, Chorlton Cum Hardey in South Manchester. The station was closed around 1959, but still had freight trains rolling through. I think it was closed permanently in 1967 and was knocked down. The site was used as a cycle way, with Safeway opening a store next to it (this is now a Morrisons). Over the last year or so, tracks have been re-layed and it is now part of Manchester's Metrolink Tram Station.
Around 11 minutes in, you can hear the rain battering down. Manchester has a reputation of being a rainy city (and here's proof). This lead to Sister Rosetta Tharpe to change the song originally meant for the programme to "Didn't It Rain". Hence the hilarity at the start of the song :-)
Hi mlw61 - can I add to your observations? The station was indeed called Wilbraham Road and did close in 1958 although you are quite right that trains were still running down that line including through passenger trains. Having a TV show there that evening would have been rather disruptive and they would have had to have diverted trains off that line. As it was a Thursday, it must have been extra disruptive.
Just one detail: you have got the station confused wit Chorlton-cum-Hardy which is the one next to Morrisons. That one did close in 1967 although at Chorlton Junction (which is where St. Werberghs Road tram stop is), if you turned left then the next station was indeed Wilbraham Road.
What would I give to have been there on that night!
@@wirksworthsrailway See here: cdn8.openculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Blues-and-Gospel-Train-.jpg
Thanks Edith, was searching for this ...*!
The track list is:
Muddy Waters: “Blow Wind Blow”
Cousin Joe: “Chicken a la Blues”
Cousin Joe: “Railroad Porter Blues”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “Didn’t It Rain”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “Trouble in Mind”
Muddy Waters: “You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had”
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: “Talking Harmonica Blues”
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: “Rambler’s Blues” medley
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: “Walk On”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”
the opening song is Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee though?
Never before and after. Real deal
Doesn't get any better.
Thanks for this!! I have the "Reelin' in the Years" DVD of this concert, but the DVD does not include Cousin Joe's set. What a loss.
Por Dios ! Que buen recital !
Goat.
Anyone got a track list for this?
Onde consigo o audio desse vídeo para baixar?
does anyone know where to get a copy of this?
James Taylor I do not have my DVD just now, to check that they're the exact same excerpts, but the footages from this 1964 "Blues and Gospel Caravan" were issued as bonus tracks in the American Folk Blues Festival DVD called "The British Tours".