Lyr Req: Blue Sunset (Graeme Miles)

Subject: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: GUEST,Novice
Date: 23 May 04 - 02:41 PM

"And the smoke from the tall factory chimneys, turns orange, violet and grey......down the river and along the amber Tees bay"

These are the lyrics I remember - the song is about the river Tees. Who knows all the lyrics? And can you share them with me please -...and the tune (which I remember part of, but get stuck at the same place each time)

Many thanks
Julie

PS Mick if you're browsing again, I'll take you up on your kind offer of help on older Middlesbrough songs sometime soon. It's good to make contact with another old 'exile' - I came to London in 1980 so I've been away a while too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: nutty
Date: 23 May 04 - 02:50 PM

The song is called "Blue Sunset" and was written by Graeme Miles.

It starts .....
In summer time the blue sunset fills the grey northern sky

I do have all the words but it may take me some time to find them so Mick ...please post if you know the song.

If I can't find my words I'll get in touch with Graeme.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 23 May 04 - 04:33 PM

I've got three slightly different versions of it, in fact. There's one in an old folder of mine with words given to me by a Teesside friend back in the sixties. I've got the version The Fettlers do on Travelling The Tees. And I've also got a version by Graeme himself on a tape of his industrial songs with him talking about the songs as he sings them (There are 2 tapes in fact with some 40 or so of his songs). I'm just cleaning up that version on disk at the moment (the tapes are incredibly noisy - Graeme at home I think), then I'll post the versions.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: fiddler
Date: 23 May 04 - 04:44 PM

I've had Travelling the Tees put on to CD and MP3 if you hav ebroadband I don't think I'd be breaking any copyright or costing anyone money if I put it up on a web site!

PM me if you want it!

Andy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: nutty
Date: 23 May 04 - 04:57 PM

Mick & Fiddler

I also have some tapes of Graeme singing at home. I'd be interested in doing a swap ... I know Graeme did a large number of these and distributed them to friends in the 60's and 70's.

Subject: Lyr Add: BLUE SUNSET (Graeme Miles)
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 23 May 04 - 05:04 PM

Here are the versions I have. Graeme does revise songs, so it's possible all three were at some time or other a correct version.

Julie - if you're interested in Graeme's songs, you might be interested in his songbook. See nutty's post for details in Graeme Miles - Songbook Launch

Mick

---

BLUE SUNSET
(Graeme Miles)

In Summertime the blue sunset fills the green-coloured sky.
And over the factory rooftops yellow seagulls fly high.
And the smoke from the tall factory chimneys turns orange, violet and grey
And drifts away down the river, down the amber Tees way.

What makes the blue Summer sunset? What turns the sky into green?
What turns the seagulls to yellow, when white is what they should be?
And the smoke from the tall factory chimneys, what turns it violet and grey
As it drifts away down the river, down the amber Tees Bay?

I know the blue coloured sunset is caused by the sulphurous fumes
And shines on the plumes of the seagulls to give them their yellowish hue.
And the smoke from the tall factory chimneys turns purple and violet and grey.
And drifts away down the river reflecting in the amber Tees way.

Source: Graeme Miles tape

Graeme's introduction says: "...Another song of that period is this piece called Blue Sunset. Again it was written whilst I was on the river and tells of one of the strange sunsets that we invariably get on Teesside in the Summer when the pollution from the chemical industries, particularly the chemical industry, fills the sky with all sorts of peculiar colours and the sun actually turns blue on occasions." From 1961

---

BLUE SUNSET
(Graeme Miles)

In Summertime the blue sunset fills a grey Northern sky.
Across the grime-covered rooftops the yellow seagulls do fly.
And the grime from the tall factory chimneys turns orange, violet and grey
As it moves away down the river and along the amber Tees Bay.

Now what makes the blue Summer sunset? What turns a Northern sky green?
What turns the seagulls to yellow, when white is what they should be?
And the smoke from the tall factory chimneys, O, why is it not oily black
As it rolls away down the river from the top of the tall chimney stacks?

Chorus:
And the grime from the tall factory chimneys turns orange, violet and grey
As it moves away down the river along the amber Tees Bay.

Now I know the blue Summer sunset is caused by factory fumes
That fill the sky full of sulphur and turn it greenish from blue.
And the light shines on the birds flying and gives them their yellowy sheen
And the smoke turns orange and violet and reflects in the Tees' muddy stream. Chorus

In Summertime the blue sunset fills a grey Northern sky.
Across the grime-covered rooftops the yellow seagulls do fly.
And the grime from the tall factory chimneys turns orange, violet and grey
As it moves away down the river and along the amber Tees Bay. Chorus

Source: The Teesside Fettlers - LP - Travelling The Tees 1975

Notes to the LP say: "Industry is not all 'muck, smog and money'. The discerning eye can find much that is appealing and even beautiful. This song deals with the peculiar atmospheric effects that sometimes result when the smoke and sunlight combine."

---

BLUE SUNSET
(Graeme Miles)

In Summertime the blue sunset fills the green-coloured sky.
Above the grime-covered rooftops the yellow seagulls gly high.
And the smoke from the tall factory chimneys turns orange, violet and grey
As it moves away down the river along the amber Tees way.

Chorus:
And the smoke from the tall factory chimneys turns orange, violet and grey
As it moves away down the river along the amber Tees way.

What makes the blue Summer sunset? Why is the glowing sky green?
What turns the seagulls to yellow, when white is what they should be?
And that smoke that is violet and orange, why is it not coaly black
As it pours away down the river from the top of the tall chimney stacks?

I know that the blue Summer sunset is caused by factory fumes
That fill the sky full of sulphur and turn it greenish from blue.
The light shines on the birds flying and gives them their yellow sheen
And the smoke turns to orange and violet and reflects in the Tees' muddy stream.

Source: One of my song folders, originally from a friend of mine in the mid 60s.

Note that the chorus is always as above - it's not a repeat of the last 2 lines of
each verse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 23 May 04 - 05:06 PM

I forgot to say I'll put the tune up when I've got time.

nutty - I'll put the list of song titles up here later and you can see if you've got the same tape!

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: GUEST,Novice
Date: 23 May 04 - 06:24 PM

Fiddler (Andy) it'd be great to get a copy of 'Travelling the Tees' if you don't mind. I have broadband and can download it if you send the url to julieDOTjohnstonATzenDOTcoDOTuk

As my login suggests, I'm new to this forum so I appologise if I've got the rules wrong here by suggesting you send me a link or the file direct. No offence meant.

I feel dead lucky to find such a friendly and responsive community.

Julie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: nutty
Date: 23 May 04 - 06:30 PM

Mick .....my words are yet one more version ..... almost the same as your versions but with slight differences like "grey northern sky" in the first line. I'll post them when I find them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: C-flat
Date: 24 May 04 - 02:36 AM

Does anyone know if any of these recordings are still available? Being resident in the 'boro I would be very interested to hear some of his work.
C-flat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 24 May 04 - 03:38 AM

C-flat get yourself into action - Thursday nights Wolvuiston Village - THE WELLINGTON FOLK CLUB run by the WILSON FAMILY they`ll tell you whatyever you want to know and you`ll get a warm welcome provided you meet them with a smile !!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: GUEST,BETSY
Date: 24 May 04 - 03:43 AM

Fiddler - Can you get in touch with me - we both might benefit in kind. I`m not much good using this -when you say PM me I don`t know how to - I`ve tried a few things . Cheers

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: nutty
Date: 24 May 04 - 03:57 AM

Betsy .... you need to become a Mudcat member in order to take advantage of the personal message (PM) facility. Just click on Membership at the top of the page and register .... it costs nothing and you can use Mudchat as well (found by clicking the drop down quick links).
Martyn Wyndham-Read has also recorded a wide range of Graeme's songs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 24 May 04 - 05:45 AM

This brings back memories of the late 60s for me, when I spent nearly two years on contract to ICI Billingham - who produced most of the pollution responsible for the colour effects. Ron Angel (of the Fettlers) worked at ICI as well and described the other side of the pollution in his Chemical Process Worker's Song.

I was living on the Low Grange estate near Wolviston village (I had a Wolviston phone No) and one of my regular pubs was "The Wellington" where I often sang and even started a session.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: C-flat
Date: 24 May 04 - 06:05 AM

Thanks Betsy, I'm gigging myself in Saltburn this Thursday, so that's out, but I'll try to get to the Wellington in the next couple of weeks.
C-flat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: GUEST
Date: 24 May 04 - 06:52 AM

Hiya Nutty,
I`ve joined once but maybe it`s because I used my works Email address and I work abroad - so I`ll go "Through It "again using my home Email and `cos I`m writing from home , maybe I can sort it out .

C- Flat - that`s the problem with Teesside - they`ve got Redcar ( Cutty Wren) Saltburn and Wolviston on Thursdays nights so,it`s easy to get spoilt for choice

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: fiddler
Date: 26 May 04 - 06:30 PM

Have a quick look on this site!
I can add smoe more later
Ring of Iron being one.

Andy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: C-flat
Date: 27 May 04 - 02:29 AM

Thankyou fiddler, that's brilliant!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: fiddler
Date: 27 May 04 - 05:36 AM

I'll put more up next time I get a chance! promise

Nutty,

Just doing some re reads,

I could praps get the tapes converted to CD!

I recently lost track of a tape of the old EFDSS festival illegally taken in the Albert Hall in 1974 (or was it 5)

Yes we must talk and get it sorted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: fiddler
Date: 27 May 04 - 07:23 PM

2 more up there now

Enjoy

Andy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: Betsy
Date: 28 May 04 - 05:35 AM

Hi Fiddler - nothing sinister about my message on the Date: 24 May 04 - 03:43 re your idea about CD and MP3. It`s just that I wrote one of the songs on the Recording and unfortunately I've lost the LP so I would love to get hold of something for posterity .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: nutty
Date: 28 May 04 - 07:01 AM

Hey ....is that you Pete? .... have you decided to be a legitimate mudcatter. Welcome.

See you soon

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: Betsy
Date: 28 May 04 - 07:49 AM

Hiya Nutty
I`ll PM you - O.K.?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: nutty
Date: 28 May 04 - 09:02 AM

look forward too it

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: fiddler
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 08:34 PM

Pulling in Song now added!

Andy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Another Teesside Fettlers oldie, I think
From: Betsy
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 08:00 AM

Cheers all