The first of each month this year will feature a brief gander and a listen at a classic Aussie 45 rpm single tune within the 1970-75 time frame. Not all are hits, not all reached the Top 40 and some are not even the ‘A’ side, but all contain a harp riff or two. Our first is from 1970 – Greg Quill’s Fleetwood Plain.
This was Greg’s first record release and it commences his successful partnership with legendary harp man Chris Blanchflower. You can find out more on Chris by placing his name in the search engine below. Sadly both men have passed this mortal coil. The song didn’t gain enormous airplay, however it managed to peak on the Sydney Charts at number 44. I’m thunkin’ Chris’ dulcet tones are on a high ‘G’ harp. Must have been a Hohner Vest Pocket – that’s all that would have been available then unless he had some other fandangled way of hitting these notes. Wish I had asked him in one of our chats and also on the whereabouts of the mysterious Fleetwood Plain. Here’s the riff and the lyrics.
I stumbled through the hills for the first three days and nights
Following the road, but keeping out of sight
Till the clouds began to gather and the storm, it blew me down
To seek a bed and conversation somewhere in the town.
When they asked me where I came from, I told them Fleetwood Plain
They turned back to the fire and I turned to face the rain
I closed my eyes and thought I saw you waiting with the child
And as the room became much warmer, the night became more wild.
If I could find my way I might make it to the sea
My tracks are washed away and no one can follow me
But for now the road seems harder than the hills from where I came
And a thousand miles mean nothing when I think of Fleetwood Plain.
Happy New Year
Ch EssDawg
Harmonica Riff Raff 
Thoroughly enjoyed reading your article about Chris Blanchflower{Anderson}. We played together {I played a National} in a number of bands in the UK including the Panama Limited Jug Band.
Anthony Slayter-Ralph
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Thanks Anthony. His sweet melodic harp was God’s nectar and what a decent human being. Ch S
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Chris and I were very close when he lived in the UK. He lived in Earls Court, myself in Kensington, about a mile apart. We were both addicted to country blues and to the early jug bands and would lap up Alan Lomax’s new releases of his new /old blues musicians in the American South. Him moving to Australia didn’t help, that a being the day without cell phones and the internet. We both almost simultaneously reconnected around 2005 and loved going down memory lane. His death came as a shock as there didn’t seem to be any warning. I still don’t know the cause of his death.
A..
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It’s a different world today. I have no idea to the cause. Kerryn Tolhurst may. Are you still playing your National?
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I don’t know Kerryn Tolhurst. I still have the National {since 1963, ex Eric Clapton} and do play it but find it easier to play electric these days.
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Nice! Kerryn’s email is kerryn.tolhurst@gmail.com. Ch S
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I need to mention to Kerryn who it was that gave me his email address – I don’t know your name.
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Just say Shep. He’ll know. The contact is on his website http://www.kerryntolhurst.com.au/home.html
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