In loving memory of our co-founder, Darren Beech (4/08/1967 to 25/03/2021)

ROBB JOHNSON & ROGER WATSON – Six Of One And Half-A-Dozen Of The Other (Irregular Records IRR135)

Six Of One And Half-A-Dozen Of The OtherRobb Johnson and Roger Watson first worked together more than forty-five years ago and Roger was one of the first Irregulars. Logically enough, Six Of One And Half-A-Dozen Of The Other contains six of Robb’s songs and half-a-dozen tunes from Roger’s repertoire. The tone is remarkably restrained and nostalgic – Robb may carry a metaphorical big stick but he believes in speaking softly and Roger just sits on the groove and quietly decorates the music.

Robb’s opening song, ‘Evergreen’, comes from their first meeting at Bekonscot and the original version can be found on the album Small Town World. Robb uses the imagery of the model village to make a point. In a ceilidh ‘The Big Ship’ would rock and reel with the best but in Roger’s hands it is a thoughtful contemplation on the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal and he lets it run on. We all know about the battle of Cable Street but ‘The Battle Of South Street’ may be less familiar. In the 1930s a councillor in Worthing joined the British Union of Fascists which encouraged Moseley to hold a rally in the Pier Pavilion. The good people of Worthing saw him off and he didn’t try again.

Roger Watson has always cast his musical net wide and ‘Melon Juice’ is a tune that he learned as ‘Gooseberry Blossoms’ but having given it some exotic rhythms with his band Boka Halat the new name stuck. I admit that it’s a tune I drifted off to on second or third hearing – hypnotic rather than boring I assure you. A couple of tracks later, ‘Bengal Rounds’ went through the same sort of genesis and can have the same effect.

‘A Postcard From Blackpool’ is a song from The Irregulars’ first album (with Roger alongside) and Roger brings a song to this set – ‘The Miner’s Lifeguard’ (The Miner’s Life’ or ‘Union Miners’). Originally an American union song, it lends itself to personalisation and gained renewed popularity in the 1980s, sung lustily at many a session. It’s a great pleasure to hear it again. ‘Union Train’ is a typical Robb Johnson song, written in support of the RMT, while ‘Saturday Night In Albion’ takes a somewhat jaundiced view of modern life and Roger is able to make a point by playing ‘Speed The Plough’ in the chorus.

‘Seafarers’ marries original verses by Stan Hugill to the tune of ‘New York Girls’, retaining the latter’s chorus. Robb and Roger sing it slowly and reflectively as befits the tale of a sailor tricked and robbed by a woman. You wouldn’t get many bowlines hauled with this setting. ‘Mrs Blake’ is one of Robb’s songs about taking pride in where you live (without flying flags on lamp posts). Finally, Roger returns to ‘The Malthouse’ now with an additional second part, a tune from his first solo album, The Pick And The Malt Shovel (which contains some marvellous songs).

I said at the beginning that this album embodies a great sense of nostalgia but, you know, it’s amazing how many of the songs are still relevant today. On top of that it makes very fine listening and, now, having spent time listening and writing I’d like to sit back and listen to it for pleasure.

Dai Jeffries

Artists’ website: https://www.robbjohnson.co.uk/

‘Evergreen’ – in the studio:

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