Trying to look inconspicuous in a folk club sitting, wearing headphones, behind a large
table covered with electrical hardware meters, leads, plugs and a filthy great tape
machine - is not an easy task!
For four evenings in mid-September 1976, however, I did just that recording the singing,
playing and outrageous monologue of Noel Murphy.
The dates were not specially selected, no major venues or festivals, just Murph 'on the road'
playing the type of club that makes up the backbone of the British circuit.
Each night I watched the audience become captivated by Murph's infectious character - the
stream of songs, jokes, asides and anecdotes keeping everyone grinning from ear to ear until
they realised they'd missed the last bus home!
Here, then, are some (very live!) sections from those four evenings, and after 50+ listenings
I'm still chuckling.
Nigel Pegrum
