Sir Harry Lauder has a lot to answer for – the Music Hall original who spawned possibly the most awful musical genre bar none, well, bar prog perhaps. But I need your help.
There was (possibly still is) a Scottish (maybe Irish?) male vocalist/entertainer who had a pretty unique vocal style or perhaps inflection is a better description. He had a habit of reaching high notes, sustaining the lyric in a crescendo and then ‘slurring’ the final word – almost as though the effort of sustain was too much and was vocally relieved to have reached the end. It was a horrible, misplaced sound – a bit like clearing your throat and gobbing! Does this make sense? In rockular terms it’s much as a guitarist would ‘crash’ a final chord and slide the chord shape down the neck in a flourishing coda.
If anyone can help, please post a single YouTube clip here. As a reward I promise I will not post any more examples as I do not wish to ruin anyones Easter.
Sounds to me tho’ that is the legend that is Sidney Devine.
In 1973 I went on a long bus trip from the West Highlands to London for an England V Scotland international. Before we left we were told that the bus had one of them new fangled cassette tape thingys, so we loaded up with plenty of prog and heavy, only to find that the tape thingy was indeed an 8 track, and the we only had one 8 track on board, and that was a Sidney one. The Cassette was ejected from the bus somewhere South of Kendall, and I have never knowingly listened to Mr Devine since then.
Diving me nuts? Ooo-er-missus in classic music hall style.
“A horrible misplaced sound.” Are you sure you’re not listening to U2?
No. Bonehead sings like an angel by comparison. It’s that bad.
It’s also driving me nuts. Geacher, that Sidney Devine was hellish – especially in ‘Shindig’ which I’d forgotten all about. But, alas, I don’t think he’s the culprit, nor can I face another YouTube search under his name. So we must move on.
Come on Afterworders, surely one of you can put me out of this state of suspended constipation.
Shindig? I remember Thingummajig( the horror!),but not Shindig.
Glen Daly? Of Cel-teek Song fame…
Here’s the Glen man. I’ve avoided the Cel-teek song as that kind of thing starts fights round here.
If your man isn’t Glen, can you say what song/s you hear him singing?
It wisnae Andy wis it?
https://youtu.be/sqWMhy1BNWE?list=PLpkx4lCmMCRYi7UWPNpWO7m3T8v6E8T7Y
Or perhaps the Alexander Brothers?
https://youtu.be/ZZATtqCiaDY
He doesn’t sing, but Chic Murray can still cheer you up!
Sidney…
This man knows all about Scottish singers…
All equally gruesome, but just great to see Andy gently rockin’ his sporran again. Sorry guys none of those. This singer is NOT a figment of my imagination. Please do continue with your suggestions – I’m sure we’ll get there.
Kenneth McKellar?
Could it perhaps be the consistently awful Calum Kennedy – immortalised in a ditty which used to go : ‘I can sing like Calum Kennedy, hope to F**k I find the remedy’.. .
garyjohn and Douglas. Thank you for your interest and research. They were both FCUKing hideous. Alas neither demonstrate the awfulness of the object of my quest. I don’t even know why I want to know, it’s just that if I can identify the offender I am hopeful I can put it behind me and move my life forward, take interest in other things, take up a hobby. You know, like Scottish Music Hall sing………. No, no, must move on.
I know my OP is vague, but this guy exists, he is real (or unreal depending on your bent). Can our wider esteemed Afterword Scottish brethren give this some further thought?