1963:
1963-late Brentwood, UK, Railway Inn (see: here)
1964:
1964-04-12 Brentwood, UK, Railway Hotel Folk Club (1st performance in the UK)
1964-04-19 Sunday 19th April 1964 – Brentwood Folk Club (The Railway Inn)
1964-04-24 Romford Folk Club (The Black Lion)
1964-04-26 Brentwood Folk Club (The Railway Hotel)
1964-05-01 Romford Folk Club (The Black Lion)
1964-05/06-00 London, The Black Horse
1964-05/06-00 London, The Roundhouse
1964-05/06-00 London, The Enterprise
1964-06-09 London, The Troubadour
1964-06-13 Hempstead, The Enterprise
1964-06-14 London, The Roundhouse
1964-06-18 London, ZigZag
1964-06-26 London, Heath Street, UK, The Three Horseshoes, Tinkers Club.
1964-06-27 London, UK, Hole in the ground
1964-07-00 Chelmsford (?), White Hart Folk Club (w/ Art Garfunkel)
1964-07-01 London, UK, At Folksong El Torro
1964-07-02 Starting Gate (Wood Green)
1964-07-09 London, UK, Bunjies
1964-07-00 BBC AM BBC Promo Show
1964-07-00 Chelmsford,Folk Club
1964-08-00 London, Flamingo Club
1964-08-24 London, Tinkers Club
1964-09-01 London, “folk at the Flamingo’
1964-12-00 Chesham The Trapdoor Folk Club (Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel)
Confirmed (but no exact dates at the moment available)
1964-00-00 London, Buckhurst Hill, Mother Hubbard’s [acc to Graham Wood, Paul Simon’s manager at the time]
1964-00-00 Brentwood St Helens R.C. Primary School (played “Old MacDonald Had A Farm”)
To be confirmed:
1964-00-00 Ashington Folk Club (mentioned here, but as ca 1963)
1964-00-00 London, Queen’s College
1964-00-00 Liverpool, Cross Keys
1964-00-00 Widness, Howff Folk Club
1964-00-00 Cambridge Folk Club
1964-00-00 Edinburgh Folk Festival
1964-00-00 Chesham The Trapdoor Folk Club
1964-00-00 Chelmsford, White Hart Pub, The Chelmsford Folk Club (w/ Art Garfunkel)
1964-00-00 Hull, UK, The Rugby Hotel Folk Club
1964-00-00 Liverpool, UK, Sampson and Barlow’s (Jim Pedan’s Club)
1964-00-00 Leicester, Birstall, UK, Couriers Folk Club
1964-00-00 Romford, UK, The White Swan
1964-00-00 Widness, Howff Folk Club
1964-00-00 Bexhill-on-Sea, New Inn
1964-00-00 Brentwood St Helens R.C. Primary School
1964 or 1965
- The Castle
- Cecil Sharp Hous (CSH)
- St Mary’s College, Folk Club (Simon is mentioned as a regular guest)
- Blackmore Folk Club
- RAOB Rooms Folk Club (??)
- Catford, The Railway Tavern
- Chiselhurst, Chiselhurst Caves
- London, Blackheath, The Green man
- Cleethorpe
Paul Simon - 'Time it was...it was' 
Although there is little doubt that Paul would have played the Hermit Club – the listing in Essex archives by Dennis Rookard states that the recording was in the Railway Inn Folk Club, King’s Road. Brentwood. That’s not the Hermit Club. There was a pub called the Railway Inn on King’s Road right near Brentwood Station. The Hermit Club is/was on London Road. I know this to be true because I lived in Brentwood in the 60s and beyond and frequented the pub when it was updated to be just a commuters’ pub. The pub was still there in the early 80s but I think it’s a wine bar now:-(
Hello Jane, thanks for the comment. The time Paul spent in the UK playing the Folk Clubs is like exploring the Middle Ages for the first time, if you know what I mean. There’s hardly any evidence (luckily the internet opened sources !), ofcourse Paul will be the one who knows it. The information shared here is from so many sources, over so many people, without having the the possibillity to check them. So I am very happy with your comment. Hopefully some who saw Paul play in the Hermit Club will share his memories one day. Do you know if there was a local nespaper at that time that maybe run ads for folkclubs (besides magazines like Melody Maker, which is a source for my blog too)? Thanks! Rob
I’m pretty sure there was a Brentwood Gazette at that time.
I first saw Paul Simon at The Brentwood Folk Club. My recollection is that the club was at a pub called The Railway Tavern not The Railway Inn as has been stated in various places. Anyone also think this was the case? Access to the upstairs club was via a staircase at the rear of the pub. (I won a raffle prize that evening of an EP of songs from the Simon and Garfunkel album Wednesday Morning 3am!) I met Paul Simon shortly afterwards at The White Swan in Romford. I asked him if he would be playing again, a song I heard and loved at Brentwood, ‘Fast Freight’. Unfortunately it wasn’t on his playlist for The White Swan!
Hi Nick, The Railway Inn was opposite from where the Railway tavern is now . We used to have our Sea Cadet meetings there after our HQ near the station burned down in 1965. The Railway Inn was demolished soon after and the Railway tavern opened across the road soon after. I went to St Helens school in Ingrave Road and Paul Simon came and played kiddy songs for us. His girlfriend and muse, kathy Chitty, was a clerk at the school.
The Railway Tavern was across the road from the Railway Inn. It was not the venue for the folk club. I used to stay at the Railway Inn as a child as Ted and Meg Lewis, my grandparents, were proprietors. I do remember the folk club on a Sunday evening which met in the function room on the first floor. The stairs were at the back of the pub and there was a dumb waiter used for conveying food from the kitchen to the function room. Those queuing to pay their 1/6p entrance wore duffel coats beards and open toed sandals, all a bit freaky for a nine year old me. Two of Paul Simons recordings made there are kept in the County Archives in Colchester or Chelmsford (I can’t remember which).
Definitely the case. I was there.
The venue was The Railway Hotel since demolished in the 70s. It was directly opposite the Railway Tavern. The folk club where Paul Simon played was located on the first floor of the pub in what we knew as the ‘Function Room’ It also hosted children’s Xmas parties (I went to one of them) and the Ladies Glade. I don’t recall a stage as such but I do recall an raised area marked by a garish emblem on the wall consisting of buffalo horns with a plaque of some sorts. Access to the Function Room was indeed via a narrow twisting staircase and the other features I recall were a ‘dumb waiter’, a mini lift operated by ropes used to transport food from the downstairs kitchen and a grand piano.
My grandfather Ted Lewis ran the pub in the late 50s and 60s and my sister and I would stay there.
I remember the queues forming outside to enter the folk club. I think it was hosted every week or fortnight – I can’t be sure.
The Railway Hotel was an Ind Coope pub. I think it was served by the brewery in Romford. I remember the smell of hops there when I used to visit the town centre.
The Function Room was the venue of an ad hoc coroners inquest held in the 1860s following the death of railway workers at Brentwood Station. Such was the extent of local concern that the coroner requisitioned the room for the large number of attendees at the inquest.
There was no Railway Inn to the best of my recollection.
The pub that the folk club in kings road was held was not called the railway inn, it was the railway hotel, not to be confused with the railway tavern which was opposite the railway hotel, I was living about 200 yards from these pubs at the time, so this information is definitely correct. Paul also played just one night at the Brewery Tap pub which was (and still is) also in Kings Road Brentwood, to an audience of about ten people, which I’m happy to say included me.
Hello, Thank you for your comment. I will add the Brewery Tap to the 1964 list. Is it save to ad April or May to it? Thank you for this info. I have the follwing now that took place in Brentwoord:
1964-00-00 Brentwood, UK, The Hermit Club (= Railway Inn Folk Club ???)
1964-00-00 Brentwood, UK, Brewerey Tap Pub
1964-00-00 Brentwood St Helens R.C. Primary School
1964-00-00 Brentwood, Shenfield Raod, The Heritage Club
1964-00-00 Brentwood (?), Warley Hill, The Railway Club
1964-04-12 Brentwood, UK, Railway Hotel Folk Club (1st performance in the UK)
1964-04-26 Brentwood Folk Club (The Railway Hotel)
1964-05-01 Romford Folk Club (The Black Lion)
Maybe you can let me know which locations/vlubs are not correctly put here?
Thanks, Rob
Really Paul? I’m sure you’re right about the Brewery Tap but I don’t I remember it. I frequented the ‘tap’at the time. Ken Gee was the landlord.
Bill is right. I used to stay at The Railway Hotel and attended parties in the function room where Paul Simon played (I did not witness a performance) my grandad and grandma ran the Pub
I used to go on Sunday nights to the folk club at the Railway Inn in 1964 and 1965. I used to hitchhike from Ilford. I remember Paul Simon as a regular warm up act. I used to tell my friends at school how great he was. None of them was interested and when he made it big I had the last laugh. Brilliant memories
Nice to have those memories and share them with us here.
I lived in Ilford at the time and my Grandad ran the pub. It was in fact the Railway ‘Hotel’ and as a kid we would visit on Sundays. I remember the queues outside the door and the lady collecting the admission fee. If I had known you were visiting from Ilford I would have asked my dad to give you a lift!
The pub was demolished in the 70s to make way for Amstrad. I have been trying for years to find a picture of this old Ind Coope pub, I only have pictures of the interior and the function room where the Folk Club held its concerts. The Ladies Glade (whatever that was) used to have regular meets there.
Apparently Paul Simon stayed with or knew the McCausland family when he was in Brentwood and the scarves worn by him and AG on the Sound of Silence album cover came from the Campion School Hornchurch Essex where Mrs McCausland’s son excelled at rugby.
I too was a student at Campion for 7 years very slightly later.
A fan almost all my life from BoTW days before seeing Paul’s first solo tour, I am totally astonished to see that my own school scarves were used in the iconic album cover of The Sound of Silence album!
Unbelievable!
– ? Seeing as Paul had an indirect association with Campion and played at Brentwood School etc. did he ever play at Campion?
FYI Later tour pictures here:
Not to my knowledge – we did not have folk concerts at the School or anything like that. The info re the scarves came from someone who taught at the school.
I remember going to see Paul Simon at Brentwood Boys’ School. I was told that this was one of first times he performed in England. I was at Brentwood County High School for Girls . First time I’ve seen it mentioned,was starting to think I imagined it! Anyone got any photographic evidence?
Yes he played at Brentwood School and I was there. I interviewed him on Maui a couple of years ago and mentioned seeing him in those early days.
The Campion School scarf [never returned!] was mine, ‘borrowed’ when Michael McCausland drove Paul Simon, on the back of his scooter, to my home in Brentwood one autumn evening. Their intention was to borrow the scarf as suggested for the album cover. After coffee they left with my school scarf. Close inspection of the album cover suggests a University of London scarf was used for the picture. The whereabouts of mine remains a mystery!
What a story. Wonder if Paul Simon remembers it.
The Folk club in the mid sixties was upstairs in the Railway Inn on Sundays. I know in more recent years there was folk music played in the Hermitage (Hermit club?) but Brentwood folk club circa 1964/5 was definitely near the station on Kings road as someone else pointed out and as far as I remember nothing to do with the Hermit Club.
The recording made by the late great DENNIS ROOKARD who I knew well up to his passing a few years back of Paul Simon at The Brentwood Folk Club at The Railway Inn can be heard at The Essex Records Office in Chelmsford. Not available on-line or obviously for copy. I recorded with Dennis at his home studio and at BBC Essex but never got to hear these tapes as he had made a solemn vow to PS not to release this material. He was very tight lipped about these recordings but fortunately he passed them across with so many other superb recording the The Beeb. Unlike many Dennis kept his vow, bless him.
I met Paul Simon very briefly at Les Cousins in 1968 but not playing that night, just passing through. The “Cousins” was the place to be seen and play at. Loved to have seen Jimmy Hendrix play there in his early days.
Thank you for your comment. If you have more recollections of the folk days of 1964 or 1968, I’d love to read them.
I agree that when you make a vow that you should keep it. There’s another tape which was sold on eBay from a Exeter performance. I remember that it was offered to PS but he kindly declined to buy it. Now it is sold for a $ 1000, to someone in Japan, and hidden too, with the exception of one song called ‘Northern Lights’ (I think)and PS having fun with the students around him
I could fill pages and pages regarding recollections but many might find boring, irrelevant to this blog or simply self indulgent. My active folk years would only cover from 1966. Visiting and playing at clubs, would be from 1967. Happy to try and answer specific questions not too opened ended. I did meet Judith Piepe on a few occasions who must be credited with so much in launching Paul Simon’s career here in the UK. She was an awesome formidable character who adopted talented young male folkies including Paul Simon, Al Stewart and some lesser knowns. Think PS owes a lot to that woman.
Yes Chris, I can confirm that Dennis did indeed may his “solemn vow” but a handful of music cassettes were made, the recipients of which were also made to give a “solemn vow”. The contents are mostly part tracks only. Mostly snippets of Sounds of Silence and one or two other minor things. In general the content is not IMHO that remarkable, other than for historical interest.
Just another memory about that front cover photo of PAUL SIMON SONGBOOK recorded in UK. I believe taken in Judith Piepe’s home street in Limehouse, can’t name the street, using car headlights to reflect off the cobbled road.
Hi Chris, The cover of The Paul Simon Songbook was shot on a Wet Thursday night on
Haverstock Hill, Hampstead. I know because I booked it with CBS. I am busy writing my book
Which covers my folk music days and of course Paul and Arts u.k. adventures. Needed to set the record straight before I make the wooden box. The whole CBS Records story regarding Paul in the U.K. is somewhat bizarre. Hope that helps. Stay safe. Regards, Graham Wood,
Hello Graham, thank you for your info. Recently I read an interview with you about the Paul Simon period and now you mention writing a book. Looking forard to read it. Any idead when it will be published. I am still working on a factual page with all of Paul’s gigs in the UK between 1963 and 1966. I always calld thes the “Dark Ages” of his career, but since the biographies and the comments on this blog, they become more enlightened so to speak.
Looking forward to read your information, Rob [Moderator of this blog]
Hello Graham , i was at school at the time , and allowed to listen to 5 to 10 as my mother Judith Piepe introduced songs from The PS Songbook. A long time ago .
There was Judith Piepe in the UK (she tells a lot about those years in the BBC Radio specials of 1976 and 1991) and in Holland there was Cobi Schreijer. Being a folk artist herself and running the De Waag Theater in Haarlem (near Amsterdam) she invited Paul Simon, both solo and with Art Garfunkel, to play there. I talked to hear once about it, on the phone when she was already in a home for the elderly, and mentioned that she also had PS on the Dutch radio in 1965, doing a kind of ‘Five to Ten’ show.
PS stayed at Cobi’s when he was in Holland and she told me that he was on the phone when he heard from Art what had happened to their ‘The sound of silence’, he seemd to have been furious about what had happened without consulting him….
And PS gave some MasterClasses in The Waag too, a fact that was emailed to me by someone who was there a the time.
Another guy that Judith took under her wings in those latter Les Cousins years was Stephen Delft, might have got the spelling wrong. I wonder what became of him and his musical career.
Think the BBC Radio Home service, now BBC Radio 4 that Judith promoted PSs music pre recording days. It was the breakfast long slot which was back then called TODAY in the Jack de Manio/Brian Redhead days. Might have possibly had a different name. It I would be certainly have been around 1964. There was the usual “God Slot” which invited guests with a religious bent could have there say in a 3 min slot. I gather she used PS recordings or maybe “live” as part of her broadcasts. The incredible positive responses from some listeners was used as a lever on CBS UK to take the music of the man seriously and give him a record deal. Cant confirm this so someone out there may wish to expand or know otherwise if I have heard this all wrong.
Stephen is now called Simcha and is still working and living in New Zealand. He and Judith moved in the early 80’s and she died there a few years ago.
I remember Judith and Stephen Delft. I used to play in a band with him called ‘The Patriarch Of Glastonbury – His Band’. We had a residency at The Marquee in 1971. Happy days!
Does Chris Jones still visit this board? I’d like to speak with him, if possible, for a book I’m writing about Paul Simon. Also interested in speaking with anyone else in the UK with memories, etc of Paul’s travels/shows in the UK.
thanks,
Peter Ames Carlin
peteramescarlin@gmail.com
Peter
Think we’ve already communicated over this just prior to you going to hear Dennis’s recordings at Essex Sound archives in Chelmsford
Regards
Chris
Chris, this was a request/comment that somehow had ended up in the still to approve comments section. While doing some moderating on the blog I approved it minutes ago. Sorry for the confusion. And Peter’s book has bee published in the meantime.
No worries
I played with Stephen Delft in a band with the unlikely name of ‘The Patriarch of Glastonbury – His Band’ and got to know Judith then. We played the Marquee Club several times in 1971. Stephen (a master luthier) went on to teach at the London College of Furniture. He wrote reviews and features for International Musician and Recording World magazine in 1975. Stephen and Judith got married in the summer of 1981 (her 3rd marriage) and moved to New Zealand. Stephen reverted to his original name of Simcha Delft and continued to build instruments under that name. He was still active in 2001, but I don’t know anything about him from that date. Judith died in Levin NZ on 19th June 2003 at the age of 83.
Paul Simon also played twice in Portsmouth. Once at a pub by Fratton Station , and once at a small hall in North End . I was there on both occasions (1964?) .
AMB that’s fascinating info as more than likely may well have been living in Brentwood at the time or if slightly later Cable Street, London. I still past Brentwood Station on my local train but so far no connection has been made to the song “Homeward Bound” as that may be the town he was referring to.
Homeward Bound was said to be written at Crewe , Lancs. I spoke to PS on the phone before the Portsmouth gigs, a London number , but not Cable street .
I believe Paul has indicated himself that, although it may have been written over time and finished elsewhere, Homeward Bound was inspired and started on a trip to Widnes, presumably in ’64 per above gig list.
I have heard Dennis’s recording as I may have mentioned in another post. Definitely earlier than 1965 and definitely not from one recording session as was lead to believe. I reckon around 3 sessions as highly unlikely he performed Sound of Silence three times in one night.The transfer onto CD is typical Dennis as a bit shoddy but I do know the original tapes still exist so think if ever a cleaned up version is made it would sound a whole lot better. The recordings are a huge insight into the man and the clubs he was playing at. Little chance they will get to be heard outside the Essex Records Office. The tapes were made on the verbal agreement between Dennis and PS that they would never be use for public release. Only PS and ERO in agreement can change that postition.
The time spent in Brentwood before moving to Cable Street is an unknown unless someone comes and throws some light on that time. On the subject of Homeward Bound, it may well have been written up North, and not disputing that fact, but journey’s end could well have been Brentwood.
Despite much speculation over the years, Homeward Bound was based on Paul’s experience going on a long journey up to Widnes in the north west, presumably in ’64 per gig list at top here. I think Paul said so on the 1970s BBC special of which I have on 4 cassettes somewhere, If not he is quoted elseweher in my library.
Yes Dennis told me he arduously actually went through several reel to reel tapes re-recording fragments together on one new tape, mostly a compilation of scraps of Sound of Silence renditions. I recall one complete version at least.
Paul stayed with my family (McCauslands) on and off for a little while in Brentwood, not exactly sure on the dates but my Dad would know.
I knew Dennis Rookard well, the man who recorded Paul Simon at Brentwood Folk Club. Even so, he said very little about those recordings that eventually ended up at The Essex Sound Archives, even when pressed on the subject. Dear Dennis was infuriatingly evasive at times . He was one of those guys who’s mind was focused on the now and not much on the past.
What remains a mystery is, was it more than one night’s recording? I believe it well may we’ll have been after hearing the recording on two separate occasions.
Hi Ben. I was in the same class as Gregory McCausland at St Helens school. I remember Paul Simon playing for us
Brentwood School and Brentwood County High School had a joint folk club in the 1960s. We met after school at Brentwood School and listened mainly to boys and girls from the two schools play and sing. However on one momentous occasion Paul came to perform. I especially remember Homeward Bound as he said that he had just written it
I was also there hearing Paul play at Brentwood School. Many years later I interviewed Paul on Maui. FYI David Bowie also played a school dance there before he was famous.
If I remember rightly, Paul Simon sang at Brentwood School as part of a Charity drive, possibly Biafra War? Tickets were like “gold dust”!
David Bowie played twice at the School’s Summer Concert, once with “The Lower Third” and once with “The Buzz”. I believe the following Summer had “Savoy Brown Blues Band” performing.
I don’t remember Paul’s school show being a paying gig, more a free concert, but could be my memory. And I attended the Bowie Lower Third school dance and it was great!
Jon, I think the tickets were more for “crowd control” than any financial gain! Nigel Patterson (he of The Halliards) was instrumental in getting him to perform. I believe his performance lasted about 90 mins. By the way, were you known as Jack Woodhouse at Brentwood?
Thanks for the clarification and yes on Jack!
Hi SP,
I’m a writer in the USA, currently working on a biography of Paul Simon to be published by the Henry Holt & Co. publishers in the USA, and others to be determined around the world. I’m wondering if you might be willing to drop me an email so I can get in touch with you personally? You can find me at: peteramescarlin@gmail.com
thanks so much!
Peter
What is your book called Peter? I would like to add a copy to my extensive PS collection!
Can’t see you or your book out there yet Peter?
If you are still writing and need research let me know if I can help.
I have quite a few PS books, newspaper cuttings, memorabilia and the first BBC S&G radio documentary, One Trick Pony etc. etc.
Some might provide you with unusual illustrations,
I also have lots of unique concert pictures (see below) but please consult me before publishing any of them!
That’s fascinating and what finds especially interesting is the link of Brentwood Rail Station as the final destination in “homeward bound”. As he was obviously still located in Brentwood.
PS stayed at the McCausland home: 62 Crescent Rd, Brentwood. Walking distance to the Station Inn. He shared an upstairs bedroom (bunk beds) with one of the McCausland brothers, either Dave or Mick. I was a school friend of Mick, the younger brother, at Campion College. Sat many times in that bedroom chatting with PS and listening to him play and compose. I still have three metal demo discs of Sounds of Silence, Sparrow and one other that I cannot remember. Had them in storage for years.
It was no 64
Hi V Mitchell, I was just wondering how you know it was No 64 Crescent Road that the Mccausland’s lived at?
Definitely 64.
Ancestry UK has many of the country’s telephone directories available.
The ones for 1962 and 1963 list R J McCausland at No. 64.
Paul definitely appeared at Brentwood Folk Club (aka The Railway Inn) in 1964 and again on 17 January 1965 and 13 June 1965. I know this because David McCausland, Margaret Salisbury and I ran the club. Paul stayed with David’s family in Brentwood for a while.
Vicky Ware
April 12, 2015
Hi Vicky,
Can you email me please?
bmlfc@hotmail.com
Thanks
Hi Ben !!! I went to school at John Payne in 1965 and was in the same class as Greg McCauseland and clearly remember him sayin that a certain Paul Simon ( a friend of David’s )stayed at there Brentwood abode.Tell me if Greg is still about…would be good to share a beer ?? Jim McDevitt (Scotty )
I would love to have a beer. Living in Colchester.
Vicky that is fascinating as accounts for the recordings repeats of songs like Sound of Silence . Dennis who made these historic recordings showed no interest in this work and in all my time working with him got nowhere in drawing out the tale of how it all came to be. The only bit was his promise not to use them publically. Poor Dennis died more or less in poverty which is something PS wont experience. The BBC approached PS last year to make a documentary on his early years but he continues to refuse outright to allow these recording to be used. Such a shame. I know the transfers are not great from reel to reel to CD but dear Dennis was far more interested in the next project rather than have anything to do with past ones. The original reels I have found still exist and am sure of a much better quality than the ones we are allowed to hear at the Essex Records Office in Chelmsford.
If you can throw any more light on PS time in Brentwood that would be of great help as a chunk of musical history remains missing. The times from London onwards are well documented but the Brentwood time is extremely thin in content.
Hello Chris, well let’s hope that PS is changing his mind now, since he has given his OK to an authorised biography he seems less reluctant and the work is already in progress. The author is at the moment visiting the UK.
But a couple of weeks I received another message which is also interesting. A person named Stephen Penton wrote me that Paul Simon used to stay at the McCausland’s house and rehearsed many of his songs and even recorded metal acetates of “The sound of silence”. The acetates are still in his possesion.
Here’s his message: PS stayed at the McCausland home: 62 Crescent Rd, Brentwood. Walking distance to the Station Inn. He shared an upstairs bedroom (bunk beds) with one of the McCausland brothers, either Dave or Mick. I was a school friend of Mick, the younger brother, at Campion College. Sat many times in that bedroom chatting with PS and listening to him play and compose. I still have three metal demo discs of Sounds of Silence, Sparrow and one other that I cannot remember. Had them in storage for years.
Sorry Chris but I have to disagree. Dennis showed a lot of interest in the recordings to me and explained (as it is detailed in this forum) that these tapes were recorded at The Railway for use in his Harold Wood Hospital Radio broadcasts. Dennis was definitely very worried about PS coming back to him if they were ever released though. Some feel that PS is notorious in guarding his copyrights and PS was likely told there would be no lasting recording as the tapes were reused. There are likely other recordings from that era out there. e.g. I believe PS appeared a few times at Bunjies in London too.
Thanks so much for the link. I was in touch with possibly the same biographer who went to Chelmsford to hear the recordings. I did bump into PS at Les Cousins in 1968 but he was just popping into show a face. He wouldn’t play even though was asked by my mate. He was by then a bit of a superstar but it’s interesting how he still want to reconnect with his old London connection. At that time I had yet to meet Dennis Rookard until I worked with him at BBC Essex and even then I only found out about his recordings of PS by default. Dennis was interested in all talented performers whether superstars or those scraping a living. Shame that Brentwood has been somewhat overlooked in the career of PS. The balance needs putting right and personally cant see PS wanting to fill in the gaps or ever allowing those tapes of Dennis to be into the public domain.
Peter Ames Carlin was last year in England while writing the book he had scheduled for this year. Now the official biographer, Robert Hilburn, is als in the UK. Can’t tell when his book will be published. I think (or is it hope) the BBC has more of Paul Simon in the vaults (the ” Five to Ten” sessions mabye?).
That’s the guy!, Peter Carlin. He came over but unfortunately we didn’t meet up but did correspond. I didn’t know about an official biographer. Only problem with the dear BBC is that they had an unfortunate habit of wiping videotape and using it again. How much remains in their vault is anyone’s guess.
http://www.roberthilburnonline.com/
Fascinating stuff! As a resident of Brentwood, I am amazed that the local council do not make more of the town’s association with Paul Simon, especially the love story that inspired ‘Kathy’s Song’. It would be great to see all these valuable memories and snippets of information collated. Maybe a plaque could be mounted on the old Railway Inn Tavern building (now a wine bar) to commemorate that time in Paul Simon’s career?
Both my wife and myself attended St Helen’s RC Primary School in Brentwood during this era and my wife clearly recalls seeing Paul Simon sing a few songs to the children in the school hall. It appears that Mr McCausland was involved in the music Industry.
Think some maybe interested in a two part article on Paul Simon in The Rayleigh Review which can be viewed on line
My Dad got chatting to Paul on the train from London in 1964 & asked him to come & sing for the children at the school where Dad taught. Hence Paul’s visit to St. Helen’s.
Hi Mary, The only male teacher I can recall from St Helen’s was Mr Wagstaff. I recall he had a son about my age and we hung around with the same hippy crowd in the early seventies.
http://www.rayleighreview.co.uk
Thank you!
Wonder if anyone could clarify the pub Paul Simon played as I was told the now Essex Arms, once known as The Railway Inn/Hotel. This would make sense as adjacent to the station and rail line. I can find no other reference but others out there who knew Brentwood in the early 60s might know the definitive answer.
Part 2 now on-line http://www.rayleighreview.co.uk/online-edition/
Ralph McTell talked about being with PS at Bexhill in 1965.on BBC Radio Merseyside on 24 October 2015.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p034rt9t
This link works for 28 days. The interview is the first in the programme.
The Hull folk club at The Rugby Hotel did not start until February 13th 1970. I do remember we booked him at The Torbay Folk Song Club in Paignton and also at The Jolly Porter in Exeter around 1964-5. Additionally, I know he sang at The King and Queen Foley Street, London.
Hi Vicky. I’m researching a film for a BBC Project called The People’s History of Pop and would love to talk to you on or off the record about your memories of the Railway Inn. Would you be kind enough to get in touch? My email address is shaun.peel@bbc.co.uk
Many thanks. Shaun
Managed to get a question to PS while he was on BBC2s Ken Bruce prog but appeared to have know recollection of those Dennis Rookard recordings back in Brentwood in 1964.
Did you record the Ken Bruce program on BBC2? I would be happy to hear it.
No as took me by surprise as it was asked less than a couple of mins from mailing it. Never expected a response let alone being put to him. It’s on BBC Iplayer if you can get it.
Thanks, listening to it now. Very interesting.
To clear up the Railway Inn-Railway Tavern question…There never was a pub in Brentwood Called the Railway Inn, the pub where Paul Simon played was called the Railway Hotel, it was almost opposite the Railway Tavern which is where the confusion arises, The Railway Hotel was a larger pub than the Railway Tavern (which was a bit of a dump) The Railway Hotel was demolished in the mid sixties and a new pub called ‘The Peacock’, it is now known as ‘Murphys Sports Bar’
Thanks for clearing this for us. I will change it accordingly. How about these:
1964-00-00 Brentwood St Helens R.C. Primary School
1964-00-00 Brentwood, Shenfield Raod, The Heritage Club
1964-00-00 Brentwood (?), Warley Hill, The Railway Club
Are these correct?
Your info is much appreciated.
Best, Rob
I used to work at The Railway Tavern in King’s Road which is now Murphys Sports Bar. It is on the opposite side of the road to the railway station – next to Alan Sugar’s old Amstrad offices.
If you or someone else has any newspaper ads or clippings from the Paul Simon appearances please do tell us. It seems that he was already in the UK late ‘ 63. All helpor info is appreciated. Thanks, Rob
The railway Tavern was on the same side of the road as the railway station, I have a photograph of it, it was on the corner of King Edward Road all signs are clearly visable in the photograph https://www.flickr.com/photos/23991324@N06/2347613492/in/photostream/ The railway Hotel was on the opposite side and was knocked down in the mid sixties to be replaced by the Peacock, now Murphys Sports Bar. Please see my Brentwood pubs Videohttps://youtu.be/s7XvX-lyPFo , all the photos were taken on the same day in 1970. The Tavern was knocked down in the 70s. It was the Railway Hotel that hosted the Folk Club.
Thank you, love these pictures. Much appreciated that you share this with us.
My video link didn’t seem to work so I’ll try again, I’m afraid I haven’t any information about the other venues. https://youtu.be/s7XvX-lyPFo
This Google Street view picture taken from across the road in King Edward Road, (which shows the same road name board as my Railway Tavern shot) shows Murphys Sports Bar, which is built on the site of the Railway Hotel where Paul played, I hope the combination of the two photographs clears up any confusion. https://www.flickr.com/photos/23991324@N06/32823597415/in/dateposted-public/
I think in64/5 he was staying with a family in Ingrave/herongate called Neale.I had to deliver a message to the brother who was picking him up from a pub in Ongar road Brentwood they were having a drink he had his guitar case with him .struck me as a bit of a misery.
I was at Braintree Folk Club when Paul Simon played in 1964. The claim at the club was that it was the third time he had played Homeward Bound in public. The folk club was held upstairs in the Horn Hotel and the cost of entry was five shillings (25p).
Hello Brian, where was this folkclub, in which city. And any idea after so many years, of a more or less specific date when it took place. Thanks for all the info.Rob
I remember seeing Paul Simon in about 1964 at a packed upstairs room of the White Hart Folk Club in Chelmsford. Don’t remember Art being there. Excellent resident band was the Halliard, lead singer and master of ceremonies Dave Moran, plus two talented guitar/mandolin players Nic Jones and a short bearded guy called Nigel I think. Those werre the days!
Hello Brian, thank you for your comment. Chelmsford is correct as city, which was also still a question to me.
Off-topic but does anyone remember seeing Jimi Hendrix in Chelmsford soon after he arrived in England?
Oh yes, February 1967. I believe tickets were 7/6(old money!)
During this “era”, also appearing were John Mayall, Yardbirds, Ten Years After, Pretty Things, the Who, Fleetwood Mac, Animals, Cream, Bowie and even Pink Floyd at their psychedelic phase, not understood by the mainly “moddish” audience!
Lesser known was the Klue J Klub, in the Saracens Head where I saw Graham Bond’s Organisation, before his untimely death in ’74. I seem to remember they “specialised” in promoting up and coming bands, including Julian Covey and the Machine. Those were the days!
That would be Nigel Paterson, a Brentwood OB like Nic.
Wow, amazing!
Here’s a flyer for the Hole in the Ground Club in Swiss Cottage featuring Paul Simon’s upcoming show on June 27th – https://www.flickr.com/photos/leolondon/10669631345
Thank you so much for the flyer of this performance-date. Were you there or just happen to have this flyer? Greetings, Rob
I wasn’t there – my dad was. He and his friend were the resident singers at the Hole in the Ground club. Always told me the Paul Simon story.
Hi, well that brings up the question “Was your father Neil or David?” and what the Paul Simon story here was.
My dad was David – here are some recordings of their show: https://archive.org/details/david-and-neil-3