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Posted by Lutz Eikelmann on June 6, 2008, 7:07 pm, in reply to "Re: "Mule Skinner Blues" album"
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Paul,
I guess you were right and wrong at the same time --- let me explain why I believe that: both Skiffle concerts at Albert Hall were on December 7, but the one ( Skiffle - Roots Of British Rock ) which definetly happened was in 1998 --- and the second one which was cancelled a few days before by Derek Mason was planned for 1999.
I remember that the Muleskinner Blues album was played in the "Skiffle - Roots Of British Rock" concert before the show started and during the intermission --- as a promotion for its´ release in the following month.
Eventually some others of us could say "yes" or "no" to our memories and help us to find the correct solution.
Dec. 7, 1999 was chosen because it was then exactly 50 years after Ledbelly´s death. I was extremely sorry to get Derek Mason´s message on my answering machine ´cause I wanted to see ( of course! ) Lonnie and the invited guests like Van Morrison & Taj Mahal.
I should take a look in my old diaries to find out exactly, but eventually one of our mates here know it. What I am really sure about is that "Muleskinner Blues" was available in Germany ( distributed by BMG ) from early 1999 onwards.
And I am sure about another thing: if you were at the Skiffle night which happened at the Hall, then it was December 7, 1998, because in that month we ( our trombone-player, another musical scientist and myself ) were in London for some documentary reasons and we visited the concert, too.
But you were right that December 7, 1999 was a date for a Skiffle night at the Albert Hall, too, but that show was cancelled.
I remember when I heard Derek Mason´s message, I was afraid if eventually Lonnie could have become ill, so I gave Sharon a call to find out what was going on, and she said that everything was ok with Lon although he had become very upset about Derek Mason cancelling the show without contacting Lon and Van before. They both wanted to take over the financial risks after they received just a fax from Derek, but it was too late. He had cancelled the show through the newspapers and then was hidden for the next few days.
When I spoke a week later with Lonnie about it, Lon said: "You have an admirer, Lutz. Derek gave you a call that the show is cancelled, but we had no chance to speak with him about the situation."
( The situation was, far as I know, that there were not many tickets sold a week before. )
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