Maggie and Stan Top Logo (48K)

Maggie and Stan CDs

All CDs are £10.00 + £2.00 p&p.

To purchase email stan.bloor@plucknsqueeze.co.uk

The Squire's Thingumbob And Kitty's What You May Call It

This our latest and second duo CD. We have always done Bawdy Ballads concerts, but have never recorded any, so we thought we should. However, we want to be totally clear here, this is a scholarly exercise and in no way is it an excuse just to sing mucky songs .......... no really, it isn't.
These are the bawdy songs sung in the song and supper clubs of the early to mid nineteenth century. Here is a small collection of our favourites, printed between 1834 and 1838 by William West.

The Squire's Thingumbob And Kitty's What You May Call It

Track List

1. The Lady's Warming-Pan!

2. The Wedding Secret

3. Mr And Mrs Brown, Or, The Lottery Ticket

4. The First Tailor

5. The Laundress And Her Ass

6. The Lady's Hairy Thing

7. The Nice Old Gentleman!

8. There's Somebody Coming

9. The Death Of Roger

10. The Ladies And The Candle

11. My Little Bunny

12. Make The Bed!

13. Colin And Susan: Or, No,No,No

14. The Flower Girl

15. The Landlady's Count

16. He Did It Before My Face

17. The Squire's Thingumbob And Kitty's What You May Call It


Review

The Squire's Thingumbob And Kitty's What You May Call It reviewed by Graham Schofield for http://www.mardles.co.uk

The title of Stan & Maggie's new CD could lead you to suspect that this might not be a collection of erudite and sensitively artistic folk song offerings. This is indeed a rumbustious romp through a collection of the type of song upon which the later Music Hall entertainments of the Victorian and Edwardian eras are rooted. More suited as the musical accompaniment to a convivial evening of Beer and Sandwiches, not so much the Vicarage Tea Party.

Maggie and Stan are well known for their love of entertaining audiences. The musical arrangements and song delivery are of the highest quality and are perfectly tailored to the style and genre of the material. The songs on this CD are well researched and there are ample sleeve-notes to satisfy even the most demanding.

The songs have been taken from books published by William West (1834 -38), such as "The Delicious Chanter And Exciting Warbler. A Capital Collection of Randy, Roaring, Rousing, Tear-up, Flare-up songs," or "The Little Icky-Wickey Songster."

The lyrics are unashamedly non-pc reflecting a culture and moral climate very far removed from our own, sometimes over-sanitised, times. In them there is a delightful sauciness, unsubtle innuendo and sometimes downright smut. All delivered by the duo with a forthright clarity. In all there are 17 tracks, some with a sing-a-long chorus and known tunes. Such as "The Wedding Secret" to the tune of "White Cockade", "Colin and Susan (or No! No! No!)" to the tune of "Lincolnshire Poacher," and even "The Landladies Count" to the tune of "Derry Down."

This is a delightfully quirky CD, well presented and performed, definitely not high-art rather something that, in an earlier age, might have been delivered under a plain-cover. A naughty pleasure!



Short Samples from the The Squire's Thingumbob And Kitty's What You May Call It

The Squire's Thingumbob And Kitty's What You May Call It

The Wedding Secret






Cheer Up A Bit Longer

We really love the industrial songs of the Northwest of England, as well as having a passion for Music Hall songs. We've included some of each on this our first duo CD, as well as songs that started their life as 19th century Lancashire poems to which we've set our own tunes. We hope this gives you a good flavour of what we do.

Cheer Up A Bit Longer

Track List

1. Cheer Up A Bit Longer (Laycock, Tune: Moore & Bloor)

2. It's A Great Big Shame (Bateman & Le Brun)

3. Did Your First Wife Ever Do That (Castling)

4. The Bury New Loom (Trad)

5. Marble Arch To Leicester Square (Knight & Lyle)

6. Grace Darling (McGlennon)

7. Sadler's Balloon (Trad, Tune: John Clare)

8. The Lass Doon On The Quay (Weams)

9. My Mother Doesn't Know I'm On The Stage (Bennett)

10. I'll Have A Collier (Trad)

11. The Night I Appeared As Macbeth (Hargreaves)

12. Riding On Top Of The Car (Leigh, Bryan & Von Tilzer)

13. The Weaver's Garland Or The Downfal Of Trade (Trad, Tune: Moore & Bloor)

14. With My Little Wigger Wagger In My Hand (Earle, Carter & Wells)

15. I Live In Trafalgar Square (Murphy)

16. Home And Friends (Swain, Tune: Moore & Bloor)


Review

Cheer Up A Bit Longer reviewed by Graham Schofield for http://www.mardles.co.uk

Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!

Here you will find stalwarts of our region's folk scene Maggie Moore and Stan Bloor who, for quite a few years now, have entertained and given pleasure with their engaging stage presence. Known for performances delivered with gusto, humour and consummate skill.

With a total of 16 tracks this CD is a generous serving of songs and tunes from their wide repetoire. Although drawing on the Victorian and Edwardian music hall this offering is expertly seasoned with a sprinkling of traditional material from Stan's beloved north west. The chosen pieces open our eyes, and our sentiments, to the historical and social mores of those times and places.

Included with the songs and tunes there is a monologue or two delivered with panache and faultless comic timing. There are old favourites to savour such as:- "Did your first wife ever do that?", "Grace Darling" and of course "I live in Trafalgar Square". Alongside these are many pieces, perhaps less familiar, but equally entertaining.

The CD has been produced to the highest standard being clear and very listenable. All in all an absorbing and entertaining listen from the first track to the last. No tricks or gimmicks just well delivered pieces supported by simple but impeccable musical accompaniment. An offering that cannot fail but help to bring a smile to even the most hardened gloomster.


Short Samples from the Cheer Up A Bit Longer

Cheer Up A Bit Longer

I Live In Trafalgar Square






Other Books and CDs

Books and CDs: More details and how to purchase are on the Pluck 'n' Squeeze website.

Click here or on any of the images below to go to the website.

Go to Book and CD sales

Public Gig Guide

Maggie and Stan can be seen at all sorts of pub sessions in and around Suffolk. On the gig front it looks a bit meagre at the moment, due to COVID and us being very careful, but here we go anyway!


Friday 4th February 2022, Hadleigh Folk & Acoustic Music Nights:
Maggie and Stan are doing a 40 minute spot at this wonderful friendly folk club. The address is Hadleigh Folk & Acoustic Music Nights, The Ansell Centre, Market Place, Hadleigh, Suffolk IP7 5DL. Doors open at 7.45pm and the music starts at 8pm. Entry price is £5.00. (£2.00 for floor-spot performers) and tickets are available on the door. There is no bar at the Ansell Centre, but you are welcome to bring your own drinks. There is plenty of free parking within easy walking distance of the venue. Website is https://www.hadleighfolk.org.uk.. For further information, contact club organisers Simon or Val Haines on 07818 417780 or 07818 417781 or email simonhaines1@icloud.com .


Saturday 23rd April 2022, Concert at Somersham Church:
Maggie and Stan will be doing 30 minutes at the the annual folk concert at the Somersham Church, Church Ln, Somersham, Ipswich IP8 4PW, along with Green & Ward, Folk on the Hill and Karl & Joan. We love doing this concert, wonderful acoustics and a fun night out. Concert starts at 7.30pm; Tickets £7.50 (including light refreshments) available from Somersham Community Shop, Christine's Haircare, Somersham Garage, Pat Woolhouse (01473 831080) or Steve Dines (01473 658487) or enquire by email dines18@btinternet.com


Friday 10th June 2022, Dance Folkus:
Maggie and Stan are doing a short floor spot in the middle of this great dance event. The venue is Woodbridge Community Hall, Station Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4AU. Dancing between 7.30-10.30pm. Ticket price is £7 (£3 Students). Tickets from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk.. The Dance Folkus website is https://www.facebook.com/WoodbridgeDanceFolkus2916.. For further information, contact Rob by email dancefolkus@aol.com or phone 01473 610951.


Friday 8th July 2022, Hadleigh Folk & Acoustic Music Nights:
Maggie and Stan are doing a floor spot at this wonderful friendly folk club. Main artists are Tony Winn and Na Mara. The address is Hadleigh Folk & Acoustic Music Nights, The Ansell Centre, Market Place, Hadleigh, Suffolk IP7 5DL. Doors open at 7.45pm and the music starts at 8pm. Entry price is £5.00. (£2.00 for floor-spot performers) and tickets are available on the door. There is no bar at the Ansell Centre, but you are welcome to bring your own drinks. There is plenty of free parking within easy walking distance of the venue. Website is https://www.hadleighfolk.org.uk.. For further information, contact club organisers Simon or Val Haines on 07818 417780 or 07818 417781 or email simonhaines1@icloud.com .


Friday 19th August 2022, Oxjam Concert, Bury St Edmunds:
Maggie and Stan are doing a concert spot at this great event in support of Oxfam's fight against poverty. Other artists are Cambridge and Walker, Terence Blacker, Bill Pipe, Brooke Telling and Belinda Gillet. The concert takes place at Hunter Club, 6 St Andrews Street South, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3PH, starting at 7pm. Entry price is £10.00 and advance tickets are available from the two Bury Oxfam shops (or can be reserved from the same shops by phoning 01284 760666 or 01284 769823). To view the official poster click here .


Saturday 3rd September 2022, Wickham Skeith Music On The Green:
Maggie and Stan are doing an al fresco concert spot at this great event in support of Wickham Skeith Village Hall. Other artists are Steve Mckie and Mark and Katie. Music On the Green runs from 2-5pm, postcode IP23 8LX. Bar and BBQ are available. This is a free event but donations to the village hall are encouraged. To view the official poster click here .