SKIFFLE 78 JOHNNY DUNCAN - GOODNIGHT IRENE DB 4074 EX++

The American-born British skiffle star Johnny Duncan (not to be confused with the Texas-born country singer of the same name from the 1970s) brought a brand of country music to England during the late 1950s, enjoying considerable success in the process. His popularity lasted only for the duration of the British skiffle boom, from the summer of 1957 to the end of that year, beginning with "Last Train to San Fernando" (a British number two hit) and ending with "Blue Blue Heartache" and "Footprints in the Snow." The latter had been a hit for bluegrass legend Bill Monroe and Duncan claimed to have been a member of Monroe's band, but the doubts about that claim were only one area of mystery behind this most elusive figure ever to achieve stardom in country music (after a fashion) or to become a recording star England.

Duncan claimed Tennessee as his place of birth, and gave his year of birth as Sept. 7, 1931, but none of this information could ever be verified. The date may have been real, but the Tennessee birthplace was later deemed to be a complete fabrication, to make his status as a singer of folk- and country-style music more authentic. He was probably born in Michigan, and was stationed in England during his American military service. He married in England, and Duncan and his wife apparently went to America in the mid-1950s, after the end of his military service, but they came back to England in 1955 when his wife fell ill. He'd done some singing, and on seeing the new level of interest in American music, Duncan decided to try his luck at a musical career.

Johnny Duncan's style may have owed a lot to the fact that he was an American and could therefore carry a country and western style with more confidence than could most of his British contemporaries. He had been stationed in England with the US armed forces during the early 1950s and as a result had fallen in love and married an English girl. After returning home for a while after demobilisation, he decided to return and settle in the UK with his new wife. John had learned the guitar during his childhood and had developed a passion for American country music while in his teens- thus having some experience of playing in small groups from that time. His first engagement in the UK came with the Chris Barber Band after a brief audition. However, this coupling did not last long before Duncan had broken away, gained his own backing musicians and a recording contract with Columbia. His second release "Last Train To San Fernando" perhaps fell into the same railroad category as the earlier skiffle classics "Rock Island Line" and "Freight Train". Despite, or possibly because of, this the British public loved it and sent it almost to the top. It was narrowly held back from the very top spot by a song called 'Diana', sung by a very young Paul Anka. However, paradoxically perhaps, unlike Donegan and Chas. McDevitt, Duncan never got much recognition in his native US.

The group went on to score two further, much less memorable, hits in quick succession. Unfortunately, Johnny Duncan was unable to find another substantial hit to consolidate himself as a long term recording artist. Despite this the group remained popular for a long time after interest in his big hit had waned- probably aided by regular exposure on BBC radio's "Saturday Club" where his falsetto output could be listened to on most weekends. Although, he had no further hits he carried on producing good singles for Columbia over the next three years. He then switched recording companies as most artists did after a long absence from the chart- then unlike most other artists- he returned to his original label, Columbia.

Perhaps Johnny Duncan's distinctive style became a handicap that made it difficult for him to produce a new 'sound' that would once again attract record buyers. In any event, by the mid-1970s Johnny Duncan decided that his future no longer belonged in Britain and he resettled in Australia. Johnny Duncan died during 2000.

A SIDE: GOODNIGHT IRENE (LEDBELLY)

B SIDE:- IF YOU LOVE ME BABY (Duncan)

UK COLUMBIA DB 4074  10" 78rpm  SHELLAC

CONDITION = EX+/M-