Big Al Whittle

STOP PRESS:

ON THE SKEGNESS PAGE YOU CAN HEAR THE NEW STUDIO RECORDING OF THE SKEGNESS SONG RECORDED TODAY AT THE SOUNDWORKS STUDIOIN LEEDS.
OCTOBER 29th 2007

Click here to see some video of Big Al playing and singing some of his songs

Hi there!

Thanks for checking out my website.

My name is Alan Whittle and I regard myself as a folksinger/guitarist and songwriter.

Folkmusic has always been my interest since I was about fifteen and I heard the my first Bob Dylan, Bert Jansch and Tom Paxton albums. Although by then, I was already an enthusiastic strummer. Those guys influenced me to become a finger picker of the guitar.

Welcome to my website. For regular readers my apologies for not updating more often.

A lots been happening. Woven Wheat has gone out of business - so you can't get my album from there any more.

I've been trying to write using open tunings - primarily open G, but also D.

I've gotten interested in the Irish poet PJ Kavanagh and after hearing Pete Rowan's version of his Raglan Road poem. I have decided to write a new webpage about it and make some attempt at recording it myself in G tuning!

I've put it on my video camera

there is a link page one to You tube where I'm putting videos of some of my more popular songs. I've also video-ed two traditional songs - Arthur MacBride and Peggy Gordon. The voice has come out a little weak - and I will try and record it properly on my portastudio. HoweverI was asked to make sure that people could see my fingers twiddling about when I recorded songs on video - so it does that for people who want to pinch bits off my arrangements, without the hassle of writing the chords out! Lets face it - its the way we all learn to play guitar watching other people - and nowadays you can slow it down watch it in slo-mo, if that's your cup of tea!

Mudcat continues to be a source of innocent fun and I hereby send a message of welcome and bonhomie to all my fellow contributors on that page. What larks!

I have had to close down the Guest book facility, I was receiving loads of crazy spam - hundreds of mad messages every day. Anyway I am easily contactable by phone or e-mail - so if you want leave me a comment please feel free to do so. If you find any reference to the guestbook on this site - just disregard it.

Theres quite a lot about my life. Anyway I hope you like the Big Al website and find it entertaining and interesting.

If you don't - well I'm always ready to listen, even if actually learning anything is beyond me at the age of 59.

The site is primarily about my songs, and music. And hopefully it will tell you all you need to know.

But get in contact if you feel you want to discuss anything, or get to know me and my music better. I'm always happy to meet new friends.

Donal Ross Skinner - legendary rock guitarist behind many of Julian Cope's hit records

I have recently ordered 200 more copies of the St Peter and John Dillinger cd. If you would like one. The cost of producing these things seems to have gone down - so now I've taken delivery - you will be able to order one off me for £5 payable through paypal and I will be able to send you one wherever you are in the world.

The bulk of a new album was recorded with Donald Ross Skinner in January. However it seemed a little incomplete - so I've been trying to write a few trax to complete it.

There are several complete songs that can be downloaded on this site. Unlike some songwriters who only put their lacklustre items - there are versions of the very popular 'Trish' and 'George Joseph Smith'. These are the versions on the latest album - completely free!

You could browse through the review section. Most of the testimonies are from folk club organisers who have been nice enough to write me a review.

Anyway more news later!..

My phone number is
01773812626

Mobile 07886986883
or e-mail me at
d.whittle@ntlworld.com

I'm always pleased to hear from you!

Big Al Whittle “Don’t Act Stupid and Stop Acting Clever!” (Independent 2003) When you’re faced by something like this it’s difficult to know how to react - is this an idiot savant or just an idiot? The opening ‘George Joseph Smith’ tells the story of the mass murderer, the chorus of which is ‘drown her in the bath, drown her in the bath, coz I’m a psychopath’. Genius or lunatic, or both. ‘Big Red Sausage’ is a seaside postcard brought to life and ‘Swimming Pool’ is a disturbing tale of a 9 year old in lust/love. ‘Telephone Song’ proves he can do sad too - this record won’t bore you, and I smile every time I think about it. My guess is genius and lunatic. Available direct from Big Al himself for £7 inc p&p, phone 01773 812626.

Americana UK REVIEW

This album has since been upgraded to contain 8 more trax besides the ones that earned this review. It now has 19 trax and a new title:-

St Peter and John Dillinger

BUY IT NOW FOR JUST £5 (p&p inc)

In Concert at The Y Theatre Leicester

I sat down by Wtham side and watched the river flowing.....

Alan and Denise and Rummenigge!

Roger Brooks - the late Nottingham songwriter whose appartment song is on the Dillinger Album

Sunjay Brain - a brilliant young guitarist who you will hear of in the not too distant future

Kandinsky painting - 'the Blue Rider races to the top of the picture....

Nelly just showed her knickers, and she had an awful lotta fun....

an awful lotta fun....

Want to get in touch? You can send me e-mail at:

d.whittle@ntlworld.com