Ian Campbell was born June 10, 1933 in Aberdeen, Scotland and his family moved to Birmingham in 1946. He formed the Clarion Skiffle Group in the mid 1950s along with his sister Lorna who was also the singer. They were later joined by guitarist Dave Phillips and banjo player Gordon McCulloch, and by 1958 were known as the Ian Campbell Four.
By 1960, McCulloch had been replaced by John Dunkerly and the group had another additional member, violinist Dave Swarbrick, born April 5, 1941 in London who had moved to Birmingham when he was eight-years-old.
The group played regularly around Birmingham, often appearing at The Crown Pub on Station Street. It was there that they recorded a live performance that was released as ‘Ceilidh At The Crown’ in 1962.
The following year, the group was signed to Transatlantic Records and released their debut album, ‘This Is The Ian Campbell Folk Group. During this time, Philips left to be replaced by Brian Clark.
In 1965, the group had a hit single with their version of Bob Dylan’s, ‘The Times They Are A-Changin.’
1966 saw Swarbrick leave and later join Fairport Convention (see under artists). Bass player and former member of The Uglys (see under artists) Dave Pegg joined the group the following year but would also leave a few years later to join Swarbrick in Fairport Convention.
Nevertheless, the group continued to tour and released records throughout the 60s and 70s. Tragically, John Dunkerley died of Hodgkinsons disease in 1977 at only 35 years old. The group dispersed in the late 1970s.
Interesting fact:
Ian Campbell is father to Ali and Robin Cambell of Birmingham’s internationally famous reggae group, UB40
Discography:
*Ceilidh At The Crown (1962)
*This Is The Ian Campbell Folk Group (1963)
*Across The Hills (1964)
*Coaldust Ballads (1965)
*Contemporary Campbells (1966)
*Tam O’Shanter (1968)
*The Circle Game (1968)
*Ian Campbell With The Ian Campbell Folk Group And Dave Swarbrick (1969)
There Are Currently 8 Comments for this Post
Is there any CD made from Ian Campbell’s Tam o’Shanter record?
in the early 1960s i was a member o the heart of england folk group in leamington spa, and clearly remember performing at digbeth civic institute (?) and the campbells appearing at the leamington club. I also remember dave phillips appearing and would like to get more info about him. Thanks
And I remember NUJ meetings in the late Sixties at the Bedford pub in Leamington Spa. I don’t recall much union business but Kevin entertained us playing piano and singing. Barrie White of the Heart of England Folk Group made guest appearances (even though he wasn’t a journalist). It was an Irish pub so much Guinness was drunk and Irish songs of rebellion sung. Great days.
I was at Warwick University from 1966-69 and ran a Tape Recording Society, whose members built their own machines, usually based on Brenell decks. One of the sessions I did In 1968 was of The Heart of England Folk Group, and also Stan Kelly [Bootle] for whom they provided the backing. I’ve still got these recordings (now in iTunes format).
I was interested to see Mike Lane’s posting and wonder if he, or any other reader, has details about this group?
The Jug O’ Punch was in the function room at the back of Digbeth Civic Hall (where it moved after The Crown). I used to go every week from about ’63 – 67ish and saw an unrepeatable line-up of guests from great trad singers like Margaret Barry, great and long gone Americans such as Doc Watson & Hedy West, and Paul Simon & Arlo Guthrie. All this plus the early days of Martin Carthy and other great revival artists. It should get a retrospective award in the BBC Folk Club of the year awards.
Sad to report that Dave Phillips died over 20 years ago; I remember Carthy telling me he and Swarb went to his funeral.
Have you got a recording of Lorna Campbell of the Ian Campbell Folk Group singing ‘The first time ever I saw your face’ ? She was the first singer I ever heard singing this song, and still the best version I remember. So much better than Roberta Flack!!
Such fond memories of the Jug O’Punch Digbeth Civic Hall in the 60’s. I agree with Margaret Symonds that Lorna’s version of ‘First Time Ever I saw your Face’ was outstanding! The best version. Better than Roberta Flack!! You could have heard a pin drop!!
Recently walked round Digbeth to see if my memory of the folk club’s location ( i.e.at Digbeth Institute) was correct.. The area has changed & I was sure that ,after getting off the bus from Sheldon, me and my schoolfriend had gone down a side street to a side entrance ? down steps ? to a semi-basementish venue – a bit gloomy. I remain unclear about that. However I clearly recall the group with Swarbrick included. Martin Carthy must have appeared more than once, as the first couple of lines of a song ‘ The Qeen of Hearts’ have stayed with me and have not seen him anywhere else. Our vistits must have been between 1958 – 64 approx. – I left for London in 1960 but came back during student vacations. We had not seen them at The Crown, which must have been earlier. Gordon McCullogh I don’t remember there, but as I transitioned to McColl’s Singers Club in London’ he became a familiar figure together with Enoch Kent & other Scots. This was the era of CND so the 2 track Topic EP I have is of ‘The Sun is Burning’ + The Crow and the Cradle’. Being a relatively unsophisticated female Grammar Grub at the time, I assumed that amazing performers like Swarbrick were older than me, but now that ‘we” are speedily being consigned to the History category, I can see it differently. As for how & why we began going to the folk club, or how we first heard about it, I can’t say. But we did go to a Youth Club by Yardley Church from the age of 14/ 1955-6 where it was all jiving to Gene Vincent & Lonnie Donegan and there was a Skiffle Group. Bits of UK folk traditions were familiar to us in one form or another through family, school, radio, records…