As a child I was a huge fan of Richard Digance. I used to avidly wait for his TV shows and write down all the words to the songs. He might not be a cool comedian these days, and I’d expect if I heard him now the years wouldn’t have been kind and I’d probably find him shit, he’s not on telly any more though and I’ve never found any of his stuff anyway to test him.. Like all other things of nostalgia… Why have Wagon Wheels got smaller, do you remember spangles etc.
Myself and Martin Evans were to be driving to Sunderland for a gig. Well, he driving, me not. This was like going to Edinburgh all over again.
Sunderland is a long way away. I thought it best to get some supplies before we left, so I went to the charity shop and rummaged around the tapes at 59p each.
With giddy excitement I pulled out the following…
… oh my god.
We could listen to this on the way, it’s a six hour journey, we could listen to it again and again.
Martin had never heard of Richard Digance, I gave him a brief biography from my memory as we left London.
By the time we were past the midlands, converation was lulling so I thought it time to listen. I put the tape in…
He has a good singing voice has old richard. Song not very funny though.
Not in the way that means I think it’s shit. It’s just not a funny song, nor was the next one. Nor the next one.
This concert was recorded when he was still a folk singer, before he started doing comedy.
I felt quite disappointed.