Jan 22: Hugh Lupton: 'One in a Million'

Hugh Lupton is a master storyteller. He has been telling them for decades all over the world.

I have a wonderful little book that he wrote: 'The Dreaming of Place' which is all about myth and landscape, and full of insight and delight. It's published in Norwich by Propolis publishing.

From this collection spanning his career, including fiction, poetry, reviews, articles, talks and praise-songs, what emerges is a broad account of why our species remains so deeply connected both to the stories we tell and the land we inhabit; the relationship all peoples have with the landscape around them and how it shapes societies and the way they communicate. 

This is a story as old as Earth itself.

Drawing on his vast knowledge of folklore and legends from around the world, as well as an unrivalled experience of live storytelling, Lupton shows us how stories — always formed on the breath before the page — have nourished, taught and guided us for millennia.

You really should get a copy of this book.

Chris Wood's music will feature a number of times on the blog. He has toured by himself, and also with the wonderful melodeon player and musician Andy Cutting, and with the band 'The Imagined Village', who will also appear later on the blog.

I bought a cassette tape of Wood and Cutting's early album decades ago. 

Just checking and it was around 1990 when I saw them play together for the first time.

I also saw Andy playing with Blowzabella and solo since, and also in Kate Rusby's band. He's a wonderful musician.

Hugh wrote this masterful song about love in a chip shop that is 'One in a Million'. It is performed here by Chris Wood, recorded live at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival in 2009.

If you haven't heard this before, prepare to shed a tear.

It's a reminder that the real songwriters don't always get the full credit as people assume that the singer wrote it...