Tag: Paul Oliver

  • In praise of Paul Oliver

    In praise of Paul Oliver

    The name Paul Oliver probably won’t ring a bell for you, unless you’re a vernacular architectural historian or a blues enthusiast.  But if you belong to either camp or (unlikely, but possible) both, then you’ll almost certainly feel a debt to him. Born in Nottingham in 1927 and brought up in London, he was many…

  • Poor boy long ways from home

    Poor boy long ways from home

    Has a song title ever said so much in so few words?  This one has the reputation of being one of the oldest blues songs.  That’s a claim that’s hard to substantiate, but this song certainly has a long history, and it’s still alive and well today. ‘Poor boy long ways from home’, often shortened…