I have the pleasure of receiving letters and e-mails from strangers – people who have sat in an audience and been as moved as I have been in performing lyrics which touch the soul. Dave Jordan was a rare and special talent in New Zealand. He wrote with a passion about topics from the mundane yet humorous to the breathtakingly sensitive.
Last week’s e-mail was an enquiry as to where my recordings could be accessed and how one song in particular had left its impression over 40 years. Dave’s “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” won a Silver Scroll in the industry and remains, to this day, one of our defining moments in music.
The enquiry:
Hi Christine,
I doubt that you will remember me, but a long time ago – in the late sixties, early seventies, I was a regular at the Banks Peninsula Folk Club. I sang warm-up acts from time to time, alone and with Phil Calder (and our group, “Penultimate”), Wyn Drabble, Eric McEachen and others, and often when you were the featured performer. One of your songs was Dave Jordan’s “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” which I found hauntingly beautiful then and still do.
After all these years of children and career and, now, grandchildren, I am back playing and singing and still haunted by that song.
I’ve searched for it on-line, but without success. However, my search picked up your website and I wondered if you may have a digital copy or could direct me to a web link where I could obtain it.
I trust that life has been good for you – it certainly seems to have been adventurous!
My reply:
I, too, was enchanted by “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” and regarded Dave’s writing as a mark of the soul of a few New Zealanders who represented the best part of our country’s lyricism at that time and now.
Before he left for London he came from Wellington to attend some folk nights in Chch and I was too shy to speak to him but I heard his words. Later, I met him at the anniversary of the folk club in Chch and at that time he was wheelchair bound and close to the end. We spent some time talking about the song and my recording of it. He was very complimentary; and for that I will remain humbled by his words.
Several months later I attended his wake. His son, his friends and I sang through the afternoon and into dusk and I was able to play his piano with his son sharing the stool. We had his ashes on the piano in order for closure. Eric sang “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” and Dave Calder contributed also.
I have searched the web and have found no real access to my version. It is mentioned but I have kept a low profile in order to continue with my love of music rather than the industry. Once I had recorded it, it was out of my hands or any form of ownership.
E-bay or Trade Me have the odd sale of the song which was recorded as the flip side of “Go-Go Girl”, one of my MD’s choices – not mine.
The disc’s catalogue Number is: MAS 109, 1969 7″ format and recorded on the MASTER label.
Please visit http://folksong.org.nz/dave_jordan/ in order to read more about Dave’s career.
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