Adge Cutler
Encyclopedia
Alan John 'Adge' Cutler (19 November 1931 – 5 May 1974) was an English
singer who had as his backing band the country and Western folk group The Wurzels
. Cutler was known for his songs, but also his dry, West Country humour, and gained the unofficial title of "The Bard Of Avonmouth".
. Nicknamed 'Adge' by his friends, from his initials A.J., he lived in the small North Somerset
town of Nailsea
. He spent his earlier years pursuing various jobs he would use as material for later songs, including road manager for Acker Bilk, working in a cider
mill (Coates of Nailsea), and working on building a power station in North Wales
. He spent a year in Spain
working as an agent looking for property. During his time there he grew to love the country and the Spanish way of life, as well as becoming fluent in Spanish
.
In 1972, he married Yvonne, moving to Tickenham
, a few miles north of Nailsea.
Virtually all of Cutler's recordings are live; one album, "Cutler of the West", was recorded at the Webbington Country Club, which is very easy to see on the M5 motorway
, on the slopes of Crook Peak
.
sports car
on a roundabout
in Chepstow
, following a Wurzels concert
. Cutler is buried in the graveyard of Christ Church, Nailsea
.
, his local side. Many incorrectly believe he wrote "Morning Glory", which was later re-written as the Bristol City song "One for the Bristol City", which is played when the teams enter the pitch on both halves of their home games at Ashton Gate
. However, both songs were written after Adge's death. Some also believe Adge may have been a Rovers fan; however, this too is factually incorrect.
"Pill Pill" – A song about Pill, Somerset, a village dear to Adge's heart
"When the Common Market Comes to Stanton Drew
" – Written in response to opening up of trade with Europe, Adge suggests what might happen to Somerset culture when Europeans come over.
"Champion Dung Spreader" – An answer song to "My Old Man's a Dustman", where Adge tells of his father's occupation as a champion dung spreader.
"Thee's Gott'n where thee cassn't back'n hassn't" – A song about a young couple getting into all sorts of jams in their new car around Bristol (except for one verse, which happens in Paris), very double-entendre-ish. Much of it is sung in Bristolian. The title is 'translated' as "You've got it where you can't reverse it, haven't you?".
"The Charlton Mackrell Jugband" – About a village band and their rise to the top of the charts. The fictitious band members are Amos Draper, Bernard Mace, Arnold Slugg and the singers (we assume to be Adge). The name of Charlton Mackrell
is not used in the lyrics, so other bands have adapted it; including "the Piddletrenthide Jugband".
"Drink Up Thy Zyder" – Regarded as the National anthem of North Somerset and Bristol, if not all of Somerset. By far the most famous Adge Cutler song, often played on local radio. Also the 'theme tune' of Bristol City F.C.
"Don't tell I Tell 'ee" A song about not wanting to be burdened with others troubles.
"Twice Daily" – Perhaps one of Adge's best known and loved songs, it was released as a B-Side on the band's first single "Drink up thy Zyder" in 1967. Deemed too raunchy and banned by the BBC, it tells the story of a farm labourer who begins a physical relationship with a female co-worker called 'Lucy Bailey'. ("She ups 'n slips, zummat rips, I went there Twice Daily!"). This results in her pregnancy and a subsequent Shotgun wedding arranged by her father. All ends happily however, since they spend 40 years together and produce a further 9 children, with no apparent slowdown in the physical side of the relationship either. ("Tho' I'm old and grey when I gets me way, I still go there Twice Daily..").
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer who had as his backing band the country and Western folk group The Wurzels
The Wurzels
The Wurzels are a British Scrumpy and Western band...
. Cutler was known for his songs, but also his dry, West Country humour, and gained the unofficial title of "The Bard Of Avonmouth".
Early life
Alan John Cutler was born in Portishead, SomersetPortishead, Somerset
Portishead is a coastal town on the Severn Estuary within the unitary authority of North Somerset, which falls within the ceremonial county of Somerset England. It has a population of 22,000, an increase of over 3,000 since the 2001 census, with a growth rate of 40 per cent, considerably in excess...
. Nicknamed 'Adge' by his friends, from his initials A.J., he lived in the small North Somerset
North Somerset
North Somerset is a unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare....
town of Nailsea
Nailsea
Nailsea is a town in the unitary authority of North Somerset within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England, approximately to the southwest of Bristol and about to the northeast of the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. The nearest village is Backwell, which lies south of Nailsea on the...
. He spent his earlier years pursuing various jobs he would use as material for later songs, including road manager for Acker Bilk, working in a cider
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
mill (Coates of Nailsea), and working on building a power station in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. He spent a year in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
working as an agent looking for property. During his time there he grew to love the country and the Spanish way of life, as well as becoming fluent in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
In 1972, he married Yvonne, moving to Tickenham
Tickenham
Tickenham is a village and civil parish near Clevedon and Nailsea, North Somerset, England. The parish has a population of 909. It has a primary school and a village hall, but no shops, although it formerly had a post office....
, a few miles north of Nailsea.
Musical career
Cutler's songs are largely sung in his own accent, though some are in an exaggerated Bristolian accent, and one in West Indian dialect. Cutler was influenced by Len "Uke" Thomas, a singer who left no recordings but who sang in the Bristolian dialect and who was a well known Bristol entertainer.Virtually all of Cutler's recordings are live; one album, "Cutler of the West", was recorded at the Webbington Country Club, which is very easy to see on the M5 motorway
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
, on the slopes of Crook Peak
Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill
Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill to is a 332.2 hectare geological and biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the western end of the Mendip Hills, Somerset, notified in 1952.-The site:...
.
Death
On 5 May 1974, he died when he crashed his MGBMG MGB
The MGB is a sports car launched by MG Cars in May 1962 to replace the MGA. Introduced as a four-cylinder roadster, a coupé with 2+2 seating was added in 1965...
sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
on a roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
in Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
, following a Wurzels concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
. Cutler is buried in the graveyard of Christ Church, Nailsea
Nailsea
Nailsea is a town in the unitary authority of North Somerset within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England, approximately to the southwest of Bristol and about to the northeast of the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. The nearest village is Backwell, which lies south of Nailsea on the...
.
Football supporter
Cutler was a massive fan of Bristol City F.C.Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, his local side. Many incorrectly believe he wrote "Morning Glory", which was later re-written as the Bristol City song "One for the Bristol City", which is played when the teams enter the pitch on both halves of their home games at Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate Stadium is a stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it has an all-seated capacity of 21,497, with an effective capacity for football matches of around 19,500, with an average...
. However, both songs were written after Adge's death. Some also believe Adge may have been a Rovers fan; however, this too is factually incorrect.
Songs
Some of Cutler's best known songs include:"Pill Pill" – A song about Pill, Somerset, a village dear to Adge's heart
"When the Common Market Comes to Stanton Drew
Stanton Drew
Stanton Drew is a small village and civil parish within the Chew Valley in Somerset, England, situated north of the Mendip Hills, south of Bristol in the Bath and North East Somerset Unitary Authority....
" – Written in response to opening up of trade with Europe, Adge suggests what might happen to Somerset culture when Europeans come over.
"Champion Dung Spreader" – An answer song to "My Old Man's a Dustman", where Adge tells of his father's occupation as a champion dung spreader.
"Thee's Gott'n where thee cassn't back'n hassn't" – A song about a young couple getting into all sorts of jams in their new car around Bristol (except for one verse, which happens in Paris), very double-entendre-ish. Much of it is sung in Bristolian. The title is 'translated' as "You've got it where you can't reverse it, haven't you?".
"The Charlton Mackrell Jugband" – About a village band and their rise to the top of the charts. The fictitious band members are Amos Draper, Bernard Mace, Arnold Slugg and the singers (we assume to be Adge). The name of Charlton Mackrell
Charlton Mackrell
Charlton Mackrell is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated three miles east of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 996....
is not used in the lyrics, so other bands have adapted it; including "the Piddletrenthide Jugband".
"Drink Up Thy Zyder" – Regarded as the National anthem of North Somerset and Bristol, if not all of Somerset. By far the most famous Adge Cutler song, often played on local radio. Also the 'theme tune' of Bristol City F.C.
"Don't tell I Tell 'ee" A song about not wanting to be burdened with others troubles.
"Twice Daily" – Perhaps one of Adge's best known and loved songs, it was released as a B-Side on the band's first single "Drink up thy Zyder" in 1967. Deemed too raunchy and banned by the BBC, it tells the story of a farm labourer who begins a physical relationship with a female co-worker called 'Lucy Bailey'. ("She ups 'n slips, zummat rips, I went there Twice Daily!"). This results in her pregnancy and a subsequent Shotgun wedding arranged by her father. All ends happily however, since they spend 40 years together and produce a further 9 children, with no apparent slowdown in the physical side of the relationship either. ("Tho' I'm old and grey when I gets me way, I still go there Twice Daily..").