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Added 5th June 2007 by mat

Artefact

Photograph
Wilbraham Road Railway Station
1964

Well I don't think there'll be too many entries for this venue!

The Blues and Gospel Train was a fantastic 40 minute piece of musical history... Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee came to Manchester and filmed a performance on the platform of Chorlton Train Station (now a Morrison's Supermarket!). The station was made to look like a deep south railway shack, with a live goat roaming a round. The musicians boarded the 'Blues and Gospel Train' at Central Station (G-MEX). When the train reached Chorlton everyone alighted and the gig took place. right on the platform. Whilst waiting for the train to turn up it poured with rain, giving Sister Rosetta Tharpe a chance to play an impromtu 'Didn't it Rain?'.

Details of the show can be found in Joe Boyd's book 'White Bycicles'.

The producer of the program was Johnny Hamp who did much for music and entertainment on Granada in the 60s.

This photograph was sent to us by photographer Brian Smith and shows Brownie McGee and Sonny Terry on the opposite platform. You can just make out an old Granada TV camera on the far left.
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Latest Discussion

“Fairly sure this is NOT Chorlton station but the old Wilbraham Rd Station (Alexandra Rd South) further on down the line.”
“>> Fairly sure this is NOT Chorlton station but the old Wilbraham Rd Station <<
You're right, according to www.mdmarchive.co.uk/artefact/2965/Wi...

The performances are intense, almost frightening -- in weird contrast to the unintentionally hilarious audience shots, corny props (a crate of chickens on the piano), an astonishingly cheesy setting (suburban Manchester railway station dressed up as the Deep South) and constant, heavy, English rain.

Shown at the National Film Theatre in London a few years ago, hope it comes back one day.”
01 Feb 2008
“well.. yes i have heard that this was infact the old station along Wilbraham Rd, near where it joins Withington Rd and Alexandra Rd South.”
02 Feb 2008
“Chris Bowden, Drummer with Paul Fenda and the Teenbeats 1961-1963. Later with John Morgan and the BASIX. (see Manchester District Music Archive)
I was one of the BASIXS invited to take part in the filming of the Granada Televison programme "The Blues and Gospel Train". We had to meet at Central Station and were filmed running (over the camera man) onto the platform (usually reserved for the prestigious "Midland Pullman" Once on the train we were filmed performing a few of our usual favourite Blues numbers. On arrival at Wilbraham Road (aka "Chorltonville") we joined the crowd and watched Muddy Waters walking the track toward the station. What a day.
The station at Wilbraham Road was disused and part of the closed Manchester Central to Faifield loop line.
Whatever happened to John Morgan and the rest of the BASIXS.
Chris Bowden, alive and kicking but not drumming.”
25 Jan 2014
“Yea it was the old station near alexander rd...I was there!”
05 Jun 2016
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