Humblebums

The Humblebums were a Scottish folk rock band, based in Glasgow. Its members included Billy Connolly, who later became a renowned stand-up comedian and actor, guitarist Tam Harvey and the singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty. The band was active from 1965 to 1971. Connolly co-founded the band with Harvey in 1965 and played in the pubs and clubs around the city, most notably the Old Scotia Bar. Connolly sang, played banjo and guitar, and entertained the audience with his humorous introductions to the songs. Harvey was an accomplished bluegrass guitarist.

Rafferty joined later and for a short time they performed as a trio. However, the nature of the act had changed and Harvey departed shortly afterwards. The remaining duo broke up in the early 1970s after recording two albums of material: The New Humblebums and Open Up the Door, the former graced by a cover by John "Patrick" Byrne, marking the beginning of a long working relationship between Byrne and Rafferty. Connolly embarked on a solo career while Rafferty recorded a low-impact solo album, Can I Have My Money Back?, then formed Stealers Wheel with Joe Egan before eventually emerging as a major recording act with "Baker Street".

A number of songs performed by Connolly on his early comedy albums originated with the Humblebums, and actual Humblebums recordings also frequently turn up on Connolly compilations. A number of Humblebums recordings were reissued following Connolly's rise to international stardom. The Rafferty tracks from this period have been released in a variety of formats, some with just Humblebums material, others adding some or all of Can I Have My Money Back?.

Links to Peel
Peel discovered the Humblebums in 1969 and the group performed a session for his show. The Humblebums also performed a gig, that was broadcast as part of John Peel's Sunday Concert in 1970. After the group split, singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty had a solo career and also performed a session for Peel's show in 1973. Billy Connolly who later became a stand up comedian and actor praised Peel on This Is Your Life and proclaimed him as his hero in an interview for the Independent newspaper in 2012. 

Sessions
1. Recorded: 1970-02-23. Broadcast: 07 March 1970. Repeated: 13 June 1970
 * Please Sing A Song For Us / Harry / Rick Rack / Mother / Everybody Knows That

Other Shows Played

 * Billy Connolly & Gerry Rafferty (The Humblebums) - Everybody Knows That
 * 04 October 1969: Everybody Knows That (LP - The New Humblebums) Transatlantic
 * 15 November 1969: Please Sing A Song For Us (LP – The New Humblebums) Transatlantic
 * 29 November 1969: Please Sing A Song For Us (LP – The New Humblebums) Transatlantic
 * 20 December 1969: Please Sing A Song For Us (LP - The New Humblebums) Transatlantic
 * 1970
 * Billy Connolly) January 1970: Look Over The Hills And Far Away (LP: The New Humblebums) Transatlantic
 * 14 February 1970: Please Sing A Song For Us (LP – The New Humblebums) Transatlantic
 * 28 February 1970: Shoeshine Boy (single) Big T
 * 11 April 1970: Shoeshine Boy (single) Big T
 * 07 June 1970: Live set
 * 19 September 1970: Mother (LP – Open Up The Door) Transatlantic
 * 17 October 1970: All The Bent People Do It (LP - Open Up The Door) Transatlantic
 * 07 November 1970: Harry (LP - Open The Door) Transatlantic
 * 1973
 * 22 May 1973: Sing A Song For Us (LP – The Humblebums) Transatlantic
 * 1991
 * 26 May 1991: 'Please Sing A Song For Us' (LP 'Humblebums') Liberty