a group set up to re-open the once mainly derelict line between Northallerton and Garsdale in Yorkshire, near where he now lives. He is also the patron of Settle Stories, a charity based in Settle, North Yorkshire, that promotes traditional storytelling and runs the annual Settle Storytelling Festival. Harding contributed to a promotional leaflet for the Settle tourist board. Discography Albums A Lancashire Lad (1972, Trailer LER 2039) There Was This Bloke (1974 Rubber Records RUB 010) with Tony Capstick, Derek Brimstone and Bill Barclay Mrs 'Ardin's Kid (1975, Rubber Records RUB 011) – UK No.24 The Rochdale Cowboy Rides Again (1975, Rubber Records RUB 015/016) One Man Show (1976, Philips 6625 022) – UK No.19 Old Four Eyes is Back (1977, Philips 6308 290) – UK No.31 Captain Paralytic & The Brown Ale Cowboys (1978, Philips 6641 798) – UK No.60 On The Touchline (1979, Philips 9109 230) Komic Kutz (1979, Philips 6625 041) Red Specs Album (1981, Polydor 2383 601) Take Your Fingers Off It (1982, Moonraker MOO1) Rooted! (1983, Moonraker MOO2) Flat Dogs and Shaky Pudden (1983, BBC Records REH 468) Bomber's Moon (1984, Moonraker MOO3) Roll Over Cecil Sharpe (1985, Moonraker MOO7) Foo Foo Shufflewick & Her Exotic Banana (1986, Moonraker MOO8) The Best of Mike Harding (1986, Rubber Records RUB 047) Plutonium Alley (1989, Moonraker MOO9) God's Own Drunk (1989, Moonraker MOO10) Footloose in the Himalaya (1990, Moonraker MOOC11) Chinese Takeaway Blues (1992, Moonraker MOO11) The Bubbly Snot Monster (1994, Moonraker MOO14) Classic Tracks (1995, Moonraker CD MOO13) Singles "Rochdale Cowboy" / "Strangeways Hotel" (1975, Rubber Records ADUB 3) – UK No.22 "My Brother Sylveste" / "Uncle Joe's Mint Balls" (1976, Rubber Records ADUB 4) "Talking Blackpool Blues" / "Bogey Man" (1976, Rubber Records ADUB 10) Guilty, But Insane (EP): includes "Born Bad" / "Jimmy Spoons" / "Manuel" (1977, Philips CLOG 1) "Christmas 1914" / "P.S. God" (1977, Philips 6006 585) "Disco Vampire" / "For Carlo" (1977, Philips CLOG 2) Other recordings "Ale is Physick for Me" / "Ten Per Cent" on Deep Lancashire (1968, Topic 12T 188) "Sammy Shuttleworth" on Owdham Edge (1970, Topic 12T 204) "Ale is Physick for Me" / "Ten Per Cent" / Sammy Shuttleworth" on Deep Lancashire (1997, Topic TSCD 485) "Ale is Physick for Me" on And We'll All Have Tea (2000, Retro R2CD) Collaborations Plays tenor banjo and harmonica on "Jump Ararnd" with The Bar-Steward Sons of Val