NEWSLETTER #125
Folk Music Of The British Isles & Europe
The Albion Band -> The Watersons
| THE ALBION BAND | Strange Fruit SFRSCD 050 | The BBC Sessions | ● CD $16.98 | |
| 16 tracks, 57 mins, highly recommended More wonderful early
Albion Band material from Strange Fruit - this time drawing on performances
recorded for BBC radio broadcasts made between 1973 and 1978 with four
different incarnations of the band including one of the first with Martin
Carthy, John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris. They do four tunes - three of them
from their seminal "Battle Of The Field" album and a terrific version of
I'll Go And List For A Sailor with a vocal by John. The remaining
sessions are with groups that were featured on the "Prospect Before Us" and
"Rise Up Like The Sun" albums featuring two drummers and among the
highlights are a particularly powerful version of Poor Old House and
a version of Richard Thompson's Albion Sunrise with a great lead
vocal by John Tams. A must have for Albion fans. (FS) |
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| BRENDAN BEGLEY | CDBOB 01 | Oiche Go Maidean - It Could Be A Good Night Yet | ● CD $18.98 | |
| Fine debut solo album from singer and melodeon and accordion
Begley who currently plays with the group Beginish and has worked with Boys
Of The Lough. Five songs and eight instrumental sets encompassing jigs,
airs, hornpipes, slides, reels and polkas. It's mostly just Brendan with
occasional added accompaniment. Delightful stuff. |
| COOPE BOYES & SIMPSON | No Masters Voice NMV 20 | Twenty-Four Seven | ● CD $16.98 | |
| New album by this fine English acapella trio is mostly
original topical songs from members of the group along with a couple of
traditional items and a couple written by Mike Waterson. |
| NICK DRAKE | Anthology 15.00 | Tanworth-In-Arden, 1967/68 | ● CD $14.98 | |
| 18 tracks, 45 mins, very good Available again. 18 previously
unissued performances from cult British folk favorite, probably recorded at
his house. The material is mostly folk & blues favorites popular on the
British folk scene at the time (Don't Think Twice, It's Alright/ Blues
Run The Game/ Cocaine Blues, etc.) The compilers claim that ten of the
songs here are Drake originals but I suspect that Bob Dylan and Bert Jansch
will be surprised to learn that Drake composed Tomorrow Is Such A Long
Time and Strollin' Down The Game. Poor old Jackson C. Frank gets
a double whammy - his Milk & Honey is credited to Drake and the
classic Blues Run The Game is credited to John Renbourn. Makes you
wonder about the others doesn't it? Still, some nice performances with low-fi
sound. (FS) |
| FAIRPORT CONVENTION | Burning Airlines PILOT 133 | Before The Moon | ● CD $22.98 | |
| This is certainly a great year for Fairport fans with all
kinds of releases coming out. This fine two CD set features two sets by the
band recorded live at the Ebbets Field Club in Denver, Colorado in 1974 -
shortly after Sandy Denny had rejoined the band. In addition to Sandy, the
band included Dave Swarbrick, Trevor Lucas, Jerry Donahue, Dave Pegg & Dave
Mattacks. There is some duplication between the two set but not a lot and we
get to hear fine performances of Rising For The Moon/ Dirty Linen/ Sloth/
Matty Groves/ Down In The Flood/ Fiddlestix/ Like An Old Fashioned Waltz/
Bring 'Em Down/ John The Gun and others. Sound quality is not always the
greatest but it's all quite listenable. IMPORTANT NOTE : This is a limited
edition - once the first pressing is sold out it will be repressed but with
only one disc featuring the first set so if you want the whole ball of wax
you should order early. |
| ASHLEY HUTCHINGS | BGO BGOCD 353 | Rattlebone & Ploughjack | ● CD $17.98 | |
| Reissue of 1976 Island album put together by Ashley
Hutchings as a documentary on Molly Dancing and the Border Morris featuring
both spoken and musical excerpts. None of the musicians are identified but
are thought to probably be Albionites like John Kirkpatrick, Richard
Thompson, etc. There is also one track from an early cylinder recording by
Herefordshire gypsy fiddler John Locke. |
| THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND | Collector's Choice 289 | 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of the Onion/Hangman's Beaut | ● CD $21.98 | |
| Two CDs, 23 tracks, highly recommended Two CD set reissuing
the band's second and third album. "5000 Spirits" from 1967 features
Williamson and Heron still generally working within the 3 and 4 minute song
limit, with a pronounced folk and blues influence although the lyrics are
pretty quirky and there's plenty of the beloved sitar and flute of later
years. Songs include First Girl I Loved/ Chinese White/ No Sleep Blues/
Painting Box/ The Mad Hatter's Song/ My Name Is Death, etc. On "Hangman"
from 1968 they reached the pinnacle of creativity. Their whimsical mixture
of traditional folk, rock festival hippy-ness, and a sackful of exotic
instruments coalesce into a charming and unique hybrid. They sing lines like
"And steal your crystalised ginger" and "We are the table cloth and also the
table..." but generally the lyrics are better. What really makes their music
special is the layering of the instruments in odd couplings. Dolly Collins
adds flute organ and piano to a couple of tunes. Includes The Minotaur's
Song/ Witches Hat/ Waltz Of The New Moon/ A Very Cellular Song/ The Water
Song, etc. (AE) |
| THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND | Elektra (UK) 61547 | The Incredible String Band | ● CD $14.98 | |
| 16 tracks, 45 mins., recommended. If any of the ISB reissues
belongs in every ISB fan's CD collection, this is probably the one. It's the
first appearance of the band in 1966, with Heron and Williamson working for
the only time with Clive Palmer, who left the band shortly afterward.
There's some brilliant young songwriting here, along with rough-hewn,
emotionally saturated instrumental and vocal work. You can hear Heron and
Williamson feel around for their voices, Robin definitely finding his in
Womankind, while Mike retained some strong Dylan influence on The
Tree. The band had yet to begin exploring the more exotic instruments,
sticking here with guitar, fiddle, flute and banjo, though there's a sitar
buzz in Robin's guitar that may or may not have been intentional. Heron's
liner notes reflect the happy, hopeful insistence infusing the lyrics-some
of the most singable of the ISB's prodigious output. (DC) |
| JULIE MURPHY & DYLAN POWELL | Fflach TRADD 248 | Ffawd | ● CD $19.98 | |
| Lovely album of traditional Welsh songs featuring superb
vocalist Murphy accompanied on acoustic guitar by Powell who provides
wonderfully imaginative and nuanced arrangements behind Murphy's vocals.
Most of the songs were collected by researchers in the late 19th and early
20th centuries. |
| SHANTALLA | Wild Boar 21030 | Seven Evening, Seven Mornings | ● CD $19.98 | |
| 12 tracks, 53 mins, highly recommended. I didn't hear this
groups' first album but this new one is a knockout! Shantalla features four
superb instrumentalists from Ireland (Joe Hennon/ guitar, Kieran Fahy/
fiddle & viola, Michael Horgan/ uilleann pipes, whistles & flute and Gerry
Murray/ accordion, bouzouki & whistles), along with a superb vocalist from
Scotland (Helen Flaherty) and their new one is on a label from Belgium! The
songs and tunes are mostly traditional along with some more recent
compositions in traditional vein. There are six songs and six instrumental
sets. The songs are terrific and the instrumental work is beautifully
conceived and with a power and cohesiveness that brings to mind the heyday
of The Bothy Band. There are no synthesizers or pretentious arrangements -
just great music beautifully performed by some extremely talented
performers. (FS) |
| JOHN SPIERS & JON BODEN | Fellside 161 | Through & Through | ● CD $16.98 | |
| New English duo featuring Boden - vocals & fiddle and Spiers
- melodeon & backing vocals. Their material is mostly traditional including
Rambling Sailor/ Earl Richard/ Osetry Wake/ Red Kites/ Boston Arbor/
Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy/ Down The Moor/ Gooseberry Bush, etc. The
instrumental work is splendid but I am a little uncomfortable with the
vocals - Boden's style is overly dramatic and, to me, sounds forced and
unnatural. (FS) |
| TARRAS | Topic TSCD 524 | Walking Down Main Street | ● CD $15.98 | |
| New album from this acclaimed group is mixture of original
and traditional songs and tunes. I don't find this group very appealing -
the arrangements are a little too slick and over produced for my liking. |
| LINDA THOMPSON | Rounder 3182 | Fashionably Late | ● CD $15.98 | |
| 10 tracks, 42 mins, essential. Wow! This is even better than
I had hoped. In the 70s Linda together with her then husband Richard made
some of the greatest folk-rock recordings of all time coupling Richard
magnificent songwriting and guitar playing with Linda's achingly beautifully
voice. The couple separated in the early 80s and Linda recorded one album
which found her moving in a more pop direction. Then disaster struck - Linda
had suffered from an anxiety disorder called hysterical dysphonia for some
years which made singing very difficult - by the late 80s she was unable to
sing at all and had to quit performing. In recent years she has been able to
overcome the disorder and record this album which finds Linda singing as
good as she ever has - those beautiful, clear vocal tones with a slight
catch are simply spine chilling. All but one of the songs here was written
or co-written by Linda and what a fine songwriter she has become. The feel
here is very much like Richard & Linda's classic albums - songs that are
rooted in British traditional and American country - beautiful and memorable
melodies and lyrics full of dark and imposing imagery. Arrangements are a
beautiful blend of acoustic and electric instruments featuring many great
performers from the British folk scene but the focus is on Linda's wonderful
singing and the glorious songs - I'm sure we'll be hearing other singers
covering songs like No Telling and Weary Life. Truly
wonderful. Linda is touring the USA in October and I know I can't wait! (FS)
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Dejavue Retro Gold 40107 | The Anthology Of Traditional Irish Muic | ● CD $11.98 | |
| Two CDs, 40 tracks, highly recommended. A wonderful
collection of Irish music from the 20s and 30s - mostly recorded in the USA
along with some recorded in Ireland and England - ballads, novelty songs,
fiddlers, concertina players pipers, ceilidh bands and more. Includes Frank
Quinn & Joe Maguire, James McCafferty, Packie Dolan, The Thunder Brothers &
Albert Healy, Kincora Ceilidh Band, Leo Rowsome, The Fingal Trio, Delia
Murphy, Richard Hayward, Sean O Siochain, Margaret Burke-Sheridan, John
Sheridan, Edward Mullaney & Patrick Stack, Patrick J. "Ptsy" Touhey and
others. Set was compiled by Ron Kavana who provides a brief introduction to
this collection. More detailed annotation would have been welcome. Sound
quality is excellent. (FS) |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | EMI/ Lime CDLATE 2 | The Late Late Show | ● CD $18.98 | |
| A 14 track collection featuring Irish artists who appeared
on the TV program "The Late Show". Mostly Irish folk from the 90s along with
few oddities - Brian Kennedy, Dolores Keane, Van Morrison (his 1967 hit
Brown Eyed Girl!), Sinead O'Connor (a lovely version of On Raglan
Road), Mick Hanley, The 4 Of Us, Altan, Eimar Quinn, The Waterboys and
others. |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Topic TSCD 519 | Shining Bright - The Songs Of Lal & Mike Waterson | ● CD $15.98 | |
| A tribute to the classic "Bright Phoebus" album recorded by
Lal & Mike Waterson in 1972. This album features songs from
"Bright Phoebus"
along with songs written for that project but not used performed by some of
today's top folk performers including: Linda & Teddy Thompson, Dick Gaughan,
Norma Waterson, The Eliza Carthy Band, Billy Bragg & The Blokes, Christine Collister & Oliver Knight, Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, Richard Thompson and
others. |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Topic TSCD 606 | Round The House And Mind The Dresser | ● CD $15.98 | |
| 28 tracks, highly recommended. Delightful compilation of
Irish country-house dance music - instrumental dance music played during
evening house-visiting within rural communities. The recordings here range
from the 20s through the 70s and includes solo fiddlers and accordeon
players as well as groups, sometimes with a saxophone. Featured are polkas,
slides, flings, mazurkas, waltzes and more. Artists include Erin's Pride
Orchestra, Johnny Docherty, Jimmy Power, Rose Murphy, Garyowen Irish
Recording Orchestra, The Flanagan Brothers, Hugh Gillespie, Paddy Killoran &
Paddy Sweeney, Frank Quinn, Julia Clifford, Bernard O'Sullivan, Terry Teahan,
James Morrison and others. Sound quality on the vintage recordings is
exceptional and 20 page booklet has extensive notes and discographical info
from compiler Reg Hall. (FS) |
| VARIOUS ARTISTS | Topic TSCD 607 | English Country Music | ● CD $14.98 | |
| Reissue of 1965 album with additional cuts and new notes. A
delightful collection of instrumental music recorded informally featuring
traditional East Anglian musicians and young collectors - an important
stimulus to the growing interest in instrumental music in England - Walter
Bulwer/fiddle, mandolin-banjo, Daisy Bulwer/piano, Billy Cooper/hammer
dulcimer, Reg Hall/melodeon & fiddle and others. |
| WATERSON:CARTHY | Topic TSCD 536 | Dark Light | ● CD $16.98 | |
| 11 tracks, 58 mins, essential Another fabulous collection of
traditional songs and tunes from this wonderful family group - Martin
Carthy, his wife Norma Waterson and their daughter Eliza Carthy. They are
among the finest singers in Britain and Martin and Eliza are superb
instrumentalists. For their fourth album they are joined by the splendid Tim
van Eyken on melodeon and vocals plus occasional guest instrumentalists. The
songs are performed solo, as duets, trios and quartets and is drawn from the
repertoire of some of the great traditional singers who inspired the members
of the group including Seamus Ennis, Sam Larner, Almeda Riddle, Packie Manus
Byrne and others. Songs include The Devil & The Farmer/ Death & The Lady/
The Lofty tall Ship/ The Old Churchyard/ Diego's Bold Shore and others.
Just when you think it can't get any better the album ends with a true piece
de resistance - a version of the traditional hymn Sheperds Arise
inspired by the singing of the great and influential Copper Family. It opens
with a spine chilling modal fiddle intro by Eliza and then the glorious
vocal harmonies come in and ends with the fiddle being joined by Martin's
guitar and Tim's melodeon - the result is stunning and inspired. Glorious.
(FS) |
| THE WATERSONS | Topic TSCD 500 | Green Fields | ● CD $15.98 | |
| Reissue of Topic 415 from 1981 with bonus solo tracks by
Mike and solo and duet tracks from Lal and Norma. This album, their first in
3 years, is all songs set in the English countryside and is up to their
accustomed high standard - excellent notes by A.L.Lloyd - Stormy Winds/
Fare Thee Well Cold Winter/ While Game Keepers Lie Sleeping/ We'll All Go
A-Hunting Today/ Rosebuds in June/ I Went to Market, etc. |