NEWSLETTER #136
Folk Music - American, British Isles, etc.
Peter Bellamy ->
The Woods Band
| ENGLAND |
PETER BELLAMY |
Fellside 187 |
Peter Bellamy/ Fair Annie |
● CD $16.98 |
Two CDs, 33 tracks, highly recommended
Two CD set of sides
by this brilliant and much missed English folk performer. The first CD
reissues his superb eponymous 1974 Green Linnet album with four bonus
unissued tracks. Peter sings acapella or accompanies himself on concertina
and guitar on On Board A "98"/ The Poacher's Fats/ Rigs Of The Time/
Firelock Stile/ A Ship To England Came/ Nostradamus/ The Mountain Streams
Where The Moorcocks Crow and others - mostly traditional English
songs. The second disc features recordings made in 1980 and 1981 and
originally issued on a limited edition cassette. He is joined by Chris
Leslie on harmony vocals and Dave Swarbrick adds fiddle on the saucy
Maid Of Australia. On these recordings Peter spreads his net wider
including songs from Ireland, America and Australia. The 12 page booklet
includes notes on Peter's life and music by Raymond Greenoaken and
includes Peter's notes on the songs on the original Green Linnet album.
Superb traditional music. (FS)
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| AMERICA |
NORMAN & NANCY BLAKE |
Vestapol 13059 |
The Video Collection, 1980-1995 |
● CD $22.98 |
DVD Now on DVD. 23 film clips of performances from the period
1980 to 1995 - 62 mins.
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| ENGLAND |
SHIRLEY COLLINS & ALBION COUNTRY BAND |
Castle CMRCD 951 |
No Roses |
● CD $14.98 |
9 tracks, essential
Back in print on a new label. Shirley
with her fragile, vulnerable and breathy vocal style is the quintessential
interpreter of English traditional song. In spite of her abiding
commitment to tradition she is not afraid to experiment with musical
arrangements and this, her first venture into folk-rock, is one of the
high points of her career and one of the greatest folk albums of the 70s.
Recorded in 1971 under the direction of he then husband Ashley Hutchings
and Sandy Robertson, Shirley is accompanied by a veritable who's who of
British folk and folk-rock musicians including Richard Thompson/ guitars,
Dave Mattacks/ drums & percussion, Roger Powell/ drums, Lol Coxhill/ alto
sax, Dave Bland/ concertina & hammered dulcimer, John Kirkpatrick/
accordion, Nic Jones/ fiddle, Colin Ross/ Northumbrian pipes, Francis
Baines/ hurdy gurdy, Trevor Crozer/ Jews harp and others. There are also
vocals harmonies by Maddy Prior, Nic Jones, Royston Wood, Mike Waterson
and more! The songs are an impeccable selection and includes Claudy
Banks/ Banks Of The Bann/ Murder Of Maria Martin (some very
imaginative arrangements on this one) Van Dieman's Land/ The White
Hare/ Poor Murdered Woman and others. Transfer to compact disc is
excellent and set comes with new notes and commentary on each of the
songs. Essential listening ! (FS)
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| ENGLAND |
BOB DAVENPORT |
Topic TSCD 552 |
The Common Stone |
● CD $21.98 |
New album - the first in a long while by this superb
singer from Gateshead in the North of England who started his career in
the early 60s with the group The Rakes. He performs a selection of
traditional, original and contemporary songs and is joined by a bevy of
British singers and instrumentalists including Chumbawamba Acoustic,
Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson, Jim Boyes, Lester Simpson, Linda Thompson,
John Tams and many more. Includes Songs Of The Other Ranks/ Jerusalem/
Wealthy Squire/ She Moved Through The Fair/ The Cuckoo/ Heart Like A
Wheel/ The Drum/ Down By The Glenside/ The Sergeant's Returned/ You Came
Back Down The Long Road and more.
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| ENGLAND |
DRANSFIELD |
Castle CMEDD 943 |
The Fiddler's Dream |
● CD $22.98 |
Two CD set devoted to Robin & Barry Dransfield's only
excursion into electric folk featuring all original songs. The first disc
reissues the original 1976 album and the second features recordings made
live on the BBC featuring the songs from the album along with a couple of
tunes not on the original album.
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| AMERICA |
RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOT |
Collector's Choice 198 |
Young Brigham |
● CD $13.98 |
10 tracks, 44 mins, essential
Reissue of Jack's 1968
Reprise album - one of the very finest in his 50 year career. At the time
this recorded Jack was already was one of the finest interpreters of
traditional American and folk songs as well as songs from the repertoire
of his good friend Woody Guthrie. On this album he expanded his repertoire
somewhat to great effect without abandoning the core of his music. He does
superb covers of Tim Hardin's If I Were A Carpenter, Bob Dylan's
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright and, most unexpectedly, The Rolling
Stones Connection. He also does a strange rambling monologue with
guitar accompaniment, 912 Greens, as well as more expected
material. He is joined on several tracks by musicians like Mitch
Greenhill/ guitar, Peter Childs/ bass & dobro, Bill Lee/ organ, producer
Bruce Langhorne on tabla and others but the arrangements are always kept
low key and appropriate. It's a real delight to have this available again
on CD. (FS)
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| ENGLAND |
MAGPIE LANE |
Beautiful Jo 32 |
A Taste Of Ale |
● CD $19.98 |
18 tracks, recommended
Delightful collection of songs and
tunes all about one very important subject - beer! Magpie Lane are a six
member group who between them play a host of instruments including
concertinas, melodeon, bouzouki, guitar, cello, recorder, side drum,
tabor, fiddles, whistles, reed organ and more and most of them also take
turns at singing lead. The songs and tunes are traditional and are drawn
from the book "A Taste Of Ale" compiled by British folklore writer Roy
Palmer and includes A Drop Of Good Beer/ Bryng Us In Good Ale/ O Good
Ale/ Of Honest Malt Liquor/ So Was I/ The Merry Hostess/ Beer Boys Beer/
The Hop Ground/ The Bad-Husband's Folly/ John Barley and more. Did
someone say more? I don't mind if I do! (FS)
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| IRELAND |
SEAN MCCARTHY |
EMI ISRMCD 009 |
The Wandering Man |
● CD $21.98 |
12 tracks, 43 mins, highly recommended
Delightful
collection of sides recorded in the 50s or 60s by this talented singer,
songwriter and storyteller from Listowell in Co. Kerry. Though very
popular in the 60s he is little known today and this reissue of a 1970 LP
is the only CD available of his recordings. Sean was a prolific songwriter
and his songs have a traditional feel to them and includes love songs,
humorous songs (sometimes risqué), political songs and more. Instrumental
accompaniments include accordion, harp and organ. Sean McCarthy was a fine
and significant performer - what a shame they couldn't be bothered to put
any notes in this CD. (FS)
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| CANADA |
BUDDY MCMASTER |
Rounder 7052 |
Cape Breton Tradition |
● CD $16.98 |
Lovely collection of traditional music from Cape Breton
performed by one of the greatest living fiddlers in the tradition. Buddy,
who is the uncle of popular Natalie McMaster, is accompanied on piano by
his daughter Mary Elizabeth MacMaster MacInnes on a group of tune sets
including reels, jigs, airs, strathspeys, and hornpipes. Includes 28 page
booklet with extensive notes on Buddy and on the tunes played.
|
| AMERICA |
ODETTA |
Tradition 1085 |
The Tradition Masters |
● CD $14.98 |
Two CD set featuring some of Odetta's earliest songs
recorded for Tradition in 1956/57. Accompanied only her guitar she
performs a selection of mostly traditional folk, blues, country and gospel
songs - Santy Anno/ Another Man Done Gone/ 'Buked And Scorned/ Hound
Dog (!)/Been In The Pen/ Gallows Tree/ Maybe She Go/ Chilly Winds/
Take This Hammer/ Lass Of The Low Country, etc. Newly remastered with
new notes by Jim Bessman.
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| ENGLAND |
OYSTERBAND |
Plane 88874 |
Rise Above |
● CD $22.98 |
2002 album by this great British group find them in top
form on a collection of eight originals and two traditional songs. A fine
blend of acoustic and electric sounds with guest apperances from Benji
Kirkpatrick on bouzouki, James O'Grady on uileann pipes and others.
Includes The Soul's Electric/ If You Can't Be Good/ My Mouth/
Blackwaterside/ Wayfaring/ Bright Morning Star (a beautiful acapella
rendition of this traditional hymn).
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| ENGLAND |
PENTANGLE/ JOHN
RENBOURN/ BERT JANSCH |
Sanctuary 86371 |
Pentangling |
● CD $24.98 |
Three CD set featuring one CD each devoted to Pentangle
and it's two founder members John Renbourn and Bert Jansch. Pentangle are
represented by 17 songs drawn from all their Transatlantic albums and
singles including Traveling Song/ Hear My Call/ In Your Mind/ Once I
Had A Sweetheart/ Lord Franklin/ Reflection, etc. Renbourn has 22
sides drawn from seven Transatlantic albums recorded between 1966 and 1973
including his duet album with Jansch - Judy/ I Know My Babe/ Can't Keep
From Crying/ No Exit/ Forty Eight/ The Lady & The Unicorn, etc. and
Jansch has 22 tracks from eight albums recorded between 1966 and 1973 -
Strolling Down The Highway/ Angie/ Needle Of Death/ Blackwater Side/ The
First Time I Ever Saw Your Face/ Go Your Way My Love, etc. Includes 12
page booklet with notes by Jansch biographer Colin Harper.
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| IRELAND |
HELEN ROCHE |
HRCH 2323 |
Shake The Blossom Early |
● CD $16.98 |
13 tracks, 51 mins, recommended
Fine selection of
traditional Irish love songs performed by this fine young singer from
Liverpool. Includes acapella performances as well as vocals with
instrumental accompaniments (harp, uileann pipes, bodhran, guitar, etc).
Mostly familiar songs like Green Grows The Laurel/ Lovely Annie/ The
Irish Maid (a particularly nice performance)/ When A Man's In Love/
The Verdant Braes Of Skreen along with a few lesser known titles like
The Lisburn Lass and The Draighnean Donn. Very nice. (FS)
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| ENGLAND |
CYRIL TAWNEY |
ADA 101 |
The Songs Of Cyril Tawney |
● CD $21.98 |
14 tracks, 57 mins, highly recommended
Recent recordings
by legendary English singer and songwriter whose songs written in the 50s
and 60s have become standards of many folk singers' repertoire - so much
so that some of his songs like Sally Free And Easy are thought of
as traditional. Cyril revisits some of his most famous songs here like the
aforementioned Sally plus Chicken On A Raft/ On A Monday
Morning/ The Suit Of Grey/ The Oggie Man/ Sammy's Bar/ Six Feet Of Mud/
The Grey Funnel Line and others. Cyril sounds fine here with his
powerful and warm vocals accompanied by his basic but effective guitar
work and he sings acapella on some cuts. Includes notes on all the songs
by Cyril plus tributes from Martin Carthy, John Tams and Mick Peat. (FS)
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| IRELAND |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
HF 02 |
Hidden Fermanagh, Vol. 2 |
● CD $19.98 |
15 tracks, highly recommended
Gorgeous collection of
traditional songs and tunes from County Fermanagh - many previously
unrecorded including tunes from the mid nineteenth century drawn from the
John Gunn Book. The most well known name here is Cathal McConnell who
sings three songs and plays whistle and flute on one of the tunes. Other
vocalists include Rosie Stewart who does the lovely Green-Robed
Inisfail and Gabriel McArdle. The instrumentals are usually by small
groups (fiddle/guitar/bouzouki, fiddle/piano/accordion/concertina, etc)
and musicians include BrendaMcCann/ fiddle, Pat McManus/ guitar/ fiddle,
Seamus Quinn/ fiddle, Jim McGrath/ accordion, Larry Hoy/ accordion, Jim
Hoy/ accordion and others. Beautifully recorded - a chance to hear some
fine unfamiliar songs and tunes and a great source for musicians. (FS)
|
| AMERICA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Vestapol 13021 |
The Art Of Fingerstyle Guitar |
● CD $22.98 |
DVD Running time: 82 mins, recommended
Now on DVD with two
bonus instructional tracks not on the VHS video. Sit back and marvel at
the breadth of expression these nine guitar masters can dish out. Then
wear out the tape trying to learn a few secrets. On the percussive end of
the spectrum are Stefan Grossman, Brad Jones, Joe Miller, and Bob
Brozman. Martin Simpson shows his restrained side on one solo number, then
blasts off with Brozman on a pair of National Steel guitar duets,
including Chimes of Timbuktu on which Brozman achieves an uncanny
African kora imitation. Duck Baker joins Stefan Grossman on a slow-burning
Danish Drone. Martin Carthy's Seven Yellow Gypsies is a
study in pacing and timing, while Peppino D'Agostino invokes harmonics you
didn't know were there on Grand Canyon and Ponteio. Two
selections by John Renbourn round out the video, recorded in recent years
and as crackling as any of his early work. It'd be nice to know more about
tunings, but that's not much of a criticism. This video bears repeated
enjoyment. (DC)
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| IRELAND |
THE WOODS BAND |
Market Square 123 |
Music From The Four Corners Of Hell |
● CD $21.98 |
12 tracks, 54 mins, recommended
Fine folk-rock album by
latest band led by the talented Terry Woods. Apart from Terry himself none
of the members of this six member group were in the original Woods Band of
the early 70s. Lead vocals are by Shane Martin who is a decent singer
though more rock than folk oriented in his approach. The songs are a mix
of traditional and contemporary blending folk and electric instruments
(accordion, pipes, cittern, acoustic & electric guitars, drums, etc).
Includes As I Roved Out/ Love On Tillery/ Terece's Farewell/ The
Travellin' People (ewan MacColl's classic song)DeVarea's Green
Isles/ Sea Of Heartbreak (yes, the Don Gibson country hit!)/ Leave
her Johnny, Leave Her, etc. (FS)
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