Gary & Vera Aspey‘s very popular, highly enjoyable (and often hilarious) stage act captured on a 1976 live album.

Recorded in performance at the Scotgate Folk Club, Scotgate Inn, Stamford, Lincs, March 1976; the Chipping Sodbury Folk Club, The George, Chipping Sodbury, Glos, March 1976; and the Lord Coniers, Kiveton, Yorks, May 1976.

1  The Eekdale And Ennerdale Hunt Song
2  Weepin’ An’ Wailin’ Away
3  The Shuttle Kissing Song
4  Foddered Me Yowes
5  The Nightingale
6   Don’t Married Girls
7   Kids’ Songs
8   The Coal Hole Cavalry
9   Morning Stands On Tiptoe

Recorded and produced by Tony Engle
First published by TOPIC 1976

An anthology from Gypsy singers recorded in Southern England by Mike Yates. Music of English travellers, ranging from broadside ballads to mouth-organ tunes, and including examples of the gypsy mouth-music called ‘tuning’ – all performed by members of the great Smith clan, from Surrey, Kent and Suffolk.

1    The Small Birds Whistle  Jasper Smith
2    The Sheepfold  Phoebe Smith
3    One Penny  Levy Smith
4    The Basket of Eggs  Minty Smith
5    The Pony March / Whistling Rufus / Tuning  Jasper
6    Green Bushe  Phoebe
7    Raking the Hay  Phoebe
8    The Moon Shines Bright  Jasper
9    Father Had a Knife Jasper
10  The Jew’s Garden  Minty
11   Step Dance Tunes  Jasper  Tuning  Minty
12   Sweet William  Phoebe
13   Johnny Abourne  Phoebe
14   Died for Love  Jasper
15   The Irish Girl  Levy
16   Captain Thunderbold  Phoebe
17   Jigs & Polkas including: Cock of the North / Flowers of Edinburgh / The Girl l left Behind Me / Tuning   Jasper & Levy

An Antholoqy from Traditional Singers from Devon with Amy Birch, Phoebe Birch, Avice Clarke, Nobby Clarke, Joe Davies, Harold Gill, Charlie Hill, Brian Holland, Sophie Isaacs, Henry Mitchemore, Tom Orchard snr, Tom Orchard jnr, Bill Parnell, Bob Penfold, Nelson Penfold, George Roberts, Jim Sanders and Bob Small.

The Rev. S. Baring-Gould, who collected folksongs in the West country during the 1880s, wrote in his reminiscences that “the old fellows who had these songs were fast dying off, and their sons and grandsons despised the ballads and the tunes in the Gregorian modes and sang only the last vulgar music-hall ditties.” Many song hunters from that day to this have thought the same. Are they right? Well, this record of pieces recently collected in Baring-Gould’s own county of Devon gives some answers.

1 The Exmoor Ram Nobby Clarke
2 The Molecatcher Amy Birch
3 When I Was a Young Man Bob Small
4 Tuning Brian Holland (melodeon), Tom Orchard snr (vocal), Tom Orchard jnr (dancing) and Bob Penfold (vocal)
5 Barbara Allen George Roberts
6 Head-a-nodding Avice Clarke
7 The Thrashing Machine Joe Davies
8 Sweet Willie Sophie Isaacs
9 Navvy Boots Bill Parnell
10 The Leg o’ the Mallard Henry Mitchemore
11 Royal Comrade Amy Birch
12 Three Men Went a-Hunting Charlie Hill
13 The Farmer in Leicester Nelson Penfold
14 Tuning Tom Orchard snr (vocal & melodeon) and Tom Orchard jnr (melodeon)
15 Seven Nights Drunk Harold Gill
16 The Fremington Great Meat Pie Phoebe Birch
17 Up the Green Meadows Amy Birch
18 Rattling Irish Boy Bob Penfold
19 Mortal Unlucky Old Chap Jim Sanders

An important and influential record of song airs and dance tunes played on modest instruments such as would fit in your pocket, played by some of the finest London-based Irish musicians.
“The expertise of the performers is to be admired for its own sake… a delightful disc.” New Statesman.
1  Gillian Apples / The Prize Jig – John Doonan & John Wright
2  The Shaskeen Reel – John Wright
3  The Coolin – Noel Pepper
4  Boys of the Laugh / The Trip to Durrow – Noel Pepper & Paddy Moran
5  Give Me Your Hand – John Doonan
6  Banish Misfortune – The Wrights
7  The Maid Behind the Bar – The Wrights with Paddy Neylan
8  Dunphy’s Hornpipe / The Derry Hornplpe – John Doonan
9  St Anne’s Reel – Noel Pepper & Paddy Moran
10  The Blackbird – John Doonan
11  The Spalpeen’s Lament – John Doonan
12  Miss McLeod / The Flowers of Edinburgh – John Doonan & John Wright
13  The Foxhunters’ Jig – The Wrights
14  The Skylark / Tie the Bonnet – John Wright
15  Clancy’s Fancy – John Wright
16  The Lark in the Clear Air – Noel Pepper
17  Unnamed Jig – Noel Pepper & Paddy Moran
18  Cherish the Ladles / Father O’Flynn – John Doonan, John Wright, Noel Pepper & Paddy Moran

County Clare has long been known as one of the richest areas for music and song throughout Ireland. Petrie, writing in his ‘Ancient Music of Ireland’, published in 1855, was enthusiastic about the tunes he heard. His remarks spring from his travels through Clare during the early 1820s and throw into relief musical traditions that clearly go back deeply into the eighteenth century at least. Even if it’s felt that Petrie’s enthusiasm may have run away with him we can’t doubt the more recent, towering figures of Garrett Barry, George Whelan (Kerry born), or Willie Clancy, and the Bobby Caseys, Miko Russells and John Kellys of today; all of whom testify to the strength of the musical heritage of the people of the Dal Cais.

1          The Bold Trooper – Nora Cleary
2          The Grey Mare – Ollie Conway
3          Farewell to Lissycasey – Siney Crotty
4          An Cailín Deas – Siney Crotty
5          The Lambs on the Green Hills – Mick Flynn
6          Lovely Mary to the Sea Do Not Go – Siney Crotty
7          Pat O’Donnell – Mick Flynn
8          Stór Mo Chroi – Mick Flynn
9          Bessie of Ballantown Brae – Nora Cleary
10        Farewell to Milltown – Nora Cleary

Recorded and produced by Roly Brown.
Editing and mastering by Tony Engle.
First issued by Topic Records 1978.

Gypsies and travellers have preserved a wealth of English traditional song, which has been rarely collected. This splendid and influential collection of English traditional song performed by some of the finest Gypsy singers of Southern England, draws upon the diligent field recordings of the collector Mike Yates.
1  You Subjects of England – Jasper Smith
2  Little Dun Dee – Mrs Haynes
3  Hartlake Bridge – Jasper Smith
4  The Young Officer – Mrs Haynes
5  All Through Mi Rakli – Mrs Haynes
6  At the Atchin Tan – Mrs Haynes
7  The Oakham Poachers – Wiggy Smith
8  Thorneymoor Park – Jasper Smith
9  The Farmer of Chester – Joe Jones
10  The King and the Keeper – Joe Jones
11  Georgie – Levi Smith
12  The Haymakers – Levi Smith
13  The Broomdasher – Levi Smith
14  Barbara Allen – Phoebe Smith
15  Lavender – Bill Ellson
16  The Squire and the Gypsy – Jasper Smith
17  Erin’s Lovely Home – Mrs Haynes
18 The Game of Cards – Levi Smith
19  While the Yogger Mush Lays Sleeping – Jasper Smith
20  The Deserter – Wiggy Smith

Genuine folk music as part of an old and lively national culture is still flourishing in Norway, a country with a wild nature, numerous valleys, snow-covered mountains, lakes, deep forests, glorious fjords, remote communities, dark and long winters and shining summer nights. Norway has a long and rich tradition of musical expression. Norwegian folk music has survived through many generations and historical changes. Old folk tunes have kept surprisingly well, better than in the neighbouring lands and in some of the other industrial countries. The selection on this record represents some of the main types and styles of living folk-playing and singing, with their special sound and moods, from south west and central parts of Norway. The players and singers are some of the most outstanding folk musicians of the younger generation who carry on the folk traditions of their districts.

1 Fanitullen (The Devil’s Tune) Knut Buen Hardanger fiddle
2 Kjerringa med staven (The Old Wife with the Staff) Hanne Kiersti Buen singing with Knut Buen Hardanger fiddle
3 Rotnheimsknut (hailing)
4 Gangar etter Myllarguten (walking dance) Knut Buen Hardanger fiddle
5 Moykjaeringsvise (spinster’s song)
6 Three stev about the hulder (cattle songs)
7 So er drengjen i uppvokstre (Boys in Their Youth)
8 BÃ¥nsu|ler (three lullabies) Hanne Kjersti Buen singing
9 Katt-Ola-Visa Edvard Ruud singing
10 Nordfjordingen (springar)
11 Ramsen (springar) Hauk Buen Hardanger fiddle
12 Bruremarsj (wedding march) Knut and Hauk Buen Hardanger fiddles
13 Hamburger-polka fra Hardanger
14 Springleik fra Jostedalen Vestlandsgruppa band
15 Springar fra Hardanger fiddlers of Vestlandsgruppa
16 Slåttestev (dance songs)
17 Haugebonden (ballad) Agnes Buen Garnås singing
18 Fanteladda (dance tune)
19 I Oletiadden (pastoral melody) Elizabeth Kvaerne langeleik
20 NÃ¥r mitt pie, trett av moie (When My Eye, Tired of Troubles) (hymn)
21 Store Store Gud (Great Great God) (hymn) Sondre Bratland singing
22 Myllarguten bruremarsj (bridal march by Myllarguten)
23 Fanitullen (The Devil’s Tune) (second version) Knut Buen Hardanger fiddle

Bob Hart, born 1892, belongs to the same grand company of East Anglian traditional singers as Harry Cox and Sam Larner, Jumbo Brightwell of Eastbridge and Bob Scarce of Blaxhall. Schooled in Southwold, Bob started farm work after a move to Trentham, but quickly left to work on a sailing trawler out of Lowestoft:

‘We used to travel as far as the Shetland Islands, from May to November, and work back to Grimsby. It was at Grimsby where I learned some of my songs, and where I first heard The Banks of Sweet Primroses. I learned As I Strolled out to Aylesbury from a man called Jack Harling, of Snape. Funny Little Place to Have One, Underneath her Apron, and The Female Cabin Boy are songs I seem to have always known. Broadside I learned from Bob Scarce of Blaxhall.’

1 Cod Banging
2 Australia
3 A Broadside
4 The Banks of Sweet Primroses
5 What a Funny Little Place to Have One
6 Bold General Wolfe
7 The Female Cabin Boy
8 As I Strolled out to Aylesbury
9 The Scarlet and the Blue
10 John Barleycorn
11 The Miner’s Dream of Home
12 The Young Sailor Cut Down
13 All Jolly Fellows that Follow the Plough
14 Underneath her Apron

John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris were a duo which achieved an enviable reputation in the British folk scene of the 1970s. Their repertoire focussed on English country music and songs. John recorded ‘Morris On’ with Ashley Hutchings, Richard Thompson and Barry Dransfield ushering a new appreciation of Morris music. The purely instrumental ‘Facing The Music’ was the duo’s fourth record for the Topic label and represents a high point of their recording career. The splendid tunes are drawn from a bewildering variety of sources; from rural musicians and from published tune books, from the Bahamas, from the Appalachians and from Orkney.
1  John Locke’s Polka / Three Jolly Sheepskins
2  Kettle Drum
3  Trip to the Cottage / Hunting the Squirrel / Jack of the Green
4  A Shelter in the Time of Storm / We Shall be Happy
5  Millfield / Saturday Night and Sunday Morn
6  Garrick’s Delight / The Flaxley Green Dance
7  Crocker’s Reel
8  Roast Beef / All Flowers in Broome
9  The Rope Waltz
10  A Cheshire’s Hornpipe / Black Mary’s Hornpipe

Onetime member of the esteemed High Level Ranters, Johnny Handle is also a solo performer of great charm, humour and a wonderful songwriter. The Collier Lad mirrors many aspects of life in the North-east, from the lore of the miner to the lure of the Geordie streets.

Johnny Handle guitar, accordeon & piano with Alistair Anderson English concertina, Tommy Gilfellon Guitar and Colin Ross fiddle.

In Bye
1   The Collier Lad *
2   Dust
3   The Durham Big Meetin’ Day
4   The Old Man of the Village
5   The New Spotlight
6   Farewell to the Monty
7   Stottin’ Doon the Waal *
On Bank
8   The Day we went to the Coast
9   Schooldays
10  Is there Owt Secure?
11  The Old Pubs ±
12  Decorating
13  The Fearless Mariner
14  Danny’s *
* ably assisted by the rest of the High Level Ranters
± with Alistair Anderson, chorus

The Coen brothers, Galwaymen by birth, were both resident in New York when this fine location recording was taped. Jack played the flute and Charlie the concertina, both were distinguished members of the New York Irish community when the folklorist Mick Moloney encouraged them to make this album.
1  Scatter the Mud / Larry Redican’s Jig
2  The Sailor’s Cravat / Repeal of the Union
3  John Conroy’s Jig / Jim Conroy’s Jig
4  The Peach Blossom / The Fiddler’s Contest
5  Jim Conroy’s Reel / The Pullet
6  Redican’s Mother / The Humours of Kilkenny
7  Mike Coen’s Polka / The Branch Line
8  Have a Drink with Me / The Blarney Pilgrim
9  Two Woodford Flings
10  The Waddling Gander / O’Connell’s Jig on Top of Mount Everest
11  Lads of Laois / Green Groves of Erin
12  The Tongs by the Fire / The Spinning Wheel
13  Whelan’s Reel / Jenny Dang the Weaver
14  Jack Coen’s Jig / Paddy O’Brien’s Jig

A collection of instrumental country dance music from the North-east of Scotland, played by solos or duets rather than in the ubiquitous country dance-band style.

1    Lady Madeline Sinclair Strathspey / The High Road to Linton reel  Alex Green – whistle
2    The White Cockade / Niel Gow‘s Farewell to Whiskey / Miss Jean Milligan – reels  Willie Fraser – mouth-organ
3    Jig Selection – The Muckin’ o’ Geordie’s Byre / Kinnegad Slashers / The Bugle Horn / The Muckin’ o’ Geordie’s Byre  Charlie Bremner – fiddle
4    The Brig o’ Perth / The Reel o’ Tulloch  John Grant – fiddle
5    Strathspey & Reel: Forbes Morrison / The Ten Pound Fiddle  Alex Green -whistle
6    Pipe-Marches: MacLean of Pennycross / The Midlothian Pipe Band  Alex Green – whistle
7    Strathspey & Reel: The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman / Jenny Dang the Weaver  Willie Fraser – diddling
8    Reels: John McFadden / Timour the Tartar  Charlie Bremner – fiddle
9    March: The 79th‘s Farewell to Gibralter  Willie Fraser – mouth-organ
10   Jig Selection: Bonnie Dundee / Hot Punch / Kenmuir’s on an’ awa’  Willie Fraser – mouth-organ
11   J B Milne/The Lovat Scouts / The Breakdown / Caddam Woods  Charlie Bremner – fiddle
12   Polka  Charlie Bremner – fiddle
13   The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman / Soldier’s Joy  John Grant – fiddle
14   The Kirrie Kebbuck / Sir David Davidson of Cantray – strathspey & reel  Alex Green – whistle
15   Marches: Tam Bain’s Lum / The Blue Bonnets  Alex Green – whistle
16   Strathspey and Reel: Far Frae Scotia‘s Shores / Ally Crocker (The New Brig o’ Ayr)  Willie Fraser – mouth-organ
17   Strathspey and Reel: Orange and Blue / Mrs MacLeod of Rothesay  Willie Fraser – diddling
18   March: Highland Wedding  Willie Fraser – mouth-organ
19   Dr MacDonald – reel  Charlie Bremner – fiddle
20  Lady Charlotte Campbell – slow strathspey & reel  Alex Green – whistle
21   Reels: High Road to Linton / The Mason’s Apron / The De’il Among the Tailors / Timour the Tartar  Charlie Bremner – fiddle

A former fisherman from Brighton, Johnny Doughty was discovered in his early seventies and recorded for Topic records. His songs, delivered with a vigorous sincerity that belied his age, ranged from classic Elizabethan ballads to locally composed ditties, as well as reflecting his extrovert personality.

1    Herring Heads
2    The Wreck of the Northfleet
3    When I was Single
4    The Golden Vanity
5    The Saucy Sailor
6    Baltimore
7    While Going Round the Cape/Round Rye bay for More
8    Spanish Ladies
9    The Sailor’s Alphabet
10   The Mermaid
11   Marry Me
12   I’m Going to be Mother Today
13   Barbar Allen
14   My Boy Billy
15   Dick Turpin/Let Her Go Back
16   Rye Harbour Girl
17   The Streets of Port Arthur

Chris Foster was born in Somerset. It is there that he first heard and started singing traditional songs. He trained as an artist at the Norwich, then Chelsea Schools of Art. His professional “break” came in the early 1970s when a music agent spotted him singing at Dingles Folk Club in London. This led to eight years as a professional solo folk singer/guitarist.

He recorded two, highly regarded albums in the late 1970s: “Layers” (1977) and “All Things in Common” (1979), both on Topic Records. Both featured mainly traditional songs with often complex fingerstyle accompaniments on a Fylde acoustic guitar.

1. The Ranter
2. The Coast of Peru
3. Worcester City
4. Glastonbury Town
5. Lady Maisry
6. Jack the Sailor
7. The Golden Glove
8. When a Man’s in Love
9. The Buxom Lass
10. The Flower of Serving Men
11. The Banks of Newfoundland

Recorded and produced by Tony Engle

First issued by Topic Records 1977

Ewan MacColl was one of the architects of the folksong revival. Whether as an interpreter of ancient ballads or as a writer of new songs, he influenced almost everyone involved in folk music in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. He brought the same skill and understanding to songs of Britain’s industrial cities, ballads of Scots history and lyrics from the English countryside. His own compositions, many of which have passed into the common currency of folk music, are featured both on his own albums and on The Radio-Ballads.
Chorus From The Gallows, first released in 1960, opens with the tale of Craig and Derek Bentley and closes with “Go Down Ye Murderers,” which relates the story of Timothy John Evans, convicted and executed for murders he did not commit, both true and awful stories from the annals of 20th century British justice. The repertoire ranges from the cattle-rusting border raiders of the Middle Ages and the 18th-century highwayman Dick Turpin to MacColl’s own compositions about controversial murder trials of the 1950s.
1  Derek Bentley
2  The Black Velvet Band
3  Jamie Raeburn’s Farewell
4  Johnny O
5  Hughie The Graeme
6  Minorie
7  The Treadmill Song
8  Turpin Hero
9  The Crafty Farmer
10  McKaffery
11  Jimmy Wilson
12  The Lag’s Song
13  Van Dieman’s Land
14  Go Down Ye Murderers

Bernard O’Sullivan was a farmer and concertina player of Country Clare, with an extensive repertoire of traditional tunes, when these recordings were made in 1975 by John Tams and Neil Wayne. His companion Tommy McMahon, a generation younger, learnt both from Bernard an from his wide contest experience, which included All-Ireland senior championship prizes in 1971, ’72 and ’73.

1   Polkas: The Babes in the Wood / Cooraclare Polka / Clare Dragoons Bernard O’Sullivan / Tommy McMahon
2   Jigs: The Shady Groves of Piedmont / The Humours of Ennistymon Bernard O’Sullivan / Tommy McMahon
3   Reels: The Old Torn Petticoat / Tommy People’s Favourite Tommy McMahon
4   Set dance: Mount Fabus Hunt Bernard O’Sullivan / Tommy McMahon
5   Reels: Ollie Conway’s Selection Tommy McMahon
6   Reels: Kilrush Races / The Clogher Reel / Burren Reel Tommy McMahon / Bernard O’Sullivan
7   Set dance: Bonaparte’s Retreat Tommy McMahon / Bernard O’Sullivan
8   March: Bonaparte’s March Bernard O’Sullivan
9   Jigs: Barron’s / Jackson’s / The Milltown Jig Tommy McMahon
10  Set dance: Rodney’s Glory Tommy McMahon / Bernard O’Sullivan
11  Reel: Tommy McMahon’s Reel Tommy McMahon
12  Waltz: Over The Waves Bernard O’Sullivan / Tommy McMahon
13  Polkas: Girl I Left Behind / Maggie in the Wood Bernard O’Sullivan
14  Jigs: Martin Talty’s / Thomas Friel’s / Joe Cunnean’s Tommy McMahon
15  Hornpipes: Sean Ryan’s / Danganella hornpipe Tommy McMahon
16  Set dance: Job O’ Journeywork Tommy McMahon / Bernard O’Sullivan
17  Reels: The Ash Plant / The Maid of Mount Cisco Bernard O’Sullivan / Tommy McMahon

‘Few singers have such a vigorous, broad-ranging and fresh-sounding song repertoire as Nottingham’s Roy Harris, and none can handle it more convincingly. With Roy Harris at the helm the revival is in safe hands.’ Melody Maker 1973

On The Bitter & The Sweet Roy is accompanied by Notts Alliance – Ian Stewart, Roger Grimes & Laurence Platt, and Muckram Wakes – Roger Watson, Helen Wainwright & John Tams.

1    Turpin Hero (with Notts Alliance)
2    The Bonny Green Woods (with Muckram Wakes)
3    The Death Of Bill Brown
4    The Three Butchers (self-accompanied on guitar)
5    The Ullswater Pack (with chorus)
6    Poor Owd ‘Oss (with Notts Alliance)
7    General Ludd’s Triumph (with Muckram Wakes)
8    Poverty Knock (with combined groups)
9    The Streams Of Lovely Nancy
10   Robin Hood and The Tanner (with Notts Alliance and Roger Watson, dulcimer)
11   The ‘Royal Oak’
12   Strike The Bell (with Notts Alliance)
13   McCafferty
14   All Through The Ale (with Roger Watson, concertina)

Scottish fiddle music arrived in Cape Breton Island with the Highland settlers over a century and a half ago, and the strongly Highland character of this region of Nova Scotia, in the Canadian Maritimes, remains to this day. Cape Breton with its harbours, heavily forested mountains and fertile valleys provided the Highlander with ample opportunity to exercise his old country skills in fishing, hunting and farming: the rural way of life of the Western Highland Gaels, together with their highly evolved oral and musical traditions, adapted easily to the new setting.

1    Strathspey, Hornpipe & Reel: The Sow’s Tail / Londonderry Hornpipe / Duncan on the Plainstones THERESA MacLELLAN (acc Marie MacLeIIan)
2    Strathspeys & Reels: The WarIock’s Strathspey/ Bog an Lochain (Athole Cummers) / The Nine Pint Coggie / Calum Fhionnlaidh / Prince Charlie / Tarbolton Lodge MIKE MacDOUGALL (acc Mary Jessie MacDonald)
3    March, Strathspeys & Reel: Donald MacLean’s Farewell to Oban / Cairistiona Chaimbeul (Christy Campbell) / Port ‘ic Artair (MacArthur’s Tune / Untitled JOHN WILLIE CAMPBELL (acc Kevin McCormick)
4    Strathspeys & Reels: Lucy Campbell / Calum Crùbach (Miss Drummond of Perth) / Untitled / Cota Mór Ealasaid (Elizabeth’s Big Coat) / Untitled MARY MacDONALD (acc Mary Jessie McDonald)
5    Slow Air, Strathspeys & Reels: Niel Gow’s Lamentation for Abercairney / Johnnie Pringle / Munlochie Bridge / The Duke of Gordon’s Birthday / Perrie Werrie / Peggie     Menzies / West Mabou Reel ALEX FRANCIS MacKAY (acc Fr John Angus Rankin)
6    Jigs: The Black Sporran / WaIking the Floor JOHN NEIL MacLEAN (acc Phyllis MacLeod)
7    March & Strathspey: A Sheana-bhean Bhochd (Glengarry’s March) / Donald MacMaster’s Strathspe DAN JOE and GEORGE MaclNNIS (acc Marie MacLe|Ian)
8    Strathspey & Reel: J Scott Skinner Strathspey / GiIlian’s Reel (Muir o’ Gellan) JOHN NEIL MacLEAN (acc Phyllis MacLeod)
9    Strathspeys & Reels: Unidentified / Calum Breugach /  The Duke of Athole / George the IV / The King’s / Miss Lyle’s Reel ALEX FRANCIS MacKAY (acc Fr John Angus Rankin)
10    Strathspey & Reels: Alex MacEachern’s Strathspey / Fear nan Casan Caola (The Rejected Suitor) / Untitled JOHN WILLIE CAMPBELL (acc Kevin McCormick)
11    Strathspeys & Reels: Miss Lyle’s Strathspey / The Highlanders’ Farewell to Ireland / King George / Tulloch Gorm (old setting with variations) / Lord MacDonald / Miss Johnstone MARY MacDONALD (acc Mary Jessie MacDonald)
12    Jigs: Untitled / Untitled / Dan the Cobbler JOE MacLEAN (acc Mary Jessie MacDonald)

Few could match the assurance and intensity of Frankie Armstrong’s singing. A committed feminist and radical, Frankie brought a refreshing energy to her performance of traditional and contemporary song. Songs and Ballads her debut album dates from 1975.

Frankie Armstrong vocals with Andrew Brown fiddle, Graham Goffee guitar, Susie Rothfield Appalachian dulcimer and voice, Heather Wood voice and Brian Pearson voice.

1    Little Duke Arthur’s Nurse (acc. fiddle, guitar, dulcimer)
2    The Pitmen’s Union (acc. guitar)
3    Lady Diamond (unacc.)
4    Lament for the Hull Trawlers (acc. fiddle and guitar)
5    The Month of January (duet with Heather Wood)
6    Three Drunken Maidens (vocal trio with Heather Wood and Susie Rothfield)
7    Jack the Lad (acc. fiddle and guitar)
8    The Whore’s Lament (acc. fiddle, with chorus)
9    Little Musgrave (acc. dulcimer)
10   The Collier Lass (unacc.)
11   The Female Drummer (acc. fiddle, guitar, dulcimer, with chorus)

Bob Smith’s Ideal Band was the cente of a group of Glasgow musicians, singers and omedians, who played dance music, sang popular songs and enacted sketches on the Beltona label in the 1930s. Their colourful and entertaining music is the sound not of a folklorist’s collection but of a genuinely popular regional idiom as it was recorded in its day. This 1977 collection was lovingly compiled from their finest 78rpm recordings.
1   Eightsome reel Part 1 (Fairy Dance / The Breakdown / De’il Among The Tailors)
2  Ashcroft’s Reel / Londonderry Air / Breakdown
3  Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
4  Liverpool and Highland Hornpipes (inc. Down Home Rag)
5  The International
6  Medley of Popular Waltzes (Let Me Call You Sweetheart / Smile Awhile / Down At The Old Bull and Bush / By The Side of the Zuyder Zee / Let Me Call You Sweetheart)
7  The Canal Cruise Parts 1 & 2 (incs. Life On The Ocean Wave / The Drunken Sailor / Miss MacLeod / A Man’s A Man for All That)
8  La Varsovienne
9  Big Reason Blues
10  The Boston Two-step
11  Horseguards Blue
12  Happy Hours
13  Woodland Voices
14  Eightsome reel Part 2 (Kate Dalrymple / Wind That Shakes The Barley / Soldier’s Joy / Miss MacLeod)
15  Ideal One-Step
16  The Middy March
17  Empress Tango
18  The Red Flag
19  Wull’s Wireless Wails Parts 1 & 2 (Flowers of Edinburgh / When You and I were Young, Maggie / Highland Laddie / Orange and Blue / Kafoozalum)
20  Medley of Irish Waltzes: The Irish Jaunting Car / Come Back To Erin / Eileen Alannah)
21  The Ideal Lancers: 1st. Fig: (Rakes of Mallow / My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose / The Girl I Left Behind Me) 2nd. Fig: (Lass of Gowrie / Kate Dalrymple / Loch Lomond) 3rd. Fig: (Blackthorn Stick / Irish Washerwoman) 4th Fig: (The Alma /Atholl Highlanders / Bonny Dundee) 5th Fig: (unidentified / Atholl Highlanders / Nora Creina / Biddy the Bowl Wife / Rakes of Kildare / Barren Rocks of Aden)
22  Dulcimer Tunes from An Old ‘National Hall’ Favourite parts 1 & 2: (The Favourite Hornpipe / Unidentified Barn Dance)
23  I Still Love You / Waltz Hesitation
24  The Call of the Pipes Part 1
25  Why Worry

One generation thinks of the Ramblin’ Jack Elliott who brought the image and songs of Woody Guthrie to an eager Europe in the 1950s. Another knows him as a guiding hand behind Bob Dylan and all the singers after him. To others, again, he is a travelling songster in the great American tradition.
1  Talking Columbia Blues
2  Pretty Boy Floyd
3  Ludlow Massacre
4  Talking Miner Blues
5  Hard Travelling
6  So Long its Been Good to Know You
7  Talking Dustbowl Blues
8  1913 Massacre
9 Rambling Boys
10  Talking Sailor Blues

The High Level Ranters were one of the longest-established and most popular bands in Britain. A rare combination of individual talents, the group play the music of their native Northumbria with a command born of skill and understanding. ‘Four In A Bar’ is an all-instrumental collection, typical of the repertoire they played at regular sessions in Newcastle’s weekly ‘Folksong & Ballad’ club.
1  Whinham’s Jig / Billy’s Jig
2  Chips and Shavings / Jack’s Alive / Dear Tobacco
3  Town Green Polka / Jenny Bell Polka
4  The Biddlestone Hornpipe / The Last of the Twins
5  The Ruby / The Quarrelsome Piper
6  Rowly Burn / Coates’s Hornpipe
7  La Russe / The Winshield’s Hornpipe / Jane’s Fancy / Da Road to Houll
8  Blinkin’ Tibbie / The Pear Tree
9  Swalwell Lasses / South Shields Lasses
10  Moonshine Polka
11  The Quayside / Miss Ward’s Reel
12  The Butterclout / Such a Wife as Willie Had / Willy is a Bonny Lad

This is the second Topic LP of the music of Tommy McMahon and Bernard O’Sullivan. Like the first record it illustrates the richness, depth and variety of Clare concertina music. The selection here is very varied and includes reels, jigs, hornpipes, set dances, polkas and waltzes. Anyone in search of good concertina music may find it in West Clare. This is really concertina country. Every village has a traditional musician and in many cases it is a concertina player. The concertina as a traditional instrument has been in Clare for well over a hundred years. With the decline of the pipes and fiddle the concertina was a practical replacement. It was ideal for playing the newly composed sets of the last century. Though it was not capable of the embellishments or expressiveness of the pipes it was nevertheless an excellent little reed instrument for playing for country dances.

1 Polkas: I Have a Bonnet Trimmed with Blue, The Rakes of Mallow  Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
2 Reels: Farmer Moroney’s and Mulvihill’s reel  Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
3 Reels: Maud Millar’s and Morrison’s  Tommy McMahon
4 Reel: The Bucks of Oranmore  Bernard O’Sullivan
5 Waltzes: My Heart’s in the Highlands and The Dewdrop  Bernard O’Sullivan
6 Jigs: The Blooming Meadows, Mullagh Jig, Ballinakill Jig  Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
7 Reels: The Merry Sisters, Quilty Reel  Tommy McMahon
8 Hornpipes: The Cliff, The Derry Hornpipe  Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
9 Jigs: The Rose in the Heather selection  Tommy McMahon
10 Reels: Flowery Mountains, Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel, The Milliner’s Daughter  Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
11 Reel: A Trip to Durrow  Tommy McMahon
12 Polka: Stack Ryan’s Polka  Bernard O’Sullivan
13 Set Dance: The Garden of Daisies  Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
14 Jigs: Andy Keone’s, Saddle the Pony, Tulla Jig  Tommy McMahon
15 Set Dance: The Three Sea Captains  Tommy McMahon
16 Reels: The Boys of Ballysadare, The Five Mile Chase  Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan

Produced by Tony Engle, John Tams and Neil Wayne
First issued by Topic Records 1976.

‘Whether he is singing in Irish or English, Heaney is a remarkably discreet singer, not given to dramatic or comic effect, with an uneventful surface to his songs, but a world of secrets underneath. Outside a few settlements in his native West, it would be hard to find his equal.’

From the original sleevenotes by A. L. Lloyd

1 THE ROCKS OF BAWN
2 ONE MORNING IN JUNE
3 CASADH AN t-SUGAIN   The Twisting of the Rope
4 THE WIFE OF THE BOLD TENANT FARMER
5 THE TREES THEY GROW TALL
6 PEIGIN IS PEADAR   Peggy and Peter
7 CUNNLA
8 CAOINEADH NA TRI MHUIRE   The Lament of the Three Marys
9 AN TIGHEARNA RANDAL   Lord Randal
10 BEAN AN LEANNA   The Woman with the Beer
11 JOHN MITCHEL

Bob Davenport has one of the most distinctive styles and one of the widest repertoires of any singer performing in folk clubs. From the North East of England, he relished singing in the pubs of North London frequented by musicians from the Irish community – the Bedford Arms, The Laurel Tree and the Camden Stores. ‘Down The Long Road’ draws upon these two important strands in Bob’s repertoire, as well as the country music of Southern England. Mr. Davenport is variously accompanied by notable Irish musicians – Lucy Farr, Jimmy Power, Johnny Gorman, and by members of Webb’s Wonders, The Rakes and the Leeds Band.
1  Navvy Boots
2  Down the Long Road
3  The Rambling Man
4  Barn Dance Selection: Louis James’ Quadrille / The Dancing Dustman
5  When I Was Single
6  I’m a Poor Unhappy Married Man
7  Jig Selection: When There Isn’t a Girl About / Peggy Wood / Looking for a Partner
8  Wild Wild Whiskey
9  Whiskey in the Jar
10  Reels: The Steam Packet / The Sligo Maid
11  Herbert Smith’s Polka
12  One Day While in the North Country
13  A-Begging I Will Go
14  The Wealthy Squire
15  By Tyne’s Bonny Banks
16  Once I Had an Old Hen
17  Polka Medley: Jenny Lind / J B Milne / The Girl With the Blue Dress On
18  Bogie’s Bonnie Belle
19  Irish Molly Barn Dance
20  Toast / The Blarney Stone

A hugely popular act on the British folk scene, John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris, made a series of fine records for the Topic label. John had also recorded with Ashley Hutchings’ Morris On band and with Richard Thompson; both were founder members of the Albion Country Band and John would later join Steeleye Span. Their duo records are cherished by aficionados of the finest English country music from the mid-20th century revival.
1  The Edgmond Men’s Souling Song
2  Artichokes and Cauliflowers
3  The Bricklayers / Double Change Sides
4  The Cherry Tree Carol
5  John of the Greeney Cheshire Way
6  A Shropshire Lad
7  I Wish, I Wish
8  Old Sir Simon the King
9  Adieu to Old England
10  The Blue Eyed Stranger / The Winster Morris Reel
11  Jim Jones
12  Blacksmith’s Morris / Charles’s Hornpipe
13  Cold Blows the Wind
14  Wilson’s Favourite / Shrewsbury Wakes

Many of the finest traditional ballads from the British Isles were preserved by the families of settlers in the American South, where they existed alongside native American balladry. Hedy West, a native of North Georgia in the Appalachians, was one of the very few performers who were at home with the various manners of performing these ballad traditions. ‘Ballads’ is a splendid recording from 1967 which continues to influence contemporary musicians like Martin Simpson, three decades later.
1  The Foggy Dew
2  Girl I Left In Danville
3  The Unquiet Grave
4  Beaulampkin
5  Down In Adairsville
6  The Sheffield Apprentice
7  Lucy Wan
8  Little Sadie
9  The Cruel Mother
10  Love Henry
11  The Texan Rangers
12  George Collins

“In a form of music that is mainly about continuity and convention, it is a rarity to come across an innovator, a rule-breaker; Davie Stewart was just such a character.  He deserves the overused word, ‘unique’; they made Davie and then they broke the mould.  His song accompaniments on melodeon or piano accordion have a peculiar otherworldly effect.  It is weird and wonderful stuff.”  Vic Smith

1 MacPherson’s Rant
2 The Jolly Beggar
3 Cantering: The 74^th Highlanders’ Farewell to Edinburgh/The Piper’s Bonnet/Mrs
MacLeod of Raasay
4 I’m Often Drunk and I’m Seldom Sober
5 Jigs: Taghter Jack Walsh/The Connaughtman’s Ramble
6 The Overgate
7 The Merchant’s Son
8 The Daft Piper
9 Boolavogue
10 Hornpipe: Harvest Home
11 The Dowie Dens o’Yarrow

Production for Topic by Tony Engle
First issued by Topic Records 1978

Green Grow the Laurels is a representative anthology of songs from southern England. Some of these songs stem from long blackletter broadsides of the 16th and 17th centuries, whilst others are of very recent origin, reflecting the cosmopolitan taste of folksingers throughout the ages. Personal preference obviously plays its part in
the transmission of folksongs, but other factors are also involved. Recorded by Mike Yates between 1972-75.

1     Green Grow the Laurels Louise Fuller, Lingfield, Surrey
2    The Rich Lady Gay Harry Upton, Balcombe, Sussex
3    Wexford Town Mary Ann Haynes, Brighton, Sussex
4    The Aylesbury Girl Jack Goodban, St Margarets-at-Cliffe, Kent
5    The Tree in the Wood George ‘Tom’ Newman, Clanfield, Oxford Oxfordshire
6    I Am a Donkey Driver Harry Upton
7    The Molecatcher Louise Fuller
8    Hopping Down in Kent Louise Fuller
9    ‘The Shannon’ Frigate Jack Goodban
10   Young Maria Louise Fuller
11   The Colour of Amber Mary Ann Haynes
12   The Banks of the Sweet Dundee Harry Upton
13   A Single Life Harry Upton
14   A Woman’s Work is Never Done Harry Upton

Peta Webb’s 1973 LP for Topic came after great interest in her work with Oak; this album showcases her individual vocal style, with songs learned from some of the great Irish traditional singers, Brigid Tunney, Winnie Ryan and John Docherty among them.

1. I have wandered in exile  with Lucy Farr, fiddle
2. Oxford City
3. The Moorlough Shore
4. The Blackbird of Avondale with Lucy Farr, fiddle; Reg Hall, melodeon
5. Blackwater Side
6. The Pride of Glencoe with Michael Plunkett, fiddle
7. I am a poor girl
8. Moorlough Mary
9. The Lovely Banks of Lea with Lucy Farr, fiddle

Recorded by Tony Engle

First issued by Topic Records 1973

John Doonan was born and bred in Newcastle of an Irish father and mother and brought up in an atmosphere strictly Irish. His father was a well respected traditional fiddle player in the Newcastle area and it was through his strong influence that John inherited his fine style of flute-playing.

Irish Traditional Dance Music In Strict Tempo
1 Reels: Jackie Coleman’s / Paddy Cavanagh’s / John Brennan’s
2 Slip jigs: Any Old Jig Will Do / The Butterfly
3 Set Dance: Rodney’s Glory
4 Slow jigs: The Idle Road / The Frost is All Over / The Black Rogue
5 Air: The Spalpeen’s Lament
6 Jigs: The Kesh / Morrison’s / Old Joe’s
7 Reels: The Shannon Breeze / Heathery Breeze / The Green Fields of America
8 Set Dance: The Blackthorn Stick
9 Set Dance: Hurry the Dance
10 Set Dance: Rub the Bag
11 Air & Set Dance: The Blackbird
12 Hornpipes: Spellan the Fiddler / The Rights of Man
13 Jigs: The Irish Washerwoman / Father O’Flynn / The Lilting Fisherman

John Doonan is accompanied by Malcolm Armstrong on tracks 1,6,7 and 13
and Brian Pandrich on piano tracks 3, 8, 9, and 10

First published by Topic Records 1978

The Fisher family – stalwarts of the folk song revival – captured at a family get-together; a series of magical recordings by Bill Leader devoted to the family’s younger generation. Ray and Archie Fisher together with their sisters come into their own on this delightful anthology of Scots songs old and new.
1  Come All Ye Fisher Lassies – The Fisher Family
2  Schooldays Over – Ray & Archie Fisher
3  The Rigs O’Rye – Archie Fisher
4  Donal Ogue – Joyce Fisher
5  For Our Lang Biding Here – Archie Fisher
6  Joy of My Heart – The Fisher Family
7  Hey Ca Through – Ray, Joyce, Audrey & Priscilla Fisher
8  What’s Poor Mary Weeping For? / Bonnie Lass O’Ballochmyle – Ray & Archie Fisher
9   Am A Miller Tae Ma Trade – Cindy & Joyce Fisher
10  I Am A Freeborn Man – Archie Fisher
11  The Birkin Tree – Joyce & Cindy Fisher
12  Aince Upon a Time – Ray & Archie Fisher

Des and Vince O’Halloran are from the tiny Inishbofin Island, off the coast of Connemara. Though relatively young when these recordings were made and from a region not noted for a strongly maintained musical tradition, they play wonderfully close-knit and exciting music.
1  Reels: The Music in the Glen / The Green Fields of America
2  Jigs: The Lark in the Morning / The Connaughtman’s Rambles
3  The Lowlands of Holland
4  Barn Dances: Stack of Barley / Johnny, Will You Marry Me?
5  Jigs: Pat Burke’s / Fraher’s
6  Sweet Inniscarra
7  Waltz and Jigs: Martin Byrne’s Waltz / A Hundred Pipers / Dingle Regatta
8  Granuaile
9  Reels: The Sailor on the Rock / The Maid I Ne’er Forgot
10  Reel: The Limerick Lasses
11  Jig: The Lake Shore / The Exile’s Return
12  Reels: The Eel in the Sink / Larry Redigan’s
13  Moorlough Mary
14  The Bucks of Oranmore / The Wind that Shakes the Barley

One of Scotland’s best known traditional singers, Jimmy McBeath, was a former farm servant and traveller from Banffshire. He sang in a direct any authoritative style bothy ballads and songs learnt on the road. His 1967 album has long been regarded as a very important collection of traditional song.

1  The Bold English Navvy
2  Come A’ Ye Tramps an’ Hawkers
3  Johnny McIndoe
4  The Wind Blew The Bonnie Lassie’s Plaidie Awa’
5  The Merchant and the Beggar Maid
6  Nicky Tams
7  The Barnyards o’ Delgaty
8  I’m A Stranger in this Country
9  The Moss O’ Burreldale
10  The Highlandman’s Ball
11  McPherson’s Rant
12  Grat For Gruel
13  Drumdelgie
14  Wild Rover No More

First published by Topic 1967

Once a traveller, Phoebe Smith was settled in her East Anglian home at the time of these recordings. She sings in the distinctive, highly dramatic style of the travellers, and excels in traditional ballads. “One of the finest performers.”
1  Once I Had A True Love
2  A Blacksmith Courted Me
3  Young Ellender
4  Higher Germany
5  Molly Vaughan
6  The Tanyard Side
7  The Yellow Handkerchief
8  The Wexport Girl
9  The Dear Little Maiden

Miko, Pakie and Gussie Russell of Dolin, Co Clare, were an Irish musical family of singular attractiveness and interest, with aremarkably rich store of local Clare music. This record was recorded on location by John Tams and Neil Wayne in 1977, and is an exceptional document of the traditional music making still to be heard in the Irish countryside during the mid-1970s.
1  Campbell’s Reel
2  The Heather Breeze / The Traveller
3  St. Kevin of Glendalough
4  The Potlick / The Peeler’s Jacket
5  The Five Mile Chase
6  Russell’s Hornpipe / Fisher’s Hornpipe
7  The Poor Little Fisher Boy
8  The Walls of Liscarroll / The Battering Ram
9  Garret Barry’s Reel
10  Tommy Glenny’s Reel
11  The Connemara Stockings / The Westmeath Hunt
12  When Musheen Went to Bunnan
13  Tatter Jack Walsh
14  The De’il Among the Tailors
15  The Roscrea Cows
16  Fair Haired Boy / The Black Haired Lass
17  Off to California
18  Give the Girl her Fourpence
19  Nora Daly

Irish traditional song runs the gamut between heroic and lyric. The great Donegal singer Paddy Tunney was a supremely lyrical singer and a master of intricate vocal ornament. The Flowery Vale was recorded in London in February 1975.

1    Tis Pretty to be in Ballinderry
2    Captain Coulson
3    Ta Me Mo Shui
4    What Brought the Blood
5    The Blighted Lover
6    The Twisting of the Rope
7    The Blackbird
8    Old Ardboe
9    The Old Man Rocking the Cradle
10   Siubhan Ni Dhuibhir
11   Dobbin’s Flowery Vale
12   Going to Mass Last Sunday

Umps and Dumps were an exuberant dance band led by John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris. The ensemble’s sole recording is a splendid example of the energy typical of the English country dance scene of the early 1980s.
1  Up Sides
2  After You’ve Got
3  Woodland Voices
4  The Watercress Girl
5  Maybe She’ll Write Me
6  Rogue’s March / Dashing White Sergeant
7  Marmalade Polka
8  Underneath Her Apron
9  Lichfield Tattoo
10  The Willow Tree
11  Donkey, Jack Donkey / Here it Comes Again
12  Dark Town Strutter’s Ball / Cajun Two Step

The captivating fiddle and accordion player, Rose Murphy, was born in 1900 into an intensely musical family in Milltown, County Galway. She spent much of her adult life living around Rotherham in South Yorkshire, and was 76 years young when this recording was made. The album delightfully recaptures the dancing repertoire styles of her youth in the West of Ireland.
1  Reel: Salamanca / The Milltown Lasses
2  Trim the Velvet
3  Jig: The Silver Tip / The Frog in the Well
4  The Lark in the Clear Air
5  Polkas: The First of May / The Last of June (Jenny Lind)
6  Jigs: Paddy in London / Over the Garden Wall
7  Hornpipe: Road to Ballysodare
8  Reels: The Teetotaller / The Bunch of Keys
9  Reel: The Whistler and His Dog
10  Reels: The Flax in Bloom / The College Grove / The Maid on the Mountain
11  Reel: Ladybower’s Reel / The Sister Reel
12  Reel: Drowsy Maggie
13  Hornpipes: The Harvest Home / The Londonderry
14  Jigs: The Frost Is All Over / The Goose in the Bog
15  Reel: The Lonely Maid
16  Air: The Coolin
17  Barn Dance: Turkey in the Straw
18  Slip Jig: Mother I’m Up In the Roost (What Are You Doing, You Divil You!)
19  Miss Monahan’s / Miss Gallagher’s
20  Reel: Rakish Paddy
21  Hornpipe The Belfast (or Sweep’s) Hornpipe

The recordings of Hugh Gillespie have a quite different ‘feel’ from other American-Irish fiddle music of the late 1930s period. The somewhat unusual choice of guitar rather than piano for accompaniment certainly contributes to this distinctiveness, but probably the decisive factors are Gillespie’s ‘singing’ style and highly personal technique. He learned from Coleman a device he calls ‘back trebling’, and also uses drones and fractional flattening or sharpening of notes to great effect. Such techniques are by no means peculiar to Coleman or Gillespie – indeed, most Irish musicians use them in some degree – but every musician stamps them with his own particular emphases. In these recordings of Hugh Gillespie at his peak, between 1937 and 1939, the sum of these various elements is a unique and outstanding series of performances.

1. Reel: Dowd’s Favorite
2. Hornpipes: McKenna’s Farewell (The Liverpool/Hennessey’s)
3. Reels: Master Crowley’s Reels
4. The Irish Mazurka
5. Reel: Jenny’s Welcome to Charlie
6. Jigs:   Master Crowley’s Favourites
7. Highland Flings: Finnea Lassies/Gurren’s Castle
8. Reels: The Girl that Broke my Heart/Dick Cosgrove’s Reel
9. Reels: Farewell to Leitrim/Tom Steele
10. Jigs: Jackson’s Favorite/Kips
11. Reels: Paddy Finley’s Fancy/Joe O’Connell’s Dream
12. Waltz: Versevanna
13. Reels: The Donegal Traveler/Miss Montgomery
14. Hornpipes: Mountain Stream/Parker’s Fancy
15. Jigs: Contentment is Wealth/Finley’s Jig
16. Reels: Dowd’s Number Nine/Jackson’s

When Chesterton wrote of the Irish ‘All their wars were merry and all their songs are sad’ he was sacrificing accuracy for the sake of a paradox. The wars themselves were ruthless savage campaigns of destruction on the one hand and desperate struggles for existence on the other. The British fought as conquerors with scant regard for the rules of war, the Irish fought for something ancient and good, and they fought as crusaders. Their songs reflected their attitude, full of sadness for previous defeats, but convinced of the justice of their cause and confident that the final battle would be won.

Tudors, Stuarts, Commonwealth and After
1. Follow me up to Carlow  Arthur Kearney
2. Sean O’Dwyer a Gleanna  Paddy Tunney
3. Jackets Green  Arthur Kearney
4. The Battle of Aughrim  Frank Kelly – violin, Joe Tunney– melodeon
The United Irishmen and the Rebellion of 1798
5. The Ribbon Blade  Paddy Tunney
6. General Munro  Arthur Kearney
7. The Memory of the Dead  Frank Kelly – violin, Joe Tunney – melodeon
The Young Ireland Movement and the Fenians
8. The Bold Fenian Men  Paddy Tunney
9. John Mitchel  Paddy Tunney
10. The Felons of our Land  Arthur Kearney
The Sinn Fein and the War of Independence
11. The Dawning of the Day  Frank Kelly – violin, Joe Tunney – melodeon
12. The Song of the Dawn  Arthur Kearney
13. The Valley of Knockanure  Paddy Tunney
14. The Grand Oul’ Dame Britannia  Paddy Tunney
15. Kevin Barry  Paddy Tunney

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This collection is drawn from the first three albums recorded by the Battlefield Band for Topic Records in 1977, ’78 and ’79.
Tracks 1-3 come from The Battlefield Band (12TS313), 4-12 from At the Front (12TS381) and 13-17 from Stand Easy (12TS404)
The Battlefield Band were made up of core members Brian MacNeill and Alan Reid with Jamie McMenemy and John Gahagan. For the second album, John was replaced by Pat Kilbride and, for Stand Easy, Pat and Jamie had left, and the new members were Duncan MacGillivray and Jenny Clark. Since making these recordings the band has gone on to become one of the mainstays of the progressive folk music scene in Scotland.

1  Silver Spear / Humours of Tulla
2  The Shipyard Apprentice
3  The Cruel Brother
4  Ge Do Theid Mi Do M’Leabaidh
5  The Battle of Harlaw
6  Jenny Nettles / The Grays of Tongside
7  Tae The Beggin’
8  The Tamosher
9  The Blackbird & the Thrush / The Moray Club
10  Lang Johnnie Moir
11  The Brown Milkmaid / Dunnottar Castle / Maid of Glengarrysdale / Disused Railway
12  The Lady Leroy
13  Miss Drummond of Perth / Fiddler’s Joy / Traditional Reel / The Shetland Fiddler
14   My Last Farewell to Stirling / Cuidich’n Righ
15   I Hae Laid a Herrin’ in Salt / My Wife’s a Wanton Wee Thing / The Banks of the Allan
16  The Battle of Falkirk Muir
17  Joe McGann’s Fiddle / Center’s Bonnet

Peggy Seeger performs eight songs for children from the American tradition, accompanied by her sisters Penny and Barbara. First released in 1958.

1    All Around The Kitchen
2   Come Along John
3   Billy Barlow
4   Old Aunt Kate
5   Little Bird, Little Bird, Go Through My Window
6   Lula Gal
7   Rissolty, Rossolty
8   The Derby Ram

Long the enfant terrible of the folk revival, Dominic Behan – poet, patriot, playwright and rebel – spills over with outrageous talent. This archive recording from 1960 shows him as a powerful and honest singer, a worthy heir of the great Dublin heritage of song and ballad. Behan is accompanied by Peggy Seeger, Leon Rosselson and Ralph Rinzler.

1  Get Me Down Me Filling Knife
2  The Saint
3  Down By the Liffeyside
4  Ross’ Farewell to Dublin
5  Waxy Dargell
6  Red Roses For Me
7  Thank You Mam, Said Dan
8  John Mitchell
9  The Finding of Moses
10  Master McGrath
11  Dicey Riley
12  Finnegan’s Wake
13  The Women are Worse that the Men
14  Easy and Slow
15  The Spanish Lady
16  The Twang Man
17  Bold Robert Emmett
18  Biddy Mulligan

After a long European and New Zealand tour in 1985/6, the original line-up of The House Band disbanded, and Chris Parkinson and Ged Foley formed a new group with Brian Brooks and John Skelton. This line-up recorded ‘Pacific’ for Topic in 1987, with the band touring America extensively in the late 1980s and 1990s.

1. PACIFIC
2. DIAMANTINA DROVER
3. JOY AFTER SORROW
4. IN AT THE DEEP END
5. OLD MAN RIVER
6. THE PIT STANDS IDLE
7. GOING PLACES
8. FOR THE SAKE OF EXAMPLE
9. BLAZING RUSE

Produced by The House Band and David Kenny

First issued by Topic Records 1987

The first album recorded for Topic by the reknowned Dick Gaughan, ‘Coppers & Brass’ is an impressive instrumental set from one of Scotland’s finest folk musicians. Dick Gaughan performs a collection of jigs, hornpipes, reels and marches, learned from pipers and fiddlers and skilfully transferred to the guitar.
1  Coppers and Brass / Gander in the Pratie Hole
2  O’Keefe’s / The Foxhunter’s
3  The Flowing Tide / The Fairies’ Hornpipe
4  The Oak Tree / The Music in the Glen
5  Planxty Johnson
6  Gurty’s Frolics
7  The Spey in Spate / The Hurricane
8  Alan McPherson of Mosspark / The Jig of Slurs
9  The Thrush in the Storm / The Flogging Reel
10  Ask My Father / Lads of Laoise / The Connaught Heifers
11  The Bird in the Bush / The Boy in the Gap / MacMahon’s Reel
12  Strike the Gay Harp / Shores of Lough Gowna
13  Jack Broke the Prison Door / Donald Blue / Wha’ll Dance wi’ Wattie

Martin Simpson has spoken of his early studio recordings as “scrapbooks of the millions of things that I was into at that time.” For most fans this 1986 album displays a young master developing a remarkable relationship with his guitar.
1  Jazzman
2  Shawnee Town
3  Moth
4  Living Without You
5  For Jessica, Sad or High Kicking / My Dearest Dear
6  Icarus
7  No Depression in Heaven
8  Let It Be Me
9  Stillness in Company
10  The Lakes of Ponchartrain

Classic recordings of Traditional Music from the North-East of England
This record serves as a documentary of the thriving North-Eastern country music tradition in the second half of the 20th century. A tradition that continues to this day. Holey Ha’Penny is chiefly drawn from the 1954 field recordings by Peter Kennedy, with the addition of the only known record of the famous Northumbrian piper Tom Clough.

Tom Clough – Northumbrian Pipes        4.1.29
Jake Hutton – Fiddle, Bewcastle Fells, Cumberland 30.6.54
Tom Hunter – Fiddle, Bewcastle Fells, Cumberland 30.6.54
Billy Ballantine – Piccolo, Bewcastle Fells, Cumberland 30.6.54, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland 6.7.54 and Wark, Northumberland 29.6.54
Jimmy Hunter – Mouth organ, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland 6.7.54
Jim Rutherford – Fiddle, Otterburn, Northumberland 8.7.54
Ned Pearson – Fiddle, Cambo, Morpeth 16.6.54
Joe Hutton – Pipes, Stuart Shields, Otterburn, Northumberland 11.7.54
Adam Gray – Fiddle, Barden Mill, Northumberland 1.7.54
Willy Taylor – Melodeon, Warenford, Northumberland 7.6.54, Fiddle, Warenford, Northumberland 7.6.54
Bob Clark – Jews harp, Wltittingham, Northumberland 9.6.54
John Hepple – Pipes, Haltwhistle, Northumberland 1.7.54
George Hepple – Fiddle, Haltwhistle, Northumberland 1.7.54

1    Ho’ley Ha’Penny/Elsie Marley Tom Clough
2    The Gilsland Hornpipe Tom Hunter, Billy Ballantine
3    Morpeth Rant Jim Rutherford
4    Proudlocks Hompipe Billy Ballantine
5    Billy Ballantine’s Reel Billy Ballantine
6    Father’s Polka Ned Pearson
7    Schottische Ned Pearson
8    Varsoviana (Old and New) Ned Pearson
9    Highland Laddie  Ned Pearson
10   My Lodging is on Cold Ground/Bonnie Dundee Joe Hutton
11   Roxburgh Castle/Devil among the Tailors Joe Hutton
12   The Roman Wall Adam Gray
13   Tom Hepple’s Polka (The Girl with the Blue Dress On) Adam Gray
14   The Tow House Polka Adam Gray
15   The Kielder Schottische Jake Hutton, Tom Hunter, Billy Ballantine
16   The Keel Row (with variations) Tom Clough
17   Schottische Billy Ballantine, Jimmy Hunter
18   My Lodging’s on Cold Ground/Blow the Wind Southerly Billy Ballantine, Jimmy Hunter
19   Corn Rigs/The Manchester Hornpipe Bob Clark
20   The Linehope Lope Willy Taylor
21   Willy Taylor’s Polka Willy Taylor
22   Nae Good Luck – jig Willy Taylor
23   Whittingham Green Lane/Ward’s Brae John Hepple, George Hepple
24   Bonny North Tyne Billy Ballantine
25   Mosstrooper’s Polka Billy Ballantine
26   The Coquet Reel Billy Ballantine
27   Heel and Toe Polka Ned Pearson
28   The Pin Reel – jig Ned Pearson
29   Cambo March Ned Pearson
30   The Ferry Boat George Hepple
31   Malorca/Herd on the Hill/Devil among the Tailors John Hepple, George Hepple

A collection of Country Singers from Hampshire and Sussex recorded by Bob Copper
In the summer of 1954, the singer and folksong collector Bob Copper went recording in the countryside of Sussex and Hampshire. He collected numerous fine songs from old country singers. This 1977 collection made those important recordings accessible for the first time.

1   The Bonny Bunch of Roses Noah Gillette
2   Epsom Races George Attrill
3   The Banks of The Mossem Jim Swain
4   False Lanky George Fosbury
5   Cruel Lincoln Ben Butcher
6   The Silver Pin Mrs Chapman
7   The ’Chiner’s Song Frank Bond
8   God Bless the Master Frank Bond
9   The Prickle-Holly Bush Fred Hewett
10  Three Maidens a-Milking Did Go Fred Hewett
11   Her Servant Man Gladys Stone
12   Rolling in the Dew Leslie Johnson
13   George Collins Enos White
14   In Sheffield Park Ben Butcher
15   The Streams of Lovely Nancy Victor ‘Turp’ Brown
16   As Broad As I Was Walking Victor ‘Turp’ Brown
17   Six Jolly Miners Victor ‘Turp’ Brown

Shanties and forebitters sung with zest and a feeling for authenticity. Ballads of shipwreck and disaster, songs of humour and love performed by a ‘who’s who’ of the English folk song revival – Louis Killen, Cyril Tawney and Ian Campbell, accompanied by master-fiddler Dave Swarbrick.

1  The Wild Goose – Louis Killen
2  Lovely Nancy – Ian Campbell
3  The Nightingale – Cyril Tawney
4  Heave Away My Johnny – Louis Killen
5  Row Bullies Row – Ian Campbell Group
6  The Fireship – Cyril Tawney
7  Tom’s Gone To Hilo – Bob Davenport
8  Ship in Distress – Louis Killen
9  Lowlands Low – Ian Campbell Group
10  One Morning In Spring – Cyril Tawney
11  Hilo Johnny Brown – Louis Killen
12  Poor Old Horse – Ian Campbell Group
13  Bold Princess Royal – Louis Killen
14  Billy Boy – Bob Davenport
15  Bold Benjamin – Cyril Tawney
16  The Hog Eye Man – Ian Campbell Group
17  Goodbye, Fare Thee Well – Louis Killen

A pioneering record of traditional East Anglian musicians playing functional music for dancing. This is the music of the rural public house tap room – step dances, polkas and waltzes. The exemplary location recordings capture “relaxed, unspectacular and homely but often highly skilled performances” from four of the finest country musicians – Billy Bennington (hammer dulcimer), Percy Brown (melodeon), Harold Colvill (mouth organ) and Oscar Woods (melodeon).

1  Jig – Oscar Woods
2  Gay Ladies – Billy Bennington
3  Old Joe, the Boat is Going Over / Untitled Polka – Percy Brown
4  Step dance tune (The Sailor’s Hornpipe) – Oscar Woods
5  Waltz: Dulcie Belle – Billy Bennington
6  Step Dance: Yarmouth Breakdown – Percy Brown
7  Italian’ Waltz – Oscar Woods
8  Untitled Polka – Oscar Woods
9  Step Dance: Yarmouth Hornpipe – Billy Bennington
10  Polka: On the Green – Billy Bennington
11  The Oyster Girl – Harold Covill
12  March: On Parade – Billy Bennington
13  Waltz for the Veleta – Percy Brown
14  Step Dance Tune – Oscar Woods
15  Slow Step Dance Tune – Billy Bennington
16  Oh, Joe the Boat is Going Over – Oscar Woods
17  Barn Dance Tune – Percy Brown
18  Sheringham Breakdown – Percy Brown
19  The Nutting Girl – Harold Covill
20  Jack’s the Lad (The Sailor’s Hornpipe) – Billy Bennington
21  Red Wing – Billy Bennington
22  Heel and Toe Polka – Percy Brown

From the original LP notes:

The British Labour Movement has a rich heritage of songs – songs that convey a sense of history, as well as imagery and emotion for present day industrial workers and their friends.

The force and tang of these songs proves irresistible to modern tastes, and many talented song-makers outside of industry as well as within it have been fired to imitate this kind of do-it-yourself workers’ song. Among the best of these is Ewan MacColl, who presents here a number of songs created by industrial workers, interspersed with songs on industrial themes made by himself.

1 The Wark of the Weavers
2 Droylsden Wakes
3 The Four Loom Weaver
4 The Calton Weaver
5 Oh, Dear Me
6 The Coal-Owner and the Pitman’s Wife
7 Fourpence a Day
8 The Gresford Disaster
9 Will Caird
10 The Iron Horse
11 Poor Paddy works on the Railway
12 Cannily Cannily
13 The Song of the Iron Road
14 The Blantyre Explosion
15 The Collier Laddie
16 Moses of the Mail

Recording by Bill Leader.
First issued by Topic Records 1964.

The selections on this record reflect a certain affinity between Norwegian and Shetland musical traditions: a kind of musical bridge over the North Sea. These are conventional recordings, without gimmicks, intended to deepen the appreciation of this unique fiddle music from Northern Europe. This fiddling style is rich in tone-colours, original sounds and lively rhythms. Listeners with a good will and a sense of exploration will come across many fascinating finds.

1     HAUGELATTEN (The Tune from the Hills) Hauk and Knut Buen
2     SELJORD BRIDAL MARCH Tom Anderson with Hauk and Knut Buen
3     GRAVBAKKEN (The Grave Yard) Vidar Lande
4     FILLE-VERN (Ragged-Vern) – walking dance Vidar Lande
5     SORDALEN (Setesdalgangar) Vidar Lande
6     MAGGIE O’HAM (Foula Shaalds Dance) Tom Anderson and Knut Buen with Debbie Scott and Catriona MacDonald
7     PRESTEGANGAREN (The Parson’s Dance) Hauk Buen
8     FYKERUDEN (Homage to Fykerud) Hauk Buen
9     MARKENSMANDAGEN (The Market-Monday) Hauk Buen
10   KNUT LURASEN I (Hjerki Haukeland) Knut Buen
11   MARGIT HJUKSE (Listening Tune) Knut Buen
12   SIRI RUKAREN (Fiddler’s Wife) Hauk Buen
13   BOKKOEN (Dance tune by Bokko) Hauk Buen
14   UNST BRIDAL MARCH/DA BRIDE’S A BOANNIE TING Tom Anderson and Knut Buen
15   HOMSLIEN (Tune of the Goblins) Vidar Lande
16   SKRUBBEN (The Wolf) Vidar Lande
17   NORAFJELLS (North of the Mountains) Vidar Lande

Recorded in Edinburgh, Jondalen and Oslo

First issued by Topic Records 1983

PACKIE BYRNE was born in Co. Donegal in 1917 into a community where traditional music and song were deeply imbedded, Packie could not help but continue this tradition. Throughout his life he was a notable singer, also becoming very well-known in the London area as a whistle player of great skill. This album shows a less well-known side of Packie – a carrier of fine traditional ballads, some of which were quite rare.

1   John and the Farmer
2   The Rich Man’s Daughter
3   The Holland Handkerchief
4   Molly Bawn
5   The Jolly Ploughboy
6   Young Alvin
7   Johnny o’ Hazelgreen
8   Lament to the Moon
9   The Creel

Paddy Tunney of Donegal is a supremely gifted lyrical singer and a master of intricate vocal ornament. The songs he sings are as deeply and genuinely romantic as the green countryside and dark mountains of his native country. A Wild Bees’ Nest is one of his finest records.

1  The Rollicking Boys Around Tandaragee
2  The Colleen Rue
3  The Flower of Sweet Strabane
4  The Waterford Boys
5  Easter Snow
6  I Once Had a True Love
7 Sheela Nee Eyre
8  When a Man’s In Love
9  The Banks of Dunmore
10  Bonny Tavern Green
11  Castlehyde

J SCOTT SKINNER (1843 – 1927) was in his time the chief composer and exponent of Scots violin music. His own pieces no less than his versions of traditional tunes became settled in the tradition, and a command of the Skinner repertoire and, equally important, the master’s style is among the most respected attainments of a Scots fiddler.

1     The President – Air and Variations
2     Lucania Polka
3     The Freebooter / Tullochgorum / The East Neuk o’ Fife
4     Allegory / The Miller o’ Hirn / Mackenzie Frazer / The Auld Wheel
5     Bagpipe Marches – Athole Highlanders’ Farewell to Loch Katrine / Cameron Highlanders / The Inverness Gathering
6     Celebrated Hornpipes – Arthur Seat / Eugene Stratton / The Banks
7     Highland Reels – Laird o’ Thrums / Gavin M’Millan / Laird o’ Drumblair / Gladstone’s Reel
8     Medley No. 2 – Bonnie Lass o’ Bon Accord / Marquis of Huntly’s Farewell / The Ten Pound Fiddle
9     Highland Schottische No. 2 – Sandy Cameron / Miller o’ Hirn / The Glenlivet
10   Triumph Country Dance – Triumph / Timour the Tartar / The Left Handed Fiddler / Speed the Plough / De’il Among the Tailors
11    Home Sweet Home / The Iron Man Strathspey / The Bungalow Reel
12    Cradle Song – Cradle Song / The Braes of Auchtertyre / The Athole Highlanders’ Farewell to Loch Katrine
13    Glengrant / Tulchan Lodge / The Parrot – Humorous Pizzicato
14    Mrs. Scott Skinner / Mackenzie Hay / The Devil’s Elbow

Most of the people in Blaxhall will tell you that there are two big families in the village, the Smiths and the Lings. The Smiths are known as good stepdancers and the Lings as good singers. lntermarriage and the relatively stable population of the village, now altered by an influx of newcomers, has made a complex web of relationships which are very difficult to disentangle. It seems, however, that most of the population are related in some degree, and that people define their own relationships with each other broadly on the basis of a “close” relationship or a “back” relationship. Close relatives are mothers, fathers, siblings, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and cousins; all others are “back” relatives. Confusions arise through marriage when names are changed, but awareness of family is strong and identity is kept. Lings can be traced in the genealogies of every other local family. The Lings split into factions whereby some Lings say that they are not related to other Lings because they have different historical or geographic origins. Ruby Ling in Snape, Percy Ling’s wife’s family, who were also Lings, and George and Basil Bennett whose mother was a Ling, all say that they are not related to the Blaxhall Lings. The Lings identify themselves into family groups, and it is in one of these particular groups that several singers are found.

1    Green Bushes  Geoff Ling
2    On Board the Leicester Castle  George Ling
3    The Lobster  Percy Ling
4    Died for Love  Geoff Ling
5    Little Ball of Yarn  Geoff Ling
6    The Lakes of Coolfin  George Ling
7    The Deserter  George Ling
8    Little Sweetheart  Percy Ling
9    Jolly Jack the Sailor  George Ling
10   A Group of Young Squaddies  Geoff Ling
11   On the Banks of the Clyde  Geoff Ling
12   Underneath Your Apron  Percy Ling
13   The Bonny Bunch of Roses  George Ling
14   Nancy of Yarmouth  George Ling
15   The Man all Tattered and Torn  Percy Ling
16   Fagin the Cobbler  Percy Ling

Two generations of the Campbell family and their lodger recorded during a family get-together. The older Campbells recalled songs from their youth in Scotland; Bob Cooney, the lodger, remembered children’s rhymes from childhood; Ian and Lorna (from the influential Ian Campbell Folk Group) and their sister Winnie sand ancient songs freshly learned through the folk revival.
1  Faur does Bonnie Lorna Lie / Sleep Till Yer Mammy – Betty Campbell
2  Nicky Tams – Dave Campbell
3  The Road and the Miles to Dundee – Betty Campbell
4  Drumdelgie / I Ken Fur I’m Gaun – Dave Campbell & Bob Cooney
5  My Wee Man’s a Miner / Fa, Fa, Fa wid be a Bobby / Foul Friday / Me an’ Mi Mither / We Three Kings – The Campbell Family
6  Bogie’s Bonnie Belle – Winnie Campbell
7  The Cruel Mother – Ian Campbell
8  Lang a’Growin’ – Lorna Campbell
9  Lady Eliza – Winnie Campbell
10  Will Ye Gang Love – Ian Campbell
11  I Wish, I Wish – Lorna Campbell
12  McGinty’s Meal and Ale – Bob Cooney and the family

The Stewarts are a proud family of Scots travellers who claim descent from the Royal House of Stewart and who have music in their bones. Belle Stewart was one of the great traditional ballad singers and her daughters, Sheila and Cathie, inherited the family talent in full measure. Belle’s husband Alex Stewart was a fine exponent of the Highland warpipes. For The Travelling Stewarts album the family were joined by many of their relatives, including Jeannie Robertson, Lizzie Higgins and Davy Stewart.

‘You’ll never see me laughing or shouting at a Pakistani or anybody like that; no, never… Long, long years ago when I was a wee boy. My auld mother told me that all travellers came from the same place as these people. and so I never do anything that might offend them. Anyway, they`re having a hard time of it. just like the travellers…’
Davy Stewart, itinerant singer.

1    Johnnie, My Man  Lizzie Higgins
2    Willie’s Fatal Visit  Jeannie Robertson
3    The Battle’s O’er; Scotland the Brave; The 51st Division in Egypt  Played by Donald and Isaac Higgins, pipes
4    Bogie’s Bonnie Belle  Jane Stewart
5    McGinty’s Meal and Ale  Davy Stewart
6    My Bonnie Tammy  Christina Stewart
7    MacPherson’s Lament  Maggie McPhee
8    The Drunken Piper; Brig o’ Perth; Reel o’ Tulloch  Played by Alex Stewart, pipes
9    Loch Dhui  Belle Stewart acc. Alex Stewart, goose
10   The Dawning of the Day  Cathie Stewart, acc. Alex Stewart, goose
11   Donald’s Return to Glencoe  Sheila Stewart

Recorded in Scotland by Bill Leader, 1967
First Issued by Topic 1968

Harry Boardman sang both unaccompanied and accompanying himself on the anglo-concertina or banjo. He wasactive as a folk singer and collector of Lancashire folklore from the late 1950s with some collaboration from his wife Lesley. Dave Hillery appeared regularly with Harry at the Pack Horse Hotel in Bridge Street, Manchester in the early 1960s, developing his interest in Yorkshire regional material through their association.

Although most of the songs in this album represent well the character of their respective counties, there has been no attempt to create a definitive programme – they are simply the personal choice of two men from either side of the ‘backbone of England’.

1. Scarborough Sands
2. I’ll have a Collier for my Sweetheart
3. Forty Miles
4. Tommy Stroo’s Ghost
5. Cowd Stringy Pie
6. Tha’s Welcome, Little Bonny Brid
7. Nellie o’ Bob’s o’t’ Crowtrees
8. Weaver’s Song
9. Happy Sam
10. The Manchester Canal 
11. Instrumental Dance-Tunes T-auld Wife of Coverdill/Lass O’ Dallogil/My Love, My Love
12. The Cockfight
13. Haley Paley
14. With Henry Hunt We’ll Go
15. The Ensilver Song

Recorded by Dick Swettenham in Manchester
First issued by Topic Records 1971

‘Together, they form a team, sometimes a little ragged, but never lacking in the fire which is essential to success.  Their joint travels around Europe taught them a great deal which home life could not have done and they came back to Britain, better than when they had first left it.  For a short time I was privileged to work with them on mandolin.  We had a ball as a trio and I learned more in a few weeks, more of the sheer pleasure of playing music, than I had done in several years of more serious attempts to progress.’

From the original sleevenotes by Alexis Korner

1          Rich and Rambling Boys  1,2
2          Buffalo Skinner  1
3          I wish I was a Rock  2
4          It’s Hard ain’t it Hard  1
5          All Around the Water Tank  1
6          Mother’s not Dead  1,2
7          East Virginia Blues  1,2
8          The Old Bachelor  2
9          Danville Girl  1
10       The State of Arkansas  1
11       The Death of Mr Garfield  2
12       Roll on Buddy  1,2

1  Jack Elliott
2  Derroll Adams

The IRISH COUNTRY FOUR from Belfast had a wonderfully original take on traditional repertoire from Ulster. Their sole recording was reviewed at the time  as ‘an excellent records… they sing the songs and play the tunes of their homeland with an involvement that is quick to rub off on the listener.

1     Reels: Roaring Mary and The Old Torn Petticoat
played by the group (union pipes, whistle, guitar and bones)
2     The Cotton-mill Song
sung by Jess Harpur (w. guitar) and chorus
3    The Granemore Hare
sung by Jess Harpur, acc. Brian Bailie (flute) and Valerie Bailie (guitar)
4     The boys of Mullaghbawn
sung by the group (unaccompanied)
5     Pulling the Lint
sung by Trevor Stewart (unaccompanied)
6      Air: The Melodious Little Fort of Bruff
played by Brian Bailie (whistle)
7     General Munro
sung by Jess Harpur and Valerie Bailie, with Brian Bailie (flute)
8     The Load of Kale Plants
sung by Trevor Stewart, with Brian Bailie (flute)
9     O’Meally’s Hornpipe
played by the group (union pipes, whistle and guitar)
10   Jigs: Kitty’s Bonnet and The Flax-dresser
played by the group (union pipes, whistle, flute, bodhran)
11   The Doffing Mistress
sung by Valerie Bailie, Jess Harpur, Trevor Stewart (w. guitar and mandoline)
12   The Maid of Ballydoo
sung by Jess Harpur (w. guitar) and chorus
13   Air: Blind Mary
played by Trevor Stewart (union pipes)
14   Magherafelt Hiring Fair
sung by Valerie Bailie and Trevor Stewart (w. guitar)
15   The Heights of Alma
sung by Trevor Stewart and Jess Harpur (unaccompanied)
16   P for Paddy
sung by Trevor Stewart, acc. Brian Bailie (flute) and chorus
17   Reels: Martin Mulhaire’s no. 1 / Kitty goes a-milking and Pigeon on the gate
played by the group (whistle, union pipes, bodhran and bones)

The High Level Ranters were among the liveliest folk music groups in Britain, one of the longest-established and most popular bands. The incredible instrumental versatilty of the four piece – Alistair Anderson, Tom Gilfellon, Johnny Handle and Colin Ross – took the music of their native Northumberland around the world. The group researched much of their repertoire from 19th century tune books, helping to revive and bring before a new audience a vast repertory of local traditional music. All members of the group recorded solo records, but their most powerful recordings were undoubtedly made as an ensemble.
1  Fairly Shot of Her / A Wife of My Own
2  Dance to Yer Daddy
3  The Lass Doon On The Quay
4  The Kielder Hunt
5  Hornpipes – Alston Flower Show / Jane of Biddlestone
6  Fortune Turns The Wheel
7  Fenwick of Bywell
8  Elsie Marley / Hoop Her And Gird Her
9  Captain Bover / Here’s The Tender Comin’ / Success To The Fleet
10  Proudlock’s Hornpipe / The Hesleyside Reel
11  Stanley Market
12  Hornpipes – The Marquis of Waterford / Bottle Bank / The Hawk

From  the original LP notes:

Like other folksingers, her repertoire encompasses a variety of emotions: anger at needless poverty and exploitation, affirmation of self-help as a way of life, pleasure in love, solace in religion, peace in death. Sarah’s prodigious talent has permitted her to fuse disparate radical elements with traditional forms to create a handful of significant songs beyond the legacy of well-known material left to her by her family.

1 I AM A GIRL OF CONSTANT SORROW
2 LOVING NANCY
3 OLD JACK FROST
4 MAY I GO WITH YOU JOHNNY?
5 THE HAND OF GOD ON THE WALL
6 DOWN ON THE PICKET LINE
7 I HATE THE COMPANY BOSSES
8 I’M GOING TO ORGANIZE
9 CHRIST WAS A WAYWORN TRAVELER
10 WHY DO YOU STAND THERE IN THE RAIN?
11 DREADFUL MEMORIES
12 OLD SOUTHERN TOWN
13 I HAVE LETTERS FROM MY FATHER
14 CAPTAIN DEVIN
15 GEE WHIZ WHAT THEY DONE TO ME
16 DAVY CROCKETT
17 BATTLE OF MILL SPRING
18 JUST THE SAME TODAY
19 SALLY
20 OH DEATH

First issued by Topic Records 1967.

From the original LP notes by Neil Wayne:

In this, the sixth Topic/Free Reed release, we present a sample of the playing of eight musicians from various parts of Ireland who play the Anglo concertina.

Today, the richest store of traditional concertina playing is to be found in County Clare, and indeed five of these musicians live and work in that county. However, the instrument’s popularity has been more widespread and Mrs. O’Dwyer, who learnt to play in County Limerick as a young girl, tells of many players in that county.

Also, the instrument is regaining popularity amongst the newer generation of musicians, and we feature on the recording items from two younger Dublin concertina players.

This record, then, surveys the Irish traditional concertina styles that can be heard in and around County Clare today, and includes selections from younger musicians, as well as some of the finest traditional players of the concertina in Ireland.

1 reel King of the Clans Sonny Murray
2 set tunes No Title/Behind the Bush in Parkhanna Mrs Ellen O’Dwyer
3 jig Kit O’Mahoney’s Paddy Murphy
4 reel The Mountain Road Gerald Haugh
5 Reels Solus Lillis/Tom Carey
6 slow air The Fairy Child Michael MacAogain
7 set dance The Argrume Set Mrs Ellen O’Dwyer
8 barn dance The Barn Dance Mrs Ellen O’Dwyer
9 reels Chancy Cheory/West along the Road Sonny Murray
10 reel The Morning Dew Sonny Murray
11 reel Spike Island Lasses Sean O’Dwyer
12 jigs Jigs incl. Jenny’s Beaver Hat Mrs Ellen O’Dwyer
13 reels Toss the Feathers/Drowsy Maggie Mrs Ellen O’Dwyer
14 reel The Mason’s Apron Paddy Murphy
15 flings Sean O’Dwyer’s Fling/The Kerry Hornpipe Sean O’Dwyer
16 jig Kesh Jig Gerald Haugh
17 jig The Clare Jig (Stack’s Favourite) Solus Lillis/Tom Carey
18 air Air from Thomas Moor Solus Lillis
19 hornpipe The Fairy Hornpipe Michael MacAogain
20 March  Mrs Ellen O’Dwyer
21 set dance Mrs O’Dwyer’s Fancy Mrs Ellen O’Dwyer
22 jigs Apples in Winter Solus Lillis/Tom Carey

Produced by John Tams, Neil Wayne and Tony Engle.
First issued by Topic Records 1977.

There is a Scots saying that a Stewart is ‘either a tinker or sib to the King’. Nobody who knows the Stewarts of Blairgowrie, who spring from a long and famous line of Scots travelling folk, will feel like arguing the toss as to which of these possibilities confers the higher status. By general consent the Stewarts rank high among the singing ‘folk’ families of Europe and the world, and (as Robert Burns would have agreed) this and similar considerations of sense and merit confer the only patent of nobility worth a docken. The descendants of ‘auld Jimmy Stewart of Struan’, who crossed from Perthshire into Aberdeenshire via Glenshee and the Devil’s Elbow about the middle of the last century, are now scattered up and down the high roads and the low roads of Scotland, and there is a flourishing colony of them in Canada. There can be few more musically gifted clans or families in all Europe. Pipers, Fiddlers, melodeon players, tin whistlers can be counted among them in dozens, and you practically never encounter an indifferent performer. Alex’s father, old John Stewart, was one of the finest pipers in Scotland.

Alex, Belle, Cathie and Sheila Stewart recorded in 1965 by Bill Leader

1     Huntingtower
2     Caroline of Edinburgh Town
3     In London’s Fair City
4     Queen Amang the Heather
5     Dowie Dens o’ Yarrow
6     The Lakes o’ Shillin
7     Ower Yon Hill There Lives a Lassie
8     The Convict’s Song
9     Young Jamie Foyers
10    The Corncrake amang the Whinny Knowes
11    Busk, Busk, Bonnie Lassie
12    March; Strathspey; Reel

Irish music in the old ‘Sligo Style’ was carried far and wide by such migrant sons as Michael Coleman, Paddy Killoran and Michael Gorman. It was the tradition that two London based musicians – Tommy Healy (flute) and Johnny Duffy (fiddle) – grew up in. They continued adhering to the style playing at home in Ireland and later in London. Accompanied by pianist Reg Hall the two are beautifully captured on this intimate recording from the mid-1970s.
1  Reels: Tarbolton / The Longford Collector / The Sailor’s Bonnet
2  Jigs: The Wandering Minstrel / Fasten the Legging / The Smash
3  Hornpipes: The Rights of Man / The Honeysuckle
4  Reels: The Boys at the Lough / The Merry Blacksmith
5  Jigs: The Scotsman Over the Border / Tell Her I Am
6  Reels: The Montua / The Happy Days of Youth
7  Reel: Fred Finn’s Reel
8  Reel; The First Part of the Lancers
9  Jigs: The Gold Ring / Richard Brennan’s Favourite
10  Reels: Miss McLeod / The Wild Irishman
11  Jig: The Grey Goose
12  Reels: The Humours of Lissadel / Sweeney’s Dream
13  Jigs: Cavan Lasses / Rose of the Heather
14  Reels: The Enchanted Lady / The Holy Land
15  Waltz: Mrs Kenney
16  Reels: Martin Wynne’s No.1 & No.2

Bob Davenport has one of the most distinctive styles and one of the widest repertoires among singers on the folkclub scene. A favourite at festivals and a regular guest at folk clubs throughout Britain, he is a staunch supporter of the traditional music of the working people. He is at his finest when accompanied by the Rakes, surely the best English country ensemble of them all.
1  Waltzes: With my Love on the Road / Wild Colonial Boy
2  The Ploughboy Lad
3  Single Jigs: Patsy Geary’s / The Peeler and the Goat
4  Princess Royal
5  Lake of Coolfin
6  The Man in the Moon / The Jealous Sailor / Jealous Heart
7  Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinnie
8  Three Men Went A-Hunting
9  Country Dance: Three Around Three
10  The Dowie Dens ofYarrow
11  Polkas: McCusker’s No. 1 / McCusker’s No. 2 / Jenny Lind
12  Slieve Gallion Braes
13  The Star of the County Down
14 Old Green River

The Wide Midlands: Songs, stories and tunes from the central Counties.

‘Birmingham, the Midland metropolis, was an important centre for the printing of broadsides and it is inevitable that this selection should lean towards the West Midlands. As well as broadsides, a number of industrial songs and fragments have been included, which have survived in oral tradition. The final song was written as lately as 1970. The toughness, the resilience, the humour and pride of the urban Midlander, both in hard times and in easier days, are the qualities which emerge from these songs and stories. They are as much ‘in the idiom of the people’ as their cousins from the country.’

1 The Dudley Boys  Sung by Peter Coe, Chris Richards, Mick Bramwich and Les Ivall, acc. Adrian Morris (whistle), Jim Haywood (tabor) & Helena Ivall (tenor drum)
2 When shall we get married, John? sung by Julie West & Roy Palmer, acc. Martyn Briggs (banjo) & Mick Nash (guitar)
3 The slap-bum tailor sung by Roy Palmer and chorus
4 Swaggering Boney/The black joke played by John Rose (fiddle) & Paul Hooke (guitar)
5 Stop that clock/Early in the morning/When you get up in the morning sung by Graham Langley, Doreen Davis, Pam Bishop & Steve Lynn
6 Jolly Joe the collier’s son sung by The Singing Tradition (Julie West, Martyn Briggs, Bob Lapworth & Mick Nash)
7 Owd never could told by Tom Langley
8 I can’t find Brummagem sung by Richard Hamilton, acc. Pam Bishop (guitar) & John Wrench (mouth organ)
9 The Birmingham Jack of all trades sung by Dave Rogers & chorus, acc. John Wrench (guitar) & Pam Bishop (concertina)
10 The nailmakers’ strike sung by Chris Rogers & Pam Bishop
11 The old miner sung by The Singing Tradition
12 Birmingham Sally sung by Chris Richards
13 Buffoon/Staffordshire Hornpipe played by John Rose (fiddle) & Paul Hooke (guitar)
14 Aye for Saturday Night sung by Joan Smith, acc. Pam Bishop (whistle)
15 The Aston Villa Supporter told by Tom Langley
16 Motor Trade Workers sung by Graham Langley and Bob Etheridge, acc. John Wrench (guitar)

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Bob Davenport has one of the most distinctive styles and one of the widest repertoires among singers on the folkclub scene. A favourite performer at festivals and a regular guest at folk clubs throughout Britain, he is a staunch supporter of traditional music.
His 1977 record ‘Postcards Home’ examines hard times and war times through a powerful mix of song, music and speech. Songs by Richard Thompson and Bob Marley are interwoven with traditional music, poetry and music hall songs. As a contemporary Daily Telegraph review noted: “An impressive and timely achievment, full of poetry, irony and lively music.”
1  Byker Hill / Blackleg Miner
2  Durham Gaol Selection: Gypsy Poacher / Durham Gaol / First Time I Saw Durham City / Ball of Yarn / Breaking Sticks
3  Wait Till the Work Comes Round
4  The Winter Time is Coming In / Old Changing Way
5  When a Man Looks Pale / There’s Nae Much Luck About the House
6  We Plough and Sow / Get Up, Stand Up
7  Once I Had A True Love / Lowlands / My Bonnie Lad
8  Great Little Army March
9  Unemployed Men Stand on the Corner / McCafferty / I Don’t Want to Join the Army
10  The House is Crammed / Good Morning Good Morning / Our Soldiers Went to War / If I Was Fierce / If You Want to Find the Colonel / They Didn’t Believe Me
11  Have You Forgotten Yet / When this Bloody War is Over

HEDY WEST from North Georgia, at the southern end of the Appalachians. A L Lloyd regarded her as ‘far and away the of American girl singers in the revival.’ A sensitive and vibrant singer who accompanied herself in a distinctive style on the five-string banjo, her early recordings for the Topic label have had a remarkable influence on the folk song revival.

1    The House Carpenter
2    Pretty Saro
3    Old Smokey
4    Blow Ye Gentle Winds
5    My Soul’s Full Of Glory
6    Promised Land
7    Over There
8    Little Matty Groves
9    Rake And Rambling Boy
10  Joe Bowers
11  Whistle, Daughter, Whistle
12  I’m An Old Bachelor
13  Johnny Sands
14  My Good Old Man
15  Frankie Silvers
16  Lee Tharin’s Bar Room

Together with his younger brother Barry, Robin Dransfield had a successful career as the leading young duo on the British folk scene during the late 1970s. They took the folk clubs by storm and recorded the seminal ‘Rout Of The Blues’ album. His solitary solo album, from 1980, is held in high regard by all aficionados of the finest English revival folk music.

1  The Cutty Wren
2  The Barley & The Rye
3  Fair Maids Of February
4  When It’s Night-time In Italy It’s Wednesday Over Here
5  The Rigs O’Rye 
6  Spencer The Rover
7  Tidewave
8  The Cadgwith Anthem      
9  I Once Had A Dog     
10  The Three Muscadets
11  Mother Nature
Robin Dransfield vocals, guitar
with
Hurdy Gurdy – Christian “Le Roi” Gourhan
Concertina – Lea Nicholson
Brass – The White Shield Brass Ensemble
(Bob White: trumpet, Chris Stearn: bass trombone, euphonium)
Bass Guitar – Nick Greenwood
Piano – Chris Copping
Cello – Barry Dransfield

Recorded at Livingston Studios, Barnet, 1979/80
Produced by Nic Kinsey

First released by Topic Records 1980

Accordion maestro John Kirkpatrick and the classically-trained oboist Sue Harris created a beautiful blend of English country dance tunes and songs with influences from Music Hall, Flaco Jimenez and Ry Cooder. Throughout the 1970s they were a sought after act on the UK folk scene and recorded a number of fine albums for the Topic label. 1989’s Stolen Ground, the duo’s final album for the Topic label, is undobtedly one of their finest records.
1  Arthur McBride
2  The Juggler
3  Clee Hill Tunes
4  Mother Earth
5  Black Deer
6  Must I Be Bound / Mrs Saggs
7  The Chickens They Are Crowing
8  Shepherd’s Branle
9  The Old Miner

The Oldham Tinkers specialise in the local songs and ballads of South Lancashire, and have an immense following their. Their debut album soon caught the attention of John Peel and brought their music to a much wider audience.
1  The Rochdale Mashers
2  Seeing Double
3  The Pennine Rangers
4  The Two Jews
5  A Piecer’s Tale
6  Best o’t’ Bunch
7  The Lancashire Toreador
8  A Cob-Coaling Medley
9  The Four-Loom Weaver
10  John Willie’s Ragtime Band
11  Platt’s
12  Good Time Coming
13  I Mean to Wait for Jack
14  Skiing Owdham Style
15  A Mon Like Thee

This record is a partial musical portrait of Glasgow, the city that more than any other in these islands, arouses shame, admiration and very real fear – the Glasgow of the old tradition, half-pastoral, half-urban, and nothing at all to do with the haggis or saffron kilts or tongued brogues; the Glasgow where the bewildered newcomer from the Highlands faces the line of a hundred grimy tenements; the Glasgow of the Hampden roar, of the bitter snarl of Orange against Green, of the shrill ironies of tough ten-year-olds of the courts of Govan and the concrete wastes of Easterhouse; the Glasgow of the factory gate demo, the Social Security queue, and the UCS work-in.

The Clutha, Terry Dick, Flora MacNeill, Geordie McIntyre, Freddie Anderson, Mick Broderick, Gordeanna McCulloch, Duncan Cameron, John Cameron, children from Barmulloch Primary School

1. DANCE TUNE MEDLEY played by The
Clutha (Calum Allan & Erlend Voy – fiddles; Ron
Alexander – guitar; John Eaglesham – concertina)
2. FOOTBALL SONGS Sung by Terry Dick with
chorus
3. MACDONALD’S FIRST VISIT TO GLASGOW
sung by Flora MacNeill
4. THE SPORTS O’ GLASGOW GREEN sung by
Geordie McIntyre
5. LET GLASGOW FLOURISH recited by
Freddy Anderson
6. THE COLLIER’S EIGHT HOUR DAY sung by
John Eaglesham acc The Clutha
7. THE WEEKEND SONG sung by Gordeanna
McCulloch
8. O’REILLY AND THE BIG MACNEILL sung by
Geordie McIntyre acc. Duncan Cameron – banjo;
Johnny Cameron – guitar
9. BOTTLING SONGS sung by Gordeanna
McCulloch, Sheila Christie with chorus, acc. The
Clutha
10. THE BLEACHER LASSIE O’ KELVINHAUGH
sung by Gordeanna McCulloch
11. THREE NIGHTS AND A SUNDAY DOUBLE
TIME sung by Geordie McIntyre acc. Johnny
Cameron – acoustic guitar; Duncan Cameron –
bass guitar
12. CHILDREN’S STREET & PLAYGROUND
SONGS sung by children of Barmulloch Primary
School
13. THE BALLAD OF THE Q4 sung by Mick
Broderick acc. Johnny Cameron – acoustic guitar;
Duncan Cameron – bass guitar
14. THE WORKS OUTING sung by Geordie
McIntyre acc. Erlend Voy & John Eaglesham –
concertinas
15. MARCH TUNE MEDLEY played by The
Clutha

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First released in 1966, this collection by the great lyrical Donegal singer is one of his finest. The songs he sings are as deeply and genuinely romantic as the green countryside and dark mountains of his native country.

1    Craighie Hill
2    The Lark In The Morning
3    Johnny, Lovely Johnny
4    The Cow That Drank The Poteen
5    Blackwater Side
6    Out of The Window
7    The Month of January
8    The Rambling Boys of Pleasure
9    The Lowlands of Holland
10  The Wearing Of The Britches
11  The Old Man Rocking The Cradle
12  She’s A Gay Old Hag
13  St Peter’s Day Was a-Dawning

Muliti-instrumentalist Andrew Cronshaw variously draws upon the traditional music of the Scottish Highlands, Northern Spain, Finnland and his native England to weave a music of great beauty and originality. 1993’s The Language of Snakes was his sixth solo album. Working with a close band of musical collaborators, Cronshaw magically transforms his disparate source material with a series of unexpected textures and arrangements.
1  Through Moorfields
2  Kindness For Ever More
3  MacDonnel’s March / Kilcoy’s March
4  Baile de Procesión
5  Cronnan na Caillach a bhan sa Bhein Bhreic
6  Marcha Procesional do San Benito
7  Apple Praities
8  Ailean Duinn
9  A Maruxa
10  The Waterford Waltz
11  Tupakkarulla / Tuuti Hussaa Ja Lullaa / The Other Boot Dance
12  Hithil Ùil Agus Ò, Hithil O Hòrino
13  Tha Mi Sgith ‘m Ã’naran
14  An Gille Donn / Vaskilinun Vaikerrus

A very important recording of three members of a Southern English family of travellers – Tom, Chris and Ben Willett, showing their distinctive style of singing and a repertoire of fine country songs. Recorded on location in Middlesex and Kent, the record was the first album of English gypsy music to be released commercially.
1  Lord Bateman – Tom Willett
2  The Blacksmith Courted Me – Tom Willett
3  The Little Ball of Yarn – Ben Willett
4  Died For Love – Tom Willett
5  The Rambling Sailor – Chris Willett
6  Riding Down to Portsmouth – Tom Willett
7  As I Was Going to Salisbury – Chris Willett
8  The Roving Journeyman – Tom Willett
9  The Roving Journeyman – Chris Willett
10  While Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping – Tom Willett
11  The Old Miser – Chris Willett
12  The Game of Cards – Tom Willett

From the original LP notes:

As at many local pubs, Saturday nights were for singing and the Eel’s Foot was no exception, having a Chairman – Philip Lumpton – who would keep the tiny bar in order with a gavel or the cribbage board and the ruling was that everyone had ‘to sing, say or pay’. Jumbo however remembers one chap, a steamroller driver, who ‘whenever it was his turn to sing someone would generally pay him a tanner not to – he wasn’t all that good.’ The money went into a kitty to supply the singers with beer which had to be brought by hand from the cellar to the bar, one pint at a time.

1 The Flower of London
2 The Derby Miller
3 The Loss of the Ramillies
4 The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea
5 Blow the Candle Out
6 The Bold Princess Royal
7 Newry Town
8 The Indian Lass
9 Muddley Barracks
10 The False Hearted Knight
11 The Lost Heiress
12 Down in the Fields Where the Buttercups Grow
13 Rambleaway
14 The Life of a Man

Produced by Tony Engle and Keith Summers
First issued by Topic Records 1975

The Oldham Tinkers specialise in the local songs and ballads of their native South Lancashire, and have an immense following. All the salt and savour of Lancashire song and humour is to be enjoyed in their records. ‘For Old Time’s Sake’ their third album for the Topic record label was popular with the late John Peel. He played their material often on his BBC radio programme, especially the tall tale of ‘John Willie’s Horse’.
1  Signora
2  Eaur Joe’s Lad
3  John Willie’s Horse
4  Barefoot Days Medley
5  Lancashire Witches
6  Come Whoam to Thi Childer an’ Me
7  Johnny Bugger
8  Billy Winker
9  Bits O’ Bromley Street
10  The Condemned Cell
11  The Maypole
12  For Old Time’s Sake

I’m a stranger in this country,
From America I came.

Chris Willett

Well, not quite from America! But gypsies, or travellers to use a preferred term, were strangers when they first set foot in the British Isles over 400 years ago.   To this day many have remained apart from the rest of society. And yet, as this album attests, they have integrated sufficiently to pick up and retain much of the musical heritage that was once common to all. Paradoxically, much of the music performed here was originally the creation of the non-gypsy community. Today this music is often best remembered by the gypsies.

1 The American Stranger – CHRIS WILLETT
2 Bold Keeper – HARRY BRAZIL
3 Go From My Window – WISDOM SMITH
4 Little Footman Boy – ALICE PENFOLD
5 God Killed the Devil-O/Meeting the Devil/Yonder Comes the Devil – LEMMIE BRAZIL/JASPER SMITH/JOE JONES
6 Sally Monroe – HARRY BRAZIL
7 Pepper and Salt – JASPER SMITH
8 Lovely Johnny – MARY ANN HAYNES
9 The Loyal Lover – HARRY BRAZIL
10 Climbing Up the Apple Tree/Tuning/Bird Scaring Cry/Hacking Clover – JASPER SMITH
11 Step Dance Tune – BILL ELSON
12 Barbara Allen – DEBBIE & PENNY HARRIS
13 Hares in the Old Plantation – WIGGY SMITH
14 Rambling Irishman – HARRY BRAZIL
15 Down in the Meadow/Love is Pleasing – JASPER SMITH/BILL ELSON
16 A Blacksmith Courted Me – HARRY BRAZIL
17 Once I Was a Servant – CHRIS WILLETT
18 The Gown So Green – HARRY BRAZIL
19 The Flower Show – HARRY BRAZIL
20 Waxey Candles – JASPER SMITH
21 The Coachman/Bonny Black Hare/The Cuckoo’s Nest – JASPER SMITH/LEMMIE BRAZIL/JOE JONES
22 Hopping Down in Kent/My Lovely Hops – MARY ANN HAYNES
23 Swinging Down the Lane – CHRIS WILLETT
24 Will There Be Any Travellers In Heaven – DERBY SMITH

Production by Mike Yates and Tony Engle.
First issued by Topic 1985.

Lizzie Higgins was born in the centre of Aberdeen in 1929, the daughter of Jeannie Robertson the world-renowned ballad singer and the great piper Donald Higgins. Her forbears on both sides were travellers and she inherited a rich heritage of traditional music. At the time of these recordings Lizzie was regarded as the finest living interpreter of Scots traditional song.
1 Wha’s at the Windy
2  Lovely Molly
3  The Fair of Ballnafannin
4  Young Emsley
5  Bonnie Udny
6  Far Over the Forth
7  Laird of the Dainty Doonby
8  The Seasons
9  Davy Faa
10  The Banks of Red Roses
11  The Maid of Glenshea
12  The College Boy

The Oldham Tinkers from South Lancashire made their recording debut on the best selling ‘Deep Lancashire’ collection in 1968. Throughout the next decade they took their music to a wide international audience. Their fifth ‘solo’ album for the Topic label is another powerful mixture of Lancashire humour and pathos. Their beguiling songs are derived from the poems of local dialect writers, from Music Hall entertainers and from the traditional music of the North West of England.
1  Old May Song
2  John Willie’s Performing Newt
3  Nowt About Owt
4  Children’s Chants & Songs – Captain’s Medley
5  Eawr House – As Was
6  Oh! That Lancashire Jazz Band
7  The Lark
8  John Willie’s Grand-Dad
9  Tribute to Owd Paddy
10  Old King Coal
11  Steeple Jack
12  The Crime Lake Boggart
13  An Oldham Rugby Medley
14  McCarthy’s Party

Until Topic Records featured Harry Boardman singing six Lancashire songs on the 1965 LP ‘New Voices’, available recordings of songs with their roots in the North West of England were scarce. The growing demand for such material led to the release of ‘Deep Lancashire’ in 1968 and then, in 1970, ‘Owdham Edge’, featuring Harry Boardman once again, as well as the first recordings by one Mike Harding.

1. Sam Shuttle and Betty Reedhook sung by Harry Boardman (banjo), acc. Lesley Boardman (mandolin) & Bob Diehl (fiddle)
2. Owdham Edge sung by John Howarth and The Oldham Tinkers (with banjo, mandolin and guitar)
3. Our Sarah’s Getten’ A Chap sung by John Howarth and The Oldham Tinkers (with banjo, mandolin and guitar)
4. The Miners’ Lock-Out sung by Harry Boardman (banjo); acc. Lesley Boardman (tenor banjo) & Mike Harding (Jews Harp)
5. Street Scene recited by Harvey Kershaw
6. Pounds, Shillings and Pence sung by Tim and Robin Boardman, leading into Down at our School sung by The Oldham Tinkers (with banjo, mandolin and guitar)
7. The Little Piecer sung by Dave Brooks (concertina)
8. Sammy Shuttleworth sung by Mike Harding (concertina), acc. Bernard Wrigley (bass concertina) & John Tenent (tenor horn)
9. Bowton’s Yard sung by Harry Boardman (banjo) acc. Lesley Boardman (tenor banjo) & Bob Diehl (fiddle)
10. Toddlin’ Whoam sung by Larry Kearns (guitar)
11. The Bard’s Reformation sung by Harry Boardman (banjo), acc. Lesley Boardman (tenor banjo) & Bob Diehl (fiddle)
12. Schoolyard Song sung by Harry Ogden (guitar), acc. Ian Hope (fiddle)
13. Nobbut a Cockstride Away sung by Mary Kershaw acc. Harvey Kershaw (piano)
14. Billy Suet’s Song sung by Harry Boardman (concertina)
15. Canute sung by The Oldham Tinkers (with banjo, tin whistle and guitar)
16. Our Bill sung by Bernard Wrigley (guitar)

Recorded by Sean Davies

First issued by Topic Records 1970

‘For As Many As Will’ dates from 1978 and was the last studio recording by Shirley & Dolly Collins. The sisters were brought up on the Sussex coast with a strong intuitive for English traditional song. Through a remarkable series of landmark recordings during the 1960s and ’70s they helped define the possibilities of the English folksong revival. ‘For As Many As Will’ includes a stunning reading of Richard Thompson’s ‘Never Again’, alongside fine traditional material like ‘Lord Allenwater’, ‘Gilderoy’, ‘The Moon Shines Bright’ and a medley from John Gay’s ‘The Beggar’s Opera’.
1  Lancashire Lass
2  Never Again
3  Lord Allenwater
4  The Blacksmith Courted Me
5  Beggar’s Opera Medley – Can Love Be Control’d by Advice? / O Polly You Might Have Toy’d and Kist / Oh What Pain it is to Part / The Miser Thus a Shilling Sees / Youth’s the Season Made For Joys / Hither Dear Husband, Turn your Eyes; Lumps of Pudding
6  Gilderoy
7  Rockley Firs / Sweet Jenny Jones
8  German Tune
9  The Moon Shines Bright
10  Harvest Home Medley – Peas, Beans, Oats and the Barley / The Mistress’s Health / Poor Tom

Debut recording from the LIVERPOOL SPINNERS (soon to be well-known internationally as the Spinners). This spirited collection was recorded by Bill Leader live at the folk club run by the group at Samson and Barlow’s on London Road Liverpool in 1961. Tony Davis, Mick Groves, Cliff Hall, Hughie Jones and Jacqueline Macdonald.
Songs Spun in Liverpool was first released by Topic Records in 1962.

1. Whip Jamboree
2. The Liverpool Barrow Boy
3. Hayarden
4. The Champion of the Seas
5. Judy Drownded
6. John Peel

A fine traditional singer from a bygone world. Bob Roberts was Dorset-born but grew up in Suffolk. He spent most of his working life on sailing barges carrying cargo round Britain or across the Channel to Europe. His repertoire was a treasury of bargemen’s songs, which he sang with a mellow grace to his own melodeon accompaniment. Roberts was active on the folk scene during the 1950s and 60s, but was seldom heard before these recordings made in 1977 returned him to clubs and festivals.
1  The Candlelight Fisherman
2  The Grey Hawk
3  Stormy Weather Boys
4  Waltz with Me
5  Haul Away Joe
6  The Oily Rig (recitation)
7   The Little Ball of Yarn
8   The Single Sailor
9   Young Collins
10  The Fish and Chip Ship
11  While Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping
12  Windy Old Weather
13  The London Waterman
14  Bob Robert’s Waltz
15  Whiskey Johnny
16  The Foggy Dew
17  Bell Bottom Trousers
18  The Black Shawl
19  Little Boy Billee
20  The Collier Brig
21  Leave Her, Johnny

‘In 1956 skiffle was going strong in London and Jack began to sing in pubs and create something of a name for himself. In 1957 he sent for his buddy Derroll Adams, banjo-picker from Portland, Oregon and together the two sang and made a Topic album billed as the Rambling Boys. This record is a release of material on JACK TAKES THE FLOOR, Topic 10T15, with additional songs.’

From the original sleevenotes

1 San Fancisco Bay Blues
2 Ol’ Riley
3 The Boll Weevil
4 Bed Bug Blues
5 New York Town
6 Old Blue
7 Grey Goose
8 Mule Skinner’s Blues
9 East Texas Talking Blues
10 Cocaine
11 Dink’s Song
12 Black Baby
13 Salty Dog

The Cheviot Ranters were the most distinguished and authentic of English country dance bands from England’s North-East. Darlings of the late John Peel on his early 1970s’ BBC radio shows, their fine recordings for the Topic label satisfying both the dancer and the armchair listener.
1  Circassian Circle – part 1 Original / Rugley Ford / Hesleyside Reel
2  Redesdale Hornpipe / King of the Fairies / The Lads of Whickham
3  Washington Quick Step – Bugle Horn / Farewell / Jackson’s Morning Brush
4  Northumbrian Waltz – Berwick Fair / Ma Bonnie Lad / Keach in the Creel
5  Morpeth Rant – Banks of Coquet / Rob Roy’s Cave / Kirk’s Hornpipe
6  Cumberland Reel – Quayside Shaver / Geordie’s Jig
7  Corn Rigs tunes – Dunstanburgh Castle / Goodnight and Joy Be Wi’ Ye
8  Waltz tunes – Bonnie Tyneside / Whittingham Green Lane / The Banks of Coquet
9  Drops of Brandy – The Moorbridge Hornpipe / Goswick Kirn / The Old Drove Road
10  Circassian Circle – part 2 The Three Sea Captains / Lannigan’s Ball / Ellingham Hall

One of the greatest English traditional singers – George ‘Pop’ Maynard from Sussex recorded rarely. This splendid album showcases his majestic and powerful style.
1  Polly on the Shore
2  The Sweet Nightingale (The Birds In The Spring)
3  Locks and Bolts
4  Down by the Seaside
5  Jack the Jolly Tar-O
6  The Seeds of Love
7  Shooting Goshen’s Cocks Up
8  William Taylor
9  Rolling in the Dew
10  A Sailor in the North Country
11  The Banks of Claudy
12  Three Sons of Rogues
13  The Weaver’s Daughter
14  A Wager, A Wager
15  The Sun Being Set

Cheviot Barn Dance is the third recording of The Cheviot Ranters Country Dance Band on Topic. As with their previous records The Sound of the Cheviots (12TS214) and The Cheviot Hills (12TS222) it is a programme of old time and country dances. Formed in 1955, the Cheviot Ranters were arguably the most distinguished and authentic of the English folk dance bands and grew out of the monthly meetings of the Northumbrian Pipers’ Society.

1. DASHING WHITE SERGEANT: Original; Rakes of Mallow; Catherine’s Reel
2. CALL OF THE PIPES: Barren Rocks of Aden; Sweet Maid of Glendaruch; The Earl of Mansfield
3. NOTTINGHAM SWING: Marquis o’ Lorne; Showman’s Fancy; Beggar Boy
4. MILITARY TWO STEP: I do like to be beside the seaside; Here we are again; Mademoiselle from Armentieres; Hello, hello, who’s your lady friend
5. SWEDISH MASQUERADE: Original
6. LUCKY SEVEN: Davy Davy Knick Knack; Toland Dance; Aiken Drum
7. LA RUSSE: Original; Good Humour; Come let us dance and sing
8. KEEL ROW: Original; There’s nae luck aboot the hoose; Castles in the Air
9. BRIDGE OF ATHLONE: The frost is all over; Pet of the Pipers; Smash the Windows
10. CIRCLE WALTZ: We parted on the shore; I belong to Glasgow; Oh Oh Antonio; Peggy O’Neill
11. CHEVIOT RANT: Original; Cloudy Crags; Traditional Air
12. POLKA: The Brownieside Polka

First issued by Topic Records 1974

Willie Scott, recorded in his 70s, came from a long line of singing Scots, bred to the trade of shepherd in the rolling Border country where the North of England and the South of Scotland march together.

1  The Shepherd’s Song
2  Piper MacNeil
3  The Kielder Hunt
4  Jamie Reaburn
5  Bonnie Wee Trampin’ Lass
6  Bloody Waterloo
7  Jock Geddes
8  The Dowie Dens of Yarrow
9  Herd Laddie o’ the Glen
10  The Lads That Were Reared Among Heather

The Wild Hills O’Wannie is a tremendous collection of some of the finest exponents of the Northumbrian Small Pipes – George Atkinson, Diana Blackett-Ord, Tommy Breckons, Colin Caisley, Forster Charlton, Joe Hutton and Billy Pigg.

The pipes have at various times been called seductive, wild, plaintive, lyrical, exciting, and sophisticated. These apparently contradictory descriptions result from the unusual versatility of the instrument as well as from differences in the tonal quality of individual sets of pipes. Thus, it is possible for each performer to develop his own characteristic style of playing and if you listen carefully to this record you will soon become able to identify the player from the sound of the first few notes of a tune.

1    The Morpeth Rant  BILLY PIGG
2    Skye Crofters/ The SwalIow’s Tail BILLY PIGG
3    Sir Sidney Smith’s March TOMMY BRECKONS
4    The Barrington Hornpipe GEORGE ATKINSON
5    Blow the Wind Southerly DIANA BLACKETT-ORD
6    Lovat Scouts / Roxburgh Castle / Bonny North Tyne / Alston Flower Show JOE HUTTON
7    The Navvy on the Line / The Friendly Visit / Remember Me / Biddv the Bold Wife / Lamb Skinnet /
De ‘il amang the Tailors GEORGE ATKINSON
8    Londonderrv Hornpipe / Boys of the Blue Hills / Corn Rigs / Harvest Home DIANA BLACKETT-ORD
9    The Blackthorn Stick / Biddv the Bold Wife JOE HUTTON
10   The Holey Ha’penny BILLY PIGG
11   The Humours of Bandon / Saddle the Pony JOE HUTTON
12   Noble Squire Dacre COLIN CAISLEY & FORSTER CHARLTON (duet)
13   Rowlev Burn Hornpipe JOE HUTTON
14   The Wild Hills o’Wannie BILLY PIGG
15   Westering Home DIANA BLACKETT~ORD
16   The Midlothian Pipe Band / Charlie Hunter JOE HUTTON
17   The Lark in the Clear Air BILLY PIGG
18   Fenwick o’ Bywell TOMMY BRECKONS
19   Variations on ‘Oh dear, what can the matter be’ GEORGE ATKINSON
20   The Gypsy’s Lullaby  / The Hawk  / Memories / Coates Hall BILLY PIGG
21   Salmon Tails up the Water / The Herd on the Hill / Sweet Hesleyside COLIN CAISLEY & FORSTER CHARLTON (duet)

TRADITIONAL SONGS OF LOVE & LUST – A collection of erotic folk song.

These songs were made by men and women in close touch with nature, in tune with the run of the seasons, the growthy of crops, the increase of stock, the fruitfulness of their own kind. They are mainly concerned with the great clean truths of desire and fulfilment, love and fruitfulness.

1   The Two Magicians — AL Lloyd (with Dave Swarbrick)
2   The Old man From Over the Sea — Frankie Armstrong
3   The Wanton Seed — AL Lloyd
4   Gathering Rushes in the Month of May — Anne Briggs
5   The Banks of Sweet Primroses — Louis Killen (acc. concertina)
6   The Maid on the Shore — Frankie Armstrong
7   The Bonny Black Hare — AL Lloyd (with Dave Swarbrick)
8   The Whirly Whorl — Anne Briggs
9   Pretty Polly — AL Lloyd
10  The Night Visiting Song — Norman Kenneddy
11  The Old Bachelor — AL Lloyd (with Dave Swarbrick & Alf Edwards)
12  The Cock — Louis Killen
13  The Stonecutter Boy — Anne Briggs
14  The Mower — AL Lloyd
15  The Bird in the Bush — Frankie Armstrong
16  The Pegging Awl — AL Lloyd (with Alf Edwards)
17  One May Morning — Louis Killen
18  Martinmas Time — Anne Briggs
19  The Widow of Westmorland’s Daughter — AL Lloyd (with Dave Swarbrick & Alf Edwards

John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris play a beautiful blend of Kirkpatrick’s morris dance based accordion-driven music and Sue’s classically trained oboe arrangements. Throughout the 1970s they were a sought after act on the UK folk scene and recorded a number of fine albums for the Topic label. ‘Shreds and Patches’ is regarded by many aficionados as one of their finest.
1  Waterman’s Dance
2  The Gipsy Laddie
3  Apple Core / Nipper
4  The Tailor and the Louse
5  Peg Huglestone’s Hornpipe
6  Little Sir William
7  The Game of All Fours
8  Penny For Them
9  Whitefryer’s Hornpipe / Shreds and Patches
10  Johnny Sands
11  Oakham Poachers
12  Bread and Jam Waltzer / Mr Gubbin’s Bicycle

Solo recording from one of the leading figures in music from the North East of England and inded in the English folksong revival of the late twentieth century. English concertina and smallpipe maestro Alistair Anderson has been at the forefront of the performance of traditional music for over four decades. An internationally recognised ambassador for the music of Northumberland, between 1968 and 1979 he toured the world as a member of the High Level Ranters. He has an enviable reputation as a solo performer and an enthusiastic educator and folk activist. In 2006 he was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
1  The Hawk Polka / Thrunton Woods
2  The Keelman’s Petition / The Tipp Staff
3  La Fille de Lyon / Cotillion des Marionettes
4  Blake’s Hornpipe / President Garfield’s Hornpipe / Bonny Broom Hill
5  Felton Ionnin
6  Kriden Fair / Tich Richardson’s Favourite / Hey to the Camp / Brosehill
7  Alistair Anderson’s Favourite / Old French
8  The Belfast Hornpipe / The Prize Potato
9  The Trip to Carlisle / Corby Crag
10  Ali Anderson / Henry Atkinson
11  Blaydon Flats / Whittingham Games / James Brown
12  Derwent Water’s Bonnie Lord / The Bride’s Favourite
13  Remember Me / The Left Handed Fiddler
14  Geld Him Lasses, Geld Him / Uncle John
15  The Darkening

A founder member of the High Level Ranters, Tom Gilfellon emerged occasionally with an inimitable collection of songs and tunes evoking the North-Eastern and the Irish strains of his background. Tom Gilfellon vocals, guitar, cittern  with Martin Carthy guitar, Johnny Handle vocal, accordian, piano and Liz Sobell dulcimer, harmonium and Stefan Sobell cittern, concertina

1     The Banks of Red Roses / The Boys of Ballysadare  Tom vocal/cittern; Stefan cittern; Liz dulcimer
2     The Workers’ Song  Tom vocal; Liz harmonium
3a   The Celebrated Working Man  Tom vocal; Johnny accordeon/chorus
3b   Uncle Albert’s last heroic farewell to the world  Tom recitation
4     Reels; Lady Ann Montgomery / The Wind that Shakes the Barley / The Foxhunter’s Reel  Tom cittern; Martin guitar
5     The Snow it Melts the Soonest  Tom vocal
6     The Bonny Gateshead Lass  Tom vocal; Stefan English concertina
7     Jigs: Thomas Friel’s/ The Battering Ram  Tom cittern; Martin guitar
8     The Two Sisters  Tom vocal
9     The Row in the Gutter  Tom vocal; Johnny piano
10   The Fiery Clockface  Tom vocal/guitar
11   Johnny Miner  Tom vocal

The four piece ensemble Oak were the leading lights of a movement to rediscover English country music in the early 1970s. The group comprised Rod and Danny Stradling, Peta Webb and Tony Engle. Their songs, music and style were derived from traditional country performers. Their sole album – ‘Welcome To Our Fair’ – has been an tremendously influential recording for a whole generation of British folk musicians.

1  Thousands or More
2  New Rigged Ship / Rig-a-jig-jig
3  The Lakes of Cool Flynn
4  The Nutley Waltz / The Faithful Sailor Boy
5  Roving Round the County Tyrone
6  The Scarlet and the Blue
7  Shepherds Arise
8  Scan’s Polka
9  Australia
10  Cupid’s Garden
11  False, False
12  Our Good Ship Lies in Harbour
13  The Bunch of Thyme / The Perfect Cure / The Sweets of May

The second of Chris Foster’s highly regarded Topic albums. Chris Foster is a master of his trade. Alongside Nic Jones, Dick Gaughan and June Tabor, he established himself in the 1970s as one of the finest interpreters of the traditional ballads of the British Isles with tales of romance, magic, murder, liquor, love, adultery and cross dressing.

‘As one who has witnessed the development of ‘English’ guitar accompaniment to traditional songs, I have always ranked Chris as one of our most exciting interpreters…. My old vinyl copies of his 2 Topic albums remain precious. Chris remains a consummate artist.’   Graham Lobb – The Living Tradition.

1. Black Fox
2. Low Down in the Broom
3. Grey Cock
4. Pigeon on the Gate
5. Unicorns
6. King John and the Abbot of Canterbury
7. Jump at the Sun
8. The Working Chap
9. When This Old Hat Was New
10. The World Turned Upside Down

Record produced by Tony Engle

First issued by Topic Records 1979

The last Topic album recorded by The House Band, by this time (1988) a three-piece after the departure of Brian Brooks; ‘Word of Mouth’ was recorded at Ideal Sound in London.

1 WALLS OF TROY
2 THE DUSTY MILLER/THE COUNTY GROUND
3 LADY MARY HAY’S FAVOURITE SCOTCH MEASURE/TRITI PUTI
4 WILD ROVING
5 AN DRO D’OGHAM/AN DRO/AU PLACE DE SERBIE
6 THE HAPPY ONE STEP/GREEN WILLIS
7 FROM A DISTANCE
8 THE PEACOCK/MOLDAVIAN SONG
9 THE BONNY LIGHT HORSEMAN/THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE AT MAGERSFONTEIN

Produced by The House Band and David Kenny
First issued by Topic Records 1988