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An English Folk Music Anthology

An English Folk Music Anthology (Folkways FE 38553)

An English Folk Music Anthology
Various Artists

Folkways Records FE 38553 (2 LP, USA, 1981);
Smithsonian Folkways FW 38553 (2 CD/download, USA, 2007)

An English Folk Music Anthology, recorded between 1974 and 1980, features 47 tracks of nursery songs, ballads, and broadsides, as well as more contemporary political and union songs. Performers include rural and urban singers from all walks of life (housewives, retired bankers, coal miners, and many more), travellers, and children. The liner notes provide information on English folk music as well as song lyrics, and background on each track; there are also extensive references and a bibliography.

Produced by Sam Richards and Tish Stubbs;
Recorded by Sam Richards and Tish Stubbs in 1974-80;
Notes by Sam Richards;
Design by Ronald Clyne

Liner notes (PDF) at Smithsonian Global Sound

Tracks

CD 1

Nursery Songs

  1. Harry Stubbs: Once in China (Roud 1850) (0.33)
  2. Hazel Bibbings: Old Roger is Dead (Roud 797; TYG 88) (1.11)
  3. Mrs. M. Heathman: The Fox (Roud 131; G/D 3:499; Henry H38) (1.12)
  4. Harry Stubbs: Kyman I-Doe (Roud 715) (0.22)
  5. Dora Turner: There Was a Lady Mrs. Green (0.46)
  6. Mr. Erwin: The Worms Crept Out (0.39)

Children Singing

  1. Various: Children’s Songs with Games, Actions (6.05)
  2. Alison Bricknell: Henry My Son (Roud 10; Child 12; G/D 2:209; Henry H814) (1.53)
  3. n/a: Parody and Impropriety (3.46)
  4. Troy Penfold: Wim Wim Wobble O (Roud 469; G/D 8:1696; Henry H732; TYG 58) (1.14)

Songs Associate with Rituals—Adults

  1. Mrs. M. Heathman: Lent Crocking Song (0.47)
  2. Ted Frost: Six Jolly Miners (Roud 877; TYG 61) (0.50)
  3. Dora Turner: Cob Coaling Song (Roud 9234) (0.32)
  4. Grenoside Sword Dance: The Captain’s Song (1.21)
  5. Eric Tarr: Carhampton Wassail Song (Roud 209; TYG 22) (0.54)

Country Singers

  1. Bill Hingston: The Herring’s Head (Roud 128; TYG 31) (3.23)
  2. Bob Mills: The Derby Ram (Roud 126; G/D 3:645; TYG 59) (3.13)
  3. Walter Pardon: Lord Lovel (Roud 48; Child 75; G/D 6:1232) (4.33)
  4. Lillian Lugg: The Fourteenth of December (Roud 690; G/D 1:41; Henry H560) (2.24)
  5. Walter Pardon: The Deserter (Roud 493; G/D 1:83) (2.08)
  6. Walter Pardon: The Maid of Australia (Roud 1872) (3.56)
  7. Mrs. Dowrick: Butter and Cheese and All (Roud 510; G/D 4:914) (3.38)
  8. Bob Mills: All Jolly Fellows That Follow the Plough (Roud 346; G/D 3:418) (2.39)

CD 2

Travellers

  1. Nelson Penfold: The Two Butchers (Roud 17; Laws L4; G/D 2:186; Henry H185) (2.20)
  2. Nelson Penfold: Young A-Growing (Roud 31; Laws O35; G/D 6:1222) (1.32)
  3. Amy Birch: He Pulled a Dagger (Roud 263; Laws P35; G/D 2:200) (2.38)
  4. Amy Birch: There Was an Old Man Lived in Yorkshire (Roud 2638; Laws L2) (2.01)

Urban Singers

  1. Harry Stubbs: The Battle of Sahagun (Roud 1660) (2.46)
  2. Mrs. Hawkins: McCathery (Roud 1148) (2.53)
  3. Stan Walters: Maggie May (Roud 1757) (2.11)
  4. Mary Duffy: Jimmy MacElbee (Roud 1878) (1.38)
  5. Mary Duffy: Jimmy Run Down to Your Uncles (Roud 1879) (0.58)
  6. Bert Draycott: Do You Know Me Father / There Was an Old Man / I Lost My Arm (medley) (1.04)
  7. Stan Walters: The Ringarangroo (Roud 1880) (2.00)
  8. Mary Duffy: The Game of Football (Roud 1881) (2.20)
  9. Essie Dean: T’ Bobbin Winder’s Song (Roud 1882) (1.22)
  10. Bert Draycott: The Doggey Putter (Roud 1883) (1.35)

Recent Songs of Known Authorship

  1. George Strattan: Joe Hill (2.32)
  2. Bob Hine: Hallelujah I’m a Bum (1.10)
  3. Ken Penny: Harry Was a Bolshie (3.01)
  4. Bert Draycott: The Forty Pound Car (3.08)
  5. Allan Lavercombe: Canteen Tea (2.30)
  6. Bert Draycott: The Big Hewer and the Little Marra (2.22)
  7. Joe Kay: The Shrewsbury Three (3.10)
  8. CND March: Demonstration Songs and Chants (4.01)
  9. Campaign Atom Group: No Cruise Missles (1.45)
  10. n/a: A Simple Lad Like Me (3.14)

Track 38 Alfred Hayes, Earl Robinson;
Track 39 Harry MacClintock;
Track 40 Elin Williams;
Track 41 Bert Draykott;
Track 42 Allan Lavercombe;
Track 43 Dave Mountford;
Track 44 Joe Kay;
Track 46 Rip Bulkley