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Come Write Me Down

The Copper Family: Come Write Me Down (Topic TSCD534)

Come Write Me Down
Early Recordings of the Copper Family of Rottingdean

Topic Records TSCD534 (CD, UK, 2001)

The Copper Family of Rottingdean, Sussex, have roots in traditional song at least two hundred years old. Their rare Southern English style of harmony singing is presented at its most outstanding in these classic performances. The CD is a compilation of the EFDSS LP of 1963, Traditional Songs From Rottingdean, and BBC recordings from the 1950s.

A Coppersong production, executive production by Tony Engle and Reg Hall;
Notes by Vic Gammon, Reg Hall and Steve Roud;
78rpm disc transfers by Charle Crump;
Audio restoration and mastering by Don Walker at Editpoint Mastering Service;
Design and photo tinting by John Haxby

Musical Traditions CD review by Rod Stradling

Musicians

Bob Copper: vocals [1-2, 4-9, 11-16, 18-24, 26, 28];
Ron Copper: vocals [1-2, 5, 7, 9-11, 13-20, 22-23, 28];
Jim Copper: vocals [3, 5-6, 8, 12, 19, 21, 24-28];
John Copper snr.: vocals [5, 19, 28]

Tracks

  1. [Bob, Ron] Spencer the Rover (Roud 1115; TYG 3) (3.21)
  2. [Bob, Ron] Good Ale (Roud 203; G/D 3:590) (2.40)
  3. [Jim] Thousands or More (Roud 1220) (2.36)
  4. [Bob, Ron] Babes in the Wood (Roud 288; Laws Q34) (2.01)
  5. [all] The Banks of the Sweet Primroses (Roud 586; G/D 8:1841) (2.04)
  6. [Bob, Jim] Sweep Chimney Sweep (Roud 1217) (2.48)
  7. [Bob, Ron] Two Young Brethren (Roud 202) (2.29)
  8. [Bob, Jim] Brisk and Bonny Lad (Roud 606) (1.32)
  9. [Bob, Ron] The Month of May (Roud 153; Henry H697) (2.00)
  10. [Ron] Honest Labourer (Roud 19; G/D 3:437; Henry H622) (3.08)
  11. [Bob, Ron] The Birds in the Spring (Roud 356) (1.43)
  12. [Bob, Jim] My Father Had an Acre of Land (Roud 21093; TYG 23) (1.42)
  13. [Bob, Ron] Shepherd of the Downs (Shepherd in Love) (Roud 1215) (4.40)
  14. [Bob, Ron] The Threshing Song (Roud 874) (1.34)
  15. [Bob, Ron] The Ploughshare (The Seasons Round) (Roud 169) (3.49)
  16. [Bob, Ron] Sportsmen, Arouse! (The Innocent Hare) (Roud 1216) (2.55)
  17. [Ron] Hard Times of Old England (Roud 1206) (2.55)
  18. [Bob, Ron] The Lark in the Morning (Roud 151) (2.02)
  19. [all] Warlike Seamen (The Irish Captain) (Roud 690; G/D 1:41; Henry H560) (3.19)
  20. [Bob, Ron] When Spring Comes In (Spring Glee) (Roud 439) (2.35)
  21. [Bob, Jim] Brisk Young Ploughboy (Roud 1205) (2.56)
  22. [Bob, Ron] Cupid’s Garden (Roud 297; G/D 5:970) (2.34)
  23. [Bob, Ron] Dame Durdan (Roud 1209) (1.42)
  24. [Bob, Jim] The Claudy Banks (Roud 266; Laws N40; G/D 5:1036; Henry H5, H693) (3.09)
  25. [Jim] General Wolfe (Roud 624) (1.46)
  26. [Bob, Jim] Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy (Roud 165) (2.44)
  27. [Jim] Talking (0.31)
  28. [all] Come Write Me Down (Roud 381; G/D 5:980) (2.51)

Tracks 1-2, 9, 15-17 recorded by Peter Kennedy, (poss. March 9) 1955, Traditional Songs From Rottingdean, EFDSS LP1002, 1963;
Tracks 4, 7, 10-11, 13-14, 18, 20, 22-23 recorded by Peter Kennedy, 1963, Traditional Songs From Rottingdean, EFDSS LP1002, 1963;
Tracks 24, 26 recorded by Brian George, 1 March 1951, BBC 16060;
Tracks 6, 8 recorded by Brian George, 1 March 1951, BBC 16062;
Tracks 21 recorded by Brian George, 1 March 1951, BBC 16063;
Tracks 19, 28 recorded by Séamus Ennis, 3 April 1952, BBC 17986;
Tracks 5, 25 recorded by Séamus Ennis, 3 April 1952, BBC 17987;
Tracks 3, 12 recorded by Séamus Ennis, 24 April 1952, BBC 17989;
Track 27 extract from The Life of James Copper, broadcast 11 September 1951