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Illustrated Forest Tracks Discography
This is a list of the few albums on the defunct Forest Tracks recording label that I have plus some albums thanks to information given by Tim Radford.
Forest Tracks was founded as a non-profit-making organisation to issue recordings of local folk music from Hampshire and Dorset. Originally the brainchild of Gordon Mignot, Forest Tracks was formed after a meeting (c.1970) of interested parties at which the original team of Gordon Mignot, Dave Williams and Andy Jackson was established. John Edgar Mann joined when he suggested and planned the Folk Songs From Hampshire album.
Paul Marsh, a local singer, musician and folk music collector, became involved in the early nineties and Forest Tracks released important field recordings of previously unknown artists featuring Paul’s personal recordings. After the death of Dave Williams in 1997 it seemed more important than ever to keep Forest Tracks going, and Paul became a fully fledged and active member of the team, especially responsible for the label’s later CD releases.
The extended CD reissue of Folk Songs From Hampshire and Dorset is the only album I have that includes a song sung by Paul Marsh, The Shoemaker’s Kiss.
John Edgar Mann retired from his involvement with Forest Tracks in 2001 and local singer and folk musician Ron Coe joined in 2000 to complete the managing trio of Coe, Jackson and Marsh, with Paul Marsh being the driving force behind Forest Tracks’ revival in the overall production side of the CDs—recording, mastering, artwork etc—and maintaining the website.
Paul Marsh died unexpectedly in 2018 and Forest Tracks had to close in 2021.
> Folk Music > Records > Forest Tracks
Various Artists:
First Tracks,
LP, Forest Tracks FT3001, 1973; CD-R, Forest Tracks FTB CD5, 2004
Various Artists:
Folk Songs From Hampshire,
LP, Forest Tracks FT2006, 1974
Various Artists:
Folk Songs From Dorset,
LP, Forest Tracks FT3007, 1975
William Barnes,
Lydlinch Bells,
LP, Forest Tracks FT3012, 1978
Various Artists:
Hampshire: A Musical Portrait,
LP, Forest Tracks FT3014, 1979; CD-R, Forest Tracks FTB CD9, 2014
Dave Williams:
You’re On Nipper!,
2 CD-R, Forest Tracks FT2CD 201, 2001
William Barnes:
The Year Clock,
2 CD-R, Forest Tracks FT 2CD 202, 2001;
2 CD, WildGoose WGS435CD, 2020
Steve Jordan:
The Trees Scarce Green,
CD-R, Forest Tracks FTCD 206, 2003
Brian Hooper & Jeff Henry:
Southampton in Song,
CD-R, Forest Tracks FTCD 207, 2005
Geoff Jerram:
Bedlam,
CD-R, Forest Tracks FTCD 208, 2006
Various Artists:
Folk Songs From Hampshire and Dorset,
2 CD-R, Forest Tracks FTBT 2CD1, 2005
Rick Keeling:
Waiting for the Leaves,
2 CD-R, Forest Tracks FTBT 2CD2, 2007
Tim Radford:
George Blake’s Legacy,
CD-R, Forest Tracks FTCD 209, 2009
Brian Hooper & Jeff Henry:
May Contain Nuts,
CD-R, Forest Tracks FTCD 210, 2009
Sarah Morgan and Jeff Gillett:
The Flowers and the Wine,
CD-R, Forest Tracks FTM CD1, 2012
Tim Radford:
From Spithead Roads,
CD-R, Forest Tracks FTCD 211, 2012
The Willett Family:
A-Swinging Down the Lane,
2 CD-R, Forest Tracks FT2CD KS1, 2013