Produced by Jim Ward in November 2000;
Tracks 1-8 are private recordings made at an unknown studio in 1994;
Tracks 9-11 recorded by Jim Ward live at Elsie’s, The Queen’s Arms, Cowden Pound, Kent;
Design and art direction by Jon Dudley

Musical Traditions review by Rod Stradling

Musicians

Gordon Hall: vocals

Tracks

1. Cecilia (Roud 7; Laws N21; Henry H35) (5.38)
2. Plains of Waterloo (Roud 1922; Laws J3; G/D 1:152) (12.33)
3. Where There’s a Will There’s a Way (Roud 13835) (3.04)
4. The Week Before Easter (Roud 154; G/D 6:1198) (10.16)
5. Why Cats Don’t Wash Their Faces Before Eating (Roud 16889) (1.34)
6. Babes in the Wood (Roud 288; Laws Q34) (2.34)
7. Lord Randal (Roud 10; Child 12; G/D 2:209; Henry H814) (9.01)
8. A Dream of Napoleon (Roud 1538) (3.20)
9. The Constant Lovers (Roud 466; Laws K17; G/D 6:1244) (9.12)
10. Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be? (Roud 1279) (5.42)
11. The Farmer’s Boy (Roud 408; Laws Q30; G/D 5:960) (5.14)

All tracks trad. except
Track 3 words Edward Marshall (1883), music Carlo Minasi;

The Hall family home was a singing house and here we have two generations of the family. Mabs learned many of her songs from her parents and her son Gordon was always intrigued by his mother’s ‘quaint old songs’. He realised how important they were and learned many himself. These are two fine traditional folk singers who together sing a remarkable selection of songs from Victorian children’s singing games to ancient ballads.

Recorded by Mike Yates and John Howson;
Produced and designed by John Howson;
Front cover photo by Mike Yates

Notes and lyrics transcription on the Veteran website

Musicians

Mabs & Gordon Hall: vocals

Tracks

1. [Mabs, Gordon] Come Write Me Down (Roud 381; G/D 5:980) (1.36) *
2. [Mabs] Studying Economy (Roud 5377) (1.34)
3. [Gordon] The Royal George (Roud 2529) (2.00)
4. [Mabs] Old John Brown (Roud 3354; TYG 43) (0.32) *
5. [Mabs] A Fair Maid Walking in the Garden (Roud 264; Laws N42; G/D 5:1038, 6:1201; Henry H471) (1.55)
6. [Gordon] My Old Wife’s a Good Old Creature (Roud 1263) (3.09)
7. [Mabs] Ginny Jones (Roud 1047) (0.53)
8. [Mabs] Poor Joe the Marine (Roud 1681) (1.34) *
9. [Mabs] Still I Love Him (Roud 654; TYG 33) (1.05) *
10. [Gordon] Salonika (Roud 10513) (2.28)
11. [Mabs] Ripest Apples (Roud 146) (0.31)
12. [Mabs] The Dumb Wife (Roud 434; Laws Q5; G/D 6:1289) (0.43) *
13. [Mabs] We Won’t Go Home Until the Morning (Roud 12448) / Push the Business On (Roud 12981) (0.54) *
14. [Gordon] Sweet Lavender (Roud 854) (2.05)
15. [Gordon] The Outlandish Knight (Roud 21; Child 4; G/D 2:225; Henry H163) (6.38) *
16. [Mabs] William Taylor (Roud 158; Laws N11; G/D 1:169; plus Roud 2649; Henry H48e) (0.47) *
17. [Mabs] Polly Perkins (Roud 430; G/D 6:1212; Henry H132) (2.20) *
18. [Gordon] The Horsham Ram (Roud 126; G/D 3:645; TYG 59) (5.58)
19. [Mabs] Cecilia (Roud 7; Laws N21; Henry H35) (2.44)
20. [Mabs] Cruel Frederick (1.08) *
21. [Mabs] Coming Home Late (Roud 114; Child 274; G/D 7:1460; Henry H21ab) (0.48) *
22. [Gordon] The Bitter Whaling Grounds (Roud 2000) (2.32)
23. [Mabs] Little Mike (Roud 1711) (1.53)
24. [Mabs] Banks of Inverness (Roud 3813; G/D 5:1047; Henry H205) (2.45)
25. [Gordon] Blandford in the Mud (Roud 10512) (1.38)
26. [Mabs, Gordon] A Sailor From Dover (Roud 180; Laws P9; G/D 6:1219; Henry H72) (1.36) *
27. [Mabs] Sweet Mother Dear (Roud 3515) (1.40) *
28. [Gordon] The Molecatcher (Roud 1052) (8.43)

All tracks trad.;
* previously unreleased recording