This 1978 Topic “Special Project” was a limited edition of 250 copies of Mike Yates’ recordings, to accompany a comprehensive feature on Southern English traditional singer Harry Upton in Traditional Music magazine No. 10.

Recorded 1975-77 at Harry Upton’s home in Balcombe, Sussex by Mike Yates;
Front sleeve photograph of Harry’s parents by courtesy of Harry Upton;
Produced by Tony Engle

Musicians

Harry Upton: vocals

Tracks

Side 1

1. Buttercup Joe (Roud 1635) (2.06)
2. The Ship That Never Returned (Roud 775; Laws D27) (3.35)
3. The Life of a Man (Roud 848) / The Dockyard Gate (Roud 1739) / The Female Drummer (Roud 226; G/D 1:182; Henry H497) / Bonny Blue Handkerchief (Roud 378; G/D 5:1040; Henry H161ab) (8.37)
4. Good Old Jeff (Roud 1740) (3.07)
5. The Royal Albion (Roud 2; Laws Q26; G/D 7:1404; Henry H680) / The Little Cabin Boy (Roud 1168) (5.16)

Side 2

6. Why Can’t It Always Be Saturday? (Roud 1741) (3.35)
7. I’m a Man That’s Done Wrong (Roud 1386) (4.38)
8. Seaweed (Roud 1742) (2.06)
9. In a Cottage by the Sea (Roud 4327) (4.20)
10. In Wayward Town (Roud 564; Laws P18; G/D 6:1188) (3.49)
11. The Thrashing Machine (Roud 1491) / I Come from the Country (Roud 1744) (3.01)

Recorded by Mike Yates;
Edited and produced by Rod Stradling

Musical Traditions booklet notes by Mike Yates and Rod Stradling

Musicians

Harry Upton: vocals

Tracks

1. The Female Drummer (Roud 226; G/D 1:182; Henry H497) (2.54)
2. If I Were a Blackbird (Roud 387; Henry H79) (4.03)
3. The Dockyard Gate (Roud 1739) (0.47)
4. A Woman’s Work Is Never Done (Roud 1717) (2.50)
5. Bonny Blue Handkerchief (Roud 378; G/D 5:1040; Henry H161ab) (1.17)
6. The Life of a Man (Roud 848) (2.44)
7. The Royal Albion (Roud 2; Laws Q26; G/D 7:1404; Henry H680) (5.04)
8. Canadee-I-O (Roud 309; Henry H162) (5.48)
9. The Feckless Young Girl (Roud 1734) (3.30)
10. The Wreck of the ‘Northfleet’ (Roud 1174) (6.55)
11. I Am a Donkey Driver (Roud 1147) (2.29)
12. A Single Life (Roud 952) (3.42)
13. The Ship That Never Returned (Roud 775; Laws D27) (3.36)
14. In Wayward Town (Roud 564; Laws P18; G/D 6:1188) / The Little Cabin Boy (Roud 1168) (4.30)
15. In a Cottage by the Sea (Roud 4327) (4.24)
16. Seaweed (Roud 1742) (2.10)
17. Good Old Jeff (Roud 1740) (3.09)
18. The Thrashing Machine (Roud 1491) / I Come from the Country (Roud 1744) (3.08)
19. I’m a Man That’s Done Wrong (Roud 1386) (4.39)
20. Poison in a Glass of Wine (Roud 218; Laws P30; G/D 2:210) (2.30)
21. The Rich Lady Gay (Roud 1714) (4.20)
22. Why Can’t It Always Be Saturday? (Roud 1741) (3.36)