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Many a Good Horseman

Many a Good Horseman (Veteran VTDC8CD)

Many a Good Horseman
Traditional Music Making from Mid-Suffolk Recorded 1958-1993
Various Artists

Veteran (2 cassettes, UK, 1993)
Veteran VTDC8CD (2 CD, UK, 2009)

This collection tracks John Howson’s survey of traditional music making in Mid-Suffolk and includes not only his contemporary recordings, but also fascinating archival recordings made by the few other collectors who ventured into the area. In 1993 these recordings were released as a double cassette. The original recordings, some made as early as 1958, are now housed in the National Sound Archive at the British Library in London so that they are archived for the future. They have now also been digitally edited and enhanced, using modern technology, and are now available for the first time as a double CD which consists of two 39 track CDs each lasting 75 minutes, giving a total running time of 2 1/2 hours. It also comes with a new 32-page booklet, which includes biographies and photographs of each of the performers, as well as extensive notes about the songs and tunes.

Mid-Suffolk was almost virgin territory when this original survey was done in the mid 1980s, and a rich and diverse musical tradition, not unlike that of East Suffolk, was found. Memories and photographs of the musicians, singers, stepdancers and broom dancers are published in the book of the same name.

Produced and designed by John Howson

Notes and lyrics transcription on the Veteran website

Musicians

Gordon Syrett (Mendlesham Green), Roy Last (Stonham), Reg Pyett (Mendlesham), Emily Sparkes (Rattlesden), Jack Pearson (Wickham Skeith), Charlie Carver (Tostock), Charlie Griggs (Stowmarket), Tom Williams (Stowupland), Emma Briggs (Thwaite), John Mitchell (Forward Green), Stan Steggles (Rattlesden), George Wade (Stowmarket), Ernie Lyas (Stowmarket), ‘Gipsy’ Charlie (Tostock), Clement Pearson (Wickham Skeith), Charlie Stringer (Wickham Skeith), Ernie Nunn (Wetheringsett), Doddy Thorndyke (Stowmarket), ‘Lubidy’ Rice (Finningham), Bill Smith (Walsham-le-Willows), Andy Austin (Woolpit), Jimmy Gladwell’s Band (Stowmarket), ‘Tinker’ Parker (Mendlesham Green), Bert Allen (Tostock), Glynn Griffiths (Cockfield), Hubert Smith (Thorpe Morieux), Tom Smith (Thorpe Morieux)

Tracks

CD 1

  1. Gordon Syrett: The Dark-Eyed Sailor (Roud 265; Laws N35; G/D 5:1037; Henry H232) (2.31)
  2. Roy Last: The Scarlet and the Blue (Roud 163; TYG 32) (0.55)
  3. Reg Pyett: Peggy O’Neill (melodeon) (1.58)
  4. Emily Sparkes: Sweet William (Roud 67; Child 110; G/D 7:1465) (1.23)
  5. Jack Pearson: Cock-a-Doodle (mouthorgan & bones) (0.37)
  6. Charlie Carver: The Faithful Sailor (Roud 376; Laws K13; G/D 1:66; Henry H543) (3.53)
  7. Charlie Griggs: Tune Medley (melodeon) (2.27)
  8. Unknown Singer: Buttercup Joe (Roud 1635) (1.19)
  9. Tom Williams: Phil the Fluter’s Ball (mouthorgan) (1.06)
  10. Emma Briggs: Barbara Allen (Roud 54; Child 84; G/D 6:1193; Henry H236) (0.41)
  11. Tom Smith: Your Aged Mother and Me (Roud 10716) (1.12)
  12. Reg Pyett: Heel and Toe Polka (melodeon) (1.07)
  13. Gordon Syrett: He Stood in a Beautiful Mansion (Roud 5307) (3.33)
  14. John Mitchell: Polka / Oh Joe the Boat’s Going Over (melodeon) (0.50)
  15. Stan Steggles: The Sailor Cut Down in His Prime (Roud 2; Laws Q26; G/D 7:1404; Henry H680) (3.36)
  16. Tom Williams: Shake Hands With Your Partner (mouthorgan) (0.34)
  17. Charlie Carver: Cupid the Ploughboy (Roud 986; Laws O7) (2.16)
  18. Reg Pyett: Farewell My Bluebell (melodeon) (1.07)
  19. Emily Sparkes: Green Mossy Banks of the Lea (Roud 987; Laws O15) (0.41)
  20. Gordon Syrett: Trousers on the Door (Roud 5308) (1.47)
  21. George Wade: Popular Song Tunes Medley (mouthorgan) (4.42)
  22. Ernie Lyas: Talk / Farmer’s Boy (accordion) (0.45)
  23. Reg Pyett: In and Out the Windows (melodeon) (1.26)
  24. ‘Gypsy’ Charlie: Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor (Roud 2248; Laws E16) (2.25)
  25. ‘Gipsy’ Charlie: Stepdance (0.39)
  26. Gordon Syrett: The Mistletoe Bough (Roud 2336) (3.13)
  27. Tom Williams: Paddy McGinty’s Goat (mouthorgan) (1.21)
  28. Stan Steggles: Eggs and Bacon (Roud 377; G/D 2:307) (2.10)
  29. Reg Pyett: I Don’t Care What You Used to Be (melodeon) (1.05)
  30. Charlie Carver: Sarah (Roud 16652) (3.02)
  31. Tom Williams: Yarmouth Hornpipe (mouthorgan) (0.51)
  32. Gordon Syrett: All Jolly Fellows That Follow the Plough (Roud 346; G/D 3:418) (3.42)
  33. Emily Sparkes: No, Sir, No (Roud 146) (2.20)
  34. Clement Pearson: Redwing (mouthorgan) (0.39)
  35. Charlie Carver: Blackberry Fold (Roud 559; Laws O10) (5.17)
  36. Reg Pyett: Smile Awhile (melodeon) (1.17)
  37. Stan Steggles: Banks of the Sweet Dundee (Roud 148; Laws M25; G/D 2:224) (4.52)
  38. Charlie Stringer: Which Gate? (Roud 10709) (0.50)
  39. Ernie Nunn: The Isle of Inisfree / Hornpipe / She Wore a Tulip / Heel & Toe Polka (melodeon) (1.49)

Tracks 7 recorded Stowmarket 1950’s/60’s;
Tracks 4, 15, 19, 28, 33, 37 recorded Rattlesden 1958/59;
Tracks 6, 8, 17, 24-25, 30, 35 recorded Tostock Gardeners’ Arms 1960;
Tracks 9, 16, 27, 31 recorded Stowupland 1978;
Tracks 5 recorded Felsham 1983;
Tracks 3, 12, 18, 23, 29, 36 recorded Mendlesham 1980;
Tracks 1, 13, 20, 32 recorded Mendlesham Green 1982;
Tracks 2 recorded Mendlesham Green 1983;
Tracks 22 recorded Stowmarket 1983;
Tracks 34, 38 recorded Wickham Skeith 1983;
Tracks 26 recorded Mendlesham Green 1985;
Tracks 10 recorded Thwaite 1983;
Tracks 14 recorded Forward Green 1984;
Tracks 39 recorded Wetheringsett 1984;
Tracks 11 recorded Thorpe Morieux 1985;
Tracks 21 recorded Haughley 1993

CD 2

  1. Doddy Thorndyke: Talk / My Brother Sylvest (1.27)
  2. Reg Pyett: Yellow Rose of Texas (melodeon) (0.47)
  3. ’Lubidy’ Rice: Twenty-One Years on Dartmoor (Roud 2248; Laws E16) (1.54)
  4. ’Lubidy’ Rice: Yarmouth Hornpipe (mouthorgan) (0.44)
  5. Gordon Syrett: Jim the Carter’s Lad (Roud 1080; G/D 3:457; Henry H171) (2.49)
  6. Charlie Carver: Sweet William (Roud 67; Child 110; G/D 7:1465) (3.35)
  7. Tom Williams: Merry Widow / I’ll Never Find Another You (mouthorgan) (2.04)
  8. Emily Sparkes: Died for Love (Roud 60; Laws P25; G/D 6:1170; Henry H683) (2.44)
  9. Reg Pyett: Sailor’s Hornpipe (melodeon) (1.03)
  10. Stan Steggles: Our Goodman (Roud 114; Child 274; G/D 7:1460; Henry H21ab) (0.50)
  11. Roy Last: Balaclava (Roud 1443; Laws A14) (1.23)
  12. Bill Smith: The Suffolk’s March / Jig (mouthorgan) (1.45)
  13. Gordon Syrett: Poor Old Jeff (Roud 1740) (3.31)
  14. Reg Pyett: Scotland the Brave (melodeon) (0.42)
  15. Emily Sparkes: The Iron Door (Roud 539; Laws M15; G/D 5:1003; Henry H668) (3.09)
  16. Andy Austin: Talk / Jimmy Gladwell’s Band: Quickstep (2.29)
  17. Charlie Carver: Banks of the Sweet Dundee (Roud 148; Laws M25; G/D 2:224) (3.21)
  18. Reg Pyett: Lassie from Lancashire (melodeon) (1.06)
  19. Gordon Syrett: M-o-n-e-y (Roud 2426) (2.53)
  20. Tom Smith & Alf Cresswell: Cuckoo Waltz (accordion & bones) (2.08)
  21. ‘Tinker’ Parker & Gordon Syrett: Talk / Gordon Syrett: Love and Duty (Roud 5310) (4.25)
  22. Reg Pyett: Cliff Hornpipe (melodeon) (0.55)
  23. Stan Steggles: Bonny Bunch of Roses (Roud 664; Laws J5; G/D 1:155) (2.01)
  24. Bert Allen: The Ship that Never Returned (Roud 775; Laws D27) (2.01)
  25. Tom Williams, Tom Smith & Alf Cresswell: Medley (mouthorgan, accordion & bones) (2.14)
  26. Emily Sparkes: The Jealous Lover (Roud 218; Laws P30; G/D 2:210) (0.48)
  27. Charlie Carver: The Grenadier and the Lady (Roud 140; Laws P14; TYG 34) (2.29)
  28. Glynn Griffiths: Zena Zena (mouthorgan) (1.10)
  29. Stan Steggles: The Faithful Sailor (Roud 376; Laws K13; G/D 1:66; Henry H543) (3.59)
  30. Reg Pyett: Soldier’s Joy (melodeon) (1.05)
  31. Hubert Smith: Ball of Yarn (Roud 1404) (1.50)
  32. Tom Williams, Tom Smith & Alf Cresswell: Sailor’s Hornpipe (mouthorgan, accordion & bones) (1.05)
  33. Charlie Stringer: Nobody’s Child (Roud 10718) (1.45)
  34. Tom Smith: Bluebell Polka (accordion) (1.12)
  35. Tom Smith: They Won’t Know I Come From the Country (Roud 10715) (1.39)
  36. Emily Sparkes: The Fox and the Hare (Roud 1140) (0.33)
  37. Reg Pyett: Alf Peachey’s Polkas (melodeon) (1.10)
  38. Gordon Syrett: Jolly Ploughboy (Roud 163; TYG 32) (1.51)
  39. Tom Williams, Tom Smith & Alf Cresswell: Irish Medley (mouthorgan, accordion & bones) (3.01)

Tracks 16b recorded Stowmarket 1950’s;
Tracks 8, 10, 15, 23, 26, 29, 33, 36 recorded Rattlesden 1958/59;
Tracks 6, 17, 27 recorded Tostock Gardeners’ Arms 1960;
Tracks 20, 25, 32, 39 recorded Chelsworth Peacock 1976;
Tracks 7 recorded Stowupland 1978;
Tracks 2, 9, 14, 18, 22, 30, 37 recorded Mendlesham 1980;
Tracks 5, 13, 19, 21, 38 recorded Mendlesham Green 1982;
Tracks 28 recorded Cockfield 1983;
Tracks 3-4 recorded Haughley 1983;
Tracks 11 recorded Mendlesham Green 1983;
Tracks 1, 24 recorded Stowmarket 1983;
Tracks 16a recorded Woolpit 1983;
Tracks 31, 34-35 recorded Thorpe Morieux 1983;
Tracks 12 recorded Walsham-le-Willows 1983