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Wiggy Smith: Band of Gold

Band of Gold Wiggy Smith (1926-2001) and other Smith Family members Musical Traditions Records MTCD307 (CD, UK, 2000)

Musical Traditions booklet notes by Rod Stradling

Musicians

Wiggy Smith: vocals [all tracks except noted below];
Biggun (Jabez) Smith: vocals [4, 22, 31];
Wisdom Smith: vocals [7, 10-11];
Denny Smith: vocals [14, 18, 23, 28];
Jean Johns, Rachel Butler (Wiggy’s granddaughters): vocals [33]

Tracks

1. The Deserter (Roud 493; G/D 1:83) (2.14)
2. Where the River Shannon Flows (Roud 9579) (1.40)
3. I’m a Romani Rai (Roud 4844) (1.47)
4. [Biggun] My Ship Lost Her Rigging (Roud 618) (2.29)
5. You Are the Only Good Thing That Have Happened to Me (Roud 15133) (1.35)
6. The Rich Farmer of Sheffield (Roud 2638; Laws L2) (3.45)
7. [Wisdom] The Galloway Man (Roud 1737; G/D 8:1661) (1.07)
8. Diddling / Mandi Went to Puv the Grai (Roud 852) (0.29)
9. The Strawberry Roan (Roud 3239; Laws B18) (2.49)
10. [Wiggy and Wisdom] When I Was a Young Man (Roud 1165) (2.05)
11. [Wisdom] Go From My Window (Roud 966) (Roud 966) (0.36)
12. Dunkirk Bay (Roud 5350) (3.09)
13. The High-Low Well (Roud 1697) (3.07)
14. [Denny] Robin Hood and the Pedlar (Roud 333; Child 132) (2.21)
15. The Cock Flit Up in the Yew Tree (Roud 230) (0.28)
16. The Oakham Poachers (Roud 1686) (2.12)
17. Lord Bateman (Roud 40; Child 53; G/D 5:1023; Henry H470) (2.38)
18. [Denny] Lord Bateman (Roud 40; Child 53; G/D 5:1023; Henry H470) (5.32)
19. Riding Along in a Free Train (Roud 16143) / Mother’s the Queen of My Heart (Roud 16144) (3.54)
20. Barb’rye Ellen (Roud 54; Child 84; G/D 6:1193; Henry H236) (1.48)
21. Hobbling Off to the Workhouse Door (Roud 13679) (0.58)
22. [Biggun] The Barley Straw (Davy Faa) (Roud 19112) (2.14)
23. [Denny] The Barley Straw (Davy Faa) (Roud 19112) (2.32)
24. I’ll Take My Dog and My Airgun Too (Roud 363) (2.13)
25. Ikey Moses (Roud 2303) (1.01)
26. Don’t Laugh at Me, ’Cos I’m a Fool (Roud 15132) (2.57)
27. The Ship Carpenter’s Mate (Roud 15; Laws P36A/B; G/D 2:201, 2:202) (4.37)
28. [Denny] The Cruel Ship’s Carpenter (Roud 15; Laws P36A/B; G/D 2:201, 2:202) (2.46)
29. Auntie Maggie’s Homemade Remedy (Roud 15135) (1.40)
30. That Little Old Band of Gold (Roud 16145) (0.36)
31. [Biggun] Three Jolly Butcher Boys (Roud 17; Laws L4; G/D 2:186; Henry H185) (2.48)
32. When Schooldays Are Over (Roud 16146) (1.22)
33. [Jean, Rachel] My Boyfriend Gave Me an Apple (Roud 12986; G/D 8:1623) (0.51)

Tracks 14, 18, 28 recorded by Peter Shepheard in The Tabard bar, North Street, Gloucester, 27 April 1966;
Track 23 recorded by Peter Shepheard in Denny Smith’s caravan at Walham Tump beside the river Severn at Gloucester on 8 May 1966;
Tracks 4, 22, 31 recorded by Peter Shepheard in The Fisherman bar at Beachley Ferry, Gloucestershire, 3 January 1967, during a visit with Danny Brazil;
Tracks 7, 11, 25, 29 recorded by Mike Yates at the Cat and Fiddle pub, Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, in 1970;
Tracks 1-2, 16, 20 recorded by Gwilym Davies and Paul Burgess at The Victoria pub, Cheltenham, Glos, 1994;
Tracks 6, 24 recorded by Gwilym Davies at the English Country Music Weekend, Postlip Tithe Barn, Glos, 17 June 1995;
Tracks 3, 17, 26-27 recorded by Gwilym Davies at the English Country Music Weekend, Postlip Tithe Barn, Glos, 27 June 1998;
Tracks 8, 10, 15, 30 recorded by Gwilym Davies and Paul Burgess at Wiggy’s caravan, Elmstone Hardwicke, 11 August 1994;
Track 13 recorded by Gwilym Davies and Paul Burgess at Wiggy’s caravan, Elmstone Hardwicke, 13 April 1995;
Tracks 5, 9, 33 recorded by Gwilym Davies and Paul Burgess at Wiggy’s caravan, Elmstone Hardwicke, 20 July 1995;
Track 12, 19, 32 recorded by Gwilym Davies and Paul Burgess at Wiggy’s caravan, Elmstone Hardwicke, 18 November 1999;
Track 21 recorded by Gwilym Davies and Paul Burgess