Piper on album 'The Old Songs'

Subject: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: The Doctor
Date: 21 Apr 07 - 07:19 AM

I am trying to compile track listings for a Greenwich Village recording made in 1984, 'The Old Songs'. The singers were Martin Carthy, Martyn Wyndham-Read, John Kirkpatrick, Maggie Goodall and Sue Harris, who also did most of the instrumentals between them, but there was also a piper, I believe Northumbrian Pipes, and Martyn has no idea now who it was. Is anyone else able to help/make suggestions, or supply the accurate info from the original LP?

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Little Robyn
Date: 21 Apr 07 - 05:36 PM

At that date it might have been Colin Ross.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 05:01 AM

What's the track it's on? if you could mount a small sound clip somewhere, experts might be able to identify it.

Paws

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: The Doctor
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 07:03 AM

They are on 'Molly Malone', 'The Minstrel Boy', 'Highland Laddie' and 'The Sky Boat Song', so they may not be Northumbrian, they could be Border. I will speak to my technical adviser/son and see if it's possible to put a clip up somewhere.

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:25 AM

Doctor:
The tracks you mention are not common in the Northumbrian pipers repertoire - except possibly Highland Laddie - and then it depends which of several tunes of that name it actually is.

A sound clip would help identify the species of pipe for you.

Paws

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:47 AM

Surely nobody was recording Border pipes back in 1984?

All of those tunes could have been played by any competent Northumbrian piper. If they were what the producer of the album wanted, the fact they weren't standard repertoire wouldn't have mattered. Adrian Schofield and Dick Hensold play lots of stuff that isn't standard Northumbrian.

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 10:48 AM

When was Hamish Moore's first album? Mid-80s IIRC.That had Border pipes on it, I believe.
Earliest known recording of Border pipes? 1949

Yes, I agree a Northumbrian piper could have played them. Robyn's suggestion of Colin Ross was my first idea too, which is why I asked about the tracks.

Paws

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 11:13 AM

Hamish Moore's Cauld Wind Pipes was first issued in 1985.

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Little Robyn
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 03:16 PM

There were various Scottish small pipes around then too.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: The Doctor
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 01:48 PM

There are now four clips available, as follows:
Cockles and Mussels
Highland Laddie
Minstrel Boy
Skye Boat Song
Any suggestions are still welcome.

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 05:27 PM

All except Highland Laddie are Uilleann pipes, as far as I can tell. On Skye Boat Song & Cockles & Mussels only the chanter is being used (I think). I have no idea who the piper might be, it's not my field.

Highland Laddie is played on Northumbrian pipes, and not only that it's a C pitch set. At that date I think the piper is therefore Colin Ross - he was the only maker to have made one by then. I will ask when I next see him.

Paws

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Little Robyn
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 05:37 PM

I've just listened to Highland Laddie and I think there is too much ornamentation for Colin. It's a more Scottish style but I think they are Northumbrian pipes.
Roy Williamson, of the Corries, played Geordie pipes but would he have been in that place at that time?
Was it recorded in London or in the US given the recording co. name?
And if so, might it have been an American piper?
Grit Laskin has pipes too and has been singing for a long time.
Maybe Julia can find out.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 05:44 PM

Yes, Robyn, I wondered if it was Roy Wiliamson.
It was the pitch that made me suggest Colin, but the playing style is not his, as you say.

Paws

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: The Doctor
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 08:01 PM

Despite the name Greenwich Village Records was based in Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax, Yorkshire, if that helps anyone. I've contacted Colin via the HLR but not had a response from him so far.

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Little Robyn
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 03:33 PM

Just had a thought - did Jimmy Young have his pipes at that date?
Although they are Colin Ross Northumbrians, they have very few keys and the chanter is in a key I can't play along with. It may be C.
Also his playing style has more Scots sounding ornamentation.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: Little Robyn
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 03:50 PM

I've just listened to The Minstrel Boy.
Wow! Duelling Uilleann pipes! That's impressive!
Now would that be two pipers or just one playing twice.
Finbar Furey was the first piper I thought of but there were/are plenty of others around even then.
Welcome Paws - I thought you sounded familiar.
Cheers,
Robyn

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: The Doctor
Date: 08 May 07 - 12:12 PM

I have just come across a listing that gives, in addition to what I had, Mick Doonan and Bob Thomas. Mick is listed on the net as playing, amongst other things, whistles and uilleann pipes, which answers another query, but Bob Thomas is a little more elusive. There is mention of a Robert D Thomas, American, 1938-1993, maker and player of bagpipes, including a Zampogna, Italian pipes with two melody chanters, which could also explain Robyn's comment above. Can anyone add anything to this?

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: DaveA
Date: 09 May 07 - 09:36 AM

It must be the flux. I thought of this LP over the weekend & lamented it was so beat up. Almost unplayable.

Does anyone know if it has been released on CD?

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: Piper on 'The Old Songs'
From: GUEST,Bob Thomas
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 06:15 PM

It was me who played Northumbrian Pipes on all of the pipes tracks on 'The Old Songs' album as a duet with Mick Doonan on the Irish pipes. Highland Laddie however was a Northumbrian Pipes solo piece. I used 2 sets of pipes .... an F/C seven key chanter set (made by David Burleigh of Long Framlington) & a D/A 11 key chanter set made by Colin Ross of Monkseaton, Whitley Bay.The album was recorded in Shropshire over 2 days & I recall that we all had a great time making it with plenty of laughing/banter throughout. I live in Yorkshire; used to be in Kitsyke Will & still play with Mick Doonan on a regular basis in lots of different guises. Hope this clears everything up!!