English Dance Music Best CDs?

Subject: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Rozza
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 07:01 AM

I've recently bought "Hardcore English", "No Reels" from the Old Swan Band and Liam Robinson's "Welcome Here Again", which are all excellent. Which recent, or "classic" CDs would Mudcatters recommend as prime examples of traditional English dance music to listen to/learn from?

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 07:55 AM

There are lots!
Both of the Bismark CD's for a start. There are several other OSB CDs still available.
John Kirkpatrick has loads of tune CDs too....
Nick Barber has two excellent CDs with books to help,
I could go on for hours!

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST,Folkiedave
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 07:57 AM

The latest Old Swan Band called "Swan for the Money".

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 09:12 AM

The best one I've heard in many a long year is 'Running Joak' by The Gloworms.

A lot of English ceilidh bands are fantastic live but a bit nondescript on CD, but the Gloworms one is great both as a listen and to bop about to.

For a single-disc overview of the 'History of the New Wave of English Country Dance Music' try to track down a copy of Stepping Up, released by Topic - an extended version of a collection originally put together by fRoots magazine (for the mentioning of which I immediately apologise if this thread gets highjacked by fRoots-haters!) Track listing c/o Amazon here.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 09:13 AM


The latest Old Swan Band called "Swan for the Money".

Just finished reviewing it, brilliant CD.

If one has to be singled out then Hardcore English. The second one to buy I would suggest would be New Victory Band as their arrangements get played in so many sessions. After that the Old Swan and Bismarks back catalogues, Katies Quartet of course and pray that Polkaworks get into a recording studio.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 10:12 AM

Amen to New Victory Band.
Also, did sound for the first Polkaworks gig....Hope they make the studio soon.
And, just last week did the Electropathics re-union up in Poynton...
Hoping to record Housewives choice at the end of the month, when we do our (probably) final gig! (Features Ed Rennie ex Bismarks).
Also Mentioning Ed, If your are on Facebook, There is an increasing collection of Ed playing his favourite tunes, mainly English, on melodeon. Spiffing!

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 12:48 PM

Everything by The Boat Band and for a touch of the exotic Whapeasel

L in C#

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 03:59 PM

Re Ralphie's mention of Ed Rennie's collection of favourite tunes, you don't even need to be on Facebook to access them. He's been recording steadily since Christmas at the rate of nearly one tune every day, and posting them up on Youtube where he can be found under the name of Hohnerous. If you want to look at his videos (39 so far) you can find them at this Youtube address   (Be aware that he cloaks himself in mystery to play on these!)

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 04:05 PM

And re PolkaWorks, there is actually a Myspace page up with a few examples of the live performance at Godalming where they debuted (is that spelled right?) in 2008, which you can find at this location.
Make the most of it while MySpace is still around.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 06:23 AM

My recommendations for 'classic' cds would be The Old Hat Band for that East Anglian sound and the Band of the Rising Sun for the northern sort of sound.

After listening to Mary Humphreys and Anahata playing tunes brilliantly at our Ryburn Spring Sing last night, I'm prompted to recommend their album of dance music with Nick and Mary Barber, playing under the name of English Rebellion.

Band of the Rising Sun 'Setting It Right' (review)

Old Hat Dance Band via http://www.veteran.co.uk/

English Rebellion is at Mary and Anahata's web site

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST,johnadams apparently uncookied!
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 06:24 AM

Oops. My cookie seems to have f=dropped orf!

J

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 07:08 AM

'All Blacked Up' are worth checking out. 3 CDs I think.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 05:51 PM

Hi surreysinger many thanks for your tip off about Ed Rennie on you tube
it looks as if it could be a great help

Gerry

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Rozza
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 07:32 PM

Thanks very much for the suggestions. Lots of good ones to check out.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Gurney
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 08:19 PM

The Aardvark Ceilidh Band have two CDs which take me back to my dancing days.
First on any list. Alphabetical list, anyway.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: SylviaN
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 06:40 AM

Most upset that Keith and I couldn't be at Ryburn's Spring sing, and heartily agree with John's recommendations.

Also, should you be debating whether or not to get The Old Swan Band's latest CD "Swan for the Money", as the music is brilliant, it has the cover drawn by Tony Hall - what more can I say!

Cheers

Sylvia

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: SylviaN
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 06:52 AM

Ralphie, also excellent choices. Let us know when the Housewives Choice CD is ready - I want a copy.

Another great band is Random and their CDs "Deviation" and "Toadstone".

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: treewind
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 07:29 AM

Thanks for the plug John - and the link is perfect for CD purchase but if anyone wants to know a bit more about us there's the English Rebellion web site.

Also:

• The last Old Swan Band album is equally excellent: Swan-Upmanship
• Look out for Flowers and Frolics - they were one of my favourite bands in the 1970s. They did a re-union CD called "Reformed Characters" but I think their other recordings may only be available on old vinyl.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 10:08 AM

My favourite local bands Albireo and Time Bandits have CDs.
Albireo - Northern Cross
Time Bandits have 2 CDs though these are more varied than their ceilidh repetoire.

For something different Boldwood play older tunes for ceilidh dances.
If you do mean this rather than ceildh how about the Assembly Players; haunting tunes, inventive arrangements, but still danceable (unlike one American band who I find easy to loose one's place to.)

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: SylviaN
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 10:23 AM

For "Unusual Ceilidh Tunes from Fenland Collections " led by Mary and Anahata at Gleanings, the Rural Study Centre over the weekend Fri. 24th - Sun. 26th June. For more details, go to their courses page.

Cheers

Sylvia

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 04:42 PM

SylviaN. Hold your horses!
We've got to play and record the bugger first!
While I'm on..Stocai and Stomp featuring the magnificent Sheena Masson are both worth seeking out too.
Nothing to do with me, obviously....and, OAK...Vinyl only I think, but a seminal record. (Musical Traditions web page again)
And check out John Howsons Veteran Tapes site.....Lots of Trad stuff there...Oh, and if you've got 400 quid to spare, theres always Topics "Voice Of The People" (Joke!)

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST,Dan Quinn
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 05:10 PM

Thanks, Treewind, old chap for the honourable mention of Flowers and Frolics. The reunion CD "Reformed Characters" is available from me and the original LP "Bees on Horseback" has been reissued on CD (with extra tracks) and you can get it from Free Reed. Our second LP "Sold Out" is languishing in the vaults. I'm now going to hijack this thread for a second. The 2011 Flowers and Frolics reunion gig is on Saturday 18th June at the King and Queen, Foley Street, London W1. Its an afternoon gig, from 1.30 to 4.30, entrance is £5 and our special guest is Bob Davenport. Hijack over.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 05:10 PM

Oak's Welcome To Our Fair is available from Topic as a download,
Gaoworms Running Joak seconded.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST,Jane Bird (without cookie)
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 06:43 PM

The Climax Ceilidh Band's CDs work well as albums, I think, not just as a record that reminds you that the ceilidh really was more fun.

The Committee Band's albums work well for listening, too.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 06:55 PM

Dan - gosh not lurking today then? Are tickets available from you ?

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: GUEST,Dan Quinn
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 02:51 AM

Tickets on the door.

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Howard Jones
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 04:36 AM

Albireo's CD "Northern Cross", which Mo the Caller kindly mentioned above, is available from me, or you can downlaod MP3s from CD Baby

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 03:20 PM

Dunno if you consider US performers as germane to English Dance music, but in the US, the stars of English Country Dance music are Bare Necessities , from new England. All members of the quartet are well known for their contributions to dance music.

Peter Barnes is a significant name with his books: two volumes of English Country Dance music & "A Little Couple-Dancemusik" book with Waltz, Tango, Schottishe and vintage dance tunes. His two volumes of ECD are so commonly used that "NIB" is used for the odd tune "not in Barnes"

Mary Lea plays in another English Country dance band (MGM ), contra dance bands (Wild Asparagus, Yankee Ingenuity) & for vintage dance.

Earl Gaddis plays for English, Scottish, American and international dancing & is a delight to band camp students.

Jacqueline Schwab is known for her piano playing in many other contexts - like Ken Burns' Civil War series. She is the excellent dance instructor for Bare Necessities dance weekends.

The Boston CDSS has produced a series of CDs covering the Country Dance repertoire with Bare Necessities playing the dances at speed: CDSS Music Collection Two of the Bare Necessities recordings, Take a Dance and Nightcap are more playing around with the tunes.

ALL of it is superb music: this is the sort of playing that lifts you into the dance - music, dance and dancers merge

Joanne in Cleveland & the ECD band Toad in the Hole

Subject: RE: English Dance Music Best CDs?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 04:58 PM

For U.S. readers, most of what's listed here is English Ceilidh dance music (for energetic, bouncy, uncomplicated dances, compatible with alcohol consumption; generally not found in the U.S.), rather than English country dance music (generally smooth and elegant, for Playford style & descendants).

I believe Mo the Caller (14 Mar 11 - 10:08 AM, above) is the only one above who addressed what we'd call ECD style. (Please correct me if I'm wrong!)

~ Becky in Tucson