Colin Irwin on Peter Bellamy

Subject: RE: Colin Irwin on Peter Bellamy
From: Brian Peters
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 08:37 AM

Absolutely, Sean. PB's 'Both Sides Then' is a great record including several American sacred songs, and features Lisa Null and Bill Shute, who make 'A-Roving on a Winter's Night' the thing of beauty that it is. I agree about their recordings, too: 'American Primitive' is another terrific album.

The Watersons deserve credit as well as Peter for putting Sacred Harp on the map in the UK, with 'Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy'. I decided I needed to know more about it, so I bought myself an American record of Sacred Harp sung by a choir, and played it proudly to Peter the next time he stayed with us. His scorn knew no bounds - it was way too polite and polished. The next time I met him, he pressed into my hand a mix tape labelled in his own hand 'REAL Sacred Harp', containing some of the wildest, most glorious singing I've ever heard.