Finest Kind Discography

Subject: Finest Kind Discography
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 14 - 04:30 PM

In the Singing two songs at the same time thread, RTim linked to an album by Finest Kind titled For Honour & for Gain. I was appalled, truly appalled, that I had never even heard of this album. I think it's high time that we post a Finest Kind Discography to remedy this.If anyone has stories to tell about this group, please post them here.

Finest Kind is the Canadian vocal trio of Ian Robb, Ann Downey, and Shelley Posen. Their repertoire includes American cowboy songs, Irish comic songs, traditional English ballads, Ottawa Valley folk songs, old sentimental songs, North Carolina Gospel, early country music, and originals by such songwriters as Peter Bellamy and Utah Phillips.

At http://ianrobb.com/finestkind/, I learned that Finest Kind has recorded five CDs--Lost in a Song (1996), Heart's Delight (1999), Silks & Spices (2003), For Honour & for Gain (2010) and a Christmas album with actor John D. Huston, Feasts & Spirits (2004). The trio is featured on Ian Robb's From Different Angels (1994) and also appears on his Jiig (2005). All are available from Fallen Angle Music. Shelley also has three solo releases, The Old Songs' Home, Manna and Menora, available from www.shelleyposen.com.

I'm going to steal most of the discographical (?) information from Ian Robb's Fallen Angle Music, which is where you can buy these wonderful recordings. As time goes by, I'll try to link the songs to threads that contain lyrics and background information. If anyone has stories to tell about this group, please post them here.

Subject: Finest Kind Discography: Lost in a Song (1996)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 14 - 04:32 PM

Finest Kind's debut CD and cassette release from Ian Robb, Shelley Posen and Ann Downey. Lost in a Song is a collection of old and new songs from Britain, Canada and the US, all delivered with Finest Kind's trademark hair-raising vocal harmonies. The songs are about half-and-half capella and accompanied, and the latter feature some very tasteful fiddle and mandolin back-up from producer James Stephens, in addition to the trio's own guitar, bass, banjo and concertina.


 

The Banks of Sweet Primroses Give me Just a Little More Time The Miner's Dream of Home Blue Mountain The Sussex Drinking Song The Night Pat Murphy Died The Storms May Roll the Ocean Goodnight-Loving Trail Only Remembered

Fa-Sol-La Going to the West A Handful of Maple Leaves Gower Wassail What Was I Supposed to Do I Heard the Bluebird Sing The Faded Roses of December A Pilgrim's Way

Subject: Finest Kind Discography: Heart's Delight (1999)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 14 - 04:33 PM

Following in the footsteps of Lost in Song, Finest Kind's second release demonstrates once again why they are considered among the most exciting exponents of vocal harmony on the scene. Like the first recording, this one is crammed with a rich and varied mixture of mostly old songs from Canada, England and the U.S., plus a few more recently penned gems including a couple written by band members Shelley Posen and Ian Robb. Includes guest appearances by Ian Clark, Ken Harper and James Stephens.
 
Produced by James Stephens.
 

A Sailor's Life Fond Affection The Fugitive's Lament Jordan Jack Ashton If You Can't Get Five, Take Two Brigg Fair Someday You'll Call My Name April Morning

In Praise of Alcohol Down at the End of Memory's Lane Homeless Wassail The Mermaid Squid Jiggin' Ground Home in Pasadena No More Fish, No Fishermen Who Will Sing for Me

Subject: Finest Kind Discography: Silks & Spices (2003)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 14 - 04:34 PM

Finest Kind’s repertoire has so many sources, our musical closet so many skeletons, and our performances so many opposing elements, there’s no neat summing us up. “Folk music” serves as a point of departure, but in our case obscures as much as it explains.
The best we’ve come up with is a slogan, “Old Songs in Close Harmony.” But it too only partially covers the ground. Take the word “old:” on Silks & Spices there’s blackletter-broadside old, Napoleonic-days-of-sail old, Victorian Christmas and golden-age-of-country-music old, Ottawa-Valley-logging and early-American-sheet-music old, antiwar-protest, civil-rights, and bellbottom-pants old—plus one song with a tune as old as Canada but words written 136 years later.
As for “close harmony,” well, we’re often told that Finest Kind sounds like no one else, but in our arrangements we hear the harmonic strains of the Copper Family and Young Tradition, barbershop quartet and Sacred Harp, doo wop and country brother duos, and many more. How can we bundle that up in a nice neat phrase?
So we decided Silks & Spices was an apt title for this CD. Finest Kind is not one thing or another, but some of each and every. Once you hear us, you understand what we do.

Produced by James Stephens, who also adds his instrumental magic to the CD.

Bright Shining Morning Fair Maid Walking At the End of a Long Lonely Day The Ten Dollar Bill The Maple Leaf Forever As I Roved Out Jack the Jolly Tar Shepherd of the Downs

John Barleycorn Sweet Forget-Me-Not Shepherds Arise Blackest Crow The Painful Plough The Times They Are a-Changin' Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

Subject: Finest Kind Discography: For Honour & for Gain
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 14 - 04:34 PM

On Finest Kind's fifth CD, Ian, Ann, and Shelley show what nearly two decades of singing together sounds like: brilliant harmonies, innovative arrangements, and immaculate performances that range over a vast expanse of repertoire--old ballads and country classics, fun parodies, songs of protest and heartbreak, and a cool, new Christmas carol. For Honour & For Gain is half a capella, half accompanied, with instrumental honours courtesy of the trio, plus Michael Ball, Jody Benjamin, Jeff McClintock, Brian Sanderson, and James Stephens.

Produced by James Stephens.

Bay of Biscay She Thinks I Still Care Claudy Banks Short Life of Trouble Thomas & Nancy Bully in the Alley He Comes Like Rain(Like Wind He Goes) Song of the Lower Classes Lowlands Low

John Barleycorn Deconstructed Why Should I be Lonely? Tenting on the Old Camp Ground Christmas Trilogy The Lass That Loved a Sailor From Dover to Calais The Riley Boys Farm! Farm! By the Green Grove

Subject: Finest Kind Discography: Feasts & Spirits (2004)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 14 - 04:35 PM

The rich and sparkling vocal harmonies of Finest Kind are a natural setting for Christmas carols and wassails. Add some classic excerpts from Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, masterfully delivered by Mr. Dickens himself, and you have all the ingredients of a spirit-raising feast for the ears. Canadian actor John D. Huston is known for his acclaimed one man show Charles Dickens Reads A Christmas Carol.

Produced by James Stephens.

Shepherds Arise A Tight-Fisted Hand at the Grindstone Horsham Tipteerers' Song The Face in the Knocker Gower Wassail Party at Fezziwig's The Holly and the Ivy The Cratchit's Christmas Dinner While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

The Two Children–Ignorance and Want The Homeless Wassail Grieving for Tiny Tim The Cradle Carol Christmas Morning O Little Town of Bethlehem  The End of It Please to See the King Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 28 May 14 - 09:01 PM

I have been to some of their performances at festivals in southern New England. They have a wonderful sound and seem to enjoy singing together and just being in each other's company.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 29 May 14 - 08:01 AM

I too was knocked out when I first came across Finest Kind a number of years ago, and I didn't lose any time in investigating their history and their recorded output thus far. They've made quite a hit whenever they've come across to the UK, and increased their fanbase enormously in so doing. You'll find reviews of the Silks and Spices & For Honour And For Gain CDs (and the compilation referred to below) on the NetRhythms website archive, but in all honesty I'd recommend every single one of their releases (all still available I believe) for the wonderful singing, both solo and in harmony, the sheer enthusiasm and versatility of the music-making and not forgetting the immense songwriting talents of Ian Robb and Shelley Posen. The "starter collection" would be a release entitled Good Enough For Me, a great compilation of "finest moments" which ADA Recordings (here in the UK) released a couple of years back.
Yeah, and do check out those offshoot discs too - Jiig, From Fallen Angels, Friends Of Fiddlers' Green and the Shelley solo records.
Hope that's of some help Joe.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: GUEST,sciencegeek
Date: 29 May 14 - 02:06 PM

we're lucky in western NY that they manage to get over the border to perform at Rochester & elsewhere on a fairly regular basis.

That said, Ian made it to Portsmouth for the Shanty Festival and did a fine rendition of Rose in June to honor the recently passed Lou Killen.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: Reinhard
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 01:49 PM

Mike Harding just played Finest Kind's "The Banks of Sweet Primroses" on his Folk Show, from their 20th anniversary compilation "Good Enough for Me".

I had never heard of them before, so thank you Joe for providing plenty of information.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: Crowhugger
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 02:48 PM

They're lso part of the ever-growing crop of election songs protesting Canada's Harper government. http://ianrobb.com/TheresAlwaysMoneyforaWar.htm

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 05:35 PM

We sang all three parts of Tis Now the Season of the Year at the Robson and Craig workshop in Whitby last Thursday.

By happy coincidence, Shelley Posen was allowed home the same day after a successful heart operation.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 05:45 PM

Fortunate enough to hear them live a few years ago. Superb. Bought "Lost in a Song" that night.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: GUEST,Frogprince
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 05:47 PM

That last wuz me; Forgot I wasn't signed in on this laptop.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: KT
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 08:13 PM

I've enjoyed Heart's Delight and Silks & Spices for years, after first hearing Finest Kind at Old Songs. Would not hesitate to attend a concert of theirs if I had the chance!

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: Elmore
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 09:00 PM

Fine singers with a great repertoire.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Sep 19 - 02:57 AM

I don't know if he has recorded it himself, but Ian Robb recently wrote an interesting song titled "God and the Orange Clown":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hMLG42_YZs

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: GUEST,Reinhard
Date: 03 Sep 19 - 09:57 AM

Ian Robb also released a fine CD All the Salt last year with the Arrowsmith:Robb trio, i.e. himself and Jess and Richard Arrowsmith from Sheffield.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: Elmore
Date: 03 Sep 19 - 12:55 PM

Attn Joe Offer: Thanks so much for posting that great song about God and the orange clown. I might never have heard it otherwise.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: RTim
Date: 03 Sep 19 - 02:12 PM

Reinhard - It would be great to see Finest Kind and the rest of Fallen Angle output represented on Mainly Norfolk....

Tim Radford
(Who also has a CD in that stable....Home From Home)

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 03 Sep 19 - 02:45 PM

From: Crowhugger
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 02:48 PM

"They're lso part of the ever-growing crop of election songs protesting Canada's Harper government. http://ianrobb.com/TheresAlwaysMoneyforaWar.htm"

That was an interesting time. There was a groundswell of songs during the months leading to that election. I listened to all I could locate, and "There's Always Money for a War" was and is the best of the lot. Here's some general information about him.

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ian-robb-mn0001411159

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Sep 19 - 08:17 PM

In addition to the CDs mentioned above, I have limited edition 6-song CD: 'from SHORE to SHORE' Fallen Angle Music FAM 10. It was produced by James Stephens and Finest Kind for a tour of England and Wales in 2014.

Fare thee well dearest Nancy
The well dressing song
Jimmy Whelan
The birds were singing of you
Woman's the pride and joy of the land
Following the old 'oss

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 19 - 09:05 PM

Evidently the tour never happened. I just found this on Robb's website:

'The CD of the tour that never was, this EP length recording was made for a planned Finest Kind tour in the UK in October 2014. The tour had to be cancelled at fairly short notice due to illness, so we were left with a lot of CDs in the basement. As it turned out, this was Finest Kind's swan song recording, as the trio announced their retirement from touring soon after. This recording is a limited edition: once they're gone there will be no more, so if you want to be a Finest Kind completist, order now!
The notes to this recording can be found here.

Sorry, Sold Out! Will be re-released as a download only, at a later date.'

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: Elmore
Date: 03 Sep 19 - 10:34 PM

Finest Kind has a gig on Dec. 15 2919 in Wakefield, Quebec. It must be a Christmas show.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: Reinhard
Date: 04 Sep 19 - 05:24 AM

It would be great to see Finest Kind and the rest of Fallen Angle output represented on Mainly Norfolk.

That's an expensive suggestion, Tim ;-) But I ordered the available CDs from Fallen Angle for about 200$ including customs duties. It may take some time until the albums arrive on my side of the pond and can be added to the website.

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: RTim
Date: 05 Sep 19 - 11:40 AM

Reinhard - Thank you very much - and I know you will enjoy them.....
One of them will be coming from me....sometime...maybe via the UK.

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Finest Kind Discography
From: CupOfTea
Date: 05 Sep 19 - 11:51 PM

Joe,
If you get to the end of that link to "God and the orange clown" you'll see it is, indeed Ian Robb (vocals & Concertina) with friends. He recently posted on Facebook:

"Apparently my song "God and the Orange Clown" is being aired this week on more than 100 public radio stations, courtesy of the good folks who produce the show "Art of the Song". They're doing a 1 hour special called "The American Protest Song" this week--a timely look at protest songs in these troubled times. Happy to be included, though I guess I'm an imposter! You can hear the show at https://www.patreon.com/artofthesong. Thanks to John Dillon for the inclusion.

He does write a meaty protest song, or one pointing out absurdities, injustices, or sad events.


Joanne in Cleveland