Nic Jones' first recordings

Subject: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: GUEST,Robert Field
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:32 AM

I'd like to know why the LPs recorded by Nic Jones for Trailer (Ballads & Songs etc) are not being published in CD format. Thanks. Robert Field

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:53 AM

I think it's a "Political" thing, Robert. Damned shame though!

Cheers

bugsy

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Ringer
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:01 AM

Do I remember Nic Jones having been a member of a band called Galliard? Or have I got that wrong? I saw them in Peterborough, England, about 35 years ago.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: GeorgeH
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:29 AM

It's not politics, its business . . For the whole sorry story go to DejaNews and search for "Dave Bulmer" and "Celtic Music" - though a full Mudcat search will probably turn up most of it . . .

There was also a fine article on Nic in a Folk Roots magazine not so long ago; I'd guess you could find a ref. on http://www.froots.demon.co.uk.

Yes, Nic was in Galliard. And there ARE quite a few available recording featuring his playing . . including albums on CD by June Tabor, Richard Thompson etc. (and Peter Bellamy's "The Transports"). If I had to recommend one it would be the original "Silly Sisters" album (June Tabor and Maddy Prior).

There are two of Nic's CDs available; "Penguin Eggs" on Topic and the retrospective "In search of Nic Jones" on his own Molly Music (IIRC) label.

G.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 06:46 AM

Wasn't it "The Halliard" that Nic Jones was in ?

Murray

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Kohoutek
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 07:35 AM

Yes it was 'The Halliard' You can find more info on them (and on Nic Jones in general) here

There was a mudcat thread a while back which dealt with the reasons behind the unavailability of Nic's early work. You can read it here

K.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: DebC
Date: 27 Jun 00 - 09:27 AM

The Halliard is a fine album. It is available from Mike Raven and you can go here to find out more about it.

Debra

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 08:17 AM

Nic's first 2 recordings are now available on CD, it appears. I know there were "problems" with these recordings. According to their website, the "Concorde" music shop in Perth, Scotland have them. Does anyone know if these are legitimate copies ?

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: pavane
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 08:38 AM

I guess that as they are not listed at his own site, he wouldn't be getting any royalties from them.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Howard Jones
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 08:40 AM

That's interesting. Both those albums were originally released by Leader, and I'd assumed they'd been "Bulmerised". It seems to me there are two possibilities:

One is, they may have been released by Bulmer himself. This does occasionally happen, but from all accounts when he does so these are individual CD-Rs with all the potential quality problems this entails. For reasons which no seems able to fathom he won't release them properly despite considerable demand for many albums in his catalogue.

The second possibility is that they are bootlegs, in which case the same question of quality arises. If Bulmer finds out, he's likely to stop them pdq.

I'd suggest finding out from the shop exactly what is on offer before handing over any cash.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: pavane
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 08:44 AM

They have indeed been Bulmerised.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: GUEST,Ralphie.
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 09:53 AM

OK.
The current situation is.
The first 4 Leader LPs.

Ballads and Songs
Nic Jones
Noahs Ark Trap
Devil to a Stranger

Are owned by Dave Bulmer (Celtic Music)
And any copies of these. Do not have the approval of the family.
They do not get any financial recompense from these releases.
Hence The three retospective CDs

In Search Of
Unearthed (Double CD)
The Halliard (Original recording plus new material recorded a few years ago. Including 1 track with Nic singing with his son playing guitar)

These are available From Nic himself. Just google Mollie music.

The Topic CDs available are

Penguin Eggs (Still one of their best sellers after 30 years)
Game Set Match. (Another retrospective)

But, sadly, The first 4 LPs (plus Bandoggs) may never see the light of day. Which is a real shame.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: GUEST,Pip Radish, cookieless
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 09:56 AM

I bought the first one by mail-order, at that stage not knowing the history, and was a bit displeased to find that what arrived was a CD-R in the cheapest possible packaging. A very poor do.

If you do go down this route (and the albums are very much worth hearing) I'd suggest also ordering something from Mollie Music and paying a few quid extra to cover the lost royalties.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Surreysinger
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 01:06 PM

The full link with blue clicky to the Mollie Music website is here,
Mollie Music website

Have a look at the CD store - you will also find there a CD of live recordings of Tony Rose ... another artist whose recordings are lost in the vaults... and another compilation which is well worth buying.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: GUEST,Ebor.Fiddler
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 01:07 PM

I have a Halliard record "It's the Irish in me" which doesn't seem to be mentioned above.

Chris

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: zozimus
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 01:19 PM

I hvae the impression Halliard were not too proud of this "Its' the Irish in me" L/P. They were encouraged by their manager to put on Aran Sweaters and become the English answer to the Clancy Brothers, who were all the rage at the time. I think they did so reluctantly.
Is it any good. I saw it in a 2nd shop recently and nearly bought it.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Reinhard
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 01:26 PM

I have a few of Bulmer's CD-R "reissues" for which I paid a proper CD's price at a proper UK mailorder store years ago. Just last weekend I discovered that Ray Fisher's CD-R of "Bonny Birdy" has deteriorated so much, it doesn't play on my CD player and on my Mac any more.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Nick
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 01:27 PM

It took about 20 seconds to find Noah's Ark Trap to download on the interweb... Perhaps you could send the royalties to the appropriate person separately :)

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 01:40 PM

Irrelevant to the theme of the thread but I just thought I'd say that Noah's Ark Trap is one of the finest, most achingly beautiful albums ever made. I've only ever heard it on a ropey, ancient cassette copy.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Nick
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 01:43 PM

Hi Steve - VERY irrelevant to the thread but loved the Eden project!

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 03:20 PM

:-)

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 07:06 PM

Zozimus, it was the popularity of 'Seven Drunken Nights' recorded by The Dubliners that provided the 'stimulus' for The Halliard to record 'It's the Irish in Me'. The deal was certainly brokered by our then manager, the late Sandy Glennon. As to the wearing of Aran sweaters, never in a million years! It's true that we weren't overly thrilled with the album at the time, mainly because we were 'doing our broadside thing'. Forty five years on, I have a genuine fondness for the album...many happy memories of a very boozy afternoon recording session spent with Nic & Dave. And finally, to anyone reading this thread, please don't buy CD-Rs of Nic's material. Contact Mollie Music to find out which of Nic's albums are currently available. That way you can be sure he will get his royalties.
                                                                                        Nigel Paterson (mandolin, The Halliard)

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Tim Chesterton
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 07:25 PM

Nick - downloading them and then sending cheques to the appropriate people is indeed a very easy thing to do...

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: pavane
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 04:54 AM

I think the family do not encourage this, as it may delay getting a proper release.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Tim Chesterton
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 05:41 AM

Pavane - you are correct, that has been my experience.

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Nick
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 07:04 AM

That would be why I didn't post the link

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: Ralphie
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 08:25 AM

Well.
I can't see Bulmer doing the decent thing anytime soon.
Perhaps he's waiting for all the musicians that he holds the copyright in the recordings to die before he does....

Subject: RE: Nic Jones' first recordings
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 08 Oct 10 - 02:54 PM

Thanks for the responses, folks."Concorde", I have always thought of as a fairly reputable firm - I had my first dealings with them nearly 40 years ago - and I'd be surprised if they were selling dodgy and possibly illegal CDs. I'll take it up with them.