I don't often look at Mudcat because I'm too busy with other stuff but this thread was brought to my attention by my guitar student Skarpi and I thought it worthwhile to fill in one or 2 bits of info for anyone who might be interested.

First, re the CD versions of my 2 Topic albums 'Layers' and 'All Things in Common'; a Japanese label called VIVID bought a licence from Topic to press 1,000 CD copies of each album. They were part of a series called The English folk paper sleeve collection. I can't remember exactly when but it was around 2002. I bought some copies, which were duly sent over and which have long since been sold. When I tried to order more copies, neither I nor Tony Engle at Topic could get any response from Vivid, leading me to conclude that they had ceased trading (maybe dragged down by foolhardy projects such as releasing CD's of long forgotten British vinyl folk albums). It remains a frustration that there may be boxes of CDs lying around in a Japanese warehouse that I could make good use of.

Just for the record (no pun intended) the female voice on 'All things…' is Eileen Pratt.

Second, Re 'Flower of Servingmen' my version is derived from the version collected by George Gardiner from Albert Doe of Bartley, Hampshire in1908, which appeared in the little song book The Constant Lovers compiled by Frank Purslow and published by the English Folk Dance and Song Society back in the 1970's. I always try to find and create new versions of the major ballads that I sing from original sources. In this case I was attracted by the rhythmic possibilities as well as the text, which I did not edit or shorten, the version simply gets on and tells the story in 12 verses and that's that.

Finally, re touring in the USA, under present immigration regulations it's not easy and some planned USA gigs in 2005 never happened because of them. But I have actually been in the States 3 times in the past 4 years albeit mostly teaching at the excellent Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster, Maryland. But I also did a handful of gigs in S. California and a house concert for the Folk Music Society of Greater Washington. I'd love to do more work in the USA, all it needs is for someone to take on the unenviable task of trying to set up a viable tour schedule.