Re: the Copper Family

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_Family

Is there a definitive list of Copper Family recordings? I'm thinking of those made in the Bob Copper era and earlier. The Wiki entry is not complete.

Are there any 78s? Maybe not cylinders though!!

I know about the superb LP set put out by Bill Leader. I have a mint set - unplayed. Is it ever going to be re-issued or are the masters locked away mouldering in the Bullmer wharehouse?

What about the Topic lps and Folktrax cassettes? Are they to be re-issued on CD?

Then there are the various Beeb radio programmes. Does anyone have copies of the vintage recordings mentioned in Wiki:

Quote: "In 1950, Jim and Bob were invited to sing on an episode of the BBC Radio programme Country Magazine and, over the next few years, the BBC would record them further, even producing a feature The Life Of James Copper, broadcast in September 1951."

If only those were available again!!!

Then there are the films made by Alan Lomax:

Quote: "Together, Jim, John, Ron and Bob sang at the Royal Albert Hall and wider public attention followed the broadcast of a six-part television series Song Hunter, presented by Alan Lomax and featuring Jim, Bob and Ron. Bob wrote several books about the family and its songs"

Does anyone have a copies of "Song Hunter."

Then there's the various arts and music programmes put out by the BBC. I know the Beeb has the "Arena" programme featuring the Copper Family from the early 1980s - but this hasn't seen the light of day since its first transmission. The current Coppers would LOVE a copy of that. It is not mentioned in Wiki.

Actually I was at the Central Club in Peacehaven when the Beeb filmed that - I'm actually in the programme!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_(TV_series)

Then there is the film of the Coppers made by Barry Callaghan. Again this is not mentioned in Wiki. All of Barry's "Garland Films" were bought by one Chris Metherell although he claims that the EFDSS owns the rights to the Copper Family film. An email to EFDSS elicited the reply that there is no money for a re-release of this onto DVD. Email: info@efdss.org to add weight to the requests to re-issue this.

BTW I wonder where the master(s) are being kept? Are they with the BFI?

Incidentally there is a little charity shop called PARC in Rottingdean which put out a fund-raising CD of local artists and this included two Copper's tracks. One was the especially funny story of Ron and Bob bringing home the Christmas goose - cooked in the village bakery - and taking a short cut across the frozen village pond - when the ice cracked ...

http://www.clickcharityshops.co.uk/classified-charity-shop11546.asp

CJB