The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #146689   Message #3396942
Posted By: Owen Woodson
29-Aug-12 - 08:11 AM
Thread Name: alf edwards concertina accompaniments
Subject: RE: alf edwards concertina accompaniments
Edwards accompanied Ewan MacColl, as well as Bert, on the Topic LP, English & Scottish Folk Ballads. He also provided the backing on the Prestige (?) MacColl/Lloyd LP A Sailor's Garland, and was a regular fixture on the radio ballads.

I daresay that he also backed MacColl on early Folkways and other American releases, but I have no information immediately to hand.

He also accompaned Frank Harte on the second of the two LPs which he made for Topic (Through Dublin City), and I think on the first one as well (Dublin Street Songs).

He appeared on the Topic LP, The Iron Muse, as a member of the Celebrated Working Man's Band, and as accompanist to Bert, Bob Davenport, and several other members of the cast.

I personally never enjoyed his playing and feel that he never got to grips with the problems of accompanying folksong. I'm sure there were great feelings of relief expressed when Peggy added the concertina to her range of instruments.