Best performance of a ballad

Subject: RE: Best performance of a ballad
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 09:23 AM

I don't know whether she ever recorded it but Rosemary Hardman's version of the Suffolk Miracle raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

Subject: RE: Best performance of a ballad
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 04:16 AM

Right now it has to be Mrs Pearl Brewer's singing of The Cruel Mother (All Down By the Greenwood Side) which you may download gratis at The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection.

In terms of the revival performance, Peter Bellamy's The Trees They Grow High (from Both Sides Then) is damn near definitive; and in terms of seminal influence: Martin Carthy's Lucy Wan (on the Byker Hill album).

And talking of seminal influences: Fred Lane's sterling rendition of King Orfeo which might be found on Styrbjorn Bergelt's Talharpa och Videflojte album from 1979. This is only time I've heard (and heard of) Fred Lane; the album notes say he's from Oldham, Lancashire. Could anyone tell me more??

Subject: RE: Best performance of a ballad
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 02:47 AM

Martin Carthy singing ' Little Musgrave ' and Ewan MacColl singing ' Child Owlet ' both chilling.

eric

Subject: RE: Best performance of a ballad
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 02:44 AM

Ewan MacColl singing "James Herries" in South Shields in 1970 and more recently Louis Killen singing "The Flying Cloud" in Long Eaton 2005

Subject: RE: Best performance of a ballad
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 08:51 PM

dick greenhaus - I'm not familiar with Stanley Robertson but if the song is the one I'm thinking of, it is a very compelling write. My favorite version of it however, would be from The Old Blind Dogs, with Jim Malcolm doing the vocals. I've wanted to do the song and even told Jim last year that I simply can't because the words bring me to tears and the storyline just breaks my heart - so I leave it for others to sing.

With the above written, however, I would have to submit Loreena McKennitt doing, "The Highwayman." I had the night available and wanted to attend her concert in Dallas a while back but even the cheap seats were a bit too much; but, it would be tough to beat her doing that song.

Now, finally, with all that being written, I heard Betsy McGovern at the Mississippi Celtic Festival last year singing, "The Lakes Of Ponchartrain" and I almost passed out - I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Check her out if you haven't heard her. Cheers.

Subject: RE: Best performance of a ballad
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 08:18 PM

Stanley Robertson's "Tifty's Annie" would be very hard to top.

Subject: RE: Best performance of a ballad
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 07:52 PM

I'm rather partial to Davey Stewart doing "The Merchant's Son & the Beggar's Daughter" with that amazing melodeon.

and almost anything by Jean Redpath...because I just like her voice. Her version of "The Twa Corbies" got me into ballads 40 years ago,

Subject: Your favourite performance of a ballad
From: the button
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 07:42 PM

As a spin-off from the definition thread, so we can unashamedly talk about what we like. Also, a good way of getting recommendations from other posters, I reckon.

For a long time, it's been Walter Pardon's "The trees they do grow high." However, since I heard Joseph Taylor's "Lord Bateman," I'm just blown away every time I listen to it (which has been a lot). The power of the vocal, the ornamentation that doesn't get in the way of the lyric. Everything.

As far as revival singers go, it's got to Mike Waterson doing "Tam Linn." The way he alters the tone of his voice for the different verses. And that pause he puts in -- "a voice said [pause] 'Lady, how dare you pluck a rose....?"