Captain Kidd Traditional recordings

Subject: Captain Kidd - Recordings
From: Roberto
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 01:52 AM

I do apppreciate Eliza Carthy's rendition of Captain Kidd (on Waterson:Carthy, Fishes & Fine Yellow Sand, Topic TSCD542, 2004). I'd like to know what recordings from traditional singers (source singers) are available for this song. The only one I know is the one by Bob Roberts (on Come all ye seamen bold, Songs of the fighting sailor, Foltrax 513; song recorded in 1953). The other recordings I have are from folk singers (Oscar Brand; Eddie Trickett, with Howie Mitchell, on Golden Ring; Alex Campbell). Thanks. R

Subject: RE: Captain Kidd Traditional recordings
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 11:14 AM

In my opinion the best reference book for this song and other pirate songs has to be THE BOOK OF PIRATE SONGS by Stuart M. Frank, © 1998, available from The Kendall Whaling Museum (www.kwm.org). You'll find excellent discussion, different variants, traditional songs and some later Victorian period romantic songs.

I believe that Stuart and his wife have also recorded some of these songs on CD.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Captain Kidd Traditional recordings
From: Roberto
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 12:07 PM

Thank you, Charley Noble, I've tried to buy the book, but Pirate Songs seems to be out of stock. R

Subject: RE: Captain Kidd Traditional recordings
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Aug 04 - 05:24 PM

Roberto-

Try searching for it on the used book websites such as www.bookfinder.com; it's usually there for a relatively modest price.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Captain Kidd Traditional recordings
From: Artful Codger
Date: 28 Aug 05 - 07:56 AM

The "Folksinger's Wordbook", compiled by Fred and Irwin Silber, provides an additional verse, after "And being cruel still":

And being nigh to death, etc.
I vowed with every breath
To walk in wisdom's way, etc.

The last line curiously breaks with the rhyme scheme used throughout the rest of the song. I suspect it should be "path" (close enough for jazz).

The tune on the Golden Ring album (the only version I've heard) is the one Cecil Sharp gives for "Admiral Benbow" (No.87) in his "One Hundred English Folksongs". He says the air "Marrinys yn Tiger" is a variant of the same tune. He references a completely different version of Benbow, and a version with essentially the same words but a different tune.

The trial of Kidd and the engagement of Benbow with the French fleet occurred in roughly the same time frame (1702). I like to think there was a bit of irony in using the same tune for both a hero (albeit a minor one) and a pirate.

Actually, the facts we now have show quite clearly that Kidd was a pirate hunter and never a pirate. Most of his crew mutinied in order to turn pirate, and stranded him and the others on an island off Madagascar. Both William Moore and the gunner were leaders of the insurrectionists. In an argument on this issue, Kidd in exasperation tossed a bucket at Moore, which hit him on the head; Moore sustained a concussion and died of it the next day. Kidd was not the agent of the gunner's death, though I don't recall what became of him.   The trial was a mockery from beginning to end--the prosecution had in its possession the evidence proving Kidd's story, and prevented Kidd from using it in his defense. The very men who DID turn pirate gave perjured testimony in order to obtain pardons for themselves. The whole story is one of perfidy on all sides; read Zack's book "Pirate Hunter".

Kidd was orphaned very early in life, and was quite a devout man, so the entire song is a pack of lies. But it's great fun to sing.

Subject: RE: Captain Kidd Traditional recordings
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 28 Aug 05 - 12:44 PM

I can only find one further recording from a traditional singer that's commercially available; and that's only a fragment.

The Roud Index currently lists recordings of Bill Thatcher, Grand Rapids, Missouri, 1964 (Edith Fowke collection FO 64); Lena Bourne Fish, East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, 1940/1 (Warner collection: Folktracks 922-90, Whisky in the Jar, twoi verses only ); Mrs Henri Pothier, West Pubnico, Nova Scotia, 1948 (Helen Creighton collection (Nova Scotia Archives) AR 5141 / AC 2251 / 1107); John Obe Smith, Glen Haven, Nova Scotia, 1950 (Creighton (Nova Scotia) AR 5183 / AC 2281 / 1560); James R Shepard, Baltimore, Vermont, 1933 (Helen Hartness Flanders collection (Middlebury College, Vermont) C12 A 04c); Nathan Hatt, Middle River, Nova Scotia, 1952 (Creighton (NS) AR 5443 / AC 2308 / 1990) and Mrs Edward Gallagher, Chebucto Head, Nova Scotia, 1953 (Creighton (NS) AR 5566 / AC 2320 / 2207).

Of course, most of these are archive recordings, not issued commercially. As mentioned above, Lena Bourne Fish's set (sadly truncated, but the Warners were always short of recording tape) can be heard on one of Peter Kennedy's Folktrax compilations:

Whisky in the Jar FTX-022

Further details of the Creighton examples can be seen at http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/creighton/

The Index to the Flanders Collection shows an additional recording: William Webster, Wakefield RI, 1945 (D53B19c).

Subject: RE: Captain Kidd Traditional recordings
From: GUEST,Guest, Big Tim
Date: 29 Aug 05 - 12:44 PM

I used to have a recording of the song. It may have been by Alex Campbell but I can't remember!

Subject: RE: Captain Kidd Traditional recordings
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 10:51 AM

Catskill Mountain (NY) traditional singer George Edwards also sang a version of the song, recorded by Herbert Halpert in 1940. It's archived at the Archive of Traditional Music at Indiana University.

Subject: RE: Captain Kidd Traditional recordings
From: RiGGy
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 01:32 PM

That title is also used for a shape note song. I believe the title was recycled because the rhyming scheme mimics the one used in the pirate song.
Listen & see if you can confirm: Captain Kidd

Riggy

Subject: RE: Captain Kidd Traditional recordings
From: Lighter
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 04:12 PM

"Captain Kidd" it is, though not precisely the same tune as given by Joanna Colcord in _Songs of American Sailormen_ (1938).

Alan Lomax has the same or a similar hymn tune under the name of "Captain Kidd" in _Folksongs of North America_(1960).

Is it you singing, Riggy ? Very, very nice.