Review: Chris Wood

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 01:40 PM

Hi all,

I am having difficulty finding the lyrics to "One in a Million", and they are not in the DT.

Any suggestions.

~ Shay

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 26 Sep 08 - 04:53 AM

Don't forget anyone in Merseyside, Lancashire, Manchester, get over to Southport on November 5th to see the man. I have a great venue and a wonderful sound man and system. It's going to be one great gig!!


Details as below. For any information call me on 07841 842137 or email [e-mail]

Three Monkeys Folk Club presents Chris Wood.
November 5th, 2008. Doors 7pm.
Southport Old Links Golf Club
Moss Lane, Churchtown, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 7QS
Tickets £10.
Tickets available on 01704 540011 or via www.seftonarts.co.uk

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: theleveller
Date: 25 Sep 08 - 10:33 AM

Yes, it's Csus (CGCGCD). My favourite!

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,id137
Date: 25 Sep 08 - 10:25 AM

Hey there,

Does anyone know what tuning he uses for 'Come Down Jehovah'?

Just wanted to say that Trespasser is amazing. I saw him at Cambridge and being new to folk only knew of him from Imagined Village. Although him and Karine Polwart doing 'Come Down Jehovah' was completely inspirational and was by far the best moment of the festival.

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: evansakes
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 02:53 AM

Another reminder that Chris will be performing solo in Twickenham this Sunday (21st). Doors 8pm. Still plenty of tickets left...if we sell another 15 odd we'll move to a bigger room upstairs.

Tickets from http://www.WeGotTickets.com/location/466

You can hear Chris singing 'Come Down Jehovah' at http://www.MySpace.com/TwickFolk

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: evansakes
Date: 11 Sep 08 - 07:07 AM

Chris will also be back at our place in Twickenham in ten days time.

Plenty of tickets left at the moment if anyone can make it...

TwickFolk

http://www.TwickenhamFolkClub.com
http://www.MySpace.com/TwickFolk
http://www.WeGotTickets.com/location/466

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 09 Sep 08 - 10:20 AM

Following the interest this thread sparked, I thought I would let everybody know that I have organised a gig for Chris Wood in Southport, Merseyside in November.

Details as below. For any information call me on 07841 842137 or email [e-mail]

Three Monkeys Folk Club presents Chris Wood.
November 5th, 2008. Doors 7pm.
Southport Old Links Golf Club
Moss Lane, Churchtown, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 7QS
Tickets £10.
Tickets available on 01704 540011 or via www.seftonarts.co.uk

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jun 08 - 03:36 PM

i think someone has noted the Csus tuning slightly wrong. i have a feeling the bottom two strings are the other way round. i think its quite clear from the video of 'come down jehovah' on youtube that the tuning is C G C G C D. (capo on 2)
It is a modal C that has been used by several guitar players over the years, i use it to play several Nic Jones tunes.

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,Tim in Stokey
Date: 08 Mar 08 - 02:55 PM

Fantastic - thanks Jeff
I'll give it a go

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 08 Mar 08 - 02:43 PM

Tim in Stokely:

I think it may be the Csus tuning Mattkeen has shared in one of the above posts.

C G C G D C - Low to High. The D is tuned down from B standard, not up.

It's probably the same tuning he uses for 'One In A Million' as he does the songs back to back in concert...so I hear as I've yet had the pleasure of seeing him live.

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,Tim in Stokey
Date: 08 Mar 08 - 02:21 PM

Can anyone tell me the tuning Chris uses on Lord Bateman (from the his excellent solo album The Lark Descending)?
Thanks

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 23 Feb 08 - 04:57 PM

Jeff

If you try my way of doing the Csus2 its all tuning DOWN
C G C D G C

Might be easier on the cost o new strings

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 23 Feb 08 - 04:18 PM

Mattkeen:

Well, I broke my B string trying to tune it up to a D. :-} So, I think I'll stick to the version I've got. My wife says it's a good version w/o being derivative. ASA I get the bugs all worked out I'll get clearance from EAC/Ruf and put a non-downloadable version on my myspace page.

I've got some Andy M. Stewart, Robbie O'connell, Stan Rodgers, etc. covers I've been doing for years at sing arounds, but need to get permission before I put them up online. Being new to this whole web/myspace/youtube thing I've got a backlog of stuff I'd like to get out there, but don't want to violate anyone's publishing rights.

Have to say listening to Chris Wood has lit a fire in me that's been dormant for alot of years. Can't explain it.

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 23 Feb 08 - 05:28 AM

Thats alright Jeff, glad its useful

Of course these tuneings are variations of the ones Martin Carthy in particular has been using for years.


I used to use DADEAD (one that Martin used occasionally years ago) and just took that down a tone so now have C G C D G C (very similar to Chris's)

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 11:22 PM

Thank you, mattkeen. I've worked up a version using:

C G C F A D. I could tell I was missing some of the notes when I broke it down, but it's close enough. I've written down the notes you gave and will give it a go, but when I play the song for people I'll use my own tuning...have too much respect for Mr. Wood than to try and lift the whole thing.

My wife and I live in an area outside of Nashville, TN that's experiencing very much the same situation that are expressed in this song. Wealthy urbanites buying up old family farms and building mansions just out of sight over the ridges. But they leave the old farm houses visible...like lawn ornaments.

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 07:39 AM

QUOTE Guest,Jeff
...... On 'The Cottager's Reply' he's got his guitar tuned to an open C, which gives it that rich sound. Sounds like very heavy gauage strings, too. ......"

Hi Jeff

Chris uses a Csus2 tuning that goes
C G C G D C

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 07:25 AM

Thanks for doing the link properly Keith

I thought the SOH interview was really quite unusual to - the dark one made some odd jokes (one about Miranda Sykes involvement with the band)but anyway a great little web site I think

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 07:23 AM

Hey ,that Spiral Earth site looks a bit good!

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: KeithofChester
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 07:01 AM

Chris got a lot longer with Spiral Earth than Mike Harding gave him the other night, but sadly that's always the case on Radio 2 unless it is one or two very eminent worthies.

I don't think I've ever seen or heard an interview before where The Fair One from Show of Hands got to say so much without The Dark One interupting him. Phil has quite a bit to say about things with Jez Lowe, Mawkin:Causely and Jackie Oates in that. Then there is a separate nice interview with Jackie on her own too.

Spiral Earth Videos

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 06:49 AM

Well its not a link but go there anyway

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 06:49 AM

http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/video/default.asp

Thats a link to the really good spiral earth web site, where amongst many other very interesting things is a 20 minute video interview with Chris.

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 21 Feb 08 - 04:30 PM

Since starting this thread, I have booked Chris to come and play in Southport on November 5th. I can't wait. I will put some details on the mudcat site nearer the time.

Just going to listen to last nights Radio 2 show on the iPlayer, as I missed it last night.

Subject: RE: Review: Chris Wood
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Feb 08 - 04:05 PM

Just found out about this by reading something about Hugh Lupton on another thread. I am listening to Chris on My space. Wow! Beautiful and definitely will get his CD.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: KeithofChester
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 11:56 AM

Chris Wood is apparently talking about Trespasser on tonight's Kate Rusby's Mike Harding Show on BBC Radio 2 (7pm GMT).

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 03:14 PM

Funny enough I was thinking about this today. Not wanting to cause a row with you Diane but I actually think that Hugh Lupton is careful not to make us think Peggy is an arse. I think he is very careful not to make any of the characters 'bad'.

I think the contextual information is all there for us to understand her initial reaction. She is a young, beautiful woman, for whom dreams of a good life are fast passing her by because she has worked (it seems) in her dad's chippy all her life, with little hope of ever getting out. Accepting his initial offer (when I assume she was still quite young) would have been a resignation that she was never going to get out of a life she doesn't like and that all her dreams are gone. She wasn't ready to give up on that yet, even though she 'likes' Billy. In addition, she doesn't know the value of the ring or what Billy has put into it.

Only years later, when she is older does she realise what is in front of her. I actually think this is one of the brilliant things about the song, that nobody is an arse, they are just all dealing with their life the best they can, in the only way they know how.

Anyway, that's just what I get from it.

Hugh - are you out there? can you tell us more :-)

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 02:17 PM

Good grief, it's only about a quarter of a century since Chris Wood started off in the Oysterband. Must be due for a Horizon For Newcomers before long . . .

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 02:09 PM

Get out of it Richard its not relative anything - its 48

An experienced artist who knows his trade and has been plying it professionally for nearly 3 decades - so don't be condescending

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 01:53 PM

Not young, but relatively young. That's what I said.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: Giant Folk Eyeball (inactive)
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 12:07 PM

Four years older than me. That's young!

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 11:59 AM

Chris is 48

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 08:58 AM

You know I was just about to say that mudcat standards are clearly slipping. Here is a thread about a live performer of relatively young age and no-one yet has said that the performer is rubbish!

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 05:32 AM

What I said about One In A Million is that Peggy Bateman behaved like a total arse towards the possibly dimwitted Billy Smith. I made no comment on the song itself other than that it makes better sense viewed in the context of Child #53.

The fact that the tracks are adjacent on The Lark Descending and that Chris Wood also performs them consecutively (given the strength) in live performance should be a bit of a clue.

I'm more than a bit bored by those who say "Oooh, isn't it nice?" It's a bit like judging Steeleye Span by All Around My Hat and pestering Spiers & Boden to do The Prickle Eye Bush.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 05:08 AM

I think there is a need to realise that Diane Easby saying something doesn't make it correct.

'One in a million' is a fine song. Period.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 28 Jan 08 - 06:31 AM

I still think the song works on its own though, even though as you rightly point out there are parallels.

However, I think Hugh Lupton was a little out in one of his statistical references in the song. Although the ring, the chippy and the girl may have been one in a million, I think the actual chances of the ring coming back were one in 283 412 729 801. We'll let him off though.

I think the song is just incredible, one of today's most brilliant tales of love and life. The saddest thing is that so many people will probably never hear it, such a shame. Then again, I suppose that is true of lots of great music.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 28 Jan 08 - 06:17 AM

"Old Bateman kept a chip shop
And his daughter Peggy Sue
She cleaned the fish and took the orders . . . "

In the end, even after her bad behaviour, the ring came back. The chances were "one in a million". Just as Susie Pye hitchhikes from Turkey and finds Bateman in his castle just in the nick of time before his wedding to someone else. Something to do with Amor Vincit Omnia. I wouldn't know.

What I'd like to have proved once and for all is that Susie/Shusha and Bateman/Beichan's son really was Thomas Becket.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: Saro
Date: 28 Jan 08 - 05:57 AM

Diane, I was struck by "One in million" when I heard it on the radio, but didn't realise the lyrics were by Hugh, so thanks for that information. However, why do you feel it only makes sense when coupled with Lord Bateman - the story seemed to make sense to me with no trouble. On the other hand, I do sing Lord Bateman, so it might be in my head as an unconscious reference. Or maybe there is something about "One in a Million" that I've missed! Both great songs of course...
Saro

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 28 Jan 08 - 04:13 AM

The words of One In A Million (aka The Fish & Chips Song) were written by his collaborator Hugh Lupton. It doesn't make much sense unless coupled with Lord Bateman in an almost 20-minute-long marathon such as he achieved once live on Late Junction. I would indeed be a shame if he were to be stereotyped for just this one song.

In response to the US-based person who wants to buy Chris Wood recordings: go two icons further to the right on the English Acoustic Collecive site from the JMI link you posted and this is the online shop.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: Splott Man
Date: 28 Jan 08 - 04:04 AM

We had Frank Hennessy's Celtic Heartbeat on playback on Sunday morning, loud as we were busy about the house. He played One In A Million, and it just stopped us in our tracks. What a song!

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 06:37 PM

Interesting man, just what English folk may need at this time... check out his article here.

I didn't find his website per se... how can an US-based person get his recordings?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 05:03 PM

Cheers,

I will definitely get 'Ghosts' - thanks for that.

Richard - go get some my friend, I can certainly recommend The Lark Descending and Trespasser - his solo albums - fantastic. As for other things to try see above.

Re: the thread heading, sorry guys, I did not mean to alarm anyone, but don't worry if ever I post that anyone has kicked the bucket, I will put: FIRSTNAME SURNAME - DEAD as the title. Just to be absolutely clear. :-) Sorry, only messing.

Cheers,
Rich

---

I usually try to add a tag to threads with just a name for a thread title - Review, Whatever Happened To, Concert Tour, or (if it fits) Obit.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 04:45 PM

I'm liking what I can find on youtube and Myspace - perhaps I should buy one!

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: John Routledge
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 04:27 PM

He held a full house spellbound in Glasgow last Sunday. Julie Fowlis headlined - Chris must be the best "Support" act she will ever have. :0)

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 04:07 PM

Lusignac - yes Diane that does sound more French than Live at Sidmouth!!

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:47 PM

I suppose you mean Lusignac (or you might mean Live at Sidmouth. You can't mean Lisa because it's sold out, which is shame because it's the best of all

I've been trying to find Lisa for several years now without success, it's the only one I haven't got.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:46 PM

My flow was interrupted.
The Andy Turner/Chris Wood tape is Love Death & The Cossack.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:42 PM

I suppose you mean Lusignac (or you might mean Live at Sidmouth. You can't mean Lisa because it's sold out, which is shame because it's the best of all.

If you come across Chris Wood's former collaborator Andy Turner, he might have a tape copy of Love Death & The Cossack that they made together around two decades ago. Then there's early Oysterband in which he played bass.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:31 PM

Quote:   "Another vote for Ghosts by EAC, though the standard of Chris's work is generally excellent."


What I meant by that is its unlikely that you would be disappointed with any of them.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: mattkeen
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:29 PM

Says more about your own morbid tendencies does'nt it!


Another vote for Ghosts by EAC, though the standard of Chris's work is generally excellent

i also like the 2 albums with Andy Cutting (Knock John and one with a French sounding name starting with an L)

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:09 PM

Seconded.
It's very alarming.

Subject: RE: Chris Wood
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 12:03 PM

The same message as I've just posted on another thread about Anne Lister. Please could people refrain from posting the names of artists as thread headings without any other indication. It always tends to read as if they might have died.