Musical Traditions Award

Subject: RE: Musical Traditions Award
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 05:26 AM

Mike. Of course you did. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Musical Traditions Award
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 20 Nov 14 - 04:17 AM

Fred, I am well aware of what is on the Cecilia Costello set. I did, after all, write a long review, which can be seen on the MT site. As to the other Leader LPs, I can only agree that it is disgusting that such invaluable material should have been treated in the manner that it has.

Subject: RE: Musical Traditions Award
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 12:28 PM

Mike, the CD (actually a double CD) is an augmented re-issue of the Leader LP LEE 4054. Which means it has all of the LP tracks in the original order, IE., the stuff which Pat Shuldham Shaw and Marie Slocombe recorded from her in 1951. But there's a whole lot more, including recordings which Peter Kennedy made in 1967, and which various people, including Charles Parker and Pam Bishop made in the 1970s.

It has to be said that her singing in later years left a lot to be desired. However, it's worth putting up with for the vividness of the spoken actuality, in which she details various aspects of working class Birmingham life in the early 20th century. This latter incidentally includes a talk about 'peaky blinders', and fans of the BBC series' will be disappointed to learn that it doesn't neccesarily refer to a gang of murdering cut throats.

I can only continue to deplore the fact that the rest of the Leader catalogue lies in mothballs. (This has been the subject of sveral Mudcat threads. See especially ). But I for one am delighted that Rod At least managed to pluck this one out of the fire.

Regarding the rest of the catalogue, I am still mulling over the problems of how to get it reissued, and am no further forward. If anyone has any sensible ideas I would be glad to hear from them, either on the message board or at [e-mail] .

Subject: RE: Musical Traditions Award
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 11:54 AM

Some of the Cecilia Costello material appeared many years ago an a long out-of-print Bill Leader LP. I believe that it sold very few copies. So, even more praise to Rod Straling for deciding to issue this Musical Traditions CD. Where would we be without people like Rod (and John Howson and Tony Engle etc)? I am sure that Rod realised early on that there are easier ways to lose money...but the award may go some way to getting over this! Well done Rod, and to all who helped make this CD just what it is.

Subject: RE: Musical Traditions Award
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 09:20 AM

Sorry folks. I've just re-read my posting. Vis a vis the bit about my involvement. I thought I'd better point out that I was talking specifically about the Cecilia Costello, not about Musical Traditions CDs generally.

Subject: RE: Musical Traditions Award
From: GUEST,Andymac
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 06:32 AM

About time too! Rod (and his many contibutors) does a remarkable job with these releases. I have been inspired by singers and musicians I would otherwise never have heard of thanks to him.

Subject: Musical Traditions Award
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 19 Nov 14 - 06:05 AM

Just to let folks know that the Musical Traditions release, Cecilia Costello. Old Fashioned Songs. Musical Traditions MTCD 363-4 has just won the bi-ennial Folklore Society Non-Print Media Award.

Further details can be found here. Since I had a small part in the production of these CDs, I think I can justifiably offer a resounding well done to Rod Stradling, Musical Traditions' esteemed editor.