Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?

Subject: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From:
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 10:30 AM

What became of John Kirkpatick's group, "Morris On"? I was exposed to the group's first (and perhaps only) album in 1975, and to this day it remains a lynchpin of my audio collection. I would love to acquire more recordings if they exist.

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 10:44 AM

There is an albumn called "son of morris on" from 1976 with a completely different line up, Ashley Hutchings, Simon Nicol, Martin Carthy, John Watcham, John Tams.

Anything newer is unlikely, the folks involved are all doing their own thing these days, Dave Mattacks off drumming on his own now he's no longer with Faiport, Ashley Hutchings is in the the Albion band still, Richard Thompson still doing his own thing as is Shirly Collins.

You could try an albumn called the Etchingham steam band for something that involves some of those involved in morris on.

Cheers

Sledge

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: GUEST,Harry
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 10:46 AM

'Morris On' wasn't actually a group but the title of an album of morris tunes and associated songs arranged and performed by an assortment of musicians led by Ashley Hutchings the founding father of Fairport Cpnvention, Steeleye Span and the many and varied incarnations of the Albion Band. There was a second album released on the same theme with the inspired title of 'Son of Morris On'. I'm not sure if this second album is till available.If not I'd suggest grabbing copies of the Albion Band releases:- 'The Battle of the Field';'The Prospect Before Us' and 'No Roses'(with Shirley Collins) for music with a similar sort of 'feel'........all the best, H.

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: vindelis
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 12:37 PM

I was always under the impression, rightly or wrongly, that the Albion Band made Morris On, and that the dancing on the record was by Albion Morris.

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Lucius
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 10:34 PM

Just happen to have the casette of 'Morris On' sitting on my desk, but then again, half of my apartment is sitting on my desk.

The Chingford Morris Men are given the nod on the liner notes.

Lucius

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 12:53 PM

I just pulled out the LP to see if it had any more info than the CD jacket, but no. My impression always was that 'Morris On' was the name of the LP and that the grouping actually had no name. Quite a line-up, though, what with "Guests" and all, and it certainly influenced my trad development.

This thread reminds me that I need to dust off "Cuckoo's Nest" (especially since Curmudgeon does the Scots variant). I think I stopped singing it cuz I'd get cross threaded in the same place, but that SHOULD mean that I should (practice and) sing it more often!

Oh, and the notes says it was the Chingford Morris Men.

Bat Goddess

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Lucius
Date: 26 Aug 01 - 04:57 PM

Ahh.... What a romantic tune. I recall serenading my current honey with this tune the morning after our first night. Never-the-less, she married me anyway.

I retired it from my repertiore because it dragged so (at least when I sang it). Lately I've been fitting it to the more upbeat dance tempo (and melody) of the Cuckoo's Nest instrumental that follows the vocal.

My impression is the same as Bat Godess' though I don't recall any reason for it. Likewise, I always believed that Ashley Hutchings was the motivator for this project, not John Kirkpatrick. Does anyone know?

Lucius

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Garry Gillard
Date: 27 Aug 01 - 01:15 AM

My page for Morris On and its offspring are on our Ashley Hutchings Chronolography. Just the tracklists, but.

Garry

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: pavane
Date: 27 Aug 01 - 02:52 PM

Two of the all time greats, Morris On and Son of Morris On. Certainly trigged my interest in all things Morris.

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Manitas
Date: 27 Aug 01 - 03:07 PM

It was the Chingford Morris Men at the time but according to the stories I have heard (I am a current member of Albion) most of the dancers involved split away from Chingford to become Albion. As I understand it from the present Albion men there are no Chingford men from that period still with Chingford.

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: GeorgeH
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 07:37 AM

As has been noted, they were a couple of Ashley Hutchins projects . . I believe "Morris On" let to the formation of the Albion Morris, but could be wrong . .

The people involved in these show a large overlap with the "team" that worked in the National Theatre's Cottesloe Theatre; in particular, the productions "Lark Rise" and "Over to Candleford" (adapted from Flora Thompson's "Lark Rise to Candleford") incorporated a morris element. Dave(?) Busby was "in charge" of the dance side, as I recall.

Remember, however, that the Albion "title" moves with Ashley Hutchings . . the musical progression really comes to an end with Rise Up Like the Sun, at which point Hutchings split from most of the band, who continued to new heights as Home Service - in my opinion the greatest ever Folk Rock band.

As noted, Hutchings kept the "Albion" title . . but his work from that point on bears little or no relation to the glorious "Morris On" strand; certainly the current Albion band (by no means the worst incarnation) is something completely different.

Someone mentioned Shirley Collins "doing her own thing" - in fact she's been retired from performing for a number of years (although she did sing a song at one of her workshops at Sidmouth this year). However, she has prepared a couple of talks based on her experiences; if you ever have the chance to hear these then take it. As well as having had a fascinating life, she is a fine racconteur (pity I can't spell that!). Her talk of collecting in the Southern USA, with Alan Lomax, in 1959, is an increadibly powerful experience.

(Strangely enough, the last time we saw her perform it was as support for the Albion Band. A strangely inappropriate support act - we "guessed" it was part of her divorce settlement from Hutchings! In fact, on that occasion we preferred her set to that of The Albions."

G.

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 10:40 AM

There is a story that one of the Morris men forgot to take his bells to the recording and dance without them.... bit like ventriloquism on the radio.... pointless!

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 12:19 PM

My daughter bought me the Morris On CD version earlier on this year, I guess she was fed up with the old Vinyl version. The music still holds up pretty well though after all those years. JohnB

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: pavane
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 02:35 PM

There was also 'Rattlebone and Ploughjack' which highlighted Border Morris and Molly Dancing.

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: GUEST,RolyH
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 04:19 PM

and The Compleat Dancing Master

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Ralphie
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 04:29 PM

Liz the Sq
Don't you remember Archie Andrews on the Light Programme???!!
And I once broadcast John Dunns head being removed on Radio 2 by a chainsaw.(the sound effects were worthy of an award, in my opinion!)...who said Vaudeville was dead!
Woops....Thread creep......sorry
Ralphie

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: GUEST,Harry
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 04:43 PM

The Shirley Collins album 'Amaranth'(which can be found on the re-released 'Anthems in Eden' CD has a definite 'Morris On' feel to it.

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Aug 01 - 04:59 PM

Kirkpatrick was also involved in Plain Capers, which was a non-electric version of 27 morris tunes.

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 01:25 AM

I won't bore you with the circuitous path from reading this, this evening, then finding this info at the Musical Traditions Site, and then trying to remember which thread had the Shirley Collins reference, and on the way finding some more on the latest song I'm working on (False Young Man/ False True Love) -- Whoops, too late, there it all is!

Shirley Collins' illustrated talk at Royal Oak Royal Oak, Station Street, Lewes - Thursdays. The newly refurbished pub and clubroom will be open in time for the start of their new season in September. An addition to the published preogramme:

September 20th at 8pm - Shirley Collins - In Praise of English Folk Music - £3.00 Shirley's talk will span the two great folk music revivals of the twentieth century and will be illustrated by recordings and by John Watcham's concertina playing.

Contact: 01273 478124 or 881316, E-mail [e-mail]

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 02:40 AM

Ralphie - just how old do you think I am? (As opposed to how old I feel today.....)

Radio had gone to colour when I was born!

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 09:45 PM

The Albion band also did a Morris album called 'Shuffle off'. Found it this afternoon whilst looking for something completely different!

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 07:43 AM

I don't remember Shuffle Off as being particularly Morris-y. Wasn't that the one where the Hemlock Cock & Bull band became the Albion Band for a short while?

Subject: RE: Help: What became of the group, 'Morris On'?
From: GeorgeH
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 11:26 AM

That sounds about right!

Can't remember the recording at all . . certainly I never purchased it, but I'm sure I heard it at some point!

G.