Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: Speedwell
Date: 09 Jul 15 - 12:21 PM

As a singer and lover of English folk and harmony singing I would be very interested in any snippets of English Tapestry recordings that may be made available. Could The Doctor please PM me re. this if/when anything emerges? Very many thanx.

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 07:50 AM

If anyone can contact the family could you please tell them that I have recordings of them singing at Filey Folk Club in the 1970s when my Godfather Pat Parsons recorded many gigs. It would be a great pleasure to pass copies to them.
I have placed a list of folk singers who appeared at Filey Folk CLub at the American Bar on my facebook page, Carl Whittaker.

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 03:39 PM

they lived in little ely near thetford cambs, brian brittain, i believe they are still there.

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 04:00 PM

rose cottage main street little thetford cambs, cb6 3ha, uk

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 04:12 PM

phone [phone], just had a lovely chat with them ,please feel free to contact them, ruth and brian brittain.

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST,Ian W
Date: 24 Dec 17 - 04:45 PM

E.T. retired some years ago. They are a cherished memory in my English Trad Folk experience, especially as I was offered a place in the group back in the early 70s. (I had sound reasons to turn it down but this remains a major regret in my life.) I've never heard such thrilling arrangements and they were huge fun to sing.
If anyone out there has listenable recordings of E.T. in their heyday, which for me was the 1970s, I'd be glad to do a deal for access to them.
Ian W.
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 27 Dec 17 - 12:46 PM

Guest Ian W

This facebook link here leads to an exchange which should give you the info you need to get hold of Carl Whittaker who posted as a guest on 8 Oct 2016 and has recordings which would interest you.

Best of luck in your search.

LFF

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 18 - 01:09 PM

Sadly, I don't do Facebook, Freddie, but many thanks. Perhaps my ladyfriend will be able to assist with that, though. I will also read Carl's post.
Meanwhile I have had a useful contact from The Doctor, which may lead to getting some decent recordings.
Great resource, this: I must get to know it better.
Have a good 2018
Ian

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: Speedwell
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 11:06 AM

Recently got a vinyl copy of The First Folk Review with two ET tracks on it - the only ones I know of. See https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/records/folkreviewrecord.html

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST,Guest101
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 09:12 AM

English Tapestry were simply Fantastic! Somebody needs to check their facts or memory.... One of Brian’s sons was never married to anybody for 19 years! (Maybe 10 years tops!) Poor Debbie! Still a liar after all this time!

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 Feb 21 - 07:44 AM

Intrigued by this thread - I just acquired

Ghu

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 Feb 21 - 07:53 AM

Oo-er, apologies for the last post - accidentally submitted early;

Intrigued by this thread - I just acquired the generally very solid 1974 Folksound Records compilation LP 'The First Folk Review Record' (also featuring Nic Jones, Peter Bellamy and others):

https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-First-Folk-Review-Record/release/10536813

...And I'm very taken by the two English Tapestry pieces (Valentine Chant and Whitsuntide Carol).

Does anyone know if the possibility of a proper release has progressed at all? I'd love to hear further recordings by them; I'm generally a fan of this sort of dramatic, austere harmony singing with certain Early Music resonances, as per some of TYT's best matetial; and also THE Valley Folk.

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Feb 21 - 08:57 AM

BrianBrittain , of English Tapestry was a perfectionist , it is very unlikely they will release any more material

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: cnd
Date: 13 Feb 21 - 11:21 AM

Black Acorn, a mudcatter named Alan shared with me some of his digitized live radio recordings just short of a year ago. Among them were two performances by English Tapestry -- "Nettle Wine" and "The King's Daughter."

I'm not aware of another released album by them, but am willing to share them with you if you're interested. Some very nice vocal harmony

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: The Doctor
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 07:03 AM

The situation, sadly, is still as it was back in Jan '14. I believe Brian has made some progress on computerising his tapes, but where next remains a mystery.
cnd, if you've got some recordings I should be interested to know what's on them.

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 07:11 AM

phone [phone], ruth and brian brittain. when i posted this on oct 2016 they were happy to be contacted

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST,Ian W
Date: 28 Jan 22 - 12:34 PM

I have just digitised a tape of E.T. doing a harmony workshop at Bracknell Festival in around 1972. It's not at all good but goes some way to illustrating their technique.
Greatest respects, Brian and Ruth, if you're seeing this: our tongues are lolling in hope of hearing your tapes.

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST,John Hadland
Date: 21 Jan 23 - 04:50 AM

The large Brittain family with Steve Reynolds stayed with me in St Bees in 1978. I was greatly impressed by their enthusiasm and lovely music at Egremont Folk Club. Are recordings or manuscripts yet available?

Best wishes to them all!

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Feb 24 - 09:01 PM

My friend Mick Shaw....mentioned earlier in the thread by Raymond Padgett... who thought Mick Shaw lived in Bolton-on-Dearne.... but i don't think he ever did. He lived in Swinton Nr Mexborough but he's been living in Rawmarsh for over 20+ years. Mick used to religeously record stuff on reel to reel off the radio for many years. If anyone has English Tapestry recordings it'll be mick, contact me by text or phone if you want Mick Shaws contact details.
Jonti Willis Tel. [phone]

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 23 Feb 24 - 09:06 PM

I certainly had at least one recording of them at Folk Union One which I was involved in the running of at the time.

I may have some stuff from a Cleethorpes festival.

Will try to locate same.

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: r.padgett
Date: 24 Feb 24 - 03:31 AM

Jonti ~ I failed Geography, well actually didn't take it!

Mick did some copying of CDs of a number of old mainly traddy singers

not too long ago

Mick should be able to supply ETs songs recorded

Peter Taylor was taken poorly and I don't know what happened since

Ray

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: The Doctor
Date: 24 Feb 24 - 05:45 AM

I was taken poorly, shortly before Christmas 2017, when I was diagnosed with Parkinson's. Initially it had little impact, but about four years after that it started. I have given up driving, which restricts my travelling, I have an electric bed, which rules out staying over-night anywhere, and worst of all, in my opinion anyway, it has taken my voice and left me with a croak.
Apart from Christmas cards we haev heard nothing from Ruth and Brian, but there is nothing to suggest anything has changed with them. I still have my recordings, 6 or 7 CDs of them, I'm still on the lookout for more, and I'm still willing to negociate over swapping.
Peter Taylor

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 26 Feb 24 - 02:25 PM

Hi Peter, I'm really sorry to hear about your Parkinson's - it sounds hard, and I hope you're maintaining good spirits.

I'd be interested to hear the material you have recorded, as also for CND's captured radio sessions, mentioned above!

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: GUEST,jugmws
Date: 26 Feb 24 - 04:43 PM

Just to correct something written above.
The recordings I sent to Peter were almost all live recordings, not copied CD's. He would already have had those. Seems a long time ago now when we were at La Jeusseliniere. It really would be great to hear the tapes they have withheld, but they were/ probably still are such perfectionists. Sorry to be a 'guest', but I have forgotten how to get in. Its an age thing for all of us oldies.    m

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: r.padgett
Date: 27 Feb 24 - 03:07 AM

Yes sorry to hear from Peter Taylor that he is unwell ~ hope for better fortune in the future

English Tapestry were an accomplished trio and certainly recordings ought to be preserved and acknowledged for their quality

Ray

Subject: RE: Help: Are English Tapestry still about ?
From: The Doctor
Date: 27 Feb 24 - 05:57 AM

I should confirm what jugmws has said. All my recordings were made originally on cassette, generally battery powered, and I transferred them to CD much later, having cleaned them up as much as possible.