Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 09 Jan 04 - 02:35 AM

Hi Guest Pavane

I reckon that Fairport album was a classic and had quite a lot of long(ish) songs on it. If I was only allowed 10 albums in my collection, I'm pretty sure I'd hang on to that one.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: treewind
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 09:22 AM

Anyone feeling adventurous enough to put then all on a DVD?
That would be about the right size.
Or MP3s on a single CD would fit easily and be easy to do.

The market for that's restricted to those who've got computers, of course, but as many takers will be mudcatters it's self-selected!

Anahata

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: GUEST,pavane
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 08:15 AM

I think the only concern I had was how many CD's would be required. Yes, I do appreciate long ballads (even if few of the recorded ones are complete), and have been known to keep myself awake on long drives by singing Musgrave, usually followed by Lord Bateman (Nic Jones' versions). Having no instrumental breaks does save time, of course.

And Tam Lin (Sandy Denny/Fairport) is one of my all-time greats.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 06:41 AM

Hi Guest Pavane

For the purpose of this discussion, I'll call a long song a ballad, though I understand that a ballad is not necessarily a song, neither does it have to be long (yes, and maybe it should be a narrative in the third person.....).

Yeah, that's a feature of British ballads that is hard to swallow in these days of the 3 minute wonder. For the ballad to be attractive to the modern ear requires some creativity. At the risk of starting all out war again, I heard a version of Lord Bateman by Jim Moray on the Mike Harding show which goes some way towards this. I once heard Alistair Hulett at Oxford Folk Club performing Tam Lin, cracking stuff, and one member of the audience who was about to leave to catch a bus decided to catch the one after next!

A quick think of people who I reckon have done long ballads/songs well - Sandy Denny, June Tabor, Martins Carthy and Simpson, Maddy Prior, Julie Murphy, Eliza Carthy, Patti Reid, Roy Bailey, Dave Burland, Jez Lowe and Anne Briggs - but there are undoubtedly lots more (recommendations?).

If the songs are performed unaccompanied, it is surprising how quickly these songs pass and in the care of a skillful singer, the story-telling is more focussed. Alas, most of us don't have the skill, sessions are becoming unlikely to host songs let alone ballads and I guess there will be mixed opinions about the few who try it at a folk club! Ballads were important to the traditionalists and I reckon we would be the poorer as revivalists if we neglect the long song.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 08 Jan 04 - 04:55 AM

Thanks for that info Guest, a really exciting piece of news.

The CD I mentioned is "A Selection From The Penguin Book of English Folk Songs" - Fellside FECD47

The Golden Vanity - Jez Lowe
Young and Single Sailor - Linda Adams
The Whale Catchers - Martin Carthy
The False Bride - John Bowden (not Jon Boden!)
Ratcliffe Highway - Roy Harris
The Green Bed - Martin Carthy
When I Was Young - Jez Lowe
The Streams of Lovely Nancy - Linda Adams
One Night as I Lay on My Bed - Roy Harris
Basket of Eggs - Linda Adams
Banks of Green Willow - Martin Carthy
The Grey Cock - Jez Lowe
The Gaol Song - Roy Harris
All Things Are Quite Silent - Linda Adams
Banks of Newfoundland - John Bowden

Recorded and produced by Paul Adams 1985, 1993/4. The CD has a slightly "authentic" touch about it or is "charming" and might not be to everyone's liking, but it has grown on me.

Other recordings PENGUIN BOOK OF ENGLISH FOLK SONGS

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 10:02 AM

Penguin Folk Songs re-issued

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 07 Jan 04 - 09:46 AM

If it's the Penguin Book of English Folk Song, then I believe all the songs are trad, so everbody/nobody has the right to them. Just record them!

I have in my collection a CD of some of these songs. Among the artists on it are Jez Lowe and Linda Adams. I'll check it out later.

If only Penguin would reissue the book.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 05:30 AM

Who has the rights to these songs?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: GUEST,pavane
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 01:07 PM

Some of the songs DO seem to have a lot of verses.

Any idea if we could find a volunteer to organise a pilot project? We could maybe start with one CD and see how it progressed.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 09:08 AM

Though I do mostly Contemporary materiel I have been known to indulge in the tradition and would be only too happy to participate, if I had
any idea that it would not detract too much from the final result.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 09:06 AM

There are in total only 70 songs in the book, so it is well within the scope of 5 CDs.
Mary Humphreys

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: Amos
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 08:57 AM

Great idea and if it were done right it could even have commercial potential. But a LOT of work if you are not all set up for that kind of thing.

Doing it on a limited scale (5 CDs only lets you represent about 100 songs) is withint he reach of one person with the right equipment, and endless scope of patience and perseverance and a thick hide.

The Mudcat Sampler CDs were relatively very successful, in that they made a significant chunk of dough for the 'Cat's maintenance.

A

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: GUEST,pavane
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 06:21 AM

Also, in the thread on the book, Jeanie has volunteered for Long Lankin

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: curmudgeon
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 04:23 AM

I have a good digital master of my renditions of "John Barleycorn" and "The Devil and the Farmer's Wife," both very close to the Penguin setting, ie., learned from Lloyd's recordings -- Tom

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: GUEST,pavane
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 04:09 AM

Ed,
Yes I am aware, and also noted that I didn't have the experience to organise it myself.

I did envisage mainly mudcatters as performers, but not necessarily exclusively. Maybe one or two guests? As high-profile as possible would help.

If we could get it sold alongside the book, then there should be a reasonable volume of sales?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 06:35 PM

If you get it off the ground, I'd be up for one of the sea songs - Bold Benjamin, Rounding the Horn, or Royal Oak, probably

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: Ed.
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 03:17 PM

Pavane,

It's a nice idea, but I'm wondering if you realise the amount of work that making a (good) 5 CD set would entail?

If you want to make it a 'mudcat' collection, I doubt that you'd sell more than 100 copies.

Sorry to be negative, but ask Amos...

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: open mike
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 01:57 PM

sounds like a worthy project and by the sounds of it,
lots of mudcats famiar with the material...

Subject: RE: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: treewind
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 01:29 PM

Mary H has several songs out of the book, that she performs regularly... we've recorded Manchester Angel and I'd be happy to contribute that to the collection. I'm sure there are others - watch this space.

Anahata

Subject: Mudcat Companion to the Penguin book?
From: pavane
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 12:19 PM

I posted the following in the Penguin Book thread, but think it may need to be more visible:


It strikes me that a great accompaniment would be a set of CDs with each song (the version as printed) recorded by a Mudcatter? Possibly with the full set of tunes as abcs as well? I am sure that Mrs Pavane would be prepared to contribute a track or two, as she has sung them in the past.

It would probably need to be about a 5 CD set or series. What do you think?

If so, I would like to stake a claim on one, possibly All things are quite silent.