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Info: Frankie Armstrong

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GUEST,lyrics wanted to Frankie's songs 02 Jun 04 - 02:30 PM
open mike 02 Jun 04 - 02:52 PM
Susanne (skw) 02 Jun 04 - 07:13 PM
open mike 02 Jun 04 - 07:20 PM
Ebbie 02 Jun 04 - 07:29 PM
Margret RoadKnight 02 Jun 04 - 08:21 PM
GUEST,Strudelbag 02 Jun 04 - 10:19 PM
GUEST,abitthick 03 Jun 04 - 01:28 AM
GUEST 03 Jun 04 - 04:44 AM
Dave Bryant 03 Jun 04 - 05:22 AM
Mark Cohen 03 Jun 04 - 05:33 AM
Backstage Manager(inactive) 03 Jun 04 - 07:13 AM
Susanne (skw) 04 Jun 04 - 06:39 PM
MAG 04 Jun 04 - 10:15 PM
Sandra in Sydney 05 Jun 04 - 08:35 AM
GUEST,Strudelbag 05 Jun 04 - 11:03 AM
GUEST 05 Jun 04 - 12:23 PM
Sandra in Sydney 06 Jun 04 - 09:54 AM
The Borchester Echo 06 Jun 04 - 12:56 PM
GUEST,Strudelbag 06 Jun 04 - 01:41 PM
The Borchester Echo 06 Jun 04 - 02:08 PM
MAG 07 Jun 04 - 01:38 AM
Mark Cohen 07 Jun 04 - 01:45 AM
GUEST,James 07 Jun 04 - 07:40 AM
Sandra in Sydney 07 Jun 04 - 09:29 AM
Susanne (skw) 07 Jun 04 - 05:25 PM
Bonnie Shaljean 11 Jun 04 - 07:07 PM
Bev and Jerry 12 Jun 04 - 11:24 AM
GUEST,happybat 03 Jul 05 - 08:12 PM
Margret RoadKnight 03 Jul 05 - 08:58 PM
Barbara 04 Jul 05 - 03:24 PM
Bat Goddess 04 Jul 05 - 03:55 PM
rich-joy 05 Jul 05 - 01:18 AM
rich-joy 05 Jul 05 - 02:05 AM
GUEST 05 Jul 05 - 11:35 AM
Le Scaramouche 05 Jul 05 - 11:43 AM
Barry Finn 11 Mar 06 - 12:05 AM
GUEST,DB 11 Mar 06 - 04:45 AM
GUEST,folkiedave in Spain 11 Mar 06 - 05:00 AM
Sandra in Sydney 11 Mar 06 - 07:49 AM
GUEST 25 Jul 08 - 07:31 AM
Jack Blandiver 25 Jul 08 - 08:29 AM
Northerner 25 Jul 08 - 10:58 AM
Graham and Jo 26 Jul 08 - 09:04 AM
Bonnie Shaljean 26 Jul 08 - 10:57 AM
Suzy T. 26 Jul 08 - 12:36 PM
GUEST,HiLo 30 Jul 08 - 02:57 PM
Bat Goddess 30 Jul 08 - 07:21 PM
ClaireBear 30 Jul 08 - 07:46 PM
Bat Goddess 31 Jul 08 - 10:35 AM
Irene M 31 Jul 08 - 02:41 PM
Catamariner 30 Apr 09 - 04:36 AM
Irene M 30 Apr 09 - 01:27 PM
r.padgett 01 May 09 - 03:48 AM
Catamariner 14 Feb 21 - 04:28 PM
Felipa 14 Feb 21 - 05:18 PM
GUEST,Derek Schofield 15 Feb 21 - 05:02 AM
Reinhard 15 Feb 21 - 09:40 AM
GeoffLawes 18 Feb 21 - 07:58 AM
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Subject: frankie armstrong+;lyrics
From: GUEST,lyrics wanted to Frankie's songs
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 02:30 PM


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: open mike
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 02:52 PM

you'd get better results if you are more specific...
titles? did you search the D.T.?


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 07:13 PM

I second Open Mike's suggestions.

I can only think of one song written by Frankie: Message from Mother Earth

There are a few more sung by her in My Songbook.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: open mike
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 07:20 PM

ok apparently this is a female...
any more details? time, place, etc.
genre?


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 07:29 PM

http://entertainment.msn.com/artist/?artist=144786

"Whether singing a cappella or with minimal accompaniment, Frankie Armstrong uses her powerful soprano vocals to breathe new life into centuries-old British balladry. Best known for her rendition of Peggy Seeger's feminist anthem, "I'm Gonna Be an Engineer," Armstrong has been an influential presence in England since 1962."


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 08:21 PM

Frankie Armstrong has CDs out
e.g., "Ways of Seeing" (Harbourtown Records) has seven songs written by her, including title track.
She lives in Wales and travels the world (often in Australia) performing and running vocal workshops.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST,Strudelbag
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 10:19 PM

Highly recommended: her CD "Lovely on the Water," orig. recorded in the 70s. If you like English trad, CD is worth searching for.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST,abitthick
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 01:28 AM

I dont know who Frankie Armstrong is but Frankie Howard has a new video out whichis suppose to be very funny.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 04:44 AM

Frankie travels around the UK a lot doing voice workshops. she's probably known more for that now than as a performer


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 05:22 AM

Frankie, who is a wonderful singer with a repertoire ranging from blues to traditional british, has a serious vision impairment (ie she's virtually blind) and I think this has probably been one of the reasons why we don't hear her singing so much these days.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 05:33 AM

Dave, I heard her sing in San Francisco over 20 years ago. She was blind then, and it didn't seem to stop her from touring, so I think there might be other reasons for her not to be singing so much these days, if in fact that is the case. She has a truly magnificent voice. I'll never forget her rendition of "Tam Lin"...it gives me chills even now just to remember it.

Aloha,
Mark


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Backstage Manager(inactive)
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 07:13 AM

Frankie has a brand new trio CD with Sarah Harman & Shanee Taylor on Harbourtown Records called "Darkest Before the Dawn." The line is from Pete Seeger's "Quite Early Morning" which they've renamed "Darkest Before the Dawn."


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 06:39 PM

I heard a couple of years ago that an operation restored much of Frankie's sight. Don't know any reasons why she isn't touring more, but she does singing workshops all over the world. Here's a little info on her (including a picture), and a Google search brings up more.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: MAG
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 10:15 PM

I was told Frankie had eye surgery which restored at least some of her sight.

That would be right at the top of my wish list -- to visit the UK and do one of her voice workshops.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 08:35 AM

Frankie's been here twice in the past few years & I have 4 of her albums. She is a magnificant singer.

Her sight isn't enough for her to see the CD booklet properly when signing it - I had to hold my finger where I wanted her to sign. And the audience was asked not to take flash photos.

Mark, Tam Lin is on "I heard a woman singing" - 1998, Flying FIsh CD FF 332 (Rounder, Cambridge, Mas.)


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST,Strudelbag
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 11:03 AM

"Tam Lin" is also on her CD "Till the Grass Overgrew the Corn" (or very close to that). It came out just a few years ago. All English ballads, all *wonderfully* sung. This album is hard to find too, unfortunately.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jun 04 - 12:23 PM

Most of her recent albums (including "Till the Grass..." a wonderful collection of Child ballads) are on Fellside and are easily available on order through mainstream record stores and Fellside's own site http://www.fellside.com


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 09:54 AM

Strudelbag - I have 'Till the grass o'ergrew the corn' (Fellside, 1996, FECD116) & Tam Lin is not included.

sandra


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 12:56 PM

Didn't she record Tam Lin with Blowzabella on one of the Plantlife thingies?


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST,Strudelbag
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 01:41 PM

Hmmm. Well, how about "Orfeo'?


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 02:08 PM

how about "Orfeo'?

There's a track called Young Orphy on Till the Grass Grew O'er the Corn. That what you mean?


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: MAG
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 01:38 AM

She must have a website. Anybody got the link??


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 01:45 AM

MAG, Susanne's post above gave a link to Frankie's site. At least, it has her name at the top and says "Hello wherever you are from Frankie Armstrong"!   

Thanks for the tip, Sandra. When I'm in CD-buying mode again, it will be one of the first on my list.

Aloha,
Mark


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST,James
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 07:40 AM

Frankie Armstrong is the English traditional singer I admire most..I just love all of her stuff. She rarely get the recognition or credit she deserves ..I hope more people will come to love her music.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 09:29 AM

I heard a woman singing (Flying Fish CD FF 332, 1998)

1. Cattle Call
2. Mr Fox
3. Come Geordie, Hold the Bairn
4. My Daughter, my son
5. Nothing between us now
6. New boots
7. Millworker
8. Lady Margaret
9. Tam Lin
10. Taken by Surprise
11. The ballad of Erica Levine
12. I don't want your red, red roses
...................

Till the grass o'ergrew the corn - A collection of traditional ballads (Fellside FECD116, 1996)

1. The Broomfield Hill
2. Lady Diamond
3. Hares on the Mountain
4. Fair Lizzie
5. Young Orphy
6. The Proud Girl
7. The Lover's Ghost
8. The Wife of Usher's Well
9. John Blunt
10. Child Waters
11. The Well Below the Valley
12. Clerk Colven
..................


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 05:25 PM

I have her LP 'Songs and Ballads' (1975), with excellent songs, and Heather Wood and Susie Rothfield backing her, although I must admit that, much as I admire Frankie, I find it hard to listen to her voice for longer than a few songs at a time.

In case anyone's interested the track list is:
- Little Duke Arthur's Nurse
- The Pitmen's Union
- Lady Diamond
- Lament for the Hull Trawlers (MacColl/Armstrong)
- Month of January
- Three Drunken Maidens
- Jack the Lad (John Pole)
- The Whore's Lament
- Little Musgrave
- The Collier Lass
- The Female Drummer


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 11 Jun 04 - 07:07 PM

I've just finished reading her autobiography "As Far As The Eye Can Sing" which I got from amazon.co.uk (not .com, though they may have it too). Inspiring read, highly recommended to all Frankie fans. She's a truly lovely lady.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 12 Jun 04 - 11:24 AM

The first time we heard Frankie sing Tam Lin was in the 70's, under a full moon,around a campfire, in a circle of tall pines, at the end of a mill pond in the California Sierra Nevada mountains. Nothing can compare with the power of her voice and the setting. It made the hair on our necks stand up. Wow! She's an amazing person and we'd love to see her again.

Bev and Jerry


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST,happybat
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 08:12 PM

So, I got worried about me and folk music. A lot of the voices I was hearing, while quite nice little voices (Kate Rusby, for example) seemed rather bland - even monotonous - and certainly nothing I would strive to emulate when singing for my own amusement. Consequentially, I was delighed to come across some of Frankie Armstrong's work.

For me, her main virtue as a singer is intelligence - the songs are skilfully served by the style. Even when I dislike the effect (such as the strident tone used in The Cruel Mother on the album Lovely on the Water) I can understand the reason for her interpretation - or at least understand that she had a reason for it. I like the flexibility of her voice and her intelligent use of ornament, the control of her expression.

For me, at least, Frankie Armstrong is a singer to learn from.

Catherine Reid


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 03 Jul 05 - 08:58 PM

For news of Frankie Armstrong's upcoming workshops & performances in England, Ireland, France, Spain and Australia, not to mention available recordings and books, visit her website via "Frankie's site" link above.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Barbara
Date: 04 Jul 05 - 03:24 PM

This fool lace doily I have for a memory (see the threads, see the holes?) tells me I was talking with Frankie or someone else about Frankie's voice back in the late 70's (or early 80's) and at that time she was having trouble with hoarseness and strain. Someone gave her feedback at that point that if she kept singing so loudly and stridently, she would ruin her singing voice in a relatively short time.
It was when she and Leon and Roy were singing together at the Vancouver (BC)Folk Festival.
I believe she signed up for voice lessons after that time, and I haven't heard her more recent things, so tell me, has her style changed?
I can also remember the awe I felt watching her, in the late afternoon light, stride off the end of the float at Sweetsmill, to skinny dip in the lake there. I can't imagine being that confident if I were blind.
Her newest CD has Mary Litchfield Tuel's "Way of Sex" on it.
Blessings,
Barbara


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Jul 05 - 03:55 PM

Especially back in the early '80s, I learned a lot of songs from Frankie Armstrong LPs. I was never lucky enough to see her perform, but her singing was (and is) a major influence on mine.

Wonderful singer; wonderful repertoire. And one of the greatest compliments I ever received was when someone said my singing style sounded like her.

Linn


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: rich-joy
Date: 05 Jul 05 - 01:18 AM

The very wonderful Frankie Armstrong has been responsible for a great many people experiencing the absolute joys to be had by singing – myself included!!!
She has been running Voice Workshops for non-singers for many a long year (I did my first in 1984) and she uses the full-bodied, open-throated style and techniques of Eastern European and African cultures (and most non-Western, really). I believe she co-ran early ones with Ethel Raim, of The Pennywhistlers fame and collector of Bulgarian material.
Frankie is a very warm, caring, generous, deep thinking but fun-loving, person and remains friends with a large number of her workshop participants from around the world.
I remember being overjoyed to discover Frankie's singing in the very early 70s, because far too many "folk women" sang like Shirley Collins (or worse).
Enough said.

Cheers! R-J


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: rich-joy
Date: 05 Jul 05 - 02:05 AM

Frankie did a whole album entitled TAM LIN where, as well as singing the ballad, she (with Brian Pearson and Jon Gillaspie) wrote songs and music around the ballad and the stories of the characters within -a 1984 LP on Plant Life label, featuring Frankie Armstrong, Brian Pearson, Jon Gillaspie, Blowzabella :

// tam lin / fanfare : tam lin / the four seasons / danse du printemps / lady margaret / andante from the "vilnius suite" / christmas lady / menschenverachter - tango / song of the second serving maid / the ride / in the garden / owl / the queen of air and darkness / holding song / parting / earth, air, fire and water //



Her 1972 Topic LP "Lovely on the Water" tracks are :
// tarry trousers / the green valley / low down in the broom / the cruel mother / the crafty maid's policy / the maid on the shore / the frog and the mouse / lovely on the water / the brown girl / the young girl cut down in her prime / the unquiet grave / the saucy sailor / the two sisters //


Her Bay records LP (c.1970) " ... Out of Love, Hope and Suffering" tracks are :
// william taylor / the female transport / too much of a good thing / prince heathen / the bedmaking / anti-carol / lord bateman / nine times a night / doors to my mind / bridget and the pill / the cuckoo / i'm gonna be an engineer //


Her Sierra Briar LP (c.1980) " and the Music Played So Grand" tracks are :
// the outlandish knight / boys will be boys / the factory girl / winnie and sam / the moving on song / the devil and the farmer's wife / the banks of green willow / nothing to say / a woman's work / the doffing mistress / the bosses darling / the female drummer //

I can furnish more if anyone wants!

Frankie's repertoire has equally, traditional songs and contemporary social comment (and many of which are regarded as "definitive versions"). She also did a CD of Bertold Brecht songs with the late Dave van Ronk. I think there is even a jazz-influenced? one with Ken Hyder?, but I've never been able to source this recording (I think I have most of her others!)

She has had a huge recorded output over her considerable number of years "in the business" (since about age 15) - has many, many tracks on compilation records (The Critics Group esp) - all this and travelling the world regularly, giving workshops and concerts.
So HOW can it be that so many people have not heard of her - or are barely aware of her - and of her importance to The Folk Revival?????

There is no justice in this world!!!


Cheers! R-J


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jul 05 - 11:35 AM

I also can't believe that Frankie is so unknown in the folk world of today. I certainly still enjoy singing some of the songs mentioned above.

I remember going to her workshops, must have been in the late 70's/early 80's, & hearing her sing at that time as well. Absolutely brilliant.

I always found her singing of Tam Lin much more evocative than Martin Carthy, although I'm a great fan of his as well. Somehow Frankie's voice just had that 'shivery' quality about it when singing a song like that.

I was really pleased to hear young Mr Boden (Spiers & Boden/Bellowhead) saying that they got the version of The Saucy Sailor they sing from an old recording of Frankie's, that one of their parents had. Gosh that really made me feel old!

But the good news for me is that on the website it would appear that she is doing a workshop very near to me next year, so I will make the effort to go. It will be interesting to see how her techniques have changed over the years.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Le Scaramouche
Date: 05 Jul 05 - 11:43 AM

Go to Amazon, you can download Mack the Knife from the Brecht album for free.
She's a terrific singer, can blow you clean away with that voice.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Barry Finn
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 12:05 AM

I was lucky enough to catch Frankie twice at festivals maybe a 1/4 century ago & have been longing to hear her live, once more. Hopefully some time soon she'll make her way to the states. I'd travel far & pay a pretty penny (that's rich for my blood these days) to hear her. I've found it strange, too that she's not as well known, espically by the younger singers of the day. One of the very, very few great singers of folk.
Barry


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 04:45 AM

A number of Frankie Armstrong's early recordings are gathered together on the Fellside CD 'Lovely on the Water: Traditional Songs and Ballads' (FECD151). This is one of my very favourite recordings of a revivaliat singer singing (mainly) English Trad. songs - very highly recommended!!


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST,folkiedave in Spain
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 05:00 AM

She wrote the "Lament for the Hull Trawlers" whilst on a visit to perform at the Folk Union One (Watersons) in Hull.

Dave


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 07:49 AM

Frankie is back in Oz!!

I'll be seeing her next week at Almost Acoustic and I'm looking forward to it, especially as I had anothert committment. Fortunately a kind friend took that responsibility & I'm now free to be at Frankie's concert. yah.

So if you're in Sydney next Sat, come along for a great night. You'll find me on the front table hoding my hand out for your money & maybe even selling her CDs. I do hope she has a new one.

I was just going to crow about them using the photo I took of her last time she was here, but that's on the yahoo list. The pic on the website is an old b&w one.

sandra


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Subject: Lyr Add: PITMEN'S UNION (Frankie Armstrong)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 07:31 AM

PITMEN'S UNION
(Frankie Armstrong)

'Twas on the fifth of April, the days being long and clear;
how bright did shine the sun and how fresh did blow the air.
I overheard a fair pretty maid, so sweetly she did sing,
as she sat under a little brown cow, a-milking by the stream.

A young man stepped up to her and he bended on his knee,
he asked her kindly for a drink to help him on his way.
"Some milk to you I'll freely give, young fella," she replies,
"But tell me first do you belong to the bold brave un-i-on boys?"

"Can't you see that I'm a collier, for I'm black as any sloe,
and all this night I've picked and hewed in the darkness herebelow."
"Oh, I do love the collier lads, they are me dear delight,
for me father was a pitman all the days of his life!"

"'Tis steam upon the ocean, and 'tis steam upon the land,
and where would we be now at all, without our collier men?
Down in the dark they toil to bring the coal above the ground,
and we know they're working day and night with dangers all around."

She wrapped her arms around him like a violet 'round a vine,
cryin' "You are a bonny collier lad that's won this heart of mine!
And if that you do treat me well and be me dear sweetheart,
I'll crown you in glory and forever take your part."

So come, all you pretty fair maids, wherever that you may be,
do not despise the collier lads in any one degree!
For if that you do treat them well, they'll do the same to thee,
Oh, there's no one in the whole wide world but a bonny pit lad for me.

===

Memorized in 1978 from Frankie Armstrong's "Songs and Ballads" -- I have several of the songs by memory, including Hull Trawlers, Little Duke Athol's* Nurse, Little Musgrave, and Collier Lass, but I do not have *all* of jack the Lad because I disliked the topic (ewww, vomit?!), being a teenager at the time. Last verse is easy, though: "It wasn't methadone killed Jack the lad you know, just the obstruction that made him choke// It's not a hard drug like proper heroin, it was just accident, it was just accident, it was just accident he died, poor bloke."

Enjoy, sorry to take so long to find your page, here. Hope someone sometime finds it useful :-)

-- Heather P in Bremerton, WA (for now)

*I like the older version of the name, goes better with the raw sound of that tune.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 08:29 AM

She sang with Ken Hyder's Talisker on Land of Stone, and her version of King Orfeo features on Songs of Witchcraft Magic as compiled by The Museum of Witchcraft. I recall a particularly spirited version of Little Musgrave with dulcimer accompaniment from somewhere or other... Respect!


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Northerner
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 10:58 AM

I was on one of Frankie's voice workshops earlier in the year. It was magical! She's a brilliant singer and teacher and a lovely person.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Graham and Jo
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 09:04 AM

Frankie inspired me in the early 80's (Jo). She makes a strong impression on everyone and has fans all over the world.
I remember once hearing an interview of Nigel Kennedy on radio 4. The interviewer kept asking him about himself, but he had just met Frankie, and every answer was 'Frankie Armstrong says this...' and 'Frankie says that...' and 'Frankie opened my eyes to....'


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 10:57 AM

It would probably be an idea to add this thread to the links above, as a lot of it is relevant to Frankie, and it has the words to Jack The Lad.

Thread: Who's John Pole?

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=74458#1298956


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Suzy T.
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 12:36 PM

I had the amazing good fortune to travel and work with Frankie when I was in my late teens and early 20s, back in the 1970s. We've stayed in touch, although she doesn't travel to the states very often now, and I am not able to get to Wales either. She did have an operation, it must be 10 years ago (??) now, which restored her sight to about what it was when I first met her in 1974; it had been deteriorating for years. As has been mentioned, she's not doing much performing but is leading vocal workshops, often for actors. She was a huge influence on me in so many ways. I'm trying to remember when it was that she last came here to visit -- I think about 3 years ago -- she looked exactly the same except for grey hair. The first time we met, she was in America on some kind of grant (a Fullbright???) connected with her work with drug addicts. I wish more people knew about her -- but I don't think she cares about that -- and I never have felt that her recordings even come close to capturing the immense power of her live performances. As I remember, John Pole was involved with the work that Frankie was doing with drug addicts in London, and connected with folk music as well but that's all I can remember and knowing his song "Jack the Lad" you could have guessed that yourself...


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 02:57 PM

Is her album from the 70's " Songs and Ballads" available on cd. I would love to have it. I have the lp which I still play but it is in bad shape.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 07:21 PM

No, alas, "Songs and Ballads" (nor "The Music Played So Grand" and "Out of Love, Hope and Suffering") is not on CD.

I've recently gotten my LPs converted to CD for personal consumption, but would REALLY like to be able to obtain commercially remastered CDs.

I've been trying valiantly to let younger singers know about Frankie and her recordings. Because she's not been recording recently, she's not been played on folk radio shows around here and several generations are missing out on her wonderful singing.

Her recordings were a major influence on MY singing and repertoire -- and I am incredibly thankful for that.

Linn


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: ClaireBear
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 07:46 PM

Linn, we're going to have fun practicing cow-calling together this fall, then!

Claire, another admirer

For the uninitiated, cow-calling, or kulning, is a Scandinavian vocal technique (click on the examples, but not in your office!) that Frankie Armstrong makes sound even more eerie than it already is.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 10:35 AM

Hmmm...I left the Dairy State in 1970 having never tried this, but the cow calling technique sounds akin to the practical projection practicing I've been doing (thanks to the Frankie Armstrong influence) at The Press Room every Friday for the past 25 years. ;-)

Our up-the-hill neighbor's daughter practices opera in their field above us, so we can entertain the neighbors with cow calling and singing from our quarterdeck!

Linn


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Irene M
Date: 31 Jul 08 - 02:41 PM

I saw Frankie at Edinburgh in about 1980, working loosely with Leon Rosselson and Roy Bailey. She had us all cow-calling at the concert!
I am happy, nay DELIGHTED to say that I plan to take part in one of her workshops next year.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Catamariner
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 04:36 AM

It's Heather P. again, hi all. Went ahead and en-membered, since I keep posting lyrics and poring over your collective posts for important details. So cool to hear about the FA workshops. Her voice sounds so much more comfortable now :-) Just picked up Grass O'ergrew the Corn as an mp3 download album, but Songs & Ballads is still MIA. Maybe if we all cow-called in unison for a digital copy???


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: Irene M
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 01:27 PM

The Derby workshop weekend is May 16th and 17th. A few places still available. PM me (or find the other thread) for more info.


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Subject: RE: frankie armstrong
From: r.padgett
Date: 01 May 09 - 03:48 AM

First saw Frankie at Barnsley folk festival I believe many years ago

I then saw her in 1974 at Chelmsford folk club in the Three Cups!

What a lovely singer

Ray


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Subject: RE: Info: Frankie Armstrong
From: Catamariner
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 04:28 PM

I have moved several times since posting the Pitmen's Union lyrics, but pleased to announce that Songs and Ballads is available on Amazon in mp3 format and for free with the streaming app... woohoo! - Heather P


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Subject: RE: Info: Frankie Armstrong
From: Felipa
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 05:18 PM

coicindentally, I noticed Frankie in the Zoom audience at today's meeting of the Traditional Ballad Forum


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Subject: RE: Info: Frankie Armstrong
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 15 Feb 21 - 05:02 AM

Frankie is a regular attender at the Traditional Song [not Ballad] Forum meetings on Zoom, held every fortnight.
Derek


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Subject: RE: Info: Frankie Armstrong
From: Reinhard
Date: 15 Feb 21 - 09:40 AM

Frankie released a new CD in January, "Cats of Coven Lawn".


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Subject: RE: Info: Frankie Armstrong
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 18 Feb 21 - 07:58 AM


Lots of Frankie Armstrong on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Frankie+Amstrong


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