Four Mary's Good Version on CD

Subject: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 01:48 PM

Does anyone know if there is currently available version of this Scottish song on CD.

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: Roberto
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 02:11 PM

There are many. I would recommend Jeannie Robertson's version (Scots), on the Rounder CD in the Alan Lomax Collection, Portraits series. A revival recording, is the one by Jean Redpath (Scots), on Lowlands. Two American versions: Texas Gladden, on the Rounder CD in the Alan Lomax Collection, Portraits series; Jean Ritchie, on The Most Dulcimer. I'm sure Camsco has them all. R

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: Roberto
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 02:15 PM

I must add that the ballad, number 173 in Francis James Child's THE ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH POPULAR BALLADS, is often listed as MARY HAMILTON. R

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: Maryrrf
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 02:18 PM

Well, not to be promoting myself, but I recorded a version and it's available (If you're in the UK you can get it from This Site


You can have a listen on my website at http://www.maryfsmith.freeservers.com/recordings.htm


I do the long version - lots of verses. It's one of my favorite ballads.

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 03:08 PM

Lovely as Jeannie Robertson's version is, it isn't included on my copy of the "Portraits" CD, but instead it appears on the Rounder CD Classic Ballads of Britain and Ireland: Volume Two Rounder 1161-1776-2.

Jeannie says that she learned the ballad from the recitation of old people in Blairgowrie, and so she recites three verses before singing the rest. I'm not clear from this where her sung version then comes from, though it feels silly to even ask this when the result is so breathtakingly wonderful.

Mike Yates has recently written about some "problematic" variants he has come across on the Musical Traditions website Some Problematic Ballad Texts.

PS Jim if you are in the Royal again next Sunday maybe I could give you a copy of Jeannie's version.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: andymac
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 03:23 PM

Maureen Jelks, a fine singer from Dundee, now living in Kiriemuir (I think) has recorded a version of this ballad called "Mary Mild" on her CD "Eence Upon a Time". (www.folkmusic.net)
Worth getting hold of if you can, lots of good, predominantly unaccompanied, songs on it...

Andy

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 03:32 PM

Joan Baez also has a wonderful version on an early lp/cd.

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 07:38 PM

And as andymac says Maureen Jelks sings a great version 'Mary Mild' on her CD. Apparently she learned her tune from John Eaglesham of Stramash - was this recorded anywhere? Greentrax did issue a recording by this singer's collective, I think, but it's not in the catalogue anymore.

Matthew.

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: andymac
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 09:45 PM

Matthew,
I haven't heard John sing it and didn't know it was in his repertoire. I guess I need to read the sleeve notes a bit more...
I have the two early Clutha albums which John sings on and I know it's not on any of them. Nor is it on their recent (Greentrax?) one. I don't know of another Greentrax recording by Stramash apart from their "McGinn of the Calton" presentation, not that that should imply a definitive knowlegde of the Greentrax label (or Clutha/John Eaglesham recordings for that matter) but I'll check with a man who should know.
You've got me intrigued now... The more I think of him as the source of the tune the more I can actually just about hear him doing it in a late night session...
Andy

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 12:11 AM

THe Maureen Jelkes "Mart Mild" is on the Living TRadition CD "Eence Upon a Time". Gorgeeous variant; very well sung. Available at CAMSCO.

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 03:46 AM

--and another plug for the Joan Baez version.

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: Roberto
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 12:21 PM

Matthew, you're right, Jeannie Robertson's recording is on the Classic Ballads vol.2 cd. R

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 03:54 PM

I second Jeanie Robertson.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: Crystal
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 03:57 PM

The Corries did a version although it's pretty far removed from the one Child collected.

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: Marje
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 04:03 PM

This may sound a bit unlikely, but I recently picked up an Isla St Clair recording (a cassette tape!) in a market and that was the best thing on it, an excellent version. But I don't know if it's currently available in a more modern format.

Marje

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: Peter T.
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 08:25 AM

There is also a video of Jean Ritchie singing it with her mother on her front porch, which must be from the 1950s, which is a treasure.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Four Mary's Good Version on CD
From: Bill the Collie
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 10:24 AM

Marje,
Yes Isla St Clair's lovely version, Marie Hamilton, is on the "Royal lovers and scandals" CD (REHCD532)website www.highlandclassics.com.

I seem to rememder that Marie was a lady's maid and, if so, marie was a job title rather than a first name. That would put paid to the co-incidence theory that there were 4 servants who all had the same name.