Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings

Subject: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: Peter T.
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 10:17 AM

We have a nice thread on Alex Campbell, and as part of a project filling up my library with British folk revival stuff, I was wondering if any of the British experts here could tell me: (1) is there now a decent CD of his music?; or if not, at least (2) what is the best earlier album he ever did for reference sake?

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 10:26 AM

UK public library stocks
a good compilation CD..
"Songs Vol 1 & 2"
might be available at your local library by request..

its one of the CDs on sale here..

http://www.mawson-wareham.com/glasgow.htm

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 10:29 AM

I once had a splendid album (vinyl) which had on it among other things his own "So long" and Paxton's "Rambling Boy" (in which he changed the chorus line from "Here's to you..." to "Fare thee well..." which worked much better, or at least was better suited to his own style). I still have a tape of it somewhere, but can't remember what the album was called. I think it came out around 1966-67 so not likely to have been his earliest.

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: EagleWing
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 10:44 AM

http://www.mawson-wareham.com/glasgow.htm

The above is Alex _GLASGOW_ not Alex Campbell.

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 11:18 AM

"The above is Alex _GLASGOW_ not Alex Campbell."

..oops..!!

just woke up this afternoon from a heavy session last night..
just one of several bleary eyed hungover mistakes so far today..
[including a pointlessly overheated row with the mrs over where
she should put her musical chiming fibre optic xmas tree..]

my biggest mistake was getting out of bed..

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 12:47 PM

I have an Alex Cambell Live LP recorded at the Barnet and Whetstone folk club in 1968. It's a lot of fun.

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 12:57 PM

I have two Vinyls of Alex Campbell but dont know of any CD s.

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 12:58 PM

The Black Bull, run by the lovely Dennis O'Brien.
Giok

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 02:11 PM

There are some CDs, but I've never seen one. Here is a review (by a Mudcatter) of one double CD that sounds like it'd be well-worth getting hold of.

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 03:08 PM

Didn't Allan Taylor, singer, songwriter and much more do a PhD on Alex?

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: annamill
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 03:44 PM

PM Dick Greenhaus from Camsco. I'm pretty sure he would be able to get you one.

Annamill

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: GUEST,folkiefrank
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 03:53 PM

The double CD mentioned by McGoH is a recording of the tribute concert to Alex, he doesn't sing on it at all, since it was recorded in Denmark some years after his sad demise. Great CD though, well worth buying.

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 05:50 PM

Transatlantic (Xtra label)in the sixties brought out an LP simply called "Alex Campbell" on which he sang entirely traditional ballads "Baron o'Brackley", "Love is Teasing", "Kissing in the Dark" etc and he was accompanied by Louis Killen and Martin Carthy. It was(is)brilliant if only you could get hold of it these days?

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 06:03 PM

The double CD mentioned by McGoH is a recording of the tribute concert to AlexYou're right of course, folkiefrank - this was the review I meant to link to:

ALEX CAMPBELL "At The Tivoli Gardens" Storyville Records 1025706

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: GUEST,MikeofNorthumbria (sans cookie)
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 06:08 PM

A CD "Alex Campbell in Copenhagen" was released on the Storyville label in 2002. (Storyville 102 5704 - try www.storyville-records.com)I found this one recently in Roots Records, Newcastle upon Tyne, and have also seen it advertised by a mail-order supplier in the British folk magazine "Living Tradition".

It's not my ideal memento of Alex - although it has plenty of good songs, well sung, there's none of the anarchic humour that was an essential part of his live act - but all the same,it's a good buy if you can get hold of it. I don't know of anything else by him that's readily available on CD.

Alex mad a great many vinyl albums which do not appear to have re-surfaced on CD yet. Whoever owns the master tapes of the two albums Alex did for Xtra in the 'sixties should be encouraged to make them available. And there's a lot of good material on Alex's recordings on the budget "Saga" label (even though some of the numbers were under-rehearsed, and the sound quality was pretty primitive).

This man played a heroic part in the folk revival - he deserves a better memorial than we have given him so far.

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 07:44 PM

I've got several of his LPs (you can still find him 2nd hand), but no CDs. My favourites are 'Traditional Ballads of Scotland' (1977) and 'Big Daddy of Folk Music' (1976), where he's supported by a very young Tannahill Weavers. I came across an album 'Live in Belgium' once where he plays with Derroll Adams, and which has some different material.

Subject: RE: Alex Campbell -- advice on recordings
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 02:52 PM

There is now a CD of his music: "Been On The Road So Long: The Alex Campbell Anthology", from Castle Music (web site: www. sanctuaryrecordsgroup.co.uk).

Full of fine things!!

yours,

Peter T.