Traditional English Folk Music - Recommendations

[Beechwoods]

OK chaps. I'm going through a bit of a folk revival with the old Swarbrick and Carthy stuff, and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for simple traditional English folk music recordings. I'm wondering if there's anything like the Smithsonian Folkways project for English folk music? I'm really not looking for folk-rock type stuff, but interested to explore the real roots and old songs...

Thanks in advance!

[Barry]

OK chaps. I'm going through a bit of a folk revival with the old Swarbrick and Carthy stuff, and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for simple traditional English folk music recordings. I'm wondering if there's anything like the Smithsonian Folkways project for English folk music? I'm really not looking for folk-rock type stuff, but interested to explore the real roots and old songs...

Thanks in advance!

Nick,
Have you thought about contacting the Cecil Sharpe House? They might be able to help.

There's 'The Waterstones' and I'm sure the Copper family have made recordings.

Regards

[The Grand Wazoo]

Yes, I've just been looking for a vinyl boxed set of Copper Family recordings I was given years ago by my Mother. I can't find it - if & when I do I'll record it for you. (if you're interested)

[aquapiranha]

Now this is more like it! my kind of thread, I will be watching intently. I am sure however I cannot add any artists that you do not already know about (in fact I am positive I can't)

[Beechwoods]

Yes, I've just been looking for a vinyl boxed set of Copper Family recordings I was given years ago by my Mother. I can't find it - if & when I do I'll record it for you. (if you're interested)

Thank you. If you do find it I would be extremely interested in hearing a copy! The Copper Family do appear to be a prolific bunch!

[Joe]

This thread might help, and the responses are quite comprehensive:

http://ask.metafilter.com/102214/Loo...ish-Folk-Music

[The Grand Wazoo]

Nick,
This is the one:

http://www.thecopperfamily.com/books...ings/song.html

Buggered if I know where it is though, maybe it's still back at base - I hope so, I think it's worth a bit.

If it turns up.........well I already said I would, didn't I?

[Jason P]

The Coppers are great. I was fortunate enough to make a documentary about them (well, Bob specifically) for BBC4 a few years back; he was a fascinating bloke and had a wealth of knowledge in his head about folk singers of the time. He was tasked with recording many of them in the 50s and 60s for the beeb, and travelled over the south to get the last of a dying breed on tape.

Hearing the stories of growing up in Sussex in a rural economy a world away from what we know today (but only a few generations ago) was a real priviledge. He passed away about a week after we'd finished filming; his funeral formed a coda to the finished documentary (it was called Coppersongs, btw). One of a kind, and I'm glad the new generation of Coppers are keeping the flame alight.

Shirley Collins was in it too; she's worth checking out, as a lot of stuff she did with sister Dolly is being re-issued now.

Jason

[Barry]

My sole recording by The Waterstones is

'Frost and Fire, A Calendar of Ceremonial Folk Songs', 1965, Topic 12T136.

Nick, if you like, I can make a recording for you: either a cassette on a Nakamichi BX-2, or open reel on a Nagra. You decide if interested.

I also have Ashley Hutchings, '5', a collection of stuff he did with Fairport Convention, The Sawdust Band and, of course, The Albion Country Band. Mostly electric, but if you are interested I could 'rip and burn' for you.

Regards

[REM]

Have a look at Mike Hardings' website, interesting in itself but some great links as well.

Cheers