Here you will find the enormous catalogue of CDs that have been produced by the kings and queens of British folk music. Follow the bookmarks to find each category.
Eliza Carthy is the remarkable daughter of Martin and Norma, who sings in the rich Waterson women's style. However, there is no doubt that she quickly established herself as an artist very much in her own right. Whilst her commitment to the British tradition is unquestionable, she has also injected original compositions and traditional tunes alike with contemporary electronic and dub effects. Her debut solo album, Heat, Light & Sound (TSCD482) was praised by the critics, but the response to her ambitious follow-up release, Red Rice (TSCD2001) was unprecendented, and resulted in a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize. Eliza has paved the way for other talented young roots music artists to gain recognition and respect with her winning combination of talent, vitality and charisma.
TSCD554 Track List
Rough Music’ is a step on from the multi-award winning ‘Anglicana’, and is a powerful, vital, multi-layered collection full of dark rhythms in Eliza’s vision of English Traditional Music for the new millennium. Her backing band, The Ratcatchers, includes her long time collaborator Ben Ivitsky, and two of the fastest rising stars of the folk scene, Jon Boden and John Spiers
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A compilation on the Highpoint label of some of Eliza's best recordings so far (released in 2003).
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TSCD539 Track List
Anglicana
Eliza Carthy's return to Topic Records, with a great new traditional album re-affirming her as one of the most important artists of her generation. As the title suggests, Anglicana is an expression of Englishness (as Eliza feels it), "with people who were around at the time, no border checkpoints, nobody pushed out, just what it is".
It is built on the solid foundations of the traditional music of the country of her birth. There is no question that she has absorbed much of the great qualities of that tradition, but she is not interested in producing pastiche or sterile re-construction. She is one of the few people who can take this wonderful music and perform it in a totally convincing contemporary style - both true to its sources and firmly relevant to today's values. This is what traditional music in the twenty-first century is all about.
Eliza Carthy fiddle, piano, vocals. John Spiers melodeon. John Boden fiddle. Donald MacDougal guitar. Barnaby Stradling acoustic bass. Donald Hay drums & percussion. Ben Ivitsky viola. Tim van Eyken melodeon, guitar, harmonica. Norma Waterson vocals. Maria Gilhooley vocals. Will Duke concertina. Dan Quinn melodeon. Tom Salter electric guitar. Martin Carthy guitar. Martin Green piano accordion. Heather Macleod vocals. Mary Macmaster vocals.
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TSCD493 Track List
Red
Red presents original compositions with contemporary beats.
Eliza Carthy fiddle, singing, one-row accordion, keyboards. Martin Green piano accordion, keyboards. Barnaby Stradling electric & acoustic bass, percussion, Moog. Sam Thomas drums, percussion, Moog. Ed Boyd acoustic guitar. Olly Knight electric guitar. Shack & Paul programming. Lucy Adams backing vocals. Rory McLeod harmonica. Andy Thorburn guest keyboards.
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TSCD494 Track List
Rice
Rice looks afresh at British - and other - traditional musics
Eliza Carthy fiddle, viola,
piano, djembe, singing.
Saul Rose melodeon, one-row
accordion, singing. Ed Boyd acoustic guitar, bouzouki. Eleanor Waterson singing.
Lucy Adams feet, clogs, singing.
Billericay Fontenot guitar, singing.
Thorngumbold Fontenot singing
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TSCD489 Track List
Eliza Carthy & the Kings of Calacutt
The Kings of Calicutt join Eliza Carthy in a buoyant selection of songs and
tunes.
The Kings are:
Andi Wells drums.
Barnaby Stradling bass.
Saul Rose melodeon, singing.
Maclaine Colston hammered dulcimer, singing, snare, wah.
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TSCD482 Track List
Heat Light & Sound
The most accomplished and adventurous debut album the British
folk scene has witnessed in more than 20 years, Heat Light & Sound declares
Eliza Carthy's talent as a singer and fiddler in songs and tunes from the
British tradition.
Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle, monster and five string fiddle.
Dylan Clarke double bass, vocals, percussion.
Martin Ellison melodeon.
James Fagan bouzouki, vocals.
Thorn Fontenot triangle.
Olly Knight electric guitar.
Dan Plews guitar.
Barnaby Stradling bass guitar.
Sam Thomas drums, percussion, vocals.
Jock Tyldesley fiddle.
Hazel Wrigley keyboard.
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MCRCD3991 Track List
Eliza Carthy & Nancy Kerr
Eliza's first album with Sandra Kerr's daughter Nancy.
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MCRCD5992 Track List
Shape of Scrape
Sparing fiddles and more great singing on their second offering.
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MCRCD1003 Track List
On Reflection
On Reflection is a specially selected collection from their first two albums, plus extra tracks of individual new material.
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Martin Carthy is widely regarded as one of the finest singers and interpreters of traditional music from the British Isles, as well as a highly influential guitarist. Martin has worked with a host of significant folk artists including Steeleye Span, Dave Swarbrick, The Albion Band, The Watersons and Brass Monkey, as well as maintaining a busy solo career. He still prefers to follow his insatiable musical curiosity rather than cash in on his unrivalled position as one of folk music's great innovators. He has been awarded the MBE for services to English music.
For more than 30 years Martin Carthy has been the most visible, versatile and, at times, controversial figure in English folk music. Whether in the folk club, on the concert stage or in a TV studio, there are few roles he has not played, from ballad singer to folk-rock guitarist. While his settings of traditional songs with guitar have influenced a generation of performers, he is also an authoritative interpreter of newly composed material.
TSCD556 Track List
Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick
The legendary, ground-breaking duo in a startlingly intense reunion on this new album in 2006. All the old skills are demonstrated with a new collection of traditional songs and instrumentals. Their experienced approach to their art lacks none of the fervour of their early days, and brings a maturity born of many years living with the music that is an integral part of their beings.
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HPO6001 Track List
The Definitive Collection
A compilation on the Highpoint label of some of Martin's best recordings so far (released in 2003).
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TSCD750 Track List
A Collection
Drawn from Martin's first six albums (TSCD340-345) this specially priced collection is the perfect introduction to this unique figure and his early recording career.
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TSCD527 Track List
Waiting for Angels
A long-awaited solo album (the previous one, Signs of Life, was six years before). "Waiting for Angel"s, produced by Eliza Carthy & Ben Ivitsky, sees Martin at the peak of his creativity and ability and the Carthy/Ivitsky production puts the music firmly in 21st century. Four of the tracks feature Martin solo, and on the remainder, he is marvellously and creatively backed by a number of great musicians. The album includes four instrumental tracks showcasing Martin’s unique skills – the title track itself is a Carthy composition. He also revisits the remarkable Famous Flower of Serving Men to produce the definitive version of this classic (his earlier recording, nearly 30 years ago, is not currently available).
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TSCD418 Track List
Sweet Wivelsfield
The ominously chiming guitar chords of Trimdon Grange and the ingeniously borrowed melody of King Henry exemplify Carthy's unceasing search for new ways to present old songs, a thread that runs all through this impressive recording.
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TSCD503 Track List
Signs of life
Perhaps only Carthy would open a folk album with a Bee Gees songs, let alone continue with pieces from Elvis Presley, Hoagy Carmichael and Bob Dylan, mixed in with such timeless traditional songs as Sir Patrick Spens and The Wife of Usher's Well. Eliza Carthy plays fiddle on four songs.
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Skin & Bone
This lively collaboration, from 1992, features a poignant reading of the ballad Lucy Wan and a long medley of tunes by the Irish harpist O'Carolan - Martin
Carthy & Dave Swarbrick
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Life & Limb
Carthy and Swarbrick celebrated their 1990 reunion by adding many new songs and tunes to their repertoire as well as taking a fresh look at old favourites like
Sovay and Byker Hill. Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick.
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TSCD452 Track List
Right of Passage
Carthy draws tunes from Quebec, Brittany and Mozart, songs from Leon Rosselson and Mike Waterson and poems from e.e.cummings and an anonymous
17th-century pamphleteer into a surprising but successful union of old and new, traditional and individual.
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TSCD426 Track List
Out of the Cut
An updated Rigs of the Time and Jack Rowland's long story of magic metamorphosis are among the arresting moments on this 1982 set, for which Carthy is again
joined by John Kirkpatrick and Howard Evans. Richard Thompson plays guitar on Old Horse.
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TSCD389 Track List
Because it's There
His musical thinking enriched by his experience in folk-rock pioneers Steeleye Span, Carthy approached this 1979 album (produced by Ashley Hutchings) with fresh ideas
and collaborators such as trumpeter Howard Evans and John Kirkpatrick on accordion and concertina.
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TSCD345 Track List
Landfall
His 1971 solo album tunnels further than its predecessors into contemporary song, coming up with memorable performances of Dave Goulder's "January Man" and David Ackles' "His Name is Andrew".
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TSCD344 Track List
Prince Heathen
In this 1969 album
Carthy focuses on traditional songs, producing powerful readings such as the
title track and his lengthy retelling of the ballad Little Musgrave & Lady
Barnard.
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But Two Came By
Carthy and Swarbrick continue their bold and virtuosic transformation of traditional songs and melodies on this 1968 set, adding a memorable treatment of Sidney Carter's Lord of the Dance.
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TSCD342 Track List
Byker Hill
As he grew in confidence and dexterity Carthy tested himself with tricky rhythms and challenging songs, and the title track of Byker Hill (1967) electrified the folk scene with its audacious syncopation. His most carefully planned and executed album up to that point, it remains an outstanding achievement.
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TSCD341 Track List
Second Album
Dave Swarbrick's increased contribution on this 1966 album was a signal that he and Carthy were rapidly forming folk music's most potent collaboration, creating a clean, sharp sound that would be honed over the next three albums.
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TSCD340 Track List
Martin Carthy
Perhaps the most famous, probably the most widely heard, debut album by an English folk artist, this still remarkable recording from 1965 introduced both a new voice and a fresh conception of guitar accompaniment, and was vastly influential. Dave Swarbrick plays fiddle or mandolin on some tracks.
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TSCD300 Track List
Crown of Horn
Though on its first release in 1976 Crown of Horn attracted attention with its unpredictable elements, such as Leon Rosselson's mordant song Palaces of Gold, the album can now be seen as a logical stage in Carthy's development, as well as a further bold demonstration of his creative approach to traditional song.
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The Carthy
Chronicles
This is the first in-depth anthology of Martin's music and
career, selected from over 1,000 tracks, from hundreds of sources. Of the
set's 83 tracks: 17 are deleted or impossible to find; 25 are previously
unreleased recordings, of which 11 songs have never before been available on
recordings by Martin Carthy. It's got his earliest known and most recent live
recordings as well as songs from all his solo and band /collaboration
recordings. The set includes four themed
CDs... CD1: Classic Carthy, CD2: Carthy in Company, CD3: Carthy Contemporaries
& CD4: Child:Carthy
(£39.99)
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For more Martin Carthy also look at: Brass Monkey & Wood Wilson Carthy
Norma Waterson formed The Watersons in the early 60's with her sister Lal, brother Mike and cousin John. They went on to become the most influential vocal harmony group of the times, and achieved near cult status when they stopped touring in the late 60's. In 1996 Norma received universal acclaim with a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize, in which she came a very close second to pop band Pulp. Norma has one of the strongest and truest voices that contemporary folk music has ever produced.
TSCD520 Track List
Bright Shiny Morning
A significant album
by the reigning doyenne of British Folk Music, Norma Waterson. Produced by her
daughter, rising star Eliza Carthy, "Bright Shiny Morning" is a solo project
which not only highlights Norma's passion for traditional material, but proves
her to be one of this country's finest exponents.
Norma continues to breathe life into material often centuries old. Aside
from her wonderful, rich and distinctive voice, Norma Waterson's particular
skill is in her choice of songs and how she makes each one relevant to a
modern audience. Norma's career, which began in the early 60s with folk
supergroup The Watersons, has continued to blossom and grow and today she
commands considerable respect amongst a wide and devoted following. Norma
Waterson vocal, triangle. Eliza Carthy vocals, violin, tenor guitar. Martin
Carthy vocals, guitar, banjo. Mary Macmaster electro harp. Ben Ivitsky vocals,
violin, viola, tenor guitar. Alice Kinkloch euphonium, trombone. Martin
Lewington trumpet. Chris Parkinson piano accordion, harmonica. Julian Goodacre
English double pipes, Leicestershire smallpipes. Maria Gilhooley, Nadine
Elliott & Mike Waterson vocals.
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Central to the current resurgence of interest in the much neglected indigenous music of England are the
Waterson:Carthy family. For well over twenty years they have been based in the town of Robin Hood's Bay, East Yorkshire, where the dramatic coastal landscape has helped to inform the unique character of the music.
TSCD562 Track List
Holy Heather and the Old green Man
This is the album that Waterson:Carthy have been wanting to make for a long time. In 1965, their forerunners The Watersons released the landmark album "Frost and Fire - A Calendar of Ritual Magical Songs", and the concept continues to fascinate them.
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TSCD542 Track List
Fishes & Fine Yellow
Sand
Waterson:Carthy's fifth album includes a characteristically
eclectic selection of material from a formidable range of sources. Much of the
album was recorded "live in the studio" with a view to retaining the essence
of the group's live interactive performance and this goal was successfully
achieved.
With one exception, the songs are about people who, whether or not they
were born under a Bad Sign, certainly come - one way or another - under the
Bad heading. It is almost a given that this makes for a programme of
interesting and intriguing material. The set includes an outstanding reworking
of the Jerry Garcia classic Black Muddy River, previously sung by Norma on her
award winning solo album for the Hannibal label. Norma Waterson vocals,
triangle. Martin Carthy vocals, guitar, 5 string banjo. Eliza Carthy vocals,
fiddle. Tim van Eyken vocals, melodeons. Ben Ivitsky viola (Farewell Lovely
Nancy).
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TSCD536 Track List
A Dark Light
England's leading
folk group return with their latest outstanding collection. The core trio of
Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson & Eliza Carthy are joined by new member Tim van
Eyken on vocals and melodeons. Also contributing to the album are Martin
Simpson on guitar, Ben Ivitsky on fiddle and Barnaby Stradling on acoustic
bass guitar.
A Dark Light reflects the influence on the group of some of the great singers
from the tradition, and therefore features a selection including songs from
The Copper Family, Packie Byrne, Seamus Ennis and Sam Larner.
Norma Waterson vocals. Martin Carthy vocals, guitar. Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle, viola. Tim van Eyken vocals, melodeon. Martin Simpson guitar. Ben Ivitsky fiddle. Barnaby Stradling acoustic bass guitar.
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TSCD509 Track List
Broken Ground
The great family tradition returns to record this time as a four piece, with Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy and Liza Carthy joined by Saul Rose on melodeons and voice. The extended line-up results in a jewel of an album. Stand out tracks are Raggle Taggle Gipsies featuring Liza, The Bay of Biscay featuring Norma, the staggering instrumentals and Martin's Bald Headed End of the Broom with New Orleans marching band added for good measure. Norma Waterson vocals, triangle. Martin Carthy vocals, guitar. Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle, viola. Saul Rose vocals, melodeon. Ben Ivitsky low whistle. The Phoenix New Orleans Parade Band.
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TSCD488 Track List
Common Tongue
'This is deliberately an album of English music,' writes Martin Carthy in his notes. 'It is neither possible nor desirable to set up musical border checkpoints anywhere. However, there is that elusive and ever changing thing called identity.' Assisted by members of Eliza Carthy's band and the voices of other members of the family, Waterson:Carthy sing and play such timeless English anthems as Claudy Banks and Hares in the Old Plantation, ending with a stirring performance of the hymn Stars in My Crown, dedicated to the English playwright Dennis Potter. Norma Waterson vocals. Martin Carthy vocals, guitar, mandolin. Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle. Saul Rose melodeon. Maclaine Colston hammered dulcimer. Barnaby Stradling bass. Lal Waterson, Maria Gilhooley, Mike Waterson, Eleanor Waterson vocals.
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TSCD475 Track List
Waterson:Carthy
With an eclecticism characteristic of its members, Waterson:Carthy's first
album draws upon not only the archives of British folksong but a Morris tune
and a Texas waltz. What is transmitted to the listener, however, is not so
much the skill of their research as the virtuosity with which they breathe
life into its matter. Norma Waterson vocals. Martin Carthy vocals, guitar,
mandolin. Eliza Carthy vocals, fiddle.
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HPO6004 Track List
The Definitive Collection
This is an excellent introduction to the vast music catalogue of a group who hit the folk scene in the mid 60's with four part vocal sound that stood the whole scene on it's head.
(£6.99)
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TSFCD4002 Track List
Mighty River of Song
The
Watersons
are one of England’s great musical families. Mighty River Of Song traces the
remarkable story of the extended Waterson Family though four decades of
incredible music.
It includes gems from throughout their career, together with a wealth of
rare, live and previously unreleased recordings. Mighty River Of Song is a
comprehensive overview of The Watersons and their place in the English Folk
Revival.
Contains: - 4 music CDs - a DVD of the acclaimed documentary “Traveling for a Living” - a 52 page full colour booklet – profusely illustrated with extensive notes and a full discography.
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TSCD500 Track List
Green Fields
Another masterful performance by the latterday Watersons. Again, an original album by the full group has been supplemented with solo tracks by Mike and solo and duet tracks by Norma and Lal. In keeping with its title, the album focuses on songs of country life like While Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping, We'll All Go a-Hunting Today and The Brave Ploughboy.
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TSCD472 Track List
Early Days
Introducing these recordings on their first appearance in the mid-'60s A.L.
Lloyd wrote of this new singing group's 'hand-crafted harmonies, an
immediately recognisable and uniquely distinctive group sound which is
uninhibited, spontaneous seeming and rich in texture.' What became of The
Watersons after that is history, and can be followed step by step in Topic's
other Watersons CDs. Early Days recaptures the youthful sound of the original
quartet in 27 performances from long-deleted albums.
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TSCD462 Track List
For Pence & Spicy Ale
The original For Pence & Spicy Ale introduced, on record, the
'new' Watersons of the 1970s; two music papers judged it Folk Album of the
Year. To the superb original collection have been added several solo tracks by
Mike and duets by Lal and Norma, from their own albums of the same period.
Between the jubilant opening song Country Life and the closing hymn The Good
Old Way are some of the most stirring performances ever committed to record.
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TSCD136 Track List
Frost & Fire
The original Frost & Fire album, a calendar of English ritual and ceremonial song, has been expanded with seven sacred songs by the later Watersons (from the 1977 album Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy), to make this remarkable collection of songs rooted in folk beliefs and rural practices.
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TSCD516 Track List
Mike Waterson
Melody Maker (1977)
described this as a monumental album, and they had it right. Mike Waterson
produces one of those perfect albums that only a great singer at the top of
his form can. The CD re-issue includes two extra tracks taken from the 1966
Yorkshire Garland recording.
The Watersons, the most influential and best loved English vocal group of
its day, disbanded in the late 1960s only to reform again in 1973. In 1975,
they released their finest recorded work, For Pence And Spicy Ale (TSCD462).
Fired up and full of music, Mike Waterson stepped out of the shadows of The
Watersons to record his only solo album. Upon its release in 1977, Melody
Maker, which was the most popular music paper of the time, wrote of the album,
"Almost every track emerges as an epic...no song defeats him...a monumental
work"..
Regarded as one of the best singers to emerge from the English folk song
revival, Mike Waterson's voice is known to all those who are familiar with The
Watersons. Here, however, the focus is on Mike alone and he brings depths to
his material not possible on group projects. This reissue includes two extra
tracks from the 1966 Watersons album, A Yorkshire Garland.
(£12.99)
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TSCD537 Track List
No One Stands Alone
The seven piece group Blue Murder, made up of Waterson:Carthy, Coope, Boyes and Simpson and Mike Waterson, has been described as "Harmony Heaven" and one listen is enough to explain why - seven of the greatest English folk voices performing together with passion and spirit. The repertoire ranges between great traditional standards, selected compositions and original songs by some of the band members. Whilst much of the album is the full glory of the seven voices, about half of the tracks have the added benefit of Martin Carthy's understated but impeccable guitar work.
(£12.99)
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TSCD507 Track List
A True Hearted Girl
Recorded in 1977 this album captures the Waterson sisters'
family empathy in full flight. Two of England's most stirring women singers in
solo, duet and trio performances (joined by Lal's daughter, Maria). Further
tracks have been added to the originals, one a 1966 recording taken from the
deleted Yorkshire Garland LP, and another, a 1998 recording where the Norma,
Lal and Maria are joined by Norma's daughter, Eliza.
After three albums and great acclaim, The Watersons disbanded in the late
1960s, but there was too much music in them to retire from public music
making. They reformed in 1973 and went on to perform and record for many
years.
In 1977 Lal and Norma Waterson, as a side project, recorded A True Hearted
Girl, an album of solos, duos and trios (with Lal's daughter Maria). Lal and
Norma varied the tried and true vision of The Watersons on this outing, by
only using female voices and in different combinations. This gives the album a
different ambience and depth to The Watersons. Vocals: Lal Waterson, Norma
Waterson, Maria Waterson, Eliza Carthy. Jim Eldon flute, whistle. Peta Webb
fiddle. Rod Stradling melodeon. Tony Engle Anglo-concertina.
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TSCD478 Track List
Once in a Blue Moon
Lal Waterson, an original member of The Watersons, and her son,
guitarist Oliver Knight, have written some of the most captivating new songs
to have been heard on the folk scene in many years. Other members of the
Waterson clan often joined them on their records.
Lal Waterson vocals. Oliver Knight guitars. Charles O'Connor fiddles. Jo Freya
vocals, sax, clarinets. Ray Williams drums. Troy Donockley whistle
vocals: Maria Gilhooly, Norma Waterson, Jim Boyes, Barry Coope, Lester
Simpson.
(£12.99)
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TSCD505 Track List
A Bed of Roses
More luminous songs and riveting performances. This was Lal Waterson's last recording before her death in 1998.
(£12.99)
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TSCD519 Track List
Shining Bright
Various Artistes
Performed by Norma Waterson, Dayteller,
Maddy Prior, Richard Thompson, Eliza Carthy, Blue Murder, Dick Gaughan, Linda
& Teddy Thompson, Helen Watson, Billy Bragg & The Blokes, Martin Carthy,
Christy Moore, Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, Christine Collister & Oliver
Knight ......
In 1972 Mike & Lal Waterson released an extraordinary album of their
original songs - Bright Phoebus - on Bill Leader's Trailer label. This magical
collection of very English songwriting as long been acknowledged a classic and
one of the finest achievements of the British folk revival. Inexplicably
Bright Phoebus was out of print for many years.
Shining Bright was conceived to pay tribute To Mike & Lal's remarkable songs, and it draws upon the songs recorded for Bright Phoebus, and on a further dozen songs written at the same time but not previously recorded. Shining Bright has fifteen new recordings by some of the folk world's finest performers. The songwriting of Mike and Lal is held in such high esteem that soon we had a queue of performers eager to contribute to this collection. David Suff.
(£12.99)
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