Archive for February, 2007
JOHN KIRKPATRICK ~ Carolling & Crumpets FLED 3060
A remarkable journey through the English Midwinter in music and song. The customs and traditions of England at Midwinter yield a breathtaking array of dazzling riches. Accordion maestro John Kirkpatrick takes the listener through tunes celebrating Midwinter dance, rhymes of hope and luck-bringing, songs in honour of food and seasonal merriment and an original song all about the Nativity from the on-looking creatures viewpoint.
HELEN WATSON ~ Blue Slipper FLED 3058
A deluxe reissue of Helen Watson’s debut album - Blue Slipper - first released by EMI Records in 1987. The album was produced by Glyn Johns in Los Angeles - among the musicians playing on the recording were Bernie Leadon (the Eagles), Jerry Donahue (Fairport Convention), Steve Lukather (Toto), Paul Barrere, Bill Payne and Richie Hayward (Little Feat). The sessions were the first time the musicians from Little Feat had recorded together since Lowell George’s death in 1979. For this edition we have added two rare tracks from 12” singles and two previously unreleased demo recordings.
SHIRLEY & DOLLY COLLINS ~ Snapshots FLED 3057
Gathered here are some magical performances of Shirley and Dolly Collins recorded in concert in the late 1970’s and a handful of demo recordings from the 1960s. These recordings all came to light after the release of Within Sound our monumental and widely acclaimed 4CD overview of Shirley’s recording career. As you might imagine we’re very proud to have the opportunity to release this collection on Fledg’ling Records.
“Like an album of old photos, Snapshots is poignant and full of love.” Songlines
JOHN KIRKPATRICK & CHRIS PARKINSON ~ The Sultans Of Squeeze FLED 3056
The Sultans of Squeeze is a splendid new collaboration between two of England’s finest squeezebox maestros - masters of all that needs squeezing. JOHN KIRKPATRICK well known from his recordings with Brass Monkey, the Richard Thompson Band and solo has teamed up with the House Band’s acclaimed CHRIS PARKINSON to record a diverse collection of tunes and songs. The duo take on a powerful repertoire drawn from the English tradition, music hall, zydeco and some original compositions.
“Exceptionally fine playing from two of the best in the business. It’s interesting, lively and fun – what more could you possibly want?” The Living Tradition.
Nominated as “duo of the year” 2006 BBC Radio2 Folk Awards
DORRIS HENDERSON & JOHN RENBOURN ~ Watch The Stars FLED 3055
First released in 1967, Watch The Stars is a remarkable long-lost gem from the mid-’sixties British folk revival. A beautiful collection of folk, blues and haikus, the album melds a folk-boom topicality with a fine “beat” sensibility; uniting the Afro-American West Coast with suburban London. Long out-of-print, the record is an early milestone in the careers of Dorris Henderson and John Renbourn. Contains two songs written by Anne Briggs and an early cover of Arthur Lee’s Message To Pretty.
“A marvelous album - so good to see it re-released after nearly 40 years.”
DAVY GRAHAM ~ Large As Life And Twice As Natural FLED 3054
First released in 1968 Large As Life And Twice As Natural is a tremendous acoustic-folk-blues-jazz masterpiece. As always with Davy Graham’s music seems to defy any attempt to categorise - perhaps the simplest description would be “great music”. Davy is joined by the legendary Harold McNair on flute, Dick Heckstall-Smith on saxophone, Jon Hiseman on drums (both from Coliseum) and Danny Thompson (from Pentangle) on double bass.
“Davy was returning from Tangier with musical ideas when the rest of us were still thinking in terms of Brighton Beach and Bert Weedon” John Renbourn
DAVY GRAHAM ~ Midnight Man FLED 3053
Davy Graham’s 1966 powerful rythmn’n'blues tinged collection Midnight Man finally sees a long-overdue appearance on compact disc. For this very carefully re-mastered edition Fledg’ling have restored all the elements of the original artwork and added new sleeve notes and several previously unpublished photographs.
“To this day Davy Graham is my absolute hero - always has been.” Bert Jansch
SHIRLEY COLLINS & DAVY GRAHAM ~ Folk Roots, New Routes FLED 3052
Another classic record from 1965. An experimental recording conceived by Austin John Marshall bringing together Shirley’s haunting traditional song with Davy’s guitar improvisations. Folk Roots, New Routes opened the door for Fairport Convention’s Liege and Lief and Pentangle’s debut. For this carefully remastered edition Fledg’ling have restored the original artwork, added a new sleeve-note essay and previously unpublished photographs.
“An extraordinary album…that opened people’s minds and shaped a few careers along the way.” fROOTS
DAVY GRAHAM ~ Hat FLED 3051
First released in 1969, Hat has not previously appeared on compact disc. The album is a rounded portrait of Davy Graham’s remarkable style - drawing together Willie Dixon, Charles Mingus, The Beatles, Henry Purcell and Indian raga on one splendid record. Fledg’ling have carefully remastered this album from the original master tapes, added new sleeve-notes and previously unpublished photographs.
“All of us guitarists - Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Jimmy Page, myself - owe it all to this wonderful musician. Davy never runs out of ideas, and there has not been anyone who has come close.” Ralph McTell
DAVY GRAHAM ~ Folk, Blues & Beyond FLED 3050
Folk, Blues & Beyond… was first released in 1965. The recording established Davy Graham’s reputation, influenced a whole generation of acoustic guitarists and was one of the first steps towards British folk-rock. Fledg’ling Records are very proud to reissue one on the most important recordings from the 1960’s Folk Revival. For this carefully remastered edition we have restored all the elements of the original artwork and added five very rare bonus tracks, new sleeve-notes and previously unpublished photographs.
“The incredible, life-affirming sound of books being rewritten: if you only own one British ‘folk’ record from the 1960s, this ought to be a strong candidate.” fROOTS.
SANDY DENNY ~ A Boxful Of Treasures NEST 5002
Sandy Denny was one of Britain’s finest singer songwriters. A Boxful of Treasures is a deluxe 5CD set - the most comprehensive portrait of her recording career yet attempted. The sumptuous booklet contains a biographical essay, reminiscences from many of Sandy’s closest musical friends and colleagues, many rare and previously unpublished photographs and drawings from Sandy’s own lyric notebooks. With many rare and previously unreleased songs A Boxful Of Treasures sets a new standard for box sets.
“The title tells you all need to know about this BRILLIANT box set.”
BBC Radio 2
“The sound mastering here is, almost without exception, a revelation.” MOJO
here are a couple of reviews from fans of Sandy’s music:
“This is indeed a boxfull of treasures.”
“This is a really fantastic compilation, bringing together some of the best and a lot of the rarest of Sandy’s work at last.”
RICHARD THOMPSON ~ Henry The Human Fly FLED 3045
Richard Thompson’s first solo album after leaving Fairport Convention is a stunning tour de force - an absolute classic of English music. Recently voted by MOJO magazine as one of the top guitar albums of all time, Henry the Human Fly has been out of print for several years. For this sensitively remastered, slipcased edition Fledg’ling have restored all the elements of the original artwork, included song lyrics and added several prevously unpublished photographs.
One of MOJO’s 20 greatest guitar albums ever!
FOTHERINGAY ~ Fotheringay FLED 3044
Fotheringay’s beautiful debut album was recorded in 1970, and has long been regarded as one of the greatest achievements of British folk-rock. Sandy Denny, Trevor Lucas, Jerry Donahue, Pat Donaldson and Gerry Conway created a magical ensemble sound and one of the finest albums of Sandy’s career. It has been out of print for sometime. For this carefully remastered edition Fledg’ling have restored all of the original artwork and added four bonus tracks - performances recorded at the 1970 Rotterdam Festival. * Remastering approved by original producer Joe Boyd.
JOHN KIRKPATRICK ~ The Duck Race FLED 3043
A great new solo album from Mr Kirkpatrick - what more can we say. This time out he explores the Morris Dance tunes of Shropshire - tunes from the repertoire of the Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Rhoden’s Tuppenny Dish, the two dance sides he helped form in the mid-1970s. Spectacular virtuoso playing - it’s easy see why John is regarded as a world class squezebox player. All this plus some incredibly informative and amusing sleevenotes from John.
MIKE HERON ~ Smiling Men With Bad Reputations FLED 3041
Taking time-out from the Incredible String Band Smiling Men With Bad Reputations was Mike Heron’s remarkable debut solo album from 1971. A marvelous eclectic masterpiece that blends rock, folk and world music into an atmospheric whole. Guest musicians include Pete Townshend, Elton John, Jimmy Page, Richard Thompson, John Cale, Dudu Pukwana, Keith Moon and Steve Winwood. Thiis remastered edition is fully annotated with two rare bonus tracks and a new sleeve note by legendary producer Joe Boyd.
HELEN WATSON ~ Lifesize FLED 3031
A magnificent third solo album from Helen - one of Britain’s finest singer-songwriters - for Fledg’ling. A stunning collection of Helen’s magical understated songs - beguiling songs of hope, intriguing songs of love lost and new love found, and some exquisite pastoral vignettes - all focussed around her glorious acclaimed voice. Lifesize makes the final part of a loose trilogy with Doffing (1999) and Somersault (1997).
“The very best in folk-soul from Britain”.
JOHN KIRKPATRICK ~ Mazurka Berserker FLED 3030
A stunning series of duets with some of John’s favourite musicians was the inspiration for this great new album. Recorded by Oliver Knight in Robin Hood’s Bay and then added to at studios as far apart as London, Los Angeles and Sydney! Collaborating musicians include Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick, Bob Johnson, Ray Fisher, Alistair Anderson, Kevin Dempsey, Ben Mandelson, James Fagan & Nancy Kerr. Mazurka Berserker contains some of the finest (and most complicated) music JK has ever recorded.
SHIRLEY COLLINS ~ False True Lovers FLED 3029
Our campaign to see all of Shirley’s albums reissued on compact disc finally comes to an end with this release of her debut album. Probably her rarest album, False True Lovers was first released in 1959 on the prestigious Folkways label and has never been released outside of North America. With the help of Washington’s Smithsonian Institute we were able to return to the original Alan Lomax produced tapes to produce this sparkling transfer to cd. Recorded when Shirley was just eighteen, ‘False True Lovers’ is a stunning collection of British and American traditional song, capturing a turning moment in the English folk song revival of the 1950’s.
SHIRLEY COLLINS ~ The Power Of The True Love Knot FLED 3028
Classic 1967 recording finally appears on CD. Produced by Joe Boyd with exquisite arrangements by Dolly Collins and contributions from Robin Williamson and Mike Heron of the Incredible String Band, and Bram Martin (cellist on the Beatles’ ‘Eleanor Rigby’). “The songs on this record belong to ladies fair and tender, the ballad-heroines with lily hands, riding through meadows distracted, saving or losing their virtue, getting pregnant, eloping with gypsies, dying of remorse, twined in the True-Lover’s Knot”.
HELEN WATSON ~ Doffing FLED 3024
A beautiful new collection from one of Britain’s most distinctive and acclaimed voices. On Doffing Helen pays tribute to some of her favourite songs and songwriters. From an idiosyncratic reading of Junior Parker’s ‘Mystery Train’, through the exuberant high jinx of the Maddox Brothers’ ‘I Want To Live And Love’ to the deep soul of Paul Kelly’s ‘Personally’. Through a magical series of understated arrangements, focussed around Helen’s remarkable voice, doffing affirms all that is best in British folk-soul. Doffing is a particular favourite album here in the Fledg’ling cupboard.
doff dof, vt to take off, to put off, to lift (one’s hat) in greeting someone Continue reading..
SHIRLEY COLLINS ~ Adieu To Old England FLED 3023
Another classic Shirley Collins recording, this time from 1974 and long out of print. Beautiful interpretations of Southern English songs and toasts with some fine arrangements by her sister - Dolly Collins. Contributing musicians include Dolly Collins, Simon Nicol, Terry Potter, Ian Holder, Geoff Singleton and John Watcham.
Released by arrangement with our pals at Topic Records. Continue reading..
LINDA THOMPSON ~ Give Me A Sad Song FLED 3020
A wonderful historical collection of previously unreleased demos and rare tracks from Linda Thompson - one of Britain’s finest interpretive singers. Remarkable demos from 1970 recorded with Martin Carthy. Linda’s contributions to a very rare album of Brian Patten’s poems. Long-lost demos written by Richard Thompson for a proposed stage musical from the mid-1970’s and some powerful demos written by Linda with Betsy Cook from the mid-eighties. All in all a marvelous collection which “joins-up the dots” of Linda’s acclaimed career.
HOME SERVICE ~ Alright Jack FLED 3015
One of the very finest British folk/roots albums of all time finally reappears on compact disc. Majestic music for the heart, head and feet. Alright Jack has been acknowledged as a classic of the English folk-rock genre and the Home Service as “Britain’s finest folk big band.” The album has been carefully remastered to bring out all the sonic detail.
“An absolutely essential purchase.” fROOTS
HOME SERVICE ~ The Mysteries FLED 3014
The long-awaited appearance on compact disc of this fine soundtrack from the Royal National Theatre cycle of Mystery Plays, with special guest appearance from Linda Thompson. Originally released by Coda Records in 1985, now carefully remastered from the original tapes. Captured on this disc are some remarkable performances from John Tams and Bill Caddick - two leading lights of the British folk scene.