The Albion Dance Band, The Prospect Before Us

 

Harvest SHSP 4059 (LP, UK, March 1977) - Hannibal HNCD 1403 (CD, US, 1993) - Harvest/EMI Rec. ST 6450 (LP, CAN, 1977)

 

Hutchings e Nicol producono nel 1977 questo disco, ben assistiti dal tecnico Vic Gammon. Tra i brani compare un classico di Henry Purcell del 1689. Del gruppo fa parte in questa fase anche Shirley Collins. Il disco presenta un disegno di copertina di dave Dragon, ispirato ad un'idea in verità assai poco comprensibile di Pete Scrowter; il disegno di William Dudley sul retro è invece divertente ed affascinante.

 

Tracks

Uncle Bernard's / Jenny Lind (3:48) - The Hunt Is Up (1:53) - Varsovinna (2:49) - Masque (1:00) - Huntsman's Chorus (4:33) - Minuet (2:05) - Wassail Song (2:35) - Picking of Sticks / The Old Mole (3:14) - Merry Sherwood Rangers (3:21) - La Sexte Estampie Real (1:50) - I Wish I Was Single Again (3:44) - The Whim (3:28) - Hopping Down in Kent (2:46) - Horse's Brawl (3:42)

The CD re-release has two bonus tracks:

On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (previously unreleased) (3:34) - Merry Sherwood Rangers (single version) (3:05)

 

 

Album produced by Ashley Hutchings and Simon Nicol - Engineered by Vic Gamm
Recorded at Sound Techniques and Olympic No. 1, London, 1971
Tracke 2, 5, 8, 9, and 14 were recorded at dances held at Olympic in September 1976
Front cover design by Dave Dragon based on an idea by Pete Scrowther
Back cover design by William Dudley

 

Musicians:
Ashley Hutchings: leader, electric bass guitar, vocals - Eddie Upton: caller, vocals Shirley Collins: vocals - John Tams: vocals, melodeon - John Rodd: concertina, tambourine, vocals; Phil Pickett: curtals, shawms, recorders, crumhorns, bagpipes, rackets, chalumeaux, synthesiser; John Sothcott: vielle, citole, crumhorn; Simon Nicol: electric and acoustic guitars, piano; Graeme Taylor: electric guitar, piano; Michael Gregory: drums, nakers, percussion; Dave Mattacks: drums, piano, electric piano