|
|
Old Swan Band, Still Swanning... after all these years! Free Reed
Records FRCD 31 (CD, UK, 1995) Old Swan is
widely acknowledged as the spearhead of the continuing revival of English
southern country dance music. Their first two albums were released on Neil
Wayne's 'Free Reed' record label: 'No Reels' and, in 1978, 'Old Swan Brand'. Their 3rd LP, on Dingles
Records, 'Gamesters, Pickpockets &
Harlots' was exclusively composed of newly discovered Cotswold material. The
1983 line-up, including John Adams, Paul Burgess and Richard Valentine, has
recorded an 4-track EP for Waterfront, their last record until now! This “21st
anniversary” celebratory CD includes the very best material from all four
of these long-lost recordings. It also adds detailed tune notes by
founder-member and melodeon maestro Rod Stradling and a wry and nostalgic
'Recollection' of the Band's 21 years by Dan Quinn, once of Flowers &
Frolics and now of Gas Mark Five. As with all of Free Reed's old vinyl
releases, Neil Wayne's resurgent CD-based label adds a great value: "Still
Swanning..." has a decent and readable 12-pages booklet crammed with great
archive photos, detailed tune notes, a thorough discography and an amusing
history of the Band.
1)
Walter Bulwer's Polkas, 1 and 2 (Trad arr Rod Stradling) - 2) Bonnets
so Blue / Starry Night for a Randy / Uncle's Jig (Trad arr Old Swan
band) - 3) Not for Joe / Oscar Wood's Polka / Heel and Toe Polka (Trad
arr Rod
Stradling) - 4) The Man in the Moon / Fire Burning Bright / Varsoviarna
(Trad arr Old Swan
band) - 5) Dannish Waltz / Indian Polka / Rigs of Marlow (Trad arr Rod
Stradling) - 6) Dan Leno's Boat (Trad arr Rod Stradling) - 7)
Sherbourne Waltz / Lovely Nancy (Trad arr Rod Stradling) - 8) Curley
Headed Ploughboy / The Quaker / Three around Three (Trad arr Rod
Stradling) - 9) The Rose Polka (Laybourne) / JB Milne's Polka
(Fitchett) - 10) The Matelot / Michael Turner's Jig / Captain Lemo's
Slow March (Trad arr
Old Swan band) - 11) Can't Stop Polka / Evesham Stick Dance (Trad arr
Old Swan band) - 12) Symondsbury / Mummer's Tune / Dr Casey's Finbook /
My Love, My Love (Trad
arr Old Swan band) - 13) Trip to the Forest / The Triumph / Bourton Six
(Trad arr Old Swan band) - 14) Speed the Plough (Trad arr Old Swan
band) - 15) Staffordshire Hornpipe / Mad Moll of the Cheshire Hunts
(Trad arr Old Swan
band) - 16) Woodcutter's Jig (P.Headford) / Swedish Dance (Trad arr Old
Swan band) - 17) Little Polly / Double Eight Figure (Trad arr Old Swan
band) - 18) Old Heddon of Fawley / The Marriage Vow (Trad arr Old Swan
band) - 19) Gloucester Hornpipe / Polly put the Kettle on (Trad arr Old
Swan band) - 20) Give us some Treacle and Bread (Trad arr Old Swan
band) / Mrs Caxton's
Polka (P.Rush) - 21) Worcestershire Hornpipe / Morning Star (Trad arr
Old Swan band) - 22) The Vine Tree (P.Burgess) - 23) The Sloe (Trad arr
Old Swan band)
|