Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?

Subject: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Peter T.
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 01:55 PM

Can anyone recommend a reasonably accessible book or article on the Folk Revival in the U.K. (1950s - 1970s)? I am looking for something that would connect up (for example) Ewan MacColl through to Sandy Denny, Fairport Convention etc. as a preliminary to buying some records. I know virtually nothing about this history, except overhearing people on Rick Fielding's radio show, and the few names I have already mentioned. Any tips would be gratefully appreciated (including crucial albums if any). yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 05:18 PM

There's Folk Revival by Fred Woods (Blandford, 1979), which covers pretty much the area you want.  It's probably out of print, but it would be worth checking libraries and secondhand dealers.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Lanfranc
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 06:12 PM

You could also seek out a copy of "The Electric Muse - the story of Folk into Rock", which was published in the 70's to accompany a boxed set of records under the same title. It might just turn up with the records in a secondhand shop or try eBay.

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 09:19 PM

Folk Revival can be had at  HERE : Electric Muse  HERE  and   HERE  -but probably not for long!  Good luck...

Malcolm

Links fixed.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Feb 00 - 09:25 PM

Unfortunately, those links don't work at all; possibly because they were search results.  If you go   HERE  -that's Bookfinder.com- you can do a search for the books which should give you the information that I miserably failed to communicate!

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Peter T.
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 02:28 PM

Thanks Malcolm, Alan -- would either of you have any albums you would recommend? yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: GUEST,philh
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 04:08 PM

You might try the Anne Briggs - A Collection, TSCD504. All 22 tracks were recorded between 1962 & 1973. The 30 plus page insert booklet is extremely informative & IMHO appart from Norma Waterson no British female folk vocalist from the 2nd half of the 20th century even comes close to Anne Briggs. Phil

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 05:34 PM

For Scotland try Ailie Munro, The Democratic Muse.

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Sunley
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 05:52 PM

There is a folk-singer timeline for the period you're interested in at this site and at the bottom of the page a list of jumps to some of the singers you'd probably want to follow up on.

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Stewie
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 06:54 PM

Hi Peter

The UK label Castle Communications/Essential has issued a 3CD box set entitled 'New Electric Muse: The Story of Folk into Rock' ESB-CD 416. Two of the CDs cover the same ground as the 4LP original 'Electric Muse' - the same artists and mostly, but not invariably, the same tracks that appeared on the original set. The third CD focuses on the period after the issue of the original set, 1976, through to 1996. Laurence Aston, the person behind 'New Electric Muse' and coordinator for Transatlantic of the original LP version, says that his compilation on the third CD 'merely aims to complement the spirit behind the original album with some of the key songs and recordings of folk and roots performers who have continued the story from 1976 to 1996'. These include the Dransfields, Gaughan, Tabor, Thompson, Simpson, Oyster Band, Cronshaw etc. The booklet with the set includes Karl Dallas' notes to the original set - additional notes are by Ashton.

Although no two people given the task of covering the subject would make anywhere near the same selections as one another, these selections reflect a vibrant body of music. Certainly, they cover a good deal of the ground in which you are interested.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Stewie
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 07:11 PM

Peter

I forgot to mention that the 'fRoots' magazine site now has an index to its features since 1979. The magazine was first titled 'Southern Rag', then became 'Folk Roots' and now 'fRoots'. There are 2 articles on the folk revival in the index. You should be able to find a library that carries sets. If not, I would be happy to copy the articles for you. The site is:

fRoots

In case the clicky thing doesn't work:

http://www.froots.demon.co.uk/

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Feb 00 - 10:13 PM

I'd certainly second Susanne's recommendation of Ailie Munro's The Democratic Muse (originally published as The Folk Music Revival in Scotland; it has a lot of very useful material, much of it relating to "Source Singers".

Thankyou, Joe, for fixing my non-working links.  What on earth did I do wrong? They worked when I checked them before posting!

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: GUEST,Peter T.
Date: 27 Feb 00 - 12:26 PM

Is the first set of Electric Muse records covering the period from 1950s-1970's? yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Peter T.
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 11:45 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Stewie
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 08:09 PM

Peter

The original set has one or two from the 1950s, but is mostly 1960s and early 1970s.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: GeorgeH
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 11:39 AM

Also - several critics have suggested that the "new" material in the CD releases of "Folk into Rock" is neither as coherent nor as representative as the original . . though I suspect this may reflect a diversification in the scope of the "folk scene" since the release of the original vinyl collection. (Which I regard as something of a masterpiece, but still wouldn't claim as representative.)

Also - if you're looking at that period you MUST include one of the seminal Radio Ballads, and I'd say "Singing the Fishing" was the obvious candidate.

I'd also nominate:

Watersons "Frost and Fire" (then as you build a collection of UK revival performances you can spot the tracks that others have lifted from that recording, although it also contains some sadly neglected gems)

Carthy/Swarbrick "Byker Hill" (still the best thing Carthy's done, IMO)

Pete Coe's latest (whose title escapes me); Pete is one of those who'se been "doing the business" for many years.

But, sadly, many enormously important recordings from that period are incarcerated in the vaults of Celtic Music (of Harrogate, UK) - as discussed fairly regularly in just about every folk forum.

G.

Subject: RE: Query: U.K. Folk Revival Books?
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Feb 00 - 11:42 AM

Thanks again, I appreciate it. yours, Peter T.