Hello! This page is part of an opinionated overview of Celtic and British folk music, with record reviews by me, Joe Sixpack... This is not meant to be taken as a "definitive" resource, but rather as a record of some of the music which has caught my interest. I am always looking for more good music to explore, so your comments and suggestions are welcome.
Gabriel & Marie Yacoub "Pierre De Grenoble" (Barclay Records, 1973) (LP)
A starkly traddish set of old French folk tunes, performed by Gabriel Yacoub, the former lead singer of the French folk ensemble Malicorne, and several of his like-minded pals. This record is relatively grating, compared to the early Malicorne albums, or Yacoub's later work, but though most tracks feature prominent bagpipes, clompy Gallic reels and super-nasal vocal choruses, there are also a few sublime moments, sure to turn the ears of any world music devotee. The drony electric guitar-sitar combination on the title track, for example, is a song that I just can't wait to play on the radio! A raspy French record, but definitely one to track down. (Re-released on Yacoub's own label, at http://www.gabrielyacoub.com.)
Gabriel Yacoub "Trad. Arr." (Green Linnet Records, 1978) (LP)
A beautiful set of traditional French folk ballads, by the former lead singer of the French folk ensemble Malicorne, with help by trad folkies such as Barry Dransfield and Jean Blanchard. Yacoub later went on to become more of a new age-y space-out guitar whiz, ala William Ackerman, but his early stuff -- like this album -- was very nice and very much in keeping with the Celtic revival of the '70s. I really love this record; it's also worth it to check out the albums made with his band, Malicorne, earlier in the decade.
Gabriel Yacoub "Les Choses Les Plus Simples (The Simple Things We Said)" (Prime CD, 2001)
A stripped-down, mature, seemingly sedate album, with a heavy folkie base... At first blush, this acoustic outing may not appear as adventurous as earlier Yacoub records, but he gathers steam as the album goes along, and as ever, sounds quite lovely. Includes a few songs sung in English, and they ain't bad, either. If you're looking for something mellow, this is pretty nice.
The Yetties "Fifty Stone Of Loveliness" (Acorn Records, 1969) (LP)
(Produced by Colin Sanders)
The Yetties "Who's A-Fear'd: Songs And Music From Dorset" (Acorn Records, 1970) (LP)
(Produced by Colin Sanders)
The Yetties "Keep A-Runnin, It's The Yetties" (Argo Records, 1970) (LP)
An early album from this good-natured group from the town of Yetminster, in Dorset, England. Jaunty singalong tunes tailor made for old-fashioned pubs and the rhythmic swinging of pint glasses - some drinking songs, some ballads, a few country-dance instrumentals and a slow, mopey tears-in-your-beer tunes (such as the boozy Stephen Foster-ish "Take Your Time," which is an album highlight...) At first blush these fellas seem a bit too watered-down and Irish Rovers-y, but they'll grow on you. Lots of interesting songs in their repertoire, and once you get past the restrained production style, there's a lot to recommend here. f you can track down these older records, they're pretty fun!
The Yetties "Dorset Is Beautiful" (Argo Records, 1972) (LP)
The Yetties "Up In Arms" (Argo Records, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Kevin Daly & Iain Churches)
A jaunty, humorous parade of old (mostly) British pop tunes with military-related themes, WWI and WWII chestnuts such as "Bless 'Em All," "Wish Me Luck (As You Wave Goodbye)" and "Pack Up Your Troubles," in a nostalgic set worthy of Gracie Fields or Vera Lynn. It's a concert album, performed live at the Old Digby Hall in Sherborne, Dorset. It's mostly done straight-up acoustic by the band, though they get some assist by a local brass band, The Sherborne Town Band. A little goofy, but fun, particularly for those of a historical bent. (Note: not all the songs are included on the track lists, alas.)
The Yetties "The World Of The Yetties" (Argo Records, 1975) (LP)
The Yetties "Up Market" (Decca Records, 1977) (LP)
Somewhat overripe, popped-up British folk from this Dorset-based band, with relatively traditional material backed by yo-ho-ho-ish singalong choruses reminiscent of the Irish Rovers. This album features orchestrations by the Alan Cohen orchestra, which are, I suppose, creative in some ways, but mostly pretty goofy. Uber-traditionalist Toni Arthur makes a comedic cameo on the music hall-styled "Come Outside," which closes the album. Nothing special though; you can skip this one.
The Yetties "Dorset Style" (Decca Records, 1978) (LP)
The Yetties "A Proper Job" (ASV Records, 1981)
The Yetties "Live With The Yetties" (2008)
Yorkshire Relish - see artist profile
The Young Tradition "The Young Tradition" (Transatlantic Records, 1966) (LP)
The Young Tradition "So Cheerfully Round" (Transatlantic Records, 1967) (LP)
Emerging on the London folk scene in the mid-'60s, Royston Wood, Heather Wood and Peter Bellamy set the pace for like-minded traditionalists and folklorists. Although they were not a tremendous success financially (disbanding in 1969, after years struggling on the folk club circuit), the trio had a tremendous influence on many of their musical contemporaries. Their keening, compelling, growling, craggy a capella harmonies would be echoed in the work of bands such as Dolly and Shirley Collins, Steeleye Span and the Yorkshire family ensemble, The Watersons. This CD pairs up the Young Tradition's first two albums, both remarkable and potent examples of the new group's considerable artistic presence. Love ballads, hunting songs, sea shanties and dirges, all with compelling lyrics delivered with gusto and conviction. The trio perfectly captures the old-world view and odd, antiquated style -- one can only imagine the impression they made on audiences in the clubs of the time! This is a beautiful and much welcome reissue; check this disc out and continue your explorations from here.
The Young Tradition "Chicken On A Raft" (Transatlantic Records, 1968) (LP)
A delightful, but all-too-short set of rollicking sea shanties. The title track is a real hoot. (Reissued on CD along with the 1969 album, Galleries and Heather and Royston Wood's 1977 album, No Relation -- both reviewed below.)
The Young Tradition "Galleries" (Transatlantic Records, 1969)
The final Young Tradition album -- not counting the Adieu To Old England album, which went unreleased until 1995 -- this is an interesting mix of influences, although still very much in the distinctive YT style. Several high-powered British folkies chip in on this album, including fiddler Dave Swarbrick, Ian Campbell, Sandy Denny (just barely), and Dolly Collins, who brought in her pals from David Munrow's Early Music Consort to help add instrumental oompf to several of the album's medieval-oriented tunes. This is the most experimental, or at least adventurous, of the YT albums, and even includes an odd tune combining ye olde vocal style with some of Bellamy's blues slide guitar, in sort of a warped, latter-day version of British skiffle. Apparently it was the Wood's growing interest in medieval and Renaissance music that led Bellamy to make a break with the group -- he preferred more modern material. Some folks have called this album a folk music Sgt. Pepper, although I think that comparison was mostly due to the Beatles album having just come out -- this is hardly as sweeping or as striking a release -- but it certainly is a noteworthy swan song for such an intriguing trio. This album has been reissued on CD along with the Heather and Royston Wood's 1977 album, No Relation, and the earlier Chicken On A Raft EP, which are both quite wonderful.
The Young Tradition with Shirley & Dolly Collins "Adieu To Old England" (Fledgling Records, 1969/1995)
A great set of Christmastime and wintery ditties, originally recorded in 1969. There's a nice stylistic variation, from the craggy-voiced growls of the late Peter Bellamy to some of the sweetest harmonizations the Collins sisters ever did. There's a cool variant version of "The Holly Bears A Crown," and several other semi-pagan spirituality tunes, some of it stark, some of it melodic. But this is one of the most accessible Collins-related albums I've had the pleasure to hear... Highly recommended!
