Tony Rose (1941-2002) was a stalwart of the English trad scene, perhaps best remembered for his association with Nic Jones, with whom he made several recordings. Like Jones, many of Rose's early albums were caught up in the copyright quagmire brought about by the collapse of the Trailer record label... But for determined fans, these albums are well worth searching for...
Tony Rose "Young Hunting" (Trailer Records, 1970) (LP)
Tony Rose "Under The Greenwood Tree" (Trailer Records, 1971) (LP)
Tony Rose/Nic Jones/Jon Raven "Songs Of A Changing World" (Trailer Records, 1973) (LP)
Tony Rose "On Banks Of Green Willow" (Trailer Records, 1976) (LP)
Bandoggs "Bandoggs" (Trailer/Transatlantic Records, 1978) (LP)
An all-star collaboration between guitarist Nic Jones and fellow British folkies Chris Coe, Pete Coe and Tony Rose... Jones sings on about half the songs, including some that wound up in his regular repertoire... Sadly, this is one of the many, many fine out-of-print albums from the old Leader-Trailer record label that have been in a bizarre legal limbo for several decades. Sigh. I don't own a copy myself, but sure wish I did!
Tony Rose "Poor Fellows" (Dingle's Records, 1982) (LP)
(Produced by Tony Rose & Jerry Friar)
A very gentle, sparingly arranged album, with a stellar repertoire ranging from Child Ballads and traditional ballads to interesting, unique arrangements of songs by Bob Dylan ("Boots Of Spanish Leather") and Richard Thompson ("Down Where The Drunkards Roll") as well as a surprising choral rendition of "The Three Bells." Rose's soft, restrained delivery pulls you into each song in an unusual way... making this the kind of album that will grow on you and gain new shades and nuances as the years go by.
Tony Rose "Bare Bones" (Boneshaker Records, 1999)
Tony Rose "Exe" (Chudleigh Roots, 2008)
A posthumously-released collection of live performances spanning Rose's career from the 1960s through the early '80s...
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