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May 13 2008
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Elly Roberts reviews
Albion Band
Vintage Albion Band On The Road 1977-1981-1982
Distributed by
Talking Elephant
- Released: Out now
- Rating: 10/10
- Vote and comment on this album:
Folk icons get a dusting down. Over 70 minute’s worth.
The Albion Band, also known as The Albion Country Band formed in 1972
by ex-Fairporter and Steeleye Spanner Ashley Hutchings, was a home for many a
wandering musician, including some of Folk’s greatest.
Richard and Linda Thompson, Marin Carthy, Ashley Hutchings, Dave Mattacks,
Chris Leslie and Ric Sanders have all passed through their ranks over the years.
They were active initially from ’72 to ’73. Four years later, the 1977 version
was put together essentially to play dance music, and what a fine job they do
of all the covers.
Uncle Bernard’s… is a right old knees-up with Ric Sanders doing his mercurial
stuff with style. Bouree could easily be played at some Maypole dance with the
fluttering woodwind adding to the delight. Breaking the romp, they do an
empathetic tribute to the Gresford mining disaster. The former coal mine is
barely two miles from my home, and is still very much remembered as a
catastrophe waiting to happen, with 226 fatalities on 22 September 1934, due
to a gas explosion underground.
Hopping Down In Kent (traditional) is a jaunty ditty about, hop picking,
in Kent, and was recorded as a single in 1976, and featured on ‘77s The
Prospect Before Us album.
By 1981, there were further line-up changes, (with Ric Sanders gone) but still
remained an 8 piece, with Hutchings very much in charge. The close harmony on
the ethereal Jacob’s Well, a hymn, is spectacular and a major highlight of the
collection. Graham Taylor’s Gallard/Bransle is medieval throwback, full
of pomp, and pomp as the brass section have a ball. Again, by ’82 there are
more changes, with Hutchings the only surviving original member, and they’re
now a six-piece.
Their playful and theatrical Greatest Show On Earth is a sort of tribute,
or mickey-take (depending on your point of view) to football. Closing a superb
final set, Cathy Lesurf, one time lead singer with Fiddler’s Dram (Day Trip To Bangor – 1979)
proves to be a class act on the jolly London Dance Song Medley.
For a full track listing, check the Amazon link above.
File under: Brilliant folk music.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. All In Your Head
2. Devil’s Flame
3. No Different Now
4. Island
5. Fortuneteller
6. Clear The Way
7. You’re My Kite
8. Stop And Start
9. Lean To The Glass
10. One Little Step Away
11. Pennsylvania
12. White Walls
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2008.
For prints of any of Elly's concert pics online,
email Elly
or call 07765 862017.
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