Hello, lurker here rather than regular poster, but just wondered if anyone might be able to help me out ? I’m sure I heard an item on the radio recently about a new compilation featuring a variety of folk artists/singer-songwriters who had been asked to write songs about significant events from the last 100 years (or 20th century). I’m sure I didn’t dream it, but I can’t seem to find any reference to it on buying sites and can’t remember the title. Has anyone heard of it and even better, (if it’s not a figment of my imagination) does anyone know if it’s any good – I thought it might suit a parent for Xmas.
Can anyone help identify a compilation ?
Could it possibly be the recent “The Ballads Of Child Migration: Songs For Britain’s Child Migrants”, or one of the numerous Radio Ballads compilations? I have The Songs of The Radio Ballads which is very good, but it’s not new.
Can you name any of the artists who contributed to the compilation? That may help.
The Radio Ballads sounds about right, brainchild, if I’m right, of the excellent John Tams
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Songs-Of-Radio-Ballads/dp/B000LPS416.
In a similar ilk, thinking of the original 60s Ewan MacColl Radio ballads, how about Joy of Living, a tribute 2 disc record featuring everyone from Paul Brady to Matin simpson, the Unthanks to Steve Earle, Billy Bragg to Jarvis Cocker. That’s suit your dad if you were my daughter
All good stuff. I saw the John Tams Radio Ballad stage show at Celtic Connections a few years back and the MacColl gig this past January. Great great songs.
Peggy Seeger said something at CFF this year along the lines that MacColl played no instrument whatsoever and basically she chorded/harmonised the songs. That makes sense – many MacColl songs are hellish hard to play/sing. That a trained musician had a big hand in them makes total sense.
The 100 year clue ties it in with MacColl, as its his centenary this year with the associated album from luminaries of the folk world.
If all else fails, Janice, why not ask the “hive mind” of the AW to suggest songs in this vein and you can make your own compilation?
Sounds like a thread waiting to happen to me!
I have work to go to, you know!
My local folk expert suggests:
http://www.cecilsharphouse.org/component/content/article/21-shared/shared-events/2710-sweet-liberties
I don’t think it’s what you’re looking for, but it’s interesting.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/folk-musicians-celebrate-800-years-of-british-democracy-with-songs-inspired-by-landmark-legislation-a6736941.html
Is it this by any chance?
I also thought of Land of Hope & Fury, featuring Emily Barker amongst many others, but that appears to have been inspired by more recent events.
https://unionmusicstore.com/shop/cds-and-vinyl/browse-a-z/various-artists-land-of-hope-and-fury
Hello, thank you so much. Hubert – I think that’s the one ! Now I recall, there was something in the news item I heard about them launching it in parliament. However, thanks for the other suggestions too, I shall also investigate those. I knew if anyone would know it would be an Afterworder.
Glad to be of help.