…that a late-night affray at Rufford Park in Nottinghamshire involving poachers and gamekeepers gave rise to a classic folk song. Using the British Library’s subscription online newspaper archive, I found a report of the incident in several local papers in October 1851 along with reports of the court proceedings a month later… and reference to the song in an opinion piece on songs about criminals from 1862. So, 11 years for a folk song (author unknown) to be created.
I’ve long thought the 1987 BBC radio session version by Martin Carthy to be his finest rendering of the song – and Martin agrees. He vividly recalls the way the engineer miked his guitar. It will, of course, be on the 20CD ‘Martin Carthy at the BBC’ planned for next year. 🙂
Drat – my arithmetic was adrift: it’s 171 years next month…
Not another one FFS.
Well, yes, I fear so, Twang… But this one actually contains what I thought was interesting content – pinpointing the birth of a classic folk song within a few years.
Coope, Boyes & Simpson
I really like this version of “Rufford Park Poachers”, as well.
I thought I was the only CBS head on here. I saw them on their last tour. They rocked hard.
That’s nice, dear.
Enough of your faint praise, bloody brilliant is what it is. Never heard them (or heard of them), but now I have.
I have that album too – strong stuff indeed.
LOVE Coope, Boyes & Simpson.
Would’ve given (almost) anything to have seen them live.
Fantastic!
Twenty CDs of Carthy eh, Colin? That’s a mighty lot of grit and bitter. I’d better get in training.
Trust me, it’ll be legendary! The audio is assembled ahead of mastering – 1966-2020, with a book for the set to be written by a well-known writer of folkish bent. Touch wood, it will appear next year – a mighty testament to the Great Man.
If you haven’t heard Carthy singing Slade, it’s surprisingly effective… 🙂
The new John Lewis Christmas advert soundtrack?
Undoubtedly.
In your part of the world, shouldn’t that be “Hondootedly”….?
Hondisputedly.
Thanks for that @Colin_H. It made my day.
Anyone can play a fast song a little slower. But to transform it into something quite new is another matter.
Blinkin’ eck. Essentially it’s in 5 time, but then pulled every which way. I won’t be trying an asymmetric waltz to that.
Looking forward to supporting Martin at our club come November.