An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary.
Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out !
Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

In 2011 a multi instrumentalist, best know for playing the hurdy-gurdy, named Nigel Eaton composed a catchy schottische melody while teaching a workshop at the idyllic Halsway Manor in Somerset. (A 'schottische' is a partnered county dance that originated in Bohemia. While Halsway Manor is the home of the National Centre for Folk Arts.) 

'The Halsway Schottische', later became a Carol, when Nigel's friend, another hurdy-gurdy player Iain Frisk, wrote seasonal winter lyrics for the melody and 'The Halsway Carol' was born.

So on the Winter Solstice, not exactly Midweek I know, but then the shortest day didn't fall as such, I bring you a Carol “Sing for the coming of the longest night”  [full lyrics]

There are many recordings, this one is sung by Jackie Oates, from her album 'The Spyglass & the Herringbone' >

Check out the original 'Halsway Schottische' by Nigel Eaton, and also Peter Knight & John Spiers recording, which was my introduction to it. And "So dance in the shadows of a winter's night". 

  

You may have read back in the Summer that The Searchers performance at the Glastonbury Festival would be their last show ever. After touring since the late 50s, founding member John McNally and Frank Allen, who joined the group in 1964, decided that enough was enough and finally called it a day. They had actually played a farewell tour in 2019. Then a further farewell tour in 2023 and another in 2024. (more here).

At the height of the bands popularity they appeared on a 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' Merseybeat special on December 21st 1963 (Saturday at 5:50 for those who maybe remember watching). Also appearing on the tv show were Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black and of course The Beatles.

YouTube has The Searchers playing 'Sugar and Spice' from that programme. Naturally in black and white, we have bouncing around, drummer Chris Curtis, bassist Tony Jackson on vocals with Mike Pender also singing and on guitar along with John McNally. 

There are two videos: one with an intro and authentic 60s backing of screaming OR this one that has no screaming - 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' Track > 

However if you crave the authentic - then click here.

There is also a different video, in colour, in a recording studio setting. While 'Sugar and Spice' sounds to have sped up a little. Link here. 

  

Part Two of a Fairport 'Convention'

In that December of 1969, even as I was listening to 'Liege & Lief', unbeknown to me Fairport Convention were already breaking up, as first Ashley Hutchings and then Sandy Denny left the group. 

Richard Thompson's autobiography has many stories that followed in 1970 as the band continued as a 5-piece, adding Dave Pegg on bass. They, their families and the road crew, all moved into a former pub in Little Hadham, Hertfordshire. 'The Angel' became their base until tragedy struck in February 1971, when a lorry crashed into the building, causing severe damage and destroying Dave Swarbrick's bedroom. He miraculously avoided injured, surviving to tell the tale, however the lorry driver was killed.

Needless to say their time at 'The Angel' was over and so to was Richard Thompson's time in the band. He moved on and the first Fairport album without him was released with the title song 'Angel Delight' documenting life in the pub with light-hearted lyrics that mention, towards the end, the crash. 

Let's split... 

The above is the album recording. I found a later video (from Cropredy in 1982), but the sound isn't as good, however to see Swarb singing with a cigarette in his mouth, it's certainly worth a look, click here. 

  

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary.
Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out !
Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

I've three good reasons for selecting this week's artists. 

Firstly I'm currently reading Richard Thompson's autobiography 'Beeswing', which has 'jigged' a few memories. 

Then there's the undeniable fact that this group always reminds me of this time of the year. 

And lastly, next week I'm going to see The Albion Christmas Band, which includes the other two founding members of the band: Ashley Hutchings and Simon Nicol. 

We're talking of a Fairport 'Convention' - in parts 1 and (2 on Friday):-

As I type, I'm listening to the 'Liege & Lief' album for the first time in ages and it has taken me back to December 1969. So walk awhile with me back to the Musicland record shop in Berwick Street, London on a Saturday, shortly before Christmas, and the record they're playing, fresh off the presses, has caught my ear and very soon it will engage other parts of me too ! Side Two: 'The Deserter' into a medley of jigs followed by 'Tam Lin'...

Of course this wasn't my first time hearing Fairport Convention. I had bought the single 'Si Tu Dois Partir' back in the summer. A French language version of Bob Dylan's 'If You Gotta Go' which actually made No.21 in the Hit Parade and saw the band mining on 'Top of the Pops' on 14th August. (link - for those interest to see who else was on that show). 

Also I'd heard the Fairports on the John Peel 'Top Gear' show, as they had played many sessions during 1969. So discovering the record playing that Saturday in December was no big surprise. I've been a fan ever since and have seen them on numerous occasions, in all of the numerous changes of line-up, that have occurred over the years.  

But let's return to the Scottish borders and Carterhaugh for the tale of 'Tam Lin'. This is the

Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club with John McAuslan reciting the ballad, a track on their album 'Red Hot Scots (1999). Enlarge the video to follow the words. 

And here's the Fairport track (for comparison) - (here) - sang by Sandy Denny from the 'Liege & Lief' LP, which in 2006 BBC radio listeners voted the "Most Influential Folk Album of All Time" ! 

Part Two - this Friday 

  

Now it's December I think we can start to be a bit festive. 

Unless you've managed to fast-forward your way through every Christmas TV commercial then I'm sure you have seen the Waitrose ad 'The Perfect Gift'. Featuring an unlikely romance between Keira Knightley and comedian Joe Wilkinson, the music soundtrack is by Manchester band James. 

'Video Killed the Radio Star' according to The Buggles in 1979, was the very first music video shown on MTV in the US in 1981. Now as MTV plans to close its UK music channels the headline is 'The Internet Killed the Video Stars'. 

Well today's excellent black and white video is the reverse. Here then is a Star of video, before she became a well known actress ! Keeley Hawes - 'She's A Star' by James >

Dark haired Keeley Hawes was 20 years old at the time of this video in 1997.