This record was put out by Free Reed in 1976, and I don't think it has been re-issued as a CD.
It is the best demonstration I know that the English melodeon can actually be a musical instrument. Hall, who taught himself to play as a boy and comes from / lives in East Anglia, achieves marvellous lyrical effects through row-crossing and cross-harmonies, both in instrumentals and when accompanying his singing. His boxes on this album were the Hohner Pokerworks so general at the time - he uses one in DG and one in CF, the latter having a particularly rich and mellow sound (and being more suitably pitched for singing, IMO).
He is accompanied by Nic Jones (guitar, fiddle), Johnny Moynihan (yes, that one - I think on mandolin), Keith Pearshouse, and Ian McCoy.
The tunes actually have a predominance of Irish and Scottish ones. ("Gerry's Slow Tune" is Youghal Harbour, "The Major Minor Tune" is The Little Heathy Hill). Hall's playing takes no prizes for speed or niftiness - the Hohner Pokerwork doesn't do these well - but majors on chords, the odd variation and expressiveness, in the tunes mentioned in brackets as much as anywhere.
The songs I think are all from the English tradition. "The Trim Rig Doxie" in particular dwells on an absolutely central theme in English songs, the young Englishman's (especially sailor's) eternal haplessness.
Hall has recently made another album, "Mr. Universe", which all told impresses me less but still has some good tracks. He also accompanied Nic Jones on "Penguin Eggs", claimed justifiably by some to be the best single album of the English folk revival.
Has anyone got the dots for this great tune? I'd need a lot more help than just the dots to learn how Tony puts the bass and treble together, but it would be a start.
It is the first time that I have ever seen anyone, in print, recognise that is what the tune is called.
I was flattered as hell when I saw my name on the sleeve notes on a copy that I picked up at HMV on Yonge Street, Toronto, back in the late 70's but a bit embarrassed that I might have been thought of as instrumental in suggesting that this was a "Scandinavian" tune.
Anyway, I agree that "there isn't a dud track on this album" and I have always considered myself to have been very lucky to have played with many of the best musicians/singers during that era, particularly Tony, of whom I have some very fond memories of accompanying.
Ipswich folk club, well Ipswich itself, attracted and home grew some excellent musicians/singers.
This album has been re-released (2007) by Free Reed. (I got its first release date wrong, above - it was issued in 1977, not 1976.)The number of the re-issue (I take it...) is FRRR 03; the postal address of Free Reed Records is as follows - Free Reed Records, The Cedars, Belper, Derby DE56 1DD, U.K. The website seems to be: www.free-reed.co.uk/remasters.
The re-issue has seven extra tracks on it, recorded in the 1977 sessions. With their track numbers on the reissue, these are:
(18) Donkey Riding,
(19) Ten Thousand Miles Away,
(20) One More Day,
(21) Yeller Girls,
(22) General Taylor,
(23) Heave Away, Me Johnny Boys,
(24) Lord Of Dunblane.
These tracks are not IMO as scintillating as the ones that were selected for the original album, but there's no harm in having them on board. (Most are slowish sea songs; The Lord Of Dunblane is our old friend The Laird Of Drumblair.)
But it's very nice to see this album back in circulation again.
Tony Hall - "Fieldvole Music"
This record was put out by Free Reed in 1976, and I don't think it has been re-issued as a CD.
It is the best demonstration I know that the English melodeon can actually be a musical instrument. Hall, who taught himself to play as a boy and comes from / lives in East Anglia, achieves marvellous lyrical effects through row-crossing and cross-harmonies, both in instrumentals and when accompanying his singing. His boxes on this album were the Hohner Pokerworks so general at the time - he uses one in DG and one in CF, the latter having a particularly rich and mellow sound (and being more suitably pitched for singing, IMO).
He is accompanied by Nic Jones (guitar, fiddle), Johnny Moynihan (yes, that one - I think on mandolin), Keith Pearshouse, and Ian McCoy.
The tunes actually have a predominance of Irish and Scottish ones. ("Gerry's Slow Tune" is Youghal Harbour, "The Major Minor Tune" is The Little Heathy Hill). Hall's playing takes no prizes for speed or niftiness - the Hohner Pokerwork doesn't do these well - but majors on chords, the odd variation and expressiveness, in the tunes mentioned in brackets as much as anywhere.
The songs I think are all from the English tradition. "The Trim Rig Doxie" in particular dwells on an absolutely central theme in English songs, the young Englishman's (especially sailor's) eternal haplessness.
Hall has recently made another album, "Mr. Universe", which all told impresses me less but still has some good tracks. He also accompanied Nic Jones on "Penguin Eggs", claimed justifiably by some to be the best single album of the English folk revival.
# Posted on December 13th 2006 by nicholas
In my opinion there isn't a dud track on this album.
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by nicholas
Banks of the Seine
Has anyone got the dots for this great tune? I'd need a lot more help than just the dots to learn how Tony puts the bass and treble together, but it would be a start.
# Posted on January 28th 2007 by dogbox
Youghal Harbour
Nicholas wins the prize for spotting that.
It is the first time that I have ever seen anyone, in print, recognise that is what the tune is called.
I was flattered as hell when I saw my name on the sleeve notes on a copy that I picked up at HMV on Yonge Street, Toronto, back in the late 70's but a bit embarrassed that I might have been thought of as instrumental in suggesting that this was a "Scandinavian" tune.
Anyway, I agree that "there isn't a dud track on this album" and I have always considered myself to have been very lucky to have played with many of the best musicians/singers during that era, particularly Tony, of whom I have some very fond memories of accompanying.
Ipswich folk club, well Ipswich itself, attracted and home grew some excellent musicians/singers.
# Posted on July 31st 2007 by Gerry of Gerry's
Tony Hall - "Fieldvole Music"
This album has been re-released (2007) by Free Reed. (I got its first release date wrong, above - it was issued in 1977, not 1976.)The number of the re-issue (I take it...) is FRRR 03; the postal address of Free Reed Records is as follows - Free Reed Records, The Cedars, Belper, Derby DE56 1DD, U.K. The website seems to be: www.free-reed.co.uk/remasters.
The re-issue has seven extra tracks on it, recorded in the 1977 sessions. With their track numbers on the reissue, these are:
(18) Donkey Riding,
(19) Ten Thousand Miles Away,
(20) One More Day,
(21) Yeller Girls,
(22) General Taylor,
(23) Heave Away, Me Johnny Boys,
(24) Lord Of Dunblane.
These tracks are not IMO as scintillating as the ones that were selected for the original album, but there's no harm in having them on board. (Most are slowish sea songs; The Lord Of Dunblane is our old friend The Laird Of Drumblair.)
But it's very nice to see this album back in circulation again.
# Posted on August 23rd 2008 by nicholas