FTX 428 - SOUTH DOWNS & THE WEALD - SONGS RECORDED IN SUSSEX AND KENT

A selection of songs recorded by Peter Kennedy 1952-63. The Two-part singing tradition of the Copper family at Rottingdean had already been encountered and was being broadcast, when in 1952 he came across blackmith, Luther Hills, at East Dean. He and his friend, Mark Fuller also indulged in two-part singing but, perhaps because of the professionalism of the Coppers, they became shy about fully harmonising in front of the microphone. Albert Beale, at Kenardrington, whose father had sung to Cecil Sharp in 1908 was visited with his aunt, Maud Karpeles, and sang again, the songs sung to Sharp 46 years earlier. Then in 1963, the coxswain of the lifeboat at Hastings, Jack Edmunds, gathered in some of the local fishermen, Charlie Geering (84) and Joe "Prooshy" Spicer who sang "Heave on the trawl, boys". Inland there were outstanding performers like Tom Potter of Hawkhurst, Kent as well as Bill Botting and Harry Upton of Balcombe, Sussex, Our two opening songs came from Jack Cheeseman in 1960 whose father had owned some large hopyards at Westerham, Kent.

1. POWDER MONKEY JIM - sung by Jack Cheeseman (talk before) - 4'27"

2. THE COUNTRY CARRIER - sung by Jack - 1'40"

3. THE FROG SONG - sung by Albert Beale (talk before) - 1'44"

4. THE MOON SHINES BRIGHT - sung by Albert - 1'40"

5. VILLIKINS (WILLIAM AND DINAH) - sung by Albert - 2'04"

6. THE LIMERICK DITTY - sung by Albert (talk after) - 2'38"

7. KITTY WELLS - sung by Bill Botting (talk before) - 3'41"

8. THE YOUNG CAVALIER - sung by Bill - 2'10-"

9. THE SEEDS OF LOVE - sung by Bill (talk before) - 1'27"

10. LEFT HOLDING THE BABY (or Black and Rolling Eye) - Bill - 2'57"

11. WHEN JONES'S ALE WAS NEW - sung by Bill (talk before) - 2'41"

12. STATIONED AT LOW FELL (First World War) - sung by Bill - 2'02"

13. THERE GOES OLD TOM - sung by Tom Potter (talk after) - 0'39"

14. WHEEL THE PERAMBULATOR, TOM - sung by Tom - 0'56"

15. Talk about Horsmonden Fair; Old-time Waltz - Tom (melodeon) - 1'33"

16. RAGS AND BONES - sung by Tom (talk after) - 2'15"

17.Talk about Christmas; OLD JOE THE BOAT IS GOING OVER - Tom (melodeon) - 1'51"

18. THE BROOM DANCE (The Keel Row) - Tom (melodeon) (talk after) - 1'46"

19. WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED -OLD & NEW - Tom (melodeon) - 1'19"

20. THE BASKET OF OYSTERS - sung by Charles Geering (talk after by Jack his brother) - 3'07"

21. HEAVE ON THE TRAWL - sung by Joe Spicer (talk before) - 2'52

22. THE DRUNKEN SAILOR - sung by Jack Edmunds - 2'05"

23. JERUSALEM CUCKOO - sung by Harry Upton - 2'02"

24. A WOMAN'S WORK IS NEVER DONE - sung by Harry - 2'37"

25. THE WRECK OF THE NORTH FLEET - sung by Harry (talk after) -5'40"

26. CANADEE - I - O or THE WEARING OF THE BLUE - sung by Harry - 3'43"

27. Talk by his brother, Jack Upton, and his sister, Edith Wheatland about the Sussex Downs - 3'37"

28. STILL I LUVS HIM sung by Betty Redshaw, West Wickham, Kent 1954 - 1'36"

29. DAME DURDEN - sung by Luther Hills with the help of Mark Fuller - 2'12"

30. THE FOGGY DEW - as previous - 2'22"

31. BRISK AND BONNY LAD - as previous - 2'56"

32. SPORTSMEN AROUSE - as previous - 1'55"

Recorded and edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1975.