FTX-048 - THE PILGRIM FATHERS

GRAHAM & EILEEN PRATT

The first album of both contemporary and traditional songs from a strong duo team much respected on the Folk Scene. Most of the songs are introduced beforehand, and, for accompaniment, both guitar & English concertina are used, while others are sung 'a capella'

1. THE PILGRIM FATHERS (W/M: Graham Pratt) Intro by Graham (unacc.) - 4'10"

2. THE PIED PIPER (W: E. Pratt; M: Graham & Paul Dickinson) + guitar - 3'23"

3. LADY HOWARD'S COACH (W: Trad/Pratt; M: Graham) Unacc - 2'42"

4. THE DEVIL'S BRIDGE (W/M: Graham) Intro by Eileen - 2'28"

5. THE BLACK FOX (W: Trad/Graham; M: Graham) acc. concertina - 3'25"

6. TRAMP'S SONG (W/M: Graham Pratt) Introduced & sung with guitar - 2'27"

7. LUMLEY KETTLEWELL (W: Graham; M: Trad/Graham) - 3'31"

8. THE MINSTREL (W/M: Graham Pratt) Intro & sung by Eileen + guitar - 6'08"

9. THE NOBLEMAN AND THE THRESHER (Trad. arr. Graham) - 2.36

10. CAMPBELL'S SERVANT (W: Graham; M: Trad/Graham) Intro: G sung by Eileen - 5'01"

11. THE HIGH-METTLED RACER (W: Trad; M: Graham) unacc - 3'17"

12. NORTHILL (Bedfordshire) MAY SONG (Trad/Graham) Eileen + concertina - 2'08"

13. THE MAGIC PEAR TREE (W/M: Graham) Intro: Graham unacc - 3'20"

14. LORD NELSON'S LAMENT (W: Trad; M: Trad/Graham) Intro. Eileen + guitar - 5'42"

15. OL' BANGUM (W/M: Trad/Pratt) Intro. Eileen unacc - 2'52"

16. THE BROOMFIELD HILL (W/M: Trad/Pratt) Intro. Eileen + guitar - 4'24"

Tracks #1-8 recorded by Peter Kennedy, Dartington, Devon and #9-16 by John Rabbetts, Cheltenham, Gloucestersh. Edited by Peter Kennedy and first published by Folktrax 1975.

GRAHAM PRATT has been making up songs and tunes from the age of 10, when he was first encouraged by bathroom acoustics. At home in Romford, Essex, his parents diligently dissuaded him from becoming a professional singer. It was at University at Swansea in South Wales, at the local Folk Club, that he began to perform and compose songs in traditional style. Here he also encountered Eileen. Since leaving Swansea, Graham has worked as an insurance clerk, Russian translator and as an ambulance driver. They moved to Gloucestershire in 1973, devoting most of their spare time to composing and working the Folk Club circuit, singing their own as well as traditional songs.

They have not only been performing as a duo, but have also been involved in two harmony singing groups, one of which is still meeting to perform song cycles, or what might be called Folk Operas. The idea is to break up songs and instrumentals, so that they come out of speech and recitative, and appear less as set pieces.