FTX-099 - YOUNG RAMBLEAWAY

SEVEN SUFFOLK SINGERS

27 songs (2 of them variants) recorded in Suffolk from Louisa & Ernie Howard, at Thorpeness, and Annie & John Markwell, from Lowestoft, both had husbands who played melodeon for them. Alec Bloomfield and his uncle, Harry List, from Framlingham, gamekeeper & molecatcher, had a very important repertoire of old ballads. Woodbridge singer, Herbert Last, has some amusing songs of the Music Hall type. The Brightwells, Velvet and his son, Jumbo, were star performers at "The Eels Foot", Eastbridge, near Leiston.

Louisa Howard & Annie Markwell rec by Peter Kennedy 1956:-

1. THE SAILOR BOY (or DIED FOR LOVE) Louisa Howard with Ernie (melodeon) talk before & after - 1'45"

2. THE HOUSE OF ILL FAME Louisa Howard (unaccomp) - 1'52"

3. SCARBOROUGH BANKS (1) Annie Markwell with John (melodeon) talk bef - 5'10"

4. WILLIAM AND POLLY (or THE CAMBRIDGE GIRL) Annie (unaccomp) talk bef & aft - 2'46"

5. THE DARK-EYED SAILOR Annie (unaccomp) 2 fragments with talk - 2'07"

Alec Bloomfield, Framlingham rec by Peter Kennedy 1950:-

6. THE OLD COUPLE IN THE WOOD (or FATHER GRUMBLE) - 1'24"

7. STAND YOU UP STEADY-O (or SPRIG OF THYME) - 0'32"

8. THE MOLECATCHER - 0'55"

9. BURLINGTON FAIR (or YOUNG RAMBLE-AWAY) - 1'55"

10. THE POOR LITTLE SOLDIER'S BOY - 2'49"

11. BOLD GENERAL WOLFE - 2'46"

12. THE HIGHWAYMAN OUTWITTED - 2'59"

13. THE SHIP THAT NEVER RETURNED - 2'38"

14. THE KNIFE IN THE WINDOW (1) Alec Bloomfield - 1'43"

15. THE KNIFE IN THE WINDOW (2) Alec's uncle, Harry List, Sweffling (1951) - 2'47"

16. THE LIGHT DRAG'ON as previous - 1'40"

17. BARBARA ALLEN as previous - 2'47"

Herbert Last rec by Peter Kennedy, Woodbridge 1955:

18. JUMP JIM DANDY - 1'35"

19. I'LL BE LEVEL WITH HER - 1'57"

20. JEALOUSY (or POISON IN A GLASS OF WINE) - 1'28"

21. THE POOR SMUGGLER'S BOY - 3'02"

The Brightwells rec by Peter Kennedy, Leiston 1956:-

22. SCARBOROUGH BANKS (2) Velvet Brightwell (talk after) - 3'31"

23. THE FAITHFUL PLOUGH Velvet Brightwell - 2'14"

24. THE FOGGY DEW Velvet Brighttwell (talk bef & aft) - 1'11"

25. THE LOSS OF THE RAMILLIES Velvet Brightwell - 2'09"

26. MUDDLEY BARACKS Jumbo Brightwell, his son, rec at "Eels Foot" - 2'53"

Recorded & edited by Peter Kennedy & published on Folktrax Cassettes 1975.

"Velvet", William BRIGHTWELL, aged 91 when recorded in his house in Leiston, was born at Little Glenham but lived most of his life at Wickham Market. His son "Jumbo", also William, was born at Wickham Market and recorded the same day at "The Eels Foot" public house, Eastbridge.