FTX-127 - THE NO HOLES BARD

Mike SHAIL with EEZUM SQUEEZUM

Some of the best of the bawdy ballads and, in spite of the sexual connotations, they contain much variety of subject matter. Mike, who sang in Army Folk Clubs & on British Forces Radio, is well used to performing to all-male audiences, but his programme, though earthy, is also suitable for all mixes of adult folk. Accompanying instruments include guitar, concertina, mandolin, tin-whistle, mouth organ, melodeon, flute, drums, & bass performed by members of Peter Kennedy's Eezum Squeezum Folk Band.

2. THE RAM Mike (voc/ gtr/ mand/ ch) Steve (bass) - 1'33"

3. THE COACHMAN Mike (voc)/ gtr/ ch) Steve (m-harp/ bass/ ch) - 3'39"

4. JOHN BLUNT Mike (voc/ gtr) - 1'42"

5. NEVER WED AN OLD MAN Mike (voc/ gtr) Peter (ch) Steve (bass/ ch) - 2'45"

6. SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS Mike (voc/ gtr/ mand) Peter (mel) Steve (bass) - 3'41"

7. ALL HER ANSWERS (NO, SIR, NO) Mike (voc/ gtr) - 3'25"

8. A-ROVING Mike (voc/ gtr/ mand) Peter (mel) Steve (bass/ ch) - 2'54"

9. ROLL YOUR LEG OVER Mike (voc/gtr) Chris (flute) Peter (gong) Steve (bass) - 2'47"

10. THE THRESHING MACHINE Mike (voc/ gtr/ mand/ ch) Steve (bass) - 2'09"

11. THE PEAR TREE Mike (voc/ harmony voc/ gtr) - 2'08"

12. THE TROOPER'S NAG Mike (voc/ bell) Chris (drum/ ch) Steve (ch) - 4'17"

13. THREE DRUNKEN MAIDENS Mike (voc/ harmony voc/ gtr) Steve (bass) - 2'19"

14. THE HERMIT Mike (voc/ gtr) Steve (bass) - 2'42"

15. THE CLOCKWINDER Mike (voc/ gtr/ mand/ ch) Steve (m-harp/ bass) Peter (bell) - 3'16"

16. THE SENTRY BOX Mike (whistle/ voc/ gtr) Pip (wh) Steve (bass) Peter (drum) - 2'02"

Recorded by Peter Kennedy at Soundpost Studios, Devon on 9th August 1979. Edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1979.

EEZUM SQUEEZUM led by Peter Kennedy with Mike and Pip Shail, Steve Verge, and Chris Caswell (by permission of The Robin Williamson Band, California, USA)

Abbreviations: voc=vocal/ ch=chorus/ conc=concertina/ gtr=guitar/ mand=mandolin/ bass=electric bass/ m-harp=harmonica/ mel=melodeon/ conc=English concertina

#1. From Bob Roberts of Suffolk, John Goodluck, Norfolk, extra verses.

#2. The tune from Bill Downie and words from all over the shop.

#3. From Sam Larner of Winterton, Norfolk.

#4. From Barry Skinner of Leicester now living in Somerset

#5. From a number of popular sources in the mid-sixties.

#6. Also a "popular" version from many sources.

#7. Learnt at school but we used "adapted" verses then.

#8. This is our local Devon version, not the "cleaned up Amsterdam".

#9 & #15. From Van Johnson, deep sea diver, in the Forces Club in Cyprus.

#10. Learned in an Army camp at Maresfield in Sussex.

#11. Thanks to Doug and Sue Hudson, "Tundra", of Kent.

#12. From Mrs. Goodyear, Axford, Hants who sang it in 1907.

#13. From Edmund Fry, Lydford, Devon who sang it to Baring-Gould in 1890.

#15. Believe it or not, learned in German service clubs.

#16. From the Gulliford family, Coombe Florey, Somerset. ROUD#178 - KARPELES CSC 1974 #171 p650 - JFSS 5:19 1915 pp156-7 - PURSLOW CL 1974 p88 - PALMER 1977 p134