FTX-221- THE GREEN BANKS OF GRAIN

GRAEME MILES - Songs of Teesside & Cleveland

Graeme MILES -1- This first album, by one of England's most outstanding song- makers, features some of his best rural songs and ballads of love and sport, also including his Midwinter Carol, "We should not curse the winter". Most are based around the local landmarks of Durham and North Yorkshire. The Teeside Fettlers, Vin Garbutt, The Liverpool Spinners, Ewan McColl and Peggy Seeger are among those who have performed his songs.

1. I TOOK EACH OF MY LOVES TO THE FAIR (with guitar) - 1'54"

2. THE RABBIT CHASE (unacc) - 3'33"

3. NO TRADE HAVE I or THERE GOES THE FARMER (unacc) - 2'42"

4. SO GREEN AND PLEASANT or BY WOLVISTON MILL (unacc) - 1'54"

5. I'M ON MY WAY TO BARNARD CASTLE or YARM FAIR (unacc) - 2'05"

6. THE YELLOW TASSEL (with guitar) - 1'54"

7. THE (WOEFUL) SCARECROW (unacc) - 4'28"

8. HEATHER BROWN or THE GIRL WITH RED HAIR (with guitar) - 3'40"

9. THE YORKSHIRE LASS & THE SHORT CUT THROUGH THE CORN (unacc) - 3'13"

10. THE LINNET SINGS or THE CRESTED LARK (unacc) - 2'32"

11. MIDWINTER CAROL or WE SHOULD NOT CURSE THE WINTER (unacc) - 2'54"

12. WILLIAM STONE, THE POACHER (unacc) - 1'43"

13. FLOWERS FOR MY LOVES (unacc) - 2'07"

14. THE WATERS OF THE TEES (unacc) - 4'00"

15. THE GREEN BANKS OF GRAIN (unacc) - 2'55"

16. THE CLEVELAND GROUSE SHOOT (unacc) - 7'04"

17. THE BANKS OF LEVENSIDE (with guitar) - 3'08"

18. THE WILD MOOR OF HOGRAH (unacc) - 2'56"

19. THE ESKDALE TROUT POACHING (unacc) - 4'20"

20. TO VIEW THE FARNDALE DAFFOLDILS (with banjo) - 2'28"

21. AN EVENING IN SUMMER (unacc) - 3'21"

22. I GAVE MY LOVE A SPRIG OF HEATHER (unacc) - 1'40"

23. PRETTY MEG O' WESTERDALE (with guitar) - 2'31"

24. THE WILD DOG OF SNILESWORTH MOOR (unacc) - 4'40"

25. ALONG THE GUISBORO' ROAD (with guitar) - 3'40"

Recorded & edited by Peter Kennedy & first published on Folktrax cassettes 1975.

GRAEME MILES first had his interest in folk music kindled by the "As I roved out" radio programmes in the fifties, introduced by Peter Kennedy & Seamus Ennis, when he was living at Billingham and attending West Hartlepool Art School. To obtain authentic background for his song-making, he worked as a moulder's labourer, deck-hand, railwayman, docker and quarryman.

Then in 1955 came National Service. mainly in Germany with the Royal West Kents, and, after demobilisation, the "Skiffle Craze" with guitars and banjo. In he mid 60's he was living and working in the Cleveland hills and it was then that he developed skills in shaping the more rural type of songs. Inspired then by the work of Ewan McColl & Peggy Seeger, he became interested in writing songs for documentaries. Graeme has recorded more than 200 of his songs for FOLKTRAX:-

222 THE SMOKESTACK LAND - A Second album from the area, but containing more urban & industrial songs.

223 THE SEA'S THEIR BREAD - Songs of local fisherfolk and worldly sailors.

224 THE SQUADDIE'S DREAM - Regulars, conscripts, deserters & demob.

225 THE IRONMASTERS - Miners, moulders, foundrymen & others.

226 THE ENTERTAINERS - A wide variety of his contemporary songs.

227 HERE'S TO THE LADS - About all kinds of sport and play.

228 THE RING OF IRON - His songs of the local industries.

229 THE EAGLE AND THE DOVE - Some of the strongest protests.

230 THE LYKE WAKE - More songs about the North Yorkshire moors.

231 THE WEALDEN FOLK - Songs about Kent, "the Garden of England".