FTX-222
- THE SMOKESTACK LAND
MORE FROM TEEESIDE &
CLEVELAND
Another album from Graeme Miles, one of England's
most outstanding song-makers, this time containing urban songs as well as those
concerned with both rural and urban occupations: poaching and stonebreaking,
steel foundries, salt-workers, fire & disaster, the changing face of town
and country, the beauty that can be caused by pollution. Also included are some
street songs based on children's verses from the Durham and North Yorkshire
regions.
1. OUR OWD WOMAN (unacc) - 1'21"
2. THE BANKS OF THE TEES (with banjo) (Waiting for the ferry at
Middlesbrough) - 2'52"
3. FRIDAY PAY NIGHT (unacc) - 2'05"
4. THE SNOWDON ROAD SEWER TRAGEDY (3 men died of monoxide 1961)
(unacc) - 2'41"
5. THE SALT PEOPLE (with guitar) - 3'48"
6. THE HARTLEPOOLS MATCH FACTORY FIRE (1954) (unacc) - 3'41"
7. THOMPSON'S LASS (Darlington) (unacc) - 2'44"
8. THE BONESETTER (unacc) - 4'39"
9. STREET SONGS (unacc): (a) LOTHIAN ROAD (b) TOLLY'S WAGON (c)
WHEN NEWCASTLE CAME TO PLAY US - 1'54"
10. THE WALLS OF OLD STOCKTON (unacc) - 1'50"
11. WAITING FOR THE FERRY (unacc) (Now replaced by the High Level
Bridge) - 1'01"
12. THE RAILWAYMAN'S FAREWELL TO DARLINGTON (Beeching's rail-
cuts 1962) (unacc) - 3'14"
13. BLUE SUNSET (with guitar & whistling) - 3'27"
14. THE PROCESSION (Opening of new wing at Middlesborough General
Hospital 3/12/59) - 3'09"
15. WILLIAM DAVIDSON or THE SMOKESTACK LAND (unacc) - 4'46"
16. THE LINGDALE LAD (unacc) - 2'22"
17. THE STONEBREAKER (unacc) - 3'08"
18. IS MY LOVE STILL SLEEPING? (unacc) - 2'14"
19. THE RATCATCHER SONG (Inspired by working on a refuse tip)
(unacc) - 2'30"
20. I'LL BUY MY LOVE (with guitar) - 3'35"
21. THE TALE OF TOMMY CROPPER (unacc) - 2'34"
22. FREEBROUGH HILL (on Middlesbrough-Whitby Road) (unacc) - 2'21"
23. THE BARON DE MEYNELL (Whorlton, 11-12th C.) (unacc) - 4'46"
24. OVER YONDER BANKS (with guitar) - 3'40"
25. OLD MIDDLEBROUGH MARKET IS BEING PULLED DOWN (unacc) -
1'35"
26. THE FACTORY LIFE (with banjo) - 5'01"
Recorded & edited by Peter Kennedy & first published on
Folktrax cassettes 1977.
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. Inspired then by the work of Ewan McColl and Peggy Seeger, he became
interested in writing songs for documentaries. Graeme has recorded more than
200 of his songs for FOLKTRAX:-
221 THE GREEN BANKS OF GRAIN - First album from the Teeside &
Cleveland area, containing more of the rural 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".
