FTX-223 - THE SEA'S THEIR BREAD

Songs of Fishermen & Sailors

Graeme Miles -3- Another selection from one of England's most outstanding song- makers. This album features heroic and historical subjects as well as some tragic shipwreck ballads, composed sea-songs and work shanties of the high seas and coastline, including that of his local Durham and North Yorkshire. The Teesside Fettlers, Liverpool Spinners, Vin Garbutt, Ewan McColl & Peggy Seeger are among those who have performed Graeme's compositions.

1. A GREAT NORTHERN RIVER (unacc/ comp 1970) - 2'53"

2. ON THE DUNES OF THE HUMBER (with banjo/ 1966) - 3'15"

3. "THE FLYING ENTERPRISE" (unacc/ 1952) - 4'23"

4. JAMES COOK, SOUTH SEA SAILOR (unacc shanty/ 1959) - 3'21"

5. THE WRECK OF THE "JEANNE GOUGY" (with guitar/ 1963) - 2'19"

6. DRAKE WAS A SAILOR (unacc/ suggesting you add your own verses about Jellicoe, Rodney & co) - 2'44"

7. THE LAIRDSFIELD TRAGEDY (unacc/ Feb 1970) - 2'43"

8. THE BOLD WHITBY FISHERMEN (with guitar/ 1971) - 4'01"

9. THE HUNTCLIFF SEAGULL (unacc) - 2'53"

10. WHERE ARE THOSE SHIPS OF LONG AGO? (unacc shanty) - 2'43"

11. THE FISHERMAN FOUND ON THE SAND (unacc) - 2'42"

12. FAIR WEATHER BOYS or THE TRAWLERS OF GRIMSBY (unacc/ 1966) - 1'50"

13. "THE ZETLAND" WAS HER NAME (Lifeboat Song/ 1967) - 2'12"

14. THE WHITBY GIRL'S LAMENT (with guitar/ 1971) - 2'54"

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. 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 and Peggy Seeger, he became interested in writing songs for documentaries. Graeme has recorded more than 200 of his songs for FOLKTRAX:-

90-221 THE GREEN BANKS OF GRAIN - First album from the Teeside & Cleveland area, containing more of the rural songs.

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

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".