FTX-224 - THE SQUADDIES DREAM

BARRACK ROOM BALLADS

Graeme Miles - Another selection from one of England's most outstanding song- makers. This album features Army Ballads of conscripts, regulars, deserters and "demob". including some that have now become well-known and are still sung in barrack- rooms. The Teesside Fettlers, Liverpool Spinners, Vin Garbutt, Ewan McColl & Peggy Seeger are among those who have performed Graeme's compositions.

1. THE CONSCRIPT'S SONG (with banjo/ comp 1959) - 4'14"

2. TWO YEARS IN THE RANKS (unacc/ 1955) - 1'49"

3. THE SQUADDIES LULLABY (unacc/ 1956) - 2'30"

4. THE GREEN HOWARD SOLDIER OF NORTHALLERTON TOWN (with guitar) - 2'54"

5. WAR GAMES or THE HEATHS OF LUNEBURG (unacc) - 4'54"

6. SERGEANT JACK NACKERTY (unacc) - 5'01"

7. THE SQUADDIE'S DREAM (unacc) - 2'00"

8. TOMMY'S JOINED "THE DURHAMS" (Light Infantry) - 2'27"

9. BOBBY WEARS THE HOWARD'S BADGE (with guitar) - 2'39"

10. THE DESERTER (unacc) - 5.09

11. THE SHORES OF OLD BLIGHTY (with guitar/ 1955) - 5'12"

12. WHERE WERE YOU, TOMMY ATKINS ? (unacc/ 1975) - 1'53"

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 and to- date 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.

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

223 THE SEA'S THEIR BREAD - Songs & Shanties of Fisherfolk & Sailors

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".