FTX-226 - THE ENTERTAINERS

New Songs for the North-East

Graeme Miles -6- Another selection from one of England's most outstanding song- makers. This album features a miscellaneous group of original songs on contemporary themes. The Teesside Fettlers, Liverpool Spinners, Vin Garbutt, Ewan McColl & Peggy Seeger are among those who have performed Graeme's compositions.

1. THE ENTERTAINERS (unacc) - 2'39"

2. THE BLACK COUNTRY (or WEDNESFIELD) LOCKSMITH (unacc) - 3'35"

3. THE OLD BLUE MAN (Megalithic stone on Wheeldale Moor)(with concertina) - 1'16"

4. THE PENNY HEDGE MAN (at annual Whitby custom) - 3'15"

5. THE DRIFT FROM THE LAND (with banjo) - 2'55"

6. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (unacc) - 1'01"

7. SALUTE TO THE TREES (or THE ASH AND THE WILLOW) - 1'48"

8. THE WIDOW OF DOVER (unacc) - 2'41"

9. THE HOLE OF HORCUM (A Beauty Spot in the South Cleveland hills) - 2'25"

10. ROLLING HILLS AND EMPTY MOORS (unacc) - 2'18"

11. SING HIGH AND SING LOW (GLEE SONG) - 2'28"

12. REYNARD ON THE RUN (unacc) - 3'14"

13. WINTER (with guitar) - 1'58"

14. WHORLTON CASTLE (Old Norman castle at the foot of the North Cleveland hills) - 1'14"

15. THE FALL OF THE RIVER (Industrial development on the North shore of the River Tees) - 1'37"

16. PASS THE SONG ALONG (Drinking Round Song) (with banjo) - 1'41"

17. THE PATH BY ESKWATER (unacc) - 2'44"

18. ACROSS THE HILLS O YATTON (unacc) - 3'17"

19. I'VE TRAMPED THESE HILLS (with banjo/ 1964) - 1'51"

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:-

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

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

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

224 THE SQUADDIE'S DREAM - Soldier Songs: Conscripts, regulars, deserters etc.

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

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

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

229 THE EAGLE AND THE DOVE - Some of the strongest protest songs.

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

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