FTX-228 - THE RING OF IRON

Industrial Songs & Ballads

Graeme Miles-8- Another selection from one of England's most outstanding song- makers. This album contains some of his best-known Industrial Ballads from the former Iron and Steel regions of Teeside and Cleveland in 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. WHEREVER YOU MAY BE (unacc) - 1'25"

2. JACK IRONSIDE (unacc) - 3'32"

3. THE RING OF IRON (with banjo) - (comp 1957) - 3'27"

4. PRAISE FOR THE STEELMEN (unacc) - 2'26"

5. THE CLOSURE OF NORTH SKELTON (unacc) - (1964) - 1'56"

6. THE IRON MEN (with guitar) - 4'12"

7. SIX O'CLOCK ON A WINTER'S MORN (unacc) - (1963) - 2'18"

8. THE IRONMAKER (unacc) - (1961) - 4'18"

9. THE WRECKING GANGS or LAMENT FOR THE OLD TOWN (with guitar) - 5'07"

10. YOUNG BRODY (unacc) - 3'21"

11. THE TRADESMAN'S DAY IS DONE (unacc) - (1960) - 1'37"

12. SMOKE AMONG THE POPLARS (with hammer) - 2'15"

13. HEWIN' FOR THE ORE (unacc) - 3'33"

14. THE IRON GATE'S BEEN CLOSED (with guitar) - (1960) - 6'31"

15. LISTEN, YOU LADS (unacc) - (1961) - 2'30"

16. THE IRON-MOULDER'S WEDDING (unacc) - (1961) - 4'09"

17. GET THAT WATER BOILED, SON (unacc) - 1'23"

18. GOODBYE TO THE ANDO'S (Anderston Foundry) (with banjo) - 3'28"

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.

226 THE ENTERTAINERS - Miscellaneous Songs & Contemporary Ballads.

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

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".