FTX-230 - THE LYKE WAKE

Songs of the Cleveland Moors

Graeme Miles -10- Graeme draws inspiration from the dry-stone walls and the stone crosses on the North Yorkshire Moors, giving his songs a primeval timelessness and universality. The Teesside Fettlers, Liverpool Spinners, Vin Garbutt, Ewan McColl & Peggy Seeger are among those who have performed Graeme's compositions.

1. QUEEN OF THE DALES (with guitar/ 1965) - 2'31"

2. A-COURSIN' THE HARE or GREEN COATS AND BEAGLES (unacc/ 1966) - 3'32"

3. Instrumental: THE SHEEP DOG'S TUNE (banjo with whistling & barking) - 2'02"

4. WHITTLE'S WHIPPET (unacc) - 3'16"

5. WHERE IS BILLY NOW? (with guitar) - 2'49"

6. HERE'S GOOD HARVEST, ME BOYS, FOR SHEARING & MOWING (unacc) - 2'36"

7. LOOKS LIKE SUMMER'S NIGH (with banjo) - (1974) - 5'06"

8. THE LYKE WAKE DIRGE (with concertina) (see also LYKE WAKE WALKER'S DIRGE on FTX 227) - 3'35"

9. BAYSDALE or HOGRAH MOOR (unacc) - (1964) - 2'07"

10. (COLD BLOWS THE WIND) OVER FYLINGDALES (unacc & guitar) - (1966) - 4'14"

11. OVER YONDER BROW (unacc) - (1964) - 0'44"

12. HOW COLD THE WINDS DO BLOW pr YOUNG JACK THE SHEPHERD (with banjo) - (1962-3) - 5'11"

13. FAIR THE HEATHER GROWS (unacc) - (Wheeldale Moor 1966) - 1'51"

14. Instrumental: ROKE (Fog) O'ER URRAH (Moor) (with banjo) - (1969) - 3'10"

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 - 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 - Outstanding songs of the local industries.

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

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