FTX-501 - THE ELFIN KNIGHT

BALLADS -1- (Child #2 - #84)

Selected recordings, with variants of 24 of those included in Prof. Francis J Child's ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH POPULAR BALLADS. This the first of 3 albums, going from ELFIN KNIGHT (#2) to BARBARA ALLEN (#84). It features outstanding folksingers from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales including Orkney and Shetland, as well as the travellers, both gypsies & tinkers. Some ballads have just one version, while Barbara Allen has 9 variants. EDWARD, previously not collected in Britain, has Scots, Irish & English versions.

1. THE ELFIN KNIGHT [#2] - (a) "Strawberry Lane": Thomas Moran, Mohill, Co Leitrim 1954 - 2'24"

2. "The Team of Rats": Gabriel Figg, West Chiltington, Pulborough, Sussex 1958 - 2'11"

3. THE FALSE KNIGHT UPON THE ROAD [#3] - Duncan McPhee, Blairgowrie, Perthsh 1955 - 0'58"

4. Frank Quinn, Coalisland, Co Tyrone 1958 - 1'22"

5. THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT [#4] - "Six Pretty Maids" Fred Jordan, of Church Stretton, Shropsh rec with audience 1962 - 4'26"

6. THE DOUGLAS TRAGEDY [#7] - (a) Henry McGregor, Perth 1955(verses spoken) - 1'10"

7. "The Bold Dragoon" Enos White, Axford, Marlborough, Wiltsh 1955 - 2'05"

8. THE TWO SISTERS [#10] - (alternating) (a) John Strachan, Fyvie, Aberdeensh 1951 (b) Dorothy Fourbister, Kirkwall, Orkney 1954 (c) Ethel Findlater, Dounby Orkney 1954 - 2'34"

9. LORD RANDAL [#12] - (a) "Henry, my son" Carrie Warren (gipsy) in caravan near Blandford, Dorset 1968 - (b) Elizabeth Cronin, Macroom, Co Cork 1951 - (c) "Lord Ronald": James Laurensen, Fetla, Shetland 1961 - (d) "Billy Boy": Andrew Thomas, Fishguard, Pembrokesh, Wales 1953 - 3'39"

10. EDWARD [#13] - (a) Mary Connors (from Waterford), Belfast 1952 - (b) "My Son David" Jeannie Robertson, Aberdeen 1953 - (c) Thomas Moran - (d) Angela Brazil (aged 15 from Gloucester) rec Blairgowrie, Perthsh 1954 - 6'15"

11. KING ORFEO [#19] - John Stickle, Unst, Shetland 1952 - 0'44"

12. THE CRUEL MOTHER [#20] - (a) Duncan Burke, Perthsh 1955 (with speech) - (b) Cecilia Costello, Birmingham 1950 - (c) Thomas MORAN - 4'49"

13. BONNIE ANNIE [#24] - "The Green Banks Of Yarrow" Teresa Maguire, Belfast, 1955 - 1'46"

14. THE THREE CROWS [#26] - Fred Jordan (of Ludlow) rec London 1962 - 1'44

15. THE BROOMFIELD HILL [#43] - "The Wager" Cyril Poacher with chorus, "The Ship Inn", Blaxhall, Woodbridge, Suffolk 1957 - 3'42"

16. CAPTAIN WEDDERBURN'S COURTSHIP [#46] - Thomas Moran - 3'11"

17. THE TWO BROTHERS [#49] - (a) Lucy Stewart, Fetterangus, Aberdeensh 1955 - (b) Nellie McGregor, Aberdeen 1954 - 3'39"

18. FAIR ROSIE ANN [#52] - Willie Mathieson, Turiff, Aberdeensh 1951 - 0'51"

19. LORD BEICHAN [#53] - Thomas Moran - 5'49"

20. LADY MAISRY [#65] - Carolyne Hughes, Blandford, Dorset 1968 - 2'46"

21. LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELLEN [#73] - "The Brown Girl" Jessie Murray of Portnockie, Buchan rec Edinburgh ceili 1953 - 2'35"

22. LORD LOVEL [#75] - Ethel Findlater, Dounby, Orkney 1955 - 3'26"

23. LORD GREGORY [#76] - (a) Thomas Moran - (b) Elizabeth Cronin - 4'34"

24. BONNY BARBARA ALLEN [#84] (a) Jimmy Stewart, Forfar, Angus - (b) Jessie Murray - (c) Fred Jordan - (d) Charlie Wills, Symondsbury, Dorset 1952 - (e) May Bennell, Amersham, Bucks 1954 - (f) Alec Bloomfield, Benhall, Suffolk 1950 - (g) Bill Westaway, Belstone, Devon 1950 - (h) Phil Tanner, Llangennith, Gower, Wales 1949 - (i) Thomas Moran - 6'45"

Recorded & edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax cassettes 1976.