Paging ROTF

ROFT recommended their 'Cammel Laird Social Club' as a good starting point. HMHB are a great band and it's to my shame that I did not get any of their stuff earlier. I can't see why you cannot buy from Amazon in the UK with delivery to Australia - I have bought from the US site with delivery to the UK.

Nigel

Hi Gareth

Was wondering if anybody would spot I was a Half Man Half Biscuit fan.

It is easy to get Half Man Half Biscuit albums. Just drop, their manager, Geoff Davis, a line and he'll supply. Rest assured they will not rip you off. There was a time when they used to say fine to anybody copying the CDs, but they got annoyed when some shark started doing it and selling the copies on evil bay - especially the peel sessions which they felt was disrepectful to John Peel who always supported the group (great bloke - and an Ipswich Town season ticket holder in to the bargain). Personally, I buy the records through the group.

Geoff Davies
Probe Plus, 11 Sydenham Avenue
LIVERPOOL, L17 3AU, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0)151 733 1810
Email: geoff@probeplus.co.uk
Web: www.probeplus.co.uk

The available albums list is here.

Geoff responds to emails pretty quickly. HMHB have never wanted to join a big label and Geoff's company: Probe Plus is a small independent label.

As Nigel says, Amazon can supply lots of HMHB albums.

If you have any difficulties then let me know and I'll do what I can.

In the meantime, here's some Peel and Kershaw Sessions for you to download and enjoy for free.

All the best, Rotf

PS - Cammel Laird Social Club is a good starting point - glad you liked it, Nigel.

Hi ROTF,

I have just listened to the links you posted and I am quite taken by HMHB. If I was to start with three of their albums, which ones would you recommend?

Cheers

Brad

Hi Brad

If you went for

Back in the DHSS/Trumpton Riots (Probe4CD)
Trouble Over Bridgwater (Probe48CD)
Cammell Laird Social Club (Probe52CD)

then you'd have quite a contrast.

All of their albums have something special about them. It is even harder than asking which three Beatles albums would I recommend. With HMHB, I'd always start with Cammell Laird Social Club because the songs are so strong and it has Light At The End of The Tunnel and She's In Broadstairs and 27 Yards of Dental Floss (and she still won't give me a smile). DHSS has Albert Hammond Bootleg, Fred Titmus and 1966 and All That and Trouble Over Bridgwater has Irk The Purists and 24 Hour Gargage People and my favourite seasonal song : It's Clichéd To Be Cynical At Christmas.

Happy listening, Rotf

Thanks Rotf,

I will try those three.

Kind regards

Brad

and ROTF as we are at it and all in thrall to your recommendations how about 3 from Shirly Collins as I have been meaning to explore her back catalogue on your recommendation.


I really like "This Leaden Pall" by HMHB, it would be my personal favourite of theirs.

SJB

"This Leaden Pall" is another great album as is "McIntyre, Treadmore And Davitt". The former has 4AD3DCD, Running Order Squabble Fest , and Turned Up Clocked On Laid Off. While the latter has Everything's AOR, possibly one of the most socially aware songs ever written - she's a big in her office in the city, but I remember when she was reading jackie, but I can put a tennis raquet up against my face and look like Kendo Nagasaki.

Dame Shirley Collins (I know she's not been honoured, but as she is a more important figure than any politician or businessman, she should have been).



1. Folk Roots, New Roots



Made with Davy Graham, a wonderful guitarist, this album is gem. For me, no other record has this level of importance. Now I don't mean to knock anybody's musical taste, but I grew up in house of music that didn't mean much to me - Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and lots of Jazz, even some Elvis Presley. One day I found Folk Roots, New Roots and suddenly music came alive - I've been hooked ever since.

2. Anthems In Eden



Made with Dolly Collins and a host of other great musicians including the amazing Christopher Hoogwood from The Academy of Ancient Music. This is a faultless gem. The Anthems In Eden suite is as complete as any piece of music I've ever heard.

Harder to choose no.3, but ...

3. No Roses



It's the best folk rock album in my collection - better than any of the Fairport's work simply because of Shirley's peerless singing. Also featured on No Roses are Dolly Collins, Lal Waterson, Mike Waterson, Royston Wood, Francis Baines, Steve Migden, Roger Powell, Richard Thompson, Colin Ross, Alan Lumsden, Maddy Prior, Simon Nicol, Ashley Hutchings, Alan Cave, Lol Coxhill, Dave Bland, Tony Hall, Tim Renwick, Ian Whiteman, Barry Dransfield, Nic Jones, Dave Mattacks, Gregg Butler, John Kirkpatrick and Trevor Crozier.

These three are contrasting and if you like Shirley Collins then you can't go wrong with these. I notice other folk lovers on the forum naming vocalist who they feel are better than Shirley - sorry, but I think they are having a laugh, as even those named singers would nominate Shirley as the best (feel free to disagree)

Hope you like these ones, Rotf.

quote:

Originally posted by munch:

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
Hi ROTF Thought you might like to know Geoff is doing a interview on Radio Merseyside today he has had to take his three favorite albums with him .I dont no when it will be broadcast. regards munch

thats Geoff Davis HMHB.regards munch

Thanks Munch - Geoff is great bloke, I'd love to hear his interview. I'll watch out for the broadcast.

Thanks ROTF,

I've just ordered those 3, I'll let you know how I get on.


SJB

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
Hi ROTF are you going to the Sheps Bush HMHB gig on the 21 Dec? munch

I can't make that so close to Christmas, but I'm going to The Cheese and Grain, Frome at the end of February.

I was listening to Andy Kershaw the other evening and he played a folk version of the Clash's London's Burning and said he has always thought the likes of the Clash were actually folk bands.
There is nearly the corollary where that you could hear this as "punk".

I can see how this one would have stopped you in your tracks.
Shirley's voice doesn't immediately hit one as say an Ella Fitzgerald might but on my third listening I was beginning to hear the "soul" in her voice and delivery.

Early standouts for me would be Hares on the Mountain, Jane Jane, Lord Gregory ( I went to school very near Cappoquin) and Dearest Dear.


Was the original album mono or stereo? There seems to be a mix on my fledg'ling copy.



SJB

SJB

The original 1964 elpee of Folk Roots, New Routes (DECCA LK 4652) was in mono. It was re-released on Righteous Records in 1980; this version was stereo. It first came out on CD in 1999 on Topic (TSCD 820), again stereo. The fledg'ling release (FLED 3052) came out more recently and has been re-mastered.

Glad you are getting to like Shirley's singing. She lost her vocal power is about 1980, which was a great shame.

Rotf