The Black Country Three - Black Country Songs (Entire EP)

Описание: Black Country Songs is the original E.P of the legendary, though short lived, Folk group The Black Country Three. This record was to showcase the band as well as create a record of some of the songs they had found while writing their early books. This record was privately pressed at only a few hundred copies, and was entirely funded by the patronage of Jon's Wolverhampton Folksong Club members. Few copies of this record survive.

Tracks:
00:00 - The Boxing Match
03:30 - The Clemeny Song
04:55 - The Nailmaker's Strike
07:37 - The Dudley Canal Tunnel

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The songs on this record illustrate something of the life, past and present, of the people of the Black Country. Their sometimes fierce, sporting nature and local pride are demonstrated in The Boxing Match, a song whose events date from a match fought at Sutton in 1816. Pre-Christian Autumn rituals find a distant echo n the children's Clemeny song, sung on the 23rd of November (St Clements Day) which became a traditional alms collecting and begging day. Hard and bitter is the sentiment of the Nailmakers strike of 1852, which was doomed to failure with the introduction of the machine made nail. The Dudley Canal Tunnel song was written by members of the Tunnels preservation society in 1965 as a work song to be sung while legging the narrow boats through the 2 mile long Tunnel. The recorded version is an adaptation by the Black Country Three. The tunes for the other three songs were written by Michael Raven. ç

The Black Country Three are well known through their numerous radio and television performances including overseas broadcasts to Europe and the commonwealth.

Michael Raven (Spanish Guitar, Banjo)
Jon Raven (Spanish Guitar, Principle Singer)
Derek Craft (Flute, Piccolo)

Two books dealing with the folklore and songs of the Black Country (Edited by M. & J. Raven) have been published by the Wolverhampton Folksong Club, 45, Newbridge St. Wolverhampton.

E.P
45 r.p.m
Mono
WS 100
January 1966
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Recording and release funded by the Wolverhampton Folksong Club.

Information between lines taken directly from record sleeve.

Note: This recording is not yet public domain but as it is not for sale, has not been for sale since the original run of a few hundred pressings and there is no evidence it will be put for sale I have uploaded this here in the interest of preserving it for its historical and cultural value to the people of the Black Country.

This record was recorded on a budget in 1966 and pressed privately, the copy I managed to get my hands on was not in mint condition and as such there is noise on the tracks as is to be expected from any transfer of an analogue medium. The worst quality is on the track The Nailmakers Strike, which along with the final track had some small skips.

I have undertaken to remove the worst of the damage to the recording only where it would not otherwise alter the work too much, so as to remain as true to the original as possible.

I am well aware this transfer is not perfect, I simply hope it is listenable.