Blackpool Belle :- Collection Volume 2
This album from The Houghton Weavers is a collection of some of their most played songs, they decided to put together this collection as many of their fans do not have access to previous recordings of the songs from the group.
The Houghton Weavers ... Read review
Advantages: Something different to lisen to Disadvantages: Not everyone's taste in music
Blackpool Belle :- Collection Volume 2
This album from The Houghton Weavers is a collection of some of their most played songs, they decided to put together this collection as many of their fans do not have access to previous recordings of the songs from the group.
The Houghton Weavers as a group have been performing together since 1976, but their have been a few changes in the line up since the beginning. ... ...a very old photograph of Blackpool Tower, but if you look closely you will see that they have put the recent picture of the Weavers into the old photograph of the tower, very clever.
The Tracks :-
1 - The Blackpool Belle - (written by H.broadbent / J Smith), this tells of when on a night out you went to Blackpool with your friends, and enjoyed, then ice-cream parlours, kiss me quick hats, and the tunnel ... more
Blackpool Belle :- Collection Volume 2
This album from The Houghton Weavers is a collection of some of their most played songs, they decided to put together this collection as many of their fans do not have access to previous recordings of the songs from the group.
The Houghton Weavers as a group have been performing together since 1976, but their have been a few changes in the line up since the beginning. The line up of the group at the present time and for this album are as follows;-
Tony Berry - Vocals Jeff Hill - guitar, 12 string guitar, bass and vocals David Littler - Guitar, mandolin, banjo and vocals Steve Millington - Bass guitar, keyboards, accordion, percussion and vocals.
The CD:-
The CD inlay cover is made up of a few different things, there is a maroonish coloured background, with a picture of The Houghton Weavers, which is overlaid on a very old photograph of Blackpool Tower, but if you look closely you will see that they have put the recent picture of the Weavers into the old photograph of the tower, very clever.
The Tracks :-
1 - The Blackpool Belle - (written by H.broadbent / J Smith), this tells of when on a night out you went to Blackpool with your friends, and enjoyed, then ice-cream parlours, kiss me quick hats, and the tunnel of love, but the always caught the last tram home, this is why is was known by everyone who caught the tram as the Blackpool Belle.
2 - The Old Lamplighter - (written by Tobias/ Simon), this tells of an old man , who walks round all the streets lighting the old gas lamps, but when he comes across a young courting couple in the park he decides to leave that lamp out, as he remembers what love was like, very touching song.
3 - Dublin In The Rare Ould Times - ( Pete St John), not sure about this song, as I don't really remember it, I have heard it played by the group, and it is a beautiful song, I guess its about Dublin in years gone by.
4 - The Work Of The Weavers - ( arranged by - Berry/Hill/Littler/Millington), this tells of everything you couldn't do without, like coats, tents, bedding, basically everything that a a weaver made, as without the weavers you would not have many of the things you need.
5 - Wild Mountain Thyme - ( Francis McPeake), this tells about the hills is Scotland, where Thyme grows on the rolling hills, and it is very peaceful, and a lover asks his lady to come with him to pull wild mountain thyme, and asks " will ye go lassie go".
6 - That Stranger Is A Friend - (Bob Barrat), this is a strange song, as it tells the story of a stranger that you haven't yet met, but that stranger is a friend, very confusing, but a good song.
7 - Fiddlers Green - ( J.A Connolly ), I have to be honest, I have never heard this song, so don't know what its about. I know its on the album that I have, but I just don't listen to that track. Sorry.
8 - The Whistling Gypsy - ( Leo Maguire ) this is about a very wealthy lady who leaves, her home, servants and everything she has to follow a gypsy, who she has fallen in love with.
9 - And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda - (Eric Bogle ) not sure what this is about as again not listened to it, but I guess its about a band playing waltzing matilda.
10 - The Irish Rover - ( arranged by Berry/Hill/Littler/Millington ) A ship which set sail in1806, it tells about all the things you had on board ship and one night they were in a storm and the dog drowned.
11- When You Were Sweet Sixteen - (James Thornton) Beautiful song about a boy who falls in love but never tells the girl, but remembers when and where he fell in love with her, when they were sweet sixteen.
12 - Matchstalk men and Matchstalk Cats And Dogs - (Burke/Coleman) Tells about Lowery, the famous artist from Salford.
13 - Bread And Fishes ( Alan Bell) Strangely this is a familiar story of Mary and Joseph, as they stop for a picnic of bread and fishes. I know it sounds like a holy song, but its not, honestly.
14 - The Leaving of Liverpool - (arranged by Berry/Hill/Littler/Millington)Tell about someone who is leaving, but hates the thought of leaving his hometown of Liverpool.
15 - A Bunch Of Thyme -(arranged by Berry/Hill/Littler/Millington) A sailor gives a lady a rose, but takes away her thyme. Lovely song.
16 - The Streets Of London - (Ralph Mctell) A moving song about the homeless, and elderly of old London town, " see the old man outside the sea-mans mission".
17 - Flower Of Scotland - (Williamson) This song is used by the Scottish for a football anthem, so I was told, not sure if its true,
18 - The Martians Have Landed In Wigan - ( B.Wrigley/D Dutton) About a flying saucer which takes a wrong turn, and they land in Wigan, and get used to pies and black pudding, very amusing song.
I have had this album since The Houghton Weavers released it in 2000, as I have explained in previous reviews that I have done of The Houghton Weavers, I am friends with the group and know them very well.
Folk music is not to everyone's taste, but I find it something to listen to whilst I'm doing my ironing or housework,
I was first taken to see this group at the age of five, so I find it difficult to try to explain why I bought their music or why I go to see them on stage, I guess its just something that I was brought up with.
I would suggest that if you are reading this thinking oh no folk music, that's what old people in homes listen too, well your wrong, I know a lot of young people who enjoy The Houghton Weavers music, I find it and alternative to chart music or Bob The Builder, which I get subjected to via my son,
Overall I enjoyed this album, and found it difficult to try to explain why I enjoyed it, all I know is the you either enjoy folk music or you don't.
I would recommend this to others because I think that everyone should try something new, and different, so go on give it a try. You know you want to.
sorry i forgot to incude the website where you can have a listen at some of the songs featured in this review,
