C or D: The Albion Band (or, if you must, The Albion Country Band, The Albion Dance Band, The Etchingham Steam Band, and/or Morris On)

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With a Shirley Collins revival seemingly in full swing, the NO ROSES record is getting lotsa love, but what of the other permutations of Ashley Hutchings' post-Fairport, post-Steeleye collectives??? Love the first (sort of) release BATTLE OF THE FIELD with a killer folk-rock line-up of Martin Carthy, John Kirkpatrick & Simon Nicol. Also, RISE UP LIKE THE SUN is worth a listen despite being one of the worst produced albums i've ever heard (many consider it a peak of british folk-rock). Later line-ups veered too close to a sort of bland adult contemporary folk sound (like recent fairports). I always found Ashley's very 60s sounding bass a bit weird in the context of folk-rock, but classic nevertheless. And you????

― timmy tannin (pompous), Monday, 26 June 2006 01:25 (nineteen years ago)

wow, didn't expect more than a few nibbles, but jeez, clearly no love here (the roches/mcgarrigle thread made me think there were some folkies here - guess that was probably more of a Christgau and his disciples kinda deal)

― timmy tannin (pompous), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 01:24 (nineteen years ago)

If you're desperate for comments, I really enjoy "Battle of the Field." They're no Steeleye Span, though.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 01:32 (nineteen years ago)

thanks for the pity post, somewhat predictably i find hutchings era steeleye >>>>>> than the rest of their work. love maddy prior tho (and gay woods)

― timmy tannin (pompous), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 01:36 (nineteen years ago)

five years pass...

"Battle of the Band" is indeed great. Seems to be a more successful fusing of English folk and rock music than "No Roses", which is still a bit 'folk rock', while not being as hey-nonny-noish as the Morris On records and "The Prospect Before Us". And "Rise Up" is a truly great record, although I suppose it's a bit 'adult contemporary folk'.

― Euripides Trousers (Tom D.), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 10:53 (fourteen years ago)

... was listening to "Battle of the Band" on the way to work this morning, y'see... and by the way I'm not saying it's better than "No Roses" just that it seems closer to achieving what Hutchings was trying to do on that album (and before)

― Euripides Trousers (Tom D.), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 10:56 (fourteen years ago)

LOL "Battle of the Field" of course! Get outta here, ya damn Turtles!

― Euripides Trousers (Tom D.), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 10:57 (fourteen years ago)

Battle of the Field and The Prospect Before Us are both great but Rise Up Like the Sun is the killer Albion Band album. Not sure I agree that it sounds "adult contemporary folk", I would say it's the best example of English electric folk there is. Of course Hutchings didn't have much to do with it, it was mostly John Tams' work.

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 12:28 (fourteen years ago)

But I'm sure Ashley will take the credit for it, never struck me as a geezer lacking in self-belief

― Euripides Trousers (Tom D.), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 12:31 (fourteen years ago)

yeah whereas Tams is one of the most self-effacing geezers I've ever come across.

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 12:39 (fourteen years ago)

A case of Wee Tams and the Big Hutch perhaps?

― Geirge Hongriot (NickB), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 12:40 (fourteen years ago)

The song "Lay Me Low" kicks ass

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:55 (fourteen years ago)

Almost "Meet on the Ledge" level greatness

― Euripides Trousers (Tom D.), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:59 (fourteen years ago)

"Poor Old Horse" is the one for me. Glad this thread has reappeared, I've been listening to a slew of Albion Band and Tams stuff lately in the wake of the Home Service reunion.

― ban this sick stunt (anagram), Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:18 (fourteen years ago)

twelve years pass...

Pretty sure I had this recommended on here somewhere. Anyway, good Arena documentary on the Albion Band circa 1979. A few bars of Farewell and I was gone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUJXwowVn1E

― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Monday, 11 December 2023 10:21 (two years ago)

Can we have a Show of Hands thread too

― you can see me from westbury white horse, Monday, 11 December 2023 11:06 (two years ago)

I don't know if Home Service merits a thread, but their album _Alright Jack_ merits a listen. Several, actually.

― Wreckless Erik Satie (SlimAndSlam), Monday, 11 December 2023 13:43 (two years ago)

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