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CD
info' and
Reviews
Listen to excerpts on the audio player above
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The tracks on this album all
regularly feature in the live performances. The tunes were recorded
on two Sundays in March 1998 and produced to closely resemble the
live sound of Captain Swing. |
| 1 |
Walter Bulwer’s
Polka/Norton New Belle Wake |
Walter
Bulwer’s Polka
from Walter Bulwer, a Suffolk fiddler Norton
New Belle
Wake a song
tune from King’s Norton in Birmingham, the words can be found in
King’s Norton Church |
| 2 |
The Wonder Hornpipe/Enrico |
The
Wonder Hornpipe
a traditional tune popularised by the Cock & Bull Band Enrico
sometimes called Jacob, from the Thomas Hardy collection |
| 3 |
The Frog In The
Bucket/Andrew Carr |
The Frog
In The Bucket (Casserley)
not a French tune
Andrew Carr a song
tune from the North East |
| 4 |
Love Sick Polly/Waterloo |
Love
Sick Polly/Waterloo,
both tunes from the book "A Northern Lass", no tempo given
for Polly but it sounds best slow, Waterloo has been found all over
England |
| 5 |
One Kiss |
One Kiss
from an old 78 record found in a junk shop |
| 6 |
Heel And Toe Polka |
Heel And
Toe Polka a traditional
tune from Southern England |
| 7 |
Roger’s Waltz/Cold North
Seas |
Roger’s
Waltz a tune
learnt by John from the violinist Roger Huckle Cold North Seas (Casserley) one of
Andy’s sea-faring tunes from the heart of the industrial Midlands |
| 8 |
The Falcon/The Hairy Turn |
The
Falcon (Casserley) named
after Andy’s bike The Hairy
Turn (Casserley) a reference
to a dangerous manoeuvre in a 20 ton narrow boat with Mike at the
helm |
| 9 |
Seven Stars/The Locksmith |
Seven
Stars
used to be a traditional
Irish jig The
Locksmith (Casserley)
because it has lots of keys
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| 10 |
La Belle Janette/Ma Lad’s
Ower Bonny |
La Belle
Janette
another from
the Hardy collection Ma
Lad’s Ower Bonny learnt at a
session in Whitby |
| 11 |
Sally And The Stopcock |
Sally
And The Stopcock (Casserley)
an end of the evening frolic |
| 12 |
Grandfather’s Polka/Worthy
Christian Men |
Grandfather’s Polka/Worthy Christian Men
dance and song tunes used in the 1997 production of mystery plays in
Birmingham Cathedral. |
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All tunes traditional or
anonymous except those written by Andy.
All arrangements by Captain Swing.
Thanks to Emma Casserley for playing Cornet on track 12.
Thanks to Dave & Chris at Workshop for their patience and advice. |
The members of Captain Swing featured on the CD are:
Liz Griffiths (recorders, anglo-concertina, tenor sax, percussion),
Rob James (guitar, mandola),
Andy Casserley (melodeon, anglo-concertina, alto sax, clarinet),
John Davis (bass guitar, recorder). |
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Recorded, mixed
and mastered at The Workshop Studios, Redditch in March/April 1998.
Produced by Captain Swing
© &
®
Captain Swing 1998
CS Records CSCD001 |
Obtainable from Captain Swing at any of our
dances
For mail orders please send an email for order details:
mikedotgriffithsatvirgindotnet |
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CD
reviews
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Green Man
Shreds and Patches
buzz folkwrite |
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Green Man Review
2001 |
"....This is the band's debut
CD, and a superb one it is too, having just the right amount of up-tempo
swing while not feeling too modern. ... very fine music!" - Cat
Eldridge |
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Green Man Review
The Folk Mag,
October 1999
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"The first
thing that struck me about this album is that it opens with the same tune
as the Old Swan Band's ground-breaking 'No Reels'. The OSB in 1977
were, of necessity, zealots, rebelling against the notion that speed
equals excitement. Twenty years on, that battle hasn't been won, but
today's bands can be more relaxed and Captain Swing take Walter
Bulwer's Polka at a faster but very danceable pace. Throughout, the
tempo is just right, reflecting the fact that the band members are
themselves keen dancers when they get a night off. It's not merely a
functional CD. One reviewer said that a lot of thought had gone into the
arrangements on the album, but this is just how Captain Swing play all the
time, making it an entertaining evening even if you're not dancing. They
choose their tunes well. The excellent set of hornpipes The Wonder/Enrico
is followed by an even better set of slip jigs. A couple of tracks later,
they're showing their versatility by swinging a thirties dance band tune.
Andy Casserley's tunes are inventive and fit in well with the traditional
numbers. Was Sally and the Stopcock suggested by the play 'Juno and
the Paycock'? But my favourite track was La Belle Janette/Ma Lad's Ower
Bonny. One member of the band doesn't get a look in, though. Which is
a shame, because Mike Griffiths' calling is one of the reasons Captain
Swing are so successful. He's always very clear and precise. The band are
finally breaking into the festival circuit with a well received appearance
earlier this year at Chippenham." - Bob Taberner |
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Shreds and Patches
No 17, Autumn 1999
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"... I had the pleasure of dancing to them at Chippenham
this year, so I know they are brilliant live. This CD is a mixture of
great English tunes and some penned by Andy Casserley. The line up
contains concertinas, whistles, sax, clarinet and melodeon, backed by
guitar, bass and percussion. Someone worked overtime on the arrangements
because no two tracks sound alike. They vary from very bouncy English as
on Waterloo Dance to a very French-sounding Cold North Seas
and a wonderful, laid-back, layered jazzy sound on The Locksmith.
Every track has something to offer. Recommended listening." - Mick
Brooks |
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Buzz, No 60
Autumn 1999
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".... This is the band's first CD, and a very good one
it is too, having just the right amount of swing - not too EFDSS and not
too EII. I could dance to this all day - it's lively, the music fits the
dances properly, and there's a good variety of instruments, tempos and
styles. Well worth a listen." - Ian Bradshaw |
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Folkwrite
No 70, January 1999
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"When Ted Heath (Band leader not banned leader) met
Cecil Sharp.....a likely story huh? Well it must have happened because I
am listening to just such a genre. Regularly. And that for me is pretty
unlikely. A gem. Jade to be precise. Small but perfectly formed,
exquisitely crafted, polished and detailed, yet the true nature of the
material never out of focus. Danceable but more intricate than dance
music, you have to go to their gigs for the terpsicore. CD's should
rightly be less strenuous pleasures. Pleasure is what you get, foot
tapping with no manic pulsating beats, no hard driving rhythms, but enough
space, pace &/or grace. Every inch folk, either trad or self penned,
plenty of instruments, and a few wry observations like the tune Andy
called 'the Locksmith' because it has a lot of keys. My kinda humour, my
kinda music. Get it at their dances" - Cresby
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