icastle Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Just noticed that The Albion Band are reforming... without Ashley Hutchings. For those who are scratching their heads and wondering what on earth I'm talking about, Hutchings is the bassist that formed Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention before forming The Albion Band. The Albion Band have always had a pretty 'fluid' lineup of top notch folk musicians, and have always had 'reshuffles' every few years to keep things fresh. The one constant has been Hutchings, the man that found all of these diverse musicians, drove things forward and remained their solid bass 'anchorman'. In this new lineup, he's taken a back seat and replaced himself as well! My initial response at the news was somewhat negative, but having listened to a sample of the 'new sound'... very much what I'd expect if The Levellers bumped into Steeleye Span down at the local pub... ...it is a little odd but rather good... Link [url="http://www.folkicons.co.uk/frameset1.htm"]here[/url] for those that are interested or intrigued... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Ashley has always been one to nurture new talent, and I suppose the ultimate is to develop your own replacement. In Business Management Bollox-speak I thiink it's called 'succession planning'. Good on 'im. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 [quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1327700499' post='1515745'] In Business Management Bollox-speak I thiink it's called 'succession planning'. [/quote] Yes it is - to both. I was thinking about it, and was shocked to realise he must be almost 70 by now. Then I got even more shocked when I suddenly realised I'm closer to 50 than I was this time last year. If anyone wants to sing me 'happy birthday' then you're three weeks too late, but don't feel bad about it because I only just realised I'd missed it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Could be worse. Big Country without Stuart Adamson. Queen without Freddie Mercury (and John Deacon). But, it is weird to see a band continue without the main driving force/founding member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 I haven't actually seen anything by Queen 'post Freddie' but I saw Big Country had reformed with a new singer. The new Big Country sound reminds me very much of Runrig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1327708325' post='1515858'][S]aw Big Country had reformed with a new singer. ... The new Big Country sound reminds me very much of Runrig. [/quote] Oddly, the new Runrig sound (mid/late 80s) reminded me of old Big Coutry. The circle would appear to be squared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 [quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1327708563' post='1515864'] Oddly, the new Runrig sound (mid/late 80s) reminded me of old Big Coutry. The circle would appear to be squared. [/quote] It does indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 This is good news. I'm sure Ashley knows what he's doing & wouldn't do this unless he was sure it would be a bloody good band & a worthy successor to all his other Albion projects. One of the new line-up is Ashley's son so his DNA will be present even if he isn't. I was listening to some old Albion Country Band vinyl only the other night - "No Roses". Superb Stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musophilr Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 [quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1327708563' post='1515864'] Oddly, the new Runrig sound (mid/late 80s) reminded me of old Big Coutry. The circle would appear to be squared. [/quote] I liked Runrig a lot esp. Donnie Munro's singing. Then I heard [i]Everything You See[/i] in which they replaced him with someone who's been to the Bob Dylan school of vocal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1327753297' post='1516215'] This is good news. I'm sure Ashley knows what he's doing & wouldn't do this unless he was sure it would be a bloody good band & a worthy successor to all his other Albion projects. One of the new line-up is Ashley's son so his DNA will be present even if he isn't. I was listening to some old Albion Country Band vinyl only the other night - "No Roses". Superb Stuff. [/quote] I seem to remember Ashley's son appearing on a track with his dad years ago when he was really young so it's obviously a family trait he's inherited. I'm going to have to go dig out my copy of No Roses now you've mentioned it, I haven't listened to it for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 (edited) [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1327777814' post='1516711'] I'm going to have to go dig out my copy of No Roses now you've mentioned it, I haven't listened to it for years. [/quote] I first heard a track from "No Roses" on a Folk sampler album (on 8 track cartridge!!) called "Clogs" when I was really young & it completely blew me away as I'd never heard anything like it before. I found the lyrics and the instrumentation completely captivating & listened to it over & over again - the track was "The Murder of Maria Marten" & I still love it to this day. When I was in my first band with friends in high school I suggested we cover it & the rest of them thought I was insane as they were all listening to stuff like The Clash & The Damned. Their lack of enthusiasm (& also not knowing anybody who played a Hurdy Gurdy) meant I never got to realise my dream of performing it. Edited January 28, 2012 by RhysP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1327783918' post='1516841'] I first heard a track from "No Roses" on a Folk sampler album (on 8 track cartridge!!) called "Clogs" when I was really young & it completely blew me away as I'd never heard anything like it before. [/quote] My introduction to it came from catting to people in the folk clubs back in the 80's who had seen Shirley and her sister (Dotty or Dolly?) playing years earlier. By that time the album was already about 10 years old and I had to get it ordered in specially at my local record store. I played it to death and it was probably that album (along with Liege and Lief) that shaped my musical direction and influences to this day. [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1327783918' post='1516841'] I found the lyrics and the instrumentation completely captivating & listened to it over & over again - the track was "The Murder of Maria Marten" & I still love it to this day. [/quote] 7.5 Minutes of quality in one tune - hard to find that on an album these days let alone all in one track [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1327783918' post='1516841'] When I was in my first band with friends in high school I suggested we cover it & the rest of them thought I was insane as they were all listening to stuff like The Clash & The Damned. Their lack of enthusiasm (& also not knowing anybody who played a Hurdy Gurdy) meant I never got to realise my dream of performing it. [/quote] I pretty quickly realised that I needed two groups of friends - one of my own age group who would go to Clash gigs and a second one about 15 years older than me that I'd play music with. It's only over the last 10 years or so that I've started working regularly with musicians younger than me... I still like being the youngest one on stage though. I've never played Maria Marten but we did do a very nice version of The White Hare that got feet tapping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted January 29, 2012 Author Share Posted January 29, 2012 Not a great recording, but here's new frontman Blair Dunlop (his mum is Judy Dunlop I've been told) with his dad. [url="http://youtu.be/KkYnd71jjKk"]http://youtu.be/KkYnd71jjKk[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timo Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 And the new bassist is... Me! Yay! We've got a track from the new album available to listen to and download for free (or pay a little bit if you so desire) here: [url="http://thealbionband.bandcamp.com/track/one-more-day"]http://thealbionband.bandcamp.com/track/one-more-day[/url] Hope you like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashell Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 @ timo -- Respect! @RhysP - 'Clogs'! I'd forgotten all about that one. An old school friend of mine had it and we used to play it all the time. Lovely little album. Next time I see her I'll have to ask if she's still got it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 (edited) [quote name='timo' timestamp='1328055042' post='1521271'] And the new bassist is... Me! Yay! We've got a track from the new album available to listen to and download for free (or pay a little bit if you so desire) here: [url="http://thealbionband.bandcamp.com/track/one-more-day"]http://thealbionband...ck/one-more-day[/url] Hope you like it! [/quote] Well done! EDIT: And having listened to the track about 20 minutes ago it's still bouncing around my head. Edited February 1, 2012 by icastle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 (edited) [quote name='timo' timestamp='1328055042' post='1521271'] And the new bassist is... Me! Yay! [/quote] Awesome! If anything could lure me back into the gigging realm again it would be doing something like this. [quote name='seashell' timestamp='1328099050' post='1521694'] @RhysP - 'Clogs'! I'd forgotten all about that one. An old school friend of mine had it and we used to play it all the time. Lovely little album. Next time I see her I'll have to ask if she's still got it. [/quote] Here we go, the album cover & track listing: [list=1] [*]Steeleye Span: [url="http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/%7Ezierke/steeleye.span/songs/captaincoulston.html"]Captain Coulston[/url] [*]Andy Roberts: Richmond [*]Martin Carthy / Dave Swarbrick: [url="http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/%7Ezierke/martin.carthy/songs/theirishwasherwoman.html"]The Irish Washerwoman / The Ash Plant[/url] [*]Steeleye Span: [url="http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/%7Ezierke/martin.carthy/songs/thewren.html"]The King[/url] [*]Keith Christmas: Poem [*]Shirley Collins & The Albion Country Band: [url="http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/%7Ezierke/joseph.taylor/songs/murderofmariamarten.html"]Murder of Maria Marten[/url] [/list][list=1] [*]Steeleye Span: [url="http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/%7Ezierke/steeleye.span/songs/raveon.html"]Rave On[/url] [*]Tim Hart and Maddy Prior: [url="http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/%7Ezierke/steeleye.span/songs/ilivenotwhereilove.html"]I Live Not Where I Love[/url] [*]Spirogyra: Captain's Log [*]Shelagh McDonald: Rod's Song [*]Martin Carthy: [url="http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/%7Ezierke/martin.carthy/songs/lordrandall.html"]Lord Randall[/url] [*]Marc Ellington: Yarrow [*]Andy Roberts: Welcome Home [/list] I used to love the track "Richmond" by Andy Roberts too. Edited February 1, 2012 by RhysP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1328125457' post='1522325'] I used to love the track "Richmond" by Andy Roberts too. [/quote] Was he the one who used to have the Jason King/Peter Wingarde moustache? The only one I can't quite place is Spirogyra, although according to Wiki they seem to have reformed and bought an album out last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashell Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1328125457' post='1522325'] Here we go, the album cover & track listing: [/quote] Brilliant! Thanks Rhys. My fave track was Captain Coultson. I remember liking Spirogyra too, but I've forgotten how Captain's Log goes. Can't hear it in my head any more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 [quote name='seashell' timestamp='1328172708' post='1522850'] I remember liking Spirogyra too, but I've forgotten how Captain's Log goes. Can't hear it in my head any more [/quote] That's easily fixed [u][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZqCOOYL82A"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZqCOOYL82A[/url][/u] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 A couple of my favourites: This one sums up in music the way I feel about the way we have abandoned our heritage, you can't beat a good protest song [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5h4PFBuzvw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5h4PFBuzvw[/url] Incredibly talented young chap and what a fantastic venue for a gig! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glp_V--Hya8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glp_V--Hya8[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 [quote name='icastle' timestamp='1328213248' post='1523928'] A couple of my favourites: This one sums up in music the way I feel about the way we have abandoned our heritage, you can't beat a good protest song [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5h4PFBuzvw[/media] [/quote] Brilliant songwriting, awful video directing. At least it's that way around though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 2, 2012 Author Share Posted February 2, 2012 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1328214127' post='1523954'] Brilliant songwriting, awful video directing. At least it's that way around though. [/quote] I get the distinct impression that it was one of those 'favour from a mate' type things... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderbird13 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 (edited) Roots was the song that got me into SOH it reminds me of New Model Army .I've been exploring a lot of folk music recently ( well as much as spotify will allow me to ) and I'm quite suprised how much modern folk I'm finding that I like. I'll post a few links tonght if I can remember and if anyone is interested Edited February 3, 2012 by thunderbird13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 [quote name='thunderbird13' timestamp='1328270395' post='1524670'] Roots was the song that got me into SOH it reminds me of New Model Army .I've been exploring a lot of folk music recently ( well as much as spotify will allow me to ) and I'm quite suprised how much modern folk I'm finding that I like. I'll post a few links tonght if I can remember and if anyone is interested [/quote] I've been amazed at the amount of folk there is on YouTube - people have just uploaded complete albums of it. I saw SoH playing as support to Fairport a few years ago - three people on a stage making an absolutely ridiculous big sound. When Fairport came on stage, Simon Nicol simply said that they were really going to have to work 'bloody hard to match that'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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