VA - Les Cousins - The Soundtrack of Soho's Legendary Folk & Blues Club (3 x CDs)

FOLK

VA - Les Cousins - The Soundtrack of Soho's Legendary Folk & Blues Club (3 x CDs)

In the heart of London’s Soho district, nestled beneath the bustling streets, lay a haven for the burgeoning talents of the British folk and blues scene. Les Cousins, a club with a French name but an English heart, became the crucible where future legends honed their craft. Its doors opened in 1965, and from that moment, it was more than just a venue; it was a community, a classroom, and a stage where the soundtrack of an era was composed.

The club’s weekend all-nighters became the stuff of legend, offering a platform for musicians to not only perform but to learn, grow, and earn their stripes. It was a place where the notes of a guitar and the lyrics of a song could echo off the walls and into history. Les Cousins was influential during the mid-1960s folk revival, a period teeming with creativity and collaboration.

The ambiance of Les Cousins was as unique as the music it nurtured. With decor that spoke of rustic charm and a spirit of freedom, it was a home for those artists less constrained by the traditionalist folk clubs. The club’s legacy is etched in the albums recorded within its walls and the careers it helped shape.

Despite its closure in 1972, the spirit of Les Cousins lives on, immortalized in a compilation that captures the essence of a pivotal moment in music history. It stands as a testament to a time when music was a vibrant, living thing that thrived in the small hours of the morning. The reopening of the club for a special Nick Drake tribute in 2004 only solidified its place in the annals of music lore, a reminder that while the days of Les Cousins may be past, the melodies will play on forever. (B)

==========================================================

ALL 

or

ALL 

===========================================================

Track lists

CD1

01 Bert Jansch - Running From Home 2:23

02 Al Stewart - Manuscript 4:47

03 Young Tradition - The Banks Of Claudy 2:47

04 Spider John Koerner - Good Luck Child 2:09

05 Incredible String Band - No Sleep Blues 3:52

06 Wizz Jones - See How The Time Is Flying 3:25

07 Cat Stevens - The Tramp 2:09

08 Shirley Collins And Davy Graham - Nottamun Town 3:39

09 Paul Simon - I Am A Rock 2:43

10 Michael Chapman - No Song To Sing 3:45

11 Jo Ann Kelly - Moon Going Down 4:04

12 Third Ear Band - Stone Circle 3:28

13 A L Bert Lloyd - Jack Orion 3:59

14 Mike Cooper - Bad Luck Blues 3:10

15 Alex Campbell - Been On The Road So Long 3:38

16 Dorris Henderson And John Renbourn - Strange Lullaby 1:46

17 Keith Christmas - Fable Of The Wings 4:29

18 Sweeneys Men - Reynard The Fox 3:28

19 Al Jones - Come Join My Orchestra 1:54

20 Sandy Denny - You Never Wanted Me 3:23

21 Tir Na Nog - When I Came Down 4:34

22 Sam Mitchell - Leaf Without A Tree 4:58

23 Beverley - Get The One I Want To 2:39

CD2

01 Watersons - The Holmfirth Anthem 2:02

02 Donovan - Sunny Goodge Street 2:56

03 Derroll Adams - Freight Train Blues 3:50

04 Bert Jansch And John Renbourn - Soho 3:00

05 Shelagh Mcdonald - Silk And Leather 3:01

06 Dando Shaft - Waves Upon The Ether 4:34

07 Martin Carthy And Dave Swarbrick - Byker Hill 2:57

08 Kevin Ayers - Eleanors Cake (Which Ate Her) 2:57

09 Ian Andersons Country Blues Band - New Lonesome Day 3:02

10 Hamish Imlach - Black Is The Colour 2:36

11 John Martyn - Fairy Tale Lullaby 2:50

12 Picadilly Line - At The Third Stroke 3:00

13 Anne Briggs - Living By The Water 3:52

14 Dave Evans - Grey Lady Morning 4:28

15 Owen Hand - I Loved A Lass 3:03

16 John Renbourn - Lost Lover Blues 1:57

17 Tom Rush - Joshua Gone Barbados 4:12

18 Cob - Music Of The Ages 3:53

19 Alexis Korner - Go Down Sunshine 4:09

20 Duffy Power - Halfway 2:17

21 Tom Yates - Bye Bye Bohemia 2:28

22 Nick Drake - Northern Sky 3:46

23 Sallyangie - Love In Ice Crystals 3:05

24 Ron Geesin - Two Fifteen String Guitars For Nice People 2:30

25 Don Partridge - Rosie 2:16

CD3

01 Jackson C Frank - Milk And Honey 3:39

02 Davy Graham - Maajun 2:40

03 Tim Hart And Maddy Prior - Adie Sweet Lovely Nancy 2:39

04 Dr Strangely Strange - Roy Rogers 5:39

05 Dave Van Ronk - Baby Let Me Lay It On You 1:40

06 Roy Harper - Sophisticated Beggar 5:07

07 Julie Felix - The Young Ones Move 2:40

08 Mudge And Clutterbuck - Memory Book 3:26

09 Steve Tilston - I Really Wanted You 3:57

10 Levee Breakers - Babe Im Leaving You 2:24

11 Ralph Mctell - Mrs Adlams Angels 2:47

12 Andy Fernbach - Have Your Bags Soon Ready 4:11

13 Bridget St John - If Youd Been There 4:08

14 Dave And Toni Arthur - A Maiden Came From London Town 1:27

15 Long John Baldry - Gee Baby Aint I Good To You 3:56

16 John James - Picture Rag 3:06

17 Plainsong - Old Man At The Mill 2:33

18 Nadia Cattouse - Travel On 2:09

19 Gerry Lockran - Black Girl 3:54

20 Tim Hardin - If I Were A Carpenter 2:44

21 Cat Stevens - Portobello Road 2:28

22 Mcpeake Family - The Verdant Braes Of Screen 3:36

23 Dave Ellis - Can You Tell Me 3:55

24 Strawbs - Pieces Of 79 And 15 3:01

=============================================================

=============================================================