VA - Strangers in the Room A Journey Through British Folk-Rock (1967-1973) [2019] (3 x CD's)

 

BRITISH FOLK ROCK

VA - Strangers in the Room A Journey Through British Folk-Rock (1967-1973) [2019] (3 x CD's)

Arriving sequentially after their excellent 2018 set Gathered from Coincidence (which covered British folk-pop between 1965-1966), U.K. imprint Grapefruit Records offers up the three-disc box Strangers in the Room: A Journey Through the British Folk-Rock Scene 1967-73. The golden era of British folk-rock has received its fair share of anthologizing in the 21st century and yet, nearly half-a-century after its creative peak, freshly recovered rarities still manage to find their way into the digital kingdom, reaching ears missed the first time around and in some cases, making their long-delayed debut. Such is the case here, where long-forgotten one-offs and unreleased demos take their place alongside folk-rock's more acknowledged heroes like Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, and Ralph McTell. An abundance of highlights awaits listeners with the patience to peruse its 60 tracks, though even Strangers' less enticing cuts hold some charm and help to paint the broader picture of this fertile vein of British music. Of the handful of previously unissued selections, an eerie 1970 demo by Nuneaton duo Fresh Maggots ("What I Am") and a crafty unheard 1971 Gerry Rafferty track ("Who Cares") stand out. The real gems in this collection, though, come from lesser-known names whose obscure recordings did see release in some form or another, but were lost in the cracks of time. Songs like Jeremy Harmer's marvelous, dream-like "People Smile with Ghosts in the Land of Make-Believe" and Ooh Bang Jiggly Jang's fantastic "Hanging Tree" (the latter featuring a pre-Motors/Bram Tchaikovsky Peter Bramall) are treasures waiting to be rediscovered. There are also numerous efforts by artists who enjoyed moderate career success or brief renown without making ripples in the wider world, like Steve Tilston's wistful "All in a Dream" and Mr. Fox's rousing Celtic-driven romp "Little Woman." Lovingly curated and researched by Grapefruit with extensive song-by-song liner notes, Strangers in the Room is a delight for curious newcomers and folk-rock devotees alike. (AllMusic Review by Timothy Monger)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Michael Chapman Stranger In The Room 5:40

02 Steeleye Span The Blacksmith 4:46

03 Spirogyra Dangerous Dave (Alternative Version) 4:34

04 Trees Murdoch 5:11

05 Chimera Sad Song For Winter 3:04

06 Humblebums Shoeshine Boy 3:20

07 Harvey Andrews Martha 3:35

08 Oo Bang Jiggly Jang Hanging Tree 3:54

09 Alan James Eastwood She's Getting Married In August 2:26

10 Jade Amongst Anemones 3:56

11 Knocker Jungle I Don't Know Why 3:18

12 Robin Scott The Sailor 3:55

13 Trader Horne Here Comes The Rain 2:37

14 Dave Cartwright My Delicate Skin 2:51

15 Mike Hart Almost Liverpool 8 4:46

16 Richmond Candy Dora 3:26

17 Gary Farr Don't Know Why You Bother Child 4:10

18 Beau 1917 Revolution 4:20

19 Johnstons Jesus Was A Carpenter 5:48

20 Alan Hull We Can Swing Together 3:30

CD2

01 Matthews’ Southern Comfort Woodstock 4:33

02 Strawbs The Man Who Called Himself Jesus 3:32

03 Woods Band As I Roved Out 5:02

04 Fairport Convention Sir Patrick Spens 3:51

05 Bill Fay Be Not So Fearful (Demo Version) 2:37

06 Unicorn I Loved Her So Long 2:45

07 Al Jones Sarah In The Isle Of Wight 3:30

08 Lea Nicholson, Stan Ellison Song For A Dead Mole 4:01

09 Bridget St. John There's A Place I Know 2:38

10 Jeremy Harmer People Smile With Ghosts In The Land Of Make-Believe 4:10

11 Urban Clearway Pucka-Ri 5:12

12 C.O.B. Scranky Black Farmer 4:39

13 Daylight Lady Of St. Clare 3:16

14 Mary-Anne Love Has Gone 3:52

15 Mick Softley Time Machine 4:58

16 Third Ear Band Fleance 3:59

17 Storyteller Morning Glow 3:24

18 Dando Shaft Riverboat 4:15

19 Fresh Maggots What I Am 2:03

20 Canticle Like A Rolling Stone 6:07

CD3

01 Andy Roberts Queen Of The Moonlight World 4:49

02 Pentangle The Cuckoo 4:29

03 Mr. Fox Little Woman 2:42

04 Ralph McTell Father Forgive Them 2:28

05 Shirley Collins And The Albion Just As The Tide Was A Flowing 2:11

06 Incredible String Band Oh Did I Love A Dream 4:32

07 Paper Bubble Strange Days 5:28

08 Paul Brett's Sage Dahlia 3:29

09 Mike Cooper Your Lovely Ways (Part One) 3:55

10 Heron River Of Fortune 2:49

11 Jude Beverley Market Meeting 3:39

12 Steve Tilston All In A Dream 4:18

13 Prelude Carry Me 3:40

14 Joan Armatrading City Girl 4:00

15 Horslips Furniture 5:12

16 Gerry Rafferty Who Cares 5:10

17 JSD Band Young Waters 3:52

18 9.30 Fly September 2:44

19 Lifeblud Waxing Of The Moon 3:33

20 Sandy Denny Who Knows Where The Time Goes 4:14

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