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CD Description
Originally released in 1967, this album was immediately recognised as being a recording landmark revered by generations of instrumentalists. It went out of print soon after its release only becoming available again in 1999 when Topic Records released a restored and remastered CD version to great critical praise and substantial sales. The album was produced by the legendary American Joe Boyd. Swarbrick came to prominence on the folk scene as a young instrumental virtuoso in the Ian Campbell Folk Group. By 1967 Dave had already left them and had teamed up with Martin Carthy as a duo. In this all-instrumental album the focus was on Dave and it really gave him a chance to stretch out and demonstrate his remarkable instrumental prowess, The result was a new era of English instrumental folk and a new approach to folk music altogether. As Joe Boyd says in the original liner notes, reproduced in the CD booklet, “Dave Swarbrick is doing perhaps the finest job of reconciling traditional instrumental styles with modern ideas and technique.” This is still true almost 40 years later. Tracks: Spanish Ladies Medley / Hens March To The Middens / Bottom Of The Punchbowl; The Swallow Tail; Marquis Of Tullybardine / Barley Brallaghan; The New Widow Well Married; Paddy Be Aisy / Dill Pickles Rag / Gurty’s Frolics / The Blackbird / The Cuckoo’s Nest / Lietrum Fancy Melody / Porcupine Rag / Villafjord / Fourposter Bed / Staten Island; Jimmy Allen / The Salamanca Medley / The Teetotallers Medley / Lord Mayo / The Kid On The Mountain / Jolly Tinker; Rags & Tatters / Father Kelly; Skopje; Sligo Maid.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's over 35 years since this album came out on vinyl, and time hasn't changed its genius one whit. The grace and beauty in every track show Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick at, in my humble opinion, the very peak of their powers in the folk tradition. As a bonus there are also a couple of rags with the great guitarist Diz Disley stepping alongside them. Just listen to Swarbrick play "The cuckoo's nest" and marvel at his interpretation - it swings slowly and melodically through the tune with his unique phrasing. Strange that, in the eyes of some of the older fiddlers at that time, he was thought "modern"! It's a wonderful album and should be in the collection of every lover of this sort of music.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It seems hard to remember now that no one in the Folk Revival (except The Dubliners) was yet playing jigs and reels, and traditional musicians' performances were often ruined by clomping piano-drivers (Michael Coleman being the archetypal example). Swarbrick was like a breath of fresh air, and this album in particular was a revelation. No one then sounded like Swarbrick -- although this is no longer true, since he's been a huge influence on many, not least Eliza Carthy!
The mandolin-playing is just as brilliant as the fiddle, and some of the best tunes are where they're double-tracked. The irrepressible Diz Disley joins in on two rags.
The tunes in Spanish Ladies Medley are The Spanish Lady and Lady of Spain (no, not the pop one from the -- what was it, 50s?). The Leitrim Fancy Medley is the Kerry Reel and (unsurprisingly) The Leitrim Fancy, and The Teetotaller's Medley is The Donegal Reel, The Teetotaller's Fancy (aka The Temperance Reel) and Miss MacLeod's Reel.
The title "Gurty's Frolic's" stems from a venerable misprint in O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland: it should be "Gusty's Frolics".
On the debit side, the sound on the original LP was rather harsh. For some reason the CD is even worse -- and, disappointingly, it's still only in mono. But this is still too brilliant an album to skip.
BTW Martin & Dave also recorded an EP of instrumentals which has since sunk without trace (except for one track on the 4-CD boxed set from Free Reed): "No Songs".
The total time is 46'39".
The mandolin-playing is just as brilliant as the fiddle, and some of the best tunes are where they're double-tracked. The irrepressible Diz Disley joins in on two rags.
The tunes in Spanish Ladies Medley are The Spanish Lady and Lady of Spain (no, not the pop one from the -- what was it, 50s?). The Leitrim Fancy Medley is the Kerry Reel and (unsurprisingly) The Leitrim Fancy, and The Teetotaller's Medley is The Donegal Reel, The Teetotaller's Fancy (aka The Temperance Reel) and Miss MacLeod's Reel.
The title "Gurty's Frolic's" stems from a venerable misprint in O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland: it should be "Gusty's Frolics".
On the debit side, the sound on the original LP was rather harsh. For some reason the CD is even worse -- and, disappointingly, it's still only in mono. But this is still too brilliant an album to skip.
BTW Martin & Dave also recorded an EP of instrumentals which has since sunk without trace (except for one track on the 4-CD boxed set from Free Reed): "No Songs".
The total time is 46'39".
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Let me say at the outset that I am an unashamed fan of this genre. I am also looking at it from the point of view of how accessible is it to learning the tunes. Taking that as a given I think that this is an outstanding album with Swarbrick, Carthy and Disley showcased at a particularly creative period in their career.
The tunes have a musicality that in later years was occasionally sacrificed for speed. There is a delightful humour and lightness about Swarb's playing. Listen to 'Dill Pickles' and 'Bottom of the Punchbowl Medley'.
I had this on vinyl when it first came out and at some point my copy was 'borrowed'. I hadn't heard the album for over thirty years and couldn't believe how fresh it all sounded. True it's in mono but that is no real drawback.
If you are a student of folk instrumentals the the tunes are a fine starting point. The fingering is clear and easy to follow, for the basics that is. To get to this standard is something to aspire to.
The tunes have a musicality that in later years was occasionally sacrificed for speed. There is a delightful humour and lightness about Swarb's playing. Listen to 'Dill Pickles' and 'Bottom of the Punchbowl Medley'.
I had this on vinyl when it first came out and at some point my copy was 'borrowed'. I hadn't heard the album for over thirty years and couldn't believe how fresh it all sounded. True it's in mono but that is no real drawback.
If you are a student of folk instrumentals the the tunes are a fine starting point. The fingering is clear and easy to follow, for the basics that is. To get to this standard is something to aspire to.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dave Swarbrick Rags, Reels and Airs
Rags, Reels and Airs is a great little album that helps to focus the talent of Dave Swarbrick. The album was recorded and released in 1967. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ms. M. Potter
not quite for reel
It's unusual for a producer to supply his own sleevenotes, and even more unusual for him to be as forthright as Joe Boyd is here. Read more
Published 8 months ago by gille liath
Have a gander at this.....
Short and to the point. Beautiful, just beautiful. A work to display the genius at work. And album to cherish. Buy this.
Published on 17 Aug 2003 by carl iredale
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