- Vinyl
- Label: EMI
- ASIN: B003N7LH3Q
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 497,355 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details
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Product Description
VINYL LP.
TRACKS ARE:
Watercolour Morning; Stalybridge Market; Ee By Gum; Where There's Muck There's Brass; My Brudda Sylvest; I'm Powfagged; King Cotton; Affluence; A Man Like Thee; Big Jim; A Gradely Prayer; Down Our Street; Watering Can; The Teacher; Weightwatchers; They Tell Us Owt; Stalybridge Station; Bantam Cock; Fred Fannakapan; Wish You Were Here
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Although they never had any hits, the Fivepenny Piece acquired plenty of fans in the seventies, particularly via their appearances on television. Many of their songs provided amusing insights into Lancashire life but some of their songs were slightly silly so critics scorned them. As we all know, the critics do not always reflect the views of the public, many of whom enjoyed their fun songs as well as their more serious stuff.
The group comprised Lynda Meeks (vocals), John Meeks (guitar and vocals), Colin Radcliffe (electric guitar and harmonica), George Radcliffe (bass guitar) and Eddie Crotty (12-string acoustic guitar and vocal). Additional musicians were employed on some tracks.
The best example of the serious side of Fivepenny Piece is King Cotton. This song tells the story of the cotton industry, which came to Lancashire and provided plenty of people with jobs although it didn't treat them kindly although it made a few owners rich. Eventually, King Cotton moved to foreign lands leaving a legacy of empty mills and unskilled workers doing even more tedious jobs.
If their music were made up entirely of such serious songs, they might please the critics but I doubt if they would have been popular. So the Fivepenny Piece sing about all aspects of Lancashire life - the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the serious and the funny. Obviously, this will have particular appeal to Lancastrians but most people will be able to relate to the songs in some way - many of the stories have universal appeal. For example, the basic story of King Cotton is also the story of mining, shipbuilding and many other traditional industries.
Whether this compilation is truly the best of their music is a moot point. It is certainly representative. I have six of their vinyl albums and I know there was at least one other. Some of my favorite tracks are here and some aren't but this is the only CD compilation I've seen, although it has been repackaged with different artwork. If you want a CD of their music, this is all there is. If you want more, you have to track down their vinyl albums or hope that a record label will release more of their music on CD.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It would be very difficult for a group of artists such as The Fivepenny Piece, who have over the years penned so many good, reflective, time capturing and humorous songs to encompass "The Very Best" onto one CD.
Having the majority of their Vinyl LP releases in my record collection which alas now "pop" and "crackle" their way from the start to the end of the grooves, it is a joy to hear the unblemished releases of original tracks.
The Meeks-Radcliffe combination paint an amazing picture in words and song with "Watercolour Morning" (from the King Cotton L.P. - arguably their best release).
The writing skills of Meeks, Radcliffe and Crotty are woven skilfully and inextricably into the whole album.
Observations of the run down railway system in "Stalybridge Station" - true when the album was first released (some may perceive them to be still true today).
Where has all our cotton industry gone? - "King Cotton" is a truthful reflection.
"A Gradely Prayer" - from the sole in a time when lives were not complicated.
The list goes on.
To John, Linda, Eddie, Colin and George (not forgetting owd "knocker" Barlow) a big thank you for such wonderful songs - you have captured life, humour and history in an amazing way. It is sad that this is the only CD released of your work.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Fivepenny Piece were very big in the 70's, with many best selling albums to their credit. Their mixture of folk and humour is beautifully demonstrated in this collection. At the heart of the music is Lynda Meeks amazing voice, her haunting harmonies and lead vocals on tracks such as "Stories From The Wishing Well" and "King Cotton" show that they are very much a folk band to be reckoned with. Similarly cheeky ditties such as "Ee By Gum", "Tell You Owt" and many others show the versatility and witty observation of working class Lancastrians as it must have been a few years ago. I believe the group still exist in some form today but this is them at their commercial peak with material that was to be heard in homes throughout the land. Anybody unfamiliar with Fivepenny Piece would do well to check this CD out, whilst for faithful fans this selection from their output between 1972 and 1978 will doubtless leave you wanting more and wishing that their albums were available in their entirety on CD.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
great to have on cd
I first came accross this band years ago when a friend had them on LP's i am very happy to now have them on CD.
Published 1 month ago by greedygirl
Nostalgia lives
Having been a fan of Fivepenny Piece for many years and having seen them live in West Yorkshire also many times it is good that there are now two CDs to buy although some tracks... Read more
Published on 27 July 2009 by Mr. N. Martin
Nostalgia lives!!
"The Fivepenny Piece" are a local group and the cd was a gift - what memories it evoked!! Very well produced - just wish there were more of the "on stage" concerts available on... Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2009 by Jasmine
Easy listening music
This CD carries some of the greatest songs sung by the original group.Their music is the type that you never get tired of listening too. Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2004 by John A Silkstone
An enjoyable album
I am delighted to find this Fivepenny Piece collection on CD after searching the record shops without success. I enjoyed listening to this album and I am not disappointed. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2000
what's left after the really good stuff has been removed!
Notable absences 'Battle of Hastings' 'Down at our school' 'We kept eating parkin' 'The Hen coop' 'Addicted to t'telly' These must surely be included in anything purpoting to be... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 1999
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