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Roots: The Best of Show of Hands
 
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Roots: The Best of Show of Hands [Deluxe Edition]

~ Show Of Hands
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
Price: £10.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Customers buy this with That's Proper Folk ~ Various Artists

Roots: The Best of Show of Hands + That's Proper Folk
Price For Both: £12.96

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  • This item: Roots: The Best of Show of Hands ~ Show of Hands

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

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Product details

  • Audio CD (19 Nov 2007)
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Format: Deluxe Edition
  • Label: Hands On Music
  • ASIN: B000XBPK92
  • Other Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 9,670 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Disc: 1
1. Roots
2. Are We Alright
3. Exile
4. Country Life
5. Widecombe Fair
6. The Falmouth Packet / Haul Away Joe
7. Santiago
8. Armadas
9. The Blue Cockade
10. Crow on the Cradle
See all 16 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. Columbus (Didn’t Find America)
2. You’re Mine
3. The Blind Fiddler
4. The Setting / Mary From Dungloe
5. The Bristol Slaver
6. Port Isaac
7. The Train / Blackwaterside
8. Be Lucky
9. Longdog
10. The Keeper
See all 14 tracks on this disc

Product Description

Songlines magazine, March 2008 (#50)

This is a great `Best Of'. The first CD is packed with some of the Devon folk duo's most distinctive tracks from their 15-year partnership, shot through with the fiery liberal patriotism of Knightley's lyrics about the rural West Country (`Roots' and `Country Life'). The second disc consists of 14 tracks selected by fans from the `Longdogs' internet forum, a nice idea that throws up some real gems. What's more, this collection is interspersed with live recordings that lift the energy above the predictability of many `Best Of' albums.
Phil Beer's fiddle playing is sensational, particularly on `The Falmouth Packet/Haul Away Joe', where his furious strings conjure up the boats bobbing in Falmouth harbour. While there are a couple of more abstract love songs (`Are We Alright?' and `You're Mine') that feel weaker than the rest, in the main Knightley's storytelling is full of depth and character. It is a cold heart that is not stirred by the hard tales of `Widecombe Fair', `The Keeper' and `The Bristol Slaver', or the Spanish warmth of `Santiago' and `Armadas', or the Cornish pride in `Cousin Jack'. The take on Sydney Carter's `Crow on the Cradle' is haunting, and when double bass player Miranda Sykes joins Knightley on vocals for `The Blue Cockade' there is a new dimension to the band's sound. It is in these little details that Show of Hands comes to life. The setting of Charles Causley's poem to music in `Innocents' Song' will stay with you long after the music stops.
Nathaniel Handy


Description

Roots is a comprehensive Show of Hands collection: it includes thirty of their best-loved songs on a specially produced double CD all remastered with a casebound book package.

For CD one of this compilation, the band have chosen their favourite tracks from each of the studio albums, plus live versions of three songs, "The Blue Cockade", "Cousin Jack" and "The Galway Farmer" that were felt to improve on the recorded versions. Four songs that have become concert standards yet hitherto never available in definitive studio versions have been re-recorded: "Crow On The Cradle", "Santiago", "Are We Alright" and "Exile".

Ten years ago a group of fans created an Internet based forum and called themselves 'Longdogs' after a Show of Hands favourite. The band asked these dedicated fans to pick one track from each Show of Hands album and CD two of this collection is result of their choices.


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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars CELEBRATING A UNIQUE TALENT, 26 Nov 2007
Rarely can there have been a "greatest hits" compilation which so accurately reflects both the talent of those performing as well as the affection the bands many fans have if their favourite artists. This album manages to do both and do it excellently.

If you haven't bought a Show of Hands CD before buy this one, or in fact buy more and share the magical experioence with your friends.

These songs make you make you think and make you want to dance what more can any music do.

"Are we alright?" you bet you are and more besides.

Thanks Show of Hands
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a best of.., 13 Jan 2008
By Mr. S. Harrison "Sam" (Chester, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
At first I wasn't going to buy this CD purely because I own at least one version of all the tracks on the CD already. However one of my friends recently bought it and told me about a few new version of tracks on it, so I thought I'd go out and get it.

I am so glad I did, this really is more than just a 'best of', and in fact I'd say it's a bit of an insult to call it that. This album catches the spirit of Show of Hands perfectly, taking the reader on a journey through all of their work, from the acoustic roots tracks such as 'Tall Ships', right through to more contemporary tracks like the recent single 'Roots'.

There really is something for everyone on here. It includes their best studio tracks, along with live tracks that out-do the studio tracks, and new versions of older classics such as 'Exile', 'Crow on the Cradle' and 'Are We Alright'. The CDs are beautifully put together, and leave the listener rivoted from start to finish.

There really are no faults with this CD at all. Perfect for the die hard SoH fan, and perfect for someone just getting into them. What a wonderful piece of work, giving true credit to the work Steve, Phil and Miranda have put in over the years (not to mention everyone else involved in the record - including Seth Lakeman and Fishermen Friends). Thank you and best wishes to Jack.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars More than a "Best Of", 16 Jan 2008
By J. Richards "Daisy the Vicar's Daughter" (Gloucestershire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I have to agree with the other two reviewers and say that this is more than just a hurriedly put together selection from a back catalogue. As always, Steve & Phil have put a huge amount of time and effort into delivering this double CD. The artwork is, as usual, stunning and just makes the album a lovely thing to own and there are some fabulous re-workings of their best known stuff.

This album works whether, like me, you're already a die-hard fan or whether you like folk/acoustic/English music and are looking for something beautifully cratfed and artfully produced. Buy it... now.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A cracking double album - great songs, fine singing and musicianship
Others here have given it the glowing review it deserves. I can only add my vote of 5* to it.
Published 1 month ago by Martin Thomas

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid Stuff
I'd been aware of Show of Hands for years without every seriously listening to them. Earlier this year I saw they were playing Pompey and resolved to go see them. Read more
Published 2 months ago by P. Orr

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album - Must have Show of Hands
This two disc album encompasses a wide range of Show of Hands great songs, they are a great band who write fantastic lyrics and create great music. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. W. Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Top notch
There is music to tickle my toes, shiver my spine and gladden my heart. I guess that says all about these outstanding musicians.
Keep going strong!
Published 7 months ago by Peter Kessler

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant
I bought this album really on the strength of the reviews and as a long time fan of Ralph Mctell who often mentions "Show of Hands". Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. T. Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply brilliant!
I bought this on a whim after hearing the song "Country Life" and it is simply brilliant. My personal fave songs are:

Country Life - brilliant thought provoking... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Dobbins

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Highly Recommended
I couldn't decide whether to purchase 'Roots' or 'The Imagined Village'. However, a friend, who owned both albums, suggested I go for 'Roots' because 'The Imagined Village'... Read more
Published 12 months ago by English/Danish Girl

5.0 out of 5 stars West is Best
Driving home one day last Autumn the song 'Roots', featured on this album, was played on a radio 4 show and the hairs flew up on the back of my neck! Read more
Published 17 months ago by Tabbyiab

5.0 out of 5 stars Start here - but don't stop.
2007 was a good year for a chance late evening drive home listening to Mike Harding's folk music show on Radio2 to introduce me to the outstanding sound of Show of Hands. Read more
Published 18 months ago by C. Comley

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