Originally released as a cassette for the Science Museum in 1993, this
limited issue with a number of extra tracks is offered as a souvenir of the
Sussex Singers Weekend, February 2002.
Over the last 35 years or so, there have been two approaches to the
presentation of traditional music, dance and song in Folk venues. [1]
Traditional music is dead and therefore needs reviving using techniques
mainly drawn from the European classical discipline. [2] Traditional music
is alive and it still has enough guts left in it on which to build a
traditional style and enjoy it socially. Bob Davenport and Roger Digby
follow the second way. They have enjoyed traditonal events over the years
and whenever they put together a club session or concert, they have tried to
present the music in a traditional way.
They always try to make the traditional performers feel at home, cutting
down on the "chat" (they will never appear on Radio 3) and giving the
audience a good night out rather than sending them home feeling they have
attended a further educaiton class.
Having been present at a few of their
evenings at "The Empress of Russia" in North London before they both
"retired" from organising a club, I appreciate their point of view, though
not totally uncritically. This means I shall put asides all quotes from
"Grove's Dictionary of Music", acres of "sleeve notes" and stop.
Calvin Thorpe: September, 1993.
We would like to thank all those singers, dances and musicians represented
here by Percy Webb, Jack Elliott and Scan Tester, whose company we have
enjoyed over the years.
Bob Davenport & Roger Digby: September, 1993.
"Wait Till the Work Comes Round" was originally produced in cassette form
to supplement a series of performances by Bob Davenport and Roger Digby at
the Science Museum, Kensington, in September, 1993, which formed part of a
special exhibition concerning Work and Industry. It was recorded and
produced by John Howson and comprises most of this reissue.
The following tracks have been added: "Tramps and Hawkers", "The Bonny Pit
Laddie" (John Elliott), "The Wintertime Is Coming In", "Finnegan's Wake"
& "The
Sergeant's Returned" recorded by E. P. Ebenspanger, November, 2000. Scan
Tester's playing of "Marching Through Georgia" was recorded by Bob Davenport
in 1967.
Liner by Roger Digby. Thanks to John Howson and Andrew Jackson for
technical assistance. All rights reserved, February 2001. © 1993 and
2002. HOP 003.
Many thanks to Michael Coward at Stanley Productions.