SONGS AND MUSIC OF THE REDCOATS 1642 - 1902 Argo ZDA147

	£		30
	$		40

Songs and Music of the Redcoats (1642 – 1902)

Argo LP Vinyl ZDA 147

Songs preformed by Martin Wyndham-Read, The Druids, Gerry Fox, and the Band of the Scots Guards.

The album was inspired by Lewis Winstock’s book of the same title: Songs and Music of the Redcoats: A History of the War Music of the British Army 1642-1902, Leo Cooper Ltd, London 1970. (Also available from me but yet to be listed)

VERY RARE!

No CD version available.

Excellent condition

I purchased this record from NEW in 1971, it’s year of release, from Ridleys Records in Newbury while at a Sealed Knot battle re-enactment weekend.

 To my certain knowledge it has only been played twice.  Once in 1971 to record it to cassette, and once a few years ago to record it to digtal/CD format.

In excellent almost pristine condition (see photos) and in good clean inner sleeve and fine quality outer cover.

A wonderful collectors item for all interested in military music and warfare, including historians, battle re-enactment groups (Sealed Knot, English Civil War Society and others), and those with a love a traditional folk music.

Full details:

 "The music on this record is not about war.  It is the music of war.  Documentary evidence proves that the songs were actually sung by soldiers.  And the marches are not sophisticated compositions for parade-ground ceremonial but the tunes to which the army went to war – and which were sometimes played upon the battlefield.

 Songs and Music of the Redcoats is thus unique.  It is the first record to give a comprehensive and truly authentic idea of what the British Army played from the Civil War, which began in 1642, to the end of the South African War in 1902, the approximate ere of the Redcoat."

 Performers

Martyn Wyndham-Read – vocals, guitar

 The Druids:

Keith Kendrick – vocals, concertina, guitar; John Adams – vocals, accordion, mandolin; Mick Hennessey – vocals, bass.

 Musicians from the Band of the Scots Guards:

Major James H. Howe, MBE – Director of Music

L/Sgt. Michael Gray – oboe; Sgt. William Verdon – clarinet; Musician Allan Timperley – clarinet; Musician Tony Jeffrey – bassoon;  Sgt. Gerald Manvell – percussion

 Gerry Fox – vocals, guitar, mandolin

Jim Younger – concertina; Dennis Clarke – flute, chorus; Vin Garbutt – whistle, chorus; Frank Grubb, Kevin Daly  & Lewis Winstock – chorus

 Produced by: Kevin Daly

Recorded by: Adrian Martins and Iain Churches

Released 1971 by Argo, a Division of Decca Records.  Issue number: ZDA 147

 Tracks

 Side One

Civil War

The English March – Scots Guards

John Gwyn’s Air – Scots Guards

When the King Enjoys His Own Again – MW-R vocal, guit, VG whistle, DC flute

When Cannons Are Roaring – KK, JA, MW-R

 Marlborough

Over the Hills and Far Away – MW-R

Sergeant Morris’ Song – JA

 Seven Years War

The Marquis of Granby – Scots Guards

The Girl I Left Behind Me – MW-R

How Stands the Glass Around? – Druids

Hot Stuff – Gerry Fox

 America’s War of Independence

The Grenadier’s March – Scots Guards

Light Infantry Song – KK

Over the Water to Charlie – Scots Guards

Roslyn Castle – Scots Guards

The British Grenadiers – Scots Guards, Druids

 Napoleonic Wars

Love, Farewell – MH

One and All – KK lead vocal, Druids accompaniment, vocal chorus

The Owl – Druids

The Rogues’ March – Scots Guards, Druids

Side Two

Napoleonic Wars (continued)

Sahagun – KK unaccompanied

Lochaber No More – Gerry Fox, concertina accomp

The Sodger’s Return – JA vocal

Crimea

Hey for the Life of a Soldier – Scots Guards, Druids

Paddy’s Resource – Scots Guards

Cheer Boys Cheer – JA

 Indian Wars

Bang Upon the Big Drum – MW-R

Here’s to the Last One to Die – MW-R

 Late 19th Century

The Jolly Die-Hards – MW-R

Colonel Burnaby – Druids

The Connaught Rangers – Gerry Fox

 South Africa

Rory O’More – Scots Guards

Razors in the Air – Druids

The Waggon Loafers – MH & band and chorus

Soldiers of the Queen – MW-R

 Review – The Gramophone, 1971

“As well as providing a lot of largely unknown music which ranges from the lively to the sentimental this record is complementary to two recent books by Lewis Weinstock, Songs and Music of the Redcoats and Songs and Marches of the Roundheads and Cavaliers, two immensely interesting and historically valuable surveys of true soldier music, that is to say music which the troops actually sang and played over a period of two and a half centuries rather than patriotic effusions written by and for civilians, many of which are, of course, now better known.

“The 34 items are conveniently divided into groups in more or less date order, ranging from the Civil War to that in South Africa, which saw scarlet replaced by khaki.

 “Among the better known songs and marches are Over the hills and far away, first popularised in 1706 by Farquhar’s play “The Recruiting Officer”, The girl I left behind me, which dates back to 1758, Over the water to Charlie, which is of similar vintage, The British Grenadiers, and, of course, Soldiers of the Queen, which enjoyed immense popularity during the South African War. But the real treasures are among those with which most listeners will be much less familiar.

 “I myself am particularly glad to have an earlier Grenadier’s March, the haunting Love, Farewell, a favourite with the Connaught Rangers during the Napoleonic Wars, The Owl, a highly attractive part song which dates from 1609 but was still sung a couple of centuries later, and Rory 0? More, which I learn was a hit tune of 1837.

 “The singing is pleasantly straightforward, as it should be, and although any attempt to play on the instruments thought to be originally intended is expressly disclaimed the accompaniments capture admirably the mood and spirit of what we know or contemporary performances. In the purely instrumental numbers the Scots Guards Quintet of oboe, two clarinets, bassoon and percussion is first-class. The recording is good and this is a disc which goes a long way towards filling a big blank in recorded folk lore.”

A rare chance to buy a very rare record that is in unusually fine condition.

ALL OFFERS CONSIDERED

Safe shipment via Royal Mail Special Delivery, or can be collected.

Note that Recorded Delivery option is at buyers risk as insurance cover less than value.